Artful Hand Gallery
A multi-year winner, and still the best place around for great handcrafted jewelry, hand-blown glass, terrific pottery, fabulous clocks, and other one-of-a kind items. Copley Place, Boston, MA .
Elements Designs for Living
Earring collectors go into a frenzy over the racks of terrific earrings at Elements, all priced at $22 (the gold matte ones are great). Buy two pairs and a third pair is free. 103A Charles St., Boston, MA .
Turner Fisheries of Boston
This is another one of those Boston traditions that seems simple enough, but is repeatedly botched by ambitious amateurs. Turner Fisheries sticks to the basics—a good roux, fresh potatoes, lots of clams—to come up with a winner. 10 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Berezka International Food Store
Dozens of smoked fish, from sturgeon and herring to all kinds of smoked salmon. And more than one hundred sausages, boiled, hard-smoked, and German-style and French-style, from Hungary and Canada. 1211 Commonwealth Avenue, Allston, MA .
Joyce Kulhawik, Channel 4
Best last year and still the one to watch. Sorely missed when the Boss opened his national tour in Worcester while she was out sick. Nice to have you back, Joyce.
Tam O'Shanter
One of the few places in town where you don't have to dress funny and where people are likely to ask you to dance instead of where you work. 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Arnold Arboretum
Hike one of the paths, trails, or terraces leading to the top of Bussey Hill. The 198-foot perch at the center of Harvard’s woodland research facility boasts the most scenic—and serene—views of the cityscape. 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130, arboretum.harvard.edu.
Capers Catering
After nearly three decades in the biz, Capers knows how to whip up one hell of a spread. And with a “farm-to-fork” philosophy, it’s a safe bet your meal will be totally fresh, too. 21 Emerson Street, Stoneham, Massachusetts 02180, caperscatering.com.
Boston Children's Museum
Sure, it’s dominated by rowdy little ones most days, but keep an eye out for nights when the place rebrands as the “Grown-Ups Museum” and the spiked slushies start flowing. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.
Somerville Grooves
While Somerville Grooves' select inventory of vinyl includes new albums by Panda Bear and old ones by the Who, it's the rarities from the local music scene that really shine, such as the 1982 hardcore punk compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A. 26 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 02143, .
Gather Here
Available in virtually every color (and pattern) under the sun, this creativity hub's dizzying array of textiles makes it easy for budding designers to craft their new favorite outfit. No sewing skills? No problem. Sign up for one of the many classes. 1343 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, gatherhereonline.com.
Paul Pierce
He played stabbed. Not only that, he made himself into one of the NBA's elite scorers and showed he could carry a team all by himself. If only he didn't have to.
Alison Braverman, Etant
Chatty and lightning-quick, the self-described perfectionist will put you at ease, show you how to breathe, and get you (and every last one of your strays) out of there before you can say "frog position." 524 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, .
The Gap
Great one-stop shopping for sturdy, knockabout clothing for big and little people. Great colors and variety of styles make it possible to achieve an individual look at reasonable prices. All locations, .
Brighton Auto Service
The search for a capable and honest auto machine is not unlike a snark hunt; we were shocked when we found one. The service is quick and efficient, the work reliable, and the price more than reasonable. 25 Chestnut Ave., Brighton, MA .