Bodega
Is it uncool to call this store cool? Regardless, it’s hard not to get excited once you open the door camouflaged as a vending machine and step inside the sleek, well-lit space, where the latest and greatest styles from Nike, Adidas, and Puma are lined up like artifacts in a museum. And just to ensure Bodega continues its reign of cool, the brand opened Series, a constantly evolving micro art space just a couple of doors down that offers buzzy limited releases and serves as a mecca for local sneakerheads. 6 Clearway St., Boston, MA 02115, shop.bdgastore.com.
Walter Hill, Social Club Barbers
Walter Hill’s Downtown Crossing shop is perpetually buzzing. It’s no wonder: Once the traveling groomer for boxer Floyd Mayweather, he claims to have cut his first head of hair at age 11. His dedication to the art of men’s grooming extends to his luxuriously close shaves as well as his minty and citrusy lotions that he crafts himself. Now that’s what we call a cut above. 333 Washington St., Boston, MA 02108, socialclubbarbers.com.
Honeycomb Creamery
With vanilla, chocolate, and matcha-flavored homemade cones and a smattering of bold ice creams to top them with, wife-and-husband team Kristen Rummel and Rory Hanlon retain their thrones as dairy queen and king of Cambridge. Their quaint shop’s imaginative list of locally sourced scoops rotates seasonally: Standby favorites include cold-brew-coffee chip and malted vanilla, but fresh ideas such as honey lavender and London Fog are palate pleasers, too. 1702 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, honeycombcreamery.com.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
The granddaddy of rail trails, this 20-plus-mile paved pathway stretching from Yarmouth to Wellfleet offers no shortage of things to see and do en route. Zip past cranberry bogs, cool off in Seymour Pond, and reward yourself after an exhilarating ride with an ice cream cone or ice-cold beer (why not both?) right along the trail. mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail.
Jerald Walker
In a year when books explicitly addressing racism in America were the hottest topic in nonfiction, longtime Emerson creative writing professor Jerald Walker’s How to Make a Slave and Other Essays stood out for its wry, self-deprecating tone. The essays, which earned him a National Book Award finalist nod, trace his early years in Chicago, his experiences as a Black man in academia, and more, highlighting plenty of heartbreak but still managing to find grace and humor along the way.
Assembly Showroom
Los Angeles native Matt Gallagher brings the West Coast to the South Shore with Assembly Showroom, a boutique offering casual-cool styles for men and women. With a wide selection of clothing from brands such as Marine Layer, Faherty, and LNA — not to mention ultra-helpful, knowledgeable staffers that make upgrading your wardrobe a breeze — you’re guaranteed to drop in more than once. And your options for visiting are plentiful: Within three years of opening, Assembly already has three locations on the South Shore. Hingham and other locations 24 North St., Hingham, MA 02043, assemblyshowroom.com.
The Bancroft
At this shiny new steakhouse in Burlington's 3rd Ave development, presentation is paramount—and often over the top. (For proof, look no further than the 3,000-plus-bottle wine collection, displayed on a catwalk above a glass-paneled dining room.) James Beard-nominated chef Mario Capone's food is equally dramatic: Steaks come with flags labeling their doneness; a "fork-and-knife cauliflower roast" is served with a knife through the middle; and house-made and individually bottled cocktails are poured tableside. 15 Third Ave., Burlington, MA 01803, the-bancroft.com.
Interlocks
Interlocks owner Ginny Eramo's Newburyport salon is known for producing trendy men's styles, vibrant color for graying locks, and expert extensions. That's because Interlocks has a strong pull on talented Newbury Street stylists, who, when they split Boston, tend to end up here. Good for those suburbanites who once had to schlep into the city for a good cut. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA 01950, interlockssalon.com.
Trillium Brewing Company
Sam Adams and Harpoon used to be the lone faces of craft beer in Boston, but times change. The most exciting brews in town now emanate from this minute waterfront mecca, which carries a range of wild ales, barrel-aged stouts, cold-brew-spiked porters, and hop-forward IPAs, most named after streets in the Fort Point neighborhood. Up next? A 16,000-square-foot facility in Canton that will allow them to produce upward of 10,000 barrels per year. 369 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210, trilliumbrewing.com.
The Poynt
Don’t let the well-dressed crowds fool you: The Poynt is on the North Shore, not in the South End. Opened this fall by the owners of the successful Cottage restaurants in Wellesley and Chestnut Hill, the spot exudes a casual yet polished vibe. You may be in beef-Wellington country, but the perfectly done grass-fed cheddar burger with local lettuces (not to mention the stiff, locally themed cocktails) provide a great camouflage. 31 Water St., Newburyport, MA 01950, poyntnewburyport.com.
Clear Flour Bread
In an era when everyone from your grandparents to your girlfriend has gone “gluten-free,” Clear Flour is unapologetically pro carb. Apricot-studded pain de seigle? Black-sesame sticks basted with garlic-herb butter? It’s easy to see why the yeasty, buttery scent of its long-fermented loaves continues to lure locals in droves. Just arrive early if you’re looking for something special (apologies to the woman behind us who wanted the last rosemary focaccia). 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446, clearflourbread.com.
Boston Ballet
The city's preeminent dance organization dazzled audiences this past year with Ivan Lika's thrilling Le Corsaire, while also embarking on a new five-year partnership with internationally renowned choreographer William Forsythe. The company's dancers always impress, whether performing Forsythe's ode to ballet, Artifact, or bringing beloved stories to life: Thanks to popular demand, The Sleeping Beauty will return for a weeklong run in 2018, along with Romeo & Juliet and Classic Balanchine. Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111, bostonballet.org.
Kenneth Baldwin, Premier Fitness
If he can train Alan Dershowitz, we're pretty sure he can train anyone. We're convinced Baldwin knows the human body outside-in. While he's teaching you proper weightlifting, he explains how each muscle group is working. While you're doing cardio, he gives a minicourse on how your heart is pumping. So you exercise and feel smarter, all at once. Baldwin gets results—without boring you back to your couch-potato world. 61 Cedar St., Suite A, Cambridge, MA .
Golf Country
Where do you go when you can't get rid of that slice? Golf Country in Middletown is the practice range of choice for hackers and Big Cats alike. In addition to a whopping 75 stalls (some newly covered for rain or shine), it has batting cages, miniature golf, and the perfect postworkout pleasure: excellent cones at Richardson's Dairy next door. 169 South Main St., Route 114, Middleton, MA .
Constitution Marina
The best thing about the most protected marina in Boston Harbor isn't even the free parking; it's the location. Proximity to the locks means quick access to the harbor, but you might decide not to leave once you've seen the view of Old Ironsides and the Bunker Hill Monument. The docking fee, $2.50/foot, is based on the length of the vessel or the slip, whichever is larger. Services available include laundry, shower, cable, and a pool. 28 Constitution Rd., Charlestown, MA .