The Brown Jug
Once a locally beloved antique shop, the Brown Jug is now home to a different, though no less precious, stock: artisanal cheeses from far-flung makers, imported and delectable olives, Iggy's breads, pâtés, handmade pastas, and lots of herb-infused olive oils. No matter how rustic your picnic, the fixings on offer here will lend it a delicious bit of worldliness. 155 Main St., Sandwich, MA thebrownjug.com.
Christina's Homemade Icecream
Cones from this cute Inman Square shop lick sweeter, silkier, and stronger than the rest, and for less moolah. Ice cream here has it all: mastery of the oft-muddled sugar/ salt balance, startling hints of exotica (like kulfi flavor, with cardamom and pistachio), and decadent-sounding varieties that don't hold back (try Nietzche's Chocolate Ascension). 1255 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Beauport Hotel Gloucester
This boutique hotel proves once again that Gloucester has more going for it than some guy in a yellow rain slicker hawking fish sticks. Built to resemble a tasteful Gilded Age shingle-style summer home, the Beauport sits on Pavilion Beach with commanding views of the harbor. The excellent waterfront restaurant attracts lobster-roll-loving locals and day-trippers alike, while a rooftop pool and bar (open to hotel guests only) is the closest the North Shore gets to Miami. 55 Commercial St., Gloucester, MA 01930, beauporthotel.com.
Church
Hit this happening new restaurant/club for a tasty twist on brunch staples, like "toad in a hole" French toast and crab cake eggs Benedict. 69 Kilmarnock St., Boston, MA 2215, churchofboston.com.
Crossroads
Unpretentious watering hole on the fringe of pretentious Back Bay. Safe. You won't be sorry. 495 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Hopewell Bar & Kitchen
No watering hole is more welcome in Allston than this gastro-grunge newcomer. After all, where else could a Genny Cream pair so perfectly with $2 oysters, or a seasonally flavored margarita with a wobbly game of pool? 1277 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02134, hopewellboston.com.
Ahmed's
Boston lacks the perfect waterfront drinking hole. Ahmed's patio, in Cambridge, is nice enough, and its summer drink specials will have to do until we find something better. 96 Winthrop St., Cambridge, MA .
Lenox Hotel
During the Boston Film Festival next month, the Lenox will have more celestial density than a black hole. If you manage to catch that director's eye, proceed to Anago to seal the deal with seductive cuisine. 710 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Robert Gerard
<p>The distinguishing mark of a great bartender is the ability to satisfy all of the customers all of the time—the ability to play sex therapist one minute and sports analyst the next, and to be an interested listener no matter what the bozo in front of you has to say.</p> <p>Robert Gerard, a 35-year-old native of Albany, New York, who drinks Heineken but loves to mix a margarita now and then, is quite simply a master of his trade. Since moving to Boston, in 1977, Gerard has worked at the Sunflower Café, Pizzeria Uno, St. Botolph, and Allegro on Boylston. These days you'll find him at he recently reopened 29 Newbury, which he hopes will combine the best of them all.</p> <p>"St. Botolph is a neighborhood bar," he says. "It's got a nice blend of people and a strong sense of community. Allegro is more urbane, but it doesn't have that sense of community—at least not yet. My fantasy is that 29 will have both."</p> <p>No matter what the environment, Gerard's trade secrets are sure to stay the same. "Basically," he says, "it comes down to caring. Anyone can master the technical aspects of bartending; the hard part is helping create an atmosphere. You've got to be inclusive instead of exclusive. And have a good time."</p>
Wally's Cafe
With the shutdown of the Willow and the yuppification of Bob the Chef's, Wally's proposed expansion into the space next to its current Massachuetts Avenue hole-in-the-wall is the best thing going. 427 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA .
Design Within Reach
We’ve all become more interested in sprucing up our home offices over the past year, and Design Within Reach’s eye-catching and efficient workspace furnishings get the job done. Should you need a Nathan Yong filing cabinet, a posture-improving Eames chair, or a Herman Miller desk that makes you feel like the #boss you are, the store has flair (and options) to spare. 1045 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, dwr.com.
Flair Brides Maids
Christine Walber Colon knows bridesmaids play no minor role in pulling off a wedding, so she outfits them accordingly. Her third-floor suite carries the bright hues, comfortable fabrics, and flattering cuts of designers such as Charsa, Lynn Lugo, and Jenny Yoo. There are no wear-it-once sateen selections here—just gracious service and moderate prices. Finally, someone who gives the supporting cast its due. 10 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, flairbridesmaid.com.
Brookline Booksmith
Their fiction inventory is faultless; their nonfiction, superb. But it's Brookline Booksmith's book cellar that again propels this independent store to the top of the pile. If you're going to browse, be sure you've got a whole afternoon to spar—it's easy to lose track of time while scanning the shelves. The shop's reading series is also second to none, often hosting marquee authors such as David Sedaris and Jonathan Safran Foer. 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2446, brooklinebooksmith.com.
Luke Aaron
Luke Aaron's sophisticated, ladylike gowns and separates look theatrical for a reason: The budding couturier honed his craft in the costume shop at Tufts, later working for renowned costume designers in New York City. Aaron is especially adept at creating dramatic shapes by ruching and draping fabrics—grace notes that can be seen in his expanding bridal collection. Handmade pieces are available at his North End showroom, inside a restored preindustrial building. 38A Fleet St., Boston, MA lukeaaronboston.com.
Fresh City
These avowed wrapmasters hone in on a few select points: even distribution of ingredients; made-to-taste variety; and overall freshness, heftiness, and yumminess. They succeed. For those finicky wrapsters among us— you know who you are— there's no overabundance of rice here, or goopy sludge of extra sauce to soak up your roll. Living up to such standards of wrapsody, Fresh City in Brookline blazes the way toward the future of fast food. 1335 Beacon St., Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA .