Kendall Square Cinema
It's not the fresh popcorn, hot cappuccino, or high-gloss neon that draws the crowds to this megaplex arthouse near MIT. Sure, those things don't hurt. But even if the seats weren't plush and the parking weren't plentiful, crowds would still flood to this theater for one of the largest selections of eye-sprinting subtitles on the East Coast. With nine screens of foreign and indie flicks, this is the place to catch an obscure tearjerker while boning up on your Czech or Urdu. 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA .
Kendall Square Cinema
No crying babies, chatty teens, or bleeping cell phones. That's why your parents, professors, and primary-care provider choose to catch the latest film-festival hits and indie first-runs at this Landmark Theatres location. They also come because parking is a pittance ($3), the theater offers high-quality snacks (dried fruit, gluten-free cookies), and the guy behind the ticket counter is totally stoked to discuss Fassbinder's use of Brechtian aesthetics. 355 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 2139, landmarktheatres.com.
Granite Links Golf Club
The views of the Boston skyline make this Quincy course stand out, but Granite Links is much more than a pretty picture. The private course offers an astounding 27 holes of golf for members and the public, and includes a large, lighted practice range that stays open late. After a grueling round with your buddies, the on-site restaurant is a welcome respite, with a fun-loving crowd and a range of food and drink options. 100 Quarry Lane, Quincy, MA 2186, granitelinksgolfclub.com.
American Repertory Theatre
The A.R.T. has added major buzz to its stages, from Amanda Palmer's work in Cabaret to a punk musical about Prometheus. Artistic director Diane Paulus has displayed the clout to bring in star turns by John Lithgow and Amy Brenneman, as well as the vision to produce the U.S. premiere of robot opera Death and the Powers, written by MIT prof Tod Machover. This is a theater that keeps your eye on the calendar for what's coming next. 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, americanrepertorytheatre.com.
Cold Water Flat
Okay, so Paul Janovitz of Cold Water Flat is the brother of Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz. There's no sibling rivalry going on here. Buffalo Tom may have captured MTV and My So-Called Life, but CWF's new CD on a major label and opening appearances on Belly's worldwide tour last spring have garnered the group more than its fair share of attention. Look for them on Conan this fall.
Michael Albor, The Loft Salon
Warm, natural, and beautifully blended—that’s the work of Michael Albor, a true color artist. Every time we emerge from his salon, we receive a slew of compliments from unlikely sources, though admirers often struggle to pin down exactly what’s different. Which is perfect, because whether you’re covering up the grays or just looking to enhance your chestnut locks, it’s important never to divulge beauty secrets. 253 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, theloftsalonboston.com.
76 Main
This sleek downtown inn offers rooms done up in stripes and poppy colors by Boston designer Rachel Reider, as well as plenty of modern amenities (iPads, Apple TVs). Your best bet is Room 16 or 17 in the guesthouse, each of which features a patio complete with a fire table and a private entrance from the inn’s pretty courtyard. 76 Main St., Nantucket, MA 2554, 76main.com.
Izakaya Ittoku
At an authentic Japanese izakaya, the food is meant to serve as a supporting role to the endless flow of sake. But at this Brighton hangout, the infinitely snackable dishes—flame-licked yakitori-style skewered meats, crisp fried oysters, the noodle omelet hybrid known as omusoba—are just as much of a draw. Maximize your experience of the massive menu (and the hefty platters of pan-fried pork and kimchi) by indulging with friends. 1414 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2135, .
Clear Flour Bread
You know you’ve found the perfect croissant when you can hear the flaky pastry layers coming apart as you take your first bite. That certainly describes the buttery, ethereal pastries rolled by hand at this Brookline institution. The classic, chocolate-filled, and Gruyère-stuffed croissants are baked fresh daily (and worth the pilgrimage), but if you want to sample the luscious apricot or raspberry versions, you’ll have to make the trek on Saturday or Sunday, and early: They sell out fast. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 2446, clearflourbread.com.
Farmstead Table
You can practically taste the love in chef Chad Burns’s buttery asparagus-and-goat-cheese quiche, delicate house-made blintzes, and chive soft-scrambled eggs with Grafton cheddar. That it’s all served in a sunny space brimming with homespun accents (rustic wood tables, walls festooned with embroidery hoops) makes the experience all the more charming. Don’t miss the fluffy popovers. 71 Union St., Newton Centre, MA 2459, farmsteadtable.com.
Ceia Kitchen + Bar
Rye crêpes with ricotta, smoked salmon, and fiddleheads. House-made linguiça with eggs. Portuguese sweet-bread French toast with strawberries and streusel. This Newburyport hot spot turns out pumped-up versions of brunch favorites with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients (which makes sense, considering chef Patrick Soucy is an organic farmer himself). When the weather’s fine, kick back on the patio for prime Sunday-morning people-watching. 38 State St., Newburyport, MA 1950, ceiakitchenbar.com.
Darren Le
If a bad hair day can ruin an ordinary weekday, imagine the havoc a follicular faux pas could wreak on your wedding day. Enter Darren Le. The Mizu stylist, who turns out romantic updos and sleek chignons with aplomb, consults with each bride to make sure her locks are aisle-ready, even if it takes a trial run (or two) to get it just right. darrenle.com.
Boston Nanny Centre
Finding the right nanny to care for your precious peanut only adds to a new parent’s stress. But with an extensive application and screening process, Boston Nanny Centre makes the job a little easier. They make sure that all of their nannies are citizens or legal residents, over 21, have experience in childcare, are certified in good health by their physician, and are recommended by at least five references. All the while, staffers are accessible via phone and email, and are more than willing to do a little psychological handholding. 135 Selwyn Rd., Newton, MA 2461, bostonnanny.com.
Vera Wang
A single designer is hardly right for every bride, but top-notch service, from first fitting to final alteration, is on every betrothed's wish list. This couture retailer stocks gowns that are dreamy, feminine, and exactly what we want for the big day. With more styles in-house than online and more-than-accomodating consultants, the hardest part will be choosing among satin, tulle, and silk. 73 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, verawangboston.com.
La Residencia Spa
You could go to one of those fancy spas with the stark furniture and the green apples stacked perfectly so. But when you're in need of coddling, a place that's more welcoming than antiseptic is refreshing. La Residencia, located in a renovated two-story house with shabby-chic décor, has a cozy vibe. And a day there feels less like a clinic visit and more like a day with girlfriends—girlfriends who wax, extract, and massage, that is. 336 Elliot St., Newton Upper Falls, MA 2464, laresidenciaspa.com.