Barefoot Books
Kids? Reading? Ha. Pass the remote. Fortunately this Porter Square independent publisher and bookshop still emphasizes literacy and creative storytelling, matching up unequaled illustrations with cross-cultural tales to create award-winning titles such as The Gigantic Turnip and the celebrated My Daddy Is a Pretzel. In-store craft sessions, sing-alongs, and community store hours further the case for imagination—no batteries required. 1771 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA barefootbooks.com.
City Video
In some stores you search for hours for a decent title. In others, like City Video, you instantly strike gold. Maybe that's because its shelves aren't stuffed full of 6,000 copies of lame summer blockbusters, but instead feature an overwhelming and diverse selection of cult movies, foreign films, and classics. If you do get stuck, the literate staff bubbles with picks and suggestions. Take advantage of the "Two-for Tuesday" offer to help the week pass that much quicker. 23 White St., Porter Square Shopping Center, Cambridge, MA .
Barneys New York
Some men like to shop. Then there are the rest of them. At Barneys New York, the breadth of merchandise—a bounty of socks, cuff links, wallets, watches, duffels, and other assorted man-bags—offers something for both kinds of fellows. Dandies can spend hours deliberating over the perfect pocket square, while the guy who just needs a tie can get in and out before the sweat starts to bead. 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.
Classic Tuxedos
High-end tuxedos by Matteo Mass and Denise Hajjar as well as standard lines like Ralph Lauren and Perry Ellis. This place rents tuxedos to celebrities like Ted Danson, as well as various and sundry Celtics and Patriots. Didn't realize it was a black tie event? In a pinch, it'll get you tuxed in a few hours. 249 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Oishii
Sushi restaurants these days often look like futuristic temples, and the newfangled rolls they serve are themselves elaborate works of architecture. So it may seem surprising that a cramped 13-seat spot with nightly hour-long waits continues to inspire such reverence. And then you taste the fish: buttery baby hamachi scattered with slivered jalapeño; a teacup full of creamy Kumamoto oyster sashimi; and, for timid eaters, stellar samples of standard tuna and salmon. 612 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill, MA 2467, oishiiboston.com.
South Street Diner
From eggs, home fries, and pancakes to the turkey club piled with crispy bacon, the 24-hour South Street Diner nails the classics, then ups the ante with plates like chocolatey French toast and fried pickles (not together, thankfully). With Nitzer Ebb and Passion Pit on the jukebox and mimosas available until 1 a.m., we love South Street for the same reason we love Boston: It's steeped in tradition, but never short on quirk. 178 Kneeland St., Boston, MA 2111, southstreetdiner.com.
Cisco Brewers
With a brewery, distillery, and winery all surrounding one chill courtyard, this is the perfect place to while away a few afternoon hours on the Grey Lady. Sip a Summer of Lager, slurp oysters (if you're lucky enough to catch the occasional raw bar), and play cornhole, all set to live tunes played by local musicians. Bonus: It's located off the new Hummock Pond Road bike path, so you can safely coast there and back to town. 5 Bartlett Farm Rd., Nantucket, MA ciscobrewers.com.
The Jesuit Urban Center, South End
True, many happy couples found their love in the Ralph Lauren paint department of Homo Depot—er, Home Depot. But Sunday morning Mass at the Jesuit Urban Center spawns more blessed pairings. The Urban Center's liturgy is both classic and contemporary; its mixed congregation is mostly gay; its AIDS and HIV support programs are some of the in town; and its coffee hour is a great place to get phone numbers. 775 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA .
Boston Bowl
If Chuck E. Cheese is for country mice, this place is definitely for city mice. A longtime (since 1959) magnet for neighborhood families, it boasts 44 bowling lanes (30 ten-pin, 14 candlepin), 12 billiard tables, 80 video games, a free indoor playground, and tasty pizza. It's also open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it draws its share of singles, too. 820 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, MA .
Henrietta's Table
The Goldilocks Principle is perfectly apt when applied to early-morning eats: Go too big and you’re ready for a nap before 10 a.m., go too small and you’ll be hungry within the hour. Henrietta’s gets it just right, balancing out hearty staples like red flannel hash with lighter fare like smoothies and fresh-baked pumpkin bread. One Bennett St., Cambridge, MA 2138, henriettastable.com.
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
At this point, it’s no secret that the Mandarin is the place for a spa getaway (we could spend a whole night, in fact, in the plungepool-equipped relaxation area). But there are plenty of other ways this opulent hotel makes you feel well cared for during a stay here, from the thoughtful nightly turndown service in the surprisingly large rooms to the 24-hour room service from the buzzy Ramsay’s Kitchen downstairs. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com.
Tile Showcase
Planning a back splash in your kitchen? A mosaic in your bathroom? Tiling your entryway or looking for flagstones for your patio? The selection might be overwhelming, but the consultants are adept at navigating you through the many lines such as Country Floors, Grazia, Emil Ceramica, and Tagina. They'll also help answer any design questions. 1 Design Center Place, Boston, MA .
Drink
After six years spent whipping the city into a craft-cocktail frenzy with its pitch-perfect Manhattan variations and handcarved ice cubes, Barbara Lynch and John Gertsen's tippler's haven has, thankfully, loosened up a bit. Once-monthly tiki-themed soirees keep things festive, and groups can now make bar-section reservations during off-peak hours. 348 Congress St., Boston, MA 2210, drinkforpoint.com.
Yelena
Hidden in the parking garage of the Atrium at Chestnut Hill is this whiz with the sewing machine. Yelena, mother of Tatiana (as in Bridals by Tatiana), is the seamstress with the mostest. No alteration is too difficult or too hurried for her. We tested Yelena with a pricey Vera Wang gown that had to be refitted in 24 hours; the job included ripping seams, restructuring a bodice, and hemming a fitted-waist A-line skirt. The result: Not a thread out of place. 300 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA tailoringservice.com.
Tess
Deep inside the grunge of Harvard Square, this boutique is a welcome alternative for those who eschew Birkenstocks for Blahniks. Tess specializes in high-end women's designer clothing from Biella Collezioni, Strenesse, Dosa, Collette Dinnigan, Loro Piana, TSE Cashmere, Han Feng, Mr. and Mrs. Macleod, Ted Baker, and Ter Et Bantine, to name a few. Then there are those value-added services, such as free delivery and private appointments before and after hours. Look out for a second store in Newton Centre this fall. 20 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA .