Scott Levine, the Studio
Despite all your preparations (and no thanks to the open bar) no one will recall the details until the photos arrive. And while shots of Uncle Leo's Electric Slide are always entertaining, you don't really need them in your album. The more crucial pics are of the day's poignant, fleeting moments. Scott Levine gets those—he gets everything—with the uncanny sense of timing and sharply trained eye that come from 20 years on the circuit. He posts photos online for six months, letting you browse and reorder the best of the bunch. 21 Fieldstone Drive, Stoneham, MA thestudiosl.com.
Barmakian Jewelers
The folks at Barmakian know it's the engagement ring—ever the showstopping diva—that gets all the oohs and aahs, which is why they specialize in wedding bands that complement, rather than compete. The store offers hundreds of men's, women's, and unisex rings in white gold, yellow gold, and platinum, accented by any gem or engraved pattern imaginable. It'll also design a match for that heirloom engagement ring from your fiance's grandmother, making you and your sweetheart just one of two perfect pairs that will have everyone buzzing on the Big Day. 333 Washington St., Boston, MA barmakian.com.
Bambini Design
Just because you're bringing home a bambino doesn't mean you have to turn the place into a romper room. This modern furniture store offers colorful French and Italian items that can make a nursery seem as hip as a South End loft. The goods aren't cheap, but they're long-lasting, and many pieces are designed to grow along with your kids. The DucDuc Dylan set, for example, begins as a crib and changing table, transforms into a toddler bed and dresser, and ends up a coffee table and bar your little nipper can take off to college. 82 Boylston St., Brookline, MA .
MiniLuxe
Getting a weekly manicure is one of life’s little luxuries, and this local chainlet has the process down to a science—literally. The salon’s "Clean Lab" uses hospital-grade sterilization techniques to make sure your polish job doesn’t come with a side of someone else’s germs. Of course, manicures are also an art, and technicians here are experts in shaping, filing, and polishing nails to perfection. And with add-ons like an extended massage and warm-oil and paraffin treatments, your experience can be as luxe—or as simple—as you’d like. 296 Newbury St., Boston; and other locations, miniluxe.com.
Good
Owner Paul Niski culls the world for art and oddments seldom seen here in Boston, and consequently Good's inventory of goods—which run the gamut from furniture to linens to pure objets d'art—is almost continuously refreshed. Among the constants in this tiny, museumlike space: John Derian's eccentric découpage pieces, handcrafted jewelry from the likes of Melissa Joy Manning and Chan Luu, and pristine Japanese lacquerware by Morihata. Above all, there's Niski's own exquisite taste, which, if you're unsure of your gift recipient's style—or even your own—is quite a reliable one to adopt. 133 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, shopatgood.com.
Grand Opening!
For a store hidden away on the upper floor of a sleepy Brookline mall, Grand Opening! is incredibly visible in the community. In the past year, brazen sex-priestess Kim Airs has hosted a night of amateur porn for HBO, handed out condoms at the gay pride parade, and pounded the pavement in support of National Masturbation Month. She brings the same mix of shamelessness and hilarity—minus the sleaziness of so many other shops—to her women-oriented sex store. Whether youre looking for lubes, vibes, clips, or plugs, the clerks will answer all of your questions without blushing—even if you're blushing as you ask them. 318 Harvard St., Suite 32, Brookline, MA .
Maria Madrid
First she stares, then she brushes, then she cuts. Maria is an aesthetic genius who spends time studying the planes of your face and the way your hair curves and curls around it before she makes the first cut. The result: haircuts that work regardless of weather condition (ie. no more bad hair days). Spanish-born and very energetic, Maria's a delightful contrast to the laid-back, classical-music ambience of the salon. Snip snip, chat, chat— her topics of choice range from the problems of urban school systems to the nature of true friendship. Le Pli Salon & Day Spa, The Charles Hotel, 5 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
Marathon Sports
Yeah, they're only shoes. And yeah, Kenyans run without 'em. But until you swap the Esplanade for the Savannah, you'd best take your jogging footwear seriously. The running savants at Marathon Sports know that the wrong pair might just be responsible for those niggling aches, and so guide you through the buying process with more attention—and less upselling—than you encountered when purchasing your last car. The smart selection of energy gels, water belts, and technical tees from Sugoi, Brooks, and other pro brands is proffered with condescension-free friendliness, regardless of whether you log five miles each week or 50. 671 Boylston St., Brookline, MA 2445, marathonsports.com.
L'Etoile
Housed in a glass atrium attached to the island's most exclusive inn (the Relais & Chateaux-affiliated Charlotte Inn), this restaurant continues to charm with its alluring mix of casual elegance, contemporary French cuisine, and good-natured, accommodating staff. Whether you're seated inside or under the stars on the adjacent open-air patio, L'Etoile will seduce you. And don't be surprised to see a proposal or two at the tables around you. Order up the house specialty, étouffée of lobster, let the learned sommelier guide you through the extensive wine list, and wait for the romance of the room to work its magic. 27 South Summer St., Edgartown, MA letoile.net.
Audubon Circle
Yet another example of why bigger isn't always better. Don't get us wrong: This burger is big. But it isn't so monstrous that you have to strategize a way to fit it into your mouth. With Audubon's burger, you get the appropriate ratio of bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or blue), and perfectly cooked meat in every mouthful. That means a bottom bun that's not saturated with grease. It also means you'll be able to eat most of it, along with the accompanying roasted potatoes, without feeling woefully overstuffed. Add pleasant service and a sleek, attractive setting, and Audubon is everything your typical burger joint is not. 838 Beacon St., Boston, MA auduboncircle.us.
Lala Rokh
With Thai food on every corner and henna tattoos sold at the mall, the truly exotic is hard to find anymore. That's why this atmospheric Beacon Hill restaurant is the perfect getaway for you and your paramour. The mood is set immediately with orchid centerpieces, hanging tapestries, and sitar music. But it's the food that is truly transporting. Infused with saffron and pomegranate, the homemade dishes will send your tongue on its own magic carpet ride. And with dinner for two including wine and dessert coming in at under $100, it's the least expensive ticket to the Near East you'll find. 97 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA lalarokh.com.
Blue Hills Ski Area
Want to teach your little snow angel to ski, but don’t feel like trekking up north just for a lesson? Try hopping on the bunny slopes right in your own backyard. Despite the black-diamond trails and 300-plus foot drop, the Blue Hills Ski Area is actually perfect for beginners, too, with programs for all ages and levels, including private lessons. We’re also a fan of the equipment rentals, which will save you from dropping a fortune on gear the kids might grow out of in a year or two. 4001 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021, bluehillsboston.com.
Gus & Ruby Letterpress
If you’re going to request the honor of someone’s presence at your wedding, you better make sure the invite is enticing. That’s where Gus & Ruby comes in. Launched 14 years ago by best friends Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire–based stationery business — which now has a brick-and-mortar outpost in Beacon Hill — specializes in creating customized invitations developed with each couple in mind. Experts in letterpress, the duo’s creative designs are true works of art that your guests won’t ever want to toss — right down to the envelope liners, which can include gorgeous illustrations of whatever you fancy. 99 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, gusandruby.com.
Back Bay Bicycles
The adage "size doesn't matter" certainly applies here: Tiny Back Bay Bicycles can't match the sprawling selections of many competitors. But what the shop lacks in space it makes up for in service, and that's what counts for the average weekend bicyclist—not how many $1,000 bikes are in stock. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, consistently going above and beyond the call of retail by replacing your leaky tube on the spot or slipping different packs on your bike rack to see which fits best. As for variety, there's more than enough in the way of mountain bikes, hybrids, and road bikes for any avid cyclist—whether you're a daily commuter or a weekend roadster. 336 Newbury St., Boston, MA papa-wheelies.com.
Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro
The muscles on your face that give you the ability to smile—les zygomates, as the French call them—get a good workout at this Leather District restaurant of the same name, thanks to its wine list of more than 200 bottles. And it's not just the obvious effects of the wine that make you grin. It isn't even the good French food, live jazz, and laid-back downtown atmosphere. It's the way the accessible, affordable wine list makes it easy to indulge in a bottle or two of your favorites. The lusty and juicy reds, crisp whites, and bubbly sparkling wines are available by the glass or in two-ounce tasting flights, and it will cost you only 20 bucks a pop for full bottles of Helderberg, Steen from South Africa, Château de Lavernette, Beaujolais-Villages from Burgundy, and Colosi from Sicily. Which is worth smiling about. 129 South St., Boston, MA winebar.com.