Umami Omakase
Uni alum Gary Lei opened this exceptional North Cambridge sushi destination in late 2019, so perhaps it escaped your notice in the turmoil of the next few years. Now it’s waiting for you with 18 delightful courses of sashimi, sushi, Wagyu, and more (sake pairings optional but very recommended). The space is fairly no-frills — all the better to train your full attention on exquisite bites like a spoonful of quail egg, ikura, and tuna tartare, and luscious chawanmushi with shrimp and scallop. À la carte takeout is available, but this is a worthy splurge for a dine-in omakase feast. 2372 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, umamiomakase.com.
McCue Garden Center
Those succulents you impulse-bought are thriving, and now you’re ready to take your gardening game outside. Head over to McCue in Woburn, where blooms, shrubs, and trees of all stripes are dressed to impress. Stroll through the greenhouses to find overflowing hanging planters and endless rows of vibrant annuals, or freshen up your skills with one of the free gardening courses. And if you aren’t quite ready to dig into an outdoor project, the family-owned nursery also offers hard-to-kill houseplants and pots that are too cute to resist. 200 Cambridge Rd., Woburn, MA 01801, mccuegardencenter.com.
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant
Brunch is best served in the company of good friends and shameless rounds of pre-noon cocktails. And right now, there’s no better place to indulge than at Southie’s Lincoln, where the crowd is lively, the dishes are ultra-decadent (did someone say Fruity Pebbles pancakes with cereal-milk anglaise?), and the Bucket of Bubbles makes it easy to toast the day away. Lest you think the lazy late-morning meal is solely a weekend affair, Lincoln serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, so you can get your breakfast-pizza fix on your lunch break. 425 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, lincolnsouthboston.com.
The Garment District
You might have trouble concentrating on the threads inside this giant Alice-in-Wonderland warehouse. After all, the décor—from a statue of a silver horse in full stampede to a collection of Velvises behind the counter—is as sense-boggling as the merchandise. Direct your eyes to the back room, however, and you'll find racks and racks of corduroy, gabardine, and polyester from every decade and in all the colors of the rainbow. Leather biker jackets fondle Jackie-O dresses, and go-go boots tease leisure suits in this spacious checkerboard-tiled playland. Chances are you'll find your style, whether it's Father Knows Best, The Mod Squad, or The Jimi Hendrix Experience. 200 Broadway St., Cambridge, MA garment-district.com.
Boston Center for Adult Education
Sorry guys and dolls, thanks to the Boston Center for Adult Education, there are just no more excuses for thinking salsa is merely a condiment. Even if you have two left feet, the BCAE can teach you everything from swing to ballroom dancing. They make disco cool. Hell, they'll even teach you to belly dance. And if the thought of that first dance in front of all those people sounds worse than 50 ears with your mother-in-law, they eve have a class called "Dance at Your Wedding: Choreographing the Moment." 5 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA bcae.org.
A Shining Example
When your shoes need to be as buff as the rest of you, head here. Three factors separate a great shoeshine from a merely good one. First, the high wooden thrones need to be sufficiently elevated to allow a sense of kingliness. Second, it's gotta be quick—and these efficient women move people in and out. Third is technique: They use both a high-grade canuba wax and a water spray to give the polish extra shine; they have a crisp, napping motion with the towel; and they always take an extra few seconds to retie your laces. Nice touch—after all, kings don't like to bend. 1 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Pearl's
Some might suggest that brunch is a wee bit early for Pearl's molten chocolate cake. Especially when there are equally delectable and (slightly) less gluttonous alternatives, such as mascarpone-stuffed French toast or smoked salmon Benedict. But from your first forkful of the fluffy outer layer and smooth liquid-cocoa center, you'll know you made the right decision. The dessert takes 18 minutes to prepare, so order as soon as you've been seated, then let your anticipation build while people-watching on the new patio. 47 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA 2130, pearlsrestaurant.com.
Cat Silirie, No. 9 Park
Whatever you do, don't call Cat Silirie a sommelier. That title conjures up a tastevin-toting snob stealing sips of your wine. Silirie is too modest—and tasteful—to affect such hauteur, preferring instead to work behind the scenes, where she has created a service staff of "total sommeliers." Six days a week, Silirie conducts tastings and quizzes for the entire waitstaff—with homework. It may sound intense, but when the coat check attendant asks if you enjoyed your grüner veltliner, you realize Silirie's handiwork instills a passion for wine unparalleled in most other restaurants anywhere. 9 Park St., Boston, MA no9park.com.
Zaftigs
This isn't the place to start a diet, unless you're on a strict regimen of noodle kugel, knishes, and chopped liver. The fresh cheese blintzes and potato pancakes are to die for. And your Jewish mother will kvell over the brisket even if she doesn't take to tray of offerings such as pork sausage and smokehouse ham. Kosher, this is not. In fact, what has made this "new Jewish"-style restaurant one of the eating spots in Brookline are the less traditional offerings, including cheddar-apple omelets and banana French toast. The wild artwork and hip young wait staff seal the deal: This ain't your grandma's deli. 335 Harvard St., Coolidge Corner, Brookline, MA .
Chuck Bass, Jean-Pierre Salon
Chuck Bass isn't fond of small talk (so don't even try to land any Gossip Girl jokes). Sure, there'll be the usual banter about what you're looking for in a trim, but as soon as he lifts the scissors, he'll go ninja on your locks, stealthily maneuvering through his multi-step shearing (first wet, then dry, and once more after the blowout). By the time you leave, every hair on your head has been restored to its rightful length and place. 116 Newbury St., Boston, MA chuckbass.com.
Jamaicaway/Riverway
Whether you're training for the marathon or just trying to raise your heart rate, a jog along the Emerald Necklace is unrivaled. We tried them all—the Charles River Esplanade, the Minuteman Bikeway, the Commonwealth Avenue Mall—and still came away with the same answer as last year: Running through the gardens of the Back Bay Fens, along the Riverway and Jamaicaway, out to Jamaica Pond, and onto the Arnold Arboretum is literally a breath of fresh air. The serenity along the river, the dirt trails just before the pond, the water fountain at the boathouse, the hills and flowers of the arboretum—they combine to make for a perfect jog. Even if 26.2 isn't in your future. MA
Club Cafe
Just over the Back Bay border of the South End, this joint is the city's gay answer to Cheers, a place where everybody knows your name—and probably has some good gossip on you. Unlike most gay clubs, Club Cafe really does offer something for everyone: You can bring your mother here for dinner, invite straight friends to meet you for drinks, or go by yourself and make eyes at attractive out-of-towners. The piano bar (in front) and video bar (in back) dutifully keep old and new gay-media traditions alive. 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA .
Breve Spa at Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Sick of the assembly-line nail-salon experience? Swap your clothes for a robe and slippers, sit back in one of Breve’s five full-massage chairs, and prepare for the spa mani-pedi of your dreams. Many of the nail techs here came over from the recently shuttered Bliss Spa at the W, so they know how to turn a buff-and-polish sesh into a memorable day (see: the red-algae-infused, anti-aging “cocoon wrap”). Also upping the Zen quotient is access to the co-ed relaxation room, where you can savor a cold beverage or a light snack and forget about the hustle and bustle of the outside world. 450 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210, omnihotels.com.
Farmacia
This buzzy bar has just nine seats — so be sure to book your prepaid ticket far in advance. It’s well worth the effort to take a journey around the world through several cocktails. Whether it’s flavors of the Caribbean or the American South, the theme changes every few months, which means you’ll probably want to set a reminder to book a seat for the next, and the next, and the next. Light snacks accompany the drinks, but we recommend padding your stomach with a carb-y North End dinner beforehand. 5 North Sq., North End, MA 02128, farmacianorthend.com.
The Fairmont Copley Plaza
Always dreamed of fairy-tale vows? Arriving in a flower-draped, horse-drawn carriage for your nuptials in the Fairmont’s Grand Ballroom — a historical space complete with ornate 30-foot ceilings, twinkling chandeliers, and gilded details — should do the trick. The Oval Room, with its frescoed ceiling mural and handcarved moldings, is also a top spot for large guest lists; for more-intimate events, there’s the St. James room, which boasts warm and inviting mahogany details. No matter which space you choose, one thing’s for sure: You and your guests are guaranteed to feel like royalty. 138 St. James Ave., Boston, MA 02116, fairmont.com/copley-plaza-boston.