The Somerville Theater
Good movies in a good house. That's why folks are demonstrating to save it. Long may it endure. Davis Square, Somerville, MA .
Apley's
The bucks the chain poured into this showcase continue to pay off. A blend of nouvelle and richesse, Apley's wins for the second straight year. Sheraton-Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton St., Boston, MA .
Joe Shea, at the Black Rose
Shea works the day shift during the week, and pours the best Guinness in town. Friendly, listens well. 160 State St., Boston, MA .
Sky Salon
Elizabeth Smith to the rescue: When we rang needing immediate attention for our graying tresses, the stylist fit us in the next day—and matched our brunette locks perfectly, all while maintaining an intuitive balance of chattiness and quietude as we lounged on a couch, waiting for our color to develop. The best part? The salon’s gentle, ammonia-free dye meant we didn’t leave with a burning scalp after color correction—just glossy, shiny hair. skysalonlincoln.com.
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
When we showed Michelle Lee our hair inspiration—a shot of actress Kate Mara’s chic and shaggy shoulder-length bob—she nodded knowingly and got to work. As she snipped, she explained that razor-cutting the ends would create a perfectly imperfect base for her volumizing vertical layers. And she wasn’t kidding. On our way out, our tresses bounced with vigor, proving that you don’t need to be a superstar to look like one. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, salonevamichelle.com.
AAA NE Electronic Services
Kind and gentle to your treasures. 870 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA .
The Plough and Stars
Perfect pour, perfect temperature. BYO bodyguard. 912 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Julien
Feed-your-face opulence in a white-glove setting. Hotel Meridien, 250 Franklin St., Boston, MA .
Chocolates at Campbell & McCabe
Sublime. Even the White House thinks so. 6 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Landry's Bicycles
For its impressive size, central location, and huge inventory, Landry's gets our vote. The staff has consistently serviced our two-wheelers well and quickly (as we've scooted around on Landry's-issued loaners), and helped us navigate the selection of accessories. And in their spare time, employees advocate for better biking in Massachusetts. 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, .
Shag
After a quick tête-à-tête, Brianna Coons shaped our unruly hair into something slick, taking into account our capacity for at-home styling (none). The best part? The chop grew out so evenly, it still looked fresh months later. 840 Summer St., South Boston, MA 2127, shagboston.com.
Fairsted Kitchen
Drinking at this newcomer is like throwing one back in your grandmother’s foyer—if she served cocktails on draft and used vintage cordial glasses for shots, that is. 1704 Beacon St., Washington Square, MA 2445, fairstedkitchen.com.
Drinkwater's
Discover your inner Don Draper with Italian wool jackets, made-to-measure shirts (including sharp styles from Engineered Garments), and elegant ties. 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, drinkwaterscambridge.com.