Artemisia Floral Studio
Floral innovation is in full bloom at Artemisia, the downtown showcase for arrangements that run from delicately tied bundles of tiny daisies to huge, sweeping bunches of irises, roses, and lilies. Exquisite, spare designs—say, planted hyacinths, pussywillows, and roses—are a specialty. But the real kicker here is the personal service, which includes plenty of one-on-one time with the florally proficient employees. 327 Summer St., Boston, MA .
Dominick Mango
Mango's shop, The Image Maker, at 28 Boylston St. in Cambridge, is the favorite of our art director, Sam Savage, who should know about these things. For one thing, Savage says, Mango managed to clear up some pictures he could barely see on the contact sheet. "We give quality prints without killing on the price," Mango says. The Image Maker also has one-day developing service. The Image Maker, 28 Boylston St., Cambridge, MA .
Avalon
You probably think of Avalon as a dance club. Well, okay, it is a dance club. But it's also the perfect venue for live music, large enough to lend an arenaful of adrenaline to some of the biggest names in rock, but small enough so you can get up close and catch the sweat from the likes of Garbage and Rufus Wainwright. A recent multi-million-dollar renovation both increased the size and improved the acoustics. But it's still general admission—so just showing up early scores a spot in the front row. 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA .
Video Oasis
Where else but in this sketchy warehouse could we find so many films we've never seen before? The scope of the Oasis collection boggles the brain: What do you feel like tonight, honey? Sorority Babes in the Slime Bowl-a-Rama or Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death? Neither, sweetie. Let's just cuddle in front of A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell. 625 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .
Heartbreak Hill Running Company
On the Esplanade sporting this shop’s iconic logo? You can bet you’ll get a few high-fives along the way. That’s because Heartbreak Hill is a bona fide pavement pounders’ haven, stocked with top-rated sneakers, breathable T-shirts, ergonomic water bottles, and anti-chafe balm (because…sweat). As avid runners themselves, staffers intuitively know what you need along your journey—most important, free running clubs to help you find your tribe. 294 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA heartbreakhillrunningcompany.com.
Harbor View Hotel
After dropping off your bags in one of this waterfront hotel’s plush rooms or suites, each decked out in teals and taupes, order a cocktail at the in-house bar Henry’s (the Thyme After Thyme is finished with local sea salt) and take it out to the wraparound porch. Sip and savor sweeping views of Chappaquiddick and Edgartown lighthouse. Repeat. You are now officially on vacation. 131 N. Water St., Edgartown, MA 02539, harbor-view.com.
Hotel Commonwealth
After a sweeping $50 million upgrade, Hotel Commonwealth is in a league of its own. In addition to 96 sleek new guest rooms, the Kenmore Square gem now boasts a Red Sox-themed luxury suite and private event space overlooking Fenway Park. Add in three of the city's hottest dining and drinking spots—including Eastern Standard, which also serves up gourmet room service—and you have a home run. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, hotelcommonwealth.com.
Janie Haas Events
It's the thoughtful details that make weddings so unforgettable. But who has time to sweat the small stuff? Leave it to Janie Haas. A 36-year industry veteran, Haas will coordinate vendors, secure rentals, review contracts, and make sure everything is picture-perfect for your walk down the aisle. She and her planners will give you plenty of face and phone time, making the whole process stress-free and—dare we say it?—fun. 125 Coachmans Ln., North Andover, MA janiehaasevents.com.
Cambridge War Memorial Pool
The six-lane, 250yard pool is crystal clear and exceptionally maintained. Water temperature gets high marks too: warm enough to draw you in, but cold enough to make you work for a sweat. If the kids are in tow, steer them toward the shallow kiddie pool or the separate diving well. Prices are very reasonable, at $3.25 for Cambridge residents and $3.75 for nonresidents/ 1640 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA .
Linens on the Hill
There are plenty of things out there preventing us from sleeping, but only a few that actually help us catch some ZZZs. One, of course, is a quality mattress. The next is linens, and we're not talking about the sets wrapped in plastic and slapped with a UPC code. You'll rest easy on the luxurious Yves Delorme and Sferra sheets offered at this quaint store. 52 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, linensonthehill.com.
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.
Dick's Sporting Goods
City Sports has dominated this category for years, and if you're trying to pull off athlete chic no matter the cost, it's still a fine choice. Weekend warriors as concerned with price and performance as stylishness, though, should make tracks for Dick's. Here you can score everything from sturdy Russell sweats to high-performance Under Armour tees to footballs, camping tents, and bows and arrows. Alas, the only thing we couldn't find was our long-missing jump shot. 1336 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 1760, .
Bakers' Best Catering
When the only thing the family can agree on is not to sweat over a hot stove, 10-time winner Bakers' Best has got something to satisfy every craving: Dieting Dad will love the grilled vegetable, hummus, and cucumber wrap. Mom will savor the crab cakes with spicy rémoulade on the side. And the kids will fight—good-naturedly, of cours—over who gets second helpings of the cream cheese brownies. 27 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA 2461, bakersbestcatering.com.
Thinking Cup
Amid the vibeless businesses catering to tourists around the Common, Thinking Cup reminds us of the downtown that Bostonians deserve: grownup, urbane, and a little sexy. Outfitted with a sweeping marble counter and leather banquettes, this newcomer channels an old-school European café while crafting deeply flavorful espressos, lavish Valrhona-chocolate mochas, and mor—all using Oregon's legendary Stumptown roasts. But the apex of Thinking Cup's artisanry just might be its Pour Over: a single flawless cup, ground and brewed expressly for you. 165 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2111, thinkingcup.com.
The Paradise Rock Club
You wouldn't usually think of a rock club as the place for poetry. But the Paradise's regular habit of mixing literary readings with hard-rocking indie bands adds a welcome bit of boozy erudition to the local rock scene (not to mention one of the best singles scenes for literary twenty-and thirtysomethings). Not everything at this long-standing rock club is so namby-pamby, of course: The spacious back room where U2 once graced the stage still shakes with the bass and drips with the sweat of rock bands on the verge of hitting the big time. 967-969 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA crossroadspresents.com/paradise-rock-club.