Best Seafood Restaurant, Dish
Union Oyster House
Oysters on the half shell at the Union Oyster House, 41 Union St., Boston. Straight from the Cape, fresh daily. Stay at the raw bar ($2.95 for six); upstairs they cost more. 41 Union St., Boston, MA
Best Literary Series
Harvard Book Store
Where else can you learn the secrets of grilling with Mark Bittman, examine fascism with Madeleine Albright, and ponder life sans social media with virtual-reality trailblazer Jaron Lanier? It’s all about variety at this perennial favorite, where the events series—presented in a range of venues, on a range of subjects—caters to bookworms of all stripes. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, http://harvard.com
Best Bath and Body Products
Follain
This pretty, well-appointed South End apothecary caters to your beauty needs, but with a conscience. Owner Tara Foley selects only the healthiest and most environmentally friendly products, including locally made goods from Shamanuti, Farmaesthetics, and Amber Blue, to line her shelves (an in-store hand-and-body-soap bar for refills cuts down on plastic bottle waste, too). Foley’s even committed to your well-being on vacation: Her Nantucket outpost opened this past May. 53 Dartmouth St., Boston; and 9A S. Beach St., Nantucket, http://www.shopfollain.com
Best Men's Clothing, Coats
Burberry's
This is Burberry's? If you are wedded to the image of Burberry's as catering to a stuff-upper-lip, sensible shoe-wearing clientele, think again. Sure, you can still buy the classic trench, but the store is moving away from its ultra-conservative roots and getting a little hipper. The men's overcoats range from traditional toppers to wool and cashmere overcoats, shearlings, and leather jackets— in short, something for everyone. 2 Newbury St., Boston, MA
Best Used Bookstore
Boston Book Annex
Signs of authenticity in the book world: the musty smell of old paper and bindings; the creak of the wooden floorboards; a house cat lounging on the counter as if she owns the place. Add seemingly endless warrens of well-organized books and you have the prototype for the perfect used bookstore. Room after room has been organized here into such eccentric but irresistible categories as "Polar Exploration" and "Disasters." The store also offers recent releases and first editions. (A larger collection of rare books is in the company's 705 Centre Street branch in Jamaica Plain.) 908 Beacon St., Boston, MA
Best Pet Bakery
Polka Dog Bakery
Candy jars stuffed with dried chicken livers and beef esophagi and a sweeping buffet of artisanal dog cakes and brownies (bearing names like Pawreos and Power Barks, inevitably) make this place puppy heaven. Two floors of accessories include a wall of collars and enough rubber to sate any dog's shoe fetish; a kitty corner caters to the smarter species, lest any felines feel left out. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 2118, http://polkadog.com
Best Fries
The Publick House
Carb addicts, allow us to introduce you to your downfall: Monk's Frites at the Publick House. A mere $6 gets you a shareable portion of hand-cut fries worth their weight in Yukon gold. These not-too-crispy, not-too-soft pommes are lightly dusted with sea salt, wrapped in a traditional Belgian paper cone, and finally served up with a choice of two homemade dipping sauces (we can't get enough of the fresh herb mayo and the truffle ketchup). 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 2445,
Best Back Bay Restaurant, Neighborhood
Trident Cafe
For all its beauty and history, the Back Bay struggles to maintain a true neighborhood feel. Its commercial district caters to tourists and students; on weekends, Newbury Street seems a bit too much like an outdoor mall. Amid the clamor of shoppers and too-noisy, expensive sidewalk cafés, the Trident is a low-key, affordable oasis. Here, diners can tuck into the signature stuffed French toast (served all day) or savory items like homemade squash ravioli and a mom-approved meatloaf, and enjoy it in relative peace. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2115, http://tridentbookscafe.com
Best Brunch, Berkshires
Martin's Restaurant
Regulars know to get to Martin's before noon, as this bustling brunch spot, with its no-frills menu and attitude-free staff, always fills up fast. Guests doodle with crayons on paper place mats—the best are hung on the bulletin boards—as they wait for custom omelets with homemade hash browns or French toast topped with fresh fruit. And just so lazy latecomers don't miss out, the restaurant serves brunch until 3 p.m. 49 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA http://martinsgreatbarrington.com/
Best Men's Clothing, North
Giblees
Giblees may not look like much from vantage of Route 114, but behind its inconspicuous storefront is an international array of the finest men's suits and casualwear this side of I-95. Lucky, Paper Denim & Cloth, Hugo Boss, and Coogi are just a few of the big-city brands you'll find at this surprisingly swank suburban haberdashery, whose cordial staff has 50 years of experience making the men of the North Shore look their best. 85 Andover St. (Rte. 114), Danvers, MA http://giblees.com/
Best Takeout, South
Gimme the Skinny
You can get decent takeout dinners anywhere. But gourmet low-fat? This shop specializes in event catering, but you can order individual meals as well: apricot-glazed chicken over brown rice, spinach and chicken manicotti, pork loin with caramelized apples. Oh, and low-fat fudge brownies with two—count 'em, two—grams of fat. Get a dinner for two at $10.49 each, or a family-sized portion (serves 4 to 6) for $39.99. 35 Washington St., Norwell, MA
Best Wedding Venue, Unique
Boston Public Library
Matt Teuten Photography The gurgle of the cast-bronze fountain in the Italianate open-air courtyard. The glow of the green glass lamps on Bates Hall’s long reading tables. Set the scene for your own epic love story at the BPL. With an array of dramatic party spaces and creative, personalized cuisine from the Catered Affair, the Renaissance Revival treasure is less library and more fairy-tale romance in the making. bpl.org; thecateredaffair.com/bpl. 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA
Best Resort Hotel, Martha's Vineyard
Winnetu
This beachfront resort is located just a short bike ride away from Edgartown. Not that you'll ever need to trek into town. The family-friendly property offers myriad accommodation options to suit everyone from couples to cousins, and has a bevy of amenities—tennis, yoga, pools—to keep the crew happy all day long. The Dunes, the Winnetu's restaurant, caters to a diverse crowd, including the kiddos. 31 Dunes Rd., Edgartown, MA 02539, http://winnetu.com
Best Men's Clothing, Casual
Sault New England
Photograph by Leonard Greco Owner Philip Saul (pictured) will bring sartorially salty New England cred to your closet. Pick up a button-down, available in a variety of fabrics, from the store's eponymous label, made in Fall River. Or go for a trusty selection of familiar brands like Jack Purcell, Penfield, and Jack Spade—with surprising twists, like vintage leather brogues to pair with Unbranded Japanese selvage tapered denim jeans. Naturally, you'll want to grab some beer soap or beard oil on your way out. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, http://saultne.com
Best Lunch, Kids
Pastoral
Fort Point Italian restaurant Pastoral gets points for a prime location (blocks from the Boston Children's Museum) and an excellent parking situation (get a $5 validation for the nearby Farnsworth Garage). There's ample stroller parking in the takeout area, and tables are widely spaced so antsy children can roam free. The kids' menu, meanwhile, offers thoughtful touches like gluten-free pizza; paper and crayons arrive while you wait. 345 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210, http://pastoralfortpoint.com