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Sam’s finest – available only during the autumn – with deep amber coloring and a warm, spicy smoothness.

Located in Harvard’s splendid Memorial Hall (see Memorial Hall), this theater has hosted many luminaries over its 120 plus years. Great performers of the past century have graced its intimate stage, including mime artist Marcel Marceau, and the theater has counted Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Ralph Waldo Emerson among its early audiences.

Connected by a walkway to the World Trade Center, the Seaport was one of the first to pioneer the new waterfront district. The price is right for large and comfortable rooms and the pool is a bonus. Regular shuttles to downtown help ease the isolation.

Before blowing your budget on that Chanel handbag, take a peek at Second Time Around, where used designer clothing and accessories get a second lease on life. Think head-to-toe Versace for a mere $100.

Sunny tastes of Provence – down to homemade tapenade and hearth breads – make this a must for gourmets at lunch and dinner.

The epitome of a local Boston bar: dark wood, slightly surly staff, amiable patrons, a dartboard, and a rudimentary pub menu.

Elias Howe invented the sewing machine in Cambridge in 1845, but spent decades securing patent rights.

Close to North Station, the 65 rooms and suites in this former office building all have well equipped kitchenettes for those on longer stays. Note, not all rooms have private bathrooms. Good value.

Harvard Square’s original (1927) hotel emerged more comfortable than ever following its latest facelift. Some rooms are small, but public areas are pleasant and clubby, and the Cambridge Common location is enchanting.