Victoria Turovsky, City Salon
Victoria will take feet that haven't seen a good file in a year and make them clean, soft, and sandal-ready. In her cozy room in the back of the salon, she soaks feet in scented bubbling water, eliminates nasty corns, massages toes, then paints toenails a pretty color. She also offers sage advice on how to keep feet looking healthy (no synthetic shoes please!). 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Belmont Carwash
Once or twice a year, lavish love on your buggy with the $30.99 full treatment— an exterior wash and interior cleaning and vacuuming, with all the bells and whistles. The whole process takes about 15 minutes, and the car washers don't make you feel like a curmudgeon for pointing out that little smudge just to the left of your rear bumper. Given the gentle touches and attention to detail, we wished they buffed car owners, too. 521 Trapelo Rd., Waverley Square, Belmont, MA .
Looney Tunes
Some people will never be swayed by the pure, clean, digital sound of compact discs—they prefer their music to be on vinyl. You can get the best of both worlds—used CDs and LPs—at Looney Tunes. And best of all, many are under $10. Looney Tunes is particularly strong in teh jazz and rock departments. They also carry collectibles: In June, at the Boston store, the avid Beatles fan could take possession of the rare and coveted "butcher cover" for a mere $600. 1106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA .
Mother's Laundry Emporium
The worst problem in Laundromats is not soiled clothes—it's boredom. Mother's has licked it by providing sofas, a television, a Lifecycle, rowing machines, and a tanning salon. You can knock off a few errands while you're there, too: Mother's rents videos and tuxedos (in spring and during Christmas), takes dry cleaning, and provides a copy machine. 957 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Grettacole
Beauty may be only skin deep, but the relaxing effect of a day at Grettacole goes so much deeper. A true spa-goer's spa, Grettacole is staffed by an army of masseuses, aestheticians, and nail technicians—every last one a perfectionist—who can fix a nail as perfectly as they can clean your pores or buff your skin to a high shine. The spa offers not only top-of-the-line services, but also excellent salon and spa products from Kérastase, Bumble & bumble, and Trish McEvoy. 95 Central St., Wellesley, MA grettacole.com.
Anna's Taqueria
The true test of a good burrito is: Will you travel for it? In Boston, burrito lovers have little choice. This is, after all, a city with a whole lot of average Mexican food. To find an affordable burrito worth eating, we recommend taking any and all forms of transportation to one of Anna's Taqueria's three area locations. The restaurants are clean, the service is speedy, and the food is fresh. And the burritos? Well, they're so big and tasty, you might just forget you're in Boston. 1412 Beacon St., Brookline, MA annastaqueria.com.
Belfry Inne & Bistro
Chef George Willette's menu of New England-with-a-twist fare is murder on decision-making. Should we start with Hudson Valley foie gras or Brie-cranberry spring rolls? Sea scallops with pineapple-raisin relish or curry-rubbed duck? Why, oh why, hadn't we brought friends? So we went the responsible route and ordered everything—plus the Thai-roasted cauliflower on the side. Five clean plates later, we were glad we left our pals behind. 8 Jarves St., Sandwich, MA 2563, belfryinn.com.
Waterworks
Waterworks' assortment of beautiful tiles, stylish showerheads, and adorably petite powder-room sinks will inspire you to overhaul every WC in your house. And the luxurious niceties—plush towels and robes, fresh-smelling soaps and lotions from the company's Clean line, and bath accessories in crystal, nickel, and resin—mean you can spruce up your loo without any major construction. 103 Newbury St., Boston, MA waterworks.com.
AZ Studio
Talented colorists and stylists, and a well-supplied beauty boutique (with products from Shu Uemura, Kérastase, Sue Devitt, and Red Flower, among others), guarantee that you will leave the new AZ Studio in the AZure Spa without a hair out of place. The salon's signature ultraprecise haircuts, from smooth bobs to long layers to funky rock-star shags, always stand out and boast invariably clean ends and meticulous shaping. 94 Derby St., Derby Street Shoppes, Hingham, MA azstudio-derby.com.
Brasserie Jo
Okay, it's not in the theater district, but it's hopping till the wee hours. With a jovial ambiance and serious Alsatian cuisine, this is the place to head for a bite when most other kitchens are cleaning their pots. Drop in until 1 a.m. and take the edge off with a bowl of sturdy onion soup or a plate of choucroute. Check out the selection of great beers and good wines if you want to stretch out the night, or order a cappuccino or an espresso to sharpen up for the road. Colonadde Hotel, 120 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Guarino's Swimming Pool Service
If you dove headfirst into last year’s pool-installation craze, a professional maintenance team is likely top of mind. Who better to look after your new oasis than a firm that builds some of the finest swimming holes around? Trust the experts at Guarino’s Swimming Pool Service — a subset of acclaimed pool contractor SSG — to open and close your in-ground gem each year, keep the water clean and balanced, and respond swiftly and skillfully to leaks and faulty equipment. ssgpools.com/guarinos-pool-service.
Ares Shoe Repair
Ares has been resoling, reheeling, and repolishing Boston's finest leather shoes for more than 70 years and will take extra special care of yours. The expert cobblers in the cozy basement storefront are a serious but likeable bunch who each have years of training behind their knowledge of the craft. That expertise means they can resize, stretch out, clean up, or de-scuff just about anything you bring in—fast, and at a reasonable price. 84 Charles St., Boston, MA .
BostonCoach
The driving force behind Boston's corporate power brokers is, literally, this professional and prompt company. Drivers are consistently courteous but not too chatty, and always arrive at their destinations a few minutes early (though they won't ring the bell until the precise designated pickup moment). The fleet of high-quality, immaculately clean vehicles includes Volvo sedans, buses, and vans, many with well-treated leather interiors and fully stocked with periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal. 69 Norman St., Everett, MA bostoncoach.com.
Frankie's Laundry
It doesn't get any easier than this: Pull the sheets off in the morning, and leave them in the vestibule for pickup, and they're waiting for you, cleaned and folded, when you get home. Frankie's has been keeping Bostonians' whites white for 13 years, with same-day service at a bargain-basement 75 cents a pound. Sorry, they won't make your bed. 411 Meridian St., East Boston, MA .
Ed Robichaud, Berkeley Barber Shop
He can clip you any way (And, truth be told, anywhere) you want. His shop is clean, and his manner is refreshingly old-fashioned. He speaks when spoken to, doesn't take offense if you just want to sit there and meditate, and always works until he's sure you look your best. 86 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .