Anchovies
The chicken "parm" is terrific, the drinks are huge, the prices can't be beat, and the serving staff couldn't be friendlier. When Mary, the waitress, raps your salad dressing options, it's virtual poetry. 433 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA .
Small Planet Bar and Grill
Eclectic props and great people watching can keep you entertained if the date turns out to be a bore, and the excellent vegetable burgers can save the evening if your new friend turns out to be a vegetarian. 565 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Tavern on the Water
Opened eight months ago, the Tavern has great water views, outdoor dining, and outrageous sunset jazz and entertainment in the summer on Thursdays and Fridays. Come by car, water taxi, or sail over on your yacht. 1 Pier 6, Eighth St., Charlestown, MA .
Javier Berdecia at Daryl Christopher
When the occasion calls for more than your standard shower-comb-and-run hairstyle, Javier is the man to call. With a twist of the wrist and a spritz of spray, he'll turn that workaday do into something that will turn heads. 118 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Brookline Grooming and Pet Supplies
A full-service salon: skillful grooming, facilities for washing your dog yourself, supplies and food for sale, and a monthly newsletter to keep you in touch with the latest in doggy hair care. 146 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA .
The Gifted Buyer
Judith Rosenthal can save you time and money—no kidding. She's independent, unlike most personal shoppers, so she casts her net widely, hauling in the items of your choice, often at bargain prices.
Webster Home Engineering
Owner Alden Webster is a structural engineer by day, but at night and on weekends he provides the best emergency service around, as well as an impressive in-depth analysis of your home's system. 113 North St., Lexington, MA .
Gerald Sheetoo
A trained engineering technician, Sheetoo will help determine the stereo system that's right for you, based on a thorough analysis of your musical preferences, lifestyle, listening habits, and budget. 38 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA .
Wayland Golf Shop
For a great combination of price, quality, and service, this family-owned mecca is hard to beat. And you can try out your club selection on the course before you buy. Route 27, Wayland, MA .
Toad
Brand-new and about as big as your living room, this music club (capacity: 65) devotes itself to bringing in top tunesmiths and letting you get so close to them you can observe them in full texture. 1912 Massachusetts Avenue (Porter Square), Cambridge, MA .
The Evans Wing
It took four years and $11.5 million, but the Evans Wing is back and packed with 700 fine European and American paintings, including works of such masters as Renoir, Monet, Picasso, O'Keeffe, and Pollock. The MFA, Boston, MA .
Savoy
David O. Selznick would have been comfortable in this rococo gilt-and-plaster movie house. Unfortunately, given the roster of films that play there, the architecture is much more diverting than the show. 539 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Fourth-Floor Apartment
The Combat Zone has a number of good ones, but the best is to be seen on Newbury Street. Each afternoon, the occupant of a fourth-floor apartment near the Ritz disrobes, then cleans house. We applaud her lack of inhibition . . . and shades. Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Kenneth Cole
What's not to love? Shoes that are hip, yet comfortable. A designer who's a dish, yet a good daddy. And an ad campaign that will make you laugh before you run out with your charge card to challenge Imelda for the crown. 128 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Frank Webb Home
With working displays, experienced showroom consultants, and a selection sourced from the largest plumbing distributor in the Northeast, Frank Webb can be trusted to guide you through everything from going green to finally upgrading your showerhead. 307 Dorchester Ave., Boston, MA 02127, frankwebb.com.