L'Espalier
Putting his own stamp on fusion fare, chef Frank McClelland has managed to combine the best of French culinary techniques with local New England ingredients to stunning effect. McClelland's legendary degustation menus are worth the splurge: When we get a hankering for pot au feu, tapenade, or petits fours, we head to Gloucester Street. Did we mention the cheese tasting—oh la la. Simply put, L'Espalier is where Bostonians turn when the meal just has to go perfectly. 774 Boylston St, Boston, MA lespalier.com.
Interlocks Salon and Day Spa
There's very little on the cutting edge of hairstyling that hasn't made its way up north, thanks to Interlocks. This full-service salon and day spa may have a small-town feel, but it boasts a pool of stylists and colorists straight from the Back Bay and beyond. Specialty services include strand-by-strand hair extensions, thermal straightening, and imaging software consultations so you can see your hair in any color, style, and length before you take the plunge. Once you're properly coiffed, head over to one of the massaging thrones in the nail salon for a "Margarita Mango" pedicure. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA interlockssalon.com.
Petit Patapon
Darling details make the difference at Petit Patapon. Whatever best becomes your little one—frilly ruffles, rugged stitching, whimsical embroidery—this organized shop has a stylish stock of it. The daisy-flecked T-shirts come with extra protection from harmful UV-rays. Bright capri pants shine in patterns that veer from funky to frilly. There's plenty of handsome headwear, embroidered denim jumpers, and little linen pants sized to fit everyone from infants to grade-schoolers. Can you blame us for wishing the collection came in bigger sizes? 27 Central St., Wellesley, MA .
George's Auto Body Service/Ken's Auto Body
Honesty and patience aren't traits typically associated with an auto body shop. But George's takes the pain out of taking out the dents, with fair prices and work so good you'll never know your car was damaged. They won't patronize or hurry you (they even close for lunch at noon), and the shop is a short walk away from the Needham MBTA commuter line. If they're busy, try Ken's Auto Body next door. It has both the same ownership and the same old-fashioned work ethic. 238 rear near Chestnut St., Needham, MA georgesautobodyservice.com.
Square Cafe
What may be the South Shore's most fetching dining room (white tablecloths, cherry hardwood floors, plaid banquettes, soothing antique prints) now sports an equally alluring menu. Chef Andrea Schnell, an alumna of Duxbury's Windsor House, whips up newfangled, delectable New England favorites. The sweet, juicy tuna with chile vinaigrette alone is worth a visit. All's not perfect: The service here still needs work, and on some busy nights delivery can be slow. But between the convivial atmosphere and the pretty room, there's no better place to kill those extra minutes. 150 North St., Hingham, MA thesquarecafe.com.
The Stonehedge Inn
Male wine collector and female wine collector meet and fall in love. The result? A marriage of private wine cellars that would send any oenophile to the nearest singles bar. The Stonehedge Inn is the lucky home to such a cellar, cultivated by Dawn and Levent Bozkurt. The wine list is an insane document—clearly the work of people who live and breathe the world of wine. There are 15 years of Chateau Latour, including a 1945 bottle for about three thousand dollars. You probably won't find bargains here; what you will find is that wonderful, rare wine you never thought you'd drink in your life. 1160 Pawtucket Blvd., Tygnsboro, MA .
Ember
When this hypnotically arty restaurant-bar designed and owned by a local architect made its debut four years ago, it not only lent zing to the South Shore dining scene, but also beckoned Cape-bound cosmopolites with its expertly shaken martinis, mod leather furnishings, and moody firelight. The arrival of new executive chef George Willette last fall boosted the culinary substance—e.g., tuna tataki, lobster and goat cheese pizza—to match Ember's abundant style, making this nightspot a white-hot proposition, indeed. 459 Plain St. (Rte. 139), Marshfield, MA 2050, .
T.T. the Bear's Place
If you follow the Boston music scene, you already know you can find your favorite up-and-coming rock stars on an almost weekly basis at T.T.'s, the intimate, gargoyle-adorned Central Square club so important to the rock circuit that it might as well be the living room of the local music community. T.T.'s perfect rock club layout lets you skip the opening act and still catch the headliner—or vice versa—while playing pool or hanging out at tables away from the stage, thanks to speakers that let you actually carry on conversation. 10 Brookline Ave., Cambridge, MA ttthebears.com.
Sports Club/LA
Buff, Lycraclad CEOs ogle the quads of passing yoga addicts; yoga addicts ogle the finely tuned glutes of venture capitalists; interior designers swap tall tales of ankle twists by the pool; and male and female models struggle to understand their StairMaster readouts. Boston has never seen a fitness club like this—largely because it's as much urban country club and schmoozefest as gym. In this top-dollar, luxury-ridden setting meld two of humanity's greatest aphrodisiacs: money and sweat. Pound for pound, this four-star spectacle has the most muscle in town. 2 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.com.
Mike Bent
Asked to describe himself, Mike Bent says he prefers to be thought of as a human oddity rather than a magician. bent, who practices a unique brand of comedy-magic with a pseudo-scientific spin, has been hooked on practical jokes since he was a school kids. His favorite tricks still have decidedly adolescent overtones although the plastic vomit of his youth has now morphed into glow-in-the-dark atomic waste. "Be the half life of your next party!" he exhorts. Showtime, ABC, and area comedy clubs are betting that this oddity is the next hot commodity.
Tara West Fashion
This Boston-based personal stylist and lifestyle blogger is who you call when a “good enough” outfit just won’t cut it. From L.A. glitz to East Coast chic, Tara West has her finger on the pulse of the latest trends, curating jaw-dropping looks for any occasion (including, most recently, the Nantucket Film Festival). Need a bigger clothing overhaul? West has an uncanny knack for turning closet chaos into organized fashion nirvana and can even put together a “lookbook” of your new outfits so you’re always dressed to impress. tarawestfashion.com.
Gentle Giant Moving Company
You know your movers can get the job done when they train by running the steps of Harvard Stadium together and rowing crew alongside Olympics-qualified colleagues. Strongman tactics aside, this Somerville-founded company, now with 20 locations nationwide, is well known for its ultra-reliable service (which includes, not surprisingly, a gentle hand with valued belongings) as well as convenient climate-controlled storage and packing services. We also love its commitment to the environment: Gentle Giant reuses moving supplies whenever possible, recycles up to 100,000 pounds of materials each year, and uses only biodegradable foam peanuts. gentlegiant.com.
Davio's
Forget going someplace where everyone knows your name — Davio’s is the place where you’ll know everyone else’s name. After all, during any given lunch or dinner service, you’re likely to run into any of the most influential Bostonians. The popular restaurant group, flawlessly run by owner Steve DiFillippo, now has a shining palace overlooking the water in the Seaport, so there’s yet another reason to grab a table among the city’s leading lights and power brokers. Multiple locations, davios.com.
Mida Newton
If you don’t want your pizza crust charred at Mida’s Newtonville outpost, you’ll have to request it. And that’s just the way it should be at this Italian-inspired hot spot, which churns out New Haven–style pies that are well done in more ways than one. Also well done? Chef Douglass Williams’s homemade pastas (think: mushroom pappardelle and tagliatelle with clams) and the light-and-lovely cocktail list, which plays well with a fresh, modern ambiance perfect for everything from weekend brunch with friends to date nights close to home. 261 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460, midarestaurant.com.
Notch Brewing
From the Euro-style lagers crowned in creamy foam to the pints of English bitter and New England IPAs, everything in Notch Brewing’s beer lineup lands under 4.5 percent ABV — making them perfect for enjoying with friends all day (while maintaining your wits, of course). Where you clink those drinks is up to you: Notch’s waterfront taproom in Salem is a quick ferry ride away, and now it’s brought the low-octane party to Boston, with a beer-garden-equipped outpost at the Charles River Speedway. Multiple Locations, notchbrewing.com.