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 .
Mandarin Oriental, Boston
Ah, to kick back with a strawberry-infused water in the Mandarin’s lounge again. After months of quarantine cooking, cleaning, and homeschooling, the Himalayan-salt-stone massages and hydrating body wraps at this 16,000-square-foot temple to relaxation promise to be even more restorative—especially if they’re in one of three new treatment rooms the hotel is unveiling as part of its multimillion-dollar renovation. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com/boston.
Verde Salon
Verde’s gorgeous cuts, highlights, and extensions aren’t just good-looking — they’re good for the environment, too. As a zero-waste, certified sustainable salon, this beloved Braintree coiffeur recycles, repurposes, or composts hair clippings; turns salon waste into clean energy; and uses eco-friendly products. The space itself is a natural beauty, too, with enough blond wood and greenery to turn your hair appointment into an unexpected escape. 89 Hancock Street, Suite 103, Braintree, MA 02184, verdesalon.org.
Pawsh Dog Boutique & Salon
Cue the puparazzi! The expert groomers at this newly expanded Back Bay salon have styled Tom and Gisele’s furry family members, among other celeb canines, and they’ll clean and clip your pooch with the same level of care and attention to detail. Want to make Fido feel even more special? Pick up a few organic treats and toys in the on-site boutique while he gets spruced up. 31 Gloucester St., Boston, 02115, pawshboston.com.
B/Spoke Studios
This locally owned studio leads the pack with top-notch amenities, including free shoe rental and impeccably clean locker rooms stocked with Aesop products. The various options—from super-sweaty hot rides to all-levels community classes—offer the perfect blend of cardio, core work, and conditioning. 101 Federal St., Boston, 617-951-9900; 50 Central St., Wellesley, 781-772-1920; bspokestudios.com. 101 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110, bspokestudios.com.
LaundroMutt
Hosing down Fido is simple at this ingenious self-service canine salon in Fresh Pond, where dog owners dunk squirming pooches into stainless-steel industrial sinks equipped with built-in leashes. Handy dryers and a choice of organic shampoos promise clean, fluffy fur. To keep patrons (canine and human) occupied while waiting, LaundroMutt offers a comfortable upstairs area appropriately dubbed the BarkaLounge. 489 Concord Ave., Cambridge, MA laundromutt.com.