Jessica Thornton, the Green Room
Okay, so you caved and bought boxed hair dye from the drugstore before you got the vax, and it didn’t go well. There’s no shame at Thornton’s exclusive one-chair salon — just unparalleled color correction and plenty of good vibes. Let her wave her magic wand (er, comb) and create exactly the look you’ve been dreaming of since quarantine ended — whether that’s a head full of rich, gorgeous highlights or just all-over color that makes you feel like you again. 40 River St., Boston, MA 02108, greenroomboston.com.
Christina Wikman Interiors
Pandemic or not, virtual design is having a moment — and no one does it quite like Christina Wikman. Dreaming up fresh and colorful looks from her Woburn studio, the interiors whiz can reimagine your lackluster bedroom or dated kitchen without ever walking through your front door. Just tell Wikman what you’re looking for via a thorough design questionnaire, and you’ll get a revamped floorplan, a mockup featuring the pro’s furniture and finish recommendations, and a detailed shopping list to make ordering your new showpieces a breeze. christinawikmaninteriors.com.
WERS
We love a tote bag as much as the next person, but after a while, the GBH and New Yorker ones start to pile up. WERS, Emerson College’s radio station, not only plays some of the best eclectic music around town — from singer-songwriters, rock, and R&B to show tunes and a cappella — its live-music swag also beats all. Baseball caps, T-shirts, hoodies, and coffee mugs all blare your allegiance to Boston’s best college radio station and make you look younger and hipper than you actually are. 120 Boylston St., Theater District, MA 02116, wers.org.
Alisa Neely, Style Scout
You've kept the same old clothes in your wardrobe for years while blowing money on discount finds that don't quite fit or flatter. Take a time-out and call Alisa Neely. She arrives with the demeanor of an old friend, which makes it that much easier to open your closet, pour your heart out, and fill bags with stuff you know you're never going to wear. "Let's release this one back into the wild," she likes to say, referring to that frock you bought in high school. After the great purge, her designer and shop recommendations are spot-on, fully tailored to your look, body, and lifestyle. stylescout.net.
Kodomo
Guaranteed you will eye at least one article of clothing at Kodomo and wonder if there is any amount of tailoring that could make it adult size. The selection of apparel—think flowy striped jump suits for girls and oh-so-cool printed sweatshirts for boys—appeals to any age with relaxed, contemporary silhouettes and muted colors and patterns that feel more joyful than cutesy. Bonus: The shops' featured designers all practice ethical manufacturing. 579 Tremont St., Boston, 617-936-3808; 45 River St., Boston, 617-530-1140; kodomoboston.com. 579 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, kodomoboston.com.
Moxie Salon
After one look at our tired tresses, bubbly owner Kerry Zirpolo proposed an action plan (permanent dye, low-maintenance lob) that made us feel understood, not pushed. She even gave us a nook to peck away at our laptop while waiting for the color to kick in. We left refreshed, renewed, and feeling like we'd just met a new friend. Even better? Weeks later, our hair still held its style, and our chestnut-brown touchup looked bold, not brassy. 691 Belmont St., Belmont, MA 2478, moxiebelmont.com.
James Flynn, The Federalist
One hundred seventeen pages long, with upwards of 32,800 bottles, the Federalist's wine list is a tome to be reckoned with—if not downright feared. But as inaccessible as the list may seem, sommelier James Flynn navigates it with cool confidence and a breadth of knowledge underscored by a sincere affection for wine and food. He can select a single perfect wine for a table filled with even the most difficult of entrée combinations—say, aged beef sirloin cooked rare, roasted scallops, and poussin—and serve the resulting (and invariably delicious) bottle promptly and at the ideal temperature with barely a bat of his eye. 15 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Silvertone Bar & Grill
There are perhaps no greater late-night food cravings than for French fries or macaroni and cheese. Fortunately for Boston barhoppers, Silvertone serves mean versions of both in its soothingly dark subterranean bar and lounge. Slip down the stairs and settle into a booth to order from a menu filled with a mix of comfort food and gourmet dishes, served quickly and efficiently by the casual, friendly staff. The full bar means that those who still have the aptitude for one last tipple can wash down their BLTs with an ice-cold draft. What's more, the location (smack-dab in the middle of the newly trendy Ladder District) makes Silvertone an easy addiction to indulge. 69 Bromfield St., Boston, MA silvertonedowntown.com.
Aujourd'Hui
Boston chef Ed Gannon maintains Aujourd'Hui's reputation as one of the finest hotel dining rooms in the city. No, we're not swayed by the view. Okay, maybe a little. The unpretentious menu is flawlessly presented and prepared, and despite the formal china it succeeds in bridging the gap between over-the-top fine dining and the kind of food that people prefer to eat these days. Chef Gannon's creatively presented dishes are simultaneously hearty and light and they reach the table in a timely fashion. The chef gets extra credit for his friendly way of coming around to the tables, and for so willingly sharing his kitchen with visiting chefs for themed dinners. Four Seasons Hotel, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Leila Garczynski, Exhale
When testing this category, one might expect things to get a little uncomfortable. But unsanitary? Thanks, but no thanks! (In truth, some of the most pain-free waxes weve ever had were disqualified because of sketchy hygieneas in, double-dipping wax from a communal pot.) Luckily, just when we were contemplating letting our bikini line go rogue, we met Exhale pro Garczynski. In addition to the fact that she creates a fresh container of wax for each customer, shes quick and thorough, and any ingrown hairs worst enemy. 28 Arlington St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Amanda Lydon, Truc
So what if Food & Wine Magazine stole our thunder by making her one of America's best new chefs for the year? They read about Lydon's talents here first, courtesy of reviewer Corby Kummer. Indeed, Kummer knows true talent when he tastes it: Lydon's holistic approach to food involves combining the very best local ingredients with proven French techniques. Her frogs' legs, her lamb chops, her simple touch with vinaigrettes and sauces—she's a star on the rise for sure. Lydon makes it look effortless; we can't wait to see what she'll concoct next. 560 Tremont Street, Boston, MA .
City Express
If you need to get something somewhere in this perpetually gridlocked city quickly, you have two options: hire City Express, or . . . okay, you've got only one option. Rain, wind, traffic jams, and subway breakdowns fail to thwart this company's army of messengers, who quietly, safely, and responsibly complete rush deliveries, often along custom routes established for regular customers. Full disclosure: We use City Express. Fuller disclosure: We use City Express because they're the most reliable and efficient service out there. And—novelty of novelties—they staff the phones 24 hours a day to fine-tune delivery schedules. 201 South St., Boston, MA cityexp.com.
George Amaral
Have you ever been told upon showing up at work with a brand-new haircut, "Oh...you look terrific, I'm so happy for you!"? That last part belongs to the realm of getting a good job, a good husband, or a big award. A haircut by George is just such an event. And if you've reached a certain age, he knows how to shear some of those extra years, too. Best of all, George's haircuts pass the test of time. One very short haircut kept its style for more than three months as the hair grew in. Unfortunately, many people already know about George, so book ahead. Mario Russo, 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Eastern Standard
A good brasserie is not a paean to fine French cuisine—though great eats should be in ample supply. Nor is it a flash-in-the-pan hot spot that's busy one month, empty the next. It's a bustling, reliable restaurant where everyone—foodies, tourists, business travelers, sports fans—feels welcome. No place does all-occasion fun better than Eastern Standard, which, five years after takeoff, is still filled noon to night with revelers catching the Sox game and regulars dining at the bar on an expansive menu (raw bar, burgers, salads, charcuterie) that's only gotten better with time. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Square Café
Suburban restaurants often thrive precisely because they're away from the city: A captive audience takes what it can get. Square Café by contrast, could compete fiercely in any Boston neighborhood. This New American eatery radiates a laid-back confidence born of a masterful affinity for different cuisines. Another compliment, and one that may come out wrong: Menu descriptions that sound like overwrought disasters ('stuffed pork chop with spinach, prosciutto, cheddar and cornbread stuffing, sweet potato-vidalia gratin, and golden raisin demiglace') turn out to be carefully calibrated balancing acts of texture and flavor. 150 North St., Hingham, MA 2043, .