Maxime Salon & Spa
Norwell is hardly a hotbed of international enchantment, but this tiny house of beauty has it in spades. The journey begins in the tasseled Moroccan aesthetics room, where you can undergo a Valmont facial—using the famed and exquisite Swiss product line laced with sweet Bulgarian rose—at the nurturing hands of Barbara Foley while you gaze up at a swathed ceiling. Or give yourself over to one of the masseuses, who make their own herb-infused oils and will leave you wondering if you even have a spine. Maxime's nerve center is a conglomerate of beauty bar and hair salon. (Ronit Enos is a meticulous whiz at color.) Relax in the plush cranny decked out like the Taj Mahal as you wait for your day of beauty. 124 Washington St., Norwell, MA maximesalon.com.
Katerina Kolokotronis, Grettacole
Just about any facial you receive at Grettacole will be head and shoulders above the rest in town. But those at the hands of Katerina Kolokotronis are nothing short of miraculous. The sweet and down-to-earth Kolokotronis swiftly determines the needs of even the most sensitive skin and, using the acclaimed Swiss beauty line Valmont, sets about rejuvenating it with the most luxurious, restorative facial in town. Gentle extractions and calming masks designed to make the skin glow are applied during the relaxing one-hour treatment. (The collagen mask is a surefire way to keep Botox at bay for years to come.) And to keep the rest of you from getting jealous while your face is pampered, Kolokotronis can arrange for a hair conditioning treatment, after-facial blowout, and makeup application. If that's not enough, she's a master at eyebrow shaping and waxing—which is why Kolokotronis is more than just an aesthetician, she's a miracle worker. Westin Copley/Copley Place, Boston, MA .
Baron Baptiste, Baptiste Power Yoga Institute
Some argue that power yoga is not really yoga. But sweat and stretch your way through just one class with Baron Baptiste and you'll be a believer in his high-intensity, high-temperature workout. Just ask the dozens of devotees who pile into his tiny Porter Square studio for his first-come, first-serve classes—or any of the professional athletes and celebrities (including Elisabeth Shue and Helen Hunt) who are fans. Lest you assume that Baptiste's method forgoes the meditative properties of traditional yoga, be assured that classes are conducted in a soothingly quiet room where traditional breathing techniques and perfect form are stressed, though the room is heated to more than 90 degrees to keep the muscles loose. And at only $10 per session (a dollar extra for mat rentals), it's an indulgence that can easily be made a habit. 2000 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA baronbaptiste.com.
Ermenegildo Zegna
Expensive Italian clothing, like rare Italian wines and beautiful Italian women, can seem intimidating to men who don't speak the language. But even men unfamiliar with the technical definition of superfine wool (it means the threads measure less than 19.5 thousandths of a millimeter wide) will appreciate the difference when they slip into a made-to-measure suit handcrafted from one of Zegna's patented fabrics, which feel as decadent as silk, retain their creases throughout the most grueling workdays, and do more for a guy's figure than months in the gym. Can't decide which color and style flatter you most? The shop's well-mannered salesmen will be glad to share their considerable expertise—and, of course, help you pick out a few matching shirts and ties. 39 Newbury St., Boston, MA zegna.com.
Broadway Bicycle School
If you want bells and horns, go to one of those big, anonymous bike stores in the suburbs. Broadway sells lean, mean, and versatile sets of wheels perfect for city commuting. Its selection of new bikes from solid, lesser-known manufacturers gives you maximum quality at the lowest price, while its fleet of reconditioned wheels includes the famous "Broadway Bike" (the store's own creation), a vintage three-speed frame with souped-up Sturmey-Archer software. Gearheads will be glad to know that the grease under the staff mechanics' fingernails isn't just for show; many are co-owners, so they take extra pride in turning around the toughest repair jobs quickly. If you can't wait to go mobile, they'll even teach you how to fix your trusty steed yourself, with cheap (and patient!) walk-in tutoring. 351 Broadway, Cambridge, MA broadwaybicycleschool.com.
Serenella
As department stores and other competitors were busy freaking out over the downturn—buying less, discounting mor—Serenella owner Leslee Shupe Korff made some minor but pointed adjustments. These days, even as her Newbury boutique shows $1,000 Cavalli dresses and $600 Alexandra Neel stilettos, it has equally attention-grabbing numbers from more-affordable lines like GarpArt and Stella McCartney for Adidas. A cast of design-darling exclusivesThakoon, Massimo Alba, Sophie Thealletmeans that if you do choose to invest in those $3,900 silver sequined shorts, odds are good that unless you live next door to a Brazilian supermodel, youll be the only one on the block wearing them. 134 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 2116, serenella.com.
The Plough & Stars
A real pint of Guinness takes time to pour. So while you're waiting at the bar in this old Cambridge haunt, take a gander at the great menu (with standbys like steak and roasted fish, all under $10) or a soccer game broadcast from Europe. Or just kick back and listen to one of the surprisingly talented musical acts that show up nightly. The crowd—a mix of intellectuals and down-and-outers, young and old, casual drinkers and straight-up drunks—makes for good people watching. Not a Guinness fan? The bar serves 20 different beers and all the usual boozes. And if you're in the mood for a smoke, go ahead and light up (at least until October 1, when Cambridge bans smoking, too)—you're not in Boston anymore. 912 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA ploughandstars.com.
Big Wheel Recreation
Most of the music getting airtime on commercial radio these days may be pop-driven drivel, but no one has told that to the folks at Big Wheel. The new-wavy garage rockers in their stable actually care about melody, and they aren't afraid to put on a real rock show. This year alone, Big Wheel has released CDs by two of Boston's most buzzworthy bands: We Are the Only Friends We Have by Piebald and Standing Still in the USA by the Damn Personals. Plus, they've put out music by Swedish darlings the Hives and MTV stars Jimmy Eat World. All told, Big Wheel makes the local scene cooler than it has been since Evan Dando was in town. 325 Huntington Ave., No. 24, Boston, MA .
The Urban Hound
We’ve been there countless times: We want one last cuddle with Fido before leaving for vacation, but instead he wriggles out of our hands like an eager camper, more than ready to sniff butts and play with his buddies. These are the moments when pet parenting can be slightly heartbreaking (My puppy! He’s all grown up!). When Urban Hound is hosting him for the weekend, however, that goodbye is a little easier to handle: The luxury accommodations at the pet hotel and daycare facility—which features two indoor play parks and 1,000 square feet of outdoor space—are matched only by the fantastic trainers and staff, who are more than qualified to play in loco petrentis. 129 Malden St., Boston, MA 2118, urbanhounds.com.
Gus & Ruby Letterpress
Whether they’re teaming up with other A-list local vendors on gorgeous editorial shoots or churning out gasp-worthy stationery suites for in-the-know couples (think: handmade deckled-edge invitations, sleek velvet folios, and foil-stamped RSVP cards), Gus & Ruby always impresses. And now, nearly two years after debuting their third brick-and-mortar location, owners Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield show no signs of slowing down. Just this March, the duo announced they’ll be opening a brand-new space for meetings and custom design work (their specialty) one door over from their adorable Charles Street shop — as good a reason to pay them a visit as any. 99 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, gusandruby.com.
Who’s keeping Bostonians healthy and fit even as we spend our days baking, watching Netflix, and doing endless craft projects? These four local wellness gurus, that’s who. Pilates instructor Kara Duval was among the first to jump on the Instagram Live bandwagon, and continues to attract more than 200 users to her signature class, the Foundation, every time she logs on. Jessie Burdick, meanwhile, has kept her Zoom (and socially distant outdoor) groups small and her ethos simple: strength training for everyone. Her lighthearted and down-to-earth attitude makes digital classes fun and enjoyable, even as you bust out burpees and what feels like a million straight-leg sit-ups. When finding Zen in a house filled with family members, roommates, or pets is virtually impossible, Billy Gamble’s on-demand yoga classes, offered on his YouTube channel, invite participants to destress with Vinyasa flows and juicy side body bends. And for those a little too self-conscious to try one of Heather White’s heart-pumping dance-cardio classes at TrillFit, the move to Zoom sessions might just be a blessing: Lead instructors keep you moving and shaking every inch of your body until the music stops and you collapse onto your mat.
Michael Schlow, Radius
In the four years since Michael Schlow moved to Boston, he has become not just a major figure on the local culinary scene, but on the national ones as well. So when he left Cafe Louis to plan his own place, foodies eagerly awaited his next move. The impeccably designed Radius more than survived the attendant hype to become the restaurant sensation of the year. Offering a distinctive counterpoint to Boston's culinary old guard, Schlow's strength is his understanding of flavors and texture. To that end, he finds the finest ingredients and uses his mastery of technique to treat them with the utmost respect. His pork confit is memorable, meltingly soft and sweet, made in a classic confit technique of cooking the meat in its own fat, which, paradoxically, heightens the flavors without making the confit fatty. As for his striped bass, Corby Kummer wrote that "the impeccable conception, execution, and presentation would be hard to find in any arrondissement [in Paris.]" With food like that, he added, "I'll fight for a table wherever [he's] cooking." 8 High St., Boston, MA .
2129
It seems that Boston cream pie is the tiramisu of the '60s—once ubiquitous, now vanished from most restaurant dessert cards. But chef Billy Boudreau has salvaged the once august reputation of what should be a hometown fixture. He bakes individual Boston cream pies—soft and silky minigems—using the same skill at 02129 that he once exhibited at the Bostonian Hotel and Mirabelle. 9 Austin St., Charlestown, MA .
Who Needs the Gym, Anyway?
Who’s keeping Bostonians healthy and fit even as we spend our days baking, watching Netflix, and doing endless craft projects? These four local wellness gurus, that’s who. Pilates instructor Kara Duval was among the first to jump on the Instagram Live bandwagon, and continues to attract more than 200 users to her signature class, the Foundation, every time she logs on. Jessie Burdick, meanwhile, has kept her Zoom (and socially distant outdoor) groups small and her ethos simple: strength training for everyone. Her lighthearted and down-to-earth attitude makes digital classes fun and enjoyable, even as you bust out burpees and what feels like a million straight-leg sit-ups. When finding Zen in a house filled with family members, roommates, or pets is virtually impossible, Billy Gamble’s on-demand yoga classes, offered on his YouTube channel, invite participants to destress with Vinyasa flows and juicy side body bends. And for those a little too self-conscious to try one of Heather White’s heart-pumping dance-cardio classes at TrillFit, the move to Zoom sessions might just be a blessing: Lead instructors keep you moving and shaking every inch of your body until the music stops and you collapse onto your mat.
Glory
We openly mourned when chef Corinna Mozo left her South End restaurant, Truc, more than a year ago, but were quickly consoled when we learned that she had landed at Glory in Andover. Here, Mozo has created a Mediterranean-influenced menu with such offerings as an irresistible ProvenÁal fish stew and wild striped bass with sweet braised leeks and earthy shiitake mushrooms. Mozo occasionally uses Asian ingredients and techniques, seen in dishes such as carpaccio of tuna with mouth-puckering citrus and ginger splash, but she never veers off her delicious course in the process. Three different dining areas offer something for everyone: The large, low-ceilinged bar is a great spot for quiet conversation; a loungelike living room area is slightly more festive and ≠features a separate menu; and the two comfortable dining rooms exude elegance (one also offers live music on some nights). The friendly and unobtrusive waitstaff and an easy-to-manage wine list would make Glory a great restaurant anywhere. 19 Essex St., Andover, MA .