The Spa on Newbury
Having your body hair pulled out by its roots is never pleasant, but this elegant spa's careful, considerate treatment makes the glamour of perfectly smooth legs worth the pain. A big plus here is the luxurious changing room, complete with a steam room, showers, and lots of lovely amenities like thick terry robes and hot or iced herbal tea. 38 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
John Tzalemas
When you buy a suit in Filene's Basement and ask the salesman whom he recommends for alterations, John Tzalemas's shop is often the response. Around the corner (5 Bromfield St.) from the department store, John the Custom Tailor will do a good job quickly and will make a suit to your specifications. "I've been a tailor since 1952," Tzalemas says, "and have developed an excellent skill. We offer good service and good quality." John the Custom Tailor, 5 Bromfield St., Boston, MA .
Harry Mantos
There have been three generations of Mantoses at Boston Bootmakers, 115 Summer St., a firm that itself is fifty years old—suggesting that they must be doing something right. For repairs or actual design and construction, Mantos and his ten-man crew are at your service. "We charge the best," Mantos says, "we give the best, and we do the best. In other words, we're very fair. We give quality." Boston Bootmakers, 115 Summer St., Boston, MA .
Royal Jewelers
With some of the world's loveliest jewels and New England's largest selection of designer jewelry (David Yurman, Doris Panos, Charriol, Cassis, Pasquale Bruni), all that glitters at Royal Jewelers really is gold. Don't be dazzled just by the selection of designers, though—leave room to be amazed by the work of the masterful watchmakers and the in-house design and repair service. 58 Main St., Andover, MA royaljewelers.com.
Mad Martha's
With locations in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, Mad Martha's sees to it that you don't have to go far to get your ice cream fix. It produces some of the richest, creamiest, and freshest ice cream around and packs it with pure flavor, from the anything-but-plain chocolate or vanilla to the varieties that come loaded with ingredients like buttered pecans. There's amazing frozen yogurt, too, but who wants to count calories on vacation? 7 North Water St., Edgartown, MA .
Dennis Pines Golf Course
Seven thousand yards of championship golfing, nestled in 170 acres of sweet-smelling pine forest: The 72-par Dennis Pines is a course to be reckoned with. With water at four of the holes, enough trees to test anyone's accuracy, and the notorious par-5 twelfth, the course is arguably the toughest—and certainly one of the most beautiful—on Cape Cod. Amenities are plentiful, including an expansive driving range and practice green, a nice little lounge, and a well-stocked pro shop. Rte. 134, East Dennis, MA dennisgolf.com.
Woodman's of Essex
This is what you might call seafood in the rough: You stand at the counter, shout your order, eat it, and leave. But paper plates and plastic cutlery aside, there's very little that's actually rough about Woodman's, which offers some of the smoothest fried seafood around. The breading isn't a disguise for a small and salty chunk of meat, as it is at lesser seafood shacks, but a crispy golden complement to the tender bivalves beneath. 121 Main St., Essex, MA woodmans.com.
Interlocks Salon & Day Spa
These stylists just might be more obsessed with your hair than you are. Blowouts, cuts, color—you name it, they'll do it, and do it well. The Interlocks team of 15 clip artists (some of them—gasp—Newbury Street defectors) is well schooled, having traveled to Milan and London to learn from the best in the trade. Nervous about switching stylists? Stop in for a complimentary consultation. This spa is so certain of itself, it offers clients a free follow-up appointment if they're not completely happy. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA interlockssalon.com.
Royal Jewelers
Royal Jewelers is to David Yurman addicts as Massachusetts is to Mitt Romney—a second, and maybe first, home. There's good reason for that: The family-run, gem-packed store literally holds the largest and most complete Yurman boutique outside his Madison Avenue shop. And it hardly stops there. Royal also houses case after case of delectable works by other highstyle designers, including John Hardy, Kieselstein-Cord, Luca Carati, Michael Beaudry, Doris Panos, Elise Rosenstock, and Charriol. 58 Main St., Andover, MA royaljewelers.com.
Hollywood Express
Attention. Compassion. Unparalleled Service. No, it's not a bank—it's a video store. Actually, it's a chain of them, staffed by some of the most highly regarded film fanatics in town. They can answer all your dumb movie questions like, "Do you have the one with the girl, and what's-his-name, and they get marooned in the Pacific...?" The deals are sweet too—five tapes for $10 every night (no new releases), and two-for-one on Tuesdays. Only happy endings here! 14 McGrath Highway, Somerville, MA hollywoodexpressvideo.com.
Red Tail Golf Club
This course, now more than a decade old, is worth the haul to Devens: It has the wide-open, lush fairways and sloping sand traps that are typically found in the Southwest—but amid stunning New England foliage. That kind of beauty doesn't come cheap (expect to drop $99 for a weekend round during peak season), but at least you can reserve your tee time online. 15 Bulge Rd., Devens, MA redtailgolf.net.
Seaport Boston Hotel
Seaport Hotel's Wave Health and Fitness Club isn't the swankiest place to swim in Boston (that would be the InterContinental). But it's far from crowded, well kept, and refreshingly affordable. The skylight-enhanced pool offers three warm, four-and-a-half-foot-deep lanes, and the $15 day fee includes the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms and plenty of workout equipment. Bonus: Kids are just $5 a pop. 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, MA 2210, seaportboston.com.
The Bristol Lounge
The Four Seasons' lounge caters to both sorts of solo patrons: those who find themselves alone, and those who wish to be left alone. The skilled barkeeps are the city's quickest studies of stag drinkers, able to gauge whether you're up for a chat, a snack, or a stiff drink and silence. And the Bristol's cozy appointments make it perfectly suited to parties of one. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Bank of America Pavilion
This is not the place to go to make some great new musical discovery—the Pavilion's schedule remains heavy on well-known arena rockers. But there's no better spot to catch your favorite '80s band than this open-air venue, especially once the sun sets, the breeze picks up, and you settle in with a couple of frosty beers. Bonus: As Boston's waterfront continues to develop, so do the Pavilion's pre- and post-show drinking and dining options, such as Morton's, Legal Test Kitchen, and Atlantic Beer Garden. 290 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 2210, bankofamericapavillion.net.
Olé Mexican Grill
It's hard to be unhappy when you dine at Olé. The vividly colored dining room sings in shades of orange and yellow, and the food begins with handmade guacamole—prepared fresh tableside—and ends with such authentic Oaxacan specialties as grilled marinated tuna steak with tomatillo-avocado salsa. In between come high-octane margaritas with countless flavor combinations and a choice of 22 premium tequilas. If that's not enough to put a smile on your face, there's also homemade sangria, a perfect match for the subtly spicy chiles rellenos. 11 Springfield St., Cambridge, MA olerestaurantgroup.com.