Pawsh Dog Boutique
It's no wonder Gisele Bundchen stops at Pawsh with her handsome Yorkie: The couture collection of doggie apparel and upscale grooming services makes the daily walk look more like a runway strut. There are necessities like nail clipping and tooth cleaning, but there's also an assortment of healthy organic treats, and two-legged customers are rewarded with dog food delivery and a return program for chewed-through toys. 31 Gloucester St., Boston, MA 2115, pawshboston.com.
Caterina Sorrenti, Rina's Studio
The Newbury Street veteran's solo endeavor in Newtonville is a study in making the best of a painful (and often embarrassing) salon service. Caterina Sorrenti keeps Rina's Studio obsessively clean (no double-dipping applicators here). She's thorough, too, though she gets this award because she's a pro at multitasking, able to chat distractingly about real estate, the weather, and whatever else while going to town on your ingrowns. 811 Washington St., Newton, MA 2460, rina-studio.com.
Lumiere
The sparks are still flying at seven-year-old Lumiere, hometown boy Michael Leviton's utterly unsuburban Newton bistro. In the glow of copper-colored lamps, urbane, informed diners settle in for clean and always creative dishes made from the finest local ingredients. The seared scallops and pea sprouts in a fragrant vegetable-bacon ragout and juicy Berkshire pork with housemade summer sausage and crispy polenta are as inspired as they were the day the restaurant opened. 1293 Washington St., Newton, MA 2465, lumiererestaurant.com.
AMC Theatres Fenway 13
It's all in the details at this centrally located Fenway screen spot: 13 large theaters, stadium-style seating, Sony Dynamic Digital Sound, climate- controlled spaces, and validated parking. Automated and online ticketing keep long lines at bay, while the always clean lobby makes waiting for friends much more tolerable. Watch next month for the return of the $6 weekly midnight showings of movie classics. 201 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA fandango.com/regalfenwaystadium1326rpx_aaovd/theaterpage.
Crane Beach
Seven miles of white sand edged with rolling dunes make this our favorite spot to plop down a beach chair, catch some rays, and read a trashy romance novel—all thanks to a 1945 bequest from the estate of Chicago bazillionaire Richard Crane of plumping and fire hydrant fame. Parking fees are steep ($15 to $20), but a $40 yearly membership gets you a discount and helps the Trustees of Reservations with an aggressive wildfire management program. It also helps keep the shore free of debris and the bath houses clean. Crane Beach, Argilla Rd., Ipswich, MA .
Brighton Music Hall
The former Harpers Ferry has spent the past few years as the intermediary step between Great Scott and the Paradise, booking national acts on the rise and local acts on the path to national stardom. The recent overhaul of the old club has yielded a room with great sightlines and gloriously clean sound, as well as a stage that affords fans—specifically, those who pay close enough attention to catch great performers before they "blow up"—a modicum of intimacy. 158 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, crossroadspresents.com/brighton-music-hall.
Bella Sante
Unlike the various do-everything McSpas around town, Bella Sante succeeds with a focused approach: extremely well-trained aestheticians; European-made products; a clean, comfortable space; and a changing slate of seasonal treatments. The friendly, unobtrusive staff excels in the art of paying attention, and will have you blissfully self-absorbed (what meetings? what kids?) in no time. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA bellasante.com.
Columbus Cleaners
In a city with dry cleaners on virtually every block, what makes Columbus stand out when it comes to airing your dirty laundry? For one, the eco-friendly, nontoxic cleaning process (no perc here!). Second, the delivery app, which lets you get shirts and suits picked up from your home — and dropped back off — with the touch of a button. All in all, it’s a service that fits like a glove. Multiple locations, columbuscleaners.net.
Guarino's Swimming Pool Service
If you dove headfirst into last year’s pool-installation craze, a professional maintenance team is likely top of mind. Who better to look after your new oasis than a firm that builds some of the finest swimming holes around? Trust the experts at Guarino’s Swimming Pool Service — a subset of acclaimed pool contractor SSG — to open and close your in-ground gem each year, keep the water clean and balanced, and respond swiftly and skillfully to leaks and faulty equipment. ssgpools.com/guarinos-pool-service.
Ares Shoe Repair
Ares has been resoling, reheeling, and repolishing Boston's finest leather shoes for more than 70 years and will take extra special care of yours. The expert cobblers in the cozy basement storefront are a serious but likeable bunch who each have years of training behind their knowledge of the craft. That expertise means they can resize, stretch out, clean up, or de-scuff just about anything you bring in—fast, and at a reasonable price. 84 Charles St., Boston, MA .
BostonCoach
The driving force behind Boston's corporate power brokers is, literally, this professional and prompt company. Drivers are consistently courteous but not too chatty, and always arrive at their destinations a few minutes early (though they won't ring the bell until the precise designated pickup moment). The fleet of high-quality, immaculately clean vehicles includes Volvo sedans, buses, and vans, many with well-treated leather interiors and fully stocked with periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal. 69 Norman St., Everett, MA bostoncoach.com.
Frankie's Laundry
It doesn't get any easier than this: Pull the sheets off in the morning, and leave them in the vestibule for pickup, and they're waiting for you, cleaned and folded, when you get home. Frankie's has been keeping Bostonians' whites white for 13 years, with same-day service at a bargain-basement 75 cents a pound. Sorry, they won't make your bed. 411 Meridian St., East Boston, MA .
Ed Robichaud, Berkeley Barber Shop
He can clip you any way (And, truth be told, anywhere) you want. His shop is clean, and his manner is refreshingly old-fashioned. He speaks when spoken to, doesn't take offense if you just want to sit there and meditate, and always works until he's sure you look your best. 86 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Wet Paint Nail Spa
This eco-friendly, health-obsessed nail salon does things a little bit differently—for starters, you won't find your favorite OPI and Essie shades on offer (too many chemicals). What you do get: highly trained technicians; a bright, supremely clean atmosphere; and a fine selection of carcinogen-free polishes that can be combined to create custom hues dutifully recorded for your next visit. 143 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA wetpaintnailspa.com.
Euro Design Jewelry
The elegant baubles of Euro Design fall somewhere between the Old World and the New—and by that we do not mean they were dropped in the Atlantic by an octogenarian. We mean they're tradition bound but forward thinking, handmade but clean in shape, and, above all, of extraordinary quality. The owners design much of this store's stock by hand, so every customer feels as if she's wearing a treasure so unique, only a titanic fool would toss it overboard. 1298F Worcester Rd. (Rte. 9), Sherwood Plaza, Natick, MA eurodesignjewelry.net.