Claire Caso
Clever Claire managed to hold down a full-time city job as an aide to City Counselor John Kerrigan (her $300-a-week salary nicely supplemented her husband's hefty paycheck from the federal government), run a smooth household, raise eight lovely children, and even pick up a little extra money taking care of the neighbor's kids. If she had showed up at City Hall every now and then, her talent as a housewife would probably have gone unacclaimed.
Biltmore-Green Luggage
Now that the Concorde has gone the way of the luxury steamship, there's nothing that courts robbery on an AirTran carousel like a Louis Vuitton suitcase. Safer to go with the workaday, the durable but still stylish. Biltmore-Green stocks sensible luggage from Samsonite to Hartmann, with Tumi and Travelpro in between. Aesthetes and traditionalists will prefer the unparalleled selection of leather brands like Bosca and Kenneth Cole. There's even initialing while you wait. 176 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Charles Maksou
This man is an artist, sans the temperament problem. But first-timers take note: your hair will be washed and dried before Maksou takes scissors to head. Using the DryCut method favored by stylist John Sahag, Maksou hones in on your best features, offers a complement or two, and designs a cut around them. Best of all, he listens to what you want and takes your lifestyle into account. HAIR FX Studio, 627 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Gabriel Frasca, Spire
After years of working with some of this city's best (Gordon Hamersley, Michael Schlow, Seth Woods), it's Frasca's turn to soar at Spire, the restaurant at the Nine Zero hotel. And soar he does, with entrées like his fresh pea soup, an earthy ode to summer with a tinge of sautéed pea shoots for brightness and a sweet, nutty crab dumpling for contrast. We hope more young chefs will follow Frasca's lead. 90 Tremont St., Boston, MA .
Bradley & Diegel
What's your dream hair length? Want more layers? Or maybe a cappuccino? The staff at this salon asks all the right questions, ensuring that each client ends up with a gorgeous style to fit her taste, and gets a respite from the bustle of Newbury below. Plus, the well-spaced stations, ahh-inducing massage chairs, and large front windows bathing the place in natural light make the whole experience second to none. 77 Newbury St, Boston, MA 2116, bradleyanddiegel.com.
Patrice Vinci Salon
Donna Hamilton and Patrice Vinci work with different products and go for different looks, but both are so skilled with the magic wand of blond, each deserves this title. Vinci, a favorite of Hollywood types passing through town, paints brown bases with the kind of all-over glamour-glow that surfers get while catching waves the whole summer. Hamilton, meanwhile, favors sophisticated honeyed tones that look gorgeous even as the roots grow back. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, patricevinci.com.
Errin Babine, Anita Kurl
The impressive trick that this South End clipper pulls off is being both thoughtful about her craft (honed by training stints at Dellaria, Vidal Sassoon, and Wella) and creative with it. From doctors and lawyers to musicians and artists, Babine works with her fellas to find a look that complements their lifestyle, then runs down everything they need to do to keep their manes in shape. And so much for the purported male tendency to stray: Several clients are regulars whose devotion spans her 12-year career. 1661 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, .
Zendaya
Even in a city accustomed to A-listers, Zendaya’s time in Boston was the buzziest celebrity residency in years. All spring, fans chronicled her Tatte coffee dates with boyfriend Tom Holland, and roamed the Back Bay hoping to snag the season’s most valuable keepsake: a selfie with Spider-Man’s MJ herself. Zendaya clearly has great taste: She was spotted at Eastie’s beloved Angela’s Café not once, but twice.
Brian Mercury, Oak + Rowan
Since earning this accolade four years ago, Mercury has somehow managed to up his game even further in his current role at Oak + Rowan. His beguiling confections are at once adventurous and familiar (see: the Twix-inspired sweet with chocolate cremeux, whey caramel, and a bright-green pool of EVOO). And Mercury’s deft touch extends far beyond the dessert menu, from his outstanding sourdough bread to the irresistible pastry cart at brunch. 321 A St., Boston, MA 02210, oakandrowan.com.
Pollen Floral Design
In the past year alone, Pollen Floral Design owner Krissy Price has dreamed up masterpieces for a distillery engagement party, a restaurant wedding, and seaside nuptials on the Cape. She’s as comfortable working in jewel tones as she is in pastels, giving big, beautiful blooms the starring role in every custom installation, free-flowing bouquet, and color-packed centerpiece she crafts. MA bostonpollen.com.
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 .
Benny Ho
This tailor honed his craft at Louis Boston, and it shows, especially when it comes to pants. Benny Ho is the master of finding that extra inch, making sure the break falls in the right place, and giving a suit an almost made-to-measure look. And for that jacket that's a little tight across the chest, Ho can open up some breathing room. 1405 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA .
Rialto
How does the Rialto keep getting better? By growing itself is the only serious restaurant in the Square; by being so comfortable and discreet yet lively, both in the main restaurant and the super welcoming bar; and by paring away the Spanish, southern French, and Italian curios that once seemed essential to hold diners' attention (and still do at other restaurants) so that what's left is food you want to eat. The duo of chef Jody Adams and impresario-inspirer Michela Larson is rock-solid. The Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA .
Maureen Fleming
In her stark solo show, "After Eros," Maureen Fleming conjures images ranging from spiraling water to bone fragments to a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon. Using her own elegant brand of Japanese Butoh to communicate the process of regeneration, Fleming sifts through shapes with an excruciating slowness, nearly holding time still in a breath.
Mexican Cuisine
Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall. And yes, the din is almost unbearable on occasions. But who cares when you can get the best Mexican within God-knows-how-many-hundreds of miles? 1682 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .