J. Oliver's of Boston
No matter what the gift, this shop has the wrap. The racks of beautiful papers in every motif imaginable—from botanicals to gilt medieval prints—are a visual feast. What's more, the sheets are sold individually, so you don't get stuck with a half a roll of leftover paper. The card selection is terrific, too. 38 Charles Street, Boston, MA .
Kobe Cap Steak, Grill 23 & Bar
We’re jonesing for the primal pleasures of a deep-charred steak crust that doesn’t involve sweating bullets over a home grill. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, grill23.com.
Lumiere
Like moths to a flame. That's how we're drawn to Michael and Jill Leviton's extraordinary Newton restaurant, Lumière. The couple's recipe for refined simplicity and excellent service starts with the crisp, white-on-white tones of the dining room, tempered with warm-hued upholstery you can't help but run your hands over. But the main ingredient is chef Michael Leviton's cuisine. His menu is mostly French in inspiration, though he dips into other parts of the Mediterranean, and occasionally into Asia, for plates that are minimalist in design and void of fussiness, yet bright and bold in flavor. He lets the principal ingredient anchor a dish like pan-seared, pristine sea scallops, then surprises us with rich and sweet truffled foie gras butter or a taste of caramelized fennel. He also keeps a watchful eye on everything from the homemade bread to the desserts. The cherry on top is the calm, efficient, confident, thorough, and knowledgeable service. We wish there were more restaurants like Lumière on this side of the city limits. 1293 Washington St., Newton, MA lumiererestaurant.com.
Mattapan Car Wash and Quick Lube
To quote ourselves from a few years back, Mattapan Car Wash is Cadillac cleaning at Corolla prices. A gentle scrubbing for only $6.50, and a thorough interior wiping and sweeping for only $7. Plus, they have self-wash bays for the do-it-yourselfer. 1480 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA .
Outdoor Voices
No matter if you’re hosting a Zoom meeting or clicking over to a virtual lunchtime yoga session, you won’t want to hide Outdoor Voices’ (pictured) bold, eye-catching leggings and ultra-soft sweats. The company’s sustainably sourced activewear, after all, was designed for “doing things,” whether those things are running for miles or running your business (and your life) from your kitchen counter. 31 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, outdoorvoices.com.
Good Vibrations
If you think shopping for a new adult toy should be done under a veil of secrecy, you’re out of luck at Good Vibrations. The sex-positive store sells all the accessories needed for a good romp in the sheets in a brightly lit, well-designed space that easily blends with the neighboring stores in both locations. Bonus points for a calendar chock-full of events and seminars about various types of play, all of which confirms that talking about sex out loud is totally normal—and completely healthy. 52 JFK St., Cambridge, MA goodvibes.com.
The Envoy Hotel
Since opening its doors in 2015, the Envoy has served as a hip Seaport hangout for tourists and locals alike. Lodgers get to kick back in polished, design-minded suites that maximize both city and harbor views, while Hub dwellers can take in sweeping skyline vistas at the Rooftop Lookout and Bar, surrounded by ultramod seating and space-agey floor lamps. Not to be forgotten when the temperatures drop, the hotel also offers 7-foot-tall glowing igloos—yes, igloos—ideal for sipping a cocktail. 70 Sleeper St., Boston, MA 02210, theenvoyhotel.com.
Albert’s
Looking for one-off interlopers from Prairie Artisan Ales or Transmitter Brewing? This East Cambridge shop has it all—with none of the annoying beer-geek brouhaha that saddles the most-tweeted releases. Over the past three years, Fabian Vasquez has transformed his family’s unassuming convenience store into the insider honey hole. 638 Cambridge St., East Cambridge, MA 02141, .
The Sports Club/LA
Still the poshest place in town to break a sweat, the Sports Club/LA is much more than a meeting place for the wealthy and healthy. Every gym has rows of equipment and a fitness staff, but only the Sports Club/LA has a view overlooking the Common and more than 50 private trainers ready to whip your body into tip-top shape. Add the full-size indoor basketball and squash courts, Pilates room, pool, and 35 group classes,and you have no excuse for skipping the workouts. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.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 .
John Maynihan
He's short, fit, funny, and warm— he's human. More realist than Robocop, John is a hard-driving motivator who makes you laugh before, while, and after you sweat. From careful but energized aerobics for ladies who show up at 9 a.m. to all-out, kick-ass sessions for the evening hard-bodies, all his classes are jammed. Get there early— they fill up fast. The Mount Auburn Club, 57 Coolidge Ave., Watertown, MA .
Mandarin Oriental
There's something formulaic about high-end hotels these days. Marble vanities + giant flat screens + bazillion-thread-count Frette sheets = the right to charge upward of $500 per night for a room. The Mandarin Oriental, naturally, has all of these luxuries. But the Back Bay hotel also offers more-thoughtful perks, including chilled towels in the gym, rainforest showers, and video-game systems. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com/boston.
Polka Dog Bakery
Candy jars stuffed with dried chicken livers and beef esophagi and a sweeping buffet of artisanal dog cakes and brownies (bearing names like Pawreos and Power Barks, inevitably) make this place puppy heaven. Two floors of accessories include a wall of collars and enough rubber to sate any dog's shoe fetish; a kitty corner caters to the smarter species, lest any felines feel left out. 256 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 2118, polkadog.com.
Union Street Inn
A hotel is only as good as its amenities, and Union Street owners Ken and Deborah Withrow provide just about every one you can think of: Frette sheets and plush Matouk robes; wood-burning fireplaces; a made-to-order breakfast in the morning; and fudgy homemade brownies in the afternoon. Luxe but not stuffy, it's a cozy spot that feels like home. 7 Union St., Nantucket, MA 2554, unioninn.com.