Landry & Arcari
Rugs lay the groundwork for a great room, but we've all been guilty of flooring faux pas. (Come on: Someone snapped up those geometric print '80s carpets.) Landry & Arcari has hundreds of timeless rugs. Choose from antique, Tibetan, traditional, floral, and French patterns, or order a custom piece you'll never tire of. Unlike that orange shag in the rec room. 333 Stuart St., Boston, MA 2116, landryandarcari.com.
Gallagher-Christopher Antiques
Even minimalists find joy in this boutique that flouts the typical dusty, cluttered antique shop. Gallagher-Christopher's selection includes 19th-century English dressers, early-20th-century lighting, and art deco chairs, along with the store's own new Hermes-esque orange lacquer boxes that, if not yet technically antiques, certainly deserve heirloom status. 84 Chestnut St., Boston, MA 2108, .
Paul Brown
If you've ever tried to make your own curtains, you know it's one of life's top-10 thankless tasks. Instead of spending weary hours over the Singer, call Paul Brown, who's been making swags for the stars since 1968. Whether you want gothic floor-to-ceiling velvet or the lightest sheers, your wish will be granted. 21 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA .
Mr. Sid
Is there anything out there more wonderfully old-school than Mr. Sid? The parquet floors; the in-house bar, hair salon, and billiards table; the genteel service—it all feels reminiscent of another time. The clothing itself is as current as it gets, however, with sharp styles from the likes of Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, and Scott James, plus a collection of high-end footwear. Men who prefer to go bespoke will appreciate the "made-to-measure" program, which offers custom clothing from a selection of the store's designers. 1211 Centre St., Newton Centre, MA mrsid.com.
Club Hollywood Boston at Ekco Lounge
Butches and femmes hoist their bottles together here on Saturday nights, when this Chinatown karaoke lounge and dance club becomes the closest thing lesbians have to a downtown clubhouse. Two levels of dance floors offer ample space for the mostly young and urban crowd to get down to electro, house, and hip-hop. Once a month, grrls slip on suits and fedoras (and boys and butches, dresses) for "drag karaoke." 41 Essex St., Boston, MA .
The Roof at the Ritz-Carlton
Plan ahead if you want to trip the light fantastic at this, the city's chicest summer dinner-cum-dancing destination for those of us who outgrew Landsdowne Street years ago. Seating, especially for groups, is booked weeks, sometimes months, ahead. The good news is your alfresco evening will take place regardless of weather: A huge tent encloses tables, band, and dance floor, keeping well-coifed guests warm and dry. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
Boston Center for Adult Education
On the social faux pas scale, making a fool of yourself on the dance floor ranks second only to bad karaoke. And with dance so popular these days, your chances of blowing it publicly are increasing exponentially. What to do? Sign up for a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education, where sympathetic and experienced instructors will have you gliding like Astaire in a matter of weeks—for under $100. And you don't have to have a partner to enroll. 5 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Robert Klein Gallery
Few Boston galleries can claim to have an international following, but this small fourth-floor boutique on Newbury Street is a big-league player. When Robert Klein founded his gallery more than 30 years ago, he was one of the first to exhibit works by Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, and Sally Mann. Throughout the years, his unerring eye for photography's best has resulted in a collection that rivals any in the world. 38 Newbury St. #402, Boston, MA 2116, robertkleingallery.com.
Polka Dog Bakery
The trash bin at the Shawmut-Milford intersection brims with the other kind of doggie bag, the calling cards of tail-wagging patrons who find plenty of reasons to stop here: two floors of homemade treats (tuna cookies for crunching, pig ears for gnawing), fancy leashes, and bright, squeaky toys just waiting to be slobbered over. The variety satisfies even two-legged shoppers—which, let's be honest, are the only critical ones on the premises. 258 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 2118, polkadog.com.
Interlocks
There are full-service salons, and then there’s Interlocks. Offering sharp cuts and color, massages and mani-pedis, and services just for the guys (chest waxes, purifying back treatments), the grooming mecca has been making the town of Newburyport look better for the past 30 years. A multi-room apothecary, meanwhile, rivals even the best department-store beauty floor with hard-to-find-around-here brands such as Oribe, Shu Uemura, and Baxter of California. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA 01950, interlockssalon.com.
Adamas Fine Jewelry
The engagement rings on the second floor of his Newton shop are certainly gasp-worthy (you’ll swoon over brilliant-cut sparklers, halo settings, and pavé-diamond-encrusted split bands), but Adamas Fine Jewelry co-owner and master craftsman Anto Aboyan thrives on one-of-a-kind creativity. If your ideas aren’t set in stone, he can help you build a ring from scratch, hand-casting your custom design into an instant heirloom at his on-site workshop. 22 Lincoln St., Newton, MA adamasfinejewelry.com.
Encore
Looking forward to the safe return of crowded dance floors? Whether you’re after disco or Motown, throwback ’90s hits or Top 40, this energetic group — part of the well-respected Wilson Stevens family of artists — has what it takes to keep guests of all ages on their feet. Choose between an eight- or nine-piece ensemble, both led by a powerhouse vocal trio featuring two Berklee alums, and prepare to party like it’s 2019. wilsonstevens.com/bands/encore-band.
Landry & Arcari
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's our mantra when it comes to the rug selection (pictured) at Landry & Arcari, where you'll find everything from antique Oriental numbers to long-piled Persians to hand-knotted classics. With an unparalleled collection sourced from rug makers all over the world, this mainstay has all you'll ever need to turn your floors into functional works of art. 333 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, landryandarcari.com.
Hojoko
When the Verb Hotel opened last summer, it was the cherry atop Boylston Street’s transformation from gas-station-pocked urban blight to nightlife destination. Tim and Nancy Cushman’s Japanese izakaya anchored that metamorphosis with their gastronomic Tilt-a-Whirl featuring fluorescent cocktails swilled from plastic guitars. Now postgame watering holes are sprouting up around Fenway like kudzu, but the best fetes still end on the Verb’s lantern-lit ground floor, the sounds of karaoke echoing into the night. 1271 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, hojokoboston.com.
Henry Canas, Emerge by Giuliano
On its third floor, Emerge has a men-only area where male patrons can get a classic barber's haircut and shave, massage, or mani-pedi in unblushing privacy. We were just as at ease in the coed salon one level below, where Henry Canas wields his scissors and clippers with the sure-handedness expected on Newbury Street, and none of the hauteur. 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, emergespasalon.com.