Island Creek Oyster Bar
Duxbury's Island Creek Oysters are a fixture on menus at some of the nation's top restaurants and a household name among area foodies. So it's no surprise that when oyster farmer Skip Bennett teamed up with local chef Jeremy Sewall and restaurateur Garrett Harker—both of Eastern Standard—on a full-scale eatery, the result would be a smash hit. The Kenmore Square spot offers artfully rendered seafood (lobster-roe noodles with chanterelles), New England basics (chowder, fried clams), and, naturally, an epic raw bar. 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2115, islandcreekoysterbar.com.
Trefler's
It's unfair to call the artists at Trefler's mere restorers. In fact, they are museum-level art conservators who perform miracles on ancient porcelain, paintings, antique furnishings, gilded frames, and books. These artisans will rescue your First Period blanket chest from the ravages of time, or save you much heartacheif a careless elbow sends your Ming dynasty vase tumbling. 29 Tower Rd., Newton, MA trefler.com.
Youliana Roussou
These are the qualities we look for in a waxing: speed, and a thoroughness that lets us put off the next one for as long as possible. After 15 years on the strip (so to speak), Roussou has the process down pat. She's versed in the fine art of distraction—as she chatters on about shopping or the local dating scene, you scarcely notice the hot wax near your nether regions. Plus, post-treatment includes a gentle rubdown with calming oils. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA g2ospasalon.com.
No Kidding
Talk about misnomers. There's nothing but kidding—and playing and learning—going on within these walls. The many nooks and crannies burst with craft supplies, musical toys, scientific playthings, and dolls, and children are encouraged to sample the displays to their hearts' content. Merchandise tends toward the more educational and high quality—Thomas the Tank Engine, Hello Kitty, and Playmobil, as well as classics like Radio Flyers—but the bottom line is having fun, especially on fall Friday nights when the shop hosts card games, arts and crafts, and sing-alongs. 19 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Firicano's Barber Shop
Think hot-towel shaving is a lost art? Not so: Young Rich Firicano is keeping the tradition alive and well. After thoroughly prepping your whiskers with a warm washcloth, a special softening cream, and the standard foam, he will proceed to dispatch them with smooth strokes and a steady hand—just what you want when a four-inch razor is skimming your neck. 240 North St., Boston, MA firicanosbarbershop.com.
Fitcorp
Let's be clear: Gyms are not health clubs. They are not about watercooler antics and needless amenities; they are about sweating. Period. And with its slew of state-of-the-art equipment (strength-training machines, free weights, treadmills, Stairmasters, bikes, and ellipticals), that's what Fitcorp's Prudential Center flagship is about. There's also a diverse mix of fitness classes and programs, and a full-time fitness training staff. All of that should be motivation enough for anyone. Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA fitcorp.com.
Dog Day Afternoons
Dog Day Afternoons bills itself as the city's first prep school for pooches, which sounds a bit ridiculous—unless, of course, you happen to be someone with a predilection for seriously pampering your pet. In that case, Dog Day's sprawling indoor play space, private dog run, optional limo service, unique amenities (an aquatherapy pool is in the works), arts and crafts lessons (yes, really), and rigorous admissions process sounds like exactly what your dog deserves. 1011 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA .
Claudia Grimaud, Jardin Day Spa
There are pedicures, and then there are pedicures. One changes the color of your toenails; the other actually changes the way your feet feel on your body. It's the second kind that Claudia Grimaud has down to an art form. The fast-talking, sharp-witted brunette caresses, exfoliates, clips, and files years off your aching feet, whisking away the toughest calluses as if they were nothing. In under an hour, you have sandal-ready dogs that look and feel positively adolescent. 115 Lewis Wharf, Boston, MA lejardinspa.net.
Austen's
The delicate art of hair removal with wax is practiced with finesse and care at this self-described "studio for personal grooming." Austens happens to be the master of extreme waxing: The fabled "Brazilian" job (in which 99 percent of a client's pubic hair is removed) is on offer; mercifully, champagne and cocktails are, too. This mellow salon helps to take the edge off any procedure. 115 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Eliot Suite Hotel
From the smiling doorman who greets you to the freshly redone interiors, the Eliot boasts a European charm. The lost art of the small hotel has been reborn here with an eye for little details. the Back Bay location puts visitors within walking distance of all the shops, restaurants, and river strolls one could possibly cram into a single visit. Plus it's got a great new restaurant, Clio. 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Cal Dellaria
When she's not working on photo shoots, Cal gives the model treatment to those mere mortals in need of a helping hand. She has mastered the art of the updo, gives great glamour locks to even the straightest hair, and can make you up to look like you just stepped out of a fashion spread. She's available Tuesday and Saturday, and by appointment. Daryl Christopher, 37 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Lush Life
At the end of Brighton's vintage row sits The Lush Life, a shop with a fabulous selection of antiques. Art Deco is a feature here, and the goods include everything from dining room sets, velvet sofas, and chandeliers to quirky martini glasses and shakers. If you're willing to rummage and don't mind picking up a piece that needs restoring, you can unearth good finds at cheap prices. 13 Harvard Street, Brighton, MA thelushlifeantiques.com.
Autrefois Antiques
Specializing in 18th- and 19th-century Italian and French furniture (with the odd 20th-century accessory thrown in), Autrefois has a warehouse ambience but a treasure trove of beautiful pieces. Bonus: Original light fixtures from the same eras are on sale, plus other unexpected objets d'art. The prices are fair, particularly given the hard-to-find merchandise. 125 Newbury Street, Boston, MA autrefoisantiques.com.
Dominick Mango
Mango's shop, The Image Maker, at 28 Boylston St. in Cambridge, is the favorite of our art director, Sam Savage, who should know about these things. For one thing, Savage says, Mango managed to clear up some pictures he could barely see on the contact sheet. "We give quality prints without killing on the price," Mango says. The Image Maker also has one-day developing service. The Image Maker, 28 Boylston St., Cambridge, MA .
Dale Chihuly at the MFA
The retrospective of this glass artist was machine-tooled to be a crowd pleaser, complete with a Vegas-worthy extravaganza in the form of the 42-foot ;Lime Green Icicle Tower. But forget the TV profiles and the magazine photos: Immaculately lit to maximum effect, Chihuly's surreal, kaleidoscopic sculptures were even more startling and mesmerizing in person. Best of all, this show taught the flocks of kids that visited that fine art is freakin' cool. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2115, mfa.org.