Mobile Auto Repair Service
They say the proof is in the pudding, or, in this case, the carburetor: Paul Levin is the guy to fix your car. With a vast knowledge of foreign and domestic autos, plus a wicked sense of humor, Levin puts you to task with a thorough Q&A session while narrowing down a diagnosis for your ailing vehicle. Sensitive to tight budgets, he won't take you for a ride. Levin is also completely accommodating. He even offered to look through our car receipts to check the quality and pricing of repair work done in the past. 90 Windom Street, Allston, MA .
Fog Island Café
There’s no wine list or fancy raw bar at this laid-back local institution—just bottomless cups of joe from Nantucket Island Coffee Roasters and heaping platters of granola-and-banana pancakes to cure whatever ails you. Still hankering for a little hair of the dog? The BYOB eatery can serve up a virgin bloody mary ($5) for your mixing pleasure. 7 S. Water St., Nantucket, MA 2554, fogisland.com.
Anh Hong
Dorchester's Anh Hong is the real McCoy. Try the chicken pho ga, guaranteed to cure what ails you, the hearty grilled-pork rice plates, and standout dishes like vermicelli with beef, and jellyfish and shrimp salad. And if you want to dazzle the stubborn carnivores in your party, order the house specialty: a seven-course beef tasting. 291 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 2122, .
WellFit Studio
When Anna Israel, the owner of WellFit, explains why acupuncture works, she’s not speaking in the abstract: Her own health woes led her to the traditional Chinese practice and a slew of other natural healing techniques. She knows that listening carefully to what ails you—from pain to infertility—is almost as important as the treatment itself. Whether it’s her easy-going demeanor or those magical needles, we guarantee you’ll leave feeling like a better version of yourself. 376 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, wellfitstudio.com.
Angell Memorial Animal Hospital
No matter what ails your pet, no matter what kind of pet you have, no matter what time of day or night—the folks at Angell are ready and willing to assist you. Veterinary residents come from all over the country to do their residencies at this extraordinary animal hospital. There is even an avian/exotic pet specialist on staff. You can also adopt a pet at the MSPCA shelter in the same building. 350 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA .
Seven Moving
Upgrading to a new neighborhood or swapping your city digs for a spot in the ’burbs? The efficient team at Seven—armed with protective stretch film, blankets, and pads—makes sure the least stressful part of your move is actually moving things. sevenmoving.com.
Bob the Chef's
Bob the Chef's South End soul food temple offers a straightforward menu of southern foods that comfort, such as buttery collard greens, spicy black-eyed peas, and falling-off-the-bone ribs. And the "glorifried" chicken, prepared barbecued, simply baked, or expertly fried, can cure whatever ails you. Balancing the menu is a jumping roster of live jazz performances and the "all-you-can-eat Sunday Jazz and Gospel Brunch," featuring top-notch homemade biscuits. No wonder we keep coming back to Bob's. 604 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA .
Pennypacker's
Part of the first fleet of food trucks to hit Boston streets in 2011, Pennypacker’s has grown to include a small Somerville restaurant, a selection of online-ordered prepared meals, and a forthcoming stall at High Street Place food hall, opening this fall. But its signature porchetta sandwich—slow-roasted pork marinated in garlic and rosemary, and tarted up with a zippy mostarda—remains a must-try, as do detours like fried-chicken sammies topped with slaw and herb vin. 514C Medford St., Somerville, MA pennypackersfinefoods.com.
Rebecca Nemser
Finally, a visual-arts writer who can talk about meaning without waxing pedantic. Wherever it appears, in the Globe or in Art New England, the skillful prose of this former WBUR arts critic brings the visual arts to life.
EcoClean Boston
We love the aptly named EcoClean in part because its proprietary supplies are made from sustainable materials, keeping things green, safe, and pleasantly unscented. But we also love them because they arrive on time and get to work in a whirlwind of efficiency. They might even surprise you—one day we came home to find our balcony swept of a winter’s worth of debris. Nice touch. ecocleanboston.com.
Antiquers Three
This Brookline storefront is ground zero for 20th-century American and European decorative arts. Art Deco and Art Nouveau are heavily represented, particularly French art glass and lighting, in items ranging from museum-quality chandeliers to ceramic dishes. Be prepared to open your wallet, but if you buy something here, chances are you'll keep it forever. 171A Harvard Street, Boston, MA .
Ari Neuman, Sway Aveda Spa
If you’re paying someone to pour hot wax on a (ahem) sensitive body part, wouldn’t it be great if that person had medical experience in addition to beauty expertise? Ari Neuman not only knows a ton about skin care, but she also used to work as a surgical assistant in the OBGYN department at Beth Israel—she has the bedside manner and attention to detail of a medical professional, too, making a typically awkward experience more bearable and—dare we say?—almost relaxing. 485 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, swayspa.com.
Lizard Lounge
It is with good reason that the Lizard Lounge consistently tops our live-venue list: It's still the favorite choice for established rock acts, and, for all its renown, is still every bit as intimate as a suburban rec room. Crowded cocktail tables stand inches away from the Oriental rug-lined stage, where, on any given night, a classic jazz trio, alt-rockers, or spoken-word poets perform to no more than 105 fans. Adding to the club's character are the laid-back punks behind the bar who dole out boutique draft beers such as Mojo IPA and Victory Golden Monkey. 1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, lizardloungeclub.com.
Paradise Rock Club
Avalon is dead; long live the 'Dise. As Lansdowne Street is being tamed for Red Sox fans, Comm. Ave. continues to keep it real, thanks in large part to this 30-year mainstay. The Paradise has gotten even better lately, as it picks up its defunct rival's slack, and now consistently puts together the Hub's best lineup of musical acts. Not only does it book bands to thrill hipsters young (Ladytron, the Go! Team) and less so (X, the B-52's), but its two-level layout also allows audiences their choice of getting dirty down in the pit or enjoying the show from the relative calm of the balcony. 969 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, .
Janice Carte, Tiny Spoon Chef
After stints at Oleana and No. 9 Park, Janice Carte launched Tiny Spoon Chef almost two years ago, and now she's in high demand. Carte mixes her Mediterranean culinary knowledge (via Ana Sortun) with her Southeast Asian background, bringing exciting fusion to the table. Starting at $325 weekly (plus the cost of food), she'll grocery-shop, prep and wrap several dinners, and leave balanced options for the kids' lunches. 70 High St., Stoneham, MA 02180, tinyspoonchef.com.