The Wave at Middlesex Lounge
Independent promotions company CLLCTV Boston is combatting the Hub's puritanical closing hours by starting the party earlier. Once a month on Sunday afternoon—a time typically reserved for wallowing in Saturday's mistakes and digesting hollandaise—the Wave invites a rotation of homegrown and visiting DJs to the Middlesex to close out the weekend right. Just over a year old, the daytime dance party provides good beats, promotes good vibes, and attracts a multicultural crowd in an oft-segregated club scene. 315 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, thewaveboston.splashthat.com.
London Harness
London Harness might be the oldest luggage retailer in the country, but its stylish selection is anything but dated. The Wellesley boutique carries chic Bric folding duffels and Lipault rolling carry-on satchels—perfect travel companions for a stress-free trek through those long TSA lines. It’s no wonder Rod Stewart, Steven Tyler, and (once upon a time) Benjamin Franklin have been customers. 45 Central St., Wellesley, MA 02482, londonharness.com.
Punjabi Dhaba
On our first visit, a pair of regulars told us, completely unprompted, that we’d love this place. Why? Is it Mohan Singh’s meltingly tender, bone-in goat masala, accompanied by hubcap-size naan? The sitar-heavy soundtrack? Or the adrenaline-fueled open kitchen, where a cluster of cooks pile steaming vindaloos and curries onto metal trays? By the end of our meal, we’d answered that question: all of the above. 225 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139, punjabidhaba.co.
Pho 2000
Windex-starved mirrors line the walls of this snug Vietnamese joint. Maybe it looked less silly around Y2K. Now? We forgive—nay, embrace—the campy environs once our lips hit the steaming bowls of bò kho (slow-cooked beef stew). Like its tableside bottles of sriracha, Pho 2000 is a kitschy vessel full of awesomely kicky flavor. 198 Adams St., Dorchester, MA 02122, pho2000boston.com.
Moonshine 152
To fry up the greatest golden bird in Boston, chef Asia Mei eschews thighs and breasts in favor of the lowly wing. Butchered in-house, dry-brined in a secret spice rub, and marinated for two days in a pool of buttermilk and herbs, the meat melts off the bone. Add in the delicate crust and side of poblano-laced ranch dressing, and you have the epitome of southern-fried goodness. 152 Dorchester Ave., South Boston, MA 02127, moonshine152.com.
Tavern Road
Once a certain hour hits, most restaurants make the switch from carefully designed entrées to standard-issue flatbread pizzas. Not so at Tavern Road, where Louis DiBiccari’s late-night menu sparkles with verve and inventiveness, as evidenced by delights like lamb meatballs with harissa vinaigrette, Korean-inflected barbecue wings, and salami, mortadella, and Gruyère—stuffed calzones. 343 Congress St., Boston, MA 2210, tavernroad.com.
Paper Source
E-mail, e-vites, e-cards—you've been there, e-done that. Lend your correspondence some off-line heft with a pilgrimage to this epistolary shrine, with its formidable collection of paper, cards, and craft supplies. Initially you may feel overwhelmed, so take advantage of the design-savvy staffers (many of them art school students), the nifty DIY invitation and letter-writing kits, and personal stationery consults—all of which can help give your every missive a signature style. 1361 Beacon St., Brookline, Boston, Cambridge, Wellesley, MA 2446, paper-source.com.
Serenella
Whether the occasion is a charity ball, garden party, or black-tie wedding, you'll always find the right frock here. Fashions from all the "it" designers are represented, including Balenciaga, Roberto Cavalli, Pucci, Anna Molinari, and a few others right on the cutting edge. Owner Ines Capelli knows just which ensemble will work, and makes sure everyone leaves feeling—and looking—like a million bucks. 134 Newbury St., Boston, MA serenella-boston.com.
Gary Parker
A class-A PGA pro who's done teaching stints at the Legends Club of Tennessee and Stow Acres Country Club, Parker gives duffers a 21st-century swing at his high-tech indoor training center, outfitted with state-of-the-art practice bays and virtual rounds at St. Andrews and Pebble Beach. Free advice: "Most golfers slice to the right, and think they should align their feet to the right to fix it. But it's the opposite—align to the left. If you're a slicer, aim your feet to the shortstop and swing to the second baseman." CityGolf, 38 Bromfield St., Boston, MA citygolfboston.com.
Grill 23 and Bar
Sure, sometimes a single, tiny scallop garnished with edible flowers is enough to get the job done. For the rest of the time, there's Grill 23. This traditional haunt of the powerful and the generously compensated plates up jumbo iceberg wedges doused with million-calorie blue cheese dressing; staggeringly large slabs of beef, flawlessly grilled and delivered by white-coated waiters; and a distinguished list of hearty cabernets to wash it all down. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA grill23.com.
Boston Opera House
Attending a show here is not unlike sitting inside a gigantic inverted wedding cake. Three years after a painstaking $30 million restoration, the Opera House shines once again as the city's most opulent venue. As for the performances—whether flashy Broadway tours, big-name rock acts like the White Stripes, or Boston Ballet's Nutcracker—all seem to gain a bit of extra polish from this gilded Beaux Arts masterpiece. The 1920s proscenium mural alone is worth the ticket price. 539 Washington St., Boston, MA broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Frette
If you're spending too much time counting sheep, drag your weary bones to Frette, where the bedding experts will help you unravel the mysteries of linens—for example, thread count (the higher the number, the heavier the sheet). The store carries sheets, quilts, bedspreads, and accessories by top designers, in addition to the in-house line, which comes in both classic shades and colorful prints. 776B Boylston St., Boston, MA frette.com.
Leather World
Globetrotters will have no problem finding the ideal traveling companion amid Leather World's broad assortment of luggage from Hartmann, Vera Bradley, Victorinox, and other trusted names. Standing by to help fill that handsome new roller bag, duffel, or suitcase is every accessory you might need on the road (portable game sets, ingenious money belts, etc.). Plus, the repair services are second to none. 30 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 2138, shopleatherworld.com.
David Costa,
Gone are the days of having to endure deep-tissue torture in order to feel terrific, thanks to the skills of master massage therapist David Costa. His touch is strong enough to relieve stress and aches, but soothing enough to remind you that you're at a spa. Costa's ACE treatment—a full-body exfoliation followed by a massage—is 80 minutes of pure bliss. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA bellasante.com.
Rachel Bezanson, Michaud Cosmetics
You want natural? Tell Rachel Bezanson so, and, when she's done, you'll see only the gleam of your features, not cakey foundation or madly mod eyeliner. You want dramatic? Tell her, and instead of the annoyed streetwalker look that so many "artists" render, you'll come away with lips that pout, eyes that pop, and cheekbones that could cut butter. 297 Newbury St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .