Fini Concierge
Need to grab groceries for your next dinner party? Set up a last-minute car inspection? Don't sweat it—just call Fini Concierge, a small firm that helps busy people all over Massachusetts find the assistance they need. Choose from the _ la carte service list, or opt for a monthly membership—either way, Fini will get it all done, leaving you free to tackle the next 50 things on your mile-long to-do list. 665 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02215, finiconcierge.com.
The Townshend
Like a favorite old book, this warm tavern from Barbara Lynch Gruppo alum Devin Adams is a place we come back to again and again. On any given day, you'll find Van Morrison on the speakers, regulars hoisting Jack's Abby at wooden tabletops, and, oh yeah, some seriously upgraded comfort food, from braised pork belly with grilled-corn salsa and chimichurri to bone-in lamb shank with baby zucchini, walnut gremolata, and ricotta salata. 1250 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 2169, thetownshend.com.
Central Kitchen
This casually hip Central Square boîte may no longer be the well-kept secret it once was, but it's still well worth the wait for a table in the sexy, darkly lit dining room to sample chef/owner Gary Strack's delicious cuisine. The steak frites are simple and delectable; the grilled octopus, clean-flavored and beautifully presented. In fact, everything at Central Kitchen is as casually well dressed as the clientele that fills the stools along the bistro's long slate-and-blue-tiled bar. 567 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Brad Duncan Skin Care
From the outside, it's easy to mistake Brad Duncan Skin Care for a physical therapist's office. But once you ring the bell and descend the stairs, you'll find yourself in Zenlike subterranean digs. Duncan's skin-care mecca focuses on anti-aging corrective facials that leave skin clearer and tighter. He specializes in intense (though surprisingly painless) pore extractions and enzyme-based exfoliation. He's also friendly, serene, and possesses the type of complexion we've envied since ninth grade. 530 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Violet Mkhitaryan, Violet Skin
After three decades in the business, spa owner Mkhitaryan has developed a rare power: the ability to make the most uncomfortable of beauty rituals a bit less so, and with pristine results. Whether it's your first time or your 50th—and whether it's a standard cleanup or something "a little more expensive"—the motherly aesthetician gets the job done with speed, all the while chattering on amiably in a way more commonly associated with less compromising activities. Boutique, 257 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Fiddlehead
Reaching for romance, many florists dress their posies in frills of ribbon and corsets of ferns: courtly, demure, a peck on the cheek. Contrast that with the stripped-down sensuality of Fiddlehead, which treats flowers as the sirens they are. The dramatic split-level space and textured black and green wall panels offset color-blocked arrangements in sunburnt orange and none-too-bashful pink. Those feeling the need to accessorize can outfit their purchase with an attention-getting vase—though, as Fiddlehead shows, there's nothing wrong with just going au naturel. 24 Front St., Salem, MA 1970, .
David Magone
It's annoying when a toned yogi informs you, as you struggle with a simple pose, that soon you'll be balancing on your chin. But under David Magone, that's not only possible, but likely—just look at the limber loyalists in the front row. The 29-year-old has created his own dynamic blend of yoga called PranaVayu, and he gives easy-to-follow instructions that are both practical and inspirational. You'll be all twisted up in no time. Insideyoga.com;yogasquare.com.
Allston Car Wash
Roll into this 'cah spa' and let a team painstakingly shampoo, buff, and wax your begrimed automobile back into the gleaming ride it once was. Nimble, speedy attendants can complete most jobs—from conditioning your leather to glazing your acrylic—in less than an hour. For a quick fix, the five-minute, $8.95 drive-through starts with a wash and ends with a hand-dry toweling. You won't find a deal like that at the day spa. 434 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 2134, allstoncarwash.com.
Up Stairs at the Pudding
Cantabrigians had another reason to delight in the annual opening of the patio at Up Stairs at the Pudding this year: a makeover. But don't worry, this Hall of Famer has done nothing with the lush green patio more drastic than paint its floor periwinkle blue. Ah, but it's the perfect hue for this romantic roof garden—a whimsical counterpoint to the pink table linens, tiny recessed Christmas lights, fresh roses, and bougainvillea. Add a clear, starry night and Deborah Hughes' delightful cuisine, and you'll mistake this spot for Tuscany. 10 Holyoke Street, Cambridge, MA .
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 .
Georgetown Cupcake
In this, the age of the bacon-topped cupcake, it's nice to know that a simple vanilla confection can still be done right. At Georgetown's first Boston outpost, the Madagascar-bourbon-vanilla cake is delicate and moist, and the cream cheese frosting is fluffy and rich. If you do have a craving for something a touch more exotic, the specialty cupcakes (fresh strawberry, Earl Grey-lavender) are praise-the-heavens delicious, too. 83 Newbury St., Boston, MA georgetowncupcake.com.
Christopher's
On the desertlike stretch of Mass. Ave. that cuts through Porter Square, Christopher's is a tiny oasis, its green umbrellas beckoning from the T station like palms in the sand. There are well-priced options like fish tacos and burgers with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, and a host of veggie choices that suit the less carnivorously inclined. And once you sample the selection of ice-cold beers, you'll know for sure that this retreat is anything but a mirage. 1920 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, christopherscambridge.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
Embrace the bustle and glamour of the expansive dining room at this Back Bay red-meat temple. Take in the pillars, ornate ceilings, and suited-up servers, then tuck into a juicy 20-ounce bone-in rib-eye with sides like duck-fat-fried hash browns and bacon-laced Brussels sprouts, plus some of the finest martinis in town. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Exhale
Many day spas promise an escape from city life, but none delivers like Exhale. The two-story, Zen-like space alone is enough to set stress on standby, what with its hushed hallways and dimly lit treatment rooms. Choose from a full-service spa menu (we like the four-hand harmony massage), take a yoga or core fusion class, and let the courteous staff soothe and smooth your worries away. 28 Arlington St., Boston, MA exhalespa.com.
Yuri's Watches
Yuri's is little more than a table and a display case jammed in the back of a jewelry store called Small Pleasures. Luckily, Yuri really knows how to fix old watches. Not only did he once fix a World War II chronograph that baffled lesser creatures, he unfroze its ancient stopwatch function. While Yuri works his magic, you can covet the pricey Hamiltons in the display case. 142 Newbury St., Boston, MA .