Exhale Battery Wharf
The downside of an hour of someone expertly kneading every ounce of stress and tension out of your body? Knowing that as soon as it’s over, you’ll have to check your Zenlike state at the door, only to hop on the T (or, worse, contend with Boston drivers). But here, after one of nearly a dozen massage options (for straight-up relaxation, we like the signature "Flow" style), you can stave off the inevitable in the complimentary Turkish bath, stacked with sleek surfaces, cool washcloths, and mood lighting to keep the post-treatment buzz going. 2 Battery Wharf, Boston, MA 2109, boston.exhalespa.com.
Russell Morin Catering & Events
With an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients — and the know-how to pull off every part of your meal, from cocktail hour to dessert — Russell Morin Catering & Events excels in making your guests feel like they’re at a high-end farm-totable restaurant. Sip orange-pomegranate Old Fashioneds and slurp oysters from the raw bar before sitting down to seared scallops with champagne-infused beurre blanc. The best part? The do-it-all caterer prepares its cuisine on-site, so you can rest easy knowing whatever you serve will be hot and fresh. morins.com.
Freshen-Up
Rentals by the hour; you bring the entertainment. Actually, it's the only hot-tub rental we found in town, and it takes a cool three grand to install your own. 678 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Boston Bowl
Fifty glistening lanes which resound with pin thunder twenty-four hours a day. Donny Graham, the sports editor of the Washington Post has been known to make mid-night excursions to this candlepin paradise. 820 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA .
The Butcher Shop
We like our wine bars like we like our Burgundies: aged 15 years, preferably with piles of rich salumi lurking somewhere convenient. Barbara Lynch’s meat-meets-Margaux South End stalwart, which opened in 2003, still has its bar-setting roster of high-toned Old Worlders by Cat Silirie, and its all-day hours (even sessionable Sundays!). But the seasonal menu and staff wisdom are showing better than ever. 552 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, thebutchershopboston.com.
Boating on Jamaica Pond
Enjoy an impromptu day in the country without actually leaving the city on Jamaica Pond, where, for just $15 per hour, you can take in 68 acres of pristine flat water from your very own rowboat, sailboat, or kayak. Just be sure to bring cash or a check. Boston, MA 02130, courageoussailing.org/jamaicapond.
Uniform
Saturday afternoon. T minus two hours. Sure, there was chemistry in your e-mail exchanges, but now your blind date is about to size you up in person. The team at Uniform, helmed by the highly stylish Gary Ritacco, will help you appear effortlessly with-it. Both rabid and reluctant shoppers will feel in their element, thanks to the store's downtown elan and array of easy-to-wear options, which include knits and jackets by Original Penguin, Ben Sherman, and Modern Amusement, and a denim stash that features True Religion and the tougher-to-find L.A. brand Crate. 511 Tremont St., Boston, MA uniformboston.com.
Vizio Optic
Squint through those frumpy, outdated spectacles of yours and take a good look around this sleek Brookline Village shop. You'll readily appreciate the cache of 1,000 or so designer frames, dotted with cult brands (Kamuro, Kata) and European faves (Face Face, Lafont). You'll admire optometrist-owner Galina Rabkin's staff of brainy-chic glamazons. And you'll absolutely obsess over the one-of-a-kind photo booth providing a 360-degree view of how various pairs of glasses work with your face—something that, while it might seem gimmicky, can save hours of agonizing in hindsight. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, viziooptic.com.
BriteSmile
For Hollywood celebs, bleached teeth are as essential an accessory as an unauthorized sex tape and a kabbalah bracelet. We've got no advice for you on those last two, but we can point you toward BriteSmile for the first. After a quick consultation, spa manager Karina Nolasco settles you into a reclining chair and hands you a pair of earphones so you can watch TV while a licensed dentist preps your teeth for the painless blue light. About an hour and a half later, you'll walk out with movie-star chompers of your own. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, britesmile.com.
Toscanini's
This stuff is outrageously creamy. The consistency is mousse-like without being airy, rich without being heavy. Toscanini's selection of original flavors seems to change hourly (depending on how busy they are) and ranges from the exotic (cardamom) to the stout (Guinness...yes, that Guinness) to your basic chocolate and vanilla. The prices are a bit steep but worth it. 899 Main St., Cambridge, MA .
Sadhana Studios
At Sadhana, the vibe is cool and the yoga is hot—over 95 degrees. Try out a steamy session with co-owner and teacher Glen, and see why he's racked up a cult following. Or quiet your mind in the studio's unique sadhana class, a two-hour session of traditional yoga topped off with formal instruction in meditation. 15 Worcester St., Boston, MA 2118, sadhanastudios.com.
Bella Sante
Massages have a practical application, of course: to offer relief for the aches and pains brought on by too many hours logged at the gym (okay, in a desk chair). But in the short term, all we really want is complete relaxation—and that's exactly what we get at Bella Sante. Our therapist's muscle work soothed our stiff lower back, and after slipping back into a plush robe post-treatment, we floated right out the door, ready to face the world again. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, bellasante.com.
Plaza Bar, Copley Plaza Hotel
Pianist Dave McKenna. And the best free hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour. Boston, MA
Settler's Glass Companies
Face it. When the windshield needs to be replaced, you want it done yesterday. Our staffer received service within three hours.
Marc the Handyman
If you don’t know a wrench from a wire cutter, you’d be wise to keep Marc Hedges in your contacts. No task is too small for this punctual, responsive pro, who will hang your new flat-screen, baby-proof your house, caulk your tub, and just about anything in between while you sit back and watch the items on your to-do list disappear. hedgesmarc.wixsite.com/handyman.