The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
Even if you don’t spring for the absurdly indulgent six-hour "Boston Breather" package—including a scrub, pedicure, facial, and more—it’s easy to while away the day at this 16,000-square-foot oasis four floors above Boylston Street. Book an aroma stone massage, detox wrap, or just a mani/pedi, and come early to relax in the vitality pool and steam room. Extend the aah with healthy bites at the Spa Café. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com/boston/luxury-spa.
Ann Sousa
After hours in the chair and a few hundred bucks, your color had better be perfect. Sadly, that's not always how the story ends. And when a dye goes awry, it feels nothing short of disaster. Sousa will survey the damage and explain her plan of attack, patiently tackle the lengthy resuscitation, and ultimately get you that happy ending. Salon Mario Russo, 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Larry Fidalgo, Fidalgo Floors
The scene of the crime is that newly purchased, splendid Victorian house whose floors are battered by years of abuse and besmirched with coats of deck paint. Enter Larry Fidalgo and company—and 24 hours later, stunning pine planks gleam from beneath a coat of crystal-clear polyurethane. Not only does Fidalgo refinish soft- and hardwood floors, but he installs them, as well. Among his clients are the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Restoration Society of Charlestown. Which isn't a bad way to finish. Somerville, MA
KingFish Hall
Unless your mother has the culinary savoir-faire of Todd English, you likely did not grow up on "chowdah" that tasted anything like what you'll find at KingFish Hall. Hence, the house's smartly dubbed "Not the Clam Chowder Your Mother Made," a perfect blend of cream, clams, and potatoes, served with homemade oyster crackers. Should you get bored with the original concoction, there's always the lobster and corn chowder, or the mouthwatering gumbo and bisque. 188 South Market Building, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA .
Allston Car Wash
Heaven knows it's not easy to be a car around here. Six months of winter spent sloshing around in salty slush, on-street parking under sap-oozing trees; scuffs earned on the mean streets around the Big Dig. That's where Allston Car Wash comes in. The tough but friendly employees at this Allston institution know how to transform a down-and-out car into a sparkling, good-as-new machine. In a few hours, they'll buff the exterior to a gleaming new shine and leave the interior cleaner than on the day it rolled out of the factory. A complete detailing costs about $150, but it will protect your car's finish for about half a year. And after all it endures for you, isn't your ride worth it? 434 Cambridge St., Allston, MA allstoncarwash.com.
Wyldflower Hair Studio
There’s nothing worse than spending hours in a salon chair only to come out with a too-short cut or hair that’s suddenly much blonder than you wanted. Thankfully, when we went in for an appointment at Wyldflower Hair Studio — the brainchild of Amanda Gillespie and Kristin Williams, two veteran stylists with more than 20 years of experience — our stylist listened to our vision, delivering glowing and subtle highlights and a blowout that lasted for days. 25 S. Main St., Cohasset, MA 02025, wyldflowerhairstudio.com.
Patrice Vinci, Patrice Vinci Salon
Even before those grays started infiltrating our chestnut locks, we discovered Vinci's gift for color enhancement. Following our mirror-side chat, she conjured up the ideal shad—and voila, instant gorgeousness. Vinci's knowledge of color, style, and products is unmatched: Give her three hours and you'll be red-carpet ready. 91 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, patricevinci.com.
Cuffs & Collars
Even the most reluctant shopper will enjoy Cuffs & Collars, which offers ample options for designing the perfect wedding-day getup. Host a private event in the store, where you and your crew can choose from thousands of fabrics with a cocktail in hand, or book the company’s “We Come to You” service, during which a tailor will take your measurements at your home or office and then send the finished product, made to order in Italy, to your door in just four to six weeks. One Federal St., Boston, MA 02110, cuffsandcollars.com.
Plaza Bar, Copley Plaza Hotel
Smoked oysters, mussels, pâté, tuna, cheese—all on a cart circulated through the room. Copley Square, Boston, MA .
Brookline Grooming & Pet Supplies
When Muffie is having a bad-hair day and Felix needs a pedicure, send them off to this bustling salon for a few hours of pampering. Our pets say it's the best. 146 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Meichi Peng
At a time when so many of us have adopted new furry friends, this handbag guru’s bespokedoggie totes (customized to your pet’s specific shape and size) have reached cult-hero status. But that’s not the only carryall Peng specializes in: Handmade in upholstery-level cowhide and buffalo leather, each of her sumptuous clutches, satchels, totes, belts, and accessories takes 12 to 50 hours to stitch — and it shows. 95 Broadway, Fl. 2, Boston, MA 02116, pengbags.com.
Committee
Not to diminish the culinary efforts of consulting Greek-cuisine guru Diane Kochilas, but this hot spot is one chic meat market (and we’re not talking about the keftedes). Singles sip cocktails at the three-sided bar that dominates the industrial-inspired dining room. As the hour gets later and the Euro house beats thump harder overhead, sharply dressed twentysomethings are the biggest catch. 50 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, committeeboston.com.
Park Plaza Travel
Name a place—any place. Name it any time—even hours before you need to get there. Now toss in some tough-to-meet requests: You need a periwinkle blue Lexus waiting for you when you get there, say, or you want a meeting booked in Manhattan's most popular restaurant. Park Plaza Travel can set it up. All of it. The always-courteous, cost-conscious, and efficient, and staff is as fast on the draw and as detail-oriented as most companies get—probably yours included. 2 Park Plaza, Boston, MA .
Kings
It may not have 24-hour lanes or the pervasive stench of stale beer, but Kings is nevertheless the city's premier spot for throwing rocks. Dim lighting, dozens of flat-screens, good music, and a menu of pizzas, sandwiches, and appetizers provide the needed backdrop, and sustenance, for some very heated matches—and should you find yourself spending a lot of time in the gutter, there are eight pool tables with which to salvage your sporting reputation. 10 Scotia St., Boston, MA kingsbackbay.com.
Alpha Omega Fine Jewelry and Watches
Decide to update from your Timex Indigo or last year's candy-colored Swatch? Alpha Omega has watches for people who have arrived (on time, of course). No need to settle for cliché—even Rolex offers a modern classic, the Cellini line, as well as the venerable Oyster. Each maker seems to display a singular character along with the hour: genteel Baume & Mercier, brazen Bulgari, obsessive Tissot, and precious Ulysse Nardin. 57 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .