Tenoch
These authentic Veracruz counter-service spots in Boston, Medford, and now Somerville are cheerful and bold, with huge menus: Don’t miss the achiote-and-pineapple tacos and the salted-beef-and-cactus antojitos. Once you’ve doubled your daily caloric intake, take home a few homemade tamales to tide you over until your next visit. And don’t forget to request the house hot sauce on your way out the door. 3 Lewis St., Boston, MA 02109, tenochmexican.com.
Oak + Moss
Calling all plant lovers: This sweet Salem boutique has everything you need to transform your home into a garden oasis you’ll (really!) never want to leave. The best part? You can order its birds-of-paradise, philodendrons, and ferns online—as well as gorgeous planters to keep your new additions happy—then safely pick up curbside. And if you’re not sure your thumb is green enough, the shop also stocks home goods such as cheeky throw pillows and hand-poured candles to liven up your space. 143 Washington St., Salem, MA 01970, oakandmoss.com.
Alisa Neely, Style Scout
You've kept the same old clothes in your wardrobe for years while blowing money on discount finds that don't quite fit or flatter. Take a time-out and call Alisa Neely. She arrives with the demeanor of an old friend, which makes it that much easier to open your closet, pour your heart out, and fill bags with stuff you know you're never going to wear. "Let's release this one back into the wild," she likes to say, referring to that frock you bought in high school. After the great purge, her designer and shop recommendations are spot-on, fully tailored to your look, body, and lifestyle. stylescout.net.
Cakes to Remember
This is your chance to undo all the stereotypes of inedible wedding cakes: frostings that feel like a furball on your tongue, cake consistencies more like cardboard than chiffon. Ellen Bartlett goes beyond the basics with panache, offering more than a hundred possible combinations: smooth molded fondant, fillings like meringues, fruit purees, and dacquoises, buttercreams in Grand Marnier and Frangelico. The only risk is having the wedding party upstaged by the amazingly customized cakes— you can surprise your British bride with a buttercream replica of Big Ben, or your political hack husband with a miniature State House for a groom's cake. 248 Cypress St., Brookline, MA .
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
The staff recommends arriving 45 minutes before a scheduled treatment to take advantage of the amenities, but we can promise you that’s not enough time. You’ll want at least 30 minutes each for the quartz-crystal steam room and warm plunge pool, plus an hour for the experience shower, with its array of sprays and pressures. Then it’s off to your coffee-and-frankincense body scrub or collagen facial. You’ll want to spend so much time in the spa, in fact, that you might as well stay the night and do it all over again the next day. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02199, mandarinoriental.com.
Kieron Reynolds, City Gym
Let's be blunt: Kieron Reynolds kicks ass—literally, with a medley of cardio and strength exercises. In addition, his heavy brogue and constant quipping make the workout whipping a comedic treat. When Reynolds is not bolting around the room to check your form, barking an inspirational word, or holding a punching mitt in front of you, he doubles as a deejay and keep the place booming with techno tunes. If you haven't sweated enough during Reynolds' hour-long aerobics class, his 30-minute ab session that follows is sure to finish you off. 542 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA .
Cheryl Richards
A journalistic-style special event photographer, Richards spends 60-70 hours in the darkroom after every wedding she shoots. She's the pro's pro (they all recommend her, even if grudgingly) and her prices testify to her top-of-the-heap status. Most of her current wedding albums are in black and white because she says it's less distracting than color and lets her capture the expressions on people's faces. It may be "just" your wedding day, but you'll end up with some prints worthy of an opening at the ICA. 105 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Barneys New York
You have nothing to wear to the Best of Boston party, which is tomorrow. Hustle your Manolos over to Copley's new superstore, where clothing designers both ultrafamous (Marc Jacobs) and ascendant (Jovovich-Hawk) merge with bags, jewelry, and 3,700 square feet of shoes. What's more, an in-house concierge will offer opinions, fetch you lunch, and even arrange your ride home. (The hot date you'll have to get on your own.) 100 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2116, barneys.com.
Villa México Café
Telecommuting has its perks, but none are as tasty as the grilled corn tortillas — with fillings like tender marinated chicken in a rich, complex mole sauce — that office crowds snatch up from this beloved stalwart of the downtown-lunch-hour scene. Made with palpable passion by matriarch Julie King and her daughter, industry advocate Bessie, the tacos are destination-worthy no matter where you work, but take a tip from the regulars and drench your carnitas in Villa México’s transcendent black salsa, now sold by the jar for snacking at home. 121 Water St., Financial District, MA 02109, villamexicocafe.us.
India Samraat
While lachha paratha, kadahi paneer, and the other spice-redolent dishes at this 17-year-old Back Bay outpost may be a challenge to pronounce, none are a struggle to polish off. Saffron basmati rice and steaming onion naan accompany curried meat and vegetable dishes; the tandoori chicken, often too dry elsewhere, is packed with savory juices. The gilded decor is a tad kitschy, so if an abundance of drapes and mirrors isn't exactly your thing, there's the option of delivery. Just remember to order early, as weekend nights bring wait times of up to an hour and a half. 51A Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA indiasamraat.com.
Jeffrey Dauksevich, Umi Salon
A consultation with Umi's often-brusque owner is no glib chatfest. ('How do you feel? How do you want to feel?' It's a bit like going to your shrink.) The brave should still book an appointment, though, knowing they'll walk out looking like a million bucks—which makes the $350 they just dropped a comparative bargain. Dauksevich, who gives each client at least an hour in his chair, doesn't follow fads; instead, he works off hair texture, face shape, and personality to craft current, highly individual styles. Start saving up those pennies now. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Christine Moore, Umi Salon
Ladies, cancel your lunch appointments: Color correction is no 10-minute miracle. Plan to spend at least a few hours in Christine Moore's chair while she analyzes the look you were going for, and what went horribly wrong; she'll detail the multi-step repair process, translating enigmatic salon-speak ('opacity,' 'porosity') into terms you actually understand, before working her hair-repair wonders. The color-removal potion might stink to high heaven, but the brilliantly natural results make it worth every whiff. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, umisite.com.
The Daily Stroll
Sign up your four-legged friend for 30-to-60-minute walks that avoid toxic ice melt in the winter and hot pavement in the summer; off-leash pup playgroups; or daycare, where they’ll enjoy lounging on couches and playing with toys. Your dog will come home tired but happy and ready to snuggle. thedailystrollllc.com.
State Park
Play pinball or pool, watch live music, and (if you can elbow your way in forcefully enough) try your hand at shuffleboard, the hipster bar game du jour. Sure, you could drink somewhere fancier—but why would you? One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139, statepark.is.
Yale Applicances and Lighting
Shopping for a fridge or stove at a big-box store can be absolutely maddening, with all the appliances displayed like lawn mowers. At Yale, the ceilings are low, the lighting is soft, and each piece seems like a perfect fit for your home. Peep the $16,000 ranges on your own or book a tour at the desk. 296 Freeport St., Boston, MA 2122, yaleappliance.com.