Custi's
Since New England puts a limit on the weight of lobster's caught, the place to find oversized crustaceans is the Lobster Shanty in Point Pleasant, N.J. If you balk at a seven-hour ride, try Crusti's in North Kingston, R.I., where you can eat all the chicken lobsters you have the appetite and patience for, Wednesday through Sunday, for $15.95. Route 1, Kingston, RI .
Classic Tuxedo
While brides spend hours hemming and hawing over lace and tulle, most guys just want a smart-looking tux that requires as little fuss as possible. Classic Tuxedo offers a comprehensive online catalog of suiting by Calvin Klein, Jean Yves, and Ralph Lauren, so grooms can narrow down the choices before trekking to the store. And once they do come in, fittings and alterations are a snap. 223 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Lincoln Tavern and Restaurant
The “chronic bacon” — salty slivers braised with maple and cider, served with crunchy cornflake-crusted French-toast bites and seasonal berries — satisfies sweets lovers and savory seekers alike at this Southie spot. The rest of the menu is also decadent, even by brunch standards: Find stacks of pancakes flecked with Fruity Pebbles and drizzled with cereal milk anglaise, not to mention ginormous coffee-rubbed brisket burritos. The breakfast pizzas and omelets draw crowds for hours-spanning, cocktail-fueled brunches that, thankfully, aren’t just relegated to the weekends. 425 W. Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127, lincolnsouthboston.com.
Giuliano Day Spa
When your fast-track life has you ragged at the edges, check into Giuliano's for some serious self-indulgence. They'll paint your toes, trim your locks, lather your face with soothing muds, and massage your weary back with fragrant oils (by candlelight!). You'll emerge ready to do battle again—or, better yet, go out on the town. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Bos2Go
Picture this: You’ve just lugged your bag all the way from security to your gate and plopped down on a chair when you hear your stomach growl. Instead of settling for a suspiciously wet egg-salad sammy from the newsstand, simply navigate to this website, which delivers meals and other essentials from anywhere in the airport straight to your seat. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your piping-hot Wahlburger from all the way in Terminal C. bos2go.com.
Cru
When you slurp an oyster from this hip dockside restaurant overlooking the harbor, it’s likely that the fresh, sweet bivalve was in that very same water just hours before. But it’s not just the oysters, of course, that earn Cru its title. The buttery fried clams, famous lobster roll, and jumbo cocktail shrimp all deserve recog- nition, especially when accompanied by a cool and refreshing “Crucumber” martini. One Straight Wharf, Nantucket, MA 02554, crunantucket.com.
Newbury Tailoring Company
Back Bay residents have long entrusted the Rivas family with their most precious items of clothing — and with decades of experience under their collective belts hemming, mending, and stitching, it’s no wonder. Bonus: The second-floor atelier is open five days a week from Tuesday to Saturday, which means you can pop in for a quick lunch-hour button repair or come by for a longer weekend wedding-dress fitting — or have them come to you for an in-home appointment. 324B Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, newburytailors.com.
Bella Sante
Bella sante strikes the right combination of peaceful spa (fruit-infused water, plush furnishings) and briskly run business (in and done in half an hour). Technicians prune and preen nails into such pristine condition it's almost a shame to cover them with polish — but those who do will walk out with lacquered tops strong enough to endure several days worth of wear and tear. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, bellasante.com.
Dani Wagener, Shu Uemura
Too many makeup artists labor under the tragic misconception that "bridal" means caked-on foundation, tarlike mascara, and Dynasty-esque cheek contouring. Not Wagener, who studies the bride-to-be's everyday look, then simply ratchets it up for the nuptials. After a session in her cozy workspace—well worth her $125 hourly fee—we walked away feeling glamorous as hell, but looking like ourselves. 130 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 2116, shuuemura-usa.com.
Toro
What's as rich as Toro's cheese plate, has as much flavor as its olive oil-roasted Brussels sprouts, and is as undeniably saucy as its patatas bravas? The neighborhood designers and artists, in-the-know real estate movers and shakers, and local restaurateurs who—without fail, seven nights a week—flock to chef-owner Ken Oringer's no-reservations hot spot from happy hour till closing time. Rubbing elbows with such characters over cava at the raucous bar makes waiting for a table seem like a perk, not a burden. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Sel de la Terre
At Sel de la Terre, eating after 10 p.m. doesn't equal tired hamburgers and stale coffee. The late-night sustenance it offers comes with a gourmet touch: Chicken fingers are served with honey-mustard aioli, Vermont cheddar is melted over brioche, and juicy steak tips are marinated in a red wine reduction. The bar's soft lighting and leather banquettes make it tempting to stay until the wee hours (or at least until closing time at 12:30 a.m.). 255 State St., Boston, MA seldelaterre.com.
Les Zygomates
Happy-hour drinks, dinner dates, late-night cocktail sessions—all are equally good reasons to come to Les Zygomates, a perfect combination of wine bar, bistro, and jazz club. Its ambiance is wonderfully French, though (thank God) there are no overt Paris references or antiques from the City of Light. Even better, the quaffs are affordable and the food superb. There may be a finer frisée aux lardons salad elsewhere in town, but we have yet to find it. 129 South St., Boston, MA 2111, winebar.com.
Neptune Oyster
It must be nice to be a pearl: just hang around inside an oyster for a while, getting shellacked until round and shiny. We feel similarly after a couple of hours at Neptune Oyster, quaffing glasses of chilled rose while surrounded by ridiculously fresh bivalves (plus a selection of just-off-the-boat crab claws and expertly dressed crudo). There's a reason this place is known as a gem. 63 Salem St., Boston, MA neptuneoyster.com.
Tennesse's
By the time the meaty ribs and chicken served up here come off the smoker, they've been slow-cooked for as much as 14 hours over apple, hickory, and cherry woods. Add the tangy homemade sauces, and you can see why Tennessee's is running out of room on the wall of its strip-mall locale for the list of barbecue cookoffs it's already won. Well, here's one more. 341 Cochituate Rd., Framingham, MA tennesseesbbq.com.
Temple Bar
When we want to pray to the god of late-night dining ("Please let it be open!"), this is the temple where we come to worship. It offers sandwiches, pizza, and sophisticated small plates—wasabi-laden tuna tartare, spicy crab cakes—to satisfy all types of cravings until 12:30 a.m. And don't forget the cocktails: A frothy espresso martini is guaranteed rocket fuel to propel you further into the wee hours of the morning. 1688 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA templebarcambridge.com.