Lester Harry's
The European skin-care products are almost too posh for the too-young-to-toddle set, but Lester Harry's boutique stocks plenty of functional elegance, too. If cozy robes won't keep the cold out of a Boston January, the fleece car-seat liner surely will. Any number of high-end European lines (from Petit Bateau to Lili Gaufrette) are represented, but the Orla Kiely diaper bag is a favorite with employees and customers alike. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA lesterharrys.com.
Sheila Golden, Itzkan & Marchiel
Oh what fresh hell is renting an apartment in this overcharged Boston real estate scene. Hark: Sheila Golden is just the woman you want working for you. Her office specializes in big money building sales, so Golden is in the know when it comes to finding apartments before they hit the market. Her speciality: Back Bay and Beacon Hill. Her best quality: She'll tirelessly show you apartments, taking you around until you've found a keeper. 160 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA .
Tony Coviello
Maybe it's because his "Good morning" is warm as toast on your way into the hotel for a 7 a.m. breakfast meeting. Or maybe it's because he (and the players on his team) will keep your car up front if you tell them you're only going to be an hour. But Tony Coviello has become a beloved Boston institution most likely because he makes every guest who swishes through the portals of the Four Seasons feel that he or she belongs there. Four Seasons Hotel, Boston, MA .
Vira
Radhika Rana and Vivek Patel's year-and-a-half-old Beacon Hill shop is a breath of fresh air on a sometimes-stagnant retail scene. The Fashion Institute of Technology-trained duo eschew safe, seen-it-everywhere brands in favor of global and emerging designers like Elliatt, Kami, By Zoe, and Bodice, adding spice and surprise to Boston wardrobes. 107 Charles St., Boston, MA shopvira.com.
Emily Muller
Architect-in-training Emily Muller traded buildings for buttons after she made her sister's wedding dress—and she hasn't looked back since. The chic and adventurous South End designer's flowy, parachute-inspired silk dresses and leather-strap jump suits were among the boldest visions on last year's Boston Fashion Week run-way, and we can't wait to see her newest collection at the Tent next month. MA emilymuller.com.
Benny Ho
This tailor honed his craft at Louis Boston, and it shows, especially when it comes to pants. Benny Ho is the master of finding that extra inch, making sure the break falls in the right place, and giving a suit an almost made-to-measure look. And for that jacket that's a little tight across the chest, Ho can open up some breathing room. 1405 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA .
Skip Cuddy, Ermenegildo Zegna
Skip brought his expertise from Louis Boston and Saks to Zegna, where he will outfit the harried male, offering wearable advice on everything from casual Fridays to afternoon weddings. This personal concierge will make sure your clothes are altered on time an delivered; he'll even give you first dibs on new designs before they hit the floor. 39 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Filene's Basement
The thrill is definitely back. Don't even bother with the suburban locations (you'll do just as well at Marshall's or TJ Maxx), but the Boston store has gotten its groove back. Other than for the big sales (bridal gowns, men's and ladies' suits, Ferragamo shoes, and whatever upscale New York City emporium is dumping its past-season stuff), the most successful bargain shoppers drizzle in frequently, armed with no specific purchasing agenda, an absence of modesty, and a big-city sense of style. Downtown Crossing, 426 Washington St., Boston, MA .
Looney Tunes
Some people will never be swayed by the pure, clean, digital sound of compact discs—they prefer their music to be on vinyl. You can get the best of both worlds—used CDs and LPs—at Looney Tunes. And best of all, many are under $10. Looney Tunes is particularly strong in teh jazz and rock departments. They also carry collectibles: In June, at the Boston store, the avid Beatles fan could take possession of the rare and coveted "butcher cover" for a mere $600. 1106 Boylston Street, Boston, MA .
Harry Mantos
There have been three generations of Mantoses at Boston Bootmakers, 115 Summer St., a firm that itself is fifty years old—suggesting that they must be doing something right. For repairs or actual design and construction, Mantos and his ten-man crew are at your service. "We charge the best," Mantos says, "we give the best, and we do the best. In other words, we're very fair. We give quality." Boston Bootmakers, 115 Summer St., Boston, MA .
Market
Provincetown is awash in style-savvy men. We're guessing that best dressed of them frequent Market, a small but flashy clothing destination on Commercial Street. Pick up a new pair of swim shorts by a notably chic designer such as D&G, Hugo Boss, Jean-Paul Gaultier, or DSquared2. What's even better? Market has two sister stores in Boston, so you can still shop till you drop when you get home. 173 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA .
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
With an unadulterated sound and a timeless, gamine look, Aly Spaltro, a.k.a. Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, upstages every testosterone-fueled act in Boston. Her voice is light yet certain, as are her banjo and guitar stylings, which will sound even better when properly recorded (until now, her bedroom has served as her studio). Next to Spaltro's spare verses and trancelike repetition, everything else sounds like a whole lotta noise. ladylambthebeekeeper.com.
The Kendall Café
As the many framed posters around the bar can attest, big named have played this small room situated on a Cambridge backstreet, among them Jewel and Elvis Costello. This year, the Kendall bolstered its currency with local talent, creating a "Tuesday Night Music Club" series that features a Who's Who of Boston musicians trying out new or experimental material. Add great food and cheap beer specials, and it's easy to see why this is the hangout of choice for local rock glitterati. 233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Parish Cafe
What if great Boston chefs such as Todd English of Olives, Lydia Shire of Biba, Jody Adams of Rialto, and Chris Schlesigner of East Coast Grill designed sandwiches? Well, they have, and they're on the menu here, along with other hearty creations contributed by the kitchens of the Tuscan Grill, Ambrosia, and the Elephant Walk, Up Stairs at the Pudding, and the Capital Grille. It's all served in a cheerful atmosphere with sidewalk tables and a friendly wait staff. 61 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Santarpio's Pizza
Long before the neighborhood became known for high-end loft conversions and favorable price-per-square-foot ratios, Santarpio's was making superlative pizza in East Boston. Now in its fourth generation in the pie-slinging business, the Santarpio clan continues to draw pilgrims from across the area to its no-frills, out-of-the-way, cash-only restaurant, beloved for its homemade sausage links, fresh-tasting sauce, gooey cheese, and reliably crunchy crusts. 111-113 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA santarpiospizza.com.