Maggie Kessler, The Sports Club/LA
Touch is one of those mysterious forces science hasn't even begun to understand. But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that Maggie Kessler has the most sensitive, soothing, and magical touch of any masseuse in town. Trust us; we put her to the test, asking her to work the kinks out of sore muscles, strained backs, stressed-out shoulders, and beat-up soles. We requested everything from delicate pressure and medium kneading to iron-tight body punches, and Kessler excelled at them all without so much as breaking a sweat. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.com.
Sweet Cheeks
Local barbecue fiends once faced a split decision: You could hit up roadhouse joints like Lester’s, in Burlington, or SoulFire, in Allston, or go a tier higher at Newton’s Blue Ribbon or Davis Square’s Redbones. Then came this smoked-meat haven, which, true to its Fenway locale, is in a league of its own. The quality of chef Tiffani Faison’s signatures—giant biscuits, fall-apart racks of ribs—hasn’t changed since the restaurant debuted in 2011. 1381 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2215, sweetcheeksq.com.
Sweet Cheeks
If we made Tiffani Faison a crown of pork ribs, would she wear it? It's been six years since the chef spearheaded a Fenway dining renaissance with her, well, cheeky debut, and her unctuous slabs of brisket and meltingly tender ribs are still what we crave. This year, Faison is expected to add even more to her plate with the opening of Fool's Errand, her third restaurant in the ’hood. But thanks to the guiding force of chef de cuisine Dan Raia, Sweet Cheeks' meat continues to reign supreme. 1381 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, sweetcheeksq.com.
The Sweet Life
Proprietors Hal and Erin Ryerson, who took over this island favorite from their pals in 2017, are on a mission to make a sweet spot even sweeter. And they’re succeeding thanks to elegant dishes like potato gnocchi with island-raised lamb, basil, and shiitakes. sweetlifemv.com.
Sweet Basil
It's the scent that hits you first: sweet, pungent garlic, mixed with basil and white wine as it hits the pan. After that, it's the service—warm and friendly, as if you've just sat down in someone's kitchen. Then there's chef Dave Becker's Italian-influenced menu: phyllo-wrapped baked Gouda over truffle-vinaigrette-dressed greens; baked ziti with winter squash, goat cheese, and bread crumbs; and rib-eye smothered in provolone fondue, all served in gargantuan portions. When we crave comfort food and a bottle of BYO wine, there's no place we'd rather be. 942 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 02492, sweetbasilneedham.com.
Boston Harbor Hotel
Meet your sweetheart under the enormous American flag swaying in the breeze, then stroll hand in hand into this waterfront hotel, which has been setting the standard for luxury in Boston since 1987. Romance packages include sweet touches such as champagne, chocolates, and breakfast beneath the silky Frette sheets, but if you really want to wow your SO, book one of the stunning suites with a terrace overlooking the harbor. 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, bostonharborhotel.com.
Skoah
Skoah’s short but sweet facial menu promises customizable “sweat-free skin-care workouts” powerful enough to whip even the most problematic skin types into shape. Case in point: The “Fitskin” facial, a 45-minute treatment that includes an exfoliating mask, hydrating lotions, and an ultra-relaxing hand-and-arm massage, will leave even the most blemish-prone skin looking bright and healthy. 641A Tremont St., Boston, 857-350-4930; 33 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-383-5185. 641A Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118, skoah.com.
Kickass Cupcakes
This place lives up to its adjective, luring patrons from near and far with lethal flavors like banana cream and mojito. 378 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 2144, kickasscupcakes.com.
WCVB's Clark Booth
WCVB's Clark Booth is knowledgeable and perceptive, and has a command of the language that Cosell himself would envy. MA
Night Shift Brewing
You’ll find plenty of old-school Neapolitan and Sicilian slices in the neighboring North End, but if you’re craving Detroit-style pizza — a square-cut variety slowly starting to appear in Boston — you’ll need to stop by this young TD Garden–side brewery, which tapped a super-talented team of Eastern Standard alums to perfect its recipe. Locally milled high-gluten flour yields a wonderfully chewy, sheet-pan-deep pie built with sweet tomato sauce on top of salty, tangy cheese that reaches all the way to the caramelized edge — and don’t forget the crispy, heat-curled cups of dry-aged pepperoni. 1 Lovejoy Wharf, West End, MA 02114, nightshiftbrewing.com.
Baron Baptiste, Baptiste Power Yoga Institute
Some argue that power yoga is not really yoga. But sweat and stretch your way through just one class with Baron Baptiste and you'll be a believer in his high-intensity, high-temperature workout. Just ask the dozens of devotees who pile into his tiny Porter Square studio for his first-come, first-serve classes—or any of the professional athletes and celebrities (including Elisabeth Shue and Helen Hunt) who are fans. Lest you assume that Baptiste's method forgoes the meditative properties of traditional yoga, be assured that classes are conducted in a soothingly quiet room where traditional breathing techniques and perfect form are stressed, though the room is heated to more than 90 degrees to keep the muscles loose. And at only $10 per session (a dollar extra for mat rentals), it's an indulgence that can easily be made a habit. 2000 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA baronbaptiste.com.
Bella Sante
We've tried it at home. We've done the booth. We've stood stark naked before strangers and had every inch of our bodies airbrushed, only to emerge St. Barts brown on one side, Back Bay white on the other. But we never got the elusive all-over glow until we went to Bella Santé, where an almost painfully thorough full-body exfoliation precedes careful application of Phytomer's clear (!) bronzer. It won't streak when you sweat or rub off on your clothes, which means that even after a sticky, slow ride to the beach, we pulled up looking as if we had been there all summer long. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, bellasante.com.
S & I to Go
Sometimes the most unassuming places pack the most punch. This humble haunt serves up pad see ew with ample wok char, just-sweet-enough pineapple curry, and a soulful pad gra prow with enough heat to make you sweat. About that sweating thing—the five-chili marker on the menu (completely written in Thai) really does mean business. You've been warned. 168A Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 02134, sanditogo.com.
State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien disavowing the comments of her own father, Edward M. O'Brien, when he blasted Swift for holding meetings via speakerphone while pregnant.
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."
Athan's
Hey, when you're good, you're good—and the pulse-quickening smorgasbord of sweets showcased here definitely merits an award of its own. 1621 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 2446, athansbakery.com.