Julie Erickson, Endurance Pilates and Yoga
Photos provided With 20 exercise and teaching certifications, Julie Erickson certainly has the cred. But education alone doesn’t make a great trainer. Erickson’s technique is very hands-on—she’ll tell you exactly what parts you’re strengthening and why while she works with you in her Arlington studio. Erickson has also selflessly donated her time and energy to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombings regain their strength. 446 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA 2474, endurancepilatesandyoga.com.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
The H-word may be ill defined—something about young, vaguely cool people having fun in a place where you're not. Unless you happen to be at Trina's. Equal parts dive bar, cocktail lounge, diner, and comfort-food joint, it has the type of lived-in authenticity the you-know-whats can't resist. 3 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, trinastarlitelounge.com.
Kitchen Kibitz
Perhaps because it aligns with our modern taste for all things fermented, preserved, and pickled, Jewish cuisine is undergoing a much-needed renaissance in these parts. Playing a big role in its revival is this recurring pop-up from proprietor Jeff Gabel, who's managed to talk culinary luminaries like Bread & Salt Hospitality's Joshua Lewin into getting creative with everything from brisket-topped latkes to hamantaschen. kitchenkibitz.com.
Courtside
Photograph courtesy of Istockphoto Karaoke at this Cambridge dive can be a Darwinian proposition—despite Courtside's rec-room feel, every singer's out for herself on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. But that's part of the fun. Lubricated by cheap pitchers of beer and egged on by crowds that only get feistier as the night wears on, singers who take Courtside's "stage" revel in their four-ish minutes of glory, leaving the next person itching to try to win over the room with even larger antics. 291 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02141, courtsidekaraoke.com.
No. 9 Park
Chalk it up to the anticipation of an unforgettable meal, the warm reception proffered at the host stand, or maybe just the impact of that briskly shaken craft cocktail in your hand. Whatever the reason, there's something so magical about No. 9 that your date suddenly seems to have gotten infinitely more attractive. And just wait till you try what Barbara Lynch's kitchen has created that day, be it sturgeon with pork belly en papillote, or a chocolate cream tart with saffron and grapefruit—two spoons, of course. 9 Park St., Boston, MA 2108, no9park.com.
The Oak Room
Some hotel bars are trendy watering holes with rooms upstairs; others are mediocre places for conventiongoers to pickle themselves. The Oak Bar is another species entirely: an escape that's equal parts time machine (jazz piano; career bartenders doling out snack mix) and glorious splurge ($17 martinis delivered in an icy shaker; a Chateaubriand sandwich on brioche). 138 St James Ave., Boston, MA 2116, oaklongbarkitchen.com.
Café Vanille
Experienced sweet-tooths know exactly where to turn when sugar cravings hit. Vanille's pastry cases are chock full of tantalizing treats: cappuccino cheesecake, chocoholic bliss tart, Boston cream pie. Don't fret if you can't decide. Just sample the bakery's petit fours—bite-sized sensations that include the ethereal diva (chocolate and caramel mousse) and the encore-deserving opera (coffee buttercream cake). We dare you to resist becoming addicted to this Beacon Hill sweet spot. 70 Charles St., Boston, MA frenchmemories.com/.
Dal
Everything about this dark Somerville caverna qualifies as an aphrodisiac: the richly colored, bordello-inspired décor, the hum of loud conversation, and, above all, the lusty and authentic food. That means tapas such as tender scallops in a silken saffron cream sauce, deliciously tart baked goat cheese in fresh tomato and basil, and sultry pairings like green-lipped mussels with smooth chunks of avocado. Dovetailed with the heady rush of garlic and a carafe (or three) of red wine, the menu delivers on the most beloved of all Spanish ingredients: passion. 415 Washington St., Somerville, MA dalirestaurant.com/.
Grill 23 & Bar
When it comes to the steak-house experience, Grill 23 has it all—a cavernous men's clubby atmosphere, impeccable service, the kind of bar where one is apt to imbibe too many martinis, and, of course, great steaks. Non-carnivores need not despair: The grilled swordfish is superb and the kitchen turns out a terrific paella. Sommelier Alicia Towns expertly helps you navigate a first-rate wine list. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
The Metropolitan Club
A model steakhouse offers classic dishes, great wine, and flawless service. A modern steakhouse, like the Metropolitan Club, does it with style. Here you'll find the usuals bolstered by new wave add-ons like smoky tomato soup served with an adorable mini grilled cheese; an appetizer of watermelon 'steak' topped with French feta; and desserts—like the brown sugar fruit tart or the banana coconut cream pi—that improve on childhood favorites. 1210 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 2467, metclubandbar.com.
Abe & Louie's
Before you spend $35 on a steak, ask a few questions. That's part of the fun at Abe & Louie's, where the waiters sing the praises of dry aging and expound upon the flavor of New York sirloin versus a power-packed 24-ounce porterhouse. The only thing better than talking about the meat is eating it: Whether you're lunching in the masculine dining room or partaking in the nightly meat market at the bar, your steak is guaranteed to be broiled to perfection. 793 Boylston St., Boston, MA abeandlouies.com/.
David Ives
The president of WGBH will do anything to solicit a buck for Channel 2; luckily for his audience, he's got a class act. At a Boston Pops fundraising special last spring, Ives took on Gilbert and Sullivan, singing innumerable verses of "I Am the Very Model of a Public TV President" to the tune of "Modern Major General"; it was a high point in the history of panhandling. MA
Clear Flour Bread
This tiny Brookline shop has made its name—quite literally—on its nubby olive rolls, grainy loaves, and airy brioche. But when we line up on weekends, it's for something a bit sweeter, in the form of cinnamon morning buns, stunning fruit tarts, and showstopping pain au chocolat—a pastry so buttery and deeply chocolaty, you'll make the pilgrimage for a warm one each morning. 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA clearflourbread.com.
Sam Treadway, Backbar
In just a year, Treadway has taken this already exciting snack-and-cocktail spot and upped the ante even further with his unique mix of seasonally driven classics (like our favorite drink of summer, the grapefruit-and-tequila-based Paloma), modern spins on standards (barrel-aged mai tais), and fun, laid-back options like the smoky mezcal pickleback. 9 Sanborn Ct., Somerville, MA backbarunion.com.
Beauty Therapies
Anyone who has discovered the rewards of that fledgling and hybrid phenomenon called the medispa knows what makes a great one: equal parts medical knowledge, professional responsibility, and an eye for beauty. The staff at Beauty Therapies masters all three, and the result is a solid understanding of everything from how to prevent dehydration after microdermabrasion to the ideal way to replace collagen to nearly painless permanent laser hair removal. Not many spas this side of Switzerland can say as much. One Brookline Place, Suite 302, Brookline, MA .