The Big Quiz Thing at Oberon
Picture a funnier Alex Trebek holding court on the dance floor of Studio 54, and you’ll have a close approximation of the shtick at the Big Quiz Thing, a cabaret-style trivia night held monthly among the disco balls at Oberon. Comedian Noah Tarnow provides multimedia clues (film clips! sound effects!) and sports a sparkly jacket, adding flavor to the proceedings. Teams win luxe prizes like gift certificates to spas and restaurants, and tickets to The Donkey Show at the A.R.T. It’s also completely free. 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, MA 2138, americanrepertorytheater.org/oberon.
Latitude Sports Club
Rock-climbing wall, indoor track and pool, racquetball courts—name an amenity, and chances are very, very good you'll find it at Latitude's multistory Peabody facility. There's even a Kinesis Studio, outfitted with a wall of Italian-made, low-impact workout equipment that's hard on the muscles but easy on the joints. Whatever fitness path you choose, you'll want to unwind afterward in Latitude's spa, steam rooms, and saunas, or treat yourself to some liquid fuel at the juice bar. 194 Newbury St., Peabody, MA 1960, latitudesportsclubs.com.
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.
The Green Room
Tucked away on a quiet Beacon Hill side street, the Green Room is the perfect spot for anyone yearning for a sharp cut, but desperate to avoid the Newbury Street traffic. With just a single chair, Jessica Dill offers her undivided attention to one client at a time in a cozy studio that feels more like a private retreat. Discretion, personalization, and customer service are paid more than mere lip service, as she offers off-hour appointments and complimentary neck trims to ensure we’re always looking our best. 49 River St., Boston, MA 2114, greenroomboston.com.
Austen's
The delicate art of hair removal with wax is practiced with finesse and care at this self-described "studio for personal grooming." Austens happens to be the master of extreme waxing: The fabled "Brazilian" job (in which 99 percent of a client's pubic hair is removed) is on offer; mercifully, champagne and cocktails are, too. This mellow salon helps to take the edge off any procedure. 115 Newbury Street, Boston, 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.
Duffy Design Group
Celebrity relocates to Boston area. Celebrity purchases multimillion-dollar pad. Celebrity homeowner puts Dennis Duffy on speed dial. You'd be smart to do the same. Duffy's jaw-dropping interiors are marked by flawless furniture, one-of-a-kind home accessories, and seamlessly integrated artwork. And whether he's working on a luxe Back Bay penthouse, an industrial South End studio, or the aforementioned A-list manse, he always delivers original touches. 530 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, duffydesigngroup.com.
Equinox Fitness
In the year since the high-end New York chain opened a location in the Back Bay, Bostonians have been flocking to this ideal spa-gym hybrid. The sleek, inviting space holds not only the latest fitness equipment, but also studios for Pilates, cycling, and myriad yoga classes (pranavayu, vinyasa flow, anusara, and power). Inclined toward pampering? Avail yourself of the full range of massages, wraps, and facials. Afterward, the juice bar and free WiFi in the lounge help recharge body and mind. 131 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Michelle Lee, Salon Eva Michelle
A go-to since she and Eva Mustafai opened their eponymous studio in 2011, Michelle Lee is behind many a Bostonian’s perfectly piecey locks. A proponent of razor-cutting, Lee can craft textured layers like no one else, earning her a regular spot on a slew of “best” lists—including this magazine’s—and a presence at New York Fashion Week. We can’t all be Debbie Harry, but after a sit in Lee’s chair, we can at least have hair that looks like hers. 37 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, salonevamichelle.com.
Back Bay Boxing
No hybrid cardio/bags classes or fancy locker rooms here—this small Newbury Street studio is dedicated to the no-frills art of boxing. Former professional Irish boxer John Murray starts by teaching novices proper mitts technique before they move on to heavy bags, all with personal attention from the master himself. Be prepared to keep blocking and throwing punches until the final bell rings. 350 Newbury St., Boston, MA backbayboxing.com.
Shred
Boston's fitness studios offer just about every workout under the sun. But to take SurfSet—a boot-camp-style class held on mock surfboards that simulates the feeling of being on water—you have to visit this three-year-old spot in Quincy. Once you finish blasting your core on the boards, head back to solid land for Shred's Spinning, reformer Pilates, and mat Pilates classes. 453 Washington St., Quincy, MA 2169, shredbody.com.
New England School of Photography
Known for turning out the area's finest photographers, NESOP also offers workshop classes that allow budding shutterbugs to get top training behind the lens. Once students pass the basic digital-camera and darkroom classes, they dig into studio lighting, portraiture, digital imaging, and street-photography courses, or even put together their own documentary project. Best of all: NESOP's classes include access to the school's top facilities, faculty, and exciting community of artists. 537 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, nesop.com.
Tulle Bridal
After IRL shopping ground to a screeching halt last year, Tulle owner Heidi Janson quickly switched gears, introducing an outdoor browsing option so brides could still enjoy the tactile experience of trying on gowns. It may be safe to shop inside again, but Janson’s customers loved the en plein air experience so much that she decided to keep it for the near future. Still prefer to sip and peruse with a roof over your head? Book the store’s VIP experience, and you and your besties will have the studio all to yourselves to ogle frocks by Lee-Ann Belter, Yumi Katsura, Simone Carvalli, and more. 342 N. Main St., Andover, MA 01810, tullebridals.com.
Christina Wikman Interiors
Pandemic or not, virtual design is having a moment — and no one does it quite like Christina Wikman. Dreaming up fresh and colorful looks from her Woburn studio, the interiors whiz can reimagine your lackluster bedroom or dated kitchen without ever walking through your front door. Just tell Wikman what you’re looking for via a thorough design questionnaire, and you’ll get a revamped floorplan, a mockup featuring the pro’s furniture and finish recommendations, and a detailed shopping list to make ordering your new showpieces a breeze. christinawikmaninteriors.com.
Fit Revolution
In an era when there’s a boutique fitness studio for every day of the week and personality type, local mini chain Fit Revolution manages to offer one-stop sweating without the feel of a bland big-box club. Sure, there’s the latest equipment for gym rats and the now-standard hyper-luxe locker rooms. But there’s also boot camp, indoor cycling, yoga, barre, boxing, and personal trainers at the ready. Owner Michelle O’Connor even offers a program for would-be fit kids. Multiple locations. 23 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864, fit-rev.com.