Duxbury Beach
Seven miles of white sand nudge up against the salt waters of the Atlantic on this, the South Shore's most utopian spot. The chaos (near the restrooms, parking, and refreshment stand) eases out toward Powder Point Bridge, and ends with empty stretches interrupted by only a few unobtrusive patches of locals here to kayak, admire the natural beauty, and walk the clean dunes toward Gurnet Light in neighboring Plymouth. Beyond the quiet beauty of the bridge, sailboats and windsurfers ride the sterling blue bay that separates the beach from town. If you don't have to rush home, stick around for the sunset—one of the area's most magnificent. Canal St., Duxbury, MA .
Catch
In our fish-fanatic city, it seems unlikely that many diners would chose to trek to a landlocked town for seafood. That a lot of people do make the trip to Winchester says a lot about Catch, where the clean décor is as calming as waves crashing on the beach and wholesome, seasonal ingredients enliven each of chef Chris Parsons's satisfying dishes. Don't miss the summer braised lobster, which arrives atop a crepe stuffed full of fragrant maitake mushrooms, spinach, and mascarpone cheese, or the flaky halibut accompanied by yellow beans, fingerling potatoes, and fragrant green garlic. 34 Church St., Winchester, MA 1890, catchrestaurant.com.
Crescent Ridge Dairy
It may not be the 1890s anymore, but Crescent Ridge Dairy still delivers glass jars of milk—really good milk—to doorsteps across the western (and many southern) suburbs. Smooth and clean-tasting whole, chocolate, 2 percent, and skim are dropped off in retro metal containers at customers' requests, then replaced each week. The company also carries more than 100 products, from hamburger buns and chowder to margarine and laundry detergent. But really, it's the dairy that counts; the 2 percent milk couldn't taste more wholesome, and the chocolate sports the richness of a melted candy bar. 355 Bay Rd., Sharon, MA crescentridge.com.
Crystal Morgan, C.Spa
Even before the very talented Crystal Morgan gets you on the table at her immaculately clean Back Bay studio, she’s already working, sizing up the way you stand to see exactly where your tension lies. Once she begins the massage, her magic hands free up every knot and tension spot. Go ahead and glance in the mirror after your 60- to 90-minute treatment is over: Not only will you feel different, but your posture will actually look visibly different, too. 715 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, cspaboston.com.
Sophia's
We like our dance clubs sexy, and nothing's sexier than beautiful, sweaty couples twisting to Latin-flavored conga beats. Sophia's, which has that and more, is a sure-fire fun night on the town. Diners clamor for tables to sample tapas and sangria; on the dance floor, after the free beginner salsa and merengue lessons, the Saturday-night crowds burst into full-fledged dance marathons. The multilevel club also offers a choice of music, with live bands playing endless salsa on the first floor and DJs on the second and third floors spinning the hottest Latin hip-hop. For mellower folk, the roof deck provides an incredible—and romantic—view of Boston's skyline. Looking to meet someone? Come solo and you will. 1270 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Covet + Lou
The expectations were high when Tina Burgos, the fashionista behind Newbury Street boutique Stel's (RIP), announced she was taking her popular online store to a Needham brick-and-mortar. By any measure, Burgos's new endeavor has well exceeded the hype, with a tightly curated selection of the same indie designer fashions (clean, classic pieces from Ilana Kohn, minimalist looks from Maryam Nassir Zadeh) we love to shop online, not to mention an expanded home-goods section. Something else the Needham store has that the website doesn't? Burgos herself, who often plays hostess to her loyal shoppers. 947 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 2492, covetandlou.com.
Dok Bua
A confession: We're still working our way through Dok Bua's marathon menu. (This is partly because we're compelled to order the sublime mango curry and the miang cum appetizer—betel nut leaf filled with ginger and shallots—at least every other visit.) But any questions about whether an unassuming storefront in Brookline can whip up more than 100 authentic Thai dishes—employing everything from catfish to duck to a veritable garden of vegetables—with consistent aplomb are answered by the scraped-clean plates that we always spy on the tables of our fellow contented diners. 411 Harvard St., Brookline, MA dokbuathai.com.
The Model Café
Generally speaking, a person's favorite dive bar is the one closest to home. The Model is that rare specimen—a neighborhood bar that's gained destination status for drinkers from all over the city. Everything inside this 75-year-old Allston joint screams classic dive: loud tunes, a pool table, $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons on tap, $4 Bushmills on the rocks, a crowd that ranges from hip to drip, and urinals barely clean enough to, well, urinate in. Mediocre fare (this is a dive bar, after all) is served til 10. 7 North Beacon St., Allston, MA .
The Sports Club/LA
The Sports Club/LA has staked its claim as the city's most exclusive urban country club. Members have full use of the seemingly countless treadmills, free weights, basketball and squash courts, and swimming pool, not to mention spinning, yoga, and Pilates classes. But it hardly ends there. This club also features dry-cleaning services, babysitting, a full-service salon and spa, and a gourmet restaurant, blu, that serves up a special low-fat, health-conscious menu. And while it may be uncomfortable to break a sweat with so many beautiful people lurking around, that's not a bad thing: The club is one of the best places in town for singles to mingle. 4 Avery St., Boston, MA boston.sportsclubla.com.
The Independent
To those living in eternally up-and-coming Somerville: You may not have solved the public transportation quandary that is Union Square but, boy, are you lucky from a pub-hub perspective. Outfitted in the classy dark-wood stylings of a more upscale joint, the Independent is smartly cleaved into one room for drinkers, one for diners—and manages to do right by both groups. Expect well-executed, moderately priced cuisine, like the béchamel, cheddar, provolone, and Parmesan macaroni and cheese, as well as innovative drink offerings (such as the Sub Rosa: campari, lillet rouge, grapefruit-tarragon vodka, and soda water) that tickle more-alcohol-focused palates. 75 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 2143, theindo.com.
Tiina Smith
Sporting a piece from Tiina Smith’s jaw-dropping collection of vintage sparklers feels like being transported back in time. Art deco rings, dripping with sapphires and diamonds, recall Gatsby-esque cocktail parties, while beaded Marina B cuffs celebrate the boldness of ’80s style. Worried about taking care of your new heirloom? Don’t be: Smith’s lengthy roster of concierge services ensures you’ll know just how to clean and store your precious bling when you’re not showing it off. 33 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, tiinasmithjewelry.com.
Dependable Cleaners
True to their name, the folks at Dependable will deodorize, de-spot, and de-wrinkle your duds—all within 24 hours (or even the same day if you schlep there by 8 a.m.). In addition to the speedy service, we also like the Sunday hours and night drop-box. And as in any good relationship, it's the details that count. On several occasions we brought in skirts with fallen hems that were returned not only clean and pressed, but hemmed at no extra charge. Ditto for loose buttons. Plus, they've never lost our threads, and the prices are reasonable. We'll go out of our way for a cleaner upon whom we can depend! 110 Newbury Street, Boston, MA dependablecleaners.com.
Goody's Moving Service
There comes a moment during most moves—usually preceded by the sound of breaking glass—when homeowners wonder if they'd have been better off on their own. Following their own move-gone-awry five years ago, brothers Eric and Aaron Goodwine rounded up an eight-person crew and set out to turn their frustration into a business. Goody's wraps and pads like the big companies, and even offers a post-move-out 'old-school toothbrush and white glove' cleaning to your now former abode. It almost makes us want to break out the boxes. Almost.
Larry O'Connor, Black Magic
O'Connor's men (he's got two crews) dress in the traditional top hats (tails optional in summer) to do your chimney. And now's the time to get an appointment: fully three quarters of the company's business is done between September and December—and we're talking about thousands of chimneys. O'Connor started in Stowe, Vermont, in 1973, and moved here five years later. He's good, and very neat, too. "We make sure we keep our customer's homes clean by taking along an industrial vacuum cleaner to every job." Ah, progress. Cambridge, MA
Row and Ride
Photograph courtesy of Row and Ride Indoor cycling studios are so 2014. These days, it's all about group rowing classes, and now New England has its very first dedicated rowing studio right here on the South Shore. Launched by Kerry Connolly, a longtime news anchor for CBS Boston, Row and Ride offers group rowing and stadium-style cycling classes for a new spin (ahem) on the latest fitness trends. The squeaky clean facility also has a fully stocked locker room with showers to rinse off after sweating it out in class. 200 Webster St., Hanover, MA 02339, rowandride.com.