Bill Cleary of Harvard and Jack Bicknell of Boston College
Cleary made hockey's Final Four, proving it is possible to build athletic powers in the Ivy League. And Bicknell simply proved that there was BC football after Doug Flutie.
Bella, Equinox
Bella has an all-business attitude when it comes to cleaning up your feet, to be sure. Who else in town will spend a full 45 minutes filing, buffing, and pampering to ensure the outcome of 10 utterly perfect-looking toes? Bonus: Her fourth-floor space is serene and comfortable, a welcome respite from the bustle of the street. 85 Newbury Street, Boston, MA equinox.com.
Ligne Roset
Photograph courtesy of Ligne Roset This established French brand's furniture (pictured) is made to be enjoyed, not just admired. A select number of smartly chosen pieces grace the bright, modest showroom floor, but their impact is undeniable: Each design is assertively contemporary, whether it's cheerful cushions draped over a crisp, clean sofa or translucent green blown-glass fruit bowls straight out of Betty Draper's pantry. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116, lignerosetboston.com.
Allston Car Wash
Most car washes charge you $20 to roll your vehicle under a few spritzers and a blow dryer. At Allston, that same amount gets you full doors-to-floors tidying. (Want just the exterior cleaning? Ten bucks.) We were impressed by the attention to detail: When our—admittedly, hanging on by a thread—radio antenna popped off in the tunnel, the attendant gladly replaced it with a new one. 434 Cambridge St., Allston, MA allstoncarwash.com.
Darlene's Cleaning Service
Once you experience the personal touch of Darlene and her crew, you'll never go back to a corporate cleaning outfit. Would they pick up your kids at the airport, wash your dog, do your laundry, go grocery shopping, and even prepare dinner for you? Well, Darlene will. Not only that, she hand-scrubs your floors and even makes that black city grime on the window ledges disappear. 28 Smart Street, Waltham, MA .
HealthPoint
What makes HealthPoint the in this crowded category? Three stories of windows overlooking an evergreen thicket, plenty of trainers on the floor at any given moment, an astonishingly clean pool, and a top-condition track. The cherrywood lockers in the dressing rooms give it that Ivy League feel, and the steam and sauna rooms can actually accommodate a crowd. Plus, one side of the lobby offers a café while a Daryl Christopher salon holds court on the other. 840 Winter St., Waltham, MA .
Fitcorp, Prudential Center
Tired of sweating on prehistoric equipment in dimly lit subterranean weight rooms? Head to Fitcorp at the Prudential Center, where floor-to-ceiling windows lend natural light to rows of treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines, and free weights. Convenient schedules—and affordable parking—make it a cinch to get to classes including circuit boxing, power yoga, and tai chi. The clean locker rooms and courteous trainers will keep you running back for more. Prudential Center, Boston, MA fitcorp.com.
Crystal Clean Boston
You know what they say about cleanliness and godliness. Which must be why visits from Crystal Clean always leave your home so divine. A four-person team buffs and shines down to the hard-to-reach spots and tops it all off with finishing touches—dusted reading glasses, triangle-folded toilet paper—that other services often skip. Boston, MA 2116, crystalcleanboston.com.
The Maids Home Services
We aren't ones to cry over spilt milk, as our floors can attest; our couch has more hair on it than our cat. Without a speck of judgment, the Maids clean up our act month after month, dusting baseboards, degriming showers, and all but eliminating any traces of pet (except for, of course, the pet itself). They're quick, well priced, and unobtrusive: Aside from the preternatural sparkle and neatly triangled toilet paper, you'd never know they'd been there. 179 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, .
The Maids
We aren't ones to cry over spilt milk, as our floors can attest; our couch has more hair on it than our cat. Without a speck of judgment, the Maids clean up our act month after month, dusting baseboards, degriming showers, and all but eliminating any traces of pet (except for, of course, the pet itself). They're quick, well priced, and unobtrusive: Aside from the preternatural sparkle and neatly triangled toilet paper, you'd never know they'd been there. maids.com.
Linda's Critter Corral
Linda Katz and crew have been pampering four-legged friends on the North Shore for more than 20 years. And when we say pampering, we mean it: In addition to standard grooming services, Linda's offers aromatherapy treatments and a Bathing Beauty power wash that gives your pet a massage while it cleans. Fido has never looked (or felt) so good. 73 Bessom St., Lynn, MA 1902, lindascrittercorral.com.
Redemption
Tattoos stopped being solely for bikers and misfits a long time ago, so it's only right that tattoo shops have graduated from dimly lit spaces to more contemporary (and way less scary) digs. Redemption is the very model of the modern tattoo parlor: a hip, clean venue with wood floors, a classy portfolio on the walls, and talented artists. Whether you know what you want or need some collaborative input, the crew will deliver a flawlessly executed design, all while you lounge—to the extent that it's possible while having your skin pricked over and over—in a cushy chair. 2094 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2140, .
Johnny's Luncheonette
Having eaten our way across the MetroWest in a futile search for a challenger, there's little left to say except, once again, here's Johnny's. This four-time Best Of winner extends its run by virtue of its satisfyingly thick French toast and rib-sticking meals like pastrami skillet scrambles and Santa Fe burritos. Its sparkling-clean setup (surprisingly rare in breakfast joints) and '50s-style cheeriness further ensure its rulership over the early-bird roost. 30 Langley Rd., Newton Centre, MA 2159, .
Charles Street Flowers
This is the kind of place where Harry might have stopped to buy a bunch for Sally. The look and feel of Charles Street Flowers is old Boston, as is much of the clientele—but the shop serves its share of young lovers too. Strolling by on Charles Street, you'll be lured into this secret garden by its floor-to-ceiling windows, which are filled with hanging ivy and artfully arranged pots of flora. The small interior is packed with everything from daisies and sunflowers to lilies and orchids; it is clean, bright, and a pleasure to navigate. A vase of crisp cut flowers starts at $40 (it's a small financial jump to a $50 arrangement, but worth it). There's also a bookcase filled with glorious pots of hand-arranged dried roses. 115 Charles Street, Boston, MA .
Doggieday
Need someone to look after your critters? While you're away, DoggieDay will walk Spot four times a day, clean Fifi's litter box, grab your mail, water your plants, inject your diabetic gerbil with insulin, and taxi Dirk the boa constrictor to the vet—all for a competitive fee. Unlike most services, DoggieDay covers almost all of Greater Boston, and is registered with Pet Sitters International. Future services in the works include dog training at home while you're at work and massage therapy (for your pets, not you). 295 Devonshire St., Boston, MA .