The Roof at the Ritz-Carlton
Plan ahead if you want to trip the light fantastic at this, the city's chicest summer dinner-cum-dancing destination for those of us who outgrew Landsdowne Street years ago. Seating, especially for groups, is booked weeks, sometimes months, ahead. The good news is your alfresco evening will take place regardless of weather: A huge tent encloses tables, band, and dance floor, keeping well-coifed guests warm and dry. 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
Boston Center for Adult Education
On the social faux pas scale, making a fool of yourself on the dance floor ranks second only to bad karaoke. And with dance so popular these days, your chances of blowing it publicly are increasing exponentially. What to do? Sign up for a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education, where sympathetic and experienced instructors will have you gliding like Astaire in a matter of weeks—for under $100. And you don't have to have a partner to enroll. 5 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Robert Klein Gallery
Few Boston galleries can claim to have an international following, but this small fourth-floor boutique on Newbury Street is a big-league player. When Robert Klein founded his gallery more than 30 years ago, he was one of the first to exhibit works by Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, and Sally Mann. Throughout the years, his unerring eye for photography's best has resulted in a collection that rivals any in the world. 38 Newbury St. #402, Boston, MA 2116, robertkleingallery.com.
Polka Dog Bakery
The trash bin at the Shawmut-Milford intersection brims with the other kind of doggie bag, the calling cards of tail-wagging patrons who find plenty of reasons to stop here: two floors of homemade treats (tuna cookies for crunching, pig ears for gnawing), fancy leashes, and bright, squeaky toys just waiting to be slobbered over. The variety satisfies even two-legged shoppers—which, let's be honest, are the only critical ones on the premises. 258 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 2118, polkadog.com.
A Few Good Girls
Kids have so few good role models in the entertainment industry today. A Few Good Girls, a four-woman hip-hop dance group from Boston and Newton, is dedicated to dancing—and to promoting positive image.
Boston Bowl
Fifty glistening lanes which resound with pin thunder twenty-four hours a day. Donny Graham, the sports editor of the Washington Post has been known to make mid-night excursions to this candlepin paradise. 820 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester, MA .
Interlocks
There are full-service salons, and then there’s Interlocks. Offering sharp cuts and color, massages and mani-pedis, and services just for the guys (chest waxes, purifying back treatments), the grooming mecca has been making the town of Newburyport look better for the past 30 years. A multi-room apothecary, meanwhile, rivals even the best department-store beauty floor with hard-to-find-around-here brands such as Oribe, Shu Uemura, and Baxter of California. 58 Merrimac St., Newburyport, MA 01950, interlockssalon.com.
Adamas Fine Jewelry
The engagement rings on the second floor of his Newton shop are certainly gasp-worthy (you’ll swoon over brilliant-cut sparklers, halo settings, and pavé-diamond-encrusted split bands), but Adamas Fine Jewelry co-owner and master craftsman Anto Aboyan thrives on one-of-a-kind creativity. If your ideas aren’t set in stone, he can help you build a ring from scratch, hand-casting your custom design into an instant heirloom at his on-site workshop. 22 Lincoln St., Newton, MA adamasfinejewelry.com.
Encore
Looking forward to the safe return of crowded dance floors? Whether you’re after disco or Motown, throwback ’90s hits or Top 40, this energetic group — part of the well-respected Wilson Stevens family of artists — has what it takes to keep guests of all ages on their feet. Choose between an eight- or nine-piece ensemble, both led by a powerhouse vocal trio featuring two Berklee alums, and prepare to party like it’s 2019. wilsonstevens.com/bands/encore-band.
Landry & Arcari
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's our mantra when it comes to the rug selection (pictured) at Landry & Arcari, where you'll find everything from antique Oriental numbers to long-piled Persians to hand-knotted classics. With an unparalleled collection sourced from rug makers all over the world, this mainstay has all you'll ever need to turn your floors into functional works of art. 333 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, landryandarcari.com.
Hojoko
When the Verb Hotel opened last summer, it was the cherry atop Boylston Street’s transformation from gas-station-pocked urban blight to nightlife destination. Tim and Nancy Cushman’s Japanese izakaya anchored that metamorphosis with their gastronomic Tilt-a-Whirl featuring fluorescent cocktails swilled from plastic guitars. Now postgame watering holes are sprouting up around Fenway like kudzu, but the best fetes still end on the Verb’s lantern-lit ground floor, the sounds of karaoke echoing into the night. 1271 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, hojokoboston.com.
Henry Canas, Emerge by Giuliano
On its third floor, Emerge has a men-only area where male patrons can get a classic barber's haircut and shave, massage, or mani-pedi in unblushing privacy. We were just as at ease in the coed salon one level below, where Henry Canas wields his scissors and clippers with the sure-handedness expected on Newbury Street, and none of the hauteur. 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, emergespasalon.com.
Bouclé Salon & Spa
On the second floor of a restored gray-shingled Edgartown Colonial lies an unlikely retreat. Bouclé may not be posh, but it has a gracious staff and ample charm in creaky floorboards, not to mention an extensive list of fairly priced services. Expect relaxing deep facials and cosmopolitan haircuts, as well as long-lasting manicures from the new nail care cottage in the backyard. Bumble and Bumble take-home treatments and flirty silk hair accessories for sale make leaving Bouclé with a shopping bag or two under the arm almost as much fun as walking in. 12 N. Water St., Edgartown, MA 2539, bouclespa.com.
Maria Grace Rodrigues, Salon Mario Russo
Mario Russo has, at last, given Maria Grace Rodrigues a room of her own. The manicurist now sits behind a beaded curtain on the second floor of Russo's redesigned Newbury Street salon, where a simple white workstation provides the appropriate backdrop to her calm demeanor and lighthearted banter. Best yet, her technique has been honed to perfection: Her pretty polishes last well beyond a week. 9 Newbury St., Boston, MA mariorusso.com.
Allston Car Wash
At $16.95 a pop, and less than 30 minutes from start to finish, vehicular makeovers of this sort could turn into a weekly tradition. The speedy but conscientious staff wipes down and vacuums your car's interior (including under the floor mats), then sends the car through the automatic wash. A meticulous hand-drying leaves your vehicle looking like new. 434 Cambridge St., Allston, MA allstoncarwash.com.