Dr. Robert Leach
Exercise leads occasionally to injury, and for treating the busted knees, there's probably no one better than Leach. He works with the Boston Celtics, the US ski team, the Olympic squad, and top professional tennis players. "The real action though," Leach says, "is not with the pros. It's with the people who are doing sports for fun." That category includes Leach. With son Mike, the Leaches are a nationally ranked tennis duo. But Leach's sports medicine is all business. "These days, reputations are often made not on the surgery, but on not doing the surgery," he says. "And the athletes know I don't quit. They recognize I'm relating." Boston, MA
Dr. Kurt Isselbacher
Mass. General's gastro-intestinal unit chief is a leading ileitis authority and colon specialist; he passes the inside dope along to Harvard medical students when he's not writing it up for textbooks. We know of an intern who, upon learning that a friend of his was Isselbacher's patient, asked her to secure for him the autograph of the good doctor.
Ceremony
Owner Alix Childs offers modern brides funky alternatives to the white-meringue gown. In her sun-drenched Beacon Hill studio, she proffers hard-to-find frocks from fashionable faves like Lela Rose and Temperley London. Our eyes are on a handpainted watercolor bridal gown. Now that's a statement. 53 River St., Boston, MA 02114, ceremony-boston.com.
Jacob Kulin
Using reclaimed wood to create mixed-material tables, benches, and shelves with a '60s-era Scandinavian feel, Jacob Kulin produces furnishings that pull double duty as functional art. No wonder homeowners go gaga for his clean, modern, and eco-friendly work. By appointment only. kulinmodern.com.
Repertoire
Painfully chic and aggressively stylish, this emporium makes you feel as if you're living in a wallpaper magazine photo shoot. But there's no questioning the sophisticated taste here, from the Bulthaup kitchens to the post-modern classics from Italy. Repertoire also boasts a fine assortment of bathroom accessories. 114 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
John Lakian
Despite a checkered past that includes resume-padding, Lakian promises to be a thorn in Mitt's side all the way to the September primary. Lakian's willingness to spend a million of his own dollars to rehab his image proves the modern American adage: money talks.
Skipjack's Seafood Emporium
Skipjack's is obsessed with providing the freshest seafood in the neighborhood in a setting of nautical charm and modern comfort. Its oyster list boasts aphrodisiacs from up and down the eastern seaboard, and its entrée menu abounds with specials such as spiced wasabi-crusted salmon and a "Lobster Spectacular" that lives up to its name. 55 Needham St., Newton, MA .
The Canteen
Situated in a weathered 200-year-old building, the Canteen’s surfer digs beckon from along Provincetown’s busiest strip. The menu, however, is entirely modern, with inspired takes on seafood staples—think shrimp sliders with lemon tartar sauce, cod bánh mì sandwiches, and vegetarian-friendly mushroom "fish and chips." 225 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA 2657, thecanteenptown.com.
Little Lovage Club
This bright, modern gathering spot is as much an oasis for parents as it is for kids, with group sessions that focus on building skills and exploring creativity and motion through music, sign language, and “messy” art. 778 Tremont St., Boston, MA littlelovageclub.com.
Harmon Small, Circo & Sal's
Small's territory is a little alcove set off from the street by modern art and a huge mirror. If you need a cheering up, ask him about the good old days in Provincetown. 500 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Casa Outdoor
Owner Zhanna Drogobetsky travels to Europe seeking stylish modern outdoor furnishings such as Tuuci umbrellas made with UV-resistant fabrics, geometric resin Ramón Esteve planters, or airy rattan-woven sofas by Kenneth Cobonpue. 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118, casaoutdoorboston.com.
Patch NYC
Designers Don Carney and John Ross thoughtfully fuse modern and vintage home accents and fashion accessories—which translates to Fornasetti candles, cheeky silkscreen pillows, and everything in between. 46 Waltham St., Boston, MA 02118, patchnyc.com.
Silvertone
DTX's dining landscape may be changing, but stalwart Silvertone remains one of Boston's most dependable industry hangouts. Find comfort-food bliss in the form of Cajun chicken tacos, bacon mac ’n’ cheese, and garlicky steak tips. 69 Bromfield St., Boston, MA 02108, silvertonedowntown.com.
Dr. Detail Car Wash
Most of us do very bad things in our cars, what with the speeding and the cussing and whatnot. Some of us also do very bad things to our cars, leaving them to suffer the indignity of coffee-stained dashes and trash-strewn floors. When the situation reaches the Good God, what is that smell? stage, it's time to pay a visit to Dr. Detail. At its three local mall-garage setups (bonus: shop while you wait) and flagship operation in Walpole (bonus: spot a Patriot), this auto aesthetician offers a decent hand-wash and vacuum for 30 bucks. But book a full detail, starting at about $160, and the guys will buff, shampoo, and vacuum away every last vestige of your sins. Consider it an exorcism, with new-car smell. Copley Place, Boston, MA 2116, drdetailcarwash.com.
The Institute of Contemporary Art
A gleaming temple of artistic achievement, the ICA is filled with modern masterpieces. And your wedding can be one of them. Between the harbor views and the large-scale works adorning the gallery’s walls, visual splendor abounds—as do options for using the space, which includes a waterfront plaza, a light-flooded lobby, and a roomy theater. 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston, MA 02210, icaboston.org.