Redd's in Rozzie

We're tempted to call what Redd's does "home cooking," but given that this version of comfort food would require an apprenticeship at a southern barbecue joint, the ability to break down an entire pig, and a smoker in the backyard, we're not exactly talking about our home. Redd's nails everything, from the house-made pickle plate (try the pickled cabernet grapes) and apple mignonette-topped raw oysters to the just-about melt-in-your-mouth pulled-pork sandwich. If this is how you cook at home, we're coming over for dinner. 4257 Washington St., Roslindale, MA 2131, reddsinrozzie.com.

Broadway Bicycle School

"If you want something done right, do it yourself" is a nifty aphorism, but it's also true that we could all use a little help sometimes. The versatile grease monkeys at this bike co-op offer options for all levels of hands-on experience. Stand-and-tool rental runs $9 per hour, an unflappable mechanic to talk you through your repair costs $18 per hour, and if you just can't be bothered, they'll tune your ride to perfection at reasonable rates. If you really want to get your fingernails dirty, the school offers classes in repair and wheel building. 351 Broadway, Cambridge, MA broadwaybicycleschool.com.

Problems with the Harbor Tunnel

Yeah, we know it isn't sexy. Heed us now or don't call us on your cellular phone when your Volvo starts filling with water during rush hour.

Olfactory NYC

If you’ve ever spent hours sniffing countless fragrances, fruitless in your attempt to find one that’s just right, Olfactory will be your savior. Inside this new perfume lovers’ paradise, “scentologists” will help you select one of a dozen core scents to combine with complementary notes of your choosing (think a vanilla-cedarwood base with peach notes) to create a fragrance suited to your exact desires. It’s like an über-luxurious compounding pharmacy, but for perfume. 133 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02116, olfactorynyc.com.

Claudia Grimaud, Jardin Day Spa

There are pedicures, and then there are pedicures. One changes the color of your toenails; the other actually changes the way your feet feel on your body. It's the second kind that Claudia Grimaud has down to an art form. The fast-talking, sharp-witted brunette caresses, exfoliates, clips, and files years off your aching feet, whisking away the toughest calluses as if they were nothing. In under an hour, you have sandal-ready dogs that look and feel positively adolescent. 115 Lewis Wharf, Boston, MA lejardinspa.net.

Hong Kong

If you’ve never had a night out end with a hazily remembered jaunt to this Faneuil Hall spot, you haven’t done after-hours in Boston right. Amid the bustle of the seven-night-a-week party—a blend of college kids, off-the-clock restaurant staff, and coworkers from downtown office buildings—the generously spiked scorpion bowls offer liquid courage in no short supply. The $1 chicken-teriyaki-on-a-stick, served (how else?) from a tin-foil-wrapped bucket, is tastier than you’d think. Sure, you may have to wait hours for your turn at the mike, but if you’re in the mood to get "Born to Run" off your chest, there’s no better place than the Kong. 65 Chatham St., Boston, MA 02109, hongkongboston.com.

Reggie Macamaux, Rollins Protective Services

Rollins is, of course, a nationwide outfit; you wouldn't want a fly-by-night local protecting your home, would you? Macamaux's been with the firm for three years, and as the greater Boston branch manager, he supervises eight others. He's high on the wireless alarm system these days, a device that hooks into a central station manned 24 hours a day. "We have 'preventive' maintenance checks, 24-hour service, and 24-hour communications with the wireless," he boasts. It's not cheap—$1,900 to $2,400, depending upon the number of doors, windows, and other vulnerable areas—but it's sure a good night's sleep. Burlington, MA

The People Who Gave Us Hope

If we could dream up a 2020 all-star squad of heroes, champions, and advocates, it would look a lot like this: Community organizer Gladys Vega (1) of the Chelsea Collaborative, who has spent the past two decades fighting for social justice but swiveled her focus to feeding 11,000 residents each week as the coronavirus ravaged her city. Public health advocate and Harvard professor of epidemiology Marc Lipsitch (2) would also make the team, in no small part due to his consistent and clear message, whether speaking to us in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Boston Globe: Never underestimate COVID-19. Our best city politician is Julia Mejia (3), the first immigrant and Latina on the Boston City Council, who fought back against racist harassment after taking office in early 2020. She has also worked to improve bilingual communications in Boston and even made a series of TikTok videos with her daughter to liven up the mood at City Hall during the early days of the pandemic. Ibram X. Kendi (4), meanwhile, is the man of the hour and our hope for humanity. A bestselling author, the 2019 Guggenheim Fellow recently became a history professor and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, where he’ll lead many of the country’s brightest minds to solve problems of racial inequity. His books, including How to Be an Antiracist, are already required reading among those in the know around town. As for the best social justice advocate in Boston? That’s Monica Cannon-Grant (5), a Roxbury mother of six children who rallied tens of thousands of residents to Franklin Park to peacefully protest police brutality. She also runs a victim-assistance program that supports men, women, and children of color through her organization Violence in Boston. And though he’s best known for his moves on the court, Celtics star Jaylen Brown (6) is our clear choice for celebrity ambassador—he’s peacefully protested, regularly speaks about race in America, and was honored at the State House this year for his charity work with children. We’re proud to have him on our home team.

If we could dream up a 2020 all-star squad of heroes, champions, and advocates, it would look a lot like this: Community organizer Gladys Vega (1) of the Chelsea Collaborative, who has spent the past two decades fighting for social justice but swiveled her focus to feeding 11,000 residents each week as the coronavirus ravaged her city. Public health advocate and Harvard professor of epidemiology Marc Lipsitch (2) would also make the team, in no small part due to his consistent and clear message, whether speaking to us in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Boston Globe: Never underestimate COVID-19. Our best city politician is Julia Mejia (3), the first immigrant and Latina on the Boston City Council, who fought back against racist harassment after taking office in early 2020. She has also worked to improve bilingual communications in Boston and even made a series of TikTok videos with her daughter to liven up the mood at City Hall during the early days of the pandemic. Ibram X. Kendi (4), meanwhile, is the man of the hour and our hope for humanity. A bestselling author, the 2019 Guggenheim Fellow recently became a history professor and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, where he’ll lead many of the country’s brightest minds to solve problems of racial inequity. His books, including How to Be an Antiracist, are already required reading among those in the know around town. As for the best social justice advocate in Boston? That’s Monica Cannon-Grant (5), a Roxbury mother of six adopted children who rallied tens of thousands of residents to Franklin Park to peacefully protest police brutality. She also runs a victim-assistance program and free-meal delivery service through her organizations Violence in Boston and Food for the Soul. And though he’s best known for his moves on the court, Celtics star Jaylen Brown (6) is our clear choice for celebrity ambassador—he’s peacefully protested, regularly speaks about race in America, and was honored at the State House this year for his charity work with children. We’re proud to have him on our home team.

Winston Flowers

Flowers are the most fleeting of gifts, yet the breathtaking bouquets and potted plants from Winston's Hingham outpost somehow last for weeks on end. Planning an event or shower? The possibilities here are nearly limitless, thanks to the shop's talented designers, who can make something beautiful with four weeks—or four hours—notice. 8 Main St., Hingham, MA 2043, winstonflowers.com.

Brian Rand, Trephin

There are stylists whose names are plastered on salon windows. There are stylists who charge $400 a cut. And then there's the quietly brilliant Rand, who takes a good, long look at your face, runs his fingers through your tresses, and begins coaxing your hair into the shape it's always wanted to be. After an hour of snipping and razor-cutting, curly-haired lasses walk out with tamed, bouncy 'dos; straight-haired ladies marvel at the life in their locks. 25 Temple Place, Boston, MA 2111, trephin.com.

Allston Car Wash

Roll into this 'cah spa' and let a team painstakingly shampoo, buff, and wax your begrimed automobile back into the gleaming ride it once was. Nimble, speedy attendants can complete most jobs—from conditioning your leather to glazing your acrylic—in less than an hour. For a quick fix, the five-minute, $8.95 drive-through starts with a wash and ends with a hand-dry toweling. You won't find a deal like that at the day spa. 434 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 2134, allstoncarwash.com.

Fini Concierge

If there are more items on your to-do list than there are hours in a day—shopping for groceries, picking up prescriptions, scheduling appointments, waiting for the repairman—simply summon Fini Concierge. The company’s personal assistants on demand can even organize your home, take your car in for service, or string up lights for the holidays. No job is too small or too taxing. 665 Beacon St., Boston, 02215, finiconcierge.com.

Plaza Bar, Copley Plaza Hotel

Smoked oysters, mussels, pâté, tuna, cheese—all on a cart circulated through the room. Copley Square, Boston, MA .

Kelly's Underground Dog Grooming

Dropping your dog at the groomer isn't fun for you or your pooch. The guilt that comes with leaving your canine pal to suffer for your vanity is enough to make you question whether he needs a haircut at all. That's why Kelly's Underground Dog Grooming is so special—it feels like bringing Fido to a play date. Dogs typically aren't crated till it's their turn on the table, instead romping freely with fellow clients for hours before their shampoo and style. You'll return to find a well-coiffed pooch that's ready for a nap. 248 W. Newton St., Boston, MA 02116, .