Linnea Tangorra
Linnea Tangorra and her staff of three can help both brides who know exactly what they want and those who have no clue. Services range from soup-to-nuts planning to hourly consulting with no minimums. Tangorra is quick to respond in any situation, whether she's answering your late-night e-mails, fielding your future mother-in-law's incessant questions or averting weather-related reception disasters with a well-orchestrated plan B. Tangorra Wedding Planning, 251 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, linneatangorra.com.
Linnea Tangorra
Linnea Tangorra and her staff of three can help both brides who know exactly what they want and those who have no clue. Services range from soup-to-nuts planning to hourly consulting with no minimums. Tangorra is quick to respond in any situation, whether she's answering your late-night e-mails, fielding your future mother-in-law's incessant questions or averting weather-related reception disasters with a well-orchestrated plan B. Tangorra Wedding Planning, 251 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, linneatangorra.com.
Newton Highlands Pet & Grooming
A few hours under the tender loving care of manager/ groomer Jane Bruce, and your Citizen Canine (or Feline) will be smelling like a rosebud. 9 Woodward St., Newton, MA .
<em>Gulio Cesare in Eggito</em>
Gulio Cesare in Eggito, directed by Peter Sellars and Craig Smith. The full four and a half hours of Handel's original score and a Ronald Reagan look-alike as Caesar.
Warren Asnes, Peace of Mind
A couple of years ago, Warren Asnes was a bureaucrat in the state's Office of Human Services. But last year, he decided to become a full-time housewatcher—a move inspired by his musing whether he or the other occupant of a two-family home was responsible for filling the house's boiler. Today he'll tend to the care and feeding of your home while you're away by walking your dog, watering your plants, forwarding your mail, even stocking your refrigerator for your return—all for seven bucks a trip. He comes with references, is fully insured, and is not put off by large numbers of pets: he once baby-sat 34 cats. Newton, MA
9Tailors
Even the most fashion-unconscious of men understand that an ill-fitting suit is a no-no on your big day. Thankfully, this custom-suiting company has the guys covered. The 9Tailors team takes a modern approach to the customization process without scrimping on Old World craftsmanship: The first consultation, for example, takes place over cocktails at the studio’s in-house bar, where you can choose from endless fabric and style options. And for brides who wish to forgo a traditional gown, the team also designs beautiful bespoke suits for the female form. 132 Lincoln St., Ste. 1L, Boston, MA 02111, 9tailors.com.
Charles River Canoe and Kayak
Just past the bustle of Kendall, a watery adventure awaits. Rent kayaks and canoes by the hour or day, or take a guided tour at sunset. Rolling with a crew? Take a spin on an XL paddleboard, which can fit up to eight. 15 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142, paddleboston.com.
Freshen-Up
Rentals by the hour; you bring the entertainment. Actually, it's the only hot-tub rental we found in town, and it takes a cool three grand to install your own. 678 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Charles River Canoe & Kayak at Kendall Square
Ditch the Google Glass and don a life jacket: In nice weather, there's no better way to spend your lunch hour than paddleboarding ($18) or kayaking ($15) up the Charles from the Longfellow to the Mass. Ave. bridge. 15 Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142, paddleboston.com.
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 .
Oak Long Bar + Kitchen
Cocktails and conversation at Oak Long Bar + Kitchen. / Photograph by Tony Luong We escape into a hotel bar when we want to feel like visitors in our own city. And there's no grander way to see Boston than by sidling up to the gilded bar at the century-old Fairmont Copley Plaza. Take a seat under the soaring ceilings and sip a stiff gin martini or an oversize pour of pinot while the world passes by. 138 St. James Ave., Boston, MA 02116, oaklongbarkitchen.com.
Tulle Bridal
After IRL shopping ground to a screeching halt last year, Tulle owner Heidi Janson quickly switched gears, introducing an outdoor browsing option so brides could still enjoy the tactile experience of trying on gowns. It may be safe to shop inside again, but Janson’s customers loved the en plein air experience so much that she decided to keep it for the near future. Still prefer to sip and peruse with a roof over your head? Book the store’s VIP experience, and you and your besties will have the studio all to yourselves to ogle frocks by Lee-Ann Belter, Yumi Katsura, Simone Carvalli, and more. 342 N. Main St., Andover, MA 01810, tullebridals.com.
Russell Morin Catering & Events
With an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients — and the know-how to pull off every part of your meal, from cocktail hour to dessert — Russell Morin Catering & Events excels in making your guests feel like they’re at a high-end farm-totable restaurant. Sip orange-pomegranate Old Fashioneds and slurp oysters from the raw bar before sitting down to seared scallops with champagne-infused beurre blanc. The best part? The do-it-all caterer prepares its cuisine on-site, so you can rest easy knowing whatever you serve will be hot and fresh. morins.com.
BriteSmile
For Hollywood celebs, bleached teeth are as essential an accessory as an unauthorized sex tape and a kabbalah bracelet. We've got no advice for you on those last two, but we can point you toward BriteSmile for the first. After a quick consultation, spa manager Karina Nolasco settles you into a reclining chair and hands you a pair of earphones so you can watch TV while a licensed dentist preps your teeth for the painless blue light. About an hour and a half later, you'll walk out with movie-star chompers of your own. 75 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, britesmile.com.
Vizio Optic
Squint through those frumpy, outdated spectacles of yours and take a good look around this sleek Brookline Village shop. You'll readily appreciate the cache of 1,000 or so designer frames, dotted with cult brands (Kamuro, Kata) and European faves (Face Face, Lafont). You'll admire optometrist-owner Galina Rabkin's staff of brainy-chic glamazons. And you'll absolutely obsess over the one-of-a-kind photo booth providing a 360-degree view of how various pairs of glasses work with your face—something that, while it might seem gimmicky, can save hours of agonizing in hindsight. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 2445, viziooptic.com.