Marc the Handyman
If you don’t know a wrench from a wire cutter, you’d be wise to keep Marc Hedges in your contacts. No task is too small for this punctual, responsive pro, who will hang your new flat-screen, baby-proof your house, caulk your tub, and just about anything in between while you sit back and watch the items on your to-do list disappear. hedgesmarc.wixsite.com/handyman.
William E. Carter Playground Tennis Courts
The five new-ish courts here are in such high demand there’s usually a 30-to-60-minute wait. Accordingly, players keep to a courteous one-hour limit, even under the twinkling lights at night (closing time is 11:30 p.m.). Got ankle-biters? No problem. The lively adjacent playground is the perfect distraction for your energetic tots while you serve up a storm. Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, .
China King
Nina Gallant Back in the Pre-Pandemic Era, the Chinatown stalwart’s stunning three-course Peking-duck feast required preordering 48 hours in advance. Now you can phone it in by 3:30 the day before. The epic spread includes hand-pulled noodles stir-fried with the shredded meat, a bone-broth soup, and, of course, house-made pancakes for making hoisin-moistened wraps with the (ahem) quack-ling crisp skin. 60 Beach St., Boston, MA 02111, chinakingboston.com.
Cusser's
Mona Miri During COVID, expanded hours and new sidewalk seating helped us rediscover the revelatory lobster rolls at Cusser’s, the street-level takeout window chef Carolyn Johnson built into the side of Mooncusser Fish House and Moon Bar. Red-wine butter sauce dresses juicy meat on the decadent hot version; tantalizing tarragon mayo, meanwhile, is used for the heavenly cold one. Either way, the perfectly griddled potato bun is a curbside craving all on its own. 304 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, cussersboston.com.
Meichi Peng
Courtesy photos At a time when so many of us have adopted new furry friends, this handbag guru’s bespokedoggie totes (customized to your pet’s specific shape and size) have reached cult-hero status. But that’s not the only carryall Peng specializes in: Handmade in upholstery-level cowhide and buffalo leather, each of her sumptuous clutches, satchels, totes, belts, and accessories takes 12 to 50 hours to stitch — and it shows. 95 Broadway, Fl. 2, Boston, MA 02116, pengbags.com.
Lovells Island
Get your sea legs ready: Reaching this hidden-gem hike requires two boat rides, first on the Georges Island ferry, then on a tiny boat that runs (for free) to Lovells. What a payoff you’ll get, though: a glimpse of Boston Light and the city skyline, a chance to explore the ruins of a deactivated military fort, and solitude in the fresh ocean air. You can trace the outer edges of the quiet island in just over an hour, but you’ll likely find yourself lingering for much, much longer. Boston, MA bostonharborislands.org.
Michael Albor, The Loft
Photograph by Webb Chappell On nights when you need to make an entrance, make a pit stop at the Loft first. Miami-bred owner Michael Albor does gravity-defying updos and soft, luscious curls like no one else. More important, his looks are upscale, not uptight—meaning that after a few hours of cocktailing, dancing, and otherwise having a ball, your piled-up 'do will look even better than when you arrived. 253 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, theloftsalonanddayspa.com.
Park Plaza Travel
Name a place—any place. Name it any time—even hours before you need to get there. Now toss in some tough-to-meet requests: You need a periwinkle blue Lexus waiting for you when you get there, say, or you want a meeting booked in Manhattan's most popular restaurant. Park Plaza Travel can set it up. All of it. The always-courteous, cost-conscious, and efficient, and staff is as fast on the draw and as detail-oriented as most companies get—probably yours included. 2 Park Plaza, Boston, MA .
Laurel Elliot, Vidal Sassoon Salon
Hair color is like a fine wine—richly layered and smooth. But unlike a delicious pinot noir, it doesn't get better with time (especially when it turns a shade too brassy, gray, or ashy). Laurel Elliot can take color that has soured and restore it to a resplendent radiance in under a couple of hours. Be warned that reserving a spot with her isn't easy. You may have to wait in line, but you'll do it with eager anticipation. 14 Newbury St., Boston, MA sassoon.com.
Larry Fidalgo, Fidalgo Floors
The scene of the crime is that newly purchased, splendid Victorian house whose floors are battered by years of abuse and besmirched with coats of deck paint. Enter Larry Fidalgo and company—and 24 hours later, stunning pine planks gleam from beneath a coat of crystal-clear polyurethane. Not only does Fidalgo refinish soft- and hardwood floors, but he installs them, as well. Among his clients are the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Restoration Society of Charlestown. Which isn't a bad way to finish. Somerville, MA
David Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick operates out of a tiny South End storefront (65 Berkeley St.) under the name Appleton-Berkeley TV. He charges a flat rate (either ten or fifteen dollars per hour, depending on whether your set is tube or solid state) and sells used TVs as well. "We're an established business," Fitzpatrick explains, "and for the ten dollars we charge, other shops may charge as much as sixty dollars." Appleton-Berkely TV, 65 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Alpha Omega Fine Jewelry and Watches
Decide to update from your Timex Indigo or last year's candy-colored Swatch? Alpha Omega has watches for people who have arrived (on time, of course). No need to settle for cliché—even Rolex offers a modern classic, the Cellini line, as well as the venerable Oyster. Each maker seems to display a singular character along with the hour: genteel Baume & Mercier, brazen Bulgari, obsessive Tissot, and precious Ulysse Nardin. 57 JFK St., Cambridge, MA .
Akris
Looking for an uncontrived and versatile suit that works equally well at the office and after hours? The Swiss-based house of Akris, which recently opened, stocks some of the smartest two-piece suits in town. Designer Albert Kriemler's obsession with form, fit, and fabric is evident in the attention to detail and tailoring in his traditional pant-jacket-and-skirt suits. The store also carries the lower-priced Punto collection, perfect for women who are searching for classic suiting with a bit of an edge. 16 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Colonial Drug
Still rubbing your wrist on that magazine fragrance strip? Quelle catastrophe! It's all too easy—and only civilized—to spend hours in this tiny wonder shop, sampling the world's most exclusive fragrances (including matching soaps, spray deodorants, and body creams). Experts behind the counter, including a nose-in-training, will help you distinguish between floral, Oriental, chypre, green, and modern blends. There's also a color-coded testing system on the wall—making the search for a signature scent a fun experience. 49 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA .
Premiere Video
The customer-service orientation of this new mom-and-pop (and son) store ought to be a model for others. We love the 24-hour movie-drop-off box and the drive-through pickup window. A popcorn machine (help yourself!) and pizza restaurant are in the same space. It delivers movies and pizza to your home, if you're lucky to live anywhere nearby. 87 High St., Danvers, MA .