Life’s simple pleasures often stop short in the city of Boston. Puritanical values continue to reign in the form of Massachusetts’ egregious Blue Laws, which tend to end the party before it even starts. Those seeking a slice of hedonistic relief – and a finely rolled Romeo y Julieta – will find just that at Cigar Masters.

Whether you’re laying local on Nantucket or jetting off to the Greek isles this summer, no bikini-worthy vacation is complete without a proper wax. These Boston spas will not only leave you ready to bare, they’ll keep the process as painless as possible. Do you dare?

When proprietor Sheri Falk opened Basiques boutique in November 2009, she didn’t just bring a bit of je ne sais quoi from her days in France: she inspired a revolution in women’s attitudes towards dressing well. Her collection of items, with its limited color palette (crimson, cerulean blue, white and black) and fabric selections (cashmeres, silks, and cottons) may seem a bit Spartan to the unbeknownst eye, but fashionistas, take note: Falk abides by her mantra that “it’s not about having things–it’s about having a few really great things.”

When deadlines loom, the nanny quits and your fall wardrobe is on backorder, there’s only one thing you can do: inhale. And then, exhale, at Exhale Boston. Part of a tight-knit group of sister locations throughout the country, the Mind|Body|Spa at Exhale Boston is situated within the prestigious Heritage on the Green building, conveniently surrounded by the Back Bay, Beacon Hill and South End.

Situated in the pulse of the Back Bay where Newbury Street meets the Massachusetts Avenue, the residences at 360 Newbury St. continue to enchant Boston’s skyline and urban-dwelling professionals alike. The condominiums were designed by one of the world’s foremost architects, Frank Gehry, who renovated the building in 2005 to create more than 54 new condominium units (from one-, two- and three-bedrooms to duplexes and penthouses) available for sale in 2006.

Once upon a time, a jailhouse was built on Charles Street. Nearly two centuries later, the greatest transformation of all was hatched: the facelift from an infamous slammer into the opulent Liberty Hotel.