Renae Connolly, Moëca
Nothing ends a meal better than an ethereal dessert, and no one makes one quite so otherworldly as Renae Connolly, who’s been spinning sugary tales throughout Boston’s restaurant scene for years. These days she’s at Moëca, the year-old seafood spot from the Giulia team, creating gorgeously executed desserts with a lightness that expertly complements the fish-focused main menu. Her creative frozen treats often play a starring role: think smoked-vanilla-mascarpone gelato with spicy caramel popcorn or a lemon bombe with basil meringue, raspberry-hibiscus purée, and pistachio gelato. 1 Shepard St., Cambridge, MA 02138, moecarestaurant.com.
The Emerald Necklace
What’s large, lucky, and green all over? Nope, it’s not a monster leprechaun; it’s the Emerald Necklace, the name for the tremendous 1,100 acres of public park space that connects Boston’s neighborhoods, from the Back Bay to Jamaica Plain to Dorchester. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted more than 100 years ago, the parks continue to serve as many Bostonians’ backyards, offering everything from quiet walks to sailing and golf, plus the Franklin Park Zoo — a true sanctuary within our city. emeraldnecklace.org.
Clover Food Lab
Mornings might run on Dunkin’, but for midday brain fuel, Boston’s busy worker bees buzz over to MIT-trained engineer Ayr Muir’s 14-outpost chainlet, which updates fast food for the Hub’s socially conscious, Silicon Valley East era. Three and a half minutes is the average wait time for falafel-and-hummus sandwiches, barbecue seitan platters, and other plant-based eats made with New England farm-sourced ingredients so reliably fresh, Clover kitchens don’t keep freezers. Even cooler? Clover’s subscription-based weekly meal kits (e.g., “Taco Tuesday”) delivered direct to area doorsteps for our telecommuting age. Multiple locations, cloverfoodlab.com.
Serenella
Boston’s style mavens count on Leslee Shupe to bring them the cr&_egrave;me de la cr&_egrave;me in high-end fashion — and 18 years after taking over Serenella, she continues to deliver, with a gorgeous selection of Bottega Veneta clutches, Missoni zigzag frocks, and whimsical portrait-collar blouses from Patou. In fact, even during a difficult time for the retail industry, Shupe managed to expand, launching a second Nantucket boutique devoted solely to La DoubleJ, a wildly popular Italian clothing and home-goods line, and apothecary products by Acqua Di Parma. It’s a testament to her impeccable eye for beautiful things — and to her devoted customers. 134 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, serenellausa.com.
Julia Ingalls, assistant chief concierge, The Four Seasons Hotel, Boston
Named Concierge of the Year by her peers, Ingalls won the award after working her way up the ranks at the Four Seasons: she started as a desk clerk when the hotel opened, in 1985. Ingalls is one of only 220 American concierges who made the cut for membership in Les Clefs d'Or, the society of professional concierges.
<em>The Makropulos Case</em> Conducted by Sarah Caldwell, Performed by the Opera Company of Boston
On the heels of Caldwell's triumphant production of Turandot, the Markropulos Case, featuring the splendid soprano Anja Silja, brought home the point that Caldwell was back.
A tie. Ed Siegel, <em>Boston Globe</em>, Terry Ann Knopf, <em>Patriot Ledger</em>
Intelligent, creative, and—above all—useful, Siegel's stuff would be great even if you didn't compare it with the trip churned out by his predecessor, the windy Jack Thomas. As for Knopf, she's Boston's own, and for insider stuff on the local stations there's not a soul who can top her.
John Bosa of Boston College and Reggie Lewis of Norhteastern University
Bosa, the Eagles' defensive end, was a first-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins. Lewis, the Huskie forward, will be wearing the green for the Celtics.
Deidre "Dee Dee" Gallagher, listings editor of the Boston Phoenix
Given the choice between an evening with Redford or Yaz, her pleasure would be "Batter's up!"
Mayoral candidate Joe Tierney's suggestion that Boston abolish its school committee.
Hmmm.
Diane White, the<em>Boston Globe</em> and Laura Shapiro, the<em>Real Paper</em>
White and Shapiro are engaging writers with refreshing viewpoints. MA
The Stux Galleries' Enthusiastic Reception in New York for Opening a Branch There
The accolades to the avant-garde representative of Boston's hottest young artists is a solid indication of Boston's growing importance on the national arts scene.
Xerxes
Boston's favorite mezzo-soprano, sing in Boston Lyric Opera's delightful production of Handle's comic opera. The singing—and the staging by director Stephen Wadsworth—were spectacular.
Mario Russo
It's smaller, quieter, and more discreet than the flagship at 9 Newbury. All of which works to the benefit of the other Mario Russo salon, tucked away on Louis Boston's third floor. Like Russo himself, who spends Wednesdays here, the close-knit team is as welcoming (even accepting walk-ins if there's down time) as it is talented: Scalp massages, for instance, are of the same top quality as the highlights. It should be noted that some of Boston's most particularly coiffed locks—including celebrity chef Ken Oringer's perfectly messy mop—are maintained here. Louis Boston, 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 2116, mariorusso.com.