Ittoku
There's a reason the crowd at this izakaya always spills onto the street. The sashimi's so fresh it tastes like it swam onto your plate, the beef yakitori crackles with charred flavor, and the ramen portions are more than generous. 1414 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02134, .
Newbury Boston
Looking for picturesque views to go with your room-service breakfast and Frette robe? Touch down at the Newbury Boston, where the sparkling-new rooms overlook the Public Garden and the Common. One Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, thenewburyboston.com.
Capers Catering
After nearly three decades in the biz, Capers knows how to whip up one hell of a spread. And with a “farm-to-fork” philosophy, it’s a safe bet your meal will be totally fresh, too. 21 Emerson Street, Stoneham, Massachusetts 02180, caperscatering.com.
Ashmont Cycles
Count on owner Jack Pelletier and his team to help you find a ride that fits your needs (new or used, hybrid or mountain, Fuji or Linus), as well as accessories like helmets and gloves. ashmontcycles.com.
Fabrizio Construction
South Shore's architects appreciate Fabrizio's ability to turn intricate drawings into homes built to last for generations. The crew is equally adept at building from the ground up and renovating existing houses. Duxbury, MA fabrizioconstruction.com.
Urbanity Dance
At Urbanity Dance, a community-minded professional company located in the South End, your dancer in training can learn alongside the pros. There are even "mommy-and-me" classes for newborns and babies up to age two. 1180 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, urbanitydance.org.
Alison Braverman, Etant
Chatty and lightning-quick, the self-described perfectionist will put you at ease, show you how to breathe, and get you (and every last one of your strays) out of there before you can say "frog position." 524 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Jeffrey Lyle, Emerge
A savior for those dying to have born-with-it blond locks, Lyle mixes up a shade so natural and places it so artfully that your roots will be ashamed to show themselves. 275 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Feldmesser and Company
Fred Feldmesser will be your own Indiana Jones, searching for the gem you want and helping you find a jeweler to set it, all for less than a ring bought at retail. 8 Chauncy St., Cambridge, MA .
Stella
Throw on a pair of $200 distressed jeans and your John Varvatos Chucks and join the in-crowd on the bustling sidewalk patio at Stella for linguine carbonara or a sausage and roasted red pepper frittata. 1525 Washington St., Boston, MA 2118, bostonstella.com.
Eastern Standard
Technically, it's a salad ($11). But the house special here is a dieter's nightmare and a foodie's fantasy: Crisp, bitter frisée is balanced with salty bacon, braised sweetbreads, a still-runny golden yolk, and crunchy hazelnuts. 528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, easternstandardboston.com.
Governor Michael Stanley Dukakis
Boring, plodding, humorless, and cold, right? Right. And on his way to the White House. Face it: he did the impossible. Dukakis has had the best year of any politician since John Kennedy in 1960.
The Corrupt Midget
The SJC ordered housing court judge E. George Daher to apologize for having bestowed this sobriquet on his longtime nemesis, Billy Bulger. Actually, Daher deserves a dinner.
J. Pace & Sons
We frequent this store for its fine selection of olive oils and great deals on arborio rice. The homemade prepared foods and sandwiches are always worth sampling, and this is a great place to get condimenti for your antipasto. 22 Cross Street, Boston, MA .
Christina's
Christina's specializes in made-to-order nonfat frozen yogurt. Pick your flavoring—chocolate, coffee, strawberry, banana, or boysenberry—and they'll blend it into a superb vanilla base. Best are the fruits, made with real fruit, no flavored syrups. 1255 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA .