"A merger of equals"
The party line at both Fleet Financial and BankBoston, after their, ahem, consolidation. Some merger—most of the top slots went to the Fleet elite.
Hamersley's Bistro
Gordon and Fiona Hamersley pioneered the bistro-style restaurant in Boston. Many others have followed, but no one has topped them yet. 578 Tremont Street, Boston, MA .
Romagnoli's Table
Home of the new Italian cuisine in Boston. Actually, the location leaves a little (well, a lot) to be desired in terms of ambience. But the food more than compensates. North Market Bldg., Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA .
Johnnie Walton, Breakers Quarterback
Left the football staff of Elizabeth City College, in New Jersey, for Boston slot.
Polonaise
A nice attempt at bringing Polish cooking to Boston. And that's no joke. 384 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Dover Sea Grille
Great food in one of the very few Boston fish houses that take reservations. 1223 Beacon St., Brookline, MA .
Klaus Tennstedt conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Bruckner's Fifth Symphony.
Ray Flynn on the snow tractors, marching in parades, running in the Boston Marathon, etc.
The Summer Shack
Whether you order up one of the beautifully done basics—steamed lobster, Boston scrod—or a special like grilled wild striped bass, you'll have ample cash left over for a sinful dessert. 50 Dalton St., Boston, MA summershackrestaurant.com.
Domain
Accessorizing is what it's about these days in interior design, and nobody does it better than Domain. The selection of upholstered pillows is the best in Boston. But check out the picture frames as well. All locations, .
Waterstone's Booksellers
We drove the British out of Boston more than 200 years ago, but they returned last year with this three-story emporium where even best-sellers are discounted. 26 Exeter Stree, Boston, MA .
"Studio 7," Channel 7
This classy quarterly arts show hosted by opera star Phyllis Curtin, now dean of the Boston University School for the Arts, proves that commercial TV can tackle the arts.
Venus, Seafood in the Rough
The fried clams, fish-and-chips, lobsters, and rock crabs are great, but the paper plates and picnic tables on the harbor make Venus the best. Just what Boston needed. Get there before it closes for the winter. 88 Sleeper St., Boston, MA .
Michael Arnowitt
At twelve, he played with the Boston Pops, and now at fourteen, he composes for both piano and violin at New England Conservatory. By twenty-one, he'll have changed his name to Wolfgang. Lexington, MA