Lucy Danger, Lindsay Griffin + Co.
Curly hair, flat hair, hair that parts how it wants: Known as the “connoisseur of bobs,” Lucy Danger specializes in creating face-framing cuts that accentuate her clients’ natural beauty. 106 Bristol Rd., Somerville, MA lindsaygriffin.com.
East Coast Toast English Muffins
After several disappearing acts, these terrific English muffins are back, but only in the plain flavor. If muffin mavens start demanding them, maybe the other flavors will make a comeback, too. Mrs. Kay's Cafe, The Atrium Mall, 300 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
Spit
Because you'll never be able to hear the nasty things you say to each other over the din. 13 Landsdowne St., Boston, MA .
Tony Eason. Or Steve Grogan.
Quarterback was an oasis of consistency on a barren offense that had to throw—or intercept—to make yardage. And, given the offensive line, had to throw awfully quickly.
Flock
Breezy and bohemian, this South End boutique stocks a creative collection of hairpieces and fringed cross-body bags. Look for jewelry set to star in the latest layering trends and sought-after Turkish kilim flats and bags by Boston's Artemis Design Co. Really, all that's missing is your Coachella ticket. 274 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 02118, flockboston.com.
"<em>Full Disclosure</em> . . . is filled with the kind of intriguing possibilities, drama, and suspense that plummeted <em>Advise and Consent</em> to the top of the bestseller list a few years back."—from a radio spot heard during a Red Sox broadcast in July.
The Boston Globe, which was serializing the new William Safire novel, commissioned the radio ad, but referred us to the agency that wrote it, Quinn & Johnson. At Q & J, they claimed the verb had been changed to "sky-rocketed" and that radio stations had been told of the correction. Error charged to WMEX?
Mojito, Chez Henri
Crushed mint leaves, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, sugar, and white rum combine for the ideal mojito, a sexy Cuban cocktail. Sip it by itself for a beat-the-heat refreshment, or down it as an accompaniment to the spicy Cuban sandwiches at the bar. Note: Though the bar is always pleasant, nobody works mojo on the mojito like bartender K.C. 1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA chezhenri.com.
West Side Lounge
The stretch of Mass. Ave. between Harvard and Porter squares may teem with restaurants and bars, but it's the laid-back-yet-sophisticated West Side Lounge that draws the locals. The main reason: chef Alex Jenkins's dinner creations. Available at the bar or in a candlelit booth, Jenkins's menu includes such straight-ahead appetizers as house-cured olives or grilled pizzas , along with more complex, but still humble, main courses, including roasted chicken, sliced tenderloin of steak, and pan-seared tuna with eye-watering wasabi mashed potatoes and ponzu sauce. The bar provides a solid backbeat, with classic martinis and margaritas, and eyebrow-raising beverages like the "little Debbie," a thick, liquor-soaked chocolate drink that is definitely not for kids. 1680 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA westsidelounge.com.
The Ground Round
Henry Kloss created a seven-foot screen to be used in bars, but, so far, no one has built a bar for the Advent TV. As a result, The Ground Round, in the Prudential Center, gets credit for being the best of the worst. The Prudential Center, Boston, MA .
The Either/Orchestra
The future of big-band sound is crafted right here in Boston by the Either/Or, a 10-piece band with a raw power, eccentric touches, a dash of Gil Evans, and a splash of Mingus.
Café Sushi
Here, you can have it all: delicate nigiri crafted from local and Japanese seafood; imaginative omakase with treats like raw octopus and monkfish-liver torchon; and, last but not least, plenty of reasonably priced maki (including a solid spicy tuna). Best of all, you won't part with a week's paycheck in the process. 1105 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, cafesushicambridge.com.
The Maids Home Services
The Maids didn't so much clean our apartment as unleash a hellfire of spic-and-span. Wearing vacuums on their backs and armed with motorized bottles (seriously), the housecleaners left no corner, crack, or crevice undusted, unscrubbed, or unwashed. They even tackled that war zone underneath the couch cushions. 179 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, maids.com.
Sportello
The best part of a meal at this Italian-inspired diner? Watching the kitchen staffers work their magic from behind the counter. What to Order: The potato gnocchi with mushroom ragu, peas, and cream; fettuccine with shrimp, ramps, hen of the woods mushrooms, and Calabrian chili. 348 Congress St., Boston, MA sportelloboston.com.
Bia Bistro
Bia is a labor of love for owners Tristen and Brian Houlihan—and a setting for love for the rest of us. The food hits plenty of amour-inspiring notes with time-honored Mediterranean dishes such as mussels in saffron cream, bouillabaisse, and velvety tart Tatin. But it's the service—carefully timed and discreet—that ultimately sets the stage for an enchanting evening. 35 S. Main St., Cohasset, MA biabistro.com.
Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory
This 1,019-seat hall, with its rich gilt-and-oak stage, is as intimate a medium-size hall as you'll find. Jordan Hall is surrounded, in part, by practice rooms, so a little wandering allows you to hear students playing everything from jazz trumpet to classical piano.