Channel 5
Jack Hynes and John Henning take the news seriously, and it shows. Theirs is an intelligent, thorough and straightforward presentation; it is so well done that it will never be Number 1 in the ratings. Too bad the station decided to put one on at 6 and the other at 11. MA
Celtics guard M. L. Carr, who started the season off strong, flattened, did next to zilch in the playoffs, and—in final the game against the 76ers—moaned and groaned for the cameras when rookie Danny Ainge missed him with a bad pass on a fast break.
Margie at Changes
If the thought of parking on Newbury Street gives you hives, wheel into the lot beside Changes and ask for Margie to turn your bad hair day into something that will have you crowing, "I'm worth it." Channel 5 newswomen swear by her, as does her devoted west-suburban clientele. 1160 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA .
Brooks Brothers
Books shorts have been known to last more than a decade, sometimes under the most stressful conditions. They come in stripes and the occasional plaid, but we prefer the blue oxford cloth because it's durable and doesn't look bad without trousers.
The Bankruptcy of Telelogic
The Somerville telecommunications company's Chapter 11 filing was so hush-hush that even top execs were kept in the dark until the last minute. The shrewder heads finally figured out that something was up when, summoned to the boardroom for the bad news, they noticed price tags dangling from their chairs.
Dante deMagistris, blu
When blu opened at Sports Club/LA last winter, many eyed the restaurant with suspicion. Would the brightly colored, Cali-inspired glass-walled dining room work in Boston? Would the menu be filled with bland, flavorless health club fare? The answers: yes and no—in that order. And it's all thanks to Dante deMagistris, the 27-year-old Belmont native who has won the hearts and stomachs of Bostonians with his culinary style (honed under Michael Schlow during their stint together at Café Louis and flourishing under blu co-owner and culinary legend Michela Larson). Even fitness-phobes clamor over deMagistris's fresh seasonal dishes. His "Out of the blu" appetizer, a presentation of assorted sashimis served on brightly colored glass plates, is a work of art, while entrées like steamed wild striped bass or potato gnocchi (made from deMagistris's grandmother's recipe) show the promise of a chef on the rise. Sports Club/LA, 4 Avery St., Boston, MA blurestaurant.com.
DePasquale Brothers
<p>Pizza is a serious business. Just ask Phil DePasquale, 70, who's been a professional pizza maker since he was 11. The same Phil DePasquale who's owned DePasquale Brothers Pizza, on Main Street in Medford, since 1939. The same Phil DePasquale who, in ninth grade, passed up an art scholarship because he "preferred to spend his time making pizzas." The same Phil DePasquale who insists that "the best chefs are the little old ladies from southern Italy," and whose granddaughter, Lindsay, has been making her own pizzas since the age of 3. The same Phil DePasquale who first introduced pizza to the European, in 1937, and to Suffolk Downs, in 1938. And the same Phil DePasquale whose devotees—Frank Sinatra among them—swear that his pies are the finest of all.</p> <p>We tend to agree with Ol' Blue Eyes. The prime ingredients: grated mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, oregano, basil, and garlic. The secret: "Once you think you've added enough garlic, you add more." The result: pizza that's chewy, cheesy, flavorful, and undeniably worth the drive to Medford.</p>
Sullivan Square
The big new station looks like a small spaceport with its three-story-high concrete terminal, curving ramps, and Route 93 arching over the whole thing. Too bad it has the same old trains and buses as the other stops. Charlestown, MA
CMG Information Services
Wilmington's CMG Fidelity Services sold America Online a neat piece of software that allows users to quickly browse the Internet's World Wide Web and retrieve data. The price: 710,000 shares of stock now valued at more than $50 million. Not bad for a product that cost $1.5 million to develop.
House Speaker George Keverian's
Whose typical response to a political thwarting is to retire to his office for a good long sulk. Will someone please tell George to grow up and take his lumps like a big boy.
Anne-Cecile Curot
It's bad enough getting waxed—best to do it in a fun, distracting atmosphere (with Donna Summer cooing softly in the background). What makes this place unique is Cecile, a charming French woman who brought a trade secret with her when she came to Boston— azulene , a green wax that's as soothing as such a thing can be. And her efficiency and professionalism will prevent you from wondering what you're doing there in the first place! Jean-Pierre David, 24A Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Tannery
Most men suffer bad relationships with their shoes. They scuff, give off smells (not the men, the shoes), and need frequent tying. And the guys we know hate to shop to replace theirs. So a one-stop shoe store is a godsend, and the Tannery is worth a pilgrimage. From Tevas to Timberland, sandals to the most softly shining leather loafers, the Tannery can shoe a foot for any occasion, and in any of an enviable range of labels. 402 Boylston St., Boston, MA thetannery.com.
Mitch Shechtman
A good trainer knows how to get people in killer shape. A great trainer is part fitness expert, part therapist, part motivational speaker, and—let's face it—part drill sergeant. Mitch Shechtman amalgamates all of the above, and adds to the mix a solid dose of humor that takes the edge off that grueling last set of squats. His understanding of just how hard to push clients physically and mentally is a sixth sense. None of which is particularly surprising when you consider that Shechtman is head trainer at BodyScapes, a fitness center dedicated solely to the notion that bodies benefit most from one-on-one time with an expert. Just as important, though, is Shechtman's other dedication: to make workouts tough but fun. One Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
House Speaker "Good Time" Charlie Flaherty
Breaking a long silence, Flaherty informed the Boston Herald that the mood in the House is just swell. This, notwithstanding the daily leaks from the federal grand jury reportedly investigating him for accepting illegal gratuities from lobbyists, plus the simmering war of succession between majority leader Richie Voke and House Ways and Means chair Tom Finneran. Say good night, Charlie.
A4cade
In a city as proudly nerdy as this one, it's easy to find like-minded friends interested in vanquishing demonic forces. But the speakeasy-style A4cade, a collaboration between Roxy's Grilled Cheese and Area Four, is the only place where you can sip tiki cocktails while playing Ghostbusters-themed pinball and the ’90s classic Simpsons arcade game. (If whaling on bad guys with Marge's vacuum cleaner isn't your style, there's always foosball.) 292 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, areafour.com.