"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.
Perfect 10 Unisex Salon
The name says it all: Catering to all hair types and textures, this small but mighty team of stylists score the highest marks for their gorgeous weaves, silk presses, locs, and braids. And that’s not the only way in which they’re giving Bostonians a boost: The salon was recently the only small business in Massachusetts to be awarded a HartBeat of Main Street grant from Main Street America, thanks in part to owner (and mother of four) Kanessa Alexander’s efforts to give back to the community. Now that’s what we call beautiful. 1896 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132, perfect10hairsalon.com.
Sargent Summer
A citywide celebration of the art of John Singer Sargent—at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fogg Art Museum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Public Library—provides a rare chance to see the complete picture of this fascinating fin-de-siècle expatriate artists who considered Boston his American home.
Barbara Cole Lee + Company
As the longtime chair of the MFA museum school art sale, Boston's other Barbara Lee—the art consultant, not the gazillionaire—has built it into the largest event of its kind in the country. She brings that same passion to the needs of her high-powered customers, for whom she'll travel to the Venice Biennale and Art Forum Berlin in search of just the right piece. Lee is also an expert on the local scene, comfortable with both established stars such as Ellsworth Kelly and hotshots like George Rosa. 35 Fisher Ave., Brookline, MA 2445, barbaracolelee.com.
JMW Gallery
People who are stuck on Stickley already know about JMW, a gallery filled with Mission furniture, art pottery, and accessories of the American arts and crafts movement. A century ago, Boston was in the forefront of craftsman design, and JMW celebrates that tradition by searching out some of the finest local art pottery. These are antiques to live with, from mustard-yellow J. & J.G. Low tiles out of Chelsea for the fireplace, to an achingly elegant matte-green Grueby vase for the front hall. And maybe, just maybe, a Stickley table to set it on. 144 Lincoln St., Boston, MA jmwgallery.com.
Wally's Café
Nowhere else in this town are you more apt to find pink Izods and gangsta colors in such proximity. This joint, nestled between the gentrified South End and Roxbury and opened in 1947 by Joseph "Wally" Walcott, is a classic treasure. And nowhere else in New England will you find finer jazz in a venue with more soul. Bands gather in the corner of the bar each night—from national acts to aspiring stars still studying at Berklee. The music is played loud enough that you can hear every seductive note, but not too loud for conversation. Don't like jazz? Check out an Afro-Cuban band. If you don't find yourself tapping your foot, it's time to check your pulse. 427 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA wallycafe.com.
Alan Shestack as director of the MFA
The affable writer, scholar, and former director of the Yale Art Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art starts work at Boston's MFA next month. Lucky MFA. Lucky us.
Borders Books and Music
A combination bookstore, music store, and cafe, Borders Books and Music has a huge selection of art books, ranging from classics like Picasso, Homer and O'Keeffe to Pop Art and Andy Warhol. Borders also offers sketchbooks, how-to books on drawing, painting, and photography, and a wide selection on subjects such as art history, architecture, graphic design, and printmaking. Best of all—comfy chairs for readers to sit in as they pore over the glossy pages. Corner of School and Washington streets, Boston, MA .
Tom Frick
The Massachusetts review editor for Art New England, he began reviewing shows for the prestigious Art in America about a year ago. Since then, he has gained a reputation as Boston's brightest reviewer and something of a cut following among artists and museum curators. (Honorable mention to Nancy Stapen, whose reviews in the Herald have raised the profile of the local arts scene.)
Meritage
It should come as no surprise that the wine list at Meritage is outstanding. The entire concept of the restaurant is, after all, about pairing food and wine. After 15 years as executive chef of the dining rooms at the Boston Harbor Hotel and of its annual Boston Wine Festival, Daniel Bruce is now cooking for a wine-first audience. The menus at Meritage lead off not with first courses, but a selection of wine styles—sparkling, light, full-bodied, and so on—that are then paired with an appropriate dish. Such a system demands a wine list that's substantial, varied, and reasonably priced, and sommelier Jamie Moore has seen to it that this one is. Moore changes the 850-choice list every two weeks to make room for more bottles of special but recognizable Rhone varietals like Cline, Côtes d'Oakley, or rare gems such as an Aile d'Argent, Château Mouton Rothschild from Bordeaux, or the heaven-on-earth elixir 1990 Château d'Yquem Lur-Saluces, Sauternes. The informed servers want you to enjoy the wine as much as they clearly do, and manage to explain the options in plain English. Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA meritagetherestaurant.com.
Hudsons
When you want to get a truly original gift for your best friend or the happy couple, this is the place to come. Run by two former art professors, Hudsons is a well-curated mélange of antiques, accessories, and contemporary-art pieces. (Steel-mesh icosahedron, anyone?) There are also plenty of traditional paintings and antiques from which to choose. 87 Marshal St., North Adams, MA 1247, hudsonsart.com.
The Boston School
The sensational Institute of Contemporary Art show of work by Nan Goldin, Jack Pierson, Mark Morrisroe, and other artists who all attended art school in Boston in the late '70s and early '80s, and turned their lives into lovely, lurid photographs.
Jae Hun Kim Taekwondo
Grand master Jae Hun Kim, whose approach emphasizes form over flash, teaches alongside a cadre of experienced instructors with a knack for keeping kids as young as four focused and engaged. 102 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, tkd-boston.com.
Showcase Cinema De Lux
At $19 to $24.50, the tickets are pricey. But admission to the Dedham theater's Lux Level includes many worthy indulgences: state-of-the-art digital projection, plush seats, free garage parking, food and beverage service, attentive waitstaff, and—hallelujah—a 21-plus admissions policy. You won't find a lot of (okay, any) art-house or indie films, but for mainstream fare, Cinema De Lux is a treat so addictive it could easily become habit. 670 Legacy Pl., Dedham, MA 2026, nationalamusements.com.
E.B. Horn
If you want a piece of jewelry with a rich history, it only makes sense to buy it from a dealer with a storied past. E.B. Horn opened its doors in 1839 and remains one of the region’s largest buyers of estate pieces. Browse a highly curated selection of unique bling, such as a platinum, sapphire, and diamond bracelet from the art deco era and a 14-karat-gold art nouveau pin. During one visit, gemologist Doug Finn even showed us an antique locket with the pictures still inside. 429 Washington St., Boston, MA 02108, ebhorn.com.