<em>Ercole Amante (Hercules in Love)</em>
The highlight of Boston Early Music Festival's splendid season was this 17th-century opera, written by Francesco Cavalli for the wedding of Louis XIV. The lavish production included charming costumes, delightful dancing, amazing ancient musical instruments, and simply beautiful singing.
The Middle East
Whether you're upstairs in the "Bakery" taking in the music while dining on hummus and falafel or downstairs grooving in the spacious club, you're in heaven at the Middle East. Its variety of musical acts make it the place to enjoy music from Boston—and beyond. 472-480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Ellen Rothenberg
Ellen Rothenberg, 42, of Cambridge, whose profoundly moving installation drawing on Anne Frank's diary was a major attraction of this year's "Boston Now 10" show at the ICA. Her works are ephemeral (she does performance art as well as making installations), but the MFA has a work on paper and others have bought objects from installations.
Somerville Grooves
While Somerville Grooves' select inventory of vinyl includes new albums by Panda Bear and old ones by the Who, it's the rarities from the local music scene that really shine, such as the 1982 hardcore punk compilation This Is Boston, Not L.A. 26 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 02143, .
Plein-Air Art Academy
Diana Stelin’s beloved art school is officially in Brighton, but her classroom is really the city of Boston. She totes her pupils and paints outdoors to find inspiration in local parks and gardens. 320 Washington St., Boston, MA 02135, plein-air-academy.com.
For pipes, either Leavitt & Pierce in Cambridge or David P. Ehrlich's in Boston (They're cousins). L. J. Peretti stocks the best tobacco. For cigars, it's a toss-up between the three.
For forties fashions, Taylor Trust, 111 Marion St., Brookline; for fifties fashions, Forever Flamingo, 285 Newbury St., Boston; for sixties wear, including psychedelic Nehru jackets, Vintage Etc., 1796 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.
BBQ Town
Given its deep-south (of Boston) location, Rozzie appropriately has a first-rate 'cue joint. Ribs, fried chicken, pulled pork, and oh, that tangy sauce. 4000 Washington St., Roslindale, MA 2131, .
Health Gourmet
All-natural whole-wheat pasta with pesto (basil, Parmesan cheese, and nuts), or raclette (melted cheese over potatoes, with pickles) at the Health Gourmet, 175 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 175 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA .
Steve Bailey
For devoting his May 2 column to documents alleging that Boston Harbor Hotel general manager Paul Jacques was "the other man" in a divorce suit between his former sales director and her husband.
Suzanne Salter, Alloro
After serving in the ranks of the world's top restaurants—Chez Panisse, in Berkeley; Al Forno, in Providence; Olives, in Boston; and Arpege, in Paris—Suzanne has developed a tantalizing menu please the most finicky palates. 351 Hanover St., Boston, MA .
Babson College Globe
The world's largest globe—a twenty-five-ton, twenty-eight-foot-diameter, twenty-color steel ball—rotates every day just like the earth in a courtyard at Babson College, a little west of Boston. MA
Marilyn Salenger, Channel 7
She may not be the most beautiful woman in Boston, but she is undoubtedly one of the sexiest. Since she came onto the air, 34 percent of the male viewers have taken their TV sets to bed. MA
Wally's Cafe
A taste of what jazz was like before it was a cultural treasure and was still just a species of fun—and some of the most unpretentious entertainment Boston had to offer. Open 365 days a year: launched half a century ago. 472 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA .
Chamber Theater Productions
Here's to a 16-year-old Boston-based for-profit company so successful with its touring theatrical productions for junior and senior high school students that it is now able to be a corporate sponsor and support other local arts organizations.