State Treasurer Shannon O'Brien disavowing the comments of her own father, Edward M. O'Brien, when he blasted Swift for holding meetings via speakerphone while pregnant.
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child."
Vizio Optic
Regardless of your spectacle tendencies—quirky or clean—Brookline's Vizio Optic will identify the most flattering frames for your face, then present you with options: Chanel, Beausoleil, and Ray-Ban are just a few of the brands carried. An optician on site guarantees that you'll soon be seeing—and looking—much better. 11 Harvard St., Brookline, MA viziooptic.com.
The Designers
The old suede jacket was looking a little shabby, having survived the winter of '95-'96, but Designers said not to worry: They'd hand—clean and buff it back into shape. And they did. A great place for cool new leather clothes—many in delicious colors—too. 106 Charles Street, Boston, MA .
Julie Michaud, Michaud Cosmedix
Makeup artist Julie Michaud's devotees swear she can do more wonders for the face than all the Botox injections in the world. Her emphasis: clean, graceful lines and a sense of subtle shape and natural coloring that can transform even the least defined brows into aesthetic arcs of perfection. 297 Newbury St., Suite 21, Boston, MA .
Mattapan Car Wash and Quick Lube
To quote ourselves from a few years back, Mattapan Car Wash is Cadillac cleaning at Corolla prices. A gentle scrubbing for only $6.50, and a thorough interior wiping and sweeping for only $7. Plus, they have self-wash bays for the do-it-yourselfer. 1480 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA .
Julien Bar at the Hotel Meridien
There's no more appropriate place to seal the deal than in the Julien Bar, once the reception room for the governors of the Federal Reserve Bank and now the financial district's most appealing watering hole. But keep it clean: N. C. Wyeth's murals depicting Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton set a lofty tone. 250 Franklin St., Boston, MA .
The <em>Globe</em>'s Alex Beam
Alex Beam savaged former Bostonia editor and publisher Keith Botsford, whose journal had criticized a Beam column a year earlier. Beam noted that Botsford had left a "legacy of toadying and journalistic embarrassment that will take months to clean up."
Taqueria Cancun
It’s worth the haul to Eastie for these homemade flour tortillas replete with spicy chorizo, succulent carne asada, or beef-brain carnitas. But the restaurant’s best-kept secret is the taco de pescado, filled with buttery tilapia and topped with bright, refreshing pico de gallo. 192 Sumner St., East Boston, MA 02128, .
Brother Blue
Just don't ask him to recite the lines form Lear. Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA .
Pasta Del Palato
The pasta is terrific, made with pure ingredients like whole eggs and extra fancy durum flour, rolled (not extruded), then cut into angel hair, linguine, fettuccine, or tagliatelle. We like the adventurous flavors: chipotle pepper, lemon, roasted garlic. Top it with the excellent pesto made with bunches of french basil. 579 Washington Street, Brighton, MA .
Tacos El Charro
There is a little bit of Mexico at this pinata-filled spot near Jackson Square. Despite the bright lights and the warm sangria, Tacos El Charro is worth it for the flavorful Mexican food and the hip, campy mariachi band. As the band kicks into high gear, dig into a dense bean-and-meat-filled flour tortilla and smile. 349 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA .
Jo Jo Taipei
The "homemade flour corner" options reign supreme here, and the huge, aromatic xiao long bao (soup dumplings) put Chinatown's version to shame. For intense flavor and generous portions, try a "three cups" meat special or the spicy ma-la hot pot—if you dare. 103 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA 02134, jojotaipei.com.
Julia Ingalls, assistant chief concierge, The Four Seasons Hotel, Boston
Named Concierge of the Year by her peers, Ingalls won the award after working her way up the ranks at the Four Seasons: she started as a desk clerk when the hotel opened, in 1985. Ingalls is one of only 220 American concierges who made the cut for membership in Les Clefs d'Or, the society of professional concierges.
Follain
Tara Foley wants you to stop cleaning your face with dirty products. That’s the mission, at least, behind her one-stop skin-care shop, Follain, which bars parabens, formaldehyde, coal tar, and other potentially dangerous chemicals from its expertly selected lineup of beauty items. In fact, the company rigorously researches and tests every deodorant and soap it carries independently before releasing it onto shelves. Now that’s what we call beautiful. Multiple locations. 65 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, shopfollain.com.
B/spoke
If you don’t like to sweat, B/spoke’s cycling classes are not for you. Those who relish getting drenched in the name of a good, clean workout, however, will appreciate this studio’s state-of-the-art bikes, pump-you-up tracks, and peppy instructors, who use hand weights and core work to target more than just the legs in heart-pounding sessions. Amp up your experience with B/spoke’s "hot" ride, a hilly adventure in sizzling temps, and feel the burn. 101 Federal St., Boston, MA 02110, bspokestudios.com.