Lenox Hotel
During the Boston Film Festival next month, the Lenox will have more celestial density than a black hole. If you manage to catch that director's eye, proceed to Anago to seal the deal with seductive cuisine. 710 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Kikuko Zutrau Miyazaki
If needles make you nervous, try shiatsu. This technique applies the principles of acupuncture with gentle pressure and massage. The director of Porter Square's Boston Shiatsu School and Clinic, Kikuko Zutrau Miyazaki, is a whiz. Porter Exchange Building, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox front office, which under its new ownership has actually noticed—apparently for the first time in 101 years—that it has fans to answer to.
Uva
We've always loved the Nauset Beach Club, on the Cape, which is owned by Campbells' parents, so we were very happy to see the kids come to Boston. 1418 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton, MA .
Union Oyster House
Oysters on the half shell at the Union Oyster House, 41 Union St., Boston. Straight from the Cape, fresh daily. Stay at the raw bar ($2.95 for six); upstairs they cost more. 41 Union St., Boston, MA .
Art dealer Nina Nielsen's attempt to place a major collection of Jackson Pollock drawings in Boston permanently by offering a 25 percent discount to collectors who agreed to donate their purchases to the MFA.
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.
Hubert Jessup's decision to hire Rory O'Connor as director of the Neighborhood News Network and its half-hour nightly telecast for Boston cable-TV subscribers.
Corinne Schippert
Boston is the home to many extraordinary photographers, but even rivals sing the praises of Corinne Schippert. Her work is a delightful blend of artistry, elegance, and fun; she injects a sense of spontaneity into everything (even that often-stiff staple, the group portrait). One of the cameras she uses is panoramic—an option that provides an unexpected and adventurous perspective. 20 Coolidge Rd., Arlington, MA schippertmartin.com.
John Gertsen, No. 9 Park
Charm and meticulousness have earned this mixologist more than his fair share of props. But that's no reason to deny him this year's Best of Boston nod, especially as we anticipate his residence (and ours) at Drink, part of Barbara Lynch's coming gastronomic juggernaut in Fort Point Channel. 9 Park St., Boston, MA 2108, .
Alan Bilzerian
Believe it or not, there are some men and women in Boston who like edgy attire. Alan and Be Bilzerian have catered to the fashion visionaries for more than 20 years by showcasing the avant-garde designs of people like Olivier Theyskens, Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto. Thank Goodness. 34 Newbury Street, Boston, MA alanbilzerian.com.
Bock Travel Service
How many travel agents do you know who can claim to have sung with Edith Piaf? Alexander Bock, who did, knows Paris (and London and Rome and Bombay and Tokyo) better than most travel agents know Boston. Park Square Building, Boston, MA .
Tugboat Annie
This guitar-oriented quintet from Brighton has been compared to other Boston success stories such as the Pixies, the Lemonheads, and Buffalo Tom. Since its arrival in Beantown, it has released two full-length Cds: Superfriends, in 1995, and Wake Up and Disappear, this past spring, full of catchy, albeit moody, pop tunes.
Lori-Ann's Donut Shop
Famous in Charlestown for its tasty pastries, Lori-Ann's serves up a wide selection of the doughy goodies made on the premises daily. The shop is also a rare survivor: Fully two-thirds of the doughnut shops listed in Greater Boston have the pink double D on the marquee. Fred the baker, begone. 198 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown, MA .
Warren Tavern
Paul Revere called it his favorite watering hole. George Washington is said to have stopped by for a brewski. Since then, thousands of townies have lifted a pint to their memories. The oldest tavern in continuous operation in the city of Boston, this is the real prototype for Cheers. 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown, MA .