Herb Richman's
When the Data General vice president and cofounder dissolved his merger with his third wife, Nanette, he bailed out with the couple's $4-million Dover farm, their Boston townhouse, his Waterville Valley real estate, his millions in DG stock and assorted assets. All Nanette got was a flat $1 million, two mink coats, and numerous four-legged creatures and four-wheeled vehicles.
Sal's Place
It's three hours from Boston, but it also has the lasagna this side of Naples. Sal, formerly of Sal & Ciro's in Provincetown, uses homemade noodles, sausage, and hard-boiled eggs in his recipe; since he serves lasagna on Sunday nights only, until he closes for the winter at the end of September, you'll have plenty of time to budget calories in advance. 99 Commercial St., Provincetown, MA .
Dennis Cycle Center
The best — and some might say only — way to rent a bike on Cape Cod is from a place right along the rail trail. While there are several options for doing just that, Dennis Cycle Center gets high praise for its wide selection of two-wheelers and accessories — including plenty of options for the littlest cyclers — reasonable rates, and ultra-friendly staffers. Extra props for the expert repair services, for those who need a tune-up on their own summer ride. 249 Great Western Rd., South Dennis, MA 02660, denniscyclecenter.com.
Brock and Company
Forgoing the high rents of gallery space, private dealers use their expertise to match up high-stakes buyers and sellers discreetly. Mark L. Brock is a gem; he will happily source a long-sought treasure, or get the best price on that ancestral portrait you're looking to unload. brockandco.com/index.html.
Barbara Krakow Gallery
When the MFA has an Alex Katz retro-spective, this Newbury Street gallery has the clout to run its own Katz portraiture show at the same time. Bold, courageous, and experimental, Krakow has brought Boston the finest contemporary works in every medium since 1964. Mixed in with the big names (Sol LeWitt, Chuck Close, and Tara Donovan) are exciting newcomers poised to break out onto both the local and national scenes. 10 Newbury St #5, Boston, MA 2116, barbarakrakowgallery.com.
Sparrow House
The 17th and 21st centuries merge seamlessly in this part-museum, part-gallery that sits inside a Colonial-era landmark. Three times each season, Sparrow House holds free shows featuring American artists such as oil painter Marlee Brewster Brockmann and pastel artist Anne Heywood; available year-round are unique handicrafts—ceramic bowls, silver jewelry, polished wooden utensils—by contemporary American craftsmen. 42 Summer St., Plymouth, MA 2360, sparrowhouse.com.
Bernard Toale Gallery
Veteran art dealer Bernard Toale, formerly based in the Back Bay, relocated to Harrison Avenue back when SoWa was just a gleam in ambitious real estate agents eyes. Today he stands as one of the pioneers of the neighborhood's thriving arts scene. The works on display at his upscale gallery are so edgy you could shave with them. Two spare, bright white showrooms host a merry-go-round of psychedelic paintings, urban photography, graphic prints, abstract sculptures, and mixed media displays; featured artists range from international stars like Laura McPhee to rising Massachusetts talents such as Sandy Litchfield. 450 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, .
The Chapel Gallery
This gallery is a collaborative of contemporary sculptors turning out consistently fine work in a converted old Newton church. 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA .
Thomas Segal
Segal's shows are eclectic and fine. He's bringing international artists to town, and he continues to show New England's best. 207 South Street, Boston, MA .
Michael Timpson's Sculpture <em>Have You Gone with the Snows of Last Winter?</em>
Consisting of six copies of the Congressional Record on top of six toilets, Timpson's work caused instant apoplexy in some official quarters, and we're in favor of apoplexy in official quarters. CityPlace, the State Transportation Building, last March, Boston, MA .
The Space
What the Space lacks in Newbury Street glitz it makes up for vision. Founder Stella MacGregor says her gallery is in "the south end of the South End." We say it's on the cutting edge of Boston's experimental-art scene. 788 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA .
Wendell Street Gallery
Since the gallery opened, 12 years ago, in Jane Shapiro's home, it has shown dramatic oil paintings, watercolors, and prints by notable black artists, among them Bryan McFarlane, Robert Freeman, Romare Bearden, and Edward McCluney. 17 Wendell St., Cambridge, MA .
Chapel Gallery
Nonprofit, committee-run. Socialism succeeds in the arts. 60 Highland St., Newton, MA .
ARTcetera
The "it" gala for art-loving philanthropists, this biennial soiree features a timed silent auction of contemporary art, with price points starting at a mere $150 and a few coveted beauties breaking the five-digit barrier. All in all, the bash raises roughly $700,000 for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. Naturally, the objets d’art aren’t the only sculpted visions to behold at this black-tie fete, where aspiring arts-world sensations schmooze and booze their way amid the dandy and gadabout crowd. aac.org/artcetera.
Artist & Craftsman Supply
There are plenty of glitzy art stores around town, chock-full of intimidating expert-only items. But, sadly, not all of us are born Picassos or Pollocks, and we need our questions answered with more than an eye roll and a sigh of ennui. That's why we shop at Artist & Craftsman Supply for everything from linseed oil to fabric paint to graphite. The space is funky yet polished, and the smart, comforting staff helps us out every time. Stop in and you might soon be well on your way to becoming art's next big thing. 580 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, artistcraftsman.com.