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, .
F. Diehl and Son
All the missing parts for your crumbling Victorian—unique moldings, and unusual size clapboards, plus a helpful staff to walk you through the choices. Diehl's also has everything you'd expect from a full-service lumberyard, from pressure-treated decking to two-by-fours and plywood. 180 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA .
Baraka Café
Few liquids can quench a thirst like lemonade. But making it—balancing the tart and puckering lemon juice with enough sugar, but not too much—is a tricky business. Baraka Café pulls it off, adding fragrant rose petals and crushed fresh mint leaves to create a perfect accompaniment to its assertively spiced North African menu. 80 1/2 Pearl St., Cambridge, MA barakacafe.com.
Tie: Bim Skala Bim and The Allstonians
Two acts ostensibly playing the same style, but each with a unique sound. The former's catchier doubletimes tunes rocket you from your seat; the latters more sluggish, sparse style digs a deep groove. Plus, you have to love the 'Stonians endearing tribal loyalty: "Living in Allston is the final word!"
Angel Hair
Ann Fitzgerald at Angel Hair gets it, that "it" being the uncanny ability to cut, style, and color a variety of hair—long, short, curly, straight, light, or dark. Best of all, she's quick, which is vital whether you're a city slicker on holiday, part of the summer society crowd, or a year-round resident. 19 N. Beach St., Nantucket, MA .
The Brendan Behan Pub
Townies and visitors alike love this little Irish bar in the part of JP known as Hyde Square. The place to grab a Guinness on tap, catch up with friends, and, if you happen to be there on a Tuesday night, take in a little live Irish music. A perennial favorite. 378 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA .
Blood Oranges
Blood Oranges crosses many musical boundaries, which is part of its appeal. Vocalist/mandolinist Jimmy Ryan comments on the band's sound, "Country people think we play rock; rock people think we play country. To me, it has always been an intriguing combination." Intriguing indeed.
Picco
This mainstay's Alsatian pizza—a tarte flambée-inspired pie, with a perfectly charred crust and a layer of luscious crème fraîche—is a gluttonous revelation. Finish your meal with a towering ice cream sundae in a house-made flavor like honey or cardamom. 513 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, piccorestaurant.com.
Mei Mei
This cheery Chinese-American favorite recently released a cookbook, but there’s no re-creating the restaurant’s palpable passion, which permeates gobble-worthy bites such as lemongrass pork dumplings, smoked haddock fritters, and an aptly dubbed Magical Kale Salad. 506 Park Dr., Boston, MA meimeiboston.com.
Gina DeWolfe
Gina DeWolfe inherited her leather-working tools from her grandfather, so we have him to thank, in part, for the ultra-chic leather backpacks, satchels, and wallets that the School of Fashion Design grad now crafts by hand, cutting and stitching each of the sleek pieces to perfection. ginadewolfe.com.
IFFBoston
The glowing reviews keep pouring in—not only for the movies IFFBoston shows, but for the festival itself. Highlights this past year included Dean, a dark comedy about family loss, and a documentary about Will Lautzenheiser, the world's third person to receive a double-arm transplant, thanks to Brigham and Women's Hospital. iffboston.com.
Sarah Ewald
In contrast to all the molecular tomfoolery of the moment (honey 'dust,' chocolate 'caviar'), Ewald's plates at Bistro du Midi are familiar yet refined. Ice cream melts into warm cherry clafouti; Armagnac infuses a plum-filled tart. Compared with this, the nouveau stuff seems about as tasty as, well, a freeze-driedgoji berry. 111 Chelsea St., East Boston, MA 2128, .
88 Supermarket
The Wal-Mart of Chinese markets, the 88 is an all-encompassing cultural experience. Among many other delights, it stocks fresh noodles, pigs' feet, frozen dumplings, inexpensive Chinese ceramics, ginseng gum, Vietnamese chili sauce, or koala-bear shaped Japanese chocolates packaged with origami-like complexity. 50 Herald St., Boston, MA .
Rubyhorse
Rubyhorse's recent album Rise does not "sparkle" like their single, but it's to catch these Irish rockers (who are Cork-to-Boston transplants) in the act. The band, which jammed on Conan O'Brien's show in the spring, tears up the stage with high-stamina riffs that would wear out the Energizer Bunny.
Nightstage
Other clubs wow 'em with ambiance: plastic tropics or Beyond Thunderdome desolation. Nightstage relies on the real thing: music. With acts including Wynton Marsalis, Varl Perkins, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Dizzy Gillespie, Nightstage is the liveliest of Boston's live-music clubs. 823 Main St., Cambridge, MA .