Paul Taylor Dance Company at the Opera House
Unlike Alvin Ailey and others, Taylor keeps making new dancers, not recycling old ones.
Seaside
Senior editor Curtis Hartman's wallet was bulging with phone numbers after one night of bartending there. And he's married. Quincy Market, Boston, MA .
David Godine Press
In a world of quickie books and runaway cost-cutting, Godine remains one of the few houses with a commitment to uncompromised quality. 51 Sleeper St., Boston, MA .
Grill 23 & Bar
This vision of a masculine elegance has one thing most men's clubs lack: a superb kitchen. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
SoWa Winter Festival
Returning this holiday season, this event is the ideal winter one-stop shop: Get all of your gifts from local arts and craft vendors while enjoying food and cocktails, all graced by the glow of ice sculptures. 500 Harrison Ave., South End, MA 02118, sowaboston.com/sowa-winter-festival.
Josh Zakim vs. Bill Galvin
Insinuations of voter suppression. Mockery of the Boston City Council. When City Councilor Josh Zakim came for Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s job, neither pulled punches. The result? One hell of a race.
Canary Square
The pub grub here is good, but the specialty craft beers on tap and the inventive—and inventively named—cocktails ("99 Problems but My Drink Ain't One") served from the 65-foot wooden bar are reason enough to visit. 435 S. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130, canarysquare.com.
Brick & Mortar
Don’t be alarmed by the lack of signage: Finding this hidden gem is the hardest part. Ordering is easy, whether you’re in the mood for apricot-habanero chicken wings, a fried oyster po’ boy, or one of the juiciest cheeseburgers around. 567 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, brickmortarltd.com.
Cafe Budapest
Strolling violinists, subdued lighting, and plush European décor combined with one of the better kitchens in town. It's this kind of old-world charm that made Dracula such a hit with the ladies. 90 Exeter St., Boston, MA .
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
The middleweight champ's victory over John Mugabi was hardly the great sports moment of the year. And his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" was even worse. Still, no one has worked harder for his money. Not even Larry Bird.
Omni Parker House
Invented at the Omni Parker House back in the days when men wore top hats and no one had heard of hydrogenated fats, this custard-filled, chocolate-topped sponge cake is the 19th century at its most decadent. 60 School St., Boston, MA omnihotels.com.
International Poster Gallery
Why? Because no one else can hook you up with an original art-nouveau Mucha on silk, or a first-edition movie poster from Stanley Kubrick's Lolita. Lolita, 205 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
The Designers
This Beacon Hill shop will make any article of clothing you want, using the finest leather. Whether creating a new garment or repairing an old one, their work is impeccable. 103 Charles Street, Boston, MA .
Rosie's Bakery
When a chocolate craving hits, there are few things in life more satisfying than one of Rosie's cookies. Sophisticated enough to feel adult; fudgy enough to make our inner child stop whining. 243 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA .
Tia's at Long Wharf
And they mean on the waterfront. Tia's is the place-to-be-outside. A large, open barroom sprawls out to the patio, which is usually full of young professionals trying to tie one on before dark. 200 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA .