L'Espalier
From the moment we pulled up to the wrought-iron entrance, we were impressed. Set in a Back Bay townhouse decorated with fine paintings, L'Espalier is both a visual treat and a culinary one. Chef/ owner Frank McClelland turns out the finest French cuisine with creative accents. The service is formal and precise, the wine list is top-heavy but impressive, desserts are designed with care and expertise. Don't skip the excellent cheese course. 30 Glouster St., Boston, MA .
Mr. Barley's Burger and Salad Cottage
It might not be the first thing you'll smell walking down street, but a frappe from Bartley's may be an even better reason to stop in than the tantalizing aroma of frying beef. Between batches of Elvis burgers and sweet-potato fries, Mr. Bartley's turns out one of the most consistent, reliable, straw-pluggingly thick frappes around, beating tony Boston ice cream parlors hands down. 1246 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Al Jaffe's Pick-A-Chick
We deferred to our readers here. "Softer than Eagerman's," one wrote on her ballot. "So fresh out of the oven they'll burn your hands," said another. "I'd kill for an Al Jaffe's onion bagel," vowed still another. When we checked it out for ourselves, we found our voters' taste unimpeachable. 285 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Tom Menino, <em>Boston Herald</em>
Filling in for Joe Sciacca one morning last month, the Mayor (or whoever ghostwrote the column for him) gave as good as he has gotten all these years. But he also showed a charming self-deprecating wit (which again suggests it was ghosted). If only he carried that over to his day job—it would be like that Alcatraz would finally be off his back.
A three-way tie. House Speaker George Keverian, Boston mayor Ray Flynn, and Senate president Billy Bulger.
Keverian for getting the Duke's wormy 1988 budget and the universal-health-care package through the legislature in time for the Democratic convention. Flynn for the wisdom he showed in announcing he was not running for governor—even if he had to announce it twice and even though he'll probably change his mind. And Bulger "for getting away with it yet again," said one admiring panelist.
El Oriental de Cuba
Jamaica Plain might be Boston’s single best neighborhood for Caribbean cuisine, filled with homey Dominican, Jamaican, and Cuban restaurants all frying or mashing plantains their own way. The subtly sweet mofongo at El Oriental de Cuba, though, with its pork rinds and garlic oil … that’s the one that leads the inter-island flotilla. The specialty Cubano sandwicah, meanwhile, is the standard by which all others should be judged. 416 Centre St., Boston, MA 02130, elorientaldecuba.net.
Epic Entertainment Boston
One thing’s for sure: These DJs know how to keep the party going. Owner and disc jockey Sheldon Gentles, or DJ Shelly Shell, and his Canton-based team bring undeniable energy and upbeat jams to weddings big and small. But they don’t need gimmicks or hype tricks to get people on the dance floor. Full of hip-hop, pop, and throwbacks, their action-packed playlists — built from special requests and good ol’ fashioned crowd reading — do that all on their own. epicentertainmentboston.com.
Sea Spa Salon
Nothing chafes worse than Down-Island traffic, especially when you’re rushing from the hair salon to a facial. And that’s precisely why we love this do-it-all beauty destination. The Edgartown oasis might be the only place on the island to offer massages, eyebrow shaping, lash lifting, makeup application, mani-pedis, and a full array of hair services under one roof. We suggest the marine mud wrap — 50 minutes of bliss incorporating deep-sea micronutrients. 17 Winter St., Edgartown, MA 02539, seaspasalonmv.com.
Get Konnected!
Forget the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon — in Boston, you can connect just about anyone who’s anyone within one or two degrees of Colette Phillips and her everexpanding cross-cultural business networking organization, Get Konnected! Now in its 16th year, Phillips’s group is renowned for creating specialized lists that shine a much-needed spotlight on people of color making an impact on life in and around the Hub. And her events are the premier opportunities to hobnob with the people who matter most. getkonnected.com.
Native
Looking for unique pieces you won’t find elsewhere on the South Shore (or the rest of the country, for that matter)? Marie Flaherty travels the world to find them, so you don’t have to, working directly with co-ops, fair-trade organizations, and individual artists to source one-of-a-kind Indigenous, tribal, and folk art. Enter her store and be wowed by the color and design of everything from a South African basket woven with rainbow-colored wires to maximalist earrings and necklaces from Ecuador. 51 Front St., Scituate, MA 02066, shopnativeonline.com.
Appleton Farms
Appleton Farms has been around almost as long as the Pilgrims. Seriously: Founded in 1638, it’s one of the oldest family-operated farms in the country. But that doesn’t mean it’s stale. The 1,000-acre Trustees of Reservations property now offers a staggering array of kid-approved programming in all seasons, from petting farm animals to barnyard story hours to cross-country skiing. Though with picturesque grounds like these, even popping in to grab fresh veggies at the farm stand can be a fun adventure. 219 County Rd., Ipswich, MA 01938, thetrustees.org/place/appleton-farms.
Encore Boston Harbor
Let’s count the reasons why this is the premier spot for fun. There’s the casino, of course, including the new WynnBet Sportsbook. More than a dozen dining and drinking options. A full-on Vegas-style nightclub. And a gorgeous water shuttle that gets you into the action in 25 minutes from downtown Boston. Come to think of it, you’re probably going to want to book more than one night. One Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com.
Fit Revolution
In an era when there’s a boutique fitness studio for every day of the week and personality type, local mini chain Fit Revolution manages to offer one-stop sweating without the feel of a bland big-box club. Sure, there’s the latest equipment for gym rats and the now-standard hyper-luxe locker rooms. But there’s also boot camp, indoor cycling, yoga, barre, boxing, and personal trainers at the ready. Owner Michelle O’Connor even offers a program for would-be fit kids. Multiple locations. 23 Concord St., North Reading, MA 01864, fit-rev.com.
Soul Cake
If you need another excuse to get married, look no further than Soul Cake’s Instagram. A casual scroll reveals masterpiece after masterpiece, thanks to pastry chef Gayoung Kim’s myriad textures and toppings: monstera leaf plastered to a pink-marble surface, blue watercolor fondant interrupted by flashes of gold, and sugar peonies placed by the bucketful. But of course, looks alone do not a wedding cake make—not only are Kim’s creations gorgeous, they’re also can’t-put-it-down good. Why double-tap when you could order one IRL? Woburn, MA 01801, soulcakeshop.com.
Sault New England
As long as Boston’s stylish men never lose their taste for leather-scented candles and pants held up with twists of nautical rope, Sault will continue to be indispensable. A new women’s section appears not to have affected the store’s emphasis on laid-back yet fashionable accents for the fellas, from killer railroad-spike-inspired bracelets from metal jeweler Giles & Brother to leather bi-folds from Todder. And lest men be excluded from the self-care trend, the shop also offers an assortment of high-end grooming products, including beard oils and one very preppy whale-shaped nail brush. 577 Tremont St., Boston, MA saultne.com.