Leonard Florence's
In a one-week period in September 1985, Florence then CEO of Towle Manufacturing, sold 43,600 shares of the East Boston silverware manufacturer at prices ranging from $8.37 to $9 a share. Two months later, the 54-year-old Florence was asked to resign. Last March the 296-year-old company filed for protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code. The company's stock is currently hovering around $3.50 a share.
Oishii
Faithful followers suggest that perennial Best of Boston winner Oishii serves the best sushi in New England. Rare (and delectably dangerous) options such as blowfish hold court with traditional rolls and sashimi creations. Don't miss the toro tata, Kumamoto oyster sushi, and hamachi torched maki topped with caviar. Note to claustrophobes: The Chestnut Hill location is tiny. 612 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill, MA oishiiboston.com.
Lucia Lighting & Design, Inc.
Lynn may be a ways past the city limits, but this 8,000-square-foot lighting nirvana set in a historic mansion proved an irresistible beacon to our Best of Boston judges. The brainchild of spunky Salem State College grad Lucy Dearborn, Lucia comprises 12 showrooms with themes like 'The Crystal Room' (sparkles galore) and 'The Loft' (sleek and funky). With approximately 1,000 fixtures to choose from, and the guidance of in-house designers, customers are bound to find something here that turns them on, and vice versa. 311 Western Ave., Lynn, MA 1904, lucialighting.com.
Bead + Fiber
The only bead store in Boston specializes in the rare, bright, and shiny variety, sourced from around the world by owner and self-styled " personal bead shopper" Andrea Garr, who will happily hunt down that ultra-specific bauble you’ve seen in your mind (but nowhere else). There’s also a dizzying range of classes taught by local artists for novice and advanced crafters, including clay, Tunisian crocheting, bead-weaving, and metalwork, as well as introductory courses for kids. 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, beadandfiber.net.
Cheryl Richards
There's a reason Cheryl Richards is our go-to wedding photographer (and frequent Best of Boston winner): She manages to be both unobtrusive and friendly as she preserves your memories in her signature photojournalistic style. You'll treasure her snapshots because, after all those long months of planning, the only things that last (other than the marriage, we hope) are the photographs. 224 Clarendon St., Boston, MA cherylrichards.com.
Grill 23
The better story would have been that finally, in this, the year of the cow, one among the city's numerous new upscale meateries had managed to dethrone our 14-time of Boston stalwart. Nothing doing. Mooo inherited the Federalist's matchless wine list. KO Prime has the offal around. But for a prime, dry-aged rib-eye with a power client (downstairs) or a significant other (the more intimate upstairs), Grill 23 still rules the herd. 161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Granite Links Golf Club
Carved out of a quarry and shaped by 900,000 truckloads of dirt from the Big Dig, Granite Links was years in the making, and stands as a testament to what creativity and patience can produce. Views of the Boston skyline are unmatched, and directed of golf, Chris Sleeper and his staff pay attention to the smallest of details, making even first-time visitors feel like longtime members. 100 Quarry Hills Dr., Quincy, MA 2169, granitelinksgolfclub.com.
Marathon Sports
The wall of New Balance, Nike, Brooks, and Saucony sneakers is just for starters. Marathon Sports also stocks running maps, reflective vests, fuel belts, and fun gadgets. But what really keeps us coming back to this repeat Best of Boston winner is the service. Staffers here will analyze your stride—after you take a self-conscious sprint down the sidewalk—before slipping your foot into the perfect shoe. 671 Boylston St., Boston, MA marathonsports.com.
In Your Ear
Thirty years is a long time in the music business, particularly when you're still vending vinyl in the age of iTunes. But with hundreds of thousands of records, CDs, and eight-tracks stacked in a subterranean space, In Your Ear's Boston location has flourished since 1982. You can search the inventory online—albums are graded by condition—but trust us: It's more fun to dig through the crates. 957 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, iye.com.
Nordstrom
Now with four locations in Greater Boston—Natick, Burlington, Peabody, and a new outpost in Braintree—Nordstrom has the area's most exhaustive supply of dress shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals. If this sounds overwhelming, know that staffers here are adept at recognizing the clueless shopper. These special agents can solve nearly any footwear dilemma and help you navigate brand names like Converse, John Varvatos, Ferragamo, and Santoni. 290 Speen St., Natick, MA 1760, nordstrom.com.
The Globe Corner Bookstore
Although the Globe Corner Bookstore no longer shares space with the home of Anne Hutchinson at Downtown Crossing, the remaining Cambridge and Boston stores will ably meet your escapist needs. Their comprehensive selection of travel books and mas can aid the adventurous on an exploration of everything from the Freedom Trail to the White Mountains to rural Mongolia. They also offer a decent selection of antique maps if there's a cartophile on your gift list. 28 Church St., Cambridge, MA .
Mahoney's Garden Center
This longtime Boston area institution is justly famous for its vast selection of trees, plants, and gardening supplies. The original garden center, in Winchester, stocks everything from exotic specialty items like a spiral-cut dwarf Alberta spruce to the most prosaic perennials, all carefully labeled with growing information. In-town horticulturalists now have their own minibranch on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. 242 Cambridge St., Winchester, MA .
Deuxave
White-tablecloth dining is on the wane in Boston as diners gravitate to more-casual, modest formats. But some evenings still call for cosseting service, beautiful food, and rare wines. Amid a sea of steak-frites-slinging bistros, chef Chris Coombs’s Back Bay temple to la gastronomie française still provides an elegant setting — and gorgeous renderings of French classics like foie gras and roast duck — for celebrations of romance, round-number birthdays, or self-care splurges. 371 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, MA 02115, deuxave.com.
Tawakal Halal Café
This East Boston favorite continues to impress with its heartwarming takes on Somali food and a broader look at East African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Sip a refreshing iced shaah and dig into falafel-stuffed chapati wraps, fragrant plates of chicken biryani, and crispy beef sambusa. And be sure to top it with the fiery and fruity house hot sauce, a mango-based stunner that takes any dish up a notch. 389 Maverick St., East Boston, MA 02128, tawakalhalal.com.
Bab Al-Yemen
Lucky Kenmore Square got one of the region’s only Yemeni restaurants last year — a superb (and superbly homey) addition to the neighborhood and Boston at large. From enormous pieces of fresh flatbread and warming stews to clove-and-cardamom-spiced teas, the lovely halal menu makes this a cozy spot in the winter, after the latest Sox game, or anytime, really. The ambiance adds to the comfort, from the colorful stained glass to the traditional low, pillowed seating area. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Fenway/Kenmore, MA 02215, babalyemenboston.com.