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2013 Best Harvard Square Restaurant

Park

Park Restaurant

This well-decorated, approachable spot caters to the Harvard crowd with a stellar late-night menu and dining areas that have a scholarly feel—"The Classroom" space, for example, features lounge chairs and shelves filled with books. What to Order: The meat pie of the day; patty melt. 59 JFK St., Cambridge, MA parkcambridge.com.

1999 Best Muffin

Appleton Bakery Cafe

The husband-and-wife team of South End caterers who opened Appleton last year make fresh muffins with delicious and often surprising combinations such as peaches and walnuts, and pineapple and coconut. For the adventurous, there's white chocolate and caramel apple; traditionalists will love the blueberry muffins. 123 Appleton St., Boston, MA .

1998 Best Lighting, Fixtures

Adesso

Adesso wins for its carefully edited selection of trendy pendants, sconces, lamps and track systems, all of the most refined design. Stainless steel, Murano glass, or paper fixtures satisfy even the most sophisticated of tastes. Fixtures to light up your life. 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA .

2000 Best Clothing, Cutting-Edge

Alan Bilzerian

Believe it or not, there are some men and women in Boston who like edgy attire. Alan and Be Bilzerian have catered to the fashion visionaries for more than 20 years by showcasing the avant-garde designs of people like Olivier Theyskens, Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto. Thank Goodness. 34 Newbury Street, Boston, MA alanbilzerian.com.

2005 Best Art Supplies

Artist & Craftsman Supply

Just down the psychedelic stairs at this subterranean Central Square art-supply mecca you'll find artfully arranged rows of paints, brushes, paper, and tools for every possible occasion. The unpretentious, approachable staff sprouts encyclopedic knowledge of everything from paint viscosity to the finer points of epoxy. 580 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA artistcraftsman.com.

1994 Best Wedding Stationery

Pendragon, Ink

For 20 years, Massachusetts native Maria Thomas has been designing hand-lettered, hand-painted stationery. Now she has hit the big time with a line of elegant wedding papers for Crane and Company, the Renaissance Collection, which is destined to be coveted by all who receive them. Crane & Company Papermakers, Prudential Center, Boston, MA .

2018 Best Neighborhood Diversion, Union Square

Loyal Supply Co.

Photo by Chloe Grinberg

Even in a sea of emailed wedding invites and digital birthday wishes, nothing beats the power of pen and paper. Especially when said stationery comes from this minimalist workshop/real-life Pinterest board, where the shelves teem with artisanal greeting cards and a rainbow’s worth of writing utensils. 21 Union Sq., Somerville, MA 02143, loyalsupplyco.com.

2002 Best Beacon Hill Restaurant, Neighborhood

Beacon Hill Bistro

Hill dwellers flock to this chic little bistro for its cozy atmosphere and inspired French cooking. And while the long, narrow dining room is packed most nights for dinner, weekend brunch is the real draw, with mouthwatering fruit-topped pancakes and fluffy omelets—perfect accompaniments to coffee and the morning paper. 19-25 Charles St., Boston, MA beaconhillhotel.com/bistro-hours.

2002 Best Exit, Player

Drew Bledsoe

Bledsoe, who could have whined his way through the season as his understudy led the Patriots to the Promised Land, but, instead, stepped in when he was needed—and who, after he was traded, took out advertisements in the local papers thanking local fans for supporting him over the years.

2005 Best Florist, North

Les Fleurs

Need beautiful blossoms on a budget? Or want to splurge on an awesome arrangement? Whatever you need, Les Fleurs will customize flawless floral bouquets for the occasion—without the snooty airs often put on at upscale shops. It caters to all events, from casual garden parties to elaborate black-tie shindigs. 354 N. Main St., Andover, MA lesfleurs.com.

1999 Best Name-Dropper

Eileen McNamara, <em>Boston Globe</em>

She had no qualms writing a column criticizing disgraced fellow Metro writer Patricia Smith by name. But when the Globe's Steve Bailey tried to write a column criticizing McNamara by name, she complained to her bosses and voila—her name was removed from the column before the paper went to press.

2013 Best Brunch, North

Organic Garden Cafe

With a reasonably priced menu that caters to a diverse range of eaters, the Organic Garden Cafe will leave you feeling full and healthy. It's something of a hole in the wall, but adventurous eaters are rewarded with yummy kale chips, vegetable and quinoa bowls, fresh-pressed juices, and oh-so-good vegan baked treats. 294 Cabot St., Beverly, MA organicgardencafe.com.

1979 Best Greeting Cards

Bassil & McNichols

"Glo-cows debating nuclear power" cards available at Bassil & McNichols, Quincy Market. Plain white cards cut in the silhouette of nuclear power plants, with two little pink glowing cows in the foreground. Comes with a map showing all U.S. nuke facilities. Quality watermarked paper, $1.50 apiece. Quincy Market, Boston, MA .

1997 Best Appraiser

The Appraiser's Registry

If you need to get those insurance papers in order and want to find out what the old table is really worth, give a call to Michael Wynne-Wilson at the Appraiser's Registry. His company provides an extensive resource, listing all the top appraisers according to their specialties (English silver, Chinese porcelain, etc.). Box 261, Westwood, MA .

2011 Best Irish Pub

Brendan Behan Pub

Far too many of our Irish pubs cater to students, putting flat-screens on the walls and wings on the menu. Suddenly you're not in a pub at all, but some grotesque shamrock-themed sports bar. Here, there are no such transgressions. No LCDs. An extensive beer and whiskey list. This is what makes the Behan Irish. And this is why it beats them all. 378 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, .

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