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2001 Best Men's Shoes

Louis Boston

There's no excuse for men to ignore their feet when the variety and selection are this good. Whether it's a pair of comfy Campers or Silvano Lattanzi custom oxfords, they have it here. And in a refreshing twist on one of the largest selections of fashion-forward (think Helmut Lang and Prada) dress shoes in the city, Louis even sells flip-flops. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.

2012 Best Children's Clothing, West

Pollywogs

An adorable selection of threads from Petit Bateau, Kissy Kissy, and Pink Chicken is displayed here among hanging paper lanterns and decorative flags. The icing on this charming confection of a children's boutique is the sweet-as-pie staffers, who are more than happy to elucidate on the mysteries of newborn sizing as they ring up their cotton-candy clothes. 10124 Great Plain Ave., Needham, MA 2492, pollywogskids.com.

1982 Best Locally Produced Television Show

"Summer Solstice"

Henry Fonda meets Cape Cod.

1999 Best Photographer, Family Portraits

Terri Ruth Unger

Anyone tired of cheesy, slick portraits on fake backgrounds will appreciate the simply, honest beauty of Unger's work. She prefers her subjects unposed in familiar surroundings with natural light. The result: refreshingly candid and artful shots. And she prints everything in classy black and white on high-quality paper, perfect for a long-lasting family heirloom.

2000 Best Takeout, Gourmet

Baker's Best

When you find a place that provides tasty gourmet dinners without excess fat and salt, you remember the address. Baker's Best boasts dishes like grilled tamarind-glazed shrimp, fresh grilled vegetables, and peppercorn-crusted rack of lamb. The desserts are equally tempting. Plus Baker's Best offers a catering service. 27 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA bakersbestcatering.com.

2013 Best Hotel Bar

The Hawthorne

Photo by Jesse Burke

This swanky spot in the Hotel Commonwealth combines the comforts of a hotel bar—plush chaise lounges, velvet armchairs—with the top-notch libations and luxurious snacks of a craft-cocktail den. Unwind with an Aperol-and-bourbon-laced "Paper Plane" and an order of the raclette-topped fingerling "potato skins," and you just might forget you're not sleeping upstairs. 500A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA thehawthornebar.com.

2001 Best Coffee Shop

Panificio

Warm sun streams into this Charles Street bakery-cum-café's expansive windows, where the clientele kicks back (sometimes for hours) over high-octane lattes, crumbly slices of walnut bread, and the daily papers. And while you can clearly witness the hustle and bustle outside, it fades as you sink deeper into the shop's meditative momentum. 144 Charles St., Boston, MA panificioboston.com.

2004 Best Watches

Alpha Omega

To some, time is commitment. To others, it's a luxury. Alpha Omega caters to both types with its selection of designer watches well worth locking on your wrist. Watch the minutes tick by on a solid gold Rolex, diamond-studded sparkling Ebel, or sturdy sterling-silver TAG Heuer. Good timing was never so easy. 1380 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .

2013 Best Children's Clothing, West

Kenzie Kids and K Girl

This is where all the best-dressed kids in school shop. One side of the store caters to wee ones with Little Giraffe onesies, Deux Par Deux dresses and jeans, Splendid tees, and Montclair jackets. The other side, meanwhile, features trendy designer looks (Chloe dresses, Armani jackets) for budding fashionistas in their tweens and teens. 200 Linden St., Wellesley, MA kenziekids.com.

1991 Best Artist, Contemporary

Ellen Rothenberg

Ellen Rothenberg, 42, of Cambridge, whose profoundly moving installation drawing on Anne Frank's diary was a major attraction of this year's "Boston Now 10" show at the ICA. Her works are ephemeral (she does performance art as well as making installations), but the MFA has a work on paper and others have bought objects from installations.

2018 Best Literary Series

Harvard Book Store

Where else can you learn the secrets of grilling with Mark Bittman, examine fascism with Madeleine Albright, and ponder life sans social media with virtual-reality trailblazer Jaron Lanier? It’s all about variety at this perennial favorite, where the events series—presented in a range of venues, on a range of subjects—caters to bookworms of all stripes. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, harvard.com.

1979 Best Place to Watch the Sun Rise

Longnook Beach, Truro

Longnook Beach, Truro, part of the Cape's Outer Beach. Cape Cod, MA

2000 Best Wine Shop, Suburban

Gordon's Fine Wines

Gordon's is Waltham's answer to one-stop shopping for wine and spirits aficionados. The wine market has a solid foundation in Bordeaux in addition to an impressive international selection; in addition, Gordon's sells a wide range of single-malt scotches and imported tequilas. Added amenities: a gourmet catering service, a glassware department, and an e-mail newsletter listing daily specials. 892 Main Street, Waltham, MA gordonswine.com.

1994 Best Festival of Hypocrisy

The <em>Globe</em>'s assault on <em>Herald</em> reporter Beverly Ford

The Globe's assault on Herald reporter Beverly Ford, which claimed wrongly that she had made up an interview in the Reverend Accelyne Williams case. Globe reporter Tom Mashberg defended Ford, became persona non grata at his paper, and left shortly after the incident. Meanwhile, you can read Mike Barnicle regularly in the Globe.

2005 Best Day Spa, West

Bella Santé Day Spa

Some suburban day spas, catering as they often do to busy moms, have entirely missed the point of an escape: A noisy cut and blow-dry during a massage is not relaxing. But the Lexington outpost of Bella Santé gets the pampering thing down perfectly with imported teas, soothing music, and peaceful treatment rooms. And, of course, one-at-a-time services that are stress free. 76 Bedford St., Lexington, MA bellasante.com.

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