Boston Brew Company
The headquarters for Samuel Adams Beer offers a tour that is truly informative. You'll be introduced to the technicalities of hops and barley malt, then get to sample a few beers. 30 Germania Street, Jamaica Plain, MA .
Bobby from Boston
Spared the ever-shifting trends that rule women's fashion, men have the luxury of building their accessories wardrobe from time-honored staples. From leather belts to sunglasses to silk ties, the best last a lifetime—and can usually be found at Bobby from Boston, where shelves are stocked with premium vintage merch that looks as snappy today as it did decades ago. It's like raiding the closet of the debonair great-uncle you never had. 19 Thayer St., Boston, MA 2118, .
Boston Harbor Hotel
Better than home. Each stall is a spacious 5'9" by 5'9". Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA .
Boston Guerrilla Queer Bar
The best gay club in town? Whichever "straight" bar (their words) this grassroots group decides to take over, flash-mob style. Unlikely past locales have included Tommy Doyle's, An Tua Nua...even Europhile favorite Caprice. Once you find out where to go—the details are announced via listservs and Twitter—get there early: Lines often stretch around the block. bostonguerrilla.com.
Seaport Boston Hotel
Seaport Hotel's Wave Health and Fitness Club isn't the swankiest place to swim in Boston (that would be the InterContinental). But it's far from crowded, well kept, and refreshingly affordable. The skylight-enhanced pool offers three warm, four-and-a-half-foot-deep lanes, and the $15 day fee includes the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms and plenty of workout equipment. Bonus: Kids are just $5 a pop. 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, MA 2210, seaportboston.com.
Adrian Walker, <em>Boston Globe</em>
In June, the Metro columnist was briefly cut back from writing two columns a week to one, owing to a number of errors in his stories, including a column on the first black law-school dean in the region who, a subsequent correction informed us, turned out to be the second black law-school dean in the region. The good news is that, unlike his predecessor Patricia Smith, Walker made factual errors.
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.
Michael Holley, <em>Boston Globe</em>
He's everything sports punditry has never been in this town. In pages dominated by aging Irishmen, yes, he's young and black. More to the point, he's aggressive, witty, and stylish. Plus, it's nice that a Boston sportswriter finally realizes it's only a game. And the girls think he's a babe.
Bella English, <em>Boston Globe</em>
This perpetually lame Stepford scribe's reports on suburban life actually make you yearn for Mike Barnicle's cheesy bluster.
Jack Driscoll, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Admit it. The Globe's better. It has more local news and fewer turgid front-page reports about Australia devaluing its dollar. But Jack, are we having fun yet?
Howie Carr, <em>Boston Herald</em>
Yeah, yeah, he writes for us, too. He's still the best.
Carrie Rickey, <em>Boston Herald</em>
Witty, entertaining, consistent—a breath of fresh air in that paper.
South Boston on a Saturday Night
Other advice: Wear green, look tough, and whistle the theme to How Green Was My Valley.
Boston City Council
With a ringmaster like Louise and a Dapper dancing bear, how could this show be other than great? MA
Loews Theatres Boston Common
From the moment you walk into this new multiplex, everything seems larger than life—just like the movies. With blown-up black-and-white posters of The Graduate and Butch Cassidy covering the walls, and vaulted entryways straight out of Aladdin's palace, the setting feels right right from the get-go. The theaters themselves follow suit, with cushy, plush chairs arranged stadium-style and huge screens. Sure, $10 is a lot of money to spend on a flick, and $4.75 is a ridiculous price for a bag of popcorn. But for big-event movies, trust us: You don't want to go anywhere else. 175 Tremont Ave., Boston, MA amctheatres.com.