The Boston Ballet's production of <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>
Boston Opera House
Attending a show here is not unlike sitting inside a gigantic inverted wedding cake. Three years after a painstaking $30 million restoration, the Opera House shines once again as the city's most opulent venue. As for the performances—whether flashy Broadway tours, big-name rock acts like the White Stripes, or Boston Ballet's Nutcracker—all seem to gain a bit of extra polish from this gilded Beaux Arts masterpiece. The 1920s proscenium mural alone is worth the ticket price. 539 Washington St., Boston, MA broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Urbanity Dance
In seven years, founder and director (and former Boston Ballet teacher) Betsi Graves has grown Urbanity Dance into a thrilling, whimsical, acrobatic beast. Last year, the company collaborated twice with local chamber orchestra A Far Cry, leaping and weaving with the violinists in Jordan Hall. At the Institute of Contemporary Art in February, they performed "Bend," an orgy of strobe lights and corporeal geometry. Whether twisting into one another to form a human skirt or wrestling with their shadows, Urbanity's dancers fulfill their mission to "elevate physical intelligence." 1180 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, urbanitydance.org.
The Boston Ballet's First Spring Concert at the Colonial Theater
An impressive performance of the late George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco.
Ballet Ball
Finally IRL after a multi-year hiatus, this year’s Ballet Ball was a party of epic, delicious, and delightfully over-the-top proportions. A new venue, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, accommodated more guests, not to mention space for thrilling feats by Boston Ballet’s dancers. If there was a better way to celebrate Mikko Nissinen’s 20 years of leadership than with everyone gathered together again, dancing into the wee hours, we can’t think of it. bostonballet.org.
That the Boston Ballet's hiring of artistic director Mikko Nissinen, once dubbed "The Flying Finn," will put an end to the company's soaring exits and financial woes.
Petrushka at ArtsEmerson
Master puppeteer Basil Twist's adaptation of Stravinsky's ballet about a tragic love triangle among a clown, a ballerina, and a Moor managed to convey humanity and grace in the movement of Japanese-style marionettes. One compact hour long, it begged for repeat viewings from both kids and adults. Unique productions like this during ArtsEmerson's inaugural season have proven that this organization should be central to Boston arts for years to come. 559 Washington St., Boston, MA 2139, artsemerson.org.
Bailey's of Boston
A lot of the ladies who lunch consider this rich concoction the next best thing to sex; and they might be right. Boston, MA
Steve Bailey, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Picking up where his predecessor, the estimable Joan Vennochi, left off, Bailey hasn't missed a beat covering the business-politics beat. On the contrary, whether he's writing about the Fleet-Bank-Boston merger, the Fenway deal, or the backroom maneuvering to bring the Patriots back to town, Bailey knows the game, he knows the players, and he knows the hidden agendas that make Boston such a grand place.
Flat Top Johnny's
Flat Top Johnny's runs the table. It's really no contest, considering most of Boston's pool halls are either shabby gin joints or cheesy meat markets. Flat Top's, by contrast, has a mellow punk vibe, a mix of Kendall Square professionals and Central Square rockers, and good tables. There are cool specials like Monday's nine-ball tournament and Tuesday's women's night. (God, even pool halls are going PC. Whatever happened to ladies' night?) The food's surprisingly good, and there's a beer for every palate and wallet—although we don't recommend drinking nine PBRs while playing your buddy for 20 bucks. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA flattopjohnnys.com.
Steve Bailey
The Globe's Steve Bailey, who knows more about corporate Boston than the CEOs who rush to read his column every morning.
Larry Moulter for Paul Mooney
The new president of the Boston Garden has introduced courtesy, better food, and celebrity cachet to the old arena. Whoever expected to see U2 shooting baskets on the parquet floor?
Bobby from Boston
Photo by Jesse Burke Anatomy of a Winner: Imagine raiding the closet of a well-dressed uncle, whose discarded college wardrobe has only grown more stylish with age. That, in essence, is what it's like to shop at Bobby from Boston, where owner Bobby Garnett offers an endless collection of smart articles. 1. Garnett bought several of these circa-late-'70s-to-early-'80s bow ties new from a factory. 2. Old briefcases and luggage are sourced from flea markets and antiques shows near and far. Some are for sale, while others are repurposed as display cases. 3. When Garnett moved into his South End space, the floors were painted blue. Sanding and cleaning revealed the beautiful hardwood beneath. 4. Like most of his merchandise, Garnett's shirt selection is a mix of used, vintage acquisitions and "dead stock"—pieces he bought from other stores or factories when they didn't sell. He'll even get the occasional Christmas present, left sitting in its box for years. 5. Display cases around the store house smaller items, like wallets, cigar boxes, handkerchiefs, and tie pins. This case dates to the 1920s. 19 Thayer St., Boston, MA .
Winston Flowers
Winston has cornered the petal market west of Boston. Its bright blooms are consistently the freshest around, and whether you want rare lilies or timeless red roses, Winston always finds your flowers. Plus, its unique year-round arrangements and gourmet gift baskets make present-sending simple. 31 Central St., Wellesley, MA winstonflowers.com.
L'Espalier
For a modern Boston tea party, head to L'Espalier on a Saturday afternoon, when the Back Bay brownstone is filled with elegant ladies nibbling on pastries and canapés. We recommend Red Riding Hood's Basket: savory tea sandwiches, melt-in-your-mouth scones with crème fraîche, and chocolate-dipped strawberries or Valrhona milk chocolate mousse tarts. The tea, delivered with a graceful flourish, is brewed just so and punctually refilled. You won't want to spill a drop. 744 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, lespalier.com.