Boston Links Golf Shop
Whether you're interested in a top-of-the-line steelhead, framed pictures of your favorite courses and players (the one of Arnie at St. Andrew's is priceless), or just a new shirt, Boston Links has the o fit. All of the top clubs are here, and you can try 'em out on its indoor range. You can even get a lesson from one of its on-staff pros. While you may find a better bargain at one of the discount outlets, you can't beat the professionalism and friendliness of the staff. 116 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA .
Boston Audio Books
Suburban commuters who work downtown will be thrilled to find Boston AudioBooks. This store carries a wide selection—including fiction, self-help, mystery, and science fiction—that can be bought or rented. Note: You must become a member to rent audio books—the onetime fee is $10. 80 Arch St., Boston, MA .
Boston Athletic Club
Boston doesn't yet have that one great health club, but in the meantime, BAC is the best thing in town. There are basketball, tennis, racquetball, and squash courts galore, not to mention the basics such as Nautilus and aerobics. It also offers cardio-boxing, golf, a hair salon, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists. 653 Summer St., Boston, MA .
The tours at the Boston Athenaeum
They start up again in the fall, they're free, and the guides are straight out of Boston Brahmin Central Casting. Delightful. 10 1/2 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
The Boston Public Library System
Look what money can do: all the branches are open again, the librarians don't snap at you anymore, and the books are in their proper places on the shelves.
Boston Sailing Center
We had one complaint from a year ago about the Sailing Center. But after checking it out, we found it didn't hold any water. 54 Lewis Wharf, Boston, MA .
School Volunteers for Boston
A bright light in the otherwise dismal gloom of our public-school system.
The Bar, Ritz-Carlton, Boston
Something about the way the light from the fireplace hits this wood-paneled room sharpens the taste buds. And something about the cushy, tapestry-covered seating relaxes the senses. The unfettered view of the Public Garden and the unapologetically clubby setting, complete with hunting paintings—it all adds up nicely. But the real old-school gem, the real relaxation, is in the icy gin martini, perfectly blended and balanced, and served smooth with zero burn. Ritz-Carlton, Boston, 15 Arlington St., Boston, MA .
Boston Speed Dog
Crummy roadside location? Check. Severely limited menu? Check. The most ridiculously good hot dogs you'll ever stuff in your hungry maw? Double check. Marinated in apple cider, Boston Speed dogs are grilled, then topped with anything from chili sauce to cranberry relish. A smart slash down the middle of the dog helps condiments stay put, and the hearty Portuguese roll sops up all the tasty juices. 43 Newmarket Sq., Roxbury, MA 2118, bostonsuperdog.com.
Michelle Caruso, <em>Boston Herald</em>
Inheritor of Brian Mooney's mantle as the town's most tenacious investigator, Caruso was the first to begin unraveling the Mary Beth Lenane story, and was all alone on the poisoning of two children in a Roxbury foster home. When you think of Caruso, the word unrelenting comes to mind.
Alex Beam, <em>Boston Globe</em>
The Howie Carr of high finance is the perfect antidote to the Globe's dreary business coverage and a much-needed lance in the backside of Boston's puffed-up business community.
Charles Pierce, <em>Boston Herald</em>
He has become the most consistently engaging and entertaining sports columnist in any Boston paper.
Political Staff, <em>Boston Herald</em>
The paper's Sunday "Pols and Politics" column—a breezy, biting collection of one-liners, tidbits, and anecdotes culled from the annals of the state's number-one spectator sport—is a must-read for political junkies.
George Kimball, <em>Boston Herald</em>
When he's on his game, he's as good as they come. This year he was on his game.
Jack Driscoll, <em>Boston Globe</em>
Because everybody seems so comfy cozy in the newsroom these days.