New approaches of Channel 7
Boston, long a staid TV market, was transformed by new approaches of Channel 7. It de-emphasized the anchor and showed that a newscast is a total marketing package rather than two talking heads. It makes more people remember who was on Healthcast than who the anchor person is.
Blue Nami
A solid sushi bar, with seasonal specialties like soft-shell crab, and traditional Korean dishes like bulgoki, cooked at your table and served with eight separate side dishes, including three kimchis. And you're on a ship docked in Boston Harbor! 310 Congress St., Museum Wharf, Boston, MA .
Jonah's
Chowder, five salads, seven fish entrées, clams and oysters on the half shell, lobster, dessert—all for less than fifteen dollars. And after dinner, you might venture upstairs to the revolving Spinnaker lounge for a trip around the Boston skyline. Hyatt Regency, 575 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA .
The Oblate Fathers
Local real estate brokers were impressed with the $1.5 million the good fathers were able to get from the city of Boston for the modest 20-room Curley mansion, on the Jamaicaway. The shamrock shutters are neat, but $1.5 million?
The Purchase of USA Cinemas by Loews
The good news for local moviegoers is that the new owners are reportedly going to clean up the mucky floors and repair the torn screens of the Boston theater chain. In fact, the word is that Loews is too embarrassed to put its own name on local marquees until the theaters pass muster.
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.
Former Republican Senate candidate John Lakian's.
Asked during a debate sponsored by the Boston Herald whether he intended to make an issue of his opponent's religious beliefs, Lakian insisted that he would have no comment on "Mr. Mormon...I have never in a debate brought up Mr. Romney's religion."
Machinery Hall
In May this magazine predicted that machinery Hall could be the "next monster rock group" from Boston. We stand by that assertion. Now with an eponymous CD under its belt Machinery Hall is ready to go out and be heard the world over.
Elizabeth Murray
The 10-year retrospective of New York artist Elizabeth Murray at MIT's List Visual Arts Center, 20 Ames Street, Cambridge. The paintings were there, the drawings at the MFA. Murray kicked off her career at the Whitney and has been represented in hundreds of important shows. But Boston gave her her first retrospective. MIT's List Visual Arts Center, 20 Ames St., Cambridge, MA .
Maryelle Makeup & Hair Artistry
Maryelle O’Rourke and her team of artists are pros at making brides "I woke up like this" beautiful, traveling to venues in Boston and beyond to give you and yours perfectly dewy skin and fluttery lashes. For proof, take a look at the company’s roster of celebrity clients, which includes Her Royal Highness Meghan Markle and Westworld’s Shannon Woodward. MA maryelleartistry.com.
Toro
Can any Spanish restaurant topple Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette’s always-buzzing tapas spot in the South End? Answer: not this year. The playlist and meticulously curated by-the-glass sherry list still keep the party going well into the night, nearly every night. But it’s the seafood-packed paella, pressed uni sandwiches with miso butter, and beloved grilled corn that continue to make this a true Boston institution—one that’s been imported to Bangkok and Dubai in recent years. 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA 02118, toro-restaurant.com.
York Athletics
Breaking into the sneaker market in a town like Boston is no easy feat. We’re already home to the global headquarters of New Balance, Converse, and Reebok, not to mention Rockport and Saucony, which have offices in the suburbs. But York Athletics’ founders weren’t daunted. Even in Sneaker Town USA, they saw a gaping hole in the market, and an underserved consumer group of independent thinkers they could claim as their own. Read more yorkathleticsmfg.com.
Joan Jonas
Happy birthday to this multimedia pioneer, who turns 83 this month with plenty to celebrate. After decades of medium-defining work—not to mention a Tate Modern retrospective in London and a Kyoto Prize last year— the MIT arts professor emerita continues to leave her mark on Boston. Between her recent light-and-crystal installation Ice Drawing at the MFA and her Isabella Stewart Gardner exhibit of evocative animal drawings, Jonas just may be having her best run yet.
Mincho Pacheco, Avanti Salon
Mincho Pacheco’s station at Avanti Salon is a revolving door of the city’s most put-together gents, from high-powered banker types to Boston Bruins—but really, everyone who makes an appointment is guaranteed to get the VIP treatment. The stylist’s passion for men’s cuts brought him from his native El Salvador to one of the most in-demand Newbury Street salons, where his precise technique makes a compelling argument for guys to ditch the barber shop once and for all. 20 Newbury St. , Boston, MA 02116, avantisalonboston.com.
Petsi Pies
Buttery as a shortbread cookie yet flaky as a cracker, Petsi’s consistently perfect pie crusts made founder Renee McLeod a local legend. Now retired, McLeod still helps new owner Jill Remby develop recipes for equally fantastic fillings, including crisped apples, velvet-rich chocolate, and bourbon-splashed pecans. Plus, Petsi’s just-launched scholarship fund is a sweet effort to encourage even more Boston-area entrepreneurs. 285 Beacon St., Somerville, MA 02143, petsipies.com.