Lucia Lighting & Design, Inc.
Lynn may be a ways past the city limits, but this 8,000-square-foot lighting nirvana set in a historic mansion proved an irresistible beacon to our Best of Boston judges. The brainchild of spunky Salem State College grad Lucy Dearborn, Lucia comprises 12 showrooms with themes like 'The Crystal Room' (sparkles galore) and 'The Loft' (sleek and funky). With approximately 1,000 fixtures to choose from, and the guidance of in-house designers, customers are bound to find something here that turns them on, and vice versa. 311 Western Ave., Lynn, MA 1904, lucialighting.com.
Bead + Fiber
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-200542361/stock-photo-bright-beads-of-stone.html" target="_blank">Bead photo</a> via Shutterstock The only bead store in Boston specializes in the rare, bright, and shiny variety, sourced from around the world by owner and self-styled " personal bead shopper" Andrea Garr, who will happily hunt down that ultra-specific bauble you’ve seen in your mind (but nowhere else). There’s also a dizzying range of classes taught by local artists for novice and advanced crafters, including clay, Tunisian crocheting, bead-weaving, and metalwork, as well as introductory courses for kids. 460 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 2118, beadandfiber.net.
Flatbread Company at Sacco's Bowl Haven
Since 2010, this renovated candlepin bowling alley/pizza joint has been winning adult fans with its craft brews, locally distilled spirits, and expertly fired pies. But it’s also a magnet for families, with its roomy booths, tables that can be easily rearranged to suit large groups, and, of course, bowling, perfect for play dates—or kids’ birthdays, as one Boston editor discovered this spring. Best of all is the attitude of the staffers, who consistently make little ones and their parents feel well taken care of. 45 Day St., Somerville, MA 2144, flatbreadcompany.com.
Rafanelli Events
After you've been to three or more weddings, things begin to get predictable. But there is an antidote: Rafanelli Events. Bryan Rafanelli and his expert team sweat the small stuff, tending to every detail, from the rehearsal dinner to the reception. Whether you've been dreaming of a simple oceanside wedding or an opulent Boston affair, Rafanelli's staff will spare your guests a cookie-cutter wedding, and ensure that, far from yawning, guests will be talking about your reception for years to come. 142 Berkeley St., 2nd floor, Boston, MA rafanellievents.com.
Cheryl Richards
There's a reason Cheryl Richards is our go-to wedding photographer (and frequent Best of Boston winner): She manages to be both unobtrusive and friendly as she preserves your memories in her signature photojournalistic style. You'll treasure her snapshots because, after all those long months of planning, the only things that last (other than the marriage, we hope) are the photographs. 224 Clarendon St., Boston, MA cherylrichards.com.
Grill 23
The better story would have been that finally, in this, the year of the cow, one among the city's numerous new upscale meateries had managed to dethrone our 14-time of Boston stalwart. Nothing doing. Mooo inherited the Federalist's matchless wine list. KO Prime has the offal around. But for a prime, dry-aged rib-eye with a power client (downstairs) or a significant other (the more intimate upstairs), Grill 23 still rules the herd. 161 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 2116, grill23.com.
Granite Links Golf Club
Carved out of a quarry and shaped by 900,000 truckloads of dirt from the Big Dig, Granite Links was years in the making, and stands as a testament to what creativity and patience can produce. Views of the Boston skyline are unmatched, and directed of golf, Chris Sleeper and his staff pay attention to the smallest of details, making even first-time visitors feel like longtime members. 100 Quarry Hills Dr., Quincy, MA 2169, granitelinksgolfclub.com.
Marathon Sports
The wall of New Balance, Nike, Brooks, and Saucony sneakers is just for starters. Marathon Sports also stocks running maps, reflective vests, fuel belts, and fun gadgets. But what really keeps us coming back to this repeat Best of Boston winner is the service. Staffers here will analyze your stride—after you take a self-conscious sprint down the sidewalk—before slipping your foot into the perfect shoe. 671 Boylston St., Boston, MA marathonsports.com.
In Your Ear
Thirty years is a long time in the music business, particularly when you're still vending vinyl in the age of iTunes. But with hundreds of thousands of records, CDs, and eight-tracks stacked in a subterranean space, In Your Ear's Boston location has flourished since 1982. You can search the inventory online—albums are graded by condition—but trust us: It's more fun to dig through the crates. 957 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, iye.com.
Nordstrom
Now with four locations in Greater Boston—Natick, Burlington, Peabody, and a new outpost in Braintree—Nordstrom has the area's most exhaustive supply of dress shoes, boots, sneakers, and sandals. If this sounds overwhelming, know that staffers here are adept at recognizing the clueless shopper. These special agents can solve nearly any footwear dilemma and help you navigate brand names like Converse, John Varvatos, Ferragamo, and Santoni. 290 Speen St., Natick, MA 1760, nordstrom.com.
The Globe Corner Bookstore
Although the Globe Corner Bookstore no longer shares space with the home of Anne Hutchinson at Downtown Crossing, the remaining Cambridge and Boston stores will ably meet your escapist needs. Their comprehensive selection of travel books and mas can aid the adventurous on an exploration of everything from the Freedom Trail to the White Mountains to rural Mongolia. They also offer a decent selection of antique maps if there's a cartophile on your gift list. 28 Church St., Cambridge, MA .
Mahoney's Garden Center
This longtime Boston area institution is justly famous for its vast selection of trees, plants, and gardening supplies. The original garden center, in Winchester, stocks everything from exotic specialty items like a spiral-cut dwarf Alberta spruce to the most prosaic perennials, all carefully labeled with growing information. In-town horticulturalists now have their own minibranch on Memorial Drive in Cambridge. 242 Cambridge St., Winchester, MA .
Laughing Monk Café
A restaurant half-dedicated to Thai cuisine probably isn’t the likeliest candidate for the best sushi in Boston. Then again, chef Nick Korboon has earned a quietly dedicated following exactly for his convention-flouting finesse, with rolls featuring brown rice and plenty of creativity. With luck, for instance, you’ll find the Bangkok Dynamite—shrimp tempura, soft-shell crab, chili paste, jalapeño, and lemongrass—in the daily changing omakase, which always offers big bang for its buck. 737 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, laughingmonkcafe.com.
Mike Felger, <em>Felger & Mazz</em>
Cynical to the core, Mike Felger relishes bashing our hometown teams — and inpure Boston fashion, we love him for it.Since scoring his first ratings victory over legacy sports station WEEI in May 2010, the radio host has dominated the afternoon drive, bringing a generation of local sports fans along for the ride. And the proof is in the pudding: His show on 98.5 the Sports Hub now claims a quarter of the coveted 25-to-54 demo for men. 985thesportshub.com.
Dalí Restaurant & Tapas Bar
Opened long before Toro became the niño bonito of Boston, this tapas den is a full-on party that’s still raging, and just as sexy and fun as you remember. Here, small plates like spicy chicken skewers with lemon sour cream, and lamb meatballs in tomato-mint sauce are shared over sangria at tile-covered tables or the boho-chic bar festooned with hanging bunches of garlic and greenery. The vibe? In typical Dalí form, it’s surreal. 415 Washington St., Somerville, MA 02143, dalirestaurant.com.