With Panache
Rene Oranburg's firm will stage any kind of get-together you want, arranging for caterers, decorations, and entertainment. Reasonable fees, too. 110 Independence Dr., Chestnut Hill, MA 617-469-9736.
Matt Siegel, WXKS-FM
We particularly liked his Cabbage Patch doll promotion. That was the one, you may recall, that had no dolls. Just cabbages. With adoption papers.
Chef Lee's Famous Soul Food
From collard greens to pig's feet to fried chicken to sweet-potato pie, Chef Lee's offers a full menu of homey cooking. they cater, too. 1140 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester, MA .
Bunker Hill Barber Shop
Set in a row of clapboard Colonials, this Chucktown haunt is the ideal neighborhood spot for reading the paper, chatting about the game, and—oh, yeah—getting a great cut. 26 Common St., Charlestown, MA .
The Barking Crab
Waterfront mainstay the Barking Crab boils up the freshest lobster in town, and the summery presentation—paper plates, plastic buckets—only adds to the illusion of a languid lunch on the beach. 88 Sleeper St., Boston, MA barkingcrab.com.
Constitution Marina Charters
Gorgeous boats, gracious hosts. They'll do the planning or let you do it yourself—catering, liquor, whatever. Variety of boat sizes, but we especially liked the 42-foot Bristol. 28 Constitution Rd., Charlestown, MA .
Petit Patapon
This is the place to find classic kids' clothing that's long on style, short on gimmicks, and sans European price tags. The store caters to infants right on through preteens, for both boys and girls. 27 Central St., Wellesley, MA .
Venus, Seafood in the Rough
The fried clams, fish-and-chips, lobsters, and rock crabs are great, but the paper plates and picnic tables on the harbor make Venus the best. Just what Boston needed. Get there before it closes for the winter. 88 Sleeper St., Boston, MA .
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.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
From its historical digs on Mass. Ave., the BSO manages to cater to both Liszt fans and those who just want to hear what the Star Wars theme sounds like live. bso.org.
Snyder's
Snyder's, 601 Washington St., has more canteens than the armed forces of Poland. If it hired a few more salesman, it would immediately become the ninth-ranked army in the world. The choice of knowledgeable campers. 601 Washington St., Boston, MA .
B&G Oysters
The accompanying paper towel is merely decorative, considering B&G's semolina-dusted Ipswich bellies shed virtually no grease from their crisp nooks and crannies (which justifies double-dunking them in the addictive house tartar sauce). 550 Tremont St., Boston, MA 2116, bandgoysters.com.
Baker's Best
Fabulous chicken (the piccata is especially wonderful), great veggie pizzas and calzones, and some of the best Caesar salad we've ever had. They'll even cater your weekend party, or—chicken soup to shank bone—your Passover Seder. 27 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA .
Oona's
This small store has been catering to the Cambridge and Boston cognoscenti for nearly 30 years. Vintage clothing hounds flock here to pick through the recycled threads from the past five decades—and for the extensive selection of vintage jewelry and accessories. 1210 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA oonasboston.com.
Pearl Art & Craft Supplies
Bins of brushes, passels of paints, plus everything from buttons and beads to hand-printed papers and zinc plates for etching fill the two floors of this huge art-supply supermarket. And all art books are at least 20 percent off. 579 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .