Louis Boston
There's no excuse for men to ignore their feet when the variety and selection are this good. Whether it's a pair of comfy Campers or Silvano Lattanzi custom oxfords, they have it here. And in a refreshing twist on one of the largest selections of fashion-forward (think Helmut Lang and Prada) dress shoes in the city, Louis even sells flip-flops. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.
Terri Ruth Unger
Anyone tired of cheesy, slick portraits on fake backgrounds will appreciate the simply, honest beauty of Unger's work. She prefers her subjects unposed in familiar surroundings with natural light. The result: refreshingly candid and artful shots. And she prints everything in classy black and white on high-quality paper, perfect for a long-lasting family heirloom.
Saus
First, Idaho russets are aged for at least a month before the peeling, cutting, and rinsing commences. Next comes a low-temperature dunk in the fryolator. Finally, the Belgian-style frites are flash-fried to order in a vegetable-oil blend, salted, and corralled into a stiff paper cone—and only then are they ready to be dunked into one of the 12 house-made sauces on offer (we're partial to the curry ketchup, cheddar Duvel, and "Saturday-night chive"). 33 Union St., Boston, MA eatfrites.com.
Helmand
The Helmand This off-the-beaten path spot in East Cambridge has been around for decades, yet somehow manages to make us feel like we're discovering something new every time we visit. Such are the wonders of the authentic Afghani cuisine—kaddo, or pan-fried baby pumpkin baked with ground beef, and aushak, or paper-thin ravioli skins with a bright leek filling. Don't pass up dessert—the homemade cardamom ice cream with pistachios is a knockout. 143 First St., Cambridge, MA helmandrestaurant.com.
The Hawthorne
Photo by Jesse Burke This swanky spot in the Hotel Commonwealth combines the comforts of a hotel bar—plush chaise lounges, velvet armchairs—with the top-notch libations and luxurious snacks of a craft-cocktail den. Unwind with an Aperol-and-bourbon-laced "Paper Plane" and an order of the raclette-topped fingerling "potato skins," and you just might forget you're not sleeping upstairs. 500A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA thehawthornebar.com.
Blantyre
Overnighting at a Lenox mansion is a thrill in its own right, so we recommend you combine a sumptuous meal at Blantyre with an equally luxurious stay. Striking tapers, crystal glassware, and courtly waiters set the scene for an extravagant dinner of halibut bouillabaisse, Bordelaise beef tenderloin, and brandy-flavored foie gras. It's okay if it all stimulates another kind of appetite: You are sleeping over. 16 Blantyre Rd., Lenox, MA 1240, blantyre.com.
Douzo
Where to go when you're craving fantastic raw creations on a burned-out budget: Douzo, near Back Bay Station, which serves up little sushi treasures that are every bit as pristine (if a tad less transcendent) as those at the city's big-price bars. The loungey space is hopping on weekends, but don't let that distract from the kitchen's deft flavor-texture balancing act, as displayed in the torched toro maki wrapped with asparagus and paper-thin raw jalapeño. 131 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 2116, douzosushi.com.
The <em>Globe</em>'s assault on <em>Herald</em> reporter Beverly Ford
The Globe's assault on Herald reporter Beverly Ford, which claimed wrongly that she had made up an interview in the Reverend Accelyne Williams case. Globe reporter Tom Mashberg defended Ford, became persona non grata at his paper, and left shortly after the incident. Meanwhile, you can read Mike Barnicle regularly in the Globe.
Gus & Ruby
Photo by Ken Richardson You can always count on this darling Charles Street stationer’s selection of cards, wrapping paper, prints, and baby gifts to be creative, cheerful, and colorful — much like best-friend founders Samantha Finigan and Whitney Swaffield themselves. And lucky for us, they recently expanded to a design studio next door to give us even more to love. 99 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, gusandruby.com.
Boston Book Annex
Signs of authenticity in the book world: the musty smell of old paper and bindings; the creak of the wooden floorboards; a house cat lounging on the counter as if she owns the place. Add seemingly endless warrens of well-organized books and you have the prototype for the perfect used bookstore. Room after room has been organized here into such eccentric but irresistible categories as "Polar Exploration" and "Disasters." The store also offers recent releases and first editions. (A larger collection of rare books is in the company's 705 Centre Street branch in Jamaica Plain.) 908 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
The Publick House
Carb addicts, allow us to introduce you to your downfall: Monk's Frites at the Publick House. A mere $6 gets you a shareable portion of hand-cut fries worth their weight in Yukon gold. These not-too-crispy, not-too-soft pommes are lightly dusted with sea salt, wrapped in a traditional Belgian paper cone, and finally served up with a choice of two homemade dipping sauces (we can't get enough of the fresh herb mayo and the truffle ketchup). 1648 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 2445, .
Giblees
Giblees may not look like much from vantage of Route 114, but behind its inconspicuous storefront is an international array of the finest men's suits and casualwear this side of I-95. Lucky, Paper Denim & Cloth, Hugo Boss, and Coogi are just a few of the big-city brands you'll find at this surprisingly swank suburban haberdashery, whose cordial staff has 50 years of experience making the men of the North Shore look their best. 85 Andover St. (Rte. 114), Danvers, MA giblees.com.
Martin's Restaurant
Regulars know to get to Martin's before noon, as this bustling brunch spot, with its no-frills menu and attitude-free staff, always fills up fast. Guests doodle with crayons on paper place mats—the best are hung on the bulletin boards—as they wait for custom omelets with homemade hash browns or French toast topped with fresh fruit. And just so lazy latecomers don't miss out, the restaurant serves brunch until 3 p.m. 49 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA martinsgreatbarrington.com.
James O'Donnell & Sons
Tim O'Donnell believes in exiting with style. He considers a wake de rigeur, and, on the day of the funeral, is resplendent in top hat and cape. The only thing missing is the Mormon Taberenacle Choir singing "Dies Irae, Dies Illae." 276 Pawtucket St., Lowell, MA .