Fifteen Beacon
When the in-laws come to town for a visit, send them straight to Fifteen Beacon, a hotel so classically elegant (and subtly opulent) they'll never want to leave. The staff at this Beacon Hill hotel makes service an art form, so every customer feels like royalty. (The hotel even provides personalized business cards with guests' fax and phone numbers to drop around town, as well as complimentary chauffeur service in a Mercedes-Benz sedan.) Rooms are decorated in rich earth tones with plenty of luxe accents (leather ottomans, working fireplaces) and are loaded with all the goodies you need, from Pevonia bath products to well-stocked minibars. Room service comes from the Federalist, the restaurant downstairs, which means you can leave not only the hospitality, but also the cooking, to the hotel's accommodating staff. 15 Beacon St., Boston, MA xvbeacon.com.
ATA Cycles
Okay, purists, so ATA doesn't carry Trek or Cannondale—those glam brands have been cornered by the store's bigger local rivals. But the bikes it does sell are among the best: KHS, Breezer, Giant, and Cinelli. The store's move to a new location a few blocks from its old address has also given it the space to add the hot new Look carbon-fiber bike, an alternative to higher-priced titanium models. And while ATA sponsors mountain bike racer Matt O'Keefe at the pro-level, it is going after the road-biking market with high-end frames and accessories. It also sells the latest rage: fixed-gear bikes, with no rear brakes or derailleurs. 1773 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA atabike.com.
A&J King Artisan Bakers
Set foot inside a great restaurant, and the feeling is usually admiration, even awe. Enter a great bakery like A&J King, and it's more like giddiness. Everything looks as good as it smells, and tastes even better, courtesy of the New England Culinary Institute grads working the ovens. Andy King bakes the breads—tangy North Shore sourdough, airy ciabatta—and wife Jackie creates the toothsome pastries, which range from flaky croissants and custardy bread puddings to the dense and intense chocolate cakes called bouchons. They also plate fresh-made sandwiches and flatbreads and pour what just might be the North Shore's best espresso. Did we say giddiness? We meant love. 48 Central St., Salem, MA 1970, ajkingbakery.com.
Matt Murphy's
For those who think great Irish food is an oxymoron, we say, Get thee to Matt Murphy's. True, there's been a recent explosion of Celtic fare in Boston, but Matt Murphy's owns this category. The pub feels as authentic as a Guinness in Dublin, including mismatched tables and chairs, an itty-bitty bathroom squeezed into the back of the kitchen, and a display of rubber fisherman's boots. Of course, the beer selection is noteworthy (choice offerings: Franziskaner Weissbier, Bellhaven Scottish Ale), but the food is even better. The egg-salad sandwich with hand-cut smoked bacon is amazing, and so huge you need to split it with a date. And don't miss the crispy cod and chips, which comes wrapped in the Irish Times, the Irish sausage and beans, and the rich shepherds pie. 14 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA mattmurphyspub.com.
Russell Tardanico's Rescue of the North End's So-Called Mini-Hamm Building From the Clutches of an Office Condo Developer Earlier This Year
<p>The neighbors were jubilant. However, shortly before Tardanico was scheduled to open his glass business on the Commercial Street property, the Boston Herald reported that the 42-year-old Milton resident had been convicted in 1970 of torching his fire-salvage company for the insurance money. After receiving a suspended sentence and probation, Tardanico moved his company, the Boston Fire Patrol, to Adams Street in Dorchester, where it reportedly burned three times before closing down for good. In 1982 the Suffolk County district attorney's office was said to have looked into a series of suspicious fires on properties owned by Tardanico, but no charges were brought.</p> <p>Oh yes, the broker who handled the sale of the North End building to Tardanico: Joanne Prevost Ansalone, former head of the Boston Licensing Board under Kevin White, and the wife of Theodore Anzalone, White's chief fund-raiser.</p>
Oisa Ramen Slurp & Go
"Own your slurp" is the mantra at Moe Kuroki’s tiny ramen bar: It means belly up to the counter, enjoy your soup, and worry about those stains on your shirt later. But it also applies to Kuroki’s personal journey: The self-taught cook from Fukuoka, Japan, began tinkering with traditional tonkotsu recipes during a particularly strong bout of homesickness. In 2014, she started slinging bowls of tender pork belly and chewy homemade noodles at pop-ups across the city. Now she’s sharing her love for the art of ramen at her new brick-and-mortar, where a layered, rich, fully vegan-style bowl stands out in a sea of fresh noodles on the scene. 1 3/4 Broad St., Boston, MA 02109, oisaramen.com.
Buk Kyung
With a Korean joint seemingly popping up on every corner, Allston Village is steadily earning its K-town reputation, but the noodle dishes at neighborhood stalwart Buk Kyung still go unmatched. We’re not just talking about pop hits like the inky, pork-rich sauce in the jajangmyeon or the glassy sweet potato threads in the japchae. Because if you haven’t tucked into a bowl of dduk mandoo gook—Korea’s take on beef-noodle soup, carbed up with house dumplings and glutinous rice cakes—or the party-size platter of seafood, stir-fried veg, and potato-noodle shards served with a sweet-hot mustard sauce (otherwise known as yangjangpi), you’re missing out. Multiple locations. 151 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 02134, bukkyungrestaurant.com.
Brookline Liquor Mart
We're fond of smaller wine shops—Back Bay's excellent Bauer Wine & Spirits, say, and Somerville's Wine and Cheese Cask (where you can pick up some good bread and cheese), or even the novice-friendly Cellars stores. But warehouse-sized Brookline Liquor Mart dwarfs the competition, and not merely because of the enormity of its wine selection. There are extras such as frequent tastings, a decent Web site, and the rare-wine room, where you can fantasize about dropping two grand on a bottle of Château Lafite. And if the place itself looks a little intimidating, just wait a few moments. One of the wine experts (there is at least one on duty at all times) will amble by and prove every bit as friendly and helpful as the salespeople at the smaller stores. 1354 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, MA blmwine.com.
Rialto
Photograph by Anthony Tieuli If there's anything we've learned from fine dining's shift toward farm-to-table cooking, it's that the integrity of one's cuisine is just as important as high-end ingredients and elegant presentations. And at Rialto, chef Jody Adams has quietly, unfailingly delivered food with care and purpose for 17 years. Her ability to meld New England's seasonal bounty with regional Italian preparations can be positively breathtaking, as can her presentations (like the pan-seared black bass with green-onion pesto and a head-on prawn, pictured). And while Rialto has certainly kept up with the trends—you'll find patés, pickled veggies, and craft cocktails aplenty—thanks to the dining room's unflinching service and impeccable wine list, the overall effect is timeless. 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA 2138, rialto-restaurant.com.
Belmont Farmer's Market
Picking the best farmers' market is like trying to pick the best heirloom tomato. What's not to love in any of the forms and flavors they take? All typically have lovely selections of just-plucked fruits, veggies, and herbs; however, the Belmont agricultural get-together earns bonus points (and a loyal following of chefs) for the bumper crop of other regional goodies it has on hand. Stock up on Bay State-bred pork, lamb, beef, and chicken; raw honey from local hives; handmade mozzarella from Somerville's Fiore di Nonno; brownies baked fresh at Malden-based Geoff & Drew's; and gelato from Belmont's own Angelato—and you'll find that dullsville weekly supermarket run looking downright superfluous. Belmont Center, MA
Newbury Tailoring Company
Antonio Rivas and his merry band of seamsters have earned a cult following for their skill in reattaching the original hem to jeans. But come on: Who's not doing original hem these days? A great tailor can, and should, also make a garment look better. Tests of the competition, including 2008 winner Le Couturier, yielded mostly adequate results ($40 later, a vintage party dress was appropriately shortened, yet still suggested second-trimester pregnancy). Only Rivas and company, given a fur-trimmed '60s-era coat that was two sizes too big and six inches too long, came through like champs, producing a glorious brand-new garment for around 50 bucks. 91 Newbury St., Boston,, Boston, MA 2116, .
Waban Shoe Repair
Cobblestones are charming. Replacing a $900 pair of limited-edition size 11 Louboutins because a heel snapped off in that picturesque paving material—again—is not. We scoured the city for a place that could doctor our ripped soles and scratched leather, and refasten the aforementioned broken heel, plus replace stray straps and buckles and refurbish unusual materials in unusual colors, but it wasn't until we looked west that we found our fix, some 20 minutes away in Waban. The reverse commute is worth it: The walls of the tiny shop are lined with boxes of rehabbed Ferragamos, Chanels, and Pradas, all mended expertly within a week. Going anywhere else would be like sending the Rolls to a Jiffy Lube. 1637A Beacon St., Waban, MA 2468, .
Franklin Cafe
This utterly unpretentious, hip South End restaurant is doing its best to change the image of Boston as an early-to-eat town. Though it has only nine tables and a crowded bar, Franklin services perfectly homey, simply executed food that gives late-night dining a good name. Favorites on the New American menu include loin of tuna (a large piece of fish cooked medium-rare and served atop creamy mashed potatoes) and the grilled lahmajune (an Armenian-inspired pizza topped with ground lamb and cilantro). Portions are large, prices are low, and the crowd is cool—a winning combination that keeps hungry night owls happy and fed until 1:30 a.m. every night of the week. 278 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA franklincafe.com.
Community Boating
Let's face it: Sooner or later someone's going to invite you to go sailing, and if you don't know what you're doing, you're going to get clocked in the head with the boom. To avoid humiliation and possible injury, sign up for bargain-basement sailing lessons at this nonprofit boathouse just across from the Charles-MGH T-stop. With your $195 membership, you get an unlimited number of lessons—and as soon as you pass the rigging test, learn the meaning of "luffing" and "halyward" at Shore School, and take a quick quiz, you can sail the Charles with anyone who'll take you. Community Boating also offers kayak and windsurfing lessons. The deal is unbeatable if you don't mind hanging out with the eccentric and sometimes testy volunteer staff. 21 Embankment Road, Boston, MA .
Folklorica
The idea of handcrafts is intriguing; the reality, often ho-hum. Folklorica, however, hones its edge with one-of-a-kind creations by big names (Alexis Bittar, Jane Diaz) and sharp local talent. 61 Union St., Newton Centre, Newton, MA 2459, .