Robert Shrum
Ted Kennedy's press secretary in Washington, Shrum has had a tough, emotional year. But his boss looks better than ever.
Ana Sortun, Aigo Bistro
One taste of her gutsy, flavorful food and you'll know that few people really understand cooking the way she does. 84 Thoreau Street (Concord Depot), Concord, MA .
Privus
Glam décor and upscale cocktails like the dirty wasabi-tini cordon off sushi lounge Privus as 'adult swim' amid undergrad-swamped booze holes. 165 Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Lucia Small
Lucia Small, who took home the Grand Jury prize at the Slamdance Film Festival for her powerful documentary My Father, the Genius.
The Harp at the Garden
With their recent expansion downstairs, it seems the entire loge section could fit inside The Harp. After most Celtics or Bruins games, it looks as though it has. 85 Causeway, Boston, MA .
Michael Schlow, Radius
In the four years since Michael Schlow moved to Boston, he has become not just a major figure on the local culinary scene, but on the national ones as well. So when he left Cafe Louis to plan his own place, foodies eagerly awaited his next move. The impeccably designed Radius more than survived the attendant hype to become the restaurant sensation of the year. Offering a distinctive counterpoint to Boston's culinary old guard, Schlow's strength is his understanding of flavors and texture. To that end, he finds the finest ingredients and uses his mastery of technique to treat them with the utmost respect. His pork confit is memorable, meltingly soft and sweet, made in a classic confit technique of cooking the meat in its own fat, which, paradoxically, heightens the flavors without making the confit fatty. As for his striped bass, Corby Kummer wrote that "the impeccable conception, execution, and presentation would be hard to find in any arrondissement [in Paris.]" With food like that, he added, "I'll fight for a table wherever [he's] cooking." 8 High St., Boston, MA .
Mr. Sid
Fast, friendly, and guaranteed to make you look great. 1211 Centre St., Newton, MA .
Legal Seafoods
Very fresh, cooked with a light hand. And the ambiance is right. 237 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA .
Chimera
Whether you’re looking for a work of art by Bocci or traditional exterior lanterns by Fourteenth Colony Lighting, a visit to this Fort Point outpost promises to be illuminating. 327 A St., Boston, MA 02210, chimeralightingdesign.com.
Natalie Jacobsen, Channel 5
Sure, she looks frumpy at times, especially when she's sharing the camera with husband Chet Curtis, aka the Pillsbury Doughboy. But she's still the Franchise.
Armadillo Cafe
Danny Wisel has found a new home and is once again cooking to his heart's content, which makes us very happy. 1314 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA .
Joseph Abboud
Nothing beats the J.O.E. line by Joseph Abboud for super-looking jeans, trousers, shirts, and sweaters—lots of style for the buck. 37 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
L'Aroma Café
The latte at L'Aroma arrives with a beautiful heart swirled atop its ample, foamy crest. The best news: It tastes as good as it looks. 85 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Yellow Submarine
Yellow Submarine, convenient to Beacon Hill, might look like just another greasy spoon, but don't be fooled by appearances. The subs are superb. Beacon Hill, Boston, MA .