Blue Ginger
Ming Tsai is everywhere. He's on his own PBS cooking show Simply Ming, his two cookbooks are in bookstores, and his cookware line is at Target. So how good could Blue Ginger, the restaurant that catapulted Tsai to fame, still be? Better than good. In fact, Blue Ginger is better than ever, serving entrées including Tsai's signature garlic-black pepper lobster with lemongrass fried rice. And more often than not, Tsai is here, mingling with guests or working in his open kitchen. 538 Washington St., Wellesley, MA ming.com/blue-ginger.htm.
Nick Penna Jr., Salon Capri
One part science, five parts high art, hair coloring is a sensitive subject to most women. And while a good color job looks as if it happened naturally, few (if any) natural heads of hair are as richly colored and perfectly flattering as those doctored up by Nick Penna Jr. Young, laid-back, and highly decorated for his styling prowess, Penna highlights and infuses tresses with subtly natural yet lustrous shades of color. Just ask any of his devoted clients—that is, if you can get them to tell. 31 Lincoln St., Newton, MA saloncapri.com.
Gypsy
Want proof that cobblestoned Nantucket is no longer just a quaint and quiet haven of whaling lore and preppies on vacation? Look no further than the designer-filled boutique Gypsy. Catherine Malandrino frocks, by turns sassy and sexy, hang next to cutout Chloé tops, palm-print Celine slacks, lower-than-low-cut True Religion jeans, and Lucite heels. Not exactly sailing gear, but hey, since when must fashion bow to function? 47 Main St., 2nd floor, Nantucket, MA .
Tennesse's
By the time the meaty ribs and chicken served up here come off the smoker, they've been slow-cooked for as much as 14 hours over apple, hickory, and cherry woods. Add the tangy homemade sauces, and you can see why Tennessee's is running out of room on the wall of its strip-mall locale for the list of barbecue cookoffs it's already won. Well, here's one more. 341 Cochituate Rd., Framingham, MA tennesseesbbq.com.
Zimman's
Shorn of design hype, Zimman's simply has the broadest selection of upholstery and drapery fabrics in the metro region. By buying directly from mills, Zimman's offers tapestries, jacquards, chintzes, and damasks that escape the usual designer portfolios, freeing would-be redecorators from slavishly following whatever Ralph or Martha has dictated will be this year's look. Self-service means no pressure as browsers wander and ponder nearly a million yards of cloth. The staff cheerfully helps calculate yardage and will even supply a short list of local upholsterers and drapery stitchers. 80 Market St., Lynn, MA zimmans.com.
Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
With an unadulterated sound and a timeless, gamine look, Aly Spaltro, a.k.a. Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, upstages every testosterone-fueled act in Boston. Her voice is light yet certain, as are her banjo and guitar stylings, which will sound even better when properly recorded (until now, her bedroom has served as her studio). Next to Spaltro's spare verses and trancelike repetition, everything else sounds like a whole lotta noise. ladylambthebeekeeper.com.
Game On! Sports Café
We expected nothing less than a perfect score when Patrick Lyons, owner of Kings, Avalon, and Sonsie, launched the new Game On! The hopped-up, multi-media Fenway bar brings Sox fans closer to the game than box seats, via 70-plus TVs. A video-gaming nook, brick-oven pizzas, and 22 beers are also available. Fantasy-football fans go wild for the WiFi Internet access. 82 Lansdowne St., Boston, MA gameonboston.com.
Lucky's Lounge
Lucky's easy-to-miss subterranean location in the Fort Point area and its lack of signage do little to thin the crowds that pack the retro hangout, looking to swill cocktails and sway to live music on weekend nights. But unlike the college kids and middle managers on the make who populate many other Boston hot spots, the artists, young digerati, and stylish singles mingling under the signature red lighting here make for a scene you won't mind having to squeeze into. 355 Congress St., South Boston, MA luckyslounge.com.
Lavender Home & Table
Why shop at a chain store? At Lavender, linens, candles, and other tabletop wares are culled from independent European vendors. And while a French country vibe pervades the shop, it's not all rustic; sleek and modern looks abound as well. If you can't outfit your abode with accents from your own adventures, this exotic home store is the next best thing. 173 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Zayre Corporation
That of the dozen officers and directors of Zayre Corporation—including chairman of the board Sumner L. Feldberg—who sold off more than 235,000 shares of their company stock in spring 1986. The Zayre leadership thus narrowly escaped the steep plunge. Zayre stock took last summer, when the company surprised Wall Street with a disappointing quarterly earnings report. Talk about close calls. Talk about a sixth sense.
Ginza
For authentic Japanese cuisine, Ginza quite simply can't be beat— and we looked. We love the wide, flat platters of sushi and sashimi; love the fast service; could do without the bright lights. Nevertheless, whether you're seeking tempura, sushi, seafood, or meat, Ginza's locations in Chinatown and Brookline serve the most delectable Japanese delicacies in Boston. 16 Hudson St., Boston, MA .
Eastern Bakers Supply
Chartreuse colanders and French blue ramekins can dress up a cupboard. But if you really love cooking, you know kitchens should be more function than form. So make like local chefs and frequent Eastern Bakers Supply, a warehouse-style jumble of no-frills, serviceable cookware at cut-rate prices. The crowded aisles house pots, mixing bowls, tart pans, pepper mills, and oversize whisks, spatulas, and spoons. The options are limitless—so long as you're okay with stainless steel. 145 N. Washington St., Boston, MA 2114, easternbakers.com.
Simcha
Simcha is the Hebrew word for joy — and what joy we find in chef-owner Avi Shemtov’s Middle Eastern restaurant, ensconced in a tiny shopping plaza in Sharon. Inspired by the home cooking of his grandmother, who left Turkey for Israel in 1949, Shemtov puts his own unique spin on the cuisine of his ancestors: In his hands, couscous becomes arancini drizzled with smoked-egg aioli, and chickpea-flour fried chicken is served over a sweet-potato purée. The superb falafel, however, is a classic that requires no reimagining. 370 S. Main St., Sharon, MA 02067, simcharestaurant.com.
M.Gemi
You may not be able to take the Italian leather artisans out of Italy, but with the power of the Internet, you can bring their buttery-soft shoes and handbags to footwear lovers anywhere in the world. That’s the smart business model, at least, behind Boston-based M.Gemi, which since 2015 has been collaborating with family-owned factories across the Boot to craft high-style,high-quality kicks. A snakeskin block-heel pump from Toscana? A supple jewel-green slide from Lucca? Che bello. MA mgemi.com.
Beacon Hill Instant Shoe Repair
A Ukrainian immigrant who picked up the trade from his father, a cobbler in Odessa, Vadim Kotlyar knows his way around a pair of shoes — as evidenced by the work he did on our favorite pair of boots, brought back to life with a new heel and a lot of love. Bonus points for the lightning-fast turnaround (a few days for most jobs). 126 Bowdoin St., Boston, MA 02108, beaconhillshoerepair.com.