The Capital Grille
From five to seven in the evening the Capital Grille has a pleasant mixture of regulars, tourists, and the lonely, all served with skill and charm by Richie, Nate, and Vinnie. There is something quaint about drinking in the midst of well-polished brass. 359 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Digital Equipment
Sure, the company itself is half as big as it used to be. Sure, the sales of its once-popular VAX computers are still plummeting. But give CEO Robert Palmer credit for righting a sinking ship and beginning to turn a profit.
Velvet Ribbon
The neighborhood's lone beacon of designer chic, Nicole Pham's boutique offers moderately priced styles by Poleci, Shin Choi, Susana Monaco, et al. 1620 Beacon St. Suite 1, Brookline, MA 2446, .
S&I to Go
Notwithstanding Allston's gobsmacking collection of world cuisines, it's still tough to beat Thai—especially when it's done this fast, cheap, and satisfying. 168A Brighton Ave., Allston, MA 2134, .
Bull & Finch Pub
Yeah, we know it's the "Cheers" bar, and it's full of tourists, but the burgers are satisfying, traditional, and done as ordered. Tell the tourists to take their cameras elsewhere. 84 Beacon St., Boston, MA .
Parcel 7 Garage
Name another place downtown where you can buy a doughnut or a cup of coffee (from the Boston Public Market below) and pay $3 to park for three hours. Spoiler: You can’t, because there is none. Boston, MA
Bokx 109
It's cougar season year-round at this sizzling restaurant-bar, where prime specimens purr over glasses of ros and flash their tanned, toned legs from cushy booths. And did they mention it's inside a hotel? They will. 399 Grove St., Newton, MA 2462, bokx109.com.
Lizzy's
Lizzy's With no flavors to mask errors in proportion and consistency, vanilla frappes are the most difficult to get right. Lizzy's simple blend rises to the challenge: It's superthick and smooth, with a pure vanilla flavor that's at once wholesome, decadent, and utterly satisfying. 29 Church St., Cambridge, MA lizzysicecream.com.
Rose Pagliarulo, the Loft
Your tootsies will be in tip-top flip-flop shape for weeks after a visit to Pagliarulo, whose secret weapons include a custom-made 'sander' (used once, then tossed) and just the right amount of vigorous buffing. 207 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Ari Boston
Someone once said you can tell a man's personality from his tie. Ari Boston has a selection to reflect even the most complex psyches, in fine woven silks from Italy. 6 Liberty Square, Boston, MA .
The Closet
Very gently worn silk ties by Hubert, Boss, Armani, and Abboud in A1 condition, gently priced at less than $25. Rumor has it that many of them have been worn only once or twice. 175 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Chez Henri
Once a mixologist's best trick, the mojito has become cliché. But at Chez Henri, the Cuban concoction retains its allure with white rum (not dark), sugar cane (not simple syrup), and heaps of fresh, muddled mint. One Shepard St., Cambridge, MA 2138, chezhenri.com.
Gene Burns, WRKO
Sure he can be pompous, but at a time when the tone of most talk shows is at best superficial and shrill, it's nice to hear someone who can think and speak the language.
Baker-Elman Plumbing
Third-generation master plumber David Elman carries on the family tradition of reasonably priced work done to a high standard. That's why he's now getting calls from third-generation customers. 671 Sawmill Brook Pkwy., Newton Centre, MA 2459, bakerelman.com.
The Middle East
The best by far. There's music in the restaurant's back room, in the bakery, in the basement (once a bowling alley). Eclectic bookings, a much-needed showcase for local rock and jazz musicians, and not a milliliter of yuppie pretension. 472 Massachusetts Avenue (Central Square), Cambridge, MA .