Bobbie Steinbach
A veteran of Boston's theater scene, Steinbach exhibits astonishing versatility—and this year was one of her best yet. As a founding member of the Actors' Shakespeare Project, she played not one but two ancient kings: Nestor and Priam, in Troilus and Cressida. Then, when the Boston Playwrights' Theatre staged Deported, a dream play, Steinbach excelled as an Armenian-genocide survivor. But her biggest triumph was in the New Repertory Theatre's Collected Stories by Donald Margulies. That performance as an aging author betrayed by her protégé won her the Independent Reviewers of New England's best actress award.
Guerrilla Queer Bar
Here's the secret every Boston queen already knows: The best gay club in the city isn't a place at all—it's a moving target. Enter the Welcoming Committee, a group of party boys who pick a bar/pub/club for the Guerrilla Queer Bar one-night bash, spread the word via social media and e-mail, then set out a few times each month to have "an inappropriately good time." And now the crew is expanding beyond its famous one-night stands, offering organized workout events, fundraisers, and more.
Grand Chau Chow
Don't let the illusion of space from the many mirrors fool you—Chinatown's Grand Chau Chow, at least from the perspective of room to move, is not much grander than the original Chau Chow, its lower-rent sister across the street. The staff is not afraid to foster the idea that GCC is a family restaurant—chances are you'll be cozy enough with the next table to share dishes. There's one good reason for the popularity—the food, as the predominantly Chinese crowd will attest. The salted shrimp dish (fried, shell on, with spicy chilis) remains the one in town to beat. 41-45 Beach St., Boston, MA .
Mulberry Road
Whether you're an expectant or new parent, or just gift-shopping for one, Back Bay baby haven Mulberry Road will have you cooing over its one-of-a-kind accessories. There's no shortage of inspired gift ideas for all things baby, such as zany "splat mats" and bath puppets, unique clothing by local and European designers, and all manner of plush activity toys. (Some, like baby's first cell phone, are as cute as they are ridiculous.) Don't overlook owner Tracey Polidor's handpainted furniture, which can be customized in whimsical wonderland designs or classic motifs. 46 Gloucester St., Boston, MA shop.mulberryroad.com.
Hungry Mother
How we grieved when Alon Munzer and Rachel Miller Munzer shuttered their popular Rachel's Kitchen last year. The Bay Village café (now reopened under new ownership) was our go-to for morning coffee and midday lobster rolls, served hot with drawn butter and chives. But as they say, when one bistro closes, another one opens, and the couple's new Kendall Square eatery was worth the wait. Chef-partner Barry Maiden plates up inspired French-southern dishes in a space that has the same congenial air that won Rachel's its many loyalists. 233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave., Cambridge, MA 2141, hungrymothercambridge.com.
Greg Griffin, Saint
There are some who believe that a bartender should be neither seen nor heard—that he or she should be a pair of hands floating mimelike in the ether, deft with the empty glass and silent unless rattling out a martini. Not so Greg Griffin, one of the many fine bartenders at Saint. A master of strainer and bottle, Griffin is a briskly professional maker of both cocktails and good conversation—NHL hockey, travel, the accents of Santiago versus Barcelona. Griffin is one of the rare breed of bartenders who's neither grossly snooty nor wincingly effusive, and he can easily prop up a heated Red Sox argument before ducking out, ghostlike, his job of host fulfilled. 90 Exeter St., Boston, MA .
Spectacle
Choosing a new pair of glasses or sunnies is one of the most difficult shopping tasks, second only to shopping for jeans. One glance in the mirror is hardly enough to determine whether you’ll like this new addition to your face next month—to say nothing of whether the style will still look au courant next year. Enter Spectacle, a small shop that sells logo-free, non-branded glasses in a bevy of timeless shapes and colors. Its 60-day exchange policy lets you actually live with your new look before making any major commitments. Imagine if the same rules applied to denim. 505 Tremont St., Boston, MA spectacle-eyeware.com.
Pedro Martinez
If there's one swap that makes you think Dan Duquette maybe knows what he's been doing, it was letting Roger go and signing Pedro. Roger woke up, lost weight, and won two more Cy Young awards. At the All-Star break, Pedro led the league with the record (15-3), the lowest earned-run average, the most innings pitched, and most strikeouts—on his way to his second Cy Young award. Look at it another way: Subtract Pedro's record, and the Sox were one game below .500 at the All-Star break.
Grettacole
One of Boston's newest and most talked-about spas, Grettacole boasts a staff that is petite, blonde, and warm—and an impressive services-to-square-foot ratio. Need a pedicure, facial massage, haircut, and makeup application? With such one-stop shopping, you'll be there long enough for the friendly staff to order your lunch from a neighboring cafe. Tired of aestheticians who spend half the session out of the room? While your masque is drying, they'll massage your feet. The product range is impressive, but there's no hard sell. Another big plus: There are no downtown parking travails. 300 Boylston St., Atrium Mall, Chestnut Hill, MA .
Eye Q Optical
It's always the question when buying glasses—stick to the tried-and-true or dare for a new look? Eye Q not only has some of the trendiest new frames, they'll make it easier to take chances with a one-month, no-questions-asked exchange policy. To help you choose, members of the sales staff will offer their opinion and take an instant photo for you to share with friends. That level of service may be why musicians known for their eyewear—Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo, for instance, and Aaron Perrino of the Sheila Divine—are loyal customers. New glasses won't make you into a rock star, but the attention lavished on you here might make you feel like one. 12 Eliot St., Cambridge, Boston, MA eye-q-optical.com.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
We resisted loving the Spa at the Mandarin. One, it's a chain. Two, it's in a hotel. But our opposition began to waver as soon as we hit the locker rooms, presented here as immaculate, fully stocked, beautifully designed 'guest lounges.' Then there were the one-of-a-kind amenities—a crystal steam room that evokes Space Mountain (in a good way), a Vichy shower with color therapy—and a full menu of excellent pedis, massages, and body treatments. Factor in a staff so exquisitely attentive we almost forgot we were not, in fact, itinerant European royals, and, needless to say, we surrendered. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com.
Gentle Giant Moving Company
Few people bother to write the Better Business Bureau to impart praise, but Gentle Giant, which gets 80 percent of its customers from repeats and referrals, inspires fierce and outspoken loyalty. "The 'giants' are impressive!" reads one client's testimonial for the Somerville-based chain on the bureau's website. "Their presence actually reduces the stress level!" With a number of standout amateur athletes (big ones) in their ranks, these guys can really hustle, yet they won't drop your mom's antique vase or sweat-stain your suede couch—and they frequently come in below estimate. 29 Harding St., Somerville, and other locations, MA 2143, gentlegiant.com.
Local 149
The fried Brussels sprouts smothered in chipotle-lime sauce justify a trip to this one-and-a-half-year-old hot spot all by themselves. But as long as we're here, we'll also take the tater tots poutine and the pressed-duck club sandwich, and follow it all with a Delirium Tremens, just one great selection from the vast tap list. Chef Leah Dubois's playful dishes taste even better against Local 149's backdrop of rainbow-hued vintage seltzer bottles, chalkboard tables, and reclaimed wood floors. 149 P Street, South Boston, MA 2127, local149.com.
Roche-Bobois
The folks at Roche-Bobois take their leather very seriously. One sales associate advises massaging the surface with Lancôme moisturizer to keep it supple. "Of course," he says with a Gallic shrug, "baby oil works just as well." Just reclining on one of the buttery leather chaise longues or sprawling across a long, low-profile sofa can rouse a deep desire to stroke their skins. Roche-Bobois offers traditional designs that practically scream for a walnut-paneled library, as well as sparely streamlined contemporary numbers for the ultrachic loft. And the leathers come in a range of rich colors to match any room. 585 Commercial St., Boston, MA roche-bobois.com.
Louis Boston
You know who you are—your entire wardrobe is made up of this-season separates (or you wish it were). In either case, you already know about Louis Boston, the big daddy of Boston clothing emporia and a perennial favorite in the category of one-stop shopping. Louis has cornered the local fashion market with its warehouse-size collection of designer labels from Marni and Helmut Lang to Brioni and Loro Piana, not to mention an impressive shoe selection that includes Miu Miu, Tretorn, and everything in between. The makeup counter is equally expansive, stocking such sought-after lines as Pout (sold here exclusively) and Alchemy. With a salon, café, men's department, and new vintage photo gallery, it's a week's worth of shopping under one roof. 234 Berkeley St., Boston, MA louisboston.com.