Angelo's
There was so much dissension on the staff over this one that our only solution was to choose a fabulous little place fifty miles away. It has no checkered tablecloths (no noncheckered tablecloths either), no murals or Muzak. What it does have is excellent food—baked veal chops, homemade escarole soup, gnocchi, and various daily specials—at prices that belong at a cafe in the foothills of the Apennines. 141 Atwells Ave., Providence, RI .
Giblees
Occupying the better part of a nondescript strip mall on Route 114, Giblees has attire for every manly occasion: golf, work, weekends, and formal affairs—plus a pool table and coffee bar for gents who need a break from the dressing room. Assistance is available but never forced—our inquiry about a birthday bow tie for a super-stylish pal yielded a drawer full of dapper options. 85 Massachusetts 114, Danvers, MA 1923, giblees.com.
A & J King Bakery
Photograph by Bob O'Connor Husband-and-wife team Andy and Jackie King have built their business around the art of crafting thick, crusty loaves brimming with ingredients like olives, walnuts, and apricot fennel and baked fresh each morning while most of us are still drooling on our pillow. Naturally, they try to source ingredients from nearby farms, meaning their sweeter offerings change with the seasons—you wouldn't trust anything in March featuring strawberries, would you? 48 Central St., Salem, MA 1970, ajkingbakery.com.
Jake's Seafoods Restaurant & Market
Minimalism is to fresh New England seafood what media attention is to Tom Cruise—which is to say, essential to its very being. Jake's serves up our region's underwater treasures the way they're meant to be: straight from the ocean and nearly unadorned (save a squeeze of lemon here, a toss of bread crumbs there). The result? Dishes—cedar-roasted salmon, swordfish with anchovy-and-olive relish—that let unsullied flavor shine. 50 George Washington Blvd., Hull, MA jakesseafoods.com.
Curio Salon
Glitzy and ritzy salons can't guarantee fabulous hair care. Sometimes the best service and sharpest styles come from unexpected gems like Curio. This North Reading spot gets our thumbs-up for offering the sought-after combination of a terrific haircut with seamless color. The stylists give you exactly what you ask for, minus all the attitude. 161 Main St., North Reading, MA curiohairsalon.com.
Johnny's Luncheonette
Long a local favorite, brunch at Johnny's is worth the wait on the weekends—especially with kids in tow. The boisterous atmosphere, child-friendly menu, and vibrant retro décor would be worth a stop even without the incredible food. Our favorites: the outstanding crunchy French toast, generously sized omelets, and Johnny's porridge, a creamy concoction topped with dried cranberries. Prompt service—and, if you still have room, the frappes—ensure that no one leaves unsatisfied. 30 Langley Rd., Newton Centre, MA johnnysluncheonette.com.
197 East Main
After tenures at Sage and eat, chef Nick Speros has migrated north from Boston and opened 197 East Main. If you're smart, you'll follow him. Tuck into the rib-eye or native halibut, and you'll see what we mean. The seafood is fresh off the Gloucester day boats and the rich entrées come with tender vegetables that provide the perfect textural contrast. Speros wanders the dining room to get his guests' reactions firsthand. Our feedback? Keep up the good work. 197 East Main St., Gloucester, MA .
Uber
We don't fancy ourselves the "needs a private driver" type—but Uber swept us off our feet (in a luxurious Lincoln Town Car, no less). Launched in Boston last fall, the car-service smartphone app allows you to get a limo ride from anywhere, to anywhere with the press of a button. Apps available for iPhone and Android. Boston, MA uber.com.
WHDH
WHDH-TV, Channel 7, whose Jeff Derderian was slapped in the face on camera by an alleged sex offender's girlfriend while he was trying to interview her, and whose Mike Macklin—once reportedly charged with assault in an incident involving his girlfriend (the charges were later dropped)—was told on camera by an alleged priest sex victim: "We all have our problems."
Tom Menino
"Most of those homicides were inside buildings."—Tom Menino finding the silver lining in the rise in Boston's murder rate. "I did those two years when I was very young, very young."—Menino inexplicably defending in term in junior college. "Our intelligent unit is working with federal officials."—Menino showing concern about potential terrorist attacks in Boston.
Ted Kennedy
Whether it's delivering the pork, hiking the minimum wage, extending health care benefits to the poor, or working behind the scenes on the Fleet-BankBoston merger and the Patriots stadium deal, our hyperactive senior senator hasn't stopped running for reelection since 1994. Which is why, come next year, his Republican challenger-whoever the poor fool may be—will be wearing a blindfold, smoking a cigarette, and saying his last words.
Duxbury Beach
Pillow-soft sand, uncluttered dunes, clean bathrooms, and a sparse crowd that's as consistently eye-catching as the surroundings—Duxbury Beach epitomizes the symbiosis of civilization and nature. Factor in a rustic lighthouse bookending the peninsula and a pristine bay lapping at the end of quaint Powder Point Bridge, and our choice is as clear as the blue sky that stretches peacefully to the horizon. Canal St., Duxbury, MA duxburybeach.com.
The Jeanie Johnston Pub
We like our karaoke with a side of characters, and this J.P. pub packs 'em in on Saturday nights: a James Spader doppelganger crooning the Temptations' "Get Ready," a gaggle of girls rapping their way through the early-'90s hip-hop songbook, and a tone-deaf regular unleashing his jazz hands during a rendition of "Just a Gigolo." Extra points for solid drafts, an encouraging crowd, an extensive Cher selection, and the occasional New Wave videos between performances. 144 South St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, jeaniejohnstonpub.com.
Harvard Book Store
Plenty of book stores host signings, but for a truly enlightening author event, two venues always vie for our top spot: the Brookline Booksmith and the Harvard Book Store. Both are homey, friendly, and proudly independent. But Harvard wins this year for its muscular lineup: This past spring the store brought to town political heavyweights Paul Krugman and Madeleine Albright, fiction legends Joyce Carol Oates and Peter Carey, and local writers Audrey Schulman and Pablo Medina. 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2138, harvard.com.
Harvest
With the doors at UpStairs at the Pudding closed, we've turned to another gem for outside dining. Just sitting in Harvest's enclosed, shaded garden patio off Brattle Street provokes daydreams—and offers the evidence that this Harvard Square institution has entered the millennium with style and good service. Chef Josh Foley's everchanging menu is burgeoning with New England ingredients (if there are scallops on the menu, order them) that are as fresh as the patio's air, and make us happy the management extends our unreliable warm seasons with powerful gas heaters. 44 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA harvestcambridge.com.