Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
Dyke Night impresario Kristen Porter comes up a winner either way, as the only worthy contenders here are Second Saturdays (at bouncin' Fenway nightclub Machine) and Menage à Trois, a.k.a. Fourth Fridays (at J.P.'s Milky Way), both dance events that she masterminded and that feature her stellar roster of female DJs. Though Machine's got by far the bigger crowd and the pole dancing (oh, the hotness), the indie-cool Milky Way's got our heart. Maybe it's the lounge's factory-chic new digs at the Brewery Complex. Or that the small space makes things more friendly and intimate. Or maybe it's just the irony of having all this gynomite going off next to a towering defunct smokestack. 284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 2130, milkywayjp.com.
Scampo
Its serendipitous location—just a bulkie roll's throw from where drunk-grub mecca Buzzy's Roast Beef once stood—is one reason why Scampo gets our late-night bucks. More important, it's also steps from fellow Liberty Hotel denizens Clink and Alibi, whose hormone-charged bar scenes can overwhelm even the most dedicated carouser. When it's time to retreat, follow the scent of garlic down to Lydia Shire's Italian-inspired eatery for crusty pizzas, fresh-baked flatbreads, burrata BLTs, and other starchy, cheese-laden hangover preventives, all served till 11 (and pizzas till midnight). And for those not ready to cash it in yet, Scampo's potent cocktails will keep that buzz going. 215 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, scampoboston.com.
Steve Johnson, The Blue Room
There is something to be said for dependability. In Steve Johnson's case, it's knowing that every time you visit his restaurant, you'll be served a meal that is simply outstanding. Johnson's food is neither overwrought nor overly ambitious—it's honest and easygoing, just like him. As a founding member of Chefs Collaborative and chairman of the Boston chapter, he continues to be one of the guiding forces in Boston's restaurant scene, serving as a mentor and inspiration in the industry. But most important, since he bought the place five years ago from pal Chris Schlesinger, the Blue Room has flourished—so much so that this year the James Beard Foundation recognized Johnson with a prestigious nomination for chef in the Northeast. So whether it's his morel mushroom lasagna, sautéed halibut with fennel and fava, or our favorite appetizer, "one perfect cheese" served with fruit and dried almonds, we'll keep coming back for more. Johnson is just that good. One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA theblueroom.net.
Todd English, Olives
In a business more fickle than the entertainment industry, chef Todd English proves that talent equals staying power. When he first blipped onto our radar in 1989 with the opening of Olives in Charlestown, we knew he was going to change the culinary landscape of this town permanently. What we didn't expect was that we'd have to share him with the rest of the world. English is now the proprietor of 13 restaurants in seven cities, from Aspen to Tel Aviv. Amazingly, quality has never suffered: The butternut squash tortelli at Olives is still the same wondrous combination of rich and rustic flavors, and the pizzas at Figs are still funky and delicious as ever. English is unafraid to take risks: His newest spot, Kingfish Hall in Quincy Market, is enlivening the touristy food scene with its creative takes on New England staples and its fun atmosphere. How does he do it? The man's got the gift. Thanks for feeding us so well, Todd. We're still hungry for more. 10 City Square, Charlestown, MA toddenglish.com.
Interior Design Applications
Ida Goldstein brings contemporary colors and lines to traditional Boston. 16 Munnings Drive, Sudbury, MA .
Parking Garage
Even a lowly Toyota can sidle up to Kathleen Sullivan Alioto's Rolls-Royce here. Boston School Committee, 26 Court St., MA .
Fruitlands
Bronson Alcott's utopia here failed, but the idyllic setting won't fail to please.
Danuta Rak, Bella Santé
Call her the nail whisperer: Having notched 20 years on Newbury, Rak can tame even the scraggliest, most ill-behaved digits into a groomed and gleaming set. 38 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, .
Nightstage
<p>The life span of most nightclubs is short, largely because crowd loyalties tend to change about as often as the Republican candidate for governor. Fortunately, however, that fact has always kept the city's impresarios on their toes. Local club owners know that to make it, they've got to make it happen. With clean sight lines and state-of-the-art acoustics. Or an interior that's as sleek as it is comfortable. Or a consistently solid lineup. Or the right kind of crowd.</p> <p>Club managers Sam Marcus, Robert Gregory, and Chloe Sachs have put together all those elements—under the same roof, no less—at Nightstage, an upscale Cambridge music room that opened a day after Hurricane Gloria, and with all the storm's gusto, last September.</p> <p>Six years ago, Sachs, a devoted fan of the Ann Arbor Blues Festival, sensed a blues revival coming and gambled on it. "Our basic love was the blues," says Sachs. "But we were tired of seeing the acts we wanted to see in such grody conditions."</p> <p>According to Sachs, the concept behind Nightstage, located at 823 Main Street, was "to create a comfortable and sophisticated space in which to hear the music we wanted to hear and to attract the kind of crowd we wanted to attract—namely, people in their middle twenties and older." Six years later the reality is exactly that.</p> <p>Although Nightstage—a two-level room coated in muted lavender, taupe, and gray with recessed lighting, wall-to-wall carpeting, and a mahogany bar—is arguably the best-dressed club in the area, its real success has hinged on the breadth of its nightly (except Monday) performance schedule.</p> <p>Since opening, Nightstage has attracted top names in blues (Memphis Slim, Sippie Wallace, Albert King), jazz (Sun Ra, Carla Bley), folk (Leo Kottke), Latin (Tito Puente), pop (Girls' Night Out), and bluegrass (Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys), plus local talents like the Screaming Coyotes.</p> <p>Says Sachs: "The best part of it all has been the diversity of the crowds and the music we've been able to pull in. We feel that culturally we have really given something to the city, and that's been incredibly gratifying."</p>
Leblanc Jones Landscape Architects
Steep hillsides, storm-surge zones, and ill-placed parking areas are no problem for LeBlanc Jones, which relies on native plantings—not to mention a vast understanding of local terrain conditions—to create swoon-worthy gardens, terraces, and courtyards. Boston, MA leblancjones.com.
Loretta Levitz
At the Ayurvedic Rehabilitation Center in Brighton, Loretta Levitz practices in the 5,000-year-old Indian ayurved tradition, which uses herbs and other means to bring the body into balance. Although she specializes in severe and chronic illness, much of Levitz's work is devoted to developing herbal, nutritional, and spiritual "lifestyle" plans for her clients. 103 Bennett St., Brighton, MA .
City Bar, The Lenox
It has overcome the hotel bar stereotype—that of the elevator music-themed nightcap—and regularly packs in a crush of yuppies and guests. Dim lighting and Azure chef Robert Fathman's specialty liquors provide all the courage you need to sidle up to the eye candy from room 202. 61 Exeter St., Boston, MA 2116, citybarboston.com.
The Premier Restaurant
The Premier Restaurant, 1130 Washington St., Roxbury, remains this city's premier Jewish deli. One taste of its cabbage soup, kasha varnishkes or corned beef sandwiches (with Russian dressing and coleslaw) and Yassar Arafat would enlist in the JDL. 1130 Washington St., Roxbury, MA .
The Wellness Atelier
Maybe you’re yearning for stronger nails, a boosted immune system, or more energy. Heck, maybe you’re just hungover. Whatever the case, Dr. Daniela Winston has a cure for you. As the founder of the Wellness Atelier, she offers a galaxy of make-you-healthy IV infusions, from the “Glow Up” (which packs in water-soluble vitamins and antioxidants that promote skin, hair, and nail health) to the “Hydration IV” (a saline infusion to restore hydration after workouts, viral illnesses, or long flights). 36 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, thewellnessatelier.com.
Brookline Booksmith
In an era when you can access millions of titles on a single screen, the Booksmith still draws throngs of hungry readers. They come for the lovingly selected staff picks. The A-list author events. The Used Book Cellar, with more than 25,000 titles to choose from. In other words, they come for the things the Internet can’t give us: a sense of IRL community (the handmade journals aren’t too shabby, either). 279 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, brooklinebooksmith.com.