Al Jaffe's Pick-A-Chick
We deferred to our readers here. "Softer than Eagerman's," one wrote on her ballot. "So fresh out of the oven they'll burn your hands," said another. "I'd kill for an Al Jaffe's onion bagel," vowed still another. When we checked it out for ourselves, we found our voters' taste unimpeachable. 285 Harvard St., Brookline, MA .
Dan Dinoto, Cambridge Alternative Power Company
Chances are that, after last winter, you're beginning to give some serious consideration to solar. Dinoto, who handles solar sales for this Cambridge company, isn't surprise. "Solar is definitely a thing of the future," he says. If not the present. Dinoto will analyze your house, checking it out from attic to basement, and assess the existing heat source. "Then I plug in the figures—how many people live there, what the hot-water consumption is—give a labor quote, and discuss financing." After that, Dinoto will take you through the store to see what's available. Figure on spending $3,700 to $4,500. But as Dinoto points out, you'll probably get your investment back in savings in five to seven years. Cambridge, MA
Torrefazione Italia
Aunt Bette often says there's nothing worse than a bad cup of tea, but she's wrong. A bad cup of coffee is a greater offense. And there are far too many chains these days pouring vats of watered-down-but-too-hot-to-taste-the-difference-anyway brews. That's why, when we need some real java, we make a beeline for Torrefazione (Italian for "coffee roaster"), where the espresso is rich and bracing, the cappuccino has just the right amount of foamy milk on top, and ordering a regular means choosing from an aromatic selection of light or dark blends. If you're not getting your joe to go, sit and savor your caffeine in a handpainted Deruta coffee cup, also an Italian import. 85 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Tanjore
It's a good thing they make such a sweet mango lassi</em in this softly lit space just off Harvard Square. A cool yogurt drink is just what's needed after the unusual Indian dishes here, which can set afire even the most tolerant tongue. Named after a city in southern India, Tanjore is the third oldest of four restaurants run by Bombay-born Samir Majmudar, with a mouthwatering menu that covers the country's north and south regions. The dosas are melt-in-your mouth, made of rice and lentil flours and filled with potatoes, chicken, or lamb, then served with coconut chutney and sambhar. For the adventurous, konkan xacuti is a blend of coconut and tamarind curry, while the more traditional kashmir rogan josh, a lamb curry cooked with cloves and cardamom, practically dissolves on the tongue. Like to stick with the familiar? The tikka and tandoori are divine. But with reasonable prices and exceptional service, this is the place to test your limits. Just keep the mango lassi handy. 18 Eliot St., Cambridge, MA tanjoreharvardsq.com.
Bodega
We wanted to love the Attic, Central Square's newish 'lifestyle' shop that broke up the Payless-Blockbuster-Gap oligarchy. And we do like that its stock of Dunks is readily available in women's and kids' styles. Still, it's only a slice of the selection available at other sneaker stores in town (with a lack of Saturday hours being the final nail in the coffin). So we're still sending all our love to everyone's favorite 'hidden' shoe mecca: Though after three years Bodega's no secret, what with preteens and parents infiltrating the hipster fray, that famed secret-door Snapple machine still marks the spot for the city's most commanding array of limited-edition kicks, from Livestrong Air Maxes to Japanese Monster Pumas. 6 Clearway St., Boston, MA 2115, shop.bdgastore.com.
Elizabeth Crannage
Cranage will make the dress of your dreams. With decades of wedding-gown experience behind her, this seamstress ensures that our gown will be the talk of the town. Stoneham, MA
Paul Gaston
Okay, punk. We'll teach you to have a generous pappy who's richer than ours was. Just be glad your name is not Kennedy.
Suya Joint
Suya Joint's beef suya. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal At this Nubian Square mainstay, Nigerian chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte showcases spicy, smoky grilled beef skewers (the restaurant’s namesake suya, best served extra-spicy) alongside traditional stews and more from various regions of West Africa, particularly Nigeria. Our favorite? Taushe stew from northern Nigeria, a thick and creamy peanut-and-vegetable blend served with your choice of protein (try cow foot or goat) and your choice of fufu, the starchy side dish made of pounded yam, cassava, or other tubers. 185 Dudley St., Roxbury, MA 02119, suyajoint.com.
Lauren Genatossio, Sarra Studios
Jenna Skutnik There are plenty of ’90s trends we’re glad to welcome back into our repertoires—chunky sandals, slip dresses, high-waisted everything—but one thing that can stay in the last century? Pencil-thin eyebrows. Thankfully, Lauren Genatossio is firmly on the same page, creating nothing but lush, full looks from her South Boston and Hingham studios. Bring your out-of-control brows to Genatossio and watch as she plucks and trims them into goddess-like arches, creating the exact shape needed to make your eyes and cheekbones pop. 840 Summer St. , Boston, MA 02127, sarraboston.com.
Ayanna Pressley
COURTESY PHOTO If we thought Ayanna Pressley had nerves of steel for challenging and taking down one of our longest-serving Democratic congressmen, it was only because we hadn’t yet seen her take on the Trump administration. In her first speech on the floor of the House in January, she delivered a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump and the government shutdown. More recently, in an exchange that went viral, she scolded Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson for interrupting her and evading her questions. As a result, Pressley’s take-no-prisoners approach has made her a star on the national political stage. Read more
Glamsquad
It may feel safe to visit a salon now, but that doesn’t mean it’s always convenient. That’s why we’re grateful to have Glamsquad in our backyard: Serving busy beauty buffs throughout Boston since setting up shop here in 2018, the New York–based company’s services include top-notch blowouts, makeup application, and — as of summer 2020 — haircuts, all executed from the comfort of home. Book an appointment through the website or app for your next pampering sesh, and watch as a seasoned stylist deftly transforms your look in any indoor or outdoor location you choose. glamsquad.com.
Billy Daskowski, Will Charles Salon
When sitting in a colorist's seat, we often feel like a disembodied head of hair. The colorist distractedly feels up our tresses, divines what's needed, then vanishes to conjure up a mystery hue. That's never the case at Will Charles, a low-hype establishment on Newbury Street where Daskowski approaches his work with the mind of a shrink: He wants to know how you and your locks are getting along. He'll then deliver a thoughtful report on the status of your relationship, and provide counsel on where you two could find happiness together. 11 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, willcharlessalon.com.
Guiliano
Although we've officially gone into mourning with the recent closing of the Spa on Newbury, Guiliano makes us want to throw our black veils to the wind. Whether you're a stressed bride-to-be in need of that mandatory glow for the big day, or a burned out businessperson ready to toss your computer out the window, a visit to Giuliano will restore your sanity as fast as you can say "detoxifying body wrap." Guiliano's "optimal beauty through nature" offerings include everything from old standbys like facials, manicures, and pedicures to more trendy pamperings like self-tanning-lotion applications, reflexology, glycolic treatments, and acupuncture. In a word: Heaven. 338 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Blantyre
It's easy to forget, in our world of PDAs and ADD, that drawn-out dining can be a thing of delight. Everything at this hotel restaurant, from its jacket-and-tie requirement and exacting service down to its immaculate china and crystal settings, speaks to a serious attention to detail. The Gallic-inspired menu spotlights delicacies such as Long Island duck breast with melon-basil salad, beef tenderloin with pea purée, and iced Key lime soufflé. And at the end of your leisurely meal, should you find yourself too stuffed to drive home, you can wend your way upstairs for a stay in one of Blantyre's opulent suites. 16 Blantyre Rd., Lenox, MA 1240, .
Simply Aesthetic Specialties
It seems like practically everyone—from your tattoo guy to your vet—is wielding needles filled with muscle-paralyzing toxins. But while we may be obsessing over our deepening between-brow craters, the injection frenzy has made us just a tad wary of the whole business. Enter Julie Cahill-Hollingsworth, an MGH nurse practitioner, whose Copley Square office is a respite from the madness. With little fanfare, she administers a dose, billing by the unit, not by the procedure. In the past, she’s had an open schedule, which made it easy to book. But now the secret’s out. 535 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, sasskin.com.