Indulge Your Sweet Tooth Forget the filet mignon — Finale proves that dessert is all you really need for a complete meal. A failproof concept cooked up by two Harvard Business School graduates, Finale devotes itself to decadent sweets, and the pastries and cakes from the takeout bakery have become a staple of fancy birthdays everywhere. Don’t pass up, however, the chance to enjoy a full meal in the romantic dining room, with its rich red walls and subdued lighting. The entrees are creative, decadent, and affordable, ranging from lunchtime sandwiches like the Apple Mango to dinnertime delights like the Roasted Scallops with Linguini. This is one Unofficial Pick you (and your taste buds) won't want to miss.

The Legendary Fenway In a town whose history is its livelihood, Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox are still the most important landmarks. From Beacon Hill to Dorchester, the city drops everything else—politics or Patriots—to turn to its mecca in the Fens. Built for the 1912 season, Fenway is the oldest and smallest park in Major League Baseball and hosts a team that has been around for the past 109 years. Any given seat at Fenway Park has seen Bostonians that have had nothing in common except their membership in “Red Sox Nation.” And on October 27, 2004, when the Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 painful years, that affiliation was finally all that mattered.

Boston at Night First, the bad news: Boston used to be run by Puritans, and it still feels like that at times. Because of bureaucratic hurdles, most nightspots close down by 2 AM. The good news is that while clubs are scarce in Boston, the city is actually a great place for a low-key night out. Its Irish heritage has created an explosion of late-night pubs, and there are plenty of bars of varying swankiness. Nightclubs mainly exist in the Theater District, and each has different theme nights, clienteles, and vibes.

9 Tastes of Thai Students and professionals alike thrive on the affordable rice and noodle comestibles of 9 Tastes. Nearly identical in choice, price, and quality to its big sister Spice, 9 Tastes distinguishes itself with a liveliness that emanates from every corner, from its young crowd right down to the colorful plates. Although its specialties are mostly meat dishes, vegetarians and seafood lovers won’t find any reason to complain once they sample the wide variety of appetizers. Look in the print edition of the Unofficial Guide to Student Life in Boston for a free delivery coupon!

An Elite Tradition In the same location since 1932, J. Press, Inc. characterizes itself by a healthy regard for tradition. J. Press has helped such luminaries as Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Alec Baldwin, and Tommy Lee Jones organize their sock drawers in neat, color-coded rows. It carries a full range of conservative men's clothing, including wool suits, plain ties, sweaters, and lots of cufflinks. The shop makes an appearance in Kevin Spacey's gambling movie, 21, which was filmed on-site.

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UNOFFICIAL PICKS

Boston Hotspots

Tasty BUrger

FENWAY

1301 Boylston St.

} 617-425-4444 ; www.tastyburger.com

Normally we wouldn’t recommend that you accept food prepared in a city parking lot, but we have to make an excep…

John Harvard’s Brew House

HARVARD

33 Dunster St.

} 617-868-3585 ; www.johnharvards.com

John Harvard’s is better for lunch or dinner than a party at night—particularly for those seeking a younger crow…

Spice

HARVARD

24 Holyoke St.

} 617-868-9560 ; www.spicethaicuisine.com

Spice’s attentive service, reasonable prices, and stylish but comfortable decor have made it a regular haunt for…

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