It'll Do

I always feel like somewhere out there is THE sushi spot. You know the one where they'll toss some blowfish at you, bow, and then wince, or the hidden joint, like Lo Pan's temple in Big Trouble in Little China, only with fewer exploding people. Bamboo, in Burlington, is not that place, but for some reason it's getting an amazing amount of buzz lately. After checking it out for you devoted readers, I've decided that they churn out decent Asian food, including the standard lunch special, but if not for their maki, there would be no buzz. See, sushi is one of those things that really is not subjective. If you've had amazing raw fish wrapped in rice, you tend to know the difference, and to my surprise, Bamboo puts out some very quality rolls. It's not Fugayku people, but the prices reflect that key difference, and allow you to order in quantity from their huge sushi menu. I recommend the Volcano Roll, and really, if you're a huge sushi dork like me, drop me a line and I'll split a boat with you, but you're buying the booze. After all, I'm the one who told you about the place.

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Restaurants • Extended Coverage Area

Harvard Hipster Heaven

Maybe it's on account of my having grown up in the suburbs or maybe it's that extra semester I spent in college. But for the past few years, I've avoided pub food in the name of the era in which I mindlessly shoveled it down my gullet without a thought to how good (or bad) it actually was. (Really I was just putting it in there to soak up the gallons of alcohol that went along with it.) But then I went to Charlie's Kitchen and remembered all the wonderful things about pubs and pub food that I had been missing. Charlie's is something of a hipster pub, wielding a retro ambiance mixed with punk music. Their burgers are addictive, they have waffle fries (God's gift to the potato), a respectable number of thoughtful vegetarian dishes, and a wide array of beer to keep even the snobbiest of beer snobs (like yours truly) content. In fact, in the warmer months, Charlie's boasts an awesome new beer garden in their cozy little stone walled "back yard." But don't let that stop you from checking Charlie's out in the winter, too. A beer n' burger can warm the soul like nothing else.

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Nightlife , Restaurants • Harvard Square / Allston (North)

We're On Holiday Break

So please don't take offense at our encroaching lack of Radars. We'll be out of the office till January 5, doing the things we do best: poaching, loafing and loving. In tandem. We wish our loyal NFT fanatics a Merry Vacation and hope for the best in the new, mysterious year to come--a year in which Barack Obama will be knighted, Slovakia will adopt the Euro as its national currency and a new constitution will be instituted in the Falkland Islands. But before we light out, a friendly reminder that we are seriously poor and hungry. If you choose to stimulate the economy by buying our products from the NFT Shop, all we have to say to that is amen.

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Websites and Media • Not Applicable

Coffee Confessions

At the risk of putting my head on the Boston chopping block, I'm gonna come right out and say that I do not care for Dunkin Donuts coffee. That's right. I think it tastes like aspartame. And fakeness. Before you release the safety, I think you should give JP Lick's coffee a try. I know, you're asking why you should have to go to an ice cream joint to find good coffee. Well does that make any less sense than going to a doughnut place for the same thing? I didn't think so. Now: smell the richness and bask in the mellow body of what real fresh roasted joe should be like. And naturally lower your heart rate with the knowledge that JP Licks uses fair trade beans, so no farmers had to take the shaft just to give you your daily caffeine fix. Let’s face it: at this point, George W and the Carlyle Group don't need/deserve another dime from you. (Get on the Google if you don't know what I’m talking about.) So stop giving it to them by way of Dunkin Donuts' crappy coffee, and start being good to yourself by drinking JP Licks.

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Shopping • Allston (South) / Brookline (North)

TAGS: You're It!

Because most leases forbid painting, many renters often adopt the attitude that if they can't change their wall color, they might as well not change anything else in their apartment. But there are so many improvements that can be made while still staying within the boundaries of a lease. And there is a wealth of inspiration to be had by visiting a good hardware store like TAGS. You probably don't need siding and lumber, so instead of Home Depot, head to TAGS, which is more like "Apartment Depot" (to borrow a phrase). They cover all the basics you could possibly need--from tools, keys, hardware, and electrical supplies to storage, shelving, decorating supplies, and a huge houseware department, in a vast two-floor space. TAGS is also a great one-stop-stop for seasonal items like air conditioners and Christmas tree stands. Their salespeople are actually competent and friendly. It is truly a joy to stop there, and I always come home skipping. TAGS' slogan is, "If you rent an empty apartment at 9 am, you can fill it with the basics by 5 pm at TAGS!" I have put this guarantee to the test: and it is true.

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Hardware Stores • Central Somerville / Porter Square