We uncovered amazing value-priced restaurants in every corner of Greater Boston this year. Some highlights: MODEST RESTAURANT OF THE YEARStrip-T's, the family-run Watertown eatery where chef Tim Maslow, ex–Momofuku Ssäm Bar, recently took the reins from his dad. His inventive, modern, often-stunning dishes include a jammy pig's head (with the appealing texture of pulled pork) on toasted baguette, roast apple salad with corned beef tongue and horseradish in beet broth, and Japanese eggplant bánh mì with crispy tofu. Run, don't walk, here.DAVID VS. GOLIATH AWARD Allston's tiny, humble Continue reading >>>

Quincy Police on Tuesday arrested a father and daughter for stealing gift packages from outside residences in the North Quincy area and a UPS employee on charges of stealing parcels. Michael Ritchie, 58, of 490 Union St., Rockland, and Jennifer Ritchie, 19, of 175 Billings Road in Quincy, were charged with larceny over $250. Police responded to a report of a theft from Freeman Street at 4:53 p.m. The alleged victim provided a description of a Ford pick-up truck leaving the scene, police Capt. John Dougan said. Officers pulled over the truck shortly afterward and questioned Michael Ritchie.  Continue reading >>>

Ironically, Twitter use took off across the US bacause of traditional face-to-face interaction, an MIT study shows. Researchers studied the growth of Twitter from its launch in 2006 to 2009, examining data from 16,000 US cities and focusing on the 408 with the highest number of Twitter users. And, they say, the site’s growth in the relied mainly on traditional social networks based on geographic proximity and socioeconomic similarity, as well as on media attention. They looked in particular at when cities reached 'critical mass', with 13.5 percent of residents being Twitter users. As Continue reading >>>

State Street CEO Jay Hooley spoke to a receptive audience when he talked about his company’s international ambitions at Boston’s posh InterContinental hotel in March. Hooley discussed State Street’s long-public goal of reaching the point where at least half of its revenue comes from overseas clients. A global expansion, Hooley pledged, would strengthen the financial services firm’s position here in its home city. The dark-suited executives who packed the room probably had no reason to doubt Hooley’s promise. State Street, after all, is a survivor. In recent years, State Street emerged Continue reading >>>

POSTED: 7:43 pm EST December 20, 2011
UPDATED: 8:11 pm EST December 20, 2011

CONCORD, N.H. — Just a year ago, tea party activists came roaring out of the congressional elections eager to shape the looming race for the White House. Other political news of note House rejects payroll tax stopgap First Read: Republicans in the House on Tuesday rejected the Senate’s two-month extension of an expiring payroll tax cut, and moved toward initiating formal talks with Democrats on a final deal. Gingrich accuses Romney of ‘smear campaigns’ Gingrich: Rivals ‘ought to be ashamed of themselves’ for negative ads Jindal lends Perry a hand in Iowa Readers respond: What matters Continue reading >>>

  Kristen Casey (L) Manuel Sheehan(R) A man and a woman, both residents of Somerville, were arrested this afternoon in connection with an investigation into multiple package thefts from area residences.  In recent days, Somerville Police and other greater Boston Police Departments have been investigating reports of thieves taking advantage of the seasonal spike in express deliveries by stealing packages from porches and doorways.  Acting on information from the Medford Police Department, Somerville officers today stopped a vehicle at Pearl Street and McGrath Highway that matched the description Continue reading >>>

The new public market will be across the street from the iconic Haymarket food market (pictured here) in downtown Boston. (AP) BOSTON — Plans for a year-round, indoor public market in downtown Boston are on the fast track after years of discussion. The state is now seeking proposals from potential developers and operators of the new public market. Haymarket is the iconic outdoor market, which has been a fixture in downtown Boston on Fridays and Saturdays for more than 170 years. There’ll soon be vendors nearby in another space, Continue reading >>>

Sports Injury Massage From Geri Costanza Massage Offers Clients Improved Overall Well-being Published on: December 20th, 2011 08:00am by: pahosa (0) Print This Release | Tell a Friend | Discuss This Press Release Marblehead, MA (OPENPRESS) December 19, 2011 - The human body is exposed to stressful situations on a daily basis. A person may go throughout their day with little or no sleep, minimal exercise, and the consumption of unhealthy food. With their busy lives, this may all go unaccounted for as people generally pay little attention to the body's wear and tear signs, which Continue reading >>>

International Ballet Academy of Norwell will present the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time on the Company Theatre stage in Norwell. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 22.

Professional dancers from Festival Ballet of Providence, R.I., and students from the South Shore and the Greater Boston area will perform in this ballet. It is a story that has been popular with people for almost 120 years, especially around the holiday season. Tickets are $25 and are available at the academy.

For more information, call 339-788-9670.