It's so hard to find that perfect Valentine's Day gift. Not only are you expected to find something your sweetheart will like, but you're also supposed to express the deepest extent of your true feelings - all in one fell swoop. So this week, we asked Wakefield Patch readers about their favorite places in town to find that perfect Valentine's Day gift. Without further ado, here's what was picked: Avon Beauty Center - A staple on Main Street in Wakefield, the Avon Beauty Center not only sells Avon products and makeup, but you can find lovely gifts there, too. "If you want something a little …

With Valentine's Day approaching, we want to find out where Wakefield residents go to find that special something for that special someone. Do you go for the standard bouquet of flowers or box of chocolates? Where's the best place to pick up one of those in town? What about gifts for men? Or do you forgo gifts and instead head out to a nice dinner in town? Share your thoughts in the comments section, and on Thursday we'll compile Wakefield's guide to the best spots to shop for your loved ones on V-Day.

Now that the new year has settled in, it's time to get serious about what Wakefield's top priorities should be in 2012. Treat this as an opportunity to express your concerns towards how Wakefield should best use its available resources in order to make it stronger financially, safer, and an all around better town. Here are some ideas to get you started: Improve road quality condition. Wakefield has fallen behind its schedule of 6 miles of road improvement each year, leaving many roads in disrepair. Build a new middle school. Wakefield's Galvin Middle School was built in 1954 and first served …

People are picky about their coffee, and it's no surprise - there's so many factors to take into consideration, like flavor, price, value, taste, espresso, syrups, you name it. This week, we asked Wakefield Patch readers about their favorite places to get a nice hot Cup O'Joe. So without further ado, here's what was picked: Tootsies Coffee Corner - Fans of this place spoke loud and clear. Tootsies may well be Wakefield's favorite place to sip a hot cup of coffee with one of the many speciality flavorings and syrups the store offers. "I really like Tootsies!" commented Diana Ardagna Cavanaugh…

There are just a few places to get a cup of coffee in Wakefield in town. Whether it's ZuZu's Cafe, Tootsie's Coffee Corner, Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, or somewhere else, which one serves the best coffee? Or do certain places specialize in certain types? Where's your favorite place for an iced? Where is the coffee the cheapest? Where do you get the most value - best flavor for less? Tell us in the comments section where you get your favorite cup, and on Thursday, we'll present the findings for the community to consider.

Dad is great, gives us the chocolate cake ... Even if your father didn't give you chocolate cake for breakfast, maybe you still want to do something nice for him this Sunday. After all, it is Father's Day. So for this week's Patch Picks column, we asked: What are some great ways to celebrate Father's Day in Wakefield or nearby? We Patch editors put our heads together and came up with this list: Italian dinner (with a free drink!): If you to go a little upscale for your pasta-and-sauce-loving Dad, Ristorante Molise is offering a a special menu for Father's Day celebrations, and a free drink …

Spas offer all types of services, from the traditional to the, well, interesting (seaweed wrap, anyone?) This week, we asked Wakefield, Melrose, Reading and Stoneham Patch readers about their favorite places. So without further ado, here's what was picked: Tania Salon - Wakefield, MA: Offering hair, skin, body, nail care and makeup, Tania Salon on Albion Street's varied services will allow you to pamper yourself externally and internally. Readers mentioned the salon's friendly and welcoming staff, various services and prices and nice extra touches like hot and cold drinks. "Tania and her …

Spring is in the air, and there's no better time of year to make sure you put your best face forward. Think facials, massage, skin treatments - the works. So for this Thurday's edition of Patch Picks, we want to know: What are five great spas in or near Wakefield? What do you recommend to others, and why? What services can you find there, and which are your favorites? Provide your answers in the comments section below or on the question in our Q&A section and this Thursday, we'll highlight the top five in Patch Picks, and provide a new topic to discuss.

This week, we asked Wakefield Patch readers to suggest their favorite places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Without further ado, here are five editor's picks of where to go on March 17: Harrington's - Wakefield, MA: This traditional Irish Pub will be going all out for its St. Patrick's Day celebration. Starting at 11:30 a.m., the restaurant will be serving a corned beef and cabbage special for $9.95. Harrington's will also have live music all day and night from three different performers on both the upper and level lowers of the restaurant, and they'll be serving green beer on tap. Dockside …

If there's ever a time to eat corned beef and cabbage, it's on St. Patrick's Day. But why travel all the way to Southie to get in on celebrating the Irish culture? Wakefield has a large Irish population, and a number of places and things to do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. So for this Thurday's edition of Patch Picks, we want to know: What are five great places to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? What do you recommend, and why? Provide your answers in the comments section below or on the question in our Q&A section and this Thursday, we'll highlight the top five in Patch Picks, and provide a …

For this week's Patch Picks column, we asked Wakefield Patch readers to suggest a few summer camps to recommed to other parents. Without further ado, here is what we picked to feature:  Wakefield Repertory Youth Theatre – The WRYT offers a six-week program to teach students in grades 5-9 about all aspects of performance, including signing, dancing, acting, set design, lighting and costuming. The program begins in the last week of June and runs until the first weekend in August, and is held at the Veterans Memorial Middle School in Melrose.  - Suggested by a representative of the Wakefield …

Summer is a ton of fun for kids who, without school to occupy them, are blessed with lots of free time. But for parents who want to keep their children entertained and stimulated over the summer, camps are often the answer. Sports camps, academic camps, theater camps - you name it, it exists out there. So for this Thurday's edition of Patch Picks, we want to know: What are five great summer camps in or near Wakefield? What camps do you recommend to other parents, and why? Provide your answers in the comments section below or on the question in our Q&A section and this Thursday, we'll …

The Lucius Beebe Memorial Library tracks how many times titles are requested, effectively giving them a list of the most popular titles sought out by Wakefield residents. Without further ado, here is this week's top five most requested list: 1. Sing You Home, Jodi Picoult Summary: A stillborn baby ends Max and Zoe's marriage. Max leaves Zoe and turns to drinking. Zoe falls in love with a female school counselor, Vanessa. Max finds help for his drinking problem through his brother's church. Vanessa and Zoe get married. Vanessa offers to carry one of Zoe and Max's fertilized embryos. Zoe goes …

This week, Wakefield Patch asked its readers to share their thoughts on their favorite boutiques in town and boy, did you. So without further ado, here are Wakefield Patch’s Picks for five great boutiques in town in order of most reader comments: J’adore – “I love shopping Wakefield. I have been really enjoying J'adore. The clothing is unbeatable in pricing for its quality. Every time I go in- there is new items. I was turned on to this store for the jewelry. This store sells the Chamilia beads and the Troll beads. The stock of beads is one I have never ever seen in any store I have been in. …

Sure, you can go shopping anywhere, but why take a trip to the mall when there are several locally owned and operated clothing stores right in Wakefield that you can't find anywhere else? So for this Thurday's edition of Patch Picks, we want to know: What are five great boutiques in or near Wakefield?  Provide your answers in the comments section below or on the question in our Q&A section and this Thursday, we'll highlight the top five in Patch Picks, and provide a new topic to discuss.

There are so many great organizations in town that it was too hard to select only five - so Wakefield Patch picked six non-profits who are making a difference in town, based on your suggestions. Without any further ado, here they are: Wakefield Educational Foundation – “This non-profit provides educational grants to all our public schools that are innovative and creative, and not covered by the current school year budget,” said Sharon Foley. Since its founding in 1989, the non-profit has raised $100,000, and has put the money directly to use in schools and classrooms. Wakefield Interfaith …

This week, it's time to shine the spotlight on Wakefield's own organizations - either sung or unsung - that are making a difference in Wakefield and beyond. For this Thurday's edition of Patch Picks, we want to know: What are five great Wakefield non-profits that are making a difference in town? What do they do, and why should we all acknowledge them? Share your thoughts below in the comments section, post in our Q and A section, or email editor Sara Jacobi at sara.jacobi@patch.com. Then, this Thursday, check back to see who we chose to highlight in Patch Picks.

Are you one of those last-minute people who forgets Valentine's Day until it's almost too late? Don't disappoint your significant other this year; take a peek at the following list of the most romantic restaurants or activities in the area to take your sweetheart. Ristorante Molise: 464 Main St, Wakefield This dinner-only Italian eatery is set up under red porticos on Main Street just before the center. Expect mood lighting, rich wooden tables and chairs and large portions of homestyle, upmarket Italian cuisine. A sprawling and diverse wine list is on offer along with some very old world …

Starting this week, Wakefield Patch will run a new weekly feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off,  and more.  You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more.   First up: Places to Watch the Super Bowl: Even though the stupid Jets ended the New England…