With a warm, sunny weekend in the forecast, now is a great time to think about ice cream, and according to the most recent Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll results, Needhamites have a couple of great options here in town. Forty-two people cast their votes in the poll, which asked who makes the best ice cream in Needham. The winner by a slim margin was Needham Junction Ice Cream at 40 Junction St., with 43 percent of the votes. Coming in a close second was Abbott's Frozen Custard, with 38 percent. And Lizzy's Homemade Ice Cream came in third with a respectable 19 percent. Needham …

It's been an interesting spring, weather-wise, with alternating weeks of summer-like warmth and sun followed by wintry chill followed by rain, rain and more rain. But one thing is certain: Whatever spring brings, summer will eventually follow. With those lazy days of summer in mind, this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll looks at the best place in town to buy ice cream—whether by cone, by cup, soaked in chocolate or of a healthier variety. Where do you go for that taste of summer? Friendly's may have closed last fall, but there are still a few options in and near Needham to choose…

The votes are in, and it looks like Needham readers' favorite staycation spot is The Massachusetts Horticultural Society's Gardens at Elm Bank in nearby Wellesley. Fifty percent of voters in this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll picked the gardens as their top place to relax, have some fun and enjoy time off without spending much on gasoline or travel. Coming in second was Needham's own Ridge Hill Reservation, with 25 percent of the votes, followed by Patriot Place in Foxborough and the Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton, both with 12 percent. Located on the Wellesley/Dover …

We all know gas isn't cheap these days, and that fact may be forcing some families in Needham to choose closer options when it comes to spending long weekends, days off or even summer vacation. For this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll, we want to know your favorite place in Needham or nearby to spend some free time. Got a favorite hiking or picnicking spot? A shopping plaza where you can always uncover a few treasures? A great location to hear music, see shows or engage in other fun activities? Vote for your favorite "staycation" spot below or add it in the comments. You can …

The votes are in, and Blue on Highland has won its third Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice award. (The restaurant previously won for Best Sandwich and Best French Fries.) This week, Blue took the top votes in our callout for the best place to take Mom for Mother's Day brunch. Blue on Highland, located at 882 Highland Ave., collected 74 percent of the votes in this week's poll, easily winning the title over other local contenders. Also earning nods in the poll were Petit Robert Bistro, with 14 percent of the votes, and Fresco, with 11 percent. Blue on Highland is open on Sundays from 11 a.m. …

We love our moms, and Mother's Day gives us an opportunity every year to show her just how much we care—whether it's with a handmade card, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a delicious meal or a simple "thank you." There are lots of great ways to celebrate Mom and tell her how much you love her. This week, for Best Of Needham - Reader's Choice, Needham Patch is highlighting just one of those ways—taking Mom out for a little Mother's Day brunch. We want to know where you'll be taking your mom, grandmother, wife, girlfriend, daughter, sister or other mother in your life to celebrate all she does…

Hillcrest Gardens is where Needham residents turn for the best floral arrangements, according to this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll. The business, located at 888 Great Plain Ave., received the most votes—59 percent—in our weekly contest. Coming in second was Needham Florist with 22 percent, followed by Perennial Designs with 13 percent of the votes. Though not yet rated in the Needham Patch Directory, Hillcrest Gardens received 4 1/2 stars on Yelp.com. Framingham resident R.B. writes on Yelp: Family-owned, very knowledgeable and nice. No 'superior gardener' attitude at all, …

April showers bring May flowers, and if Sunday's weather and the forecast for the rest of the week are any indication, the first of May should arrive in full bloom. To celebrate this harbinger of spring, we turn this week to the topic of florists, asking readers to vote for their favorite florist in the lastest Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll. Where do you go in Needham to help mark life's special occasions—whether it's roses for your Valentine, a sunny bouquet for Mother's Day, a birthday basket or other unique arrangement to tell someone they are loved? Vote for your favorite florist…

Needham Patch readers voted, and the winner for Best Dessert in Needham goes to ... Petit Robert Bistro! The French restaurant, located at 45 Chapel St., received 36 percent of the vote in this week’s Best Of Needham – Readers’ Choice poll. Coming in second was Acorn’s Bakery & Café with 24 percent. Honorable mentions go to Blue on Highland (18 percent) and The Center Café (12 percent). Though readers didn’t specify which of Petit Robert’s desserts was their favorite, the restaurant has several delicious options to choose from—from the French Macaroon Plate to the Ile Flotante (Drizzled with …

Who doesn't love a good dessert? So far in Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice, we've looked at the best sandwich, best french fries, best place to work out, best place to get car repairs and more. This week, let's talk sweets. What place in town has the dessert you can't stop raving about? Whether it's pie, cake, a sundae or something new and delightful, we want to hear about it. Vote for the restaurant below that serves up your favorite dessert dish—and be sure to tell us what that dish is in the comments. For the purposes of this poll, we are looking just at restaurants that offer a …

Maybe Needham residents prefer fitness centers and french fries to sporting good stores, or maybe you were too busy voting in the actual Town Election to vote in the latest Best of Needham - Readers' Choice poll, but this week's numbers were pretty light, with just seven votes cast. Still, every poll must have a winner, and this week's winner for Best Sporting Goods Store was Modell's Sporting Goods in Newton, located at 210 Needham St. Modell's drew 71 percent of the vote, while Pure Hockey in Needham took the remaining 29 percent. Though Modell's does not yet have a rating in the Patch …

With the Boston Marathon fast approaching, spring sports underway and warm weather arriving, it’s a good time to think about getting out and getting active. For this week’s Best Of Needham – Readers’ Choice poll, we want to know where you go for all your sports gear. Whether its bike equipment, baseballs, tennis shoes, football cleats, ice skates, running shorts, racquets or other items—who’s got what you need to get in the game? Which shop do you turn to for the best deals, friendly atmosphere or wide selection? Below is a roundup of many of the sporting goods shops in Needham, Newton, …

Needham Patch readers voted, and the winner of this year's Best Tax Preparer in Needham title is Heald, Hoffmeister & Company. The certified accounting firm located at 105 Chestnut St. took 66 percent of the votes in our Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll and has a five-star rating on Yelp.com. According to the review on Yelp, the firm is an "All around great company that really works with your best interests in mind..." And Patch reader Amanda MacArthur noted: "Heald, Hoffmeister & Company all the way. Mike Aniceto is the best!" According to their listing in the Patch Directory, Heald, …

Now that April has arrived, there's no denying that the deadline to file taxes is fast approaching. Whether you've already filed or are looking for last-minute help, for this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice poll, we want to know who you turn to for tax help. Who do you trust with the often confusing process of tax prep and filing? Who's got a handle on your finances? Which CPA earns an A+ in your gradebook? Below is a list of places in Needham that advertise tax preparation for individuals, businesses or both. Vote for your top choice, and be sure to add your comments at the bottom …

Who has the best french fries in Needham? The votes for this week’s Best Of Needham – Readers’ Choice poll are in, and readers chose Blue on Highland. The restaurant, located at 882 Highland Ave., took 54 percent of the votes in this week’s poll, easily winning the top spot for best fries. In second place was Wild Willy’s with 20 percent. Other restaurants earning nods were McDonald’s (5 percent), Brothers Pizza, Nicholas’ Pizzeria and Petit Robert Bistro (all with 3 percent). Fresco also received a glowing review in the comments. So what about Blue’s fries makes them so special? “The fries …

What naturally follows fitness for this week's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice contest? Why, french fries, of course! Now that you know the best local places to work out—and, thus, the best places to work off some of life's more delicious offerings—we're asking you this week to tell us where you go for the best fries in town. Whether they're handcut, mass-produced, extra salty, sweet, smothered, cheesy or otherwise, whose fries do you go for when you get that craving? Below is a list of places in Needham that serve french fries, either as a separate order or as part of a dish. Vote for your…

It was a close race this week, as Needham gyms vied for top spot in the latest Best Of Needham – Readers’ Choice poll. In the end, based not just on number of votes but also on comments and reviews, the winner of Best Needham Gym is … B5 Fitness. The facility, located at 322 Reservoir St., has only been open since September 2011 but it already appears to have quite a following—collecting a total of 1,264 votes (45 percent) in this week’s poll. Also garnering an impressive tally of votes this week were: Koko FitClub, with 831 votes (30 percent); VO2Max Fitness, with 503 votes (18 percent); and…

The right gym can make or break a workout routine—find a place that's right and you actually look forward to sweating it out for the sake of health and fitness. Luckily, Needham has quite a few options when it comes to exercise. Whether yoga's your thing, you want one-on-one time with a personal trainer or you just enjoy hitting the treadmill, there is surely something for everyone here in town. Already with Patch's Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice, I've asked you to vote for your favorite sandwich shop, auto repair center and place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This week, I want to know: …

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, and many in Needham may be celebrating the colorful holiday at Dunn Gaherin's Food and Spirits in Newton—the winner of this week's Best of Needham - Readers' Choice award for Best Place To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The Irish pub located at 344 Elliott St., Newton has been serving up delicious fare and a variety of drinks and brews for more than 20 years and has a five-star rating on Newton Patch Places. In this week's Best of Needham - Readers' Choice poll, the pub received 60 percent of the Needham vote among a list of local eateries in Needham, Dedham and …

So far in our Best Of Needham - Readers' Choice contests, we've explored tasty sandwiches and great places to get your car repaired. This week, we're getting ready for St. Patrick's Day on Saturday, March 17 by asking readers to tell us where they'll be celebrating the luck o' the Irish. Whether it's green beer you're looking for or a great atmosphere, lively music or delicious corned beef and cabbage, where do you go to have a good time on St. Patrick's Day? Needham is light on choices when it comes to your traditional bar or pub scene, but there are still a few places you can go to raise a …