Anthony's Pier Four
Never mind the tourists; come for the wine. This is not only the greatest wine list in Boston, it's one of the greatest wine lists anywhere in America. Old, old bottles abound— and at astonishing prices. For only $40 you can choose between two wonderful, mature Sauternes from Chateux. Nairac, 1975 or 1976. For $85, you can drink a magnificent, minerally white Burgundy, the 1993 Corton Charlemagne from Domaine Louis Latour. For less than half that price ($40), you will be shocked at just how good a "mere" bourgeois Margaux— Ch. Angludet— can be when it's from a year like 1978. Northern Ave., Boston, MA .
Furniture by Dovetail
In the traditional-furniture smackdown, the allure of an artisan hunched over his work right here in Massachusetts always wins out. So in Dovetail, a 20-year-old family-owned company based in Holden, just 50 miles from Boston, it was clear that we had our champ. Using hand-selected hardwoods, these folks turn out masterfully crafted, individually signed Shaker, Mission, Arts and Crafts, and Prairie furnishings, as well as custom work fit for any Ivy League reading room. Which, since Dovetail counts Harvard, Yale, and Princeton among its customers, only stands to reason. 2284 Washington St., Newton Lower Falls, MA 2462, furniturebydovetail.com.
Tracy Bonham
Tracy Bonham began her career in music playing violin at age 9. Originally from Oregon, Bonham came to Boston to attend Berklee, and paid her tuition by recording jingles for radio airplay. But true success came when she picked up a guitar and began writing her own songs. She was discovered quickly and hyped madly until, after a bidding war, she landed on Island Records (home of U2 and PJ Harvey). But Tracy has not forsaken her fiddle—her violin is still omnipresent in her first CD, The Burdens of Being Upright.
Tiffani Faison, Big Heart Hospitality
The one-person machine that is Tiffani Faison was firing on every cylinder this year: She was a James Beard finalist for Orfano, took home the largest cash prize in Food Network history by winning Guy Fieri’s famous-chef-filled Tournament of Champions, and opened three totally different casual restaurants inside downtown’s highly anticipated High Street Place. In other words: A decade since she launched her New England barbecue landmark Sweet Cheeks Q, the Chopped judge keeps showing the grit and growth that made her a household name in Boston and beyond. bighearthospitality.com.
"Love Letters"
During the early-COVID lockdown, dating got, well, complicated — and for better or worse, it’s stayed that way. Thankfully, we’ve had Meredith Goldstein to guide us through these trying times. In her Globe column “Love Letters,” adapted for a must-read newsletter, she fields a daily stream of reader questions,offering indispensable advice on everything from always-changing pandemic etiquette to dating-app faux pas. Most important, she provides a reminder to Boston singles muddling through the “new normal” that they are certainly not alone. loveletters.boston.com.
Lose It!
The crust off your kids’ sandwiches, a handful of chocolate chips after dinner: When you’re trying to reach a healthy weight, it can be hard to keep track of all of the bites that make up a day. That’s why 40 million users have downloaded this Boston-born calorie- and exercise-tracking app since it debuted in 2008. But the service isn’t just about shedding (or maintaining) pounds; with virtual support groups and a focus on nutrition, it’s about lifestyle changes that set the stage for lasting wellness. Count us in. loseit.com.
Jean Wang
Dudes want to marry her. Dudettes want to befriend her. Everyone follows her — 733,000 people on Insta, to be exact. Maybe that’s because this fashion influencer’s classic-with- a-little-funk style perfectly fits the aesthetic of the Boston woman. Her roles as wife and mother also make appearances on her Extra Petite blog and Instagram page, where she offers cooking tips, lifestyle advice, date-night recommendations, and kids’ wardrobe ideas. You may find yourself asking, What would Jean do? The answer is a click away. extrapetite.com.
The ’Quin House
When the reimagined and redesigned Algonquin Club opened in 2021, the six-story mansion generated instant buzz for its gorgeously over-the-top design, from a button to summon champagne in the first-floor “speakeasy” to a Sinatra bust that you press to reveal a secret door. But its social capital is more than just aesthetics. The space has quickly replaced the old Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons as the place for a power-rendezvous, except now the CEOs are rubbing elbows with social justice activists, and the membership is legitimately diverse. New Boston, indeed. 217 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA thequinhouse.com.
The Innovation Trail
Only in Cambridge can you take a scenic 10-minute stroll from the birthplace of a COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna’s headquarters) to a candy factory that supplies the world with Junior Mints. The area’s combined legacy as innovation hub and pedestrian paradise inspired Boston Globe columnist Scott Kirsner and Framingham State professor Robert Krim to connect such points of interest and create the Innovation Trail. Launched in 2022 and spanning from Downtown Crossing to Kendall Square, the walking tour visits more than 20 sites where seismic breakthroughs in science and technology took place. Follow along independently, or book a seasonal guide and prepare to be awed. theinnovationtrail.org.
Matt Shearer, WBZ
A video reporter for the radio station WBZ, Shearer has become a social media sensation for his spin on traditional man-on-the-street interviews, a freewheeling format in which he asks Bay State residents probing questions about their home localities. For example: How did Billericans feel when one of three Market Baskets on the same street (Boston Road, naturally) closed? “I actually cried,” a customer named Peggy told him gravely. “I felt like I lost a part of my family.” The accents always fly, but what makes the videos sing are heartfelt, hysterical contributions from subjects like these. twitter.com/MattWBZ.
Glossier
While we love the products from this New York–based company, which made its Boston debut last year, it’s the shopping experience that has us obsessed. Instead of boxes upon boxes of product backstock on the shelves, à la those big-box beauty stores, pink-jumpsuit-clad employees disappear out of sight to wrap up your products of choice — but only after you’ve tried every shade of the “Cloud Paint” liquid blush and sampled the “After Baume” face cream, of course. 120 Newbury St., Boston , MA 02116, glossier.com.
9Tailors
No need to hop over the big pond for a bespoke Savile Row suit when you have this Boston-based gem. Founded by fashion industry veteran Jeff Lahens, 9Tailors specializes in custom suiting in all manner of styles, from slim fit to classic. Hankering for a pair of lime-green high-waisted pants? Got that. Wide legged trousers? Count on it. You can also create your own cashmere kimono-style sweater, paisley-lined blazer, or meticulously fitted cobalt dress shirt. The world is your oyster, mate. 132 Lincoln St., Boston , MA 02111, 9tailors.com.
Museum of Science
Dinos may no longer roam the earth, but you can still spot a few in Boston — specifically, inside the Museum of Science, which houses both models and 65-million-year-old fossils that promise to captivate imaginations young and old. It’s just one of the many awesome exhibits and shows that make it worth setting aside a full day for a visit here — and now that the museum is gearing up for a major renovation and reinvention of 10,000 square feet of space, we can’t wait to see what educational fun the future holds. One Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, mos.org.
Vejigantes
The chuleta kan kan certainly makes a dazzling impression at this vibrant spot from longtime Boston restaurateurs Hector and Nivia Pina: Sourced directly from Puerto Rico, the succulent 18-ounce bone-in pork loin chop is served with the belly and crispy skin still attached. But really, anything on the menu, from classic mofongos (mashed plantain or cassava with meat inside) to house-special paellas, is worth trying. The extensive list of fun cocktails garnished with fresh flowers, umbrellas, and mini bottles of champagne, meanwhile, practically guarantees a good time. 57 W Dedham St., Boston, MA 02118, vejigantesrestaurant.com.
Bar Volpe
With about as many Italian restaurants in Boston as there are pasta types, sometimes it takes a big personality and bold flavor to break through all the noise. Food-TV star Karen Akunowicz is doing just that at Bar Volpe. The restaurant and pastificio is bursting with the colorful flair and attention to detail that the James Beard Award–winning chef is known for (case in point: a fun take on a caviar course that includes ricotta gnocchi with dollops of caviar, chives, and plenty of lemon butter). Regulars know not to skip the snacks — a.k.a. stuzzichini — such as fried ’nduja-and-mortadella-stuffed olives and fritti misti with a spicy Calabrian-pepper spread. 170 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, barvolpe.com.