Club Hollywood Boston at Ekco Lounge
Butches and femmes hoist their bottles together here on Saturday nights, when this Chinatown karaoke lounge and dance club becomes the closest thing lesbians have to a downtown clubhouse. Two levels of dance floors offer ample space for the mostly young and urban crowd to get down to electro, house, and hip-hop. Once a month, grrls slip on suits and fedoras (and boys and butches, dresses) for "drag karaoke." 41 Essex St., Boston, MA .
The Boston franchise of Hard Rock Café
We were tired of it before it opened. 131 Clarendon St., Boston, MA .
<em>The Housing Project</em>, at the Boston Shakespeare Company
Choreographer Yoshiko Chuma presented one of the best constructions of the year.
Nelse Karini, Beauty by Nelse
Want to know who all of Boston’s black-tie swans use for their gala looks? Nelse Karini, that’s who. The makeup artist has worked her magic on fashion runways, celebrity TV appearances, and magazine fashion spreads, so she has a sharp sense of what’s hot in makeup. Plus, not only does she beautify clients to a fairy-tale level, but she also teaches them about the right products and techniques for their skin. Right now, she’s Boston’s best-kept secret, so shhh — don’t tell anyone! beautybynelse.com.
Matt Damon in the Back Bay
Greater Boston’s favorite sons, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, made quite a scene in late March while in town shooting their upcoming Apple TV+ heist flick, The Instigators. Filming took over North End landmark Bova’s Bakery and the firehouse on Hanover Street, with crowds of oglers waiting to catch a glimpse of Massachusetts royalty. It was outside the Public Garden, though, that two Boston staffers randomly happened upon Damon — clad in a Boston Fire Department hat, naturally — and snagged a requisite selfie.
Mighty Mighty BossTones
Ska may come and ska may go, but the BossTones are forever. Going on 20 years, the band is forcing listeners to again Pay Attention with a best selling new studio release. Notwithstanding some catchy hooks, the album features a more melodic side of the plaid-bedecked eight-some, or, as frontman Dicky Barrett says, songs that are "thought out, not just half-assed." Get your tix for the Throwdown now! bosstones.com.
MLK Embrace Honors: Friends and Family Sneaker Affair
The Embrace Boston team. / Photo by Malakhai Pearson Although only in its second year, Embrace Boston’s MLK Jr. Day gala is already affectionately known as “The Sneaker Gala,” and therein lies part of its charm. Guests are encouraged to rock their flashiest kicks along with creative black-tie attire, and rather than a rubber-chicken sit-down dinner, this year’s iteration was an epic dance party at Boston club Big Night Live, with arcade games and stellar music. embraceboston.org/friends-and-family-sneaker-affair.
Dropkick Murphys at Fenway Park
Maddie Malhotra With our beloved ballpark’s 37,000-plus seats empty during prime baseball season this spring, what did Boston’s other hometown team, the Dropkick Murphys, do? They descended on the diamond to play a show, Streaming Outta Fenway, to raise money and spirits. The rocking two-hour set, which featured remote appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Fenway organist Josh Kantor, attracted more than 9 million viewers worldwide—and collected more than $700,000 for organizations such as Boston Resiliency Fund, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity in the process. dropkickmurphys.com.
Frugal Bookstore
Mona Miri The pandemic deeply challenged the future of Boston’s foremost Black-owned bookstore, with owners Leonard Egerton and Clarrissa Cropper holding online fundraisers to maintain not only their business focused on Black authors and subjects, but also their mission to encourage literacy in kids and adults. We’re so thankful they’ve managed to persevere: After all, where else would we find a wide range of children’s literature, Afrofuturistic sci-fi, memoirs, and local and national history, all lovingly curated by two people who grew up in Boston? 57 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119, frugalbookstore.net.
The $1 Trips Around Boston Harbor (Bay State Cruises and Boston Harbor Cruises)
Don't eat the hot dogs, but sea breezes will cool you off and clear your mind.
Software Tool & Die, Boston On-Line, http://www.std.com/NE/boston.html
This Web page is maintained by Adam Gaffin and features links to restaurant reviews, entertainment guides, neighborhood information, and dozens of other categories.
Geoff Smith, winner of the 1984 Boston Marathon
Unfortunately, he had two sponsors for that race: Adidas and Prime Computer. And that may disqualify him from the Olympics.
Kirstein Business Branch, Boston Public Library
This is the library that can make you rich. The ratio of reference librarians to inquirers is favorable—and their counsel is free. 20 City Hall Avenue, Boston, MA .
Paul Tucker, professor, University of Massachusetts, Boston
The Jerry McGuire of the local arts scene, Tucker has been showing us the Monet for the last decade, organizing three spectacular exhibitions for the Museum of Fine Arts—and radically enhancing our appreciation of Boston's favorite French Impressionist. Tucker is also an inspiring teacher.
Boston Celtics vs. the Orlando Magic at the Garden
After a year of whining, bitching, and generally brutal basketball, the Green summoned up one more moment of pride to wake up the echoes and close the building with style. The fact that they lost was immaterial.