Museum of Fine Arts
What’s left to be said about the MFA, one of Boston’s premiere attractions and cultural institutions? Not much, so we’ll just remind you again. A diverse collection spanning different cultures, centuries, and artistic styles? Check. World-class exhibits, ranging from Egyptian sculptures to Dutch paintings to the works of Salvador Dalí? Check. Stunning architecture and a gorgeous Huntington Avenue location? Check and check. No wonder we bring all of our smart friends here when they’re in town. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, mfa.org.
East Meets West
This caterer has been a mainstay at Boston’s classiest affairs since 1989, for good reason: Its food is all over the map, in the best way. Proper salmon with dill? Taco buffet? Pork-belly sliders? There are no fixed menus or cookie-cutter ideas here; the only limit is your imagination. Best of all, the team behind East Meets West doesn’t stop with menu planning: With such deep industry ties, they’ll recommend just the right DJ, florist, and venue to suit your vision. eastmeetswestcatering.com.
European Watch Company
Collecting watches is like collecting cars: You can’t get very far without the right dealer. Thankfully, Boston’s timepiece aficionados have European Watch Company, whose cases are filled with coveted tickers from the likes of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex. In business since 1993, the Newbury Street gallery is a great place to trade in and trade up, with a constantly changing inventory of new, preowned, and vintage watches — many of them rare. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, europeanwatch.com.
Diana Rastegayeva, Massachusetts COVID Vaccination Help
Diana Rastegayeva of Massachusetts COVID Vaccination Help took us one step closer to vanquishing COVID by bringing together tech-challenged and underserved residents with volunteers who could help them navigate the formerly complex online vaccine-booking system. By early June, her team of Good Samaritans had booked more than 25,000 shots, making them some of Boston’s best community organizers.
The Haven
In Boston’s sea of rowdy, singles-filled Irish bars, this rare Scottish gastropub stands out as unique, friendly, and approachable—just like the ideal date. As its name suggests, the restaurant is an intimate place to get cozy by candlelight with your Tinder match over an extensive, icebreaker-friendly scotch list organized by region, as well as hard-to-find specialties like haggis and Scotland-born deep-fried Mars bars. With so much to talk about, conversation will flow as easily as the Belhaven beer on draft 2 Perkins St., Jamaica Plain, MA thehavenjp.com.
Piers Park
This hideaway on Eastie’s fringes isn’t easy to find, but the payoff is lovely: the most glorious views in the city. Promenade to the edge of the pier, recline on a park bench, and gaze at the skyline across the harbor. There are also plenty of shaded pavilions, signposts with information about East Boston’s immigrant history, and a well-maintained playground with soft surfaces for the kids. 95 Marginal St., Boston, MA 2128, massport.com.
Cusser's
No offense to the North Shore’s many landmark sandwich shops, but Boston’s Cusser’s is simply a cut above. Not only does the three-location outfit pile homemade onion rolls high with juicy pink slices of Wagyu beef, but the flagship Back Bay restaurant lets you pair a classic barbecue-sauced “three-way” with fancy-pants cocktails from local legend Todd Maul, who uses high-tech gadgets (a centrifuge, a blast freezer) to craft his top-shelf libations. 304 Stuart St., Boston, MA 02116, cussersboston.com.
Club Café
In Boston’s admittedly somewhat limited gay club scene, Club Café is a standout for its commitment to being not just a nightspot, but also a queer gathering place: If you’re looking for an earlier evening, it’s a fine place to grab a bite, and on any given night of the week, you’ll find a plethora of events to enjoy—trivia, performers belting out Broadway standards. But make no mistake: There’s nothing quiet about an evening here. Get ready to dance. 209 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116, clubcafe.com.
Wally's Café
This basement hole in the wall has been the cradle of some of Boston’s most killer jam sessions since it opened as New England’s first African-American–owned nightclub in 1947. Walk through its famous red door and you can feel the history: Generations of soon-to-be stars from the New England Conservatory and Berklee (such as a young Esperanza Spalding) have tested their chops before this discerning crowd. You never know who you might see before they become the next big thing. 427 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA wallysCafe.com.
Queeraoke at Midway Café
Covered in vinyl stickers and rainbow string lights, J.P.’s Midway Café looks like a classic dive bar, but it’s also the spot to sing your heart out every Thursday starting at 10 p.m. A favorite of Boston’s younger queer crowd—but welcoming to everyone—the evening starts with regulars crooning to ’90s and early-aughts hits and ends with wild dance parties. 3496 Washington St., Jamaica Plain, MA midwaycafe.com.
Frugal Bookstore
Looking to bolster your collection of anti-racist literature and books about the Black experience? This Nubian Square mainstay has you covered. But what makes owners Leonard and Clarrissa Egerton’s shop an irreplaceable part of Boston’s literary scene is its role as a hub for book groups and social gatherings where both authors and readers of color can feel welcome and be celebrated. Bostonians across the city are vowing to finally listen to Black voices—Frugal has been amplifying them for 12 years and counting. 57 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119, frugalbookstore.net.
Monumental Market
Where can you score a bold yet balanced cup of coffee, mouthwatering pastries, and the perfect background tunes for sipping your java back at home? This quick-stop shop, which represents the collaborative entrepreneurship that is the future of Boston’s food world: Baker Kelsey Munger and bean roaster Javier Amador-Peña met at a farmers’ market, opened Monumental together, and tapped local Light of Day Records to stock the space with new and (cheap!) vintage vinyls. Blueberry muffins, cold brew, and David Bowie — yes, please. 36 South St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, monumentalmarket.com.
Grill 23
If Boston’s love affair with all things techy and new ever wears you down, remember: Practice makes perfect, and few steakhouses have fed us for as long or as flawlessly as Grill 23. In the clubby dining room, staffers ferry platters of oysters on ice followed by darkly crusted, tickle-me-pink cuts of salty meat. No gimmicks, no trends. As at any great steakhouse, seafood and sides satisfy—but better to simply order the 100-day dry-aged rib-eye, lean back, and enjoy the timeless atmosphere. 161_Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116, grill23.com.
Showcase Cinema de Lux
That’s right. Boston’s best wide-release movie theater is in...Dedham. This place was 100 percent built for the blockbuster popcorn flick. Comfortable stadium seating, armrest-shaking surround sound, and a full bar (on the "Lux Level") all coalesce to provide the optimal environment for taking in any film with a "-man" or a numeral at the end of the title (see: Iron-, Bat-, Super-, 1, 2, 3, and so forth). 670 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA 2026, showcasecinemas.com.
Newbury Tailoring Company
For two decades, Boston’s style mavens have trusted this family-owned business with their most valuable wearables, and for good reason. Whether you need your entire wardrobe taken in or a few nips and tucks on an extra-special evening gown, you can trust tailor Flavio Antonio Rivas to get the job done masterfully — and efficiently. 324 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115, newburytailors.com.