Walter Pierce, whose Celebrity Series has launched more than a few careers, and whose keen sense of talent and moment has kept our town in culture.
China Pavillion
Our food critic, Steven Raichlen, found the best stir-fried clams here a year ago. Now he swears by the little dumplings. We have to agree. 14 Hudson St., Boston, MA .
Cafe Cybele
Our food critic called the leafy creations of Cafe Cybele in the South Market Building "tidy little masterpieces": varied veggies in a sublime vinaigrette bound with egg and cream. South Market Building, Boston, MA .
WXKS's Annual Birthday Party
Open bars, hors d'oeuvres, an exclusive guest list, and top national acts. For example, the 1983 list included the Gap Band, Laura Branigan, the Manhattans, the Weathergirls, and (yes) Pia Zadora.
The Abbey
This is the rare spot that we applaud for a static menu, because it’s reassuring to know that we can always get our charred Caesar salad and grilled flatbread pizza. 1657 Beacon St., Washington Square, MA 2445, abbeyrestaurant.com.
Kara Hurston, Love and Mercy
Hurston has been honing her talents for nearly two decades, and can achieve everything from long layers to dramatic chops. As such,we experienced zero panic when she cut our hair 5 inches shorter in a bouncy, fun lob. 403 D St., Boston, MA, 02210, loveandmercysalon.com.
Celeste
The bandbox of a space, with 18 seats at banquettes and six at the bar, charmed us. The delectable menu embracing Peru’s seafood bounty and cornucopia of chilies, maizes, potatoes, and tomatoes tantalized our tastebuds. But it was the two patios — the sociable sidewalk out front, and the secluded, romantic one on the side — that made us absolutely fall in love with Celeste. 21 Bow St., Somerville, MA 02143, celesteunionsquare.com.
Ronan Park
So maybe Fields Corner is named for colonist Zechariah Field and not for its green spaces. Still, we'd like to point out that the neighborhood has some mighty fine fields. Our favorite, Ronan Park, hosts an annual kite festival. Dorchester, MA 02122, boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation.
Home.stead Bakery & Café
Photograph by Julia Hopkins Serving up far more than just chai lattes, Home.stead has found a special place in our hearts for its selection of artisanal impulse buys, from Goga bags to Alexis Mattox Design cake toppers. 1448 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02122, dorchesterhomestead.com.
NewBridge Café
NewBridge Cafe steak tips—don't forget the side of cherry peppers. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal We ate pounds and pounds of steak tips this year on a deep dive into the history of this uniquely New England dish (see the May issue for more) — and found our favorites here, marinated in a sweet barbecue-style sauce and grilled to a perfect tenderness. Don’t forget the hot cherry peppers on the side. 650 Washington Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150, newbridgecafe.com.
Museum of Science
We all want our kids to like STEM education, but this museum makes it downright irresistible: Enjoy story time for preschoolers featuring live animals, lightning presentations using a Van de Graaff generator, and even fun "magic" shows explained through science. One Science Park, Boston, MA 02114, mos.org.
G2O Spa and Salon
Photograph by Trevor Reid / Model, Tayla Fernandez/Maggie Inc. Carefully considered questions about pain points and pressure yielded a rigorous 60-minute massage ($125) that turned our computer-worn shoulders and chair-stiffened lower back into Jell-O. An aprՌs-treatment hot-tub soak on the penthouse level, meanwhile, helped bring the brain back into alignment. 278 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, g2ospasalon.com.
Saltie Girl
One of the first restaurants to bring the concept of high-end tinned fish to our shores, this cheerful spot also excels in seafood of the uncooked variety. Opt for a dozen South Bays, or go all in with cobia, razor clams, and one of three varieties of sea urchin. There's no shortage of fish in these waters. 281 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA 02116, saltiegirl.com.
Ryan Wading Pool
The Ryan Wading Pool is our pick for the city’s best spray deck, where kids can clean up and cool off after a hard day’s summer play as they get soaked under the buckets that dump water from overhead. 350 River St., Mattapan, MA 02126, mass.gov/locations/ryan-wading-pool.
Boston Calling
Illustration by Rose Wong Get ready for some really cathartic moshing: After two years of heartbreaking cancellations, our marquee music festival recently announced its return for 2022 — and it did so with a bang, bringing back 2020’s promised headliners Foo Fighters and Rage Against the Machine. Allston, MA bostoncalling.com.