Best of Boston 2013

Our (40th!) annual guide to the best of everything in and around the city.

7/30/2013, 1:47 p.m.

Photo by Jesse Burke. Sign painting by Tricia O’Neill.

Much has changed in Boston over the past 40 years. The Combat Zone is no more. The Red Sox have won two World Series trophies. The waterfront is now one of our most desirable neighborhoods. And the Central Artery runs underground these days (a transformation that seemed to take four decades itself). One thing that’s stayed constant, however, is our annual guide to the very best shopping, dining, and all-around living to be found in Boston. This month, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Best of Boston, and although the categories have evolved over time (we no longer issue an award for the best dumps or strip clubs), our dedication to mining the city’s gems, decade after decade, remains unwavering. Here’s to another 40 years.