Glossier
courtesy photo 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.
Museum of Science
Courtesy of the 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.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Courtesy For the past 30-plus years, Kearns Goodwin has given us the inside scoop on every 20th-century POTUS worth knowing, from FDR to LBJ to JFK. In her latest book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, released in April, the Pulitzer Prize–winning historian takes us inside her longtime marriage to political visionary Richard Goodwin, who died in 2018, and unlocks a goldmine of memories from the turbulent decade. A downtown Boston resident and regular at the ’Quin House, where she likes to cut loose with friends, Kearns Goodwin is as much of a local treasure as any of her bestselling works.
Bar Vlaha
Hungry Hellenophiles won’t find the traditional gyro and grilled octopus at this festive Greek restaurant, now in its second year and as busy as ever. Instead, they can expect a hearty menu inspired by the Vlach communities of northern Greece. That translates to flaky phyllo pies (including one with cornmeal, wild greens, and feta), rustic platters of charcoal-grilled meat, and other traditional dishes served up by acclaimed chef Brendan Pelley. Add a glass of Greek wine or a funky cocktail, and it’s dinner at yiayia’s house with an upscale spin. 1653 Beacon St., Brookline, MA 02445, barvlaha.com.
Kimball Farm
Pat Piasecki Kimball Farm started as an ice cream stand on a sandy patch of parking lot, a rite of passage for local kids to eat cones as big as their heads. Today, the Westford location has socially distanced family fun down to a science with attractions that rival most theme parks. Here you’ll find well-monitored lines for gargantuan sundaes; an al fresco snack shack with kid-friendly meals (cheesy tater tots, hot dogs) and local beer for grownups; live music; and even mini golf, bumper boats, and batting cages for open-air fun with your pod. 400 Littleton Rd. (Rt. 110), Westford, MA 01886, kimballfarm.com.
Madequecham
Although you may not be able to pronounce the name (it sounds like “Mad-ah-ka-sham”), you’ll be happy you made the trek to this secret spot when the crowds of summer get too overwhelming. With fresh ocean breezes, playful and often good-for-surfing waves, and few to no people around, beauty is overflowing here; on an adventurous afternoon, meander along the sandy roads that wind along the shore, or, with a beach chair hung over your shoulder, climb down from the tall banks to the soft sand for a well-deserved nap. Nantucket, MA
Latitu
While studying abroad, Tanya Pham logged a lot of time in airports—enough time to hear plenty of fellow female travelers complain about their bland, bulky luggage. She’s used their feedback to design her Boston-based brand of sleek weekenders, duffels, and backpacks, crafted from Italian leather in Vietnam, where she lived for a year while vetting the production process. Equipped with thoughtful details (hidden compartments, magnetic closures), the bags are made in limited runs from custom materials—so your travel companion will stand out in a sea of scuffed-up carry-ons. MA latitu.com.
Tiger Mama
Call it equal parts Thai and Vietnamese, with generous helpings of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, and personal interpretation. If that sounds suspiciously like the "F" word—fusion—well, it is. But trust us: Even purists will be impressed by chef-owner Tiffani Faison’s real-deal pad gra pow, fiery-cool papaya salad, and tender pork laap, which teeters between fish-sauce funk and lime-y tang. Bonus points for Hanoi’s bun cha, hard-to-find lettuce wraps featuring charred pork, sour broth, spring rolls, noodles, and herbs. 1363 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215, tigermamaboston.com.
Tony Messina, Uni
Outstanding chef Tony Messina takes a break from the kitchen at Uni. / Photo by Christoper Churchill Sometimes it’s good to let your roots show. At Uni, Tony Messina unexpectedly draws from his Eastie-Italian heritage to bring something new to the burgeoning-in-Boston izakaya genre. That translates to dishes like his signature lubina sashimi with gremolata and chermoula, and hot plates such as spaghetti with nori. And Messina and partner chef Ken Oringer aren’t afraid to have fun within the luxe dining genre, either—as anyone who’s eaten one of Uni’s cheeseburger sushi rolls can attest. 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, uni-boston.com.
Legal Harborside
Sun, saltwater, and seafood on Legal Harborside’s roof deck. / Photo by Christopher Churchill Or views, more like it: Nowhere else in Boston will you find three options for al fresco dining under one roof. All you need to do is pick your floor. Snag a coveted seat on the ground level’s harborside deck and tuck into fried clams while listening to the concert rocking at the nearby Pavilion; savor a splurge-worthy meal on the second floor’s secluded outdoor patio (complete with fireplace); or head all the way up to the third floor’s roof deck, where you can sip, snack, and savor views of the water and the city skyline rain or shine thanks to retractable glass walls. 270 Northern Ave., Boston, MA 02210, legalseafoods.com.
La Fábrica Central
Long the local torchbearers of Caribbean cuisine, Hector and Nivia Piña (the owners of Merengue, Vejigantes, and Doña Habana) have spread those rays of hot tropical sunshine across the river. Their new Central Square venture serves up a freewheeling mezcla of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican flavors—think garlicky tostones, savory cubanitos, and showstopping rum-flamed rice dishes delivered to your table en fuego—in a lively atmosphere that includes both a jazz lounge and a nightclub. Need a little liquid courage before you hit the dance floor? Peruse the ample drink menu, which features a deep bench of high-end rums. 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, lafabricacentral.com.
The Nautilus
Four years in, the Nautilus still has the hottest tables in town—no surprise given the trifecta of talented folks behind it. Chef Liam Mackey combines local seafood with Asian and Latin flavors in inspired small plates such as tempura oyster tacos wrapped in nori, while wine director Stephen Bowler curates a deep, Wine Spectator–lauded list that includes rare reserve vinos by the glass. And Culinary Institute of America–trained bar manager Clinton Terry draws on his background to craft mouthwatering cocktails featuring herbs, spices, and foams. Come summer, only day-of reservations are accepted—hurry, phone lines open at 1 p.m. 12 Cambridge St., Nantucket, MA 02554, nautilusnantucket.com.
Old Yarmouth Inn
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday or just a sunny summer morning, you’ll want to bring the entire crew—and your appetite—to this 300-year-old inn’s Sunday buffet. Offering a variety of breakfast and lunch options (seafood Newburg, Belgian waffles) and, of course, the requisite omelet and carving stations, this is old-school brunching at its best. The restaurant has the a.m. ambiance down to a science, too, with charming toile wall coverings and garden views in the dining room—the perfect environment for sipping an Aperol spritz. 223 Route 6A, Yarmouth, MA 02675, oldyarmouthinn.com.
European Watch Company
Serious collectors know watches aren’t jewelry; they’re investments. Which is why those building their ticker portfolio head to European Watch Company, which stocks some of the best new, preowned, and vintage timepieces ever made, including intricate numbers by Panerai, Patek Philippe, and Rolex. Waiting for a specific addition to complete your collection? The multigenerational owners recently created an app, updated numerous times a day, that alerts customers when a precious stash of merchandise comes in, all of which can be purchased immediately and overnighted. 232 Newbury St., Boston, MA europeanwatch.com.
Tasting Counter
In the wrong hands, a ticketed, dinner-as-theater concept could come off as pretentious or, worse, gimmicky. But from his tiny open kitchen in Somerville, Peter Ungár has managed to create one of the most refreshing and immersive dining experiences in the area. Driven by advanced technique and refreshing flavor combinations, the chef's nine-course, beverage-paired tasting menus wow with offerings such as blow-torched Spanish mackerel with house-fermented black beans and yuzu. The counter-style seating, meanwhile, dissolves the barriers between the dining room and kitchen, making it all play out like a food nerd's dream. 14 Tyler St., Somerville, MA 02143, tastingcounter.com.