The Boston Helicopter Company
Hovering over Fenway Park in a helicopter, Boston Magazine staffers recently watched the Red Sox lose another game. It was worth it though, if only for the adrenaline rush of liftoff. Boston Helicopter Copmany offers unsurprisingly smooth and scenic sightseeing flights, as well as helicopter lessons. Umphrey & Co. have a spotless safety record, in part because it turns down frequent injudicious requests. "A number of people have wanted to bungee jump off the helicopter," says pilot Ivan Jaffe. "One guy wanted us to drop eggs to him for an egg-catching competition." Hangar 1727, Hanscom Field (military side), Bedford, MA .
Ryan Lotz, Traveler Street Hospitality
Imagine the unicycle-on-a-high-wire/juggling/fire-eating act that is simultaneously managing cocktails, wine, and beer programs for an elegant, seafood-focused Italian restaurant (Bar Mezzana); a stunning tropical-drinks bar with Asian food (Shore Leave); a tiny, high-end sushi and sashimi spot (No Relation); and a raucous, hard-partying American brasserie (Black Lamb). And killing it at all of them? That’s what genial beverage manager Ryan Lotz does every day. (At least they’re all within the same few city blocks.) Multiple locations, travelerstreethospitality.com.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
This Brookline staple has long been a regular stop for cinema die-hards, with an expertly curated calendar of classics, new indies, and cult wonders. But a 14,000-square-foot expansion slated for a grand opening early this fall ups the ante, adding two movie screens and an entirely new lobby and concessions area. The centerpiece, however, might be the third-floor Community Education and Engagement Center, which will boast a 60-seat classroom and event space — plus an adjacent roof deck where you can surely debate the finer points of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. 290 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, coolidge.org.
Matt Shearer, WBZ
A video reporter for the radio station WBZ, Shearer has become a social media sensation for his spin on traditional man-on-the-street interviews, a freewheeling format in which he asks Bay State residents probing questions about their home localities. For example: How did Billericans feel when one of three Market Baskets on the same street (Boston Road, naturally) closed? “I actually cried,” a customer named Peggy told him gravely. “I felt like I lost a part of my family.” The accents always fly, but what makes the videos sing are heartfelt, hysterical contributions from subjects like these. twitter.com/MattWBZ.
La Fábrica Central
When former Cambridge vice mayor Dennis Benzan teamed up in 2017 with restaurateurs Nivia and Hector Piña, longtime leaders of Boston’s Caribbean dining scene, they upped the ante by teaming with celeb chef Giovanna Huyke, previously dubbed the Julia Child of Puerto Rico. Now Huyke is covering Cuban-, Dominican-, and Puerto Rican–inspired flavors in Cambridge, from marvelous mofongo and garlicky tostones to a whole fried snapper that arrives, still grinning, over coconut sauce. Don’t miss the superlative list of fine rums, perfect for sipping over live reggae and rumba. 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA lafabricacentral.com.
George Howell Coffee at the Godfrey Hotel
Before he sold it to Starbucks in the 1990s, George Howell’s local-born Coffee Connection chain helped pioneer the gourmet-coffee movement. Two decades later, the java guru’s eponymous flagship in Boston remains a bar-setter for its robust selection of espressos and pour-overs using full-flavored, single-origin brews—from chocolatey Costa Rican beans to jammy-tasting Yemen selections—that Howell now roasts in Acton. Oh, and Frappuccino fans? Allow us to direct you to a seasonally available creamy, sweet frozen drink–aptly named the Original. 505 Washington St., Boston, MA georgehowellcoffee.com/the-godfrey-hotel.
Marshfield Drive-in
While we wait for the world to return to 21st-century speed, a throwback trend perfect for the social-distancing era has roared back to life: the 1950s-style drive-in movie theater. And what better place than the wide-open grounds of the now-canceled Marshfield Fair—reimagined this summer as an al fresco theater (pictured above) complete with a big screen and concessions—to sprawl out on a lawn chair with a bag of popcorn? Past showings have ranged from the current (Trolls World Tour) to the old-school, including the aptly chosen Back to the Future. 140 Main St., Marshfield, MA 02050, marshfielddrivein.com.
Forage
Why schlep out to pick up locally grown produce when Forage can do the work for you? The farm-to-table restaurant is now partnering with small area growers and producers to offer several options for upgrading your pantry and fridge: multiweek subscription boxes of fresh veggies like local mushrooms and fiddleheads; separate “Goodie Bags,” available à la carte, featuring house-made herb oils, cocktail mixers, and other delights; and weekly orders of unique natural wines. With even delivery available, we wonder: Why wait in supermarket lines ever again? 5 Craigie Cir., Cambridge, MA 02138, foragecambridge.com.
Vinyl Index
Flipping through the crates of records at this pint-size shop, which opened this spring, is like catching a glimpse inside a music pro’s personal collection. Opened by George "7L" Andrinopoulos, Jeremy Sullivan, and Peter Fiumara, three local legends with decades of music-making, DJing, and producing between them, it’s equal parts fan clubhouse, music school, and vinyl boutique. New and used records spanning all genres are organized in a bright, fresh space that makes it easy to catch sight of an old favorite without the usual dusty digging. Bow Market, One Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143, vinylindex.com.
Scituate
With its harbor vistas and wide sidewalks, Front Street always had the potential to be a South Shore destination—all it needed was a little pep. This year, we're finally seeing that potential fulfilled, with brand-new hot spots (Galley Kitchen & Bar, Lucky Finn Café); neighborhood stalwarts (T.K. O'Malley's, Mill Wharf); and high-end restaurants (Oro, Riva) all playing nicely along the charming half-mile strip. Day-trippers and locals alike enjoy movies at the Mill Wharf Cinemas, ice cream at Nona's, and browsing at sweet shops like the Welch Company and the Roman Table. The best part? It's right on the water. MA
Deuxave
Frenchie food is all the rage again, folks, so here's a primer for restaurateurs mulling a Gallic dalliance. Start with a cellar full of undersung Rhônes and Burgundies, plus Bordeaux with a little age. You'll want sophisticated riffs on Parisian pastry-craft—a raspberry-rose tart with lemony sablés Bretons should do. Kind service. A comfy dining room. Oh, yeah...and gently modernized masterpieces like duck confit with brilliant-bright swooshes of rhubarb purée. Come to think of it, that sounds exactly like the Franco-magic you'll find at Chris Coombs's Deuxave. 371 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02118, deuxave.com.
The Catered Affair
Your wedding caterer should be, above all else, a perfectionist. You don't want boring and bone-dry chicken any more than you want poorly timed service or cheesy table settings. The Catered Affair owner Holly Safford is just that—a perfectionist who runs her tight ship with equal parts creativity, fabulous taste, efficiency, and soul. What's more, she's been doing it for decades, and her seamless organization and calming demeanor has kept many a girl from turning into Bridezilla. Take that, Martha Stewart. Accord Park, Hingham, MA thecateredaffair.com.
Newbury Comics, Back Bay location
Newbury Comics is to Nick Hornby as music megastores are to Carson Daly. The trucker hat—wearing kids who staff this eclectic pop culture emporium truly know their stuff, and they're quick to help shoppers navigate the impressive selection of CDs crammed between the movies and kitschy collectibles that crowd the aisles. With new releases often priced at $10 or less, ample shelf space set aside for local artists, and sought-after acts frequently dropping in for appearances, browsing for albums here almost beats downloading them for free on your home computer—and, as an added bonus, doesn't create the same risk of being sued for copyright infringement. 332 Newbury St., Boston, MA newburycomics.com.
E6 Apothecary
E6 owner Elena Frankel has earned her place in beauty heaven by giving Boston a much-needed injection of both high-style cosmetics and low-pressure shopping. Her sunny, well-organized boutique is home to every hot, hard-to-find bottle, tube, and compact a product junkie could ever need, from gorgeous Tarte glosses and Shu Uemura eyelash curlers to Poole eye shadows and the just-revamped Molton Brown line—all minus the attitude-saddled staff of many other makeup counters. 167 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Sephora
When this national cosmetics outlet opened its branch in Burlington, we rushed to see what the fuss was about. The verdict: For pure, unadulterated immersion into the beauty world, Sephora can't be beat. There are imported perfumes (nearly the entire Versace collection!), lotions and potions (Stila body glimmer!), and trendy makeup lines (Lorac lip gloss!). There are also all of our favorites, from Chanel to Shu Uemura to Nars. The best part: Everything can be sampled before purchasing. Of course, a knowledgeable and approachable sales staff is on hand to supply product advice and makeup application assistance. 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA sephora.com.