Grill 23 & Bar
Used to be the lobby of the Salada Tea Building. Now it's a fine, though expensive, steak house. 161 Berkeley St., Boston, MA .
Frogg Lane Bar & Grill
Up-to-date, with plenty of well-chosen oldies, too. 245 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, MA .
Lee and Rick's Oyster Bar
They love the fresh-shucked oysters, and the proprietors keep the autograph hounds at bay. Lake Alfred, FL
Save the Harbor-Save the Bay
The best opportunity to check out the outer harbor comes but twice a year. This environmental group leads two excellent narrated tours in early September and early may—per their request, please call for exact departure dates as the time approaches. Cruises are informative, entertaining, and have a great record for spotting porpoises, seals, endangered sea birds, and fish. 25 West Street, Boston, MA .
Women fronting rock bands
Tanya Donnelly (Belly) Juliana Hatfield, Mary Timony (Helium), Tracy Bonham, and Jennifer Trynin are among those reaping the benefits of being women on top.
Avenue Kitchen + Bar
WHAT’S THE VIBE? The kind of lively, late-night-serving neighborhood bar everyone wants in the neighborhood. TASTING NOTES: Cheese is spread to the edges of these thick, focaccia-like rectangles, reflecting the steel auto-part pans in which Detroit-born pizza was first fired. And yet the subtle sweetness of tomatoes shine through thanks to the approach of finishing pies backward, adding the red sauce last and on top. 158 Boston Ave., Somerville, MA 02144, avenuesomerville.com.
Estragon Tapas Bar
With authentic tapas, paellas, and other Madrid-style dishes, chef/owner Julio de Haro and co-owner Lara Egger have built a loyal following for Estragon over the past 15 years, both in the dining room and the kitchen — many of the sweet staffers have been with them from the beginning. Weekend diners should request a table in Bar GoGo, the front room that’s also the hippest mid-mod space in the city. 700 Harrison Ave., South End, MA 02118, estragontapas.com.
Matt Damon in the Back Bay
Greater Boston’s favorite sons, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, made quite a scene in late March while in town shooting their upcoming Apple TV+ heist flick, The Instigators. Filming took over North End landmark Bova’s Bakery and the firehouse on Hanover Street, with crowds of oglers waiting to catch a glimpse of Massachusetts royalty. It was outside the Public Garden, though, that two Boston staffers randomly happened upon Damon — clad in a Boston Fire Department hat, naturally — and snagged a requisite selfie.
Plimoth Plantation
There’s nothing more kid-friendly than a slice of history that can answer you right back. Experience life as it was for Massachusetts’ first European settlers—and their hosts, the Wampanoag—at Plimoth Plantation. Walk among the tiny timber-framed houses of a 17th-century English village, learn how to play the ancient tribal game of hubbub at the Wampanoag Homesite along the Eel River, and encourage the brood to ask plenty of questions: They’ll learn more than they ever could in history class. 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth, MA 02360, plimoth.org.
Central Bottle and Provisions
We've had it with snotty wine sellers. You know what? Sometimes all we want is an oaky California chardonnay. Instead of judging our palates or wallets, the folks at Central Bottle approach our preferences and budget like a fun riddle. That the in-store tastings are built around themes like "Bad-Ass Winemakers" only confirms this shop's populist approach. 196 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 2139, centralbottle.com.
Jake Brennan, "Disgraceland"
A Boston musician with a knack for storytelling, Brennan broke the true-crime mold with “Disgraceland,” a podcast that explores the dark side of the music business, from bad blood to bands on the run. Now with Double Elvis, the studio he cofounded in 2019, the rock ’n’ roll troubadour is producing more than a dozen shows, many of them hosted by big names in entertainment. And get ready for a little more conversation: This year he inked a big-time deal with Warner Music Group that will expand his roster even further. doubleelvis.com.
Clio
Want to know a secret? We love eating at a fine-dining establishment's bar, where we get the same great fare and ambiance sans obsequious servers. And the best spot in town is Clio, which offers selections from the main menu as well as superlative bar-only options (togarashi-spiced fried chicken, fall-apart duck drummettes). Of course, the best part of the experience just may be picking the brain of bar whiz Todd Maul (his burnt-cherrywood Old Fashioned, by the way, 370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 2215, cliorestaurant.com.
Croke Park Whitey's
The bad news is that the nearly windowless room feels like the perfect setting for a bar brawl. The good news is that most nights, the bartender is also a pro boxer. History and blood run deep in what has become one of the last vestiges of old-time Southie: The drinks continue to be strong, and the pool is free, but the stories you'll hear are priceless. 268 W. Broadway, Boston, MA 02127, crokeparkwhiteys.com.
Mark Bensky
Searching for real estate is as much fun as a bad case of hives. Mark Bensky of Hunneman's Back Bay office is like a dose of hydrocortisone. Kind, funny, very professional, and ever-patient, Mark will help you see that the adorable garden flat you've set your heart (and collateral) on is actually a resort hotel for vermin. Call him first. Hunneman/Caldwell Banker, 227 Dartmouth St., Boston, MA .
The Cottage Chestnut Hill
Hand-stirred swizzles and strong Sazeracs may rule the city, but the western 'burbs are still frothing with pomegranate margaritas. Is that a bad thing? Not if those drinks are served in style, as they are at the new Cottage in Chestnut Hill, a second location of the popular California-inspired Wellesley bistro. While the food keeps the dining room moderately busy, "flirtinis" and fruity infusions lure serious crowds to the bar, giving tennis moms a reason to occasionally strap on the Jimmy Choos. 47 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 2467, cottagechestnuthill.com.