Saturday Nights, BUZZ-Boston
The good news: Only gorgeous men seem to be allowed in Buzz on Saturdays. The bad news: Only gorgeous men seem to be allowed in Buzz on Saturdays. Sure, it's shallow, but it makes for superb cavorting (and, for straight women, spectating). For everyone, though, there's terrific dancing on two floors and prime real estate at a bar tended by scantily clad Adonises. 67 Stuart St., Boston, MA .
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 .
Boston Harbor Hotel
You can't get much closer to the water than at the Boston Harbor Hotel, where many rooms offer breathtaking harbor vistas. And even if you're not staying over, you can still enjoy the Summer in the City entertainment series on the hotel's floating barge stage. 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110, bostonharborhotel.com.
Epic Entertainment Boston
One thing’s for sure: These DJs know how to keep the party going. Owner and disc jockey Sheldon Gentles, or DJ Shelly Shell, and his Canton-based team bring undeniable energy and upbeat jams to weddings big and small. But they don’t need gimmicks or hype tricks to get people on the dance floor. Full of hip-hop, pop, and throwbacks, their action-packed playlists — built from special requests and good ol’ fashioned crowd reading — do that all on their own. epicentertainmentboston.com.
Boston Calling Music Festival
What started as a two-day concert at City Hall Plaza 10 years ago has blossomed into New England’s destination festival. Its fifth time at the Harvard Athletic Complex, this year’s masterfully executed event mixed legacy performers (Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette), surprise showstoppers (Noah Kahan, Genesis Owusu), and endearing up-and-comers (the Linda Lindas, Mint Green). Staggered set times minimized scheduling conflicts and FOMO; the overall vibe, meanwhile, was great — you can’t go wrong with the Flaming Lips and a Ferris wheel. bostoncalling.com.
Boston Nature Center Camp
There’s a reason parents set their alarms to register for these urban-oasis camps in Mattapan and West Roxbury. Bolstered by a robust scholarship initiative, Mass Audubon’s science-based programming focuses on curated yet simple pleasures in the heart of the city, guided by approachable counselors who are often alumni themselves. Here, kids can be kids — building forts, making mud pies, and exploring nature from every angle (i.e., stuff they’ll never get to do online). Multiple locations, massaudubon.org.
Encore Boston Harbor
Let’s count the reasons why this is the premier spot for fun. There’s the casino, of course, including the new WynnBet Sportsbook. More than a dozen dining and drinking options. A full-on Vegas-style nightclub. And a gorgeous water shuttle that gets you into the action in 25 minutes from downtown Boston. Come to think of it, you’re probably going to want to book more than one night. One Broadway, Everett, MA 02149, encorebostonharbor.com.
Boston Harbor Distillery
With a vibe that distillery founder Rhonda Kallman calls “refined grittiness,” this 1800s-era Dorchester mill building can be dressed up or down. For one event, that translated to candles and white tablecloths in the tasting room, outfitted with 40-foot Douglas fir post-and-beam ceilings and brick walls. For another, more-casual gathering, it meant comfy couches and whiskey-barrel tables. Then there are the bar offerings to take advantage of: From signature cocktails with BHD’s Putnam whiskey to a full-on tasting table, your guests will have the chance to sample all the goods. 12R Ericsson St., Boston, MA 02122, bostonharbordistillery.com.
The Ritz-Carlton, Boston
As part of a dramatic 2017 renovation, the legendary hotelier has elevated its 3,500-square-foot ballroom to even greater heights of opulence. Think: a dazzling backdrop of platinum-leafed wallpaper, antiqued mirrors, a lavish custom-painted mural by Moss & Lam—and, in the center of it all, you and your beloved twirling blissfully during your first dance. 10 Avery St., Boston, MA 02111, ritzcarlton.com.
Boston Underground Film Festival
Staying ahead of the curve is no small feat—but this plucky homegrown cine-fiesta has been doing it for 20 years and shows no sign of losing its knack for trendspotting. This year alone, it not only rediscovered the ’80s cult gem Liquid Sky before New York City’s film literati did, but also gave the buzzworthy French flick Revenge its East Coast premiere. And with more than half of the new feature-length films on its 2018 roster showcasing work by female directors, BUFF’s track record on gender inclusivity handily beat Sundance’s this year. MA bostonunderground.org.
Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Don’t worry, this isn’t your middle schooler’s violin recital: Rising from the insuppressible enthusiasm of maestro Benjamin Zander—who founded the (senior) Boston Philharmonic Orchestra 40 years ago—this ensemble of fantastically talented 12- to 21-year-olds delivers exactly what you want from a night at the orchestra: to be blown away. Whether playing the notoriously difficult Mahler (one of the maestro’s specialties) or another canonical composer, they deliver youthful energy and just a touch of wonder. bostonphil.org.
Boston Park Plaza
A wedding’s not a wedding without a little opulence, and celebrations at the Boston Park Plaza—which wrapped a renovation in 2016—have it in spades. Already a prime destination for guests with its onsite restaurant, top-notch suites, and posh fitness club, the hotel woos couples with its Grand Ballroom—complete with gilded balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and breathtaking Baccarat crystal chandeliers. In addition to its undeniably elegant look, the show-stopping 780-person event space has hosted theater productions, so you can expect top-notch acoustics for your swanky soiree, too. 50 Park Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts 02116, bostonparkplaza.com.
Boston General Store
Tired of the shabby tape dispenser and legal pad you swiped from the office? Boston General Store (pictured) hawks supplies you’ll want to keep right on your desktop—not bury in a drawer. Traveler’s notebooks will reinvigorate your daily punch lists, while the sharp Italian-made Ellepi Klizia stapler was practically designed for those video-call close-ups. 305 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02446, bostongeneralstore.com.
Boston Book Festival
Who said the Internet would bring the death of print? Clearly no one at the 2014 Boston Book Festival, where traditional media and information-age innovation collided. While crowds converged on Copley Square to attend panels and keynotes with such international luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Norman Foster, last year also saw the unveiling of the "Books Come Alive" series, which connected readers and writers through streaming chats. Authors signed hard copies of their works, while the "One City One Story" selection, Jennifer Haigh's "Sublimation," was distributed as a free download through the BBF website. There's no longer any need to oppose the Kindle. We can all live together. Happily. bostonbookfest.org.
East Boston Public Library
For a mental vacation, take the Blue Line to the Airport stop and head to the library. Once inside the newly renovated building, settle into the sun-drenched reading room, which offers a vista of urban greenery and distant skyscrapers. 365 Bremen St., Boston, MA 02128, bpl.org.