Mighty Mighty BossTones
Ska may come and ska may go, but the BossTones are forever. Going on 20 years, the band is forcing listeners to again Pay Attention with a best selling new studio release. Notwithstanding some catchy hooks, the album features a more melodic side of the plaid-bedecked eight-some, or, as frontman Dicky Barrett says, songs that are "thought out, not just half-assed." Get your tix for the Throwdown now! bosstones.com.
Dropkick Murphys at Fenway Park
With our beloved ballpark’s 37,000-plus seats empty during prime baseball season this spring, what did Boston’s other hometown team, the Dropkick Murphys, do? They descended on the diamond to play a show, Streaming Outta Fenway, to raise money and spirits. The rocking two-hour set, which featured remote appearances from Bruce Springsteen and Fenway organist Josh Kantor, attracted more than 9 million viewers worldwide—and collected more than $700,000 for organizations such as Boston Resiliency Fund, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity in the process. dropkickmurphys.com.
Software Tool & Die, Boston On-Line, http://www.std.com/NE/boston.html
This Web page is maintained by Adam Gaffin and features links to restaurant reviews, entertainment guides, neighborhood information, and dozens of other categories.
Frugal Bookstore
The pandemic deeply challenged the future of Boston’s foremost Black-owned bookstore, with owners Leonard Egerton and Clarrissa Cropper holding online fundraisers to maintain not only their business focused on Black authors and subjects, but also their mission to encourage literacy in kids and adults. We’re so thankful they’ve managed to persevere: After all, where else would we find a wide range of children’s literature, Afrofuturistic sci-fi, memoirs, and local and national history, all lovingly curated by two people who grew up in Boston? 57 Warren St., Roxbury, MA 02119, frugalbookstore.net.
The $1 Trips Around Boston Harbor (Bay State Cruises and Boston Harbor Cruises)
Don't eat the hot dogs, but sea breezes will cool you off and clear your mind.
Geoff Smith, winner of the 1984 Boston Marathon
Unfortunately, he had two sponsors for that race: Adidas and Prime Computer. And that may disqualify him from the Olympics.
Kirstein Business Branch, Boston Public Library
This is the library that can make you rich. The ratio of reference librarians to inquirers is favorable—and their counsel is free. 20 City Hall Avenue, Boston, MA .
Paul Tucker, professor, University of Massachusetts, Boston
The Jerry McGuire of the local arts scene, Tucker has been showing us the Monet for the last decade, organizing three spectacular exhibitions for the Museum of Fine Arts—and radically enhancing our appreciation of Boston's favorite French Impressionist. Tucker is also an inspiring teacher.
Boston Celtics vs. the Orlando Magic at the Garden
After a year of whining, bitching, and generally brutal basketball, the Green summoned up one more moment of pride to wake up the echoes and close the building with style. The fact that they lost was immaterial.
Robert Spano, assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
This guy has a visible passion for music, tethered in just the right ways by his technical mastery.
The Third Annual Boston Against AIDS Benefit
Little Richard, Cher, Raquel Welch, Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, and Mike Love and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys. This was Boston's own version of Night of a Hundred Stars, all for a good cause. Where were you? The Metro, December 2, 1987, Boston, MA .
Hodan Hashi and Toiell Washington, Black Boston founders
The city’s top social justice advocate is not just one person, but a duo symbolizing the importance of collective action: In the wake of George Floyd’s murder last year, Black Boston founders Hodan Hashi and Toiell Washington came together to work to dismantle racism in policing, healthcare, education, and housing. blackboston.org.
Kathryn Van Patten, Boston Bodyworks Studio
Do you know if your left scapula juts out farther than your right, or if your right hip rides higher than your left? Kathryn Van Patten will know. While many Pilates instructors drag their clients straight to the "Cadillac" or the "Reformer," Van Patten—an ex-ballerina with top-level certification—does a complete body check to see how she can balance out all your "idiosyncracies." Then she drags you to the Cadillac and the Reformer. of all? Her studio is in a beautifully appointed Beacon Hill townhouse. 12 Joy St., Boston, MA bostonbodyworksstudio.com.
<em>Look to Your Elders,</em> by Victor "MARKA27" Quinonez
Street art in Boston got a thrilling new addition this past May with Quiñonez’s Look to Your Elders, a vibrant painting on the side of Grove Hall pot shop Pure Oasis depicting a woman and young man surrounded by Caribbean plants and Indigenous patterns. A heartfelt nod to Boston’s generations of Caribbean and Afro-Latino residents, the piece is more than just a mural: It’s a stop-you-in-your-tracks work of art that has turned the spot into a must-visit. 430 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, MA 02121, marka27.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
At last count, Boston had more than two dozen luxury steakhouses. What situates this Back Bay institution atop that pricey heap? It has the dry-aged and genuine Wagyu steaks that beef snobs prefer; serves equally fine seafood and raw bar items; boasts a capacious, trophy-laden wine cellar; and epitomizes the gleaming opulence of Boston’s bygone private clubs. Plus, in a city increasingly dominated by national chains, it lets you feel like royalty while supporting a veteran local indie. 161 Berkeley St., Back Bay, MA 02116, grill23.com.