Steel & Rye
All of Milton (and a good chunk of Boston) flock to chef Chris Parsons's sprawling fiefdom in a former car showroom and ambulance garage. They come for creative craft cocktails and local beer on draft. They come for the rustic-meets-sophisticated ambiance. Most of all, they come for Parsons's whimsical, honest-to-goodness American fare—spaghetti with green garlic, broccoli rabe, bacon, and a poached egg; grilled smoked-chicken flatbread with homemade ricotta; and a juicy Niman Ranch burger on brioche, presented with a side of house pickles and potato chips in an adorable metal box. 95 Eliot St., Milton, MA 02186, steelandrye.com.
Keytar Bear
Boston has a long, rapturous history of genius buskers, from Susan Dietrich Schneider, the infamous "Space Lady" of the ’80s, to such future stars as Tracy Chapman, Mary Lou Lord, and Amanda Palmer. But none has so captured the soul of the city as Keytar Bear, our unofficial musical mascot. Yes, our funky spirit animal—the furry king of costume-core—has been twice attacked by thugs. But he's now back in action, appearing with Guster in January and welcoming the Fenway faithful with slinky grooves on Opening Day.
The Official Rock Song of Massachusetts
One, two, three, four, five, six! That’s not only the opening countdown of Natick native Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers’ 1976 classic “Roadrunner,” it’s also the number of times state lawmakers have tried to pass legislation making Richman’s ode to Route 128 night-driving “the official rock song of the Commonwealth.” Ten years since former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh introduced the first fail bills in 2013, Natick Representative David Linsky filed another one in February. Maybe the sixth time is the charm? Radio on!
Airi Jewelry & Gallery
We all have go-to ensembles, the ones we pull from the closet at least once a week because they make us feel good. But when you need just a little something extra to make yours special enough for [insert occasion here], a pair of statement earrings goes a long way. Enter the wearable art from Boston-based Airi. Crafted from stainless steel and tarnish-resistant brass, founder Maya Alia’s geometric wired pieces — we especially love the golden arches and the floral-shaped “ear jackets” — make even the simplest outfit look chic. shopairi.com.
December Thieves
Celebrating a decade in business this year, this cutting-edge boutique continues to set the city’s fashion world ablaze with styles you won’t find elsewhere (just ask Halle Berry, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Melissa McCarthy, all of whom have popped in while in town). The only Boston retailer of edgy Trippen footwear and clothing by Barcelona designer Lurdes Bergada, owner Lana Barakat now has another feather in her cap — an exclusive with South African maestro Karien Belle, who designs one-of-a-kind word-printed scarves and clothing. 51 Charles St., Boston, MA 02122, decemberthieves.com.
Roundhead Brewing Company
This 2022 Hyde Park arrival has brought a thrilling lineup of creative beers to Boston, including a red ale made with Peruvian purple corn and a tart dragon fruit Berliner Weisse. It feels like a bonus that the brewery is truly a family-friendly, community-driven space — perhaps no surprise, given co-owners Luis Espinoza and Craig Panzer met at their kids’ soccer games. Also no surprise? Espinoza, a chef whose family ran a group of bakeries in Peru, cooks up some tasty pizzas (try the carne asada). There’s ice cream and churros, too, and a great live-music roster. Powerhouse at Westinghouse Plaza, Hyde Park, MA 02136, roundheadbrewing.com.
Hecate
The rare spirits and ambitious beverages conjured at this chic cocktail den, named for the Greek goddess of sorcery, are like nowhere else in Boston — then again, neither is the candlelit, cave-like space (max capacity: 24) secreted a stair’s-flight below a dark Back Bay alley. Inside, the leather-bound Book of Hecate spells out intricate, folklore-inspired potions garnished with feathers, smudge sticks, or — as with the savory “Feast of Gévaudan,” saffron-spiked luxury gin with French apple brandy, Hungarian paprika, horseradish, and housemade mustard cordial — bite-sized charcuterie. This is high (witch)craft. Public Alley 443, Boston, MA 02115, hecatebar.com.
Area Four
The Hub’s abundance of prize-worthy pies continues to grow, but this year’s cornicione crown goes to a repeat winner. We credit the Area Four team’s obsessive attention to detail, starting with the tang, chew, and char of that crust, enough to make a dough aficionado’s knees wobble. And the toppings? Just your run-of-the-mill larder staples like hand-stretched mozzarella, Wellfleet clams, and a satiny mushroom sauce that is surely the reduction of some luxe French bisque. 264 East Berkeley St., South End, Boston, 857-317-4805; 500 Technology Sq., Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-758-4444, areafour.com
The Club Car
Housed in a Nantucket Railroad car, this 41-year-old stalwart got a gorgeous redesign last year courtesy of its new owners, who earned their bona fides at Boston favorites like Toro and Grill 23. Chef-partner Mayumi Hattori’s Cali-inspired cuisine is top-notch, but we especially love the scene at the bar, which pours local Cisco brews and cocktails such as the Garden Variety, a refreshing mash-up of tequila, cucumber, and lime. Live piano music gets the party started while keeping it classy. One Main St., Nantucket, MA 02554, theclubcar.com.
Union Square Donuts
We thought we couldn’t possibly love Union Square Donuts’ soft, flaky pastries, filled with homemade pineapple preserves, glazed with blackberry-basil-lime icing, and studded with smoky-sweet Vermont maple bacon, any more than we already do. Then the Somerville-born bakery, led by recent Food Network Holiday Baking Championship finalist Sarah Belisle, started offering its treats at outposts of the Bagel Table, another growing Boston-area brand. Now we know where to go for a morning fix of sugar and everything spice — and boy, is it nice. Multiple locations, unionsquaredonuts.com.
Night Shift Brewing
You’ll find plenty of old-school Neapolitan and Sicilian slices in the neighboring North End, but if you’re craving Detroit-style pizza — a square-cut variety slowly starting to appear in Boston — you’ll need to stop by this young TD Garden–side brewery, which tapped a super-talented team of Eastern Standard alums to perfect its recipe. Locally milled high-gluten flour yields a wonderfully chewy, sheet-pan-deep pie built with sweet tomato sauce on top of salty, tangy cheese that reaches all the way to the caramelized edge — and don’t forget the crispy, heat-curled cups of dry-aged pepperoni. 1 Lovejoy Wharf, West End, MA 02114, nightshiftbrewing.com.
J.P. Licks
Good thing J.P. Licks launched a new line of ice cream cakes in time for its 40th birthday. Now we can properly celebrate the small chain of Boston-area scoop shops, which has gifted us over the years with countless creative flavors served in cones and cookie sandwiches. All of them are still handmade at Licks’ home base in Jamaica Plain, including a few boozy varieties — like caramel-bourbon-fig or cherry-amaretto — that would feel particularly appropriate for raising a ruby anniversary toast. Multiple locations, jplicks.com.
Company One Theatre
Let's get one thing straight: Fringe isn't synonymous with small. In fact, the fringe companies in town are all about big ideas, big risks, and big heart, none more so than Company One Theatre, a long-standing resident of the Boston Center for the Arts. Dedicated to performances you aren't likely to forget (did you see the perfectly perturbed Shockheaded Peter ?), Company One should be celebrated not only for its adventurous theatrical achievements, but also for its efforts to carve out a more diverse, informed, and open-minded city. 539 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02116, companyone.org.
The Brattle Theatre
In a time when Hollywood seems to have lost its way (Mortdecai, anyone?), places like the Brattle Theatre stand as beacons of hope. Rather than subject you to Let's Be Cops on three screens, the Brattle offers area premieres of independent films, Charlie Chaplin's 100th birthday celebration, the annual Boston LGBT Film Festival, a week of avant-garde Polish cinema, and a newly restored print of Jaws. All of this, plus the warm feeling you get from supporting a local nonprofit theater, and the additional warmth provided by the local beer and wine available at the concession stand. 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA 02138, brattlefilm.org.
Matt Murphy's Pub
For a city with an Irish bar on every block, Boston is decidedly short on palatable Irish fare. The exception is this enclave of green cuisine in Brookline Village, which serves up traditional Gaelic dishes with a modern twist. Rabbit pie comes tender in a soda bread crust; fish and chips are wrapped in newspaper to seal in the steam. Meals go down even easier with the help of a hefty board of farmers' cheeses and some chunky, well-spiced homemade ketchup (not to mention the obligatory pints of Guinness). Service and consistency here have fallen off of late, but Murphy's is still a shillelagh above the competition. 14 Harvard St., Brookline, MA mattmurphyspub.com.