Mission of Burma
Art-punk heroes and alterna-rock granddaddies Mission of Burma, whose original 1979-83 run influenced R.E.M. and the Pixies, roared back with a handful of high-decibel concerts that proved their jittery, angular poetry had not been dimmed by 19 years in hibernation. Bassist Clint Conley called the reunion "a full-blown midlife crisis," but these fortysomethings played with the same verve as when they were pups.
Milky Way Lounge & Lanes
Homer Simpson's bowling alley it's not. First, the food is actually good: pizza from Bella Luna, not greasy hot dogs that spin around and around under a heat lamp all day long. Second, there's funky art on display. And this Jamaica Plain hot spot also has a lounge, where you can shoot pool, jam to live bands, or dance a little salsa on Saturdays. Oh, and the lanes. They're dimly lit, lined with Christmas lights, and as cool as disco. 403 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA milkywayjp.com.
Tiffany Von
No one encapsulates the “fine art” photography style of atmospheric, painterly perfection better than Tiffany Von Noronha. Although she’s been cultivating national clientele with weddings in far-off destinations and appearances in Martha Stewart Weddings, the Boston-based virtuoso is still right at home in the Hub’s finest indoor and outdoor venues — effortlessly capturing moments and details in romantic, unposed shots you’ll want to hang on your wall forever. tiffanyvon.com.
Gardner Gala
When arts patron Isabella Stewart Gardner unveiled her meticulously curated Venetian palazzo Fenway Court in 1903, she did it with a New Year’s Day soiree featuring doughnuts, champagne, and Mozart. More than 120 years later, her namesake museum still hosts an exquisite black-tie dinner, illuminated by candlelight and attended strictly by A-listers. It’s possibly the most elegant evening anywhere in town, as guests gather for cocktails in the courtyard and then dine in the galleries with Old Masters hovering over their shoulders. gardnermuseum.org.
Date & Time
A visit to this showroom is nothing short of an experience, with swanky lounge areas, a grand piano, and a bar where you can relax with a drink. But let’s get to what you’re really here for — the jewelry and watches. Whether it’s a bold turquoise-and-diamond sparkler from Messika or a Rolex stunner that catches your eye, the store’s museum-like cases make it easy to find your next wearable piece of art. 5 Concord Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776, dateandtimema.com.
Umami Omakase
At this relative newcomer in North Cambridge, the presentation is so artful that you almost feel guilty (almost!) for polishing off the expertly cut and dressed Japanese sea bass, isaki, and kasago. Guess what? You’ll get over it. After all, chef Gary Lei, an Uni alum, highlights the freshest and most flavorful fish around, and mercifully, his multicourse experiences don’t come with the eye-popping prices attached to most omakase. See? Guilt vanquished. 2372 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140, umamiomakase.com.
Tsurumen
This revelatory restaurant treats ramen-making as autobiographical performance art: Self-taught chef Masuo Onishi will operate Tsurumen for only 1,000 days, and reveals a new bowl of springy noodles inspired by a chapter of life every 200 days—such as the Formula 1995, a richly glistening miso ramen with wrinkly wontons that represents early adulthood. Savor every precious slurp. 420 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA .
Sam Kane, Blackroom
All too often, long-haired gals find themselves at the mercy of scissors-happy stylists with their own agenda. Not at this new South End salon. Owner Sam Kane approaches each cut as if it’s art in the making, shaping her canvas by listening carefully and never passing judgment. Case in point: She declined to scold us for waiting 10 months between cuts—and left our revitalized locks at just the right length. 61 Berkeley St., Boston, MA blackroomsalon.com.
Kelly Horan, Jack Rodolico, and Stephen Kurkjian, Last Seen
Mobsters, drugs, priceless art, and an unsolved mystery: This riveting capsule podcast about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist has it all. Meticulously crafted by WBUR’s Horan and Rodolico and the now-retired longtime Globe staffer Kurkjian, Last Seen’s twists, turns, and revelations are something you have to hear to believe. wbur.org/lastseen. wbur.org/lastseen.
Kelly Gardner, Moxie Salon
Kelly Gardner has an eye for contrast, tone, and depth, with a particular fluency in the art of foiling—super up-close and personal with the root, mind you. Trend-seekers, fret not: Gardner will fearlessly dive into those edgy, ultramodern looks, too. For us, it was a bold white-platinum with an inch of blended root. Her second forte is of-the-moment, sun-kissed balayage. Talk about cutting-edge. 691 Belmont St., Belmont, MA 02478, moxiebelmont.com.
CinemaSalem
This indie movie theater has been a community favorite for years, with live music, film festivals, and art shows bolstering its new and classic big-screen offerings. While it's homegrown, it's hardly old-fashioned, with a coffee bar on offer from the beloved Atomic Café. Meanwhile, four screens mean a flick for (virtually) everyone—go ahead and put the kids in something animated while you hit the latest action movie. One East India Sq., Salem, MA 1970, cinemasalem.com.
The Catered Affair
Partnering with some of the area's most exclusive venues, this catering company turns out artfully plated fare that would be at home in the city's finest restaurants: chorizo beignets with romesco, espresso-roasted lamb sirloin. Maybe that's because executive chef Shane O'Neill, a L'Espalier alum, is the culinary genius behind the seasonally inspired menus. 70 Ledgewood Place, Rockland, MA 02370, thecateredaffair.com.
Joséphine
At Joséphine, executive chef Alex Falconer crafts Gallic works of art: seared scallops with crispy pork belly and a tuft of enoki mushrooms; duck confit nestled over a blood-orange gastrique and tuiles of lotus root; and tuna tartare crowned with a plume of foam. Owner Samuel Gosselin’s doting service adds to the opulence. Correction, July 1, 9 a.m.: An earlier version of this post referred to chef Stefano Quaresima. He is no longer the chef at Joséphine, the chef is Alex Falconer. We regret the error. 468 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02215, josephineboston.com.
Shōjō
Shōjō’s “Shadowless” fries combine handcut Russets double-fried in duck fat, mapo tofu tinged with spicy chili, and nacho-cheese sauce built from a gochujang-kimchi base. The clincher? A splash of sriracha aioli. Chef Mark O’Leary says the moniker for this poutine-by-way-of-Chinatown masterpiece comes from a martial-arts term for “peerless.” We won’t disagree. 9A Tyler St., Boston, MA 02111, shojoboston.com.
Hudson
You might say Hudson has New England roots and California tips. That's the product of the decor vision of owner-designer Jill Goldberg, whose store is an ecumenical palette of vintage, modern, romantic, and tribal. There are soft, sweet sofas by Shabby Chic; stately Oly chairs and ottomans; and art deco-accented lamps from Worlds Away. It's an aesthetic that can make any Boston home kinder, gentler, and full-on cozier. 312 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA hudsonboston.com.