First Night
The most art for the least money. Weather leaves a bit to be desired, though.
Bostix Booth at Copley Square
Finally—equal access to tickets for the rest of us! The charming Graham-Gund-designed booth at Copley Square allows residents and office workers in the Back Bay to compete for discount tickets with the tourists roaming Faneuil Hall Marketplace.
Chamber Theater Productions
Here's to a 16-year-old Boston-based for-profit company so successful with its touring theatrical productions for junior and senior high school students that it is now able to be a corporate sponsor and support other local arts organizations.
Quadrum
"Funky elegance" may seem like an oxymoron, but the keen-eyed buyers at Quadrum nail it. Witness the brilliant pairings: hammered-metal cuffs scattered with diamonds next to Darcy Miro bangles that look like some beautiful thing that crawled straight out of the sea. 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 2467, quadrumgallery.com.
A Pet's Peeve (formerly For Your Paws Only)
This grooming service is no-nonsense and no-frills, but we like it that way. And so do our dogs, who don't balk at returning when we pull into the parking lot. The cheap $7 nail-clipping service can't be beat. 310 Lincoln St. (Route 3A), Hingham, MA .
Bully Boy Tasting Room
Many bars chase that elusive speakeasy vibe. Here, Bully Boy has nailed it effortlessly: An unmarked door reveals a cozy space that doubles as a front-row seat to watch the distillery in action while sipping a luscious Teddie's Peanut Butter Dream. 44 Cedric St., Roxbury, MA 02119, bullyboydistillers.com.
Adam Berke
Vogue named him one of the "most sought after trainers in America": he has a client list peppered with Boston's beautiful people, and his state-of-the-art gym is more Philippe Starke than YMCA grunge. But don't let appearances deceive you: Berke's a task master who realizes people do not want to be sweating their buns off, doing the same old grunts seven days a week. Gym rats addicted to StairMasters, aerobics, and other such standard pursuits be warned: Berke will have you jumping rope, spinning, and taking part in high-intensity weight training. He will also create an individually tailored diet regime, which can include two glasses of red wine a night. $75/hour. Adam Berke Gym, 1260 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Brookline Arts Center
Brookline Arts Center remains one of the most forward-thinking schools around. Popular offerings include comic-book classes for grade schoolers, a jewelry course for teens, and anything taught by engaging studio coordinator Léonie Little-Lex. Before and during longer classes, kids can shake their sillies on the adjacent playground. 86 Monmouth St., Brookline, MA 02446, brooklineartscenter.com.
Liquid Art House
The MFA may be a world-class marvel, but not for a nightcap. At gallery/restaurant Liquid Art House, striking visuals—starting with an enormous, scorpionlike Murano chandelier—complement boundary-pushing cocktails at the circular marble bar in the center of the art-bedecked atrium. Drink one or two. Or three. Say, were those paintings always so blurry? 100 Arlington St., Boston, MA 02116, liquidarthouse.com.
Art Cliff Diner
It’s the compelling twists on familiar staples that keep the crowds coming to this Vineyard Haven diner on steroids: Biscuits are made with sweet potato, crêpes come loaded with Parmesan, prosciutto, and kale, and crunchy potato pancakes are piled high with Irish bacon and griddled eggs. 39 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 2568, .
Museum of Fine Arts
Boston's foremost art museum has it all: mummies and amphorae, French impressionists, and abstract expressionists. The jaw-dropping highlight, however, is the Arts of the Americas Wing, opened in fall 2010, which has taken many pieces formerly displayed in dark basement galleries and given them space to breathe in a brightly lit, glassed-in viewing area. The galleries themselves are nearly as inspiring as the art they feature. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 2115, mfa.org.
Art Cliff Diner
With choices like green eggs and ham and root beer floats, the Art Cliff's menu is a bit like that of a child's tea party. The tastes at this '40s-era diner, however, are pure refinement. Former fine-dining chef Regina Stanley uses ingredients from nearby Morning Glory Farm for her creations; highlights include sweet potato biscuits with maple butter, and asparagus, tomato, and goat cheese frittatas. The pecan-stuffed pancakes alone have brunchies of all ages lining up on the vinyl counter stools seven days a week. 39 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, MA 2568, .
Alpers Fine Art
Owner Peter Alpers of six-year-old Alpers Fine Art sells paintings on a variety of backdrops (canvas, wood, Plexiglas) by an impressive stable of established artists (Ellen Granter, C. J. Phu) and isn't afraid to take chances on new talent. He also curates diverse shows that include photography, sculpture, and original graphics and encourages visitors to brows—even if they never buy a thing. 2 Main St., Andover, MA 1810, .
Museum of Fine Arts
What keeps the MFA fresh after all these years? Start with the wide-ranging exhibitions, which this year alone highlighted the role of tattooing in 19th-century Japanese prints, showcased quilting as a historical artform, and revived the much-loved Art in Bloom, which pairs works — like the museum’s Kehinde Wiley piece — with floral arrangements from local designers. It’s efforts like these that keep giving us new reasons to go back year after year. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, mfa.org.
Toshi Reagon, ArtsEmerson
When musician and activist Toshi Reagon signed on to work out of Boston for the year, she and everyone else assumed that her masterpiece, a musical adaptation of Octavia Butler’s iconic sci-fi novel Parable of the Sower, would hit the stage in March to wild acclaim. That didn’t happen, of course, but lucky for us all, Reagon is still here, prepping for a rescheduled production this coming October and working on her related Parable Path Boston program, which aims to engage the community around the issues of climate change and social justice. parablepathboston.com.