Walden Local
At a time when every supermarket trip is an unwelcome adventure and food shortages have proved we can’t rely on factory farms, it’s been a godsend to get Walden Local’s monthly, home-delivered meat shares featuring Northeast-farm-raised pork, lamb, beef, and chicken. The quality? Unimpeachable. And once it’s safe, we can’t wait to revisit the South End shop for butchery demonstrations and small-group workshops that let us (literally) see how the sausage gets made. 316 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA 01862, waldenlocalmeat.com/butcher-shop.
Pagu
A lot of restaurants pivoted to add grocery sales this year, but none did it quite like Pagu. Yes, chef-owner Tracy Chang stocks the virtual shelves of her market with jars of house-made condiments (including her bomb-dot-com Umami XO sauce), chef-driven provisions (see the eye-popping purple pancake mix made from taro root), and meal kits, all reflecting her restaurant’s Japanese-Spanish cuisine. Just as important, though, she’s also long on essentials — flour, EVOO, fresh produce — and through her new organization, Project Restore Us, home-delivers them to communities in need. 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139, gopagu.com.
Robert Sisca, Bistro du Midi
Boston is blessed with a bumper crop of young culinary talent injecting our food scene with energy and enthusiasm. But while many seem to spend as much time on the party circuit as they do in the kitchen, Robert Sisca has retained a singular focus: turning out exacting Provencial fare. The deceptively simple plates he creates at Bistro du Midi—pan-roasted cod with golden raisins and chorizo; grilled Mediterranean sea bass with slow-cooked fennel—employ the meticulous French technique he honed under chef Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin in New York. 272 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2116, bistrodumidi.com.
Austen's
Most of us look forward to a bikini wax about as much as we look forward to a root canal. Like a good dentist, a first-rate aesthetician is meticulous and professional—and makes the experience as painless as possible. Enter Austen (who, like Madonna and Sting, does not have or need a last name). His deft touch and finely honed technique make him as nimble with brows as with Brazilian bikini lines. And that's what brings men and women alike flocking to Austen's second-floor boutique, with its plush carpets, homey accents, and attentive but discreet service. 115 Newbury St., Boston, MA .
Orpheus
When you can't find that rare, out-of-print classical CD around the corner on Newbury Street, try Orpheus. This hole-in-the-wall store carries classical, jazz, and international recordings, opera boxed sets, laser discs, and such musical memorabilia as autographs. A great place just to browse, too. 362 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA .
Brick Cellar at Atria
Estonian beer, caipirinhas with a citrus twist—this swanky underground bar is not your typical Vineyard watering hole. The drinks are fun, the atmosphereis cozy and intimate, and the food (including 10 different burgers) is tasty. Don't miss the photo booth on your way out. 137 Main St., Edgartown, MA atriamv.com.
Warren Tavern
Paul Revere called it his favorite watering hole. George Washington is said to have stopped by for a brewski. Since then, thousands of townies have lifted a pint to their memories. The oldest tavern in continuous operation in the city of Boston, this is the real prototype for Cheers. 2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown, MA .
If we could dream up a 2020 all-star squad of heroes, champions, and advocates, it would look a lot like this: Community organizer Gladys Vega (1) of the Chelsea Collaborative, who has spent the past two decades fighting for social justice but swiveled her focus to feeding 11,000 residents each week as the coronavirus ravaged her city. Public health advocate and Harvard professor of epidemiology Marc Lipsitch (2) would also make the team, in no small part due to his consistent and clear message, whether speaking to us in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, or the Boston Globe: Never underestimate COVID-19. Our best city politician is Julia Mejia (3), the first immigrant and Latina on the Boston City Council, who fought back against racist harassment after taking office in early 2020. She has also worked to improve bilingual communications in Boston and even made a series of TikTok videos with her daughter to liven up the mood at City Hall during the early days of the pandemic. Ibram X. Kendi (4), meanwhile, is the man of the hour and our hope for humanity. A bestselling author, the 2019 Guggenheim Fellow recently became a history professor and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, where he’ll lead many of the country’s brightest minds to solve problems of racial inequity. His books, including How to Be an Antiracist, are already required reading among those in the know around town. As for the best social justice advocate in Boston? That’s Monica Cannon-Grant (5), a Roxbury mother of six adopted children who rallied tens of thousands of residents to Franklin Park to peacefully protest police brutality. She also runs a victim-assistance program and free-meal delivery service through her organizations Violence in Boston and Food for the Soul. And though he’s best known for his moves on the court, Celtics star Jaylen Brown (6) is our clear choice for celebrity ambassador—he’s peacefully protested, regularly speaks about race in America, and was honored at the State House this year for his charity work with children. We’re proud to have him on our home team.
Bantam Cider Company Tasting Room
With pours spanning the cider spectrum—from the cherry-tinged Rojo to the farmhouse-style Sweet Scrumpy—Bantam’s taproom serves up a refreshing alternative to your typical neighborhood watering hole. Claim a standing table, and make a day of it. 40 Merriam St., Somerville, MA 02143, bantamcider.com.
75 Chestnut
Through every season, weekends as much as weeknights, this gathering spot/watering hole fills up with Beacon Hillbillies, well-heeled families, and politicos alike seeking solid fish and chips (and usually multiple cocktails). Sunday brunch gets so busy, it looks like a preppy convention just rolled into town. 75 Chestnut St., Boston, MA 2108, 75chestnut.com.
The Dog Bar/65 Main
Folks who come to this beloved local watering hole enjoy its outdoor patio and live music on weekends, and get an added bonus: They can walk into the adjoining restaurant, 65 Main, and pair the town's best burger with, say, a pint from Cape Ann Brewing Company. 65 Main St., Gloucester, MA dogbarcapeann.com.
White Elephant Village
The sister property to the iconic White Elephant harborfront hotel, this luxe resort caters to guests’ every whim: Need a ride to dinner? A loaner bike to explore the island? Scoops of ice cream to keep the kids entertained at the pool? Done, done, and done. The circa-2012 inn offers plush rooms and suites, but for a picture-perfect—and stress-free—family getaway, you’ll want to reserve one of the spacious " premier residences," which offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. 19 N. Water St., Nantucket, MA 2584, whiteelephantvillage.com.
French + Italian
Just because your couch is now your office doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. The well-curated selection of soft, wearable tops at this Beacon Hill boutique includes colorful knit tees from Marni, flowy organic-cotton blouses from Apiece Apart, and collared button-downs from Acne Studios that look just as good on your Monday-morning Slack call as they do on your favorite restaurant patio come the weekend. 119 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, frenchitalian.com.
Guarino's Swimming Pool Service
If you dove headfirst into last year’s pool-installation craze, a professional maintenance team is likely top of mind. Who better to look after your new oasis than a firm that builds some of the finest swimming holes around? Trust the experts at Guarino’s Swimming Pool Service — a subset of acclaimed pool contractor SSG — to open and close your in-ground gem each year, keep the water clean and balanced, and respond swiftly and skillfully to leaks and faulty equipment. ssgpools.com/guarinos-pool-service.
Deep Ellum
At 10 years old, this Allston watering hole still fits the niche Max Toste and Aaron Sanders first set out to fill: a spot to crush mug after mug of sessionable, European-style beers—from dry-hopped farmhouse saisons and low-octane porters to Guineu Riner, a 3 percent Spanish import you don't often see at other beer bars. 477 Cambridge St., Allston, MA 02134, deepellum-boston.com.