The Tall Ship Boston
Courtesy photo by Myles Uva and Drea Catalano What do you do with a massive dilapidated pier jutting out into the harbor? If you’re the Navy Yard Hospitality Group, you turn it into the hottest waterfront party spot in town. On the deck of a refurbished tall ship turned oyster bar and an adjacent pier, hundreds of well-dressed revelers play lawn games, sip vodka-crans, and groove to live music in the summer sun — all on what used to be a weed-strewn slab. Quite the makeover, indeed. 1 E Pier Dr., East Boston, MA 02128, tallshipboston.com.
Kaitlyn Greenidge
Book cover courtesy of Kaitlyn Greenidge The Arlington native’s 2021 release Libertie is ambitious in scope, encompassing the story of one of the country’s first Black female doctors during Reconstruction. But what makes the book sing is Greenidge’s lyrical prose, which focuses less on the trailblazing doctor and more on the aching question of what it means to be the daughter of someone so successful when you don’t want to follow in her footsteps. kaitlyngreenidge.com.
Mike Felger, Felger & Mazz
Cynical to the core, Mike Felger relishes bashing our hometown teams — and inpure Boston fashion, we love him for it.Since scoring his first ratings victory over legacy sports station WEEI in May 2010, the radio host has dominated the afternoon drive, bringing a generation of local sports fans along for the ride. And the proof is in the pudding: His show on 98.5 the Sports Hub now claims a quarter of the coveted 25-to-54 demo for men. 985thesportshub.com.
Big Night Live
THE SCENE: The Hub on Causeway’s nightlife destination boasts state-of-the-art LEDs and luxe trappings — and not just for VIPs (did someone say champagne bottle service?). THE LINEUP: Globetrotting DJs like Steve Aoki and Slander, plus an eclectic menagerie of big names in pop-punk, death metal, old- and new-school rap, and everything in between. 110 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114, bignightlive.com.
Roadrunner
Photo by Ben Stas/Noise Floor THE SCENE: Built by the same people who brought us the Sinclair, the area’s largest (and newest) indoor live-music room has a similar flair for ultra-cool minimalism, pristine sightlines, and industry-leading acoustics — at more than six times the capacity. THE LINEUP: A who’s who of 2022 touring acts, from Gen Z pop darling Olivia Rodrigo to multi-night runs by LCD Soundsystem and Lake Street Dive. 89 Guest St., Boston, MA 02135, roadrunnerboston.com.
Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs
Photo by Mona Miri You’ve likely seen the larger-than-life work of this talented Roxbury-born muralist (and MFA artist in residence), who’s graced the walls of buildings around Grove Hall or Lower Roxbury over the years with his spectacular depictions of joyful Black youth. Now, as this year’s pick to paint the Greenway’s massive Dewey Square mural, he’s taken his iconic “Breathe Life” series downtown, to the city’s most-viewed, most-talked-about stage. problak.com.
Jake Brennan, “Disgraceland”
Photo by Karin Dailey A Boston musician with a knack for storytelling, Brennan broke the true-crime mold with “Disgraceland,” a podcast that explores the dark side of the music business, from bad blood to bands on the run. Now with Double Elvis, the studio he cofounded in 2019, the rock ’n’ roll troubadour is producing more than a dozen shows, many of them hosted by big names in entertainment. And get ready for a little more conversation: This year he inked a big-time deal with Warner Music Group that will expand his roster even further. doubleelvis.com.
PKL
Photo courtesy of PKL That “thunk” you’re hearing in every corner of Boston right now? That’s the sound of a movement. As the buzziest sport around gains steam, the team behind PKL has emerged as the city’s hippest pickleball entrepreneurs, first with a hit pop-up in Assembly, and next with a tricked-out indoor space in Southie, where you’ll find five pristine courts, lounge seating, an impressive cocktail list, and a staff of evangelists eager to get you hooked on the newly trendy pastime. 64 C St., Boston, MA 02127, playpkl.com.
The Price Is Right New Hampshire Incident
The Internet got a major kick this year out of the plight of Marshfield’s Catherine Graham, whose grand prize on The Price Is Right was a glamorous vacation to … New Hampshire (not exactly the exotic Tahitian adventure she’d been hoping for). But to sweeten the pot, tons of local businesses stepped up to make her journey across state lines a special one, offering a bounty of gifts and hotel stays. As one local official put it, they didn’t want her to take her neighbor to the north for granite. Well done.
Vivian Luo
Photo by Ablestock via Getty Images If you’ve ever strolled through Faneuil and gotten down to an electric violin cover of “Old Town Road,” you’ve got Violinviiv to thank. For years she’s caught the ears of enthralled onlookers with her virtuoso skills and the miniature light show she wheels around town. Even more reason to give her a standing ovation: She recently opened up about her determination to keep her al fresco concerts going even while coping with an eye condition that nearly blinded her. violinviiv.com.
Porchfest Somerville
Photo by Heidi Besen/Alamy Stock Photo There’s no better way to spend a sunny day than weaving back and forth across Highland Avenue and its various side streets, listening to hundreds of very talented Somervillians rocking out on their porches, balconies, and driveways. The city has this tune-filled May fest down to a science, and other communities have taken note — including, for the first time this year, Dorchester, which launched its aptly named Dorchfest in June. Now that’s music to our ears. Multiple Locations, somervilleartscouncil.org.
Chinese New Year Parade and Cultural Village
There’s only one event that’ll entice us to spend the day outside in the middle of winter — and judging by the crowd that came out in the snow this past February to ring in the Year of the Tiger with the first lion-dance parade in two years(!), we’re not alone. The Cultural Village at the China Trade Center, meanwhile, always adds a layer of fun to the experience, with calligraphy, lantern-making, and more — and a layer of warmth, too. chinatownmainstreet.org.
Roxbury International Film Festival
Twenty-four years after its debut, this summer festival’s commitment to showcasing vibrant, dynamic films by, for, and about people of color remains as strong as ever. This year’s fest premiered its offerings in person and online, and handed out awards for categories including Narrative Film, Documentary Short, Audience Favorite, and more. And for those interested in making their directing debut, the fest has long offered abundant networking opportunities, as well as panels and workshops. Multiple Locations, Boston, MA 02111, roxfilmfest.com.
The ‘Quin House
Photo by Jenny Peffley Boston’s swankiest, sexiest new hangout has plenty of James Bond–style secrets: The first-floor speakeasy, Scottie’s, features “champagne buttons” to summon bubbly, while a hidden room a few floors up is revealed by pulling on a bronze bust. But really, the best reason to finagle an invitation to lunch at Sandy and Paul Edgerley’s fresh take on the members-only club is the who’s who of power players known to walk through the doors every day. Who, you ask? That’s the biggest secret of all. 217 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116, thequinhouse.com.
Green Line Extension
Photo by Nancy Lane/Boston Herald via Getty Images Given the T’s well-documented struggles, it’s nice to see the beleaguered agency get a win for once, even if it is after a decadeslong financial and logistical boondoggle. When the Green Line finally arrived in Union Square, Somerville celebrated with a brass band and, naturally, a Union Square Donuts giveaway — a welcome change of pace in an area that loves to hate on its commute.
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.
Phrenology Trivia at the Quiet Few
After keeping fans engaged on social media in recent years, indie quizzer Danny Gottschalk, the brains behind Phrenology, is once again dishing up pub trivia in the flesh — and the best place to catch him is at the Quiet Few. Arrive early to join the fun at this small neighborhood bar, which offers up a Monday special on pitchers and proffers picklebacks as between-round prizes. Pro tip: Earn extra points by ordering the Whiskey of the Week. 331 Sumner St., East Boston, MA 02128, thequietfew.com.
Spin Boston
Tired of looking at your coworkers’ mugs on Zoom? Maybe some friendly competition — and a cocktail or two — is in order. At Spin, Fort Point’s hip new Ping-Pong nightclub (er, venue), staffers deal with the unhappy task of hunting down stray balls, so you can focus on showing your boss who’s boss — when it comes to spin serves, that is. 30 Melcher St., Boston, MA 02210, wearespin.com.
Franklin Park
What better place to escape the hum of the city than in a massive, gorgeous park? That was Frederick Law Olmsted’s thinking, at least, behind all 527 acres of this green space — the crown jewel of the Emerald Necklace. In honor of his 200th birthday this year, experience the urban oasis like the father of landscape architecture intended, by mindfully savoring its native-plant-filled woodlands, wandering beside rocky outcroppings, and tracing the shores of Scarboro Pond. 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston, MA 02121, boston.gov.
Huntington Theatre Company
Live theater came back with a bang this year at the Huntington. Case in point: resident playwright Kirsten Greenidge’s fantastic Our Daughters, Like Pillars was followed by Greenidge and Melia Bensussen’s Common Ground Revisited, a powerful reinterpretation of J. Anthony Lukas’s Pulitzer Prize–winning book about the struggles of three Boston families during the busing crisis of the 1970s. The material may be old, but in the hands of Greenidge and Bensussen, it feels newly relevant. 264 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, huntingtontheatre.org.
“Love Letters”
During the early-COVID lockdown, dating got, well, complicated — and for better or worse, it’s stayed that way. Thankfully, we’ve had Meredith Goldstein to guide us through these trying times. In her Globe column “Love Letters,” adapted for a must-read newsletter, she fields a daily stream of reader questions,offering indispensable advice on everything from always-changing pandemic etiquette to dating-app faux pas. Most important, she provides a reminder to Boston singles muddling through the “new normal” that they are certainly not alone. loveletters.boston.com.
Ballet Ball
Finally IRL after a multi-year hiatus, this year’s Ballet Ball was a party of epic, delicious, and delightfully over-the-top proportions. A new venue, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, accommodated more guests, not to mention space for thrilling feats by Boston Ballet’s dancers. If there was a better way to celebrate Mikko Nissinen’s 20 years of leadership than with everyone gathered together again, dancing into the wee hours, we can’t think of it. bostonballet.org.
Midnight Marathon Bike Ride
Any long group bike ride is going to offer plenty of opportunities for bonding with your fellow cyclists, but the thrill of a moonlit journey through car-free streets on a path you know will be filled with determined marathoners in just a few short hours? That’s something special. There are glow sticks and dance music. Challenging inclines and exhilarating downhills. And a buzz like you’ve never felt before as you cross the finish line in the wee hours of the morning. crw.org.
Joanne Chang’s MasterClass
Ever marveled at the luscious, confectionary perfection that is the Flour sticky bun, and wished you could replicate it? Thanks to a series of online lessons from Boston pastry queen Joanne Chang — who’s currently sharing her James Beard Award-worthy techniques in a 30-day Bake Like a Pro course on MasterClass — now you can at least try. Even if you can’t get it just right, at least you’ll get to hang out virtually with one of this city’s friendliest celebrity chefs, and get your apron dirty in the process. masterclass.com.
Zendaya
Even in a city accustomed to A-listers, Zendaya’s time in Boston was the buzziest celebrity residency in years. All spring, fans chronicled her Tatte coffee dates with boyfriend Tom Holland, and roamed the Back Bay hoping to snag the season’s most valuable keepsake: a selfie with Spider-Man’s MJ herself. Zendaya clearly has great taste: She was spotted at Eastie’s beloved Angela’s Café not once, but twice.
DTR Modern
Lost among the sea of galleries that line Newbury Street? Find yourself (and that very special piece you’ve been searching for) at DTR Modern, the longtime purveyor of stunning contemporary artwork in Boston and beyond. With the biggest names in modern art — Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons — displayed alongside newer faves like Clara Hallencreutz and Nelson de la Nuez, this is the perfect spot for hard-core collectors and dabblers alike. 167 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, dtrmodern.com.