Best of Boston

Former Boston poet laureate Porsha Olayiwola and business partner Bing Broderick have cracked the code on what Fields Corner desperately needed: a community spot open after 7 p.m. on weekdays. JustBook-ish isn’t just another bookstore—it’s a cultural sanctuary where lo-fi hip-hop mingles with open mikes, banned books are prized possessions, and cushioned nooks invite no-stress lingering. From the ribbon cutting attended by Representative Ayanna Pressley to Octavia E. Butler–themed discussion circles, this inclusive gathering place demonstrates that sometimes the most important civic act is simply creating space to be together.