Boston Magazine Issue
The Top 50 Restaurants in Boston
Our annual field-tested, scrupulously vetted, and deeply opinionated ranking of the best places to eat right now in Boston and beyond.
The Ultimate Fall New England Bucket List for 2023
48 unforgettable activities to do this season, from spectacular adventures (hot-air ballooning, skydiving) to simpler pleasures (sunrise canoeing, ceramics).
Are Massachusetts’ Teachers Unions Allowing Students to Fail?
They fight against charter schools, MCAS testing, and state oversight while seeking more taxpayer money than ever before. Meanwhile, public school students’ reading and math scores are worse than they have been in 20 years. Just a coincidence?
The Best Public High Schools in Greater Boston, Ranked for 2023
We crunched the numbers to come up with our annual guide to the top-performing schools in the region. How does your child’s school stack up?
Feature
Who Needs Libraries, Anyway?
Turns out, we all do. In the age of book bans and digital technology, a case for why we should love libraries now more than ever.
Inside the Bunker with Michelle Wu
Almost halfway through her inaugural term, the city’s youngest modern mayor is winning fans, battling critics and marking the days. Can the Harvard-educated leader make a better, more equitable Boston before time runs out?
Garrett Harker Conquers Kenmore (Again)
After his iconic brasserie, Eastern Standard, shuttered during the pandemic, Boston’s consummate hospitality wiz is reopening the restaurant this month—and putting everything on the line that lightning will strike twice.
The Killing That Tore a Town Apart
Did a successful South Shore woman really kill her police officer boyfriend? Or, as she claims, did a slew of dirty cops frame her? Inside the simmering tabloid drama dividing this tight-knit suburb.
The 2023 Top Dentists List Is Here
Our all-new list of the 778 best dentists in the region—from generalists to orthodontists to pediatric specialists—as chosen by their peers.
An Intensive A-to-Z Guide to Apples, New England’s Most Iconic Fall Fruit
From Johnny Appleseed to East Boston’s Downeast Cider guys to Matt Damon’s famous line in Good Will Hunting, here’s everything you need to know (and probably a whole lot more) about our region’s most quintessentially autumn fruit.
It’s Time to Get to Know Sam Slater
The Boston-area developer, Seattle sports team owner, and Hollywood film producer is a man on a mission: to make the company bearing his family’s name the most successful it can be—and make a name for himself in the process.
Department
Why Are So Many Wild Turkeys on the Loose in Massachusetts?
Once nearly extinct, the birds today are everywhere, strutting around town like they run the place—and not just on Thanksgiving. It’s time to talk…well, you know.
The Tao of Wyc Grousbeck
Favorite player? Sudden comebacks? Elusive championship No. 18? The Celtics lead owner has an opinion—and he’s not holding back.
Has Boston Gone Country?
Like it or not, the honky-tonk sound of the South is taking over Rock City. We’ve come a long way, cowboy.
The Interview: Local TV Host Jenny Johnson
On the brink of launching a brand-new NESN show, the Emmy Award–winning producer talks motherhood, Boston’s food scene, and the injustice of napkin residue on your pants.
Why I Left the Boston Ballet
After a career-threatening injury, professional dancer Isaac Akiba decided to break out of the performing arts’ insular bubble. Here’s what he learned by finally joining the real world.
Confessions of a Twitcher
Birds are loud, aggressive, and disruptive to sleep. They also may have saved Jonathan Soroff’s life.
No, Corey Thomas Will Not Tell You His Mother’s Maiden Name
The head of local cybersecurity firm Rapid7 talks espionage, the corrosiveness of TikTok, and the failed promise of Back to the Future: “I still want my hoverboard.”
Can the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Save Democracy?
It sure is going to try. And in the meantime, this institution on the rise is making an impact on the national stage.
Meet Noah Kahan, the Voice of an Emotionally Evolved Generation
How did a native New Englander who writes anthemic pop-folk songs about small towns, his parents, and dogs become mainstream music’s Next Big Thing? TikTok, talent, and lots of honest therapy.
Fashion + Style
How Local Painter Lauren Zavala Turns Designer Bags into Fine Art
The Providence-based artist elevates luxury goods into gallery couture.
35 Gifts from Greater Boston Shops, Makers, and Stores (at Every Price Point)
This season, you don’t have to go far to find a thoughtful present for everyone on your list. From cocktail shakers to quirky throw pillows, we have the goods.
Cat Masks, Dumb Money, and Chicken Tenders in Champagne
Dispatches from the premiere of Ben Mezrich’s GameStop-Reddit movie, the Camp Harbor View Beach Ball and more.
A Traveler’s Guide to Punta Cana
With new hotels and attractions galore, the Dominican Republic’s legendary playground offers nothing but positive vibes.
Beacon Hill Boutique December Thieves Turns 10
One of Boston’s most beloved fashion-forward shops celebrates a milestone anniversary.
Party Pics: The Great Hatsby Contest Meets the Best of Boston
Dispatches from the city’s swankiest events: ParkArts’ Rose Garden Party, our very own Best of Boston awards party and Room to Grow’s Power of Play: The Magic of Reading.
Five Can’t-Miss Newbury Street Spots for Watch Collectors
With several new additions to an already full slate of boutiques, the Back Bay has quickly become the epicenter of Boston’s burgeoning watch scene.
Why Is Sound Therapy Having a Moment in New England?
You have to hear it to understand.
A Weekend Getaway Guide to Stowe, Vermont
This charming Green Mountain town makes an idyllic foliage season trip, complete with excellent dining, outdoor activities, and Hallmark movie vibes.
Long’s Jewelers Moves to a New South Shore Location
After decades in the South Shore Plaza, the 145-year-old local luxury chain expands into a jaw-dropping, 11,000-square-foot Braintree emporium.
Five Fall 2023 Style Essentials, According to Boston Shopkeepers
The city’s fashion experts dish on the autumn season’s hottest looks.
Party Pics: Here’s to the Ladies Who Lunch!
Dispatches from the city’s swankiest fundraisers, including the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s “hat luncheon” and more.
Five Spa Treatments for Fall 2023
As the leaves change color, now is the ideal time to pamper yourself.
A Weekend Traveler’s Guide to Baltimore
An early-autumn trip to Charm City comes complete with culture, crabs, and five-star hospitality.
Home Design
So You Want to Live in Sudbury?
It’s one of the most popular MetroWest towns for a reason. Here’s why residents love it—and how you can get in.
How Do You Make a Drab 1930s Kitchen Come Alive?
For one Brookline family, the solution was glass doors, custom green paint, and help from interior designer Kati Curtis.
Real Estate Showdown: A Wellesley Single-Family vs. a Back Bay Townhouse
It’s amazing what a few miles can do to the market. This month, we compare two homes with custom libraries—one in the city, and one near Route 9.
So You Want to Live in Salem?
Five things to know about living in this sometimes spooky but always eminently charming Massachusetts enclave.
How Do You Make a Boxy Home Office into a Dream Work Space?
For one nursing professor in Woburn, the solution was striped wallpaper, glamorous accents, and help from designer Robin Gannon.
How Do You Turn an 1800s Dairy Barn into a 21st-Century Great Room?
For TV personality Tanya McQueen’s Nantucket home, the solution was improved lighting and rustic flourishes.
So You Want to Live in Concord, Massachusetts?
One-of-a-kind shops, grand old Colonials, and history galore: Here are five things to know if you’re considering a move to this quintessential New England town.
Real Estate Showdown: A J.P. Victorian vs. a Waterfront Home in Rhode Island
It’s amazing what a few miles can to the market. This month, we compare a historical mansard in Boston with an elaborate beach house in Bristol.
Restaurants
Beyond the Top 50: (Almost) Open for Business
Could these hotly anticipated restaurant openings get a spot on next year’s Top 50 Restaurants list? Only time will tell.
Beyond the Top 50: Let’s Do Brunch
Every big night out is followed by the morning—make it count at one of these top spots.
Beyond the Top 50: Casual Faves
When we’re not splurging on a big night out, you’ll find us ordering up low-key meals at these classics.
Beacon
The Most Beautiful Restaurants in Boston
They’re packed with bold furnishings, lush greenery, and luxe designs—and, oh yeah, the food’s pretty great, too.
Review: Grace by Nia Brings Throwback Supper-Club Glamour to the Seaport
This convivial restaurant, music venue, and bar is a symbol of a shiny new Boston waterfront that’s welcoming to all.
Fall Arts Preview: Haute Couture and John Singer Sargent
The Museum of Fine Arts presents a fashion show as seen through the brushwork of a 19th-century great.
The Huntington Theatre Company Starts Its First Full Season under a New Leader
Four exuberantly thoughtful productions open this autumn, courtesy of artistic director Loretta Greco.
Fall Arts Preview: 18 Things We Can’t Wait to Do This Season
It’s time for a fresh slate of music, theater, and museum exhibitions.