Boston Magazine Issue
Boston Is Not Okay
A special report on the area’s looming mental health crisis—and how to find help if you need it.
The Best Public High Schools in Greater Boston
Our annual ranking of the best public high schools in towns or districts within, or partially within, 495.
Feature
The Day the Music Died
Fifty years ago, rising soul sensation Franklin Lynch was shot dead by police at Boston City Hospital. The killing of an unarmed man, and its cover-up, inspired Boston’s Black community to invent a new form of civic justice. Why doesn’t anyone remember?
All Dressed up and No Place To Go
The best part about spending so much time at home? When it comes to fashion, there are absolutely no rules.
Science or Censorship?
The Broad Institute’s Alina Chan believes COVID-19 could have escaped from a Chinese lab. What if it’s not as wild a theory as the world’s preeminent scientists say it is?
The NAACP Convention That Never Came to Town
The 2020 NAACP convention in Boston was supposed to be a celebration of how far we’ve come, and a discussion about where we need to go. Moving the convention out of town doesn’t need to end the conversation.
The New Look of Higher Ed
In a time of major upheaval, what does the future hold for higher learning in Boston? Five hometown college and university leaders peer into their crystal ball—and what they see might surprise you.
Best of Boston 2020: COVID-19 Heroes Edition
In place of our annual Best of Boston reader’s poll, we asked Bostonians to shine a spotlight on the everyday heroes in our city.
The Bostonians Giving Us Hope for the Future
Four extraordinary tales of resilience, heroism, and transformation when we need it most.
Department
The Interview: Lawrence O’Donnell
Whether the topic is Hollywood, presidential politics, or cable news, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell has plenty to say.
The $100 Million Challenge
Funds from Boston’s philanthropies flow overwhelmingly to white-led organizations. Here’s how 19 of Boston’s most successful business leaders of color are determined to change that, one dollar at a time.
The End of Casual Sex?
With the risk of infection lurking in every encounter, local singles are increasingly swearing off random hook-ups. Are we about to enter a new Victorian era—or is something else afoot?
The Interview: Joseph Curtatone
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone on how his city is charting its own course during the coronavirus crisis.
A Bostonian Abroad in the ’Burbs
I never considered leaving Boston. Ever. Then the pandemic hit.
The Last Lobster Supper?
Could this be the end of our best-loved summer tradition as we know it?
Who’s Gonna Take the Weight?
As a Black man born in the South who has climbed the power structures of Boston and our nation’s capital, I’ve spent a lifetime navigating around and tackling head-on the realities of structural racism. It’s time for everyone else to know this burden.
To Shop or Not to Shop?
What do Boston’s high-end boutiques have to do to get customers back in the store?
The Interview: Juliette Kayyem
CNN security expert and Cambridge mother of three Juliette Kayyem has plenty to say about Donald Trump, Boston’s recovery, and staying safe this summer.
The Last Days of Whitey Bulger
His time behind bars before being murdered has remained unknown—until now.
Fashion + Style
Boston Traveler: Martha’s Vineyard
Shoulder season on the island was practically made for socially distanced fall getaways. Here’s how to do it right.
The Lust Lineup: Soft Touch
Swap the cozy lounge-wear this fall with the just-as-sumptuous feel of velvet for a look that’s fashionable and functional.
Tiny Size, Big Style
Back to school might look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean your tots should be any less fashionable. Here’s where to go when it’s time for a wardrobe or gear refresh.
Natural Selection
One of Boston’s rising fashion stars proves that sustainability and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Boston Traveler: Bar Harbor
Whether your idea of getting back to nature involves hiking through the wilderness or roasting s’mores outside your luxe glamping tent, you’ll find your happy place in this rugged Maine sanctuary by the sea.
The Lust Lineup: Hey, Sailor!
Whether you’re dropping anchor in Boston Harbor or on your favorite patio, this season’s nautical-inspired pieces are sure to make a splash.
What’s in Store: Call of the Wild
Because soaking up the last few glorious weeks of summer is a whole lot easier with the right gear.
Turning the Tide
Think you can’t hang 10 in New England? This local surfboard shaper is determined to change your mind.
Boston Traveler: The Lakes Region
Is there anything more quintessentially summer than a weekend on Winnipesaukee?
The Lust Lineup: Wear It With Pride
Call it a trend or call it optimism, but rainbow-inspired fashion feels oh so apropos this season.
Boston Traveler: Narragansett
We’re all itching to get away. Here’s why this easy-to-reach seaside spot should be at the top of your list.
Health
Polo for the People
With polo clubs now welcoming beginners all across New England, the sport of kings isn’t just for royalty anymore.
Fitfluencer Myths, Debunked
Some wellness-focused Instagram accounts are totally worth the #regram. Others? Not so much. Here’s how to sort through your social media feeds to separate the good advice from the bad.
Test the Waters
Whether you’re looking to Zen out on a paddleboard or fly through the air on a power kite, it’s good to know there are still plenty of ways to have a wet ’n’ wild summer.
Beacon
Follow the Leaders
COVID-19 has forced local artists to get even more creative when it comes to sharing their work. Here are five genre-spanning Instagram accounts fitting big ideas into small frames.
How To Save the Arts
If Boston is to remain the “Athens of America,” our pandemic-assailed cultural institutions need an emergency intervention.
Other
Why Is Allen’s Coffee Flavored Brandy So Popular in Maine?
How a Boston-brewed liqueur became a cultural rite of passage in the Pine Tree State.
How Did the Shoe Industry Get to Be So Big in Massachusetts?
You can’t run away from the biggest names in sneakers.
What Aspects of a Normal New England Summer Will You Miss the Most?
And in the absence of normality, what do we have to look forward to this season?
Home Design
Either-Or: A Waterfront North End Stunner vs. a Modern Wayland Haven
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market.
Either-Or: A Nautical Chatham Retreat vs. a Downtown Penthouse
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market.
Spaces: In Full View
A couple’s revamped master suite makes the most of the outdoors.
Either-Or: A Sophisticated Wellesley Manse vs. an Airy Cambridge Victorian
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market.
Arts + Entertainment
News
On the Waterfront: An Oral History of the Seaport
The radical, imperfect, and unfinished transformation of Boston’s newest neighborhood.