Boston Magazine Issue
Return to Paradise
There are a million reasons why we return, of course, but in 2021, these are the 23 that are making us pack up the car right now and head south.
The 100 Most Influential Bostonians
From vaccine makers and advocates for social change to the city’s top movers and shakers, see who made this year’s list.
Feature
The Best of Boston Readers’ Poll: Heroes Edition
These locals went above and beyond during a challenging year.
Eight Well-Known Bostonians Share Their Personal Best of Boston
Are your favorite spots on the list?
In the Dark
What if the most dangerous person you’ve ever known turned out to be your lover?
Bitter Brew
A 90-year-old patriarch, his jilted heirs, and the fight over a billion-dollar beer empire. Inside the public implosion of the South Shore’s stealthiest wealthiest clan.
RebelZ with a Cause
We gave them climate change, Donald Trump, and social media. Now Generation Z is scared, angry, hyperconnected—and ready to take over Boston politics before they’re even old enough to vote.
The New Teenage Moguls
Want to know who’s making money during the pandemic? Ask a 17-year-old sneakerhead.
Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back Outside…
Inside the race to eliminate one of nature’s biggest threats (plus what you need to know to keep safe this summer).
The Thrill of the Hunt
Online shopping may have been a lifesaver this past year, but nothing beats the feeling of searching for—and finding—a hidden jewel or treasure. The coveting. The chase. The discovery. The adrenaline rush. And then—ka-ching! From art to antiques, wooden boats to (seriously) eyeball sculptures, the region’s top dealers share what’s hot and what’s not. Plus: secrets and tips from the city’s most passionate collectors.
Department
The Road to Ruin
After generations spent building a city around cars, Boston has reached a crisis point. Here’s how we can become a place for people instead.
The Man Who Fell to Earth
From Boston to Nantucket, Alden Shoe Company executive Richard Hajjar wanted to soar with the celebs and the jet set. Until he came crashing down.
The Interview: Joey McIntyre
As he gears up for a blockbuster New Kids on the Block show at Fenway Park this summer, Joey McIntyre dishes about teen stardom, Donnie Wahlberg’s dressing-room secrets, and why he’ll always come home to Boston.
Five Takeaways from a Conversation with Lee Pelton
For more than a decade, Lee Pelton led a renaissance at Emerson College. Now, at the dawn of a new career as president and CEO of the Boston Foundation, he reflects on his accomplishments—and what comes next.
Driving with Cough Drops While Black
They got pulled over and tossed in jail on suspicion of having cocaine hidden in lozenge wrappers. That’s when the scandal began.
The Once and Future Kenmore Square
Forget the rumors—reports of the neighborhood’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Five Takeaways from a Conversation with Charlie Moore
After more than a year of doom and gloom, TV’s favorite fisherman wants you to kick back, relax, and have some doggone fun this summer. Seriously.
Fashion + Style
Stackable Bracelets, and Five Other Things Kelly Brabants Is Dreaming About This Month
The fitness and athleisure guru, who’s getting ready to launch a new Back Bay pop-up, shares her must list for a sizzling summer.
Ready, Set, Celebrate
Say goodbye to social distancing—and toast the season—with help from these local entertaining experts.
Boston Traveler: Sebago Lake
Sparkling waters, a camp where time stands still, and s’mores under the stars—Maine’s second-largest lake invites you to jump right in.
Statement Sunnies, and Five Other Things Bethenny Frankel Is Coveting This Summer
When she isn’t filming her new HBO Max show The Big Shot with Bethenny, here’s what the entrepreneur and part-time Back Bay resident will be shopping for—and where she’ll be wearing it.
He Sells Swimsuits By the Seashore
Model Garrett Neff brings his must-have men’s swimwear line to the coast this summer.
Boston Traveler: Newport, Rhode Island
The little City by the Sea is serving up big fun this season.
Hotel Gifts That Rock
South End favorite Modern Relik checks in at the Boston Harbor Hotel this month with a new gift shop featuring luxe crystal jewelry, hip home goods, and more.
Glam Gladiators, and Five Other Things Sunny Hostin Is Coveting This Month
The View cohost—whose Martha’s Vineyard-set debut mystery novel, Summer on the Bluffs, comes out this month—shares her packing list for her favorite local vacation spot.
Boston Traveler: Charleston, South Carolina
Searching for the perfect post-vaccine getaway? A dose of this port city’s southern hospitality may be just what the doctor ordered.
Island Treasures
From clean beauty products to local produce and pottery, islander Tessa Cressman brings a luxe new take on the classic sundry shop to ACK.
Other
How Can I Protect My Garden from Rampaging Rabbits?
Eastern cottontails have been crowding out native New England cottontails since the late 1800s. How can we protect our home gardens from the furry reapers?
Is Legal Sea Foods Still Considered “Boston-Based?”
Even though they were recently acquired by international private equity firm Danu Partners.
How Can Massachusetts Become a Friendlier State?
Let’s start by ditching the rigid TV and comedy sketch stereotypes about Bay Staters.
What’s the Difference between a “Dixie Cup” and a “Hoodsie Cup?”
They might be the same childrens’ ice cream treat, but Van Halen never sang a song about Hoodsies.
Home Design
Real Estate Showdown: A Contemporary Cambridge Condo vs. a Custom Colonial in Lexington
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market.
Spaces: The Modern View
How a couple with traditional taste learned to love a contemporary Seaport condo.
VIEW: Coldwell Banker Realty’s Listings of the Month
Buying a home in or around Boston right now? Check out Coldwell Banker Realty’s newest properties for sale.
Everybody into the Pool
A family of five creates an unfussy outdoor escape for generations to come.
Either-Or: A Nature-Filled Natick Home vs. a Luxe Condo on Flagship Wharf
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market. This month, we compare a sprawling MetroWest pad with a posh Charlestown penthouse.
Check Out the Top Real Estate Producers in Greater Boston
Looking to buy or sell soon? You won’t want to get started without consulting our exclusive list of the best-performing agents around.
VIEW: Coldwell Banker Realty’s Listings of the Month
Buying a home in or around Boston right now? Check out Coldwell Banker Realty’s newest properties for sale.
Either-Or: A Historical Beacon Hill Townhouse vs. a Secluded Barnstable Beauty
It’s amazing what a few miles will do to the market. This month, we compare a luxe Greek Revival in Boston with a sprawling waterside Cape Cod estate.
Spaces: Cabin, Hold the Fever
How one nature-loving couple brought the beauty of the Pine Tree State into their breathtaking new living space.
Holding All the Cars
An active New Hampshire family gets a stunning—and convenient—new spot to stash their wheels.
Health
Where Do the Children Play?
From obstacle courses to zip lines, five of Boston’s most notable parents share their kids’ favorite family hangouts.
Paging Dr. Gadget
Upgrade to an all-new you with help from these Boston-based innovations at the intersection of health and tech.
Where the Pros Go
Just in time for peak putting season, five of the area’s top golf experts dish on their favorite holes around.