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South End Views

Mother-daughter duo share their hot takes on the South End.

Formaggio’s Guide to the Perfect Winter Pairings

MyBoston talks with Formaggio South End’s owner, GM, and charcuterie aficionado Julia Hallman to get her expert tips on the best cheese pairings for the holiday season.

Coffee Shops for Local Flavor

These South End favorites serve up seasonal beverages and a sociable ambiance perfect for the depths of the ‘ber’ months.

How to Lay a Holiday Table

MyBoston South End sits down with table stylist Beatrice Sannino, who lets us in on her trade secrets for what she has dubbed l’arte del ricevere, or “the art of gathering.”

50 Years of Titus Sparrow Park

Born from 1970s rubble, one man’s vision for a communal backyard remains a thriving cornerstone of South End life half a century later.

South End Gems

Any South End local will recognize the name Michele Mercaldo, whose jewelry business has been deeply rooted in the neighborhood for over three decades. Michele belongs to the South End’s pioneering generation of artists, an eclectic, dynamic group that paved the way for the thriving community that now calls SoWa home. Before setting up her studio, she studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and pursued curiosities for printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, and woodworking. However, it was jewelry that finally captured her heart, and by 27, she had completed her first collection to show at the American Craft Council Circuit, officially launching her career.

Maine Course

MyBoston heads north to southern Maine for dramatic coastal scenery, gallery browsing, boutique shopping, and a thriving foodie scene.

In Tune

In longer musical compositions, a key change creates an emotional shift that signals a new chapter in the story. One of Lecolion Washington Jr.’s major key shifts happened in 2013, while performing at an international chamber music festival in South Africa since 2006, at a university that had been notably slow to desegregate after apartheid ended. The concert featured a narration by Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu. After the concert, a long receiving line formed to shake hands with Tutu. When Washington Jr.’s turn came, to his surprise, the Archbishop paused for a tête-à-tête with the American.

Suzanne Norman

A day spent on a bike is a day well spent.

Deco Diva

In its five years on Beacon Hill, neighborhood favorite 1928 has built an enviable reputation as the fashionable set’s go-to place for drinks and dinner.

Afternoon Tea Spots

Pop by these tea spots to enjoy a relaxed and refined afternoon.

Fall Fashion Finds

Fall has arrived and so have the season’s standout pieces. These stylish selections make transitioning your wardrobe effortless, taking you from crisp mornings to warm afternoons with ease

A Vision in Green

Ever attuned to people’s needs, Frederick Law Olmstead, the 19th-century visionary architect behind Boston’s 1,100-acre “Emerald Necklace” park system, would have appreciated some of its 21st-century priorities.

“Its year-round restrooms,” laughs Mergel, the James & Audrey Foster Executive Director of the Esplanade Association. “Restrooms are key.”

This fall, after two decades of planning and slightly more than a year after breaking ground, the Charlesbank campus and Smith Family Pavilion will be finished. At $24 million, the project is the biggest privately funded state park initiative in Massachusetts, and a long-anticipated new facility for residents and visitors. It’s also a crowning achievement for the Esplanade Association, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The Bridge Builder

Inside the impressive legacy of Lenny Zakim and the nonprofit he founded that carries on his anti-racist work.

Stylish Home Design Stores

Award-winning, Boston-based interior designer Trevor Fulmer takes us through some of his favorite home design stores in Back Bay and Beacon Hill.

Timeless Beauty

Dr. Anna Petropoulos, founder of the Center for Classic Beauty, talks with us about the delicate art of growing older.

Carlos Bueno

A great Sunday in Back Bay doesn't need to be complicated. 

Staying Strong

Dr. Julia Loewenthal, a primary care physician and geriatrician at Lutanen Health, shares her thoughts about women and health with MyBoston magazine. Dr. Loewenthal’s work at Lutanen is designed around small patient panels, extended visits, and proactive, relationship-based care. Lutanen specializes in maximizing each patient’s potential for longevity throughout their lifetime.

The Wind in Our Sails

As the beloved nonprofit Community Boating Initiative turns 80 this year, we take a look inside its life-changing work that has impacts beyond the water.

Bravo, BLO!

There is a moment in every opera performance when hundreds of individual experiences become one. House lights fade. The orchestra begins. Conversations give way to silence as strangers settle into a shared act of listening, drawn together by music, story, and the possibility of being moved by both.

Eliza Bailey   

A Sunday well spent.

A Dream Realized 

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company celebrates its 30th anniversary of free Shakespeare on the Common with an energetic, colorful production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the same play that launched the organization in 1996.

The Perfect Pergola

Outdoor living has become one of the fastest-growing home improvement investments. Kathy Egasti answers some of the most common questions homeowners ask when planning a custom pergola.

Vision Quest

Dr. Stacy Coen of Blink, a boutique eyecare clinic and frame store at 252 Newbury Street, sits down with My Boston to discuss her unique approach to her business.

Boston Beaches

Whether you’re looking for a spontaneous afternoon outing or a full beach day with the kids, these beaches are among the best in and around Boston.

Lizzie Taylor

Taking in summer on Sundays.

Temple of Learning

In his 1941 short story “The Library of Babel,” Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges imagines an infinite series of hexagonal galleries filled with books that contain all human knowledge. The only trick is that the real books are mixed in with every possible variation of their text. Babel’s librarians go insane trying to find the books with actual meaning amid the nonsense.

Home Truths

My Boston sits down with Lara Shuqom, principal of The Collective, an elite real estate group based out of Compass Real Estate in Back Bay, to learn more about her background and her take on the market for properties in our historic neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Playgrounds

Give your kids the gift of outdoor playtime while you enjoy classic Boston vibes.

Lucia Johnson

After starting her Sunday with coffee from Beacon Hill Market, this recent college grad delights in many things, from Boston Ballet matinees to yoga.

Not-So-Dirty Water

A decades-long effort to clean up the Charles pays off in the form of a much-loved swimming event.

Three Decades of Design: David Sharff

MyBoston talks with architect David Sharff, who loves the challenge of preserving historic homes while introducing modern design elements.

Viva Vivo

After a decade and a half of leading The Celebrity Series of Boston, now Vivo Performing Arts, one of the city’s most influential cultural institutions, Gary Dunning is preparing to step away. Thanks to his long-term vision and thoughtful planning, the organization he leaves behind is adroitly positioned to serve the evolving tastes of Boston audiences.

Dog-Friendly Places

As the dog days of summer (pun intended!) approach, dog owners are always on the lookout for places to hang out with their furry best friends. Here are five of the best that the neighborhood has to offer.

Georgia Balafas

How this Boston native spends a productive and fun Sunday.

America's Tall Ship

The USCGC Eagle, America’s Tall Ship, will join the USS Constitution in the Navy Yard in Charlestown for the Sail 250 celebration. My Boston explores the ship’s fascinating past and exciting present as a training vessel for Coast Guard cadets.