Jody Adams and her team have what’s basically a farm-to-table concept at Saloniki, with locally sourced ingredients used whenever possible, while they try to go with the best vendors possible in general, be it local or outside of the region.
BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY: A LANDMARK HIGH ABOVE BOSTON (AND ON THE CITY’S DOORSTEP)
Here you’ll find jaw-dropping views, rugged trails, steep cliffs, bubbling brooks, deep woods, an observation tower with picnic tables at the base, and a weather observatory that’s easily one of the true hidden jewels of the Greater Boston area.
FIRST LOOK: BEARMOOSE BREWING COMPANY
Former Everett machine shop retooled for craft beers and deli cuts
LATEST LOOK: FRIENDLY TOAST, CAMBRIDGE
It’s nice to see such places as the Friendly Toast in Cambridge’s Kendall Square (and several other locations) take a light-hearted attitude toward all this, realizing that sometimes, you just want to have a decent meal, a drink or two, and a few laughs while enjoying a funky vibe that’s missing from so many other spots.
SUMMER HIKES: THE ULTIMATE PAIRING
Looking for long walks on the water and fried clams? We’ve got you covered
FIRST LOOK: A&B BURGERS IN BOSTON
A&B Burgers has come a long way from its rather inauspicious beginnings north of Boston to its star status in the heart of Boston over the course of the past several years.
HITTING THE CIRCUIT: HOW TO HIKE THE HARDCORE MIDDLESEX FELLS ROCK TRAIL
The Rock Circuit’s a loop (hence the “circuit” part of its name) that runs a scant four miles in length as opposed to the seven miles that the Skyline runs. Unlike the Skyline, however, you won’t find many long stretches of relatively level ground here, and as you might also gather from its name, the path is extremely rocky, testing knees and ankles alike.
THAI MOON, ARLINGTON
A tiny restaurant with big (and at times extremely spicy) flavors
ALMOST A YEAR INTO OPERATION, ENJOYING MORE THAN SIMPLY SUDS AT DTX’S UNIQUE BEER HALL
You can get entrees as well, including fish and chips, a fisherman’s stew, and shepherd’s pie with lamb. The items tried over the course of a couple of visits were very impressive for a brewery, with the beef barley soup having loads of barley and almost being a meal on its own.
WORLD’S END IN HINGHAM: WHERE DOWNEAST MAINE MEETS THE EMERALD NECKLACE—15 MILES FROM BOSTON
Rocky Neck is the “thumb” of the baseball glove, and it’s mostly separate from the rest of World’s End, not only geographically, but as just mentioned, in overall feel as well. Doing a little clockwise loop along the water here, you’ll feel like you’ve entered the aforementioned Acadia National Park, with dark and pointy coniferous trees giving a distinct Northwoods vibe to the area.
