10 Best Things to Do in Boston This Summer

It's safe to say Boston's culinary scene has arrived on the global stage, and it's due in no small part to Ken Oringer, who opened his first restaurant, Clio, in the Back Bay's Eliot hotel back in 1997. Last year, Oringer shuttered Clio to make room for a major expansion at his sister restaurant, Uni, next door. Already a buzzy sashimi bar, Uni now fashions itself as a full-blown izakaya, serving sashimi, maki, nigiri and more.

This new public/private space next to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was an instant success when it opened in 2014. Today it remains a summer go-to in Fort Hang, thanks to its free games and events, music concerts, booze and food.

This relative newcomer has quickly become a city staple thanks to its playful, funky, serious-but-not-too-serious dining approach. It bills itself as a "supper club," all marble & mahogany wood, with a tongue-in-cheek vibe and menu serving small plates, large "feasts" for 2, and outstanding cocktails.

One of the most noteworthy additions to the city, Boston Public Market is an indoor marketplace showcasing local producers. Come to shop for fresh fish, produce, cheese and charcuterie, and grab lunch or a snack from local favorites like Bon Me, Union Square Donuts, and Taza Chocolates. The location is ideal, adjacent to the Haymarket T stop, across the street from the Greenway, and a stone's throw (literally) from the North End.

Boston likely has the highest number of chucks per capita of any American city, so it's no surprise the company is relocating to Beantown. As part of that move, Converse recently debuted a one-of-a-kind flagship store, complete with exclusive and hard-to-find styles and two in-store customization options: The Ink Bar, which allows you to screen-print your sneakers with a choice of 150 designs, or your own art, and the Workshop, where you can design your own chucks from an assortment of textiles and other components.

This eye-popping décor shop looks like a photo shoot from your favorite shelter mag. It's brimming with simple, rustic housewares, kitchen items, retro toys, and various odds and ends, from artisanal cocktail mixers to gift-worthy journals and writing utensils.

The recently renovated second floor of the Boston Design Center (BDC) showcases wares from almost two dozen Boston-area dealers. Spend an afternoon wandering the rooms full of antiques, vintage and modern housedecor, furniture, lighting, and art.

2016 is a big year for this decade-old Boston institution, as it moves to a new home at the Ink Block and merges three previously separate markets--the Arts Market, Farmers Market, and Food Truck Market--into one mega complex. Expect a highly curated list of vendors, where you can pick up handmade crafts, prints, paintings, home décor, and more, not to mention fresh produce and a tasty lunch from one of 15 local food trucks. Sundays May through October, 10am - 4pm.

The first U.S. outpost of this Montreal-based men's store opened in Boston in 2015, offering a wide range of well-crafted men's clothing, from suits to sweats and everything in between. The cuts are simple and modern (and reasonably priced, too).

Boston has a reputation for being a bit stodgy (it isn't), but no matter—the city's recent embrace of major public art should put that all to rest. Following last year's popular fabric installation by Janet Echelman, the Rose Kennedy Greenway will have several pieces on display in 2016, notably Ai Weiwei's Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, along with installations by renowned local artists.