what to do • where to go • what to see May 19–June 1, 2008 The OOfficialfficial Guide to BBOSTONOSTON OUTDOOR DININGguide PLUS: EarthFest at the Hatch Shell Street Performers Festival at Faneuil Hall Hot Dog Safari at Suffolk Downs panoramamagazine.com contents COVER STORY 14 Go Out to Eat Boston’s best spots for dining al fresco DEPARTMENTS 6 around the hub 6 NEWS & NOTES 12 STYLE 10 ON EXHIBIT 13 ON STAGE 20 the hub directory 21 CURRENT EVENTS 35 EXCURSIONS 45 SHOPPING 27 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES 37 MAPS 51 RESTAURANTS 31 SIGHTSEEING 43 FREEDOM TRAIL 67 NEIGHBORHOODS 78 5 questions with…Folk musician ELLIS PAUL A STEAK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Plaza III on the cover: offers great steaks along with out- Avila Modern Mediterranean standing views of the surrounding serves delectable fare like its Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Refer to mini Kobe beef burgers on story, page 14. its new outdoor patio. PHOTO BY S TEPHANIE S AVAS Photo: Jonathan Daisy. Produced by Heather Burke. ___ MAY 19–JUNE 1, 2008 3 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com May 19–June 1, 2008 Volume 57 • Number 26 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Josh B. Wardrop • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART DIRECTOR Sharon Hudak Miller • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Heather S. Burke • PHOTO EDITOR Saba Alhadi, Jonathan Daisy, Della Huff, Stephanie Savas • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Kristi Wolfrom • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Paul Hurst • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES HURST & ASSOCIATES, INC. 800-397-8908 • [email protected] Peter Ng • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Melissa J. O’Reilly • BUSINESS MANAGER Tyler J. Montgomery • OPERATIONS MANAGER George Ghareeb • TECHNICAL CONSULTANT PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by Jerome Press Publications Inc. Editorial and advertising offices at 332 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Telephone (617) 423- 3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced with- out written permission of the publisher. PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League, the South End Business Alliance, the North End Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Crossing Association. PANORAMA is audited by BPA Worldwide, an independent audit bureau recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. a magazine affiliate ___ ___ 4 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM MAY 19–JUNE 1, 2008 5 aroundthehubby Josh B. Wardrop NEWS&NOTES Cubs in the Hub assachusetts animal lovers remember with great affection Major, the polar bear who Mresided at Stone Zoo in suburban Stoneham (refer to listing, page 34) until his death in the year 2000. Since Major’s passing, there’s been a distinct lack of ursine presence at the zoo, but all that’s about to change on May 24 when the zoo welcomes the arrival of two new black bears and celebrates the opening of the newly designed bear exhibit they’ll call home. The two adolescent brothers (named Smoky and Bubba) arrive from the Appalachian Bear Rescue in Tennessee and currently weigh about 250 pounds each. They’ll take up resi- dence in a new enclosure (see artist’s rendering below) located on the same site where Major once lived, creating a nice link between the past and future of Stone Zoo’s bear conservation. So this Memorial Day weekend, come out of hibernation and make sure you take this chance to welcome Stone Zoo’s latest additions to Massachusetts! cont. on page 8 >> news & notes 6 • on exhibit 10 • style 12 • on stage 13 ___ 6 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM aroundthehub:NEWS&NOTES aroundthehub:NEWS&NOTES calendar of events MONDAY, MAY 19 & TUESDAY, MAY 20 Bust out the bowling shoes and mix up a White Russian or two—the Coen Brothers’ beloved cult classic The Big Lebowski gets the big-screen treatment at Harvard Square’s place to be on May 24— Brattle Theatre as part of a tribute to the fra- that’s at the Hatch Shell on ternal filmmakers. Refer to listing, page 22. the Charles River Esplanade for the 15th annual Radio MONDAY, MAY 19– 92.9 EarthFest. This annual THURSDAY, MAY 22 UFF H free concert traditionally The Boston Red Sox take on one of the A draws about 100,000 people American League’s up-and-coming teams ELL D for a daylong celebration of when Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and the BY good music and the good Kansas City Royals come to Fenway Park. TO work we all can do to pro- Refer to listing, page 24. HO P tect the environment. This year’s headlining SUNDAY, MAY 25 performers include What do you get the aardvark who has << cont. DANCING FHM—get to strut their massive benefit for The Joey California alt-rockers Cake everything? Just the pleasure of your com- from page 6 (AND stuff, be it juggling, acro- Fund and The Cystic Fibrosis (pictured above); ’90s stal- pany (and your child’s) should be enough as TUMBLING, batics, clowning or playing Foundation. warts Cracker; Midwestern the Boston Children’s Museum hosts a AND JUGGLING) IN music. Best of all, it’s free— The event features the roots rock legends The party celebrating Arthur’s 8th birthday. THE STREET but if you choose to throw a aforementioned copious BoDeans; and pioneers of Refer to listing, page 22. If you hear “street perform- buck in the hat, it’s great foodstuffs from some of the British ska music The ers” and you’re thinking it for your karma. Refer to area’s top vendors, as well English Beat. In addition to TUESDAY, MAY 27 means at best panhandlers listing, page 24. as tons of fun activities for the mainstage acts, a Boston One of pop music’s most distinctive and and at worst (shudder) the kids, an appearance by Music Stage features a innovative songwriters comes to Boston as mimes, you need to broaden New England Patriots cap- selection of top local talent. Scottish chanteuse KT Tunstall plays a show AN URBAN SAFARI your horizons and allow tain Kevin Faulk and much In addition to all the at the Orpheum Theatre. Refer to listing, yourself to be astonished, In the interest of the physi- more. So, apply the widely great music, EarthFest fea- page 23. amused and amazed by cal well-being of our readers, believed theory that calories tures more than 100 booths some of the truly gifted Panorama wouldn’t normal- consumed for a good cause offering food samples, dis- WEDNESDAY, MAY 28 street performers that ly suggest that eating unlim- can’t possibly be held plays and exhibits dedicated Let yourself be swept back to an era of Boston can boast. Each ited amounts of hot dogs, against you, and join the hot to promoting an eco-friend- feathered hair, shiny suits and superb ’80s May, a talented array of sausages and ice cream is time at the Hot Dog Safari. ly lifestyle, as well as a New Wave anthems when the still-vital entertainers take center particularly good for you. Refer to listing, page 24. Kids’ Planet interactive fam- Duran Duran performs at Agganis Arena in stage at Faneuil Hall But on June 1 , we respect- ily area boasting kid-centric support of their new album, Red Carpet Marketplace at the annual fully suggest that you take musical performers (includ- Massacre. Refer to listing, page 22. ROCK FOR Street Performer Festival one for the team and stuff ing Boston folk legend Ellis THE EARTH (May 24–26, pictured above) your faces at the annual Hot Paul, brother-sister act SUNDAY, JUNE 1 YDEN where this year’s new crop Dog Safari at Suffolk Downs If you love our planet (and Michael and Marisa and the It’s your last chance to join in a rousing L UL of buskers—who have to racetrack. The event—organ- other than Marvin the Zumix Diversity Band), sto- rendition of “Springtime for Hitler” when A P pass a rigorous audition ized for 19 years now by Martian, really, who does- rytelling, magic shows, face Mel Brooks’ smash hit stage musical The BY process if they want to local sports radio personali- n’t?) and you love great rock painting and much more. Producers wraps up its run at North Shore TO HO entertain the masses at ty Eddie Andelman—is a ’n’ roll, then there’s only one Refer to listing, page 24. Music Theatre. Refer to listing, page 26. P ___ ___ 8 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM MAY 19–JUNE 1, 2008 9 aroundthehub:ON EXHIBIT by Scott Roberto Take the Get Out Plunge of Town WEDDED BLISS: THE MARRIAGE OF ART AND CEREMONY Peabody Essex Museum Through September 14 oing beyond design- Ger dresses and fancy, multi-tiered cakes, the ALEXIS ROCKMAN: THE WEIGHT Peabody Essex Museum OF AIR, Rose Art Museum, in Salem takes a look at through July 27. In his first solo art for and inspired by museum show in the U.S., the the wedding sacrament painter debuts a series of works on in the new show Wedded paper portraying the surreal, imag- Bliss. The nuptial traditions of various cultures are detailed ined results of worldwide climate through the 130 items on display, dating from the 18th centu- change. Refer to listing, page 29. ry to today, including art from such luminaries as Winslow Homer, Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso. Not that everything THE 2008 DECORDOVA ANNUAL on display is bouquets and smiles—the dark side of marriage EXHIBITION, DeCordova Museum is also explored in works such as Teddy McMahon Pruett’s and Sculpture Park, through Fractured Wedding Ring: Divorce Attorney’s Quilt from August 17.