what to do • where to go • what to see May 4–17, 2009 The OOfficialfficial Guide to BBOSTON OSTON Opening Night at the POPS Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Return to Symphony Hall PLUS: Things to Love about Spring in the Hub The Boston Cyberarts Festival panoramamagazine.com now iPhone and Windows® smartphone compatible! oyster perpetual gmt-master ii The moon landing 40th anniversary. Media Sponsors: JFK See it again at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum. OFFICIALROLEXJEWELER Columbia Point, Boston. jfklibrary.org ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL AND GMT-MASTER II ARE TRADEMARKS. contents FEATURE STORY BIRDS OF A FEATHER: The Public Garden’s iconic Swan Boats are a sure sign of spring in 10 Spring Flings the Hub. Refer to story, page 10. PHOTOBY Panorama’s guide to S COTT ROBERTO ExquisiteWedding Gifts spring fun in Boston DEPARTMENTS 8 hubbub The Boston Pops’ new season 14 calendar of events 15 exploring boston 15 SIGHTSEEING 20 FREEDOM TRAIL 22 NEIGHBORHOODS Furnishings, Murano Glass, Sculptures, Paintings, 37 MAPS Tuscan Leather, Chess Sets, Capodimonte Porcelain on the cover: Keith Lockhart 44 around the hub embarks upon his 44 CURRENT EVENTS 15th season at the 52 ON EXHIBIT helm of the 124-year- 56 SHOPPING H:K:CIN C>C: C:L7JGN HIG::I s 7DHIDC B6HH68=JH:IIH old Boston Pops. 62 NIGHTLIFE telephone s LLL <6AA:G>6;ADG:CI>6 8DB Photo: Michael Lutch 63 DINING ___ PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM 5 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com May 4–17, 2009 Volume 58 • Number 25 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN 4HE SHOPPING 4HE DINING Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Josh B. Wardrop • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART DIRECTOR Sharon Hudak Miller • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Della Huff, Timothy Renzi • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Joseph Normandin, Emma Snider • EDITORIAL INTERNS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Nancy O’Rourke • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Scott DeGennaro, Emily Kaine • 4HE BEST OF IT ALL SALES AND MARKETING INTERNS Paul Hurst • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES HURST & ASSOCIATES, INC. 800-397-8908 • [email protected] $INING /PTIONS Peter Ng • 5NDER /NE 2OOF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Melissa J. O’Reilly • BUSINESS MANAGER Tyler J. Montgomery • OPERATIONS MANAGER George Ghareeb • TECHNICAL CONSULTANT "EGIN YOUR "OSTON EXPERIENCE AT .EW %NGLANDS PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by Jerome Press Publications Inc. Editorial and advertising offices at 332 NUMBER ONE SHOPPING AND DINING DESTINATION Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Telephone (617) 423- 3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this 3TOP BY THE #USTOMER 3ERVICE $ESK TO RECEIVE YOUR publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced with- out written permission of the publisher. &2%% 3HOPPING 0ASS GOOD FOR DISCOUNTS AT OVER SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS INCLUDING A FREE CUP OF PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston AWARD WINNING .EW %NGLAND CLAM CHOWDER AND Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO "OSTONS ONLY SKY HIGH Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League, the OBSERVATION DECK South End Business Alliance, the North End Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Crossing Association. DESTINATION EXTRAORDINARY PANORAMA is audited by BPA Worldwide, an independent audit bureau recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. "ACK"AY\3(/0025\WWWPRUDENTIALCENTERCOM a magazine affiliate ___ "OSTON $UCK 4OURS \ (ARU \ 6INEYARD 6INES \ 3EPHORA \ ,EGAL 3EA &OODS 6 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM HUB BUBby Josh B. Wardrop Strike Up the Band CLASSICALLY DELICIOUS FARE he birds may be chirping and the Red Sox may be playing Tdown the road at Fenway Park, but spring in Boston can’t Nothing ruins an evening at the really begin until venerable Symphony Hall is filled once Pops faster than striking a sour again with the mellifluous sounds of the world-renowned note with your pre- or post-show Boston Pops, which kicks off its 124th season on May 6. meal. Here are a few standout Led by conductor Keith Lockhart (pictured above), now in restaurants close to Symphony his 15th season, the Pops and its always engaging and exhila- Hall for delectable dining. rating concert schedule are anxiously anticipated by classical • BETTY’S WOK & NOODLE music fans throughout the region all winter long, and this DINER, 250 Huntington Ave., season’s slate of shows is sure to help melt the remnants of 617-424-1950. A casual and winter from any music lover’s heart. funky eatery fusing Latino and In May, the Pops boasts its usual diverse mix of light Asian flavors in a variety of classical programs, beginning with two nights of Broadway rice and noodle dishes. favorites with legendary song stylist Barbara Cook (May 6 & • BRASSERIE JO, 120 7). From there, the Pops offer an orchestral take on the songs Huntington Ave., 617-425-3240. of pop music’s immortal “Piano Man,” Billy Joel, with guest An authentic French brasserie vocalist Michael Cavanaugh (from the Broadway hit Movin’ featuring classics like steak Out) on May 8 & 9. Other highlights for the month include a frites, escargot, salad Nicoise tribute to former Pops conductor Harry Ellis Dickson (May and crème brulee. 20), three nights of concerts spotlighting classic patriotic and • SASSO, 116 Huntington Ave., baseball-themed musical numbers (May 21–23) and the 617-247-2400. Contemporary return of former Pops conductor and legendary composer Italian cuisine that exceeds typ- John Williams for the Pops’ annual Film Nights, saluting ical “red sauce” expectations, classic cinematic music (May 26–30). Refer to listing, page 45. along with a diverse wine list. ___ ___ 8 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM ABOVEPHOTOBY S TU ROSNER PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM 9 WADDLE THIS WAY Lemonheads, Seven Mary Three and Shawn Boston’s been the setting for a lot of Mullins, the event features Kids’ Planet— notable pieces of literature, but perhaps an interactive family area boasting musical none so as enduring and beloved by fami- acts, entertainment and enviornmental/ lies as Robert McCloskey’s Make Way for educational activities for all ages—as well Ducklings. On May 10, Boston Common as exhibits and displays by local and acts as the setting for the popular annual national eco-friendly orgnaizations and Duckling Day Parade, in non-profits, intended to help raise aware- which youngsters and their families get to ness about how we can all help preserve SpringSpring play the part of ducklings and retrace the the world we live in. For more information, steps of the Mallard family through the visit www.earthfest.com. park, all led by the Harvard University 9 best bets for Marching Band. It’s a tradition that genera- THE HECK WITH HIBERNATING tions of Boston children have enjoyed, and a Franklin Park Zoo, founded in enjoying spring true harbinger of spring’s full glory here in 1911, is home to more than 200 species of ani- in the Hub the Hub. Refer to listing, page 47. mals—including gorillas, lions, tigers and Flings giraffes. And spring is the time of the year by Josh B. Wardrop Flings TOUR BOSTON ON TWO WHEELS when a number of the animals who spend the They say that “once you learn how, you winter in hiding make their debut to the never forget,” and there’s no better time delight of crowds of families and animal than springtime to remember the joy of rid- lovers.Visitors to Franklin Park this spring ing around on a bicycle—all the while tak- can see two of the Zoo’s ing in the most beautiful sights Boston has newer arrivals—Ramon, to offer. Fans of pedal power can check out an ocelot kitten, and an FLOWER POWER: An eye- popping variety of fragrant lilacs Boston Bike Tours (617-308- as-yet-unnamed barn like the ones pictured opposite 5902, www.bostonbiketours.com) who offer owl chick—as well as can be found at Arnold daily tours of Beacon Hill and Harvard all their furry and Arboretum during its annual Lilac Sunday celebration. Square, as well as weekend jaunts through feathered friends. Refer other area neighborhoods; or Urban to listing, page 18. Adventours (refer to listing, page 18), a company that leads bike tours from STOP TO SMELL THE FLOWERS one end of the city to the other—including The Arnold Arboretum is one evening Fenway neighborhood tours that let of Boston’s most popular spots in the spring- you soak up pre-Red Sox game excite- time for nature lovers, with nearly 7,000 vari- ment—and even delivers rental bikes to eties of trees and flowers spread out over 265 you, anywhere in the city, on their eco- acres. But when the second Sunday of May friendly BioBus. rolls around, there’s really only one blossom at the Arboretum that’s on everyone’s mind— RBORETUM A PARTY FOR MOTHER EARTH the lilac. That’s because it’s the annual A Earth Day may have been in April, but it’s Lilac Sunday, being celebrated for never too late to celebrate our glorious plan- the 101st time at the Arborteum on May 10. RNOLD A et. Local FM station WBOS, in conjunction In addition to the beautiful blossoms, Lilac with Whole Foods Market, hosts the 16th Sunday also boasts live entertainment and is annual Earthfest at the Hatch Shell the only day of the year in which guests are on the Charles River Esplanade on May 30 allowed to picnic on the Arboretum grounds. from noon–5 p.m. In addition to perform- So, pack a lunch, pack the family and come ances by a slew of 1990s alt-rock favorites out to Jamaica Plain to sample the lilac life.