Culture
Check out the best art and performance in Boston, or bring some culture to your casa with virtual tours and cool streams
Enjoy these Boston museums and cultural institutions from your home
These are frustrating times for local culture vultures who are used to enjoying The Hub's world-class museums and cultural institutions at their leisure. Just about everything is temporarily closed and people are staying inside; who among us couldn't use a classy, calming dose of fine art. So next time you find yourself uncertain of what to do, click around and enjoy these top Boston museums and attractions from the comfort of your couch. RECOMMENDED: Time In: The best things to do at home Museum of Fine Arts: The MFA is one of the many world-class museums you can tour via Google Arts & Culture. You can also see curators and collections on the museum's YouTube channel. Also be sure to click around the museum's homepage to learn about upcoming exhibitions so you know what to expect when we're able to visit again. Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum: The Gardner can also be toured through Google Arts & Culture, and if you've never watched the fascinating intro video on the museum's homepage, now's a great time. JFK Library & Museum: During times like these we could all use a refresher on one of Boston's most beloved native sons. Fortunately, the JFK Library is also up on Google Arts & Culture.You can also browse digitized collections and archives on the library's website. Massachusetts Historical Society: Founded in 1791, as the nation’s first historical society, the MHS offers an extraordinary treasure trove of rare and unique documents, artifacts and and more. If you've never bee
Boston-themed streams to watch and listen to while staying home
We’re all staying home to do our part by social distancing and self-isolating. Fortunately, technology has given us an abundance of ways to stay entertained while we stay inside. Now is the perfect time to catch up on some movies filmed in Boston, learn a bit more about the city, or check in on some recent shows from local chefs and celebs you may have missed the first time around. Order up some food from these restaurants offering takeout or delivery (maybe even pick up some brews curbside from Boston’s best breweries), and check out these online entertainment options. If you’re the active type and having withdrawals, many fitness studios are also streaming classes online. Follow Top Chef Season 17Local faves Karen Akunowicz (Fox & the Knife) and Stephanie Cmar are two of the Top Chef All Stars back to compete on the show’s 17th season. Stream on BravoTV.com on Thursdays. Watch these movies set in BostonThe DepartedGood Will HuntingTedThe TownMystic RiverSpotlightFever Pitch Re-live the Patriots’ best momentsNFL Game Pass, which usually costs $99/yr, is free until May 31. For Pats fans in mourning over a certain quarterback’s move to Tampa, this provides a happy distraction. Watch iconic games like Super Bowl XLIX (Patriots vs. Seahawks) and Super Bowl LI (Patriots vs. Falcons), as well as documentaries like "Do Your Job III," which recaps the 2018 season, which culminated in the franchise’s sixth Super Bowl win. Catch up on WGBH’s You & Julia seriesIn this longtime series,
Where to see art in Boston
Boston has been a cultural hub since the 1700s and remains a significant place to learn about and enjoy the visual arts. Top traveling exhibitions make stops at the best museums in the city, and the best art galleries in Boston boast high quality works. Most of the major art galleries and museums are located in Back Bay and South End, but further-flung neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain are drawing local talent with low rents and large spaces. Follow up on your artsy activities with a meal at one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston, or, if you’re watching your wallet, check our guide to the best free things to do in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
The most unusual museums in Boston
It’s not surprising that the Boston area has so many museums: it offers so much history simply because it was among the earliest Colonial settlements. From there, due to a wealthy merchant class, it became a hotspot during the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s and, in turn, wealth created work for many craftspeople. Also, because of its learned status as the Athens of America, it also produced great thinkers and artists. So, there is much to preserve for posterity and, thankfully, wonderful niche museums present art and artifacts, mostly with a hyper-local focus. Once you’ve visited the best museums in Boston, check these places out. If viewing art is more your thing, check out the best art galleries and other places to see art in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
The best alternative comedy spots in Boston
In addition to the best comedy clubs in Boston, the Hub’s underground and alternative comedy spots have something for everyone who wants to laugh. Check out an open mic night, catch illusionists who don't take themselves too seriously, or see a comedy whodunit that is recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as being the longest running play in the USA, ever. To complete an evening of fun, add in dinner at one of the best restaurants in Boston, late night drinks in the city’s best dive bars, or a visit to the city’s buzziest culinary hub, Time Out Market Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
Bring some culture to your home
Get the scoop on local Boston culture
The best of local art and performance
The best Boston museums to check out right now
Many of the most lauded museums in Boston have rich histories going back generations, but the city also boasts museums with modern design and cutting-edge art. Stroll the Museum of Fine Arts to view the classics or check out the ICA for more contemporary art. Don't forget about science and history - from the Harvard Museums to the Museum of Science, you can have fun while learning about our world. Looking for more art? Check out our list of where to see art in Boston. For more fun things to do, our lists of the best free things to do in Boston and best things to do with kids in Boston have you covered. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
The best Boston art galleries
Boston was called the Athens of America in the 1800s and it's a reputation still upheld and nurtured by its arts community, including numerous renowned commercial art galleries. Boston’s most notable art galleries are found in inviting neighborhoods like the Back Bay and the South End, where the SoWa (south of Washington) Art + Design District lures countless art lovers. But art galleries have also spread throughout the city, and to less central neighborhoods, too. You might discover the next great master right on your doorstep. Still, if you crave a formal collection experience, check out the best art museums in Boston. (There are plenty of other cool places to see art in Boston as well.) If taking in all the fine art leaves you feeling peckish, head over to Time Out Market Boston, and be sure to check out the Artbox out front. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
The best Boston comedy clubs
Sometimes you just need a good laugh. How about hitting up a Boston comedy club? Some of America’s most popular contemporary comedians (Conan O’Brien, Denis Leary, Amy Poehler, Dane Cook) found their funnies in Greater Boston. Big names passing through town might stop at the Wilbur Theater or other venues, but it's easy to check out the up-and-coming scene at smaller comedy clubs or improv nights around town. Make a night of it with drinks at the best rooftop bars in Boston or set the mood with dinner at one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
A guide to the best live music in Boston
As one of America's top cities for enjoying live music, Boston sports quite the musical legacy. Aerosmith, Donna Summer, The Cars, Mission of Burma, New Kids on the Block, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, Aimee Mann, Dropkick Murphys, and, yes, Boston all called the Hub home over the years. Star Wars composer John Williams led the Boston Symphony Orchestra and singer songwriter James Taylor honed his craft here. Rock and roll, classical, jazz, folk, and even country music play out in clubs and halls across the city, night after night. As a bonus, some venues are also great places to eat, or noted gay bars, and all showcase stellar sounds. From the best nightclubs in Boston to the best record stores in Boston, music is, indeed, what we do. More of a visual art kind of person? You might want to browse through our Boston museum guide. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in Boston
The best alternative comedy spots in Boston
In addition to the best comedy clubs in Boston, the Hub’s underground and alternative comedy spots have something for everyone who wants to laugh. Check out an open mic night, catch illusionists who don't take themselves too seriously, or see a comedy whodunit that is recognized in the Guinness Book of Records as being the longest running play in the USA, ever. To complete an evening of fun, add in dinner at one of the best restaurants in Boston, late night drinks in the city’s best dive bars, or a visit to the city’s buzziest culinary hub, Time Out Market Boston. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Boston
