Meaghan Agnew

Washingtonians, the local music scene has never been so exciting. From the best jazz clubs in DC to the best DC clubs, now is the time to fully explore the best creative talent that the city has to offer. What better way to do that than head to these local venues, all showcasing the best live music in DC? Whether catching your favorite band or discovering new musicians, you’ll want to sing your heart out to pop, rock and country songs all night long. Pro tip: before catching a show, head to one of the best pick-up bars in Washington, DC to find a concert buddy.

Even strapping New Englanders like us eventually balk at icy roads, snow delays and single-digit temps. Fend off mid-season SAD with one of these wintertime life hacks (after you dig your way out of Juno, that is). We've got everything from a tented beer garden and cozy restaurants to a Russian steam bath.

Free Wi-Fi now comes as standard, perks for pooches are on the rise, and many top spas have hotels attached. For a staycation or trip with a difference (we’re talking Tesla rides, shark-stalking expeditions and fireplace butlers), check into one of these perktastic properties.

Our rental prices don’t always grab the headlines, but Boston is a tough place to find an apartment without a Brady-Bündchen household income (and as transplants quickly realize after moving here, it's easy to get trapped in a high-rent situation). With the sudden glut of luxury condos, everyone is panicking about their residential ROI, so we’re taking a look at what you can get in this town for between $1,000 and $2,000 per person, per month. Whether you want to live like a Brahmin on Beacon Hill or move into the fashionable South End, check out our rotating selection of reasonably priced Boston apartments fromreal-estate site Zumper’s inventory. But do it quickly, because these will disappear quicker than an Ortiz line-drive homer.

Comfortable seating goes a long way. The aptly named Living Room lures in regulars with oversized couches and chairs, as well as delicious beers and martinis. Little wonder, then, that trivia night is so popular here. Come early (before 7pm) and bring your whole team to secure a spot. Not only do the top three teams earn prizes but photos of the winners will actually be posted on the bar’s website. May we also suggest the victors treat themselves to the s’mores in a jar dessert? That toasted marshmallow ice cream is just too good. 

Casual and comfortable, Somerville’s House of Kebab serves hearty and flavorful classics with a large selection of kebabs. Standards like samosas, tikka masala, dosas, and biryani are favorites, and the various kebab platters (featuring different meats and spices), naan wraps, and regional curries are worth sampling. Try a cool mango lassi and save room for sweet, exotic desserts.

Anyone who lives or works in the Back Bay has dropped more than a few pennies at Chili Duck. The massive menu lets you indulge in many a craving: wonton shrimp and mango fried rice one night, maybe papaya salad and masaman curry the next.  The house specialties include a few unconventional dishes like beef macadamia and the eponymous chili duck, which is revelatory; vegetarians rejoice over the spicy tofu and vegetable hot basil stir-fry. Chili Duck does a robust takeout business, but the fire pot specials are worth an in-person visit, the roasted duck version especially.

For 25 years now, this prescient spot has fed diners first-rate takes on all the classics:  golden triangles, drunken noodles, panang curry and pad krapow. Even the thai iced tea is a standout, served with a paper rose on top of the straw. But it’s when you get to the restaurant’s dinner-only specialities that Equator’s kitchen truly shines—chili duck, avocado shrimp and soft shell crab garlic being three must orders. Equator caters to many a lunchtime professional and nighttime takeout regular, but don’t skip on the opportunity to dine in: the mood lighting and sumptuous decor add an air of intrigue to the place and, in summer, take advantage of the outdoor seating.

Orinoco isn’t a Cuban restaurant per se—instead, it’s a celebrated Venezuelan spot with sly nods to CUba. Lunch is the time to get your Cuban sandwich fix; here it’s a pepito medianoche, tweaked with a salsa rosa. Other classic dishes include fried plantains both ripe and green; empanadas; mixed rice; and, of course, mojitos aplenty. But as you work your way through the rest of the menu, remind yourself that Cuban food is itself a fluid hybrid of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines, and then try to ID the overlaps.

Although mostly serving Domnican sandwiches, the venue also offers addictive Cubano sandwiches. Those expecting piles of sliced meat will be pleasantly surprised—the Havana Cubano here features just a single slab of ham, but tons of shredded pernil (slow roasted pork shoulder) that adds extra spice and juiciness. Just remember that good things do come to those who wait—Tostado’s service is undeniably slow. Call in your order ahead of time, or else savor your strawberry batido while waiting for your meal to be prepared.

Sometimes, less is more. At this no-frills Jamaica Plain spot, Spanish is the preferred language and bachata the preferred piped-in music. Start with the addictive mango smoothie and then work your way through the reliable dinner plates, all served with plantains, beans and rice. Playing it safe means ordering the chicken stew or breaded steak, but what better time to try fried chicken rinds (Chicharron de Pollo) and oxtails in tomato sauce (robo)? If you’re so inclined, linger afterwards for a beer or two with the regulars.

A newer addition to Worcester’s burgeoning dining scene, Cafe Reyes is all about the simple daytime pleasures: papaya shakes, empanadas, black bean soup and a fluffy, flaky pastele (pastry) filled with guava preserves and cream cheese. And for those craving a classic breakfast, this is the place for a cafe con leche and Cuban toast. Even better, the restaurant partners with the Hector Reyes House, a treatment center for Latino men, by offering restaurant training to the center’s residents and graduates. In other words, you get to eat great food for a great cause.

Looking for date night worthy Cuban cuisine? Gustavo (“great pleasure”) is the place for you. The Waltham restaurant elevates simple dishes to fine-dining levels: chicharrones made with pork belly and served with avocado puree, sweet plantains wrapped in bacon and olive oil-poached octopus. But the classic entrees are still well represented and exquisitely turned out, including puerco asado and Arroz con pollo, the Sunday dinner favorite. If guests hit a lull in conversation, they can peruse the Cuban-themed book covers that plaster the restaurant walls. 

Another classic of the genre. G2O began life as Giuliano Spa for Beauty & Wellness way back in 1994, then went through several iterations before landing at its current, incomparable space. Housed inside a historic brownstone, G2O is the place for a modern daylong spa experience. For starters, there’s a fireplace lounge and experience room that can be filled with herbal-infused steam, as well as a salt cave and floating pod. But the cutting-edge treatments here are G20’s signature, like LED light therapy, hyperpigmentation facials, detoxifyng herbal wraps and reflexology. There’s even a separate hair salon to tend to your highlighting and Keratin needs.

Of course we all want our spa experiences to be as clean and organic as possible. But as the city’s only 100 percent organic spa, Balans takes the guesswork out of purifying your beauty routine. All of the treatments employ Maria Åkerberg products, a 100 percent organic line sourced from Sweden (in fact, Balans was the first spa to import the line to the U.S.). And then there’s the flotation therapy, said to cure everything from anxiety to migraines. Clients retreat to their own private float suite; after 60 minutes soaking in the therapeutic epsom salted water (music or guided meditation option), urban angst is but a distant memory. The spa’s dedication to clean living extends to the pure as snow interior, which will push you to finally embrace Marie Kondo’s minimalism.

If you grew up in Boston and are relaxation-inclined, it’s likely your first spa experience took place at Bella Sante. For starters, it’s one of the oldest day spas in the city (and currently a mini-empire, with two more locations in Lexington and Wellesley). It’s also far and away Boston’s most lauded sanctuary, regularly winning accolades for its massages, mani/pedis, tanning treatments and overall experience. But rest assured that Bella Sante never rests on its laurels— on the contrary, its enduring appeal lies in its commitment to treatments that are both top-shelf and cutting-edge, from hydrafacials to the Cloud Nine full body refurbishment. 

1. Why go out to eat in Somerville? Everyone knows all the best restaurants are downtown. 2. I’m a huge Revolution fan. 3. Actually, everyone here calls it the Hub. 4. It’s nice to have the students back in town. 5. It feels like winter will never get here. via Tumblr 6. The best part of the tour is when you get to quack! 7. I honestly have no idea where the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts is. 8. I never Hubway without my helmet. 9. That new country radio station is a huge improvement. 10. I prefer the red clam chowder. 11. Manning’s better. 12. This city has the best tacos. via Kotaku 13. Let’s take a drive down 93. 14. I thought Aerosmith was from Seattle. 15. Just seltzer for me this St. Patty’s Day! 16. Honestly, the Sagamore Bridge traffic is never as bad as people say. 17. Let’s take a walk down the Freedom Trail. 18. In Shaughnessy we trust. 19. The B line is your best bet. NBC/via Tumblr 20. I make a mean baked bean. 21. Of course I’ve been to Medieval Manor! 22. What’s North Face? 23. I’m not familiar with the Big Dig. 24. Let's meet at Cheers for happy hour. 25. I like to shovel out my neighbor’s space first. 20th Century Fox Television/via Tumblr 26. I still can’t believe that A-Rod trade fell through. 27. Matt Damon/Ben Affleck/Robin Williams/Casey Affleck/Alec Baldwin/Jack Nicholson/Martin Sheen/Leonardo DiCaprio/Sean Penn/Tim Robbins/Marcia Gay Harden/Laura Linney/Diane Lane/Amy Adams/Blake Lively/Tom Hanks/Jeff Bridges/Kevin Costner/Julianne Moore does the perfect B