April 2026 Issue
Is the Massachusetts Economy About to Get Wrecked?
Companies are fleeing, residents are bolting, colleges are closing, hospitals are bleeding, and the federal government is rerouting our funding to red states. Inside the unraveling of the Bay State’s economy—and why the clock is ticking for all of us.
Feature
Why Is Everyone So Obsessed with Nantucket Right Now?
Cocaine in the wastewater. Billionaires fighting over a clam shack. A Christmas brawl that landed on TMZ. Why can’t we look away when something happens on the island?
Man of Reason
Celebrity professor Steven Pinker wants to save Harvard. But his own record raises a question: Is he the right guy for the job?
Our New Directory of Greater Boston’s Top Senior Living and Care Communities Is Here
Boston magazine’s annual list of the region’s leading services for active seniors is out now.
Department
Boston’s New City Council President Has Thoughts on Rat Control
She wasn’t even running for the job. Now Liz Breadon is trying to hold Boston’s fractured city council together.
The Kids Are Staying Home: Teens Have Lost the Art of Getting Into (Good) Trouble
Teens aren’t sneaking out, drinking, partying, or hooking up anywhere near as much as they used to. And by almost every measure, they’re safer and more responsible than we ever were. But is that actually good for them?
The Engagement Ring Is Having an Identity Crisis
These days, a $7,000 lab-grown diamond is indistinguishable from a $70,000 mined one. And buyers aren’t just choosing the cheaper option—they’ve stopped caring about the difference altogether.
Fashion + Style
Fancy Hats Can Be Cool
Ellie Ayati-Jian and Jaine Davies, two Greater Boston milliners, are raising the brim—and the bar.
“I Loved Him on ‘Frasier,’ Even If He Is a Yalie.”
Our intrepid society columnist reports from Boston’s swankiest affairs, including galas for the Boston Lyric Opera and Fenway Health.
Retired Police Dogs Could Get a Pension, If This State House Bill Passes
Dakota, a K-9 who helped track Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, came home broken and was almost euthanized. Dakota’s Law, a State House bill, aims to make sure dogs like him aren’t left behind.
A New England Traveler’s Guide to Key West, Florida
Sit back, relax, and let loose on the island that practically requires you to do all three.
Beacon
The A.R.T. Is Turning “Black Swan” into a Musical
The theatrical adaptation, directed by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh, opens May 26. Go see it before New York takes it from us.
Alt-Rock Pioneers the Throwing Muses Are Back
Boston’s alt-rock trailblazers refuse to become nostalgia acts.
Where to Eat in Greater Boston in April 2026
New and exciting restaurants to check out, plus good reasons to visit older spots.
A Massive Suburban Italian Restaurant Is Reborn
Burlington’s Tuscan Kitchen is now the “energized and fun” Sorella, with an emphasis on events.
Allston’s Ama at the Atlas Is an Ode to Nourishment
The new Comfort Kitchen sibling, now open at the Atlas Hotel, serves global flavors as a tribute to caregivers.
Other
Do I Have to Run the Boston Marathon to Be a Real Bostonian?
God, I hope not, because nothing, not the chance to eat a lot of pasta or run by my own house, ever made me want to do it.
Home Design
So, You Want to Live in Bedford?
A sprinkling of indie businesses, a dash of great schools, and a heaping helping of Revolutionary history is the recipe for a lively small town.
Real Estate Showdown: A Secluded Lincoln Colonial vs. a South Shore Landmark
It’s amazing what a few miles can do to the market. This month, we compare a sprawling brick residence in Lincoln with an antique Hingham home.