MyBoston
BACK BAY & BEACON HILL
STAYING POWER
THE LENOX HOTEL CELEBRATES 125 YEARS
TURNING BACK TIME
OUR INTREPID REPORTER TESTS MICRONEEDLING
A Curious Mind
MFA Director
Pierre Terjanian
Timeless Beauty, Perfected on Newbury
Founded by Marisa Marino—an industry veteran and mentor—Stilisti is more than a salon. It’s a space where artistry meets professionalism, and where stylists are trained to bring out the best in every client, strand by strand for 20 years.
We’re proud to give back to the community that inspires us, including hosting annual cut-a-thons to benefit Boston Children’s Hospital and supporting causes close to our hearts.
Whether you’re visiting for a transformative color, precision cut, or personalized styling, you’ll find yourself in expert hands.
Experience the difference at Stilisti
Custom Color Treatments
Precision Haircuts
Bridal and Event Hair and Makeup
Hair Repair and Scalp Treatments
Meet our Team! Available in-salon or on-location
Kayla: @kaylancolorist
Fun Facts: Disney Fanatic, loves the theater, ballet & concerts.
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Fun Facts: Moved to US at 24, speaks multiple languages, can fall asleep anywhere!
Leanna: Instagram in Progress! Fun facts: Soccer Mom – travels the world to follow her soccer stars!
Adding Color to Each Brownstone
Sincerely,
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Creative
Collin Bray
Terjanian, the new director of the Museum of Fine Arts, sits down with MyBoston.
intrepid reporter tests the microneedling treatment Morpheus8 at the Center for Classic Beauty.
grand Lenox Hotel celebrates 125 years of luxury.
BLINK
EYECARE & AESTHETICS
LEATHER - STONE - IGUANA - STINGRAY
Not just a frame, a story of craft, history and obsession.
ACELEBRATING ONE YEAR!
AS THE COLORS of fall sweep across New England, our city once again reminds us why this season is so cherished. The vibrant foliage and the renewed energy in our historic neighborhoods create the perfect setting for reflection—and discovery.
This issue marks a milestone: our 12th edition and our very first full year together. It has been an honor to bring you stories that celebrate the spirit of our city—timeless, cultured, and everevolving.
You may also notice something new: My publisher’s portrait now
changes each month, thanks to the creativity of our new magazine stylist, Tara West. This time, I’m wearing a striking asymmetrical leather trench by Akris— also worn by Sharon Stone on her recent appearance with Seth Meyers. Tara also introduces you to five of this season’s fashion trends, each thoughtfully sourced from our local boutiques.
We are equally honored to introduce Pierre Terjanian, the new director of the Museum of Fine Arts. As he tells MyBoston, a visit to the MFA should begin with one intention and end with something wholly unexpected. That spirit of discovery is one we hope you find mirrored in our magazine.
History, too, takes center stage this month, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Lenox Hotel, our Back Bay landmark. For those seeking inspiration in the art of renewal, our feature on turning back time explores new ways to look—and feel—younger.
MyBoston aims to be aspirational, yet rooted in community. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes and conversations for 12 months already, and I look forward to seeing you—in the pages of this magazine, and in the neighborhood.
With gratitude,
Renata Coker Publisher, MyBoston
www.mybostonmag.com @mybostonmag
Publisher
Renata Coker
Renata.Coker@mybostonmag.com
Editor and Photographer
Claire Vail editor@mybostonmag.com
Writers
Celina Colby
Leigh Harrington
Morgan Vail
Tara West
Photographer Ben Flythe
Advisory Board
Collin Bray
Robert Dimmick
Leigh Harrington
Lisa Mulman
Sharin Schober
David Sharff
Cindy Sullivan
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman
Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
SVP, Group Publisher
Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy
Maria Regan
VP, Director of Digital Media
Nigel Edelshain
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Associate Editor
Sophia Carlisle
Advertising Services Director
Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer
Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager
Fern Meshulam
Circulation Manager
Kathy Wenzler
Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden MyBoston
Photograph by Ben Flythe Styling by Tara West Wardrobe provided by AKRIS
Custom Jewelry by Cynthia Britt Hair and Makeup by Niambi Strickland, Salon Stilisti
Photographed at The French Library
Community CALENDAR
Fall under October’s spell with these exhibitions, author talks, concerts and other events happening in Back Bay and Beacon Hill.
BY MORGAN VAIL
All Month
Fashioning the World
In conjunction with Boston Fashion Week this month, visit the astonishing exhibition Andrew Gn: Fashioning the World, held at the Peabody Essex Museum. The exhibit illuminates the Singaporean designer’s life and legacy, and showcases nearly 100 works from his collections that blend Western aesthetics, art history and Asian decorative art and design. Exhibit runs until February 16, 2026, at the Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem.
All Month
Exhibiting China
Boston Athenaeum is revisiting the first exhibit ever held at its 10 1/2 Beacon St. address. This installation reunites the 268 portraits for
the first time in 175 years, alongside a curated selection of other works originally shown in the landmark 1850 exhibition, highlighting the artistic and cultural dialogues of the period. Runs until November 1 at the Boston Athenaeum, 10 ½ Beacon St.
October
4
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Celebrate 30 years of fighting breast cancer. Don your most fabulous pink outfit for photo opportunities, dance to lively music, and relish in gift giveaways while supporting cancer survivors. 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free, DCR Hatch Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way.
October 4
Access MBA
Come to an in-person exploration of business degrees and the schools that offer them in Boston. Meet with some of the leading schools for MBAs and join panels with alumni for insider tips on admissions. Get the chance to win a free GMAT course from the Manhattan Review! 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Free, Hilton Boston Park Plaza, 50 Park Plaza.
October
9
Spaghetti Dinner for Women’s Lunch Place
Attend the annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser and help provide meals, advocacy, and housing support for the guests of Women’s Lunch Place. Experience powerful testimonials and help create a community of dignity, healing, and hope. Tickets are $350, and the dinner will be held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, 138 St. James Ave. To learn more, call 617-449-7211.
October 10
Glam Slam
Join comedian and host Bethany Van Delft for an evening of live storytelling by local fashion professionals, who will recount hysterical tales of glam gone wrong. Models, curators, and designers will share stories that will make you laugh, cry, and understand why fashion can be as entertaining backstage as it is on the runway. 6:30 p.m., held at WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave. Tickets start at $10.
October 10, 12
“Macbeth” at the Boston Lyric Opera
Witness an outstanding retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most iconic tragedies. This psychological story of betrayal, guilt, and torment is accompanied by the music of Giuseppi Verde and conducted by David Angus. Tickets begin at $40 on the Emerson Colonial Theatre’s website. Two performances: 7:30 p.m. on the 10th, and 3 p.m. on the 12th. Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St.
Above: Join the Women’s Lunch Place at this year’s Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser on October 9. Photograph by Keiko Hiromi
Bottom right: Norman Garrett and Alexandra LoBianco star in Boston Lyric Opera’s “Macbeth.”
October 13
Pipes on the Plaza
Thrill to a wide range of classical pieces from composers such as Elgar and Tchaikovsky, played on some of the world’s greatest pipe organs, while you take in the stunning Church of Christ Scientist Plaza. 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Free, 250 Massachusetts Ave. Call 617-450-2000 for more information.
October
15
How Boston Became Global
As an installment in the “Chat & Chowder” series, author James O’Connell will discuss his new book “Boston and the Making of a Global City” followed by an audience Q&A, special time for networking, and a buffet of chowder and beverages. Enjoy this opportunity to engage with an expert speaker alongside your peers from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free, Foley & Lardner LLP, 111 Huntington Ave., Ste. 2500. Register online for in-person attendance.
October 16
Of Tarot Cards and Torah
Torah scholar Stav Appel discusses his book on the origins of tarot cards, and how they were initially created by Jewish people seeking to retain their tradition. In collaboration with Miriam Anzovin’s digital storytelling, this exhibit will display restored original tarot cards, seasonal treats, and conversation surrounding the Jewish culture. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets can be bought on Vilna Shul’s website, starting at $18. The Vilna Shul, 18 Phillips St.
October
16
Exploring Bilingual Parenting
Join the French Library and Youth Programs
Manager Alan Gomez for a workshop series designed to empower parents who are raising or want to raise bilingual children. This first installment in the series will explore the advantages and misconceptions around raising kids who speak two languages. From 10 to 11 a.m., in English, $30 for non-members, the French Library at 53 Marlborough St.
October 18
Katharine Gibbs School Tour
Before women’s suffrage, entrepreneur Katharine Gibbs founded her world-famous school in 1911. It remained extraordinarily well-known until it closed in 2011. To honor
this beautiful historical site and its contributions to Boston, enjoy a guided tour of the school’s campus. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free, but call 781-540-1847 to reserve a spot in advance. Boston Public Library, outside Dartmouth Street, Copley Square.
October 19
Life Well Lived: Ted Grace and Ethel Ryerson
Self-described seasoned travelers of welllived lives, Ted Grace and Ethel Ryerson are putting on a moving concert following their journeys through jazz and cabaret. Both vocalists seek to explore the highlights of living and the art of looking forward to the future. From 6 to 7 p.m. Free, Club Cafe, 209 Columbus Ave. For more information, call 617-536-0966.
October 24
The Rhythm Method String Quartet in Residence at Berklee
As a part of their collective residency at Berklee’s Professional Writing and Music Technology Division, this quartet will approach a series of compositions with their trademark style and versatility after a few days of working with students. 1 p.m. Free, Red Room at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston Street. For more information, call 617-747-8629.
October 25
German Exiles in Hollywood
By the end of the 1920s, the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles had become a wealthy, elite refuge of the
intellectuals of Germany’s Weimar Republic. Author Thomas Blubacher recounts the story of glamour and great minds, and the Germanspeakers who still live there today in his new book “Weimar Under the Palms.” In cooperation with the Boston Book Festival. Saturday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free admission, in English, GoetheInstitut, 170 Beacon St.
October 26
Esplanade 5k Run & Walk
You are cordially invited to the Esplanade Association’s 5k Run & Walk. Bring a costume and a friend to this community event. In addition to the race, enjoy fall-themed family activities, free vendor samples, music, food, and a Night Shift Beer Garden (21+). Register for tickets on the Esplanade Association’s website. The event will begin at 8 a.m. Charles River Esplanade. For more information, call 617-227-0365.
Above: A brass and enamel cloisonne duck from the 18th century on display at the Athenaeum Bottom: Explore the relationship between tarot cards and Torah on October 16 at the Vilna Shul.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Nine takes over a culinary legacy, retaining what was great while adding breadth—and a gin palace.
BY CELINA COLBY
Right: Allan Rodriguez
NO. 9 PARK was a jewel of the Beacon Hill restaurant scene for decades, a go-to for stiff cocktails and special occasion meals. Now, the space houses Nine, a reimagined fine dining concept and a chic gin palace primed for both anniversary diners and afterwork drinks.
Allan Rodriguez, the Boston restaurateur behind Newbury Street concepts La Neta and Sabina Mezcaleria, as well as El Centro in the South End, took over the space shortly after its closure with the goal of honoring No. 9 Park’s legacy in a fresh new way.
“I am thrilled to introduce Nine to Boston and preserve the rich history of this beloved location,” says Rodriguez. “Our team comprises the industry’s top talent and each member has brought unique expertise to the table.”
Diners can choose from a chef’s tasting menu or an à la carte meal. Chef Andrew Simonich, former chef de cuisine at No. 9 Park, has preserved a few favorites from
the old menu, including the steak tartare. But he’s enjoying the creative freedom that the new concept brings.
The lamb chop on the a la carte menu is paired with a black olive caramel for a sweet and salty fusion and a fennel confit with olive oil and orange zest to bring aromatics to the dish. After a traditional French-style preparation, the dish is glazed with a Calabrian chili butter. Much of the menu begins with traditional dishes like this one that are given a fresh spin with dynamic flavor pairings.
A BROADER EUROPEAN FEEL
“I’m definitely leaning more towards the modern food trends,” says Simonich. “My experience has been very European, French and Italian, but I’m opening myself up more to a broader European feel.”
The gin palace, modeled after lavish Victorian English pubs that specialized in gin, features an extensive collection of the spirit and a menu of cocktails paying homage to prohibition’s favorite drink. Nine also offers a robust wine list and other spirits.
No. 9 Park closed in the midst of a slew of toxic workplace investigations and a lawsuit levied against former chef and owner Barbara Lynch by the City of Boston for $1.7 million in unpaid personal property taxes. Unfortunately, the devoted hospitality team was collateral damage as Lynch’s restaurant empire crumbled.
When Rodriguez and Simonich took over, preserving jobs for the longtime staff members was a crucial goal. Simonich says about 50% of the original No. 9 Park back of house staff returned behind the line at Nine.
For many local regulars who grew to know and love the staff, this news is as sweet as the strawberry sofrito polenta on the new menu
“The neighborhood was anxiously awaiting our return,” says Simonich. “We’re excited to be that home base right on the corner of Park and Beacon.
Celina Colby has been covering the food and beverage scene in Boston for over a decade with bylines in Eater Boston, The Bay State Banner, and others.
A Curious Mind
Pierre Terjanian, the new director of the Museum of Fine Arts, sits down with MyBoston to discuss art, history, and his quest to provide transformative experiences.
BY CLAIRE VAIL
PPIERRE TERJANIAN credits a museum guard with helping him discover his calling, by literally pointing him in the right direction.
“There are moments when the road forks before you,” he observes.
“I believe chance encounters can change your life.”
Call it luck, timing or fate, Terjanian has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, with the right attitude. In 1990, the Strasbourg native was 21, earning dual degrees in law and business in Paris, with every intention of becoming a lawyer. He was also cultivating a growing fascination with historical arms and armor, particularly the elegant productions of the Renaissance era. The Tower of London’s Royal Armories, a magnificent museum housed in William the Conqueror’s forbidding, atmospheric White Tower, was a magnet for the young Frenchman. Over summers and holidays, whenever possible, he’d hop the cheapest flight to London and immerse himself in the collection.
Taking photos wasn’t allowed, so he sketched the objects he admired. Every day, all day.
“I stayed from opening to close. After a while, the guards really started paying attention to me. I
The Main Gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts
Photographs by Clair Vail
Above: Special exhibits, such as this year’s “Van Gogh: Roulin Family Portraits,” help draw more than a million visitors to the MFA annually.
Below: Pierre Terjanian and American Decorative Arts Research Graduate intern Sofia OrtegaGuerrero regard a new acquisition that will be on view for the first time in the MFA’s reimagined galleries in honor of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The new gallery will open in June 2026.
asked a lot of questions. You could tell they were thinking, what’s up with this guy?” recalls Terjanian.
Finally, a guard advised him to walk down the hall and speak directly with the museum’s curators. Impressed by his enthusiasm and knowledge, the curators encouraged him to keep researching, even suggesting they might publish his work. The conversation stuck in his mind, and it wasn’t long after that Terjanian found a footing in the museum world, a choice that has paid off. On July 1, he became the Ann and Graham Gund Director and CEO for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston’s premier art museum, and one of the country’s most distinguished and cherished cultural institutions.
THINKING ON THE MOVE
Terjanian’s office features several floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the Fenway’s lush treescape, a view that might have tempted Monet or the American impressionist Frederick Hassam to pick up a brush. It’s an ideal place to sit and reflect. But Terjanian prefers to think and plan on
his feet while strolling the museum, particularly the Asian art galleries. Movement suits his personal style: energetic, receptive to the new, and ever curious.
It’s an exciting role, with lots at stake. MFA makes most lists of the country’s best art museums; it’s a source of pride for residents and a destination for international tourists. Its collection, which boasts numerous masterworks, contains 500,000 objects representing artistic traditions from nearly every corner of the globe. In its last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2025, the MFA had over a million visitors. Major exhibitions, such as this year’s intimate and moving “Van Gogh: Roulin Family Portraits” and 2021’s blockbuster “Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation” drew scores of younger, first-time visitors. Everyone is eying Terjanian, eager to see where he’ll take things.
Terjanian already knows the players at the MFA, having served as its chief of curatorial affairs and conservation
for the last year and a half, working under Matthew Teitelbaum, who ran the museum for the last decade. But now that Terjanian is in the key role, he’s on a six-month listening tour busy absorbing feedback and advice from the museum’s many constituents.
While he says it’s early days for a plan, he is very adamant that the museum’s existing collections get fair play.
“We will continue to do bold exhibitions, but the permanent collection draws a local audience and is not to be thought of as a backdrop for exhibitions. That’s important,” he adds.
The MFA is celebrated for its extensive and impressive permanent collections, especially its European and American paintings, which include masterworks such as Renoir’s charming “Dance at Bougival,” (1867) and Monet’s serene “Waterlilies” (1907). But as is often the case with museums (how many visitors to the Louvre only see the Mona Lisa?), the famous and familiar can overshadow
fine gems. There’s so much to see that even regular visitors often miss, and Terjanian wants to make sure other objects get their due.
“Today, I just noticed for the first time a large stone figure,” he says with delight. “It’s ancient Egyptian, and it has the face of a lioness and the torso of a woman. It’s one of more than 730 figures commissioned by Amenhotep III to guard his temple day and night.”
Several of the MFA’s major galleries have reopened after being closed during the pandemic, which gave curators time to reimagine and recreate them. With Terjanian’s input, many of the galleries have added flocked wallpaper or have been painted in deep, saturated colors. Objects and paintings stand out vividly against the cerulean blue, eggplant, and grassy green walls. On a rainy Sunday in early September, the halls are packed with visitors from the U.S. and overseas, animatedly discussing the works.
“There’s so much to see,” says
Terjanian. “For example, we have the largest and most important collections of ancient Nubian art anywhere, with about 25,000 objects representing 5,000 years of history.. And we’ll be expanding those galleries soon.”
EARLY INFLUENCES
Terjanian was born and raised in Strasbourg, a French city that teeters on the western border of Germany. It’s where Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid 1400s, and Europe’s major events either happened or reverberated here. Terjanian absorbed history from a young age, just by walking around town. Art had a place at home, too, thanks to his father, a seller of antique carpets.
“He had these cabinets with Japanese netsuke, little ceramic sculptures. Some of them scared me, and some intrigued me,” Terjanian recalls.
His imagination was also stirred by propaganda posters in books and magazine reprints. “Looking at them
Above: The Asian galleries, where Terjanian likes to stroll, feature tens of thousands of objects from Korea, China, Japan, India, and other countries.
Below: Duke Ulrich of Wurttemberg’s 1507 horse armor at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, acquired by Terjanian during his tenure there. Photograph courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art
got me thinking. How can an image mobilize people to go to work or build roads? Or enlist in the army? Or take part in a protest? As a teenager, I would give myself assignments and draw my own versions.”
As he grew older, Terjanian continually sought out new horizons. Law school was fine, but there were so many lawyers, and he wanted to stand out, so he enrolled in a business administration degree program. The contrast between the two disciplines opened up new ways of thinking. Still, he had the sense the world was a bigger and more interesting place, with more to offer.
While visiting a friend in Manhattan, Terjanian sought out a curator at the Met, and inquired about how he might
enter the museum field. They told him it would be tough, but suggested he try his luck in Philadelphia. It was a good lead, and in 1997, Terjanian joined the Philadelphia Museum of Art on an international fellowship, a new program funded by the Mellon Foundation.
“I was apprenticed into the American museum system from that time on. And it was a very welcoming institution that made sure I was treated like staff. I was embedded in the action from day one.”
KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR
After several years learning the ropes, Terjanian was appointed the J. J. Medveckis Associate Curator of Arms and Armor and acting head of the
Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts before 1700 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
He acquired the last complete set of horse armor still in private hands, a coup for the museum, as there are only 40 or so complete European horse armor sets in the world. The teenage Duke Ulrich of Wuerttemberg had it made in 1507 to impress older rulers. He spared no expense, hiring the best artisans and most expensive materials, and the result is lavish. For Terjanian, the process was an education.
“It was a defining experience for me. I had to raise the money to purchase it, I had to persuade the owner to sell it, and I had to determine the year it was made, for whom and why,” he explains.
Ulrich’s horse armor brought in the crowds. Kids were thrilled by the work, as were adults.
“We saw we could bring many different people into the museum, not only art lovers. Horse armor, a spear, a sword can teach people so much. It’s an object anyone can engage with,” he adds.
TO THE MET
From Philadelphia, he went to The Met as the Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Curator in Charge of Arms and Armor. He led one of the museum’s iconic curatorial departments, overseeing a collection of objects from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and America from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages to the 21st century.
Above: A portrait by Boston-born painter John Singleton Copley in the Arts of the Americas wing
Left: One of the MFA’s Dutch masterworks, a portrait of Aeltje Uylenburgh by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1632
Middle: A statue of Sekhmet from the reign of Amenhotep III (1390-1353 BC)
Right: The entrance to the Islamic Art Gallery
At The Met, he put together another landmark exhibition. “The Last Knight: The Art, Armor and Ambition of Maximillian I,” ran from fall of 2018 to early 2020, and featured more European arms and armor than any North American exhibition had in decades—180 objects loaned from collections in Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S.
Terjanian also raised $100 million in gifts, bequests and pledges of artworks, priming him for top-tier status at any museum. In 2024, he joined the MFA as head of Curatorial and Conservation, overseeing stewardship for all objects and related activities. When Teitelbaum announced he was stepping down and a search ensued, Terjanian, according to Museum authorities, was a popular choice, trusted and respected by colleagues and board members.
Terjanian frequently acknowledges his good fortune and his kind treatment by others who helped mentor him and nurture his career, and
vows to do the same for his staff.
“The staff makes the museum experience possible. On my visits to the Tower of London, it was that guard who encouraged me to get more involved. That’s something that I will take pride in fostering at the MFA, you know, making sure that everyone who works here engaging the public fully understands how important they are.”
CULTIVATING A GARDEN
On March 15, 2026, the MFA will open a new exhibit about gardens that will showcase works from across the Museum’s collections—including beloved favorites and unseen masterpieces—to consider how similarities and differences in gardens over time and place speak to our relationship with the natural world.
The exhibit, Terjanian says, will offer visitors a fresh perspective on the world’s most popular hobby through an artistic lens. “It’s interesting to consider a theme like gardening that is
virtually universal and explore how it differs across civilizations, cultures and people based on their lived experience. If anything, we have an embarrassment of riches, so it’s a matter of exercising discipline, to carefully curate what’s in the exhibit.”
What does Terjanian hope visitors feel when they come to the museum? The same enchantment he experienced in the Tower of London more than 30 years ago.
“Ideally, something magical happens when you encounter these works,” he says with conviction. “Visitors should be challenged, in a positive way. For me, the best visitor experience is when a person comes in for one reason, and they leave with something new, a thought or feeling they didn’t know they had or didn’t know they wanted.”
Claire Vail is a Boston-based writer and photographer who covers art, culture and travel.
Visitors admiring paintings in the MFA’s European Arts gallery
WTurning Back Time
Our intrepid reporter tests the microneedling treatment Morpheus8 at the Center for Classic Beauty.
BY CLAIRE VAIL
WHEN IT COMES to my looks, I’ve learned to manage my expectations. I’ve got a great personality, or so I keep telling myself. After a half century’s wear and tear, my face could be worse. But could it be better?
Cue Dr. Anna Petropoulos, medical director of the New England Facial and Cosmetic Surgery Center and a double-board certified plastic surgeon who has pioneered and perfected restorative aesthetic techniques. If she can’t improve matters, no one can.
I am sitting comfortably, semireclined in a chair at the Center for Classic Beauty, her stylish white marble and black granite offices on
Commonwealth Ave.nue, regarding myself in a large hand mirror. It’s time for a reckoning.
“Together, let’s examine your face, starting at the top of your head,” she says. We discuss the three very visible lateral lines running across my forehead, and the trench-like vertical crease between the eyebrows.
“These lines are caused by these muscles,” she says, indicating a point over my brow. That and five decades of scowling, I think. Maybe author George Orwell—always a stickler for the unvarnished truth—was right when he wrote that by 50, we all have the face we deserve.
“Your eyelids drop a millimeter every year,” Dr. Petropoulos explains. She pushes the skin down over my furrowed brows to demonstrate the cruel effects of time. My eyelids hood, my already-deep set eyes get beadier, crow’s feet splay out. I look mean and suspicious. Get off my lawn, kids!
“Now watch,” she says, pulling the skin back toward my hairline. My eyes look larger and brighter. I not only look younger, I look more awake, more aware, more…employable.
“How about your skin texture?” Only slightly magnified, my skin conjures up satellite images of ancient Martian riverbeds, hatched and scored.
I admit I’m also bothered by the small vertical lines above my upper lip, unwanted souvenirs of aggressive chain-smoking on European vacations
in the late 80s. It was cool back then, but so were leg warmers. Then there’s the parenthetic nasolabial lines, and the nascent jowls, which form as cheek pads migrate downward. The jowls, says the good doctor, can drop three millimeters every year. Fantastic. I put down the mirror. I want refurbishing. “What would you do with my face?” I ask her.
‘I have a few ideas,” she says, smiling.
THE BOTOX ANGEL
This is why patients flock to her.
Dr. Petropoulos has been assessing and rejuvenating faces and bodies for over 25 years and can match the person to the ideal procedure in less time than it takes you or I to switch on the ring light for a Zoom call.
Above: Medical esthetician Sage Andrellos prepares a patient for a CoolSculpting Elite treatment, which dissolves fat for an optimized body shape. Below: Photos of my face 1) before treatment 2) one day after 3) two days after 4) a week after and 5) two weeks after. All photos without filter or touch up.
Plastic surgery is a highly competitive, fast-moving field, and there are many doctors and estheticians vying for patients in what can be a very lucrative business. Choosing a surgeon can be daunting. Most people get referrals from friends or scan online patient reviews. These are fine criteria, but there are other factors to weigh.
Dr. Petropoulos’s list of awards and accolades is long and impressive. Her academic credentials are impeccable— Harvard-trained, she writes for peer-reviewed medical journals and frequently travels across the world to lecture. What’s more, Dr. Petropoulos is one of the few physicians who has been nationally recognized for her artistic skill.
Many plastic surgeons describe what they do as a combination of medicine and artistry. Dr. Petropoulos is a National Education Faculty member who trains other plastic surgeons in noninvasive rejuvenation procedures using neuromodulators, biostimulators, fillers, and energy-based devices. Her
Opposite: Master medical esthetician Jeanine Oteri administering a Morpheus8 treatment
Photographs by Claire Vail
team puts it more succinctly: They call her the Botox Angel.
The Center for Classic Beauty owns over 20 different aesthetic energy-based devices, which allows Dr. Petropoulos to create a highly customized plan for every patient. This is important, since some places may only have one or two machines (they’re seriously expensive). It’s better to have options.
Though a surgeon, Dr. Petropoulos strongly prefers to begin with a noninvasive approach. These days,
there’s a lot that can be accomplished without going under the knife. She is adamant about preserving a natural look. For me, she recommends Botox as a baseline and Morpheus8, a radiofrequency microneedling treatment, for skin tightening.
FACE FORWARD
Botox, a neurotoxin that relaxes muscles, has been around a while now, having been FDA-approved for treating forehead lines back in 2002. It works, though you need to reup your
dose every three to six months, or the lines creep back.
Before Dr. Petropoulos administers the injections, she explains the effect each shot will have on the adjacent area. She is quick, precise and gentle, and I barely feel the needle. Though they say Botox three days to fully blossom, I see results immediately, like a soft filter on a photograph.
Morpheus8 is the big daddy of microneedling treatments and was introduced to the market in summer of 2002. Several sessions can mimic the effects of a minor face lift by tightening and smoothing the skin (clinicians recommend 3 to 4 treatments). Online before-and-after photo galleries show noticeable improvements: Undereye circles are brighter, skin is clearer, and patients look substantially refreshed, the way people look when they’re standing in especially flattering light. The way Martha Stewart and Angela Bassett look all the time.
Collagen and elastin are responsible for supple, smooth skin. Our stock of these proteins plummets as we age, and by our 60s, it’s pretty much depleted. Morpheus8 employs a device to stamp thin needles full of radio-frequency energy into your skin, creating a controlled, temporary thermal injury that stimulates collagen and elastin growth. After multiple initial treatments and one annual treatment thereafter, you can maintain your glow. I’m told it’s best to start by your early 40s. At my age, I’m on the brink of collagen extinction. Almost, but not quite, too late.
On the day of the procedure, Dr. Petropoulos’s team greets me like an old friend. Jeanine Oteri, a master medical esthetician and laser technician with over 22 years of experience, will provide my treatment. She and other staff members have undergone several Morpheus8 sessions and regular Botox treatments. They are all over 45 but look significantly younger, at least by a decade. Their skin is flawless, clear, and firm. They have a clean, natural European-style beauty that seems effortless, but surely isn’t. Their
down-to-earth friendliness is wholly American.
Jeanine has performed thousands of Morpheus8 treatments—several a day since 2020. Her deep experience is comforting; this procedure requires someone knowledgeable behind the hot needle wand. She shows me the machine and explains the process.
To manage discomfort, a numbing cream is applied to my face and neck, and I’m allowed to take hits of low strength nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which only lasts for the duration, so I can still drive myself home.
Once I’m sufficiently numbed, which takes about 30 minutes, Jeanine begins using the wand in small stamping motions, beginning with my neck. The first stamp is intense, but not particularly painful, and from there, I grow acclimated to the sensation.
Jeanine alternates between pleasant chat and explaining the finer aspects of the procedure, but I’m a bit too loopy from the gas to focus. With each stamp, the device makes a little boop sound like the Whole Foods price scanner. I wonder how I’m going to afford all these groceries.
The whole treatment takes less than an hour. Afterward, my face is red, and feels hot and tight, like I have a mild sunburn. Jeanine walks me through the aftercare kit, which includes a superb firming cream made from rich shea butter, and explains that by tomorrow, the redness will fade, and in two days, will hardly be visible.
THE RESULTS
The timeline plays out exactly as she predicts. A few hours later, the tightness dissipates. At the end of day
two, I go out to dinner. On day three, I’m back to normal.
While results certainly vary from person to person and the full effect takes several weeks, I found that even a single treatment made a difference. Small pits and scars from long ago are shallower, pores are tighter. Since Morpheus8, I find I’m using less foundation. My skin has a new radiance I don’t want to mask.
Getting any sort of aesthetic treatment isn’t a lifestyle choice for everyone, and it’s not cheap, but the results are impressive. Some of my friends tsked about vanity and giving in to a narcissistic culture. I texted them my before and after photos. They texted back immediately, wanting to know where they can get it done. As for me, I have already signed up for my next treatment.
Opposite: Dr. Anna Petropoulos in front of the Center for Classic Beauty, 396 Commonwealth Ave., A-1.
Above: Dr. Petropoulos and team
Staying Power
The grand Lenox Hotel celebrates 125 years of luxury.
BY LEIGH HARRINGTON
yYOU’RE IN BOSTON during the fall of 1900. The city is bustling. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, Italy, and the West Indies crowd the streets, a notable increase in population that started after the Civil War and will triple by World War I. Republicans dominate the state legislature, and Thomas N. Hart has just recently succeeded Josiah Quincy VI as Boston’s mayor. On Beacon Street, wealthy
bohemian socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner is hosting glittering gatherings with local writers, artists, and musicians that will help establish her national reputation as a cultural icon. Across the Back Bay on Thursday evening, October 25, Newton-born conductor J. Wallace Goodrich performs Bach for the opening organ recital at the brandnew Symphony Hall, much praised for its groundbreaking acoustical
design. Two months later, on December 20, 1900, an elaborate staging of “Ben Hur,” complete with a live chariot race, launches the Colonial Theatre as a premier playhouse.
Near Copley Square, in the heart of this thriving city, which was poised on the precipice of massive growth and innovation, 22-year-old Lucius M. Boomer has spent over $1 million (roughly $39 million today) developing one of Boston’s first high-rise hotels, the refined, fully modernized Hotel Lenox. It opens on October 15, to the delight of its distinguished guests.
Now called the Lenox Hotel, accommodations are still luxurious. In honor of its 125th anniversary this month, let’s dig into its history and take a peek at what’s to come.
A PINNACLE OF MODERNITY
In 1900, locals referred to any 11-story building as a skyscraper. Today, we call that charming, especially when it falls in the shadow of a 52-story behemoth. But back then, Hotel Lenox
represented all that was cutting edge and refined, including indoor plumbing and private bathrooms, elevators, telephones, and electricity. Built of iron and concrete, it was fireproof, too.
As a good indication of how fancy a place Hotel Lenox was back then, consider that Boomer also built the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. He ran the Lenox until a few years before he died in 1947.
THE SAUNDERS ERA
Part of the charm of the Lenox starts with its independence. Today’s owners care deeply about their guests as well as their employees, many of whom have stayed on staff for decades. Jimmy Fisher famously worked as a bellman there for 60 years, and loads of others, including 45-year housekeeping veteran Maura, stayed for multiple Hotdecades.
The Lenox
sign
Above: The Lenox in 1906, six years after it opened Below: The Executive Queen Fireplace Room is especially lovely on cold Boston nights.
So, just who are these owners? Living in Boston, there’s no doubt you’ve heard of the Saunders family. Between massive real estate holdings and several hotel properties (Raffles, for one), it feels like they own half the city—and they probably do.
It started with Irving Saunders. After Boomer, the hotel went through 20 years of corporate ownership until 1963, when Saunders bought a minor interest. Back then, he was still making a name for himself, and over the following 62 years, he and several generations of his family managed the Lenox Hotel to great success, acquiring full ownership in 1996. Today, the Lenox is the Saunders Hotel Group’s flagship—and still independently owned.
CELEBRITIES AND STORIES
As with any historic building—and this one is officially registered as a Historic Hotel of America—the Lenox’s past comes with a stable of celebrity guests and a few stories.
Most notably, Judy Garland lived at the Lenox for three months in 1965 and stayed several other times when performing in Boston between 1939 and 1969, always in the same suite, Room 423.
Opposite:
Hotel
in 2023
Today, the Lenox specially honors the late singer and actress’s legacy in the apartment, which is decorated with old Hollywood glamour and features the room’s original fireplace and mirror.
Other reported famous guests include early 20th-century opera singer Enrico Caruso, MLB legend Babe Ruth, actors Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw while filming “Love Story,” and Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who lived there part-time during the dynasty years from 1955 through 1968.
A FACELIFT FOR 2025
In honor of its milestone anniversary, the Lenox has undergone a refresh, from subtle branding and logo changes to a complete overhaul of its three onsite restaurants.
Stop in at The Irving (yep, named for that Irving), the hotel’s bar, just off its lobby, for a Pop’s Classic No. 2, featuring Lenox-exclusive Maker’s Mark, mint, lemon, and Angostura
bitters. Bourbon and craft cocktails are the Irving’s specialty. If you’re keeping tabs, this renovated, renamed space was most recently City Bar, but longtime Bostonians will remember its other adaptations as the Lenox Arms Bar, King’s Court, and The Lamplighter Piano Bar and Lounge.
One-time street-level Solas is now Sweeney’s on Boylston. Regulars will be happy to know its British-pub vibe and imported Liverpudlian woodwork remain. The kitchen, too, still serves up beers and Irish-inspired fare, only now from Lenox executive chef Daniel Kenney, who came over from The Liberty Hotel and has more than 30 years of experience in Boston hotel kitchens. Kenney also helms the menu at the more refined Willow & Ivy— formerly the Delmonico dining room, then Anago, Azure, and City Table, but
always the Lenox’s formal eatery.
The Lenox lobby has a fresh look about it with a centralized guest services station and new seating areas, highlighted with natural light. Guests from Boomer’s time would likely be impressed, particularly the women. Back then, women had to enter through a separate ladies’ entrance to a reception room where they waited while their husbands or brothers took care of registering. According to the Lenox, “It was an unwritten custom that ladies should keep out of the lobby, except to cross to the dining room, and should not linger, as that would expose them to smoke, which was generally permitted in hotel lobbies.” Whew!
Leigh Harrington has been covering culture in Boston for over a decade.
Above left: The Saunders brothers, from left: Gary, Tedd, Roger, Jeffrey, Todd.
Above right: Lenox Hotel owner and general manager Roger Saunders in 1966. He leased a vintage Rolls Royce and parked it on Boylston Street as a promotion. A hotel guest came up to him thinking he was a cab driver. She was running late to the symphony, so Saunders drove her there.
Right: The Judy Garland Suite, a tribute to one of the hotel’s most storied guests
FALL
Styles
Skirt: The Jane Skirt, a collaboration between La Ligne and Dianna Agron, is a sheer, paneled organza design available at La Ligne on Newbury Street.
Top: The sculptural sleeveless knit top by Róhe, available at Dress Boston
Bag: A suede clutch by Veronica Beard
Photographs by Brad Bahner
This autumn, mix cozy comfort with timeless tailoring for a stunning look.
BY TARA WEST
FALL IS HERE, along with Boston Fashion Week, and the season brings a fresh wave of must-have pieces. This year, it’s all about texture, tailoring, and timeless staples with a twist.
BROWN LEATHER AND SUEDE
Earthy tones are dominating the runways. From trench coats to booties, rich brown suede and leather are essential this season. A brown suede bag—clutch or tote—is the perfect finishing touch.
✽Where to find: Visit Veronica Beard at 145 Newbury St. for suede jackets and accessories in warm fall hues.
PEPLUM SWEATERS AND SWEATER DRESSES
Two classics get a refresh. The peplum sweater adds structure and femininity, ideal with denim or a mesh skirt. The sweater dress is updated with tie sleeves, side slits, and relaxed overlays.
✽Where to find: Dress, located at 70 Charles St. in Beacon Hill, offers beautifully made knits and timeless silhouettes.
SHEER SKIRTS
Sheer skirts bring contrast and softness to fall layering. Pair one with a chunky knit or knee-high boots for a modern mix of cozy and romantic.
✽Where to find: La Ligne, located at 135 Newbury St., was co-founded by Boston native Meredith Melling and offers a limited seasonal mesh skirt that pairs beautifully with textured knits.
WIDE-LEG TROUSERS
Polished and versatile, wide-leg trousers are back. Style them with a blazer, turtleneck, or slouchy sweater for an effortlessly refined look.
✽Where to find: The Florine Pant at Akris, 29 Newbury St., is a favorite—universally flattering and made from luxurious stretch wool.
THE TRAVEL SET
A chic travel set is your go-to for busy days, apple picking, or a weekend getaway. Think cozy knits that don’t sacrifice style.
✽Where to find: Forty Winks, 53 Charles St. in Beacon Hill, has more than lingerie—it carries soft, stylish loungewear and pajamas perfect for fall.
Tara West is an award-winning fashion stylist, lifestyle blogger, podcast co-host, and on-air style expert. She has been featured in major outlets like InStyle, People, and the Wall Street Journal, earning Boston Magazine’s 2023 Best Personal Stylist award. Website: www.Tarawestfashion.com. Instagram: @tarawestfashion
The Eberjey recycled sweater pant and cropped cardigan at Forty Winks in Beacon Hill
The multiple-way double-layered dress in mid-grey mélange from Rohe, available at Dress Boston
HOMES With History
We sat down with Diana Coldren, a licensed realtor with the CPC Team with Compass Realty, to discuss the value of knowing a home’s past.
BY MYBOSTON STAFF
What kind of properties do you sell?
I enjoy helping clients prepare their historic single-family homes or condos in Boston to sell. By understanding their goals and everything about the property, we position it to obtain the highest price. My team and I, experienced in the city for nearly three decades, utilize top-notch print and AI digital marketing to reach a unique audience based
on geographic and demographic information.
What type of information can a house history reveal?
Discovering a house’s history can reveal the stories of past residents, original architectural details, and historic materials used in the home. This knowledge enriches the narrative and helps homeowners maintain their historic properties effectively. Researching the history of the home can reveal interesting information. While researching 53 Chestnut, I learned that the home was constructed in 1828 by Housewrights Hiram and Benjamin Bosworth on land that was originally owned by Boston’s first English settler, William Blaxton. It is a prime example of the quality Federal style homes built on Beacon Hill in the early 19th century, and contains original details.
Why is house history important?
Understanding a home’s history is crucial for maintenance and care. Having lived in historic homes and renovated several in Beacon Hill, I encourage homeowners to learn about their property to add their own chapter to its story. I have a network of skilled professionals for specialized home maintenance.
How would you describe Beacon Hill’s lifestyle/vibe?
Beacon Hill offers a village-like community within an urban setting, where everyone knows and looks after each other. Its unique architecture provides a beautiful backdrop to a high-quality lifestyle, with proximity to excellent restaurants, beautiful parks, and just 10 minutes from Logan Airport.
What do you provide for your clients after they purchase a new home?
We offer a Home Portfolio, either electronically or in a custom binder, capturing all resources and information needed for future selling. Additionally, we provide annual Comparative Market Analyses to keep clients informed of their home’s market value. We appreciate every client and enjoy maintaining long term relationships.
Diana Coldren is a licensed realtor with the CPC Team with Compass Realty. She serves the entirety of the Boston market and has particular knowledge of Beacon Hill, where she has lived for over two decades. The CPC team has sold $100 Million YTD in Boston. Reach her at 617-953-7237 and follow her on Instagram @dianacoldren.
Above: The CPC Team with Compass. From left, Brigitte Petrocelli, Diana Coldren, Jeanine Cort and Colleen Coopersmith
Photograph by Claire Vail Left: Diana at her home on the Flat of Beacon Hill
Photograph by Claire Vail
FEED YOUR MIND AND SOUL
A group of friends who believe books are best served with good food and great company gathers each month to swap stories over dishes as delicious as their latest read.
BY LYDIA COSTELLO
OUR BOOK CLUB is a close-knit circle of friends united by a love of reading, good food, and warm hospitality. We gather each month in one another’s homes, each bringing a thoughtfully chosen dish to share. This month, our selections are inspired by culinary tales and intriguing mysteries—perfect for pairing a good story with a memorable meal.
THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR
By Sally Hepworth
This novel follows the lives of three mothers living in the seemingly idyllic, close-knit Victorian suburb of Pleasant Court. They are quietly unraveling under the weight of their deepest secrets. When the mysterious Isabel arrives in the coastal town searching for answers, her quest to solve a mystery raises suspicions among four neighboring families.
A FLICKER IN THE DARK
By Stacy Willingham
At age 12, Chloe Davis learned her father was a serial killer. Twenty years later, just before her wedding, new disappearances in her Louisiana town threaten to reopen old wounds and suspicions.
BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS
By Ina Garten
In this memoir, Garten traces her path from a strict Connecticut upbringing to leaving her White House job to buy the Barefoot Contessa shop and launch her culinary career. She reflects on her husband Jeffrey’s steadfast support, their evolving relationship, and the lessons in passion, preparation, and resilience that made her the beloved Barefoot Contessa.
FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN
By Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
This is Lisa Marie Presley’s candid memoir, completed by her daughter Riley Keough, that traces her life from growing up at Graceland to navigating fame, addiction, loss, and love. Told in alternating voices, it becomes a poignant mother-daughter conversation about trauma, legacy, and healing.
YOUR TABLE IS READY: TALES OF A NEW YORK CITY MAÎTRE D’
By Michael Cecchi-Azzolina
An insider’s memoir of his decades as a maître d’ at New York’s most iconic restaurants, this book reveals the chaos, glamour, and behind-the-scenes drama of the city’s fine-dining world.
THIS PLACE OF WONDER
By Barabra O’Neal
This engaging novel follows four women connected to a famed chef. After his sudden death, they must confront secrets, grief, and their tangled relationships. The rugged California coast serves as a stunning backdrop.
Local book clubs! Would you like to recommend favorite books to our readers? Reach out to editor@mybostonmag.com.
The spread!
A Wall Street trader’s world shatters when he inherits his late sister’s frozen eggs.
Brendan O’Shay grew up in a blue-collar town outside Boston and became a high-powered trader on Wall Street, but the 2008 Global Financial Crisis threatens everything he’s worked for. At the worst possible time in his life, his estranged sister Cassie dies unexpectedly, leaving him as custodian of her frozen eggs and plunging his family into a whirlwind of emotional and ethical dilemmas. Brendan struggles with existential crises at work and at home as he grapples with the possibility of bringing a part of Cassie back to life. His search for nurturing parents for the eggs turns into a heartfelt exploration of love, forgiveness, and second chances. With the emotional depth of Ann Patchett and the New England grit of Richard Russo, Damaged Goods is a moving meditation on love, loss, and the choices that define us.
Paul Scheufele lives in the Back Bay. Damaged Goods is his debut novel.
Scan the QR Code to order Damaged Goods and to contact Paul for Author Talks and Book Club discussions.
781.777.5002
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Join us in our upscale Bar & Lounge for an evening of indulgence. Enjoy amuse bouche, six classic handmade pastas, and your choice of dessert — all for $50 per person.
Unlimited Pasta: After your first course, you're invited to order additional pastas at your leisure. Each selection will be freshly prepared for your enjoyment.
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Block Party Is a Blast!
MANY BACK BAY residents gathered on Commonwealth Avenue Mall on Saturday afternoon, September 6, for a block party sponsored by the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay (NABB). Revelers enjoyed live music by the Zack Bacak Trio, tasty food, face painting, balloon sculptures, fortune telling, dog agility, and meeting new neighbors and longtime friends. Many thanks to the generous sponsors!
Above: NABB directors, (standing, from left) Carol Ann Hayes, Michael McCord, (seated, from left) Susan Richardson, and Gail Laffer, inform residents about NABB’s committees.
Left: Block Party Chair Ali Foley greets Friends of the Public Garden representatives Margaret Pokorny and Perry Skaggs.
Face painter Hitz Jain shows Helena her colorful rainbow.
Back Bay residents (from left) Nancy Moniz, Tara Cramer, and Courtney Cavallon join the party.
Michele Detherage displays a portrait of her adorable Pomeranian, Chloe Belle.
Christie Fusco and her daughter, Leia Green, share Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Block Party Chair Ali Foley welcomes MyBoston Publisher Renata Coker.
AUGUST HOME SALES
Back Bay and Beacon Hill
The accuracy of the statistical data in this table is not guaranteed by MyBoston magazine. The listings broadly represent the local real estate market rather than the listings of any single agent or agency. MLSP in condo and single-family sales in Beacon Hill and Back Bay from 8.1.2025-8.31.2025. Brought to you by Lara Shuqom, Principal of The Collective
Highest
Sale Price in Building History!
Record sale price achieved by Lara Shuqom & The Collective at 412 Beacon Street in Back Bay.
Our strategic price positioning and property preparation resulted in multiple offers the first week on market and the highest sale price in building history.
Let’s create your legacy together.
LARA SHUQOM
Principal of The Collective at Compass
NABB Board of Directors
678.549.5357 • lara@compass.com
LZF Lights the Night and Celebrates 30 Years!
ON SEPTEMBER 6, nearly 200 supporters of The Lenny Zakim Fund didn’t let the torrential rain keep them from attending LZF’s 2nd Annual Light the Night. Held at Alcove with the Zakim Bridge as its stunning backdrop, this year’s event was also a celebration of three decades of The Fund’s impactful work and featured an exciting performance by LZF grantee partner Circus Up!
Nicholas Rossi, Elizabeth Rossi, Brett Lonergan, and Renata Coker. Nick and Brett are both Principals at Northward Financial Group.
Kai Grant, founder and chief curator at Black Market Nubian, and Former City of Boston Mayor Kim Janey
Left: Circus Up with LZF Executive Director Allison Picott and LTN guest Jonathan Lee
Middle: Jessica Hennessy, Chair of the Light the Night Planning Committee and Josh Zakim, LZF Board Member
Right: LZF Deputy Director Tiffany Lau, Heid Price of Heidi Price Design, and LZF Executive Director Allison Picott
Photographs by Claire Vail
Tim Consilvio of Commercial Screen Supply Inc.
Brad and Paige Tatum
Dr. Stacey Coen, owner, Blink, and Tom Coen, VP and Deputy General Counsel, Puma North America
CELEBRATING our 20th YEAR IN BUSINESS! Est. Nov. 21st, 2005 –A family-owned local business that puts clients first!–
Kathy Egasti
Owner/Project Coordinator
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Michael Egasti Owner/Engineer/Builder
ROBERT ROULEAU
The general manager of The Newbury Boston starts his Sundays with an early morning run along the Charles.
BY ROBERT ROULEAU
SUNDAYS IN BOSTON just feel different. Whether I have stayed the night at The Newbury or stopped in early to check on something, I like to take a breath before the city fully wakes up. Then I head out for what I think is one of the best 5K runs around.
From the hotel, I cut over to the Commonwealth Mall, which looks like a movie set this time of year. The leaves crunch underfoot and the light filters through the trees just right. I make my way across the Harvard Bridge, with the Charles calm and the skyline glowing. The crew teams are out early and always bring a quiet energy to the morning. I loop back along the Esplanade, past the Hatch Shell and the Arthur Fiedler statue, and it always reminds me how good this city can be when you slow down enough to take it in.
After the run, I head to Tatte Bakery & Café on Charles Street for an Americano, then walk down toward the river. I grab one of the Adirondack chairs along the water and just sit for a bit. No music, no podcast. Just the breeze, the sailboats, and some room to think.
AN INDULGENT LUNCH
If my wife and daughter are with me, we will head to Zurito for lunch. Chef Jamie Bissonnette’s Basque menu is
exactly the kind of food I crave when the weather shifts. We always order too much. Ibérico Jamon, Gildas, Patatas Bravas. And somehow, we manage to finish it all.
Later in the afternoon, I might take a walk through the Public Garden, passing the last swan boat of the season docked for the year. If I have time, I will stop by the Boston Public Library courtyard and just let the day settle.
I end things at The Street Bar with a bowl of butternut squash soup, a few oysters, and a proper Manhattan. It is simple, warm, and feels just right for fall. I will usually plan the day around
as good as it gets.
catching the Patriots game at home, but I like to let the last few hours of Sunday move a little slower. The city gets quiet again, and so do I.
Robert Rouleau grew up in Worcester. After 17 years in the hospitality industry in Southern California, he returned to Massachusetts with his wife and daughter to reopen The Newbury Boston, where he serves as general manager.
Above: At The Newbury Boston
Left: A cool-down moment, sitting by the Charles Bottom: Fall weekends in the Public Garden with my wife and daughter are
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Discover for yourself the difference a dedicated staff and a local store makes. Visit Blackstone’s - your home for all your entertaining needs.
Charles Street Boston, MA
OP
FALL BACK
A VIEW ACROSS the Charles, by Boston-based photographer Susan Driscoll. Driscoll’s landscapes and city scenes, framed like old Polaroids, evoke the past, as though you’re stepping back in time through her lens. Follow her on Instagram @Susanedriscoll.
Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to editor@mybostonmag.com.
Photograph by Susan Driscoll
PHOTO
Some people call their co-workers colleagues, but Peter Hill calls them friends — really smart friends. See, Peter is part of MGS Group Real Estate, where the best of the best come together to form a team that works seamlessly to offer every client an exceptionally smooth, simple, and successful real estate experience. While Peter possesses wisdom, expertise, and a keen knowledge of every town from Boston to the burbs, he also has a secret weapon — his can-do consortium of colleagues who have his back at every turn. And a team like that can make a big difference in the competitive world of real estate. So, if you’re ready to buy or sell, hire the MVP (Most Valuable Peter) who comes with a whole team of exceptional players behind him.
