User Lists in Boston, MA Metro

Remember the days when ice cream scarcely veered from the canon of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry? No matter. What with pad thai ice cream and lobster gelato, Boston's current ice cream flavor-scape knows no bounds, especially given the glut of local artisan kitchens churning out the baddest and the best ice creams. The spectrum ranges from delicious to daring--where do you draw the line? Ours is melting, wherever it is.

(Photo: Christine Liu)

Over the channel and through the lofts ... Grandma's house Fort Point ain't. The industrial waterfront neighborhood (technically South Boston, but conceptually distinct from "Southie") is now where high-end havens abut weathered warehouses. In this new-school adult playground--between kobe beef sliders and waterfront outdoor concerts--you can relish the art of Fort Point's colorful past and its posh future.

(Photo: Christine Liu)

The best things in life are free: We can't argue with that aphorism, especially when there are fantastic freebies all over Boston. Scamper around this summer for free wine, free poetry readings, free films, free cupcakes--the list goes on. What more can we say? Summer in Boston is a free-for-all! Go get 'em, champ.

(Photo: Courtesy of Boston Harbor Hotel)

With the sun now out till long after you've had your first drink, it's only right you enjoy your beverages al fresco. We've rounded up some favorite outdoor bars in Boston. (Photo: Daedalus, from Flickr user carrotncake)

Toasting cocktails in a former high-security jail, or cheering on the Red Sox in an old police precinct? We'll take 'em--ghosts and all. The beauty of Boston, where storied history and architecture are integral to the city's identity, is that a trendy destination can look toward the future while breathing vestiges of its past. Here are five local spots that lived colorful previous lives. The cops and robbers of yore would be proud.

(Photo: Scampo by Christine Liu)

You don't need to scour trendsetting magazines to know that green is the new black. Adopt a more sustainable lifestyle with restaurants that make it extremely simple to pay heed to planet Earth. Lest you think it's all bean sprouts and granola, check out the vast horizon of ecologically friendly businesses in Boston with sustainable and locally sourced menus.

(Photo: Clear Conscience Cafe by Christine Liu)

Pie. The very word strikes hope, joy and crusty pleasure into the heart of everyone who knows what's right in the world. And though we're smitten year-round, once a year on Pi Day, March 14 (get it? 3/14?), the obsession ratchets up a few geeky notches with copious amounts of pie (whether pastry or pizza) to celebrate its homonymic mathematical counterpart. Get a round--yup, we totally just went there--with our irrational (groan!) Boston picks.

(Photo: Brian Wheeler, cvilletomorrow on Flickr)

Ever feel like you're not living it up enough in this fantastic, delicious, and diverse city? After trying some of my Best Week Ever hotspots, I can guarantee you'll never complain about boredom in Boston ever again!

Can't settle on a single drink to order? At these Boston bars and restaurants, your sense of indecision can work in your favor--all offer specialty flight samplers, which typically contain three to five small glasses of various items from the beverage menu. So whether you're looking to survey a series of sakes, browse a bunch of beers or experience the wide world of wine, let your taste buds take flight!

(Photo: Craigie on Main by Tim Llewelyn)

Whether you're a flush gazillionaire or a starving artist--emphasis on the starving--there's universal joy in finding a scrumptious meal on the cheap. With recession-chic deals and the trendy resurgence of street food, Boston is teeming with wallet-friendly eats. Prepare to feast on the hifalutin and the no-frills alike--all of them frugal.

(Photo: Olecito by Christine Liu)