By Isabella Milano By Isabella Milano | January 26, 2023 | Food & Drink, Style & Beauty, Feature, Events, Art, Shop,
Between immersing themselves in art exhibitions and sipping top-tier bottles at the 2023 Boston Wine & Food Festival, Bostonians are sure to be booked solid this month.Oenophiles will be in heaven at the 2023 Boston Wine & Food Festival.
DINE
Foodies and oenophiles, rejoice—the nation’s longest-running food and wine festival (boswineandfoodfestival.com) is finally back at the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf. Through March, enjoy decadent four-course, sit-down dinners, brunch buffets and more paired with the finest bottles. “The 2023 Boston Wine & Food Festival season includes wine dinners featuring winemakers who bring the vineyards of the world to Boston,” says Boston Harbor Hotel sommelier Nick Daddona. “There is also fun additional programming, like seminars, master classes and pop-ups—this season is the most ambitious we have ever planned!” Kick off the month with Battle of the Cabs (Feb. 2), where guests try some of the top cabernet sauvignons in the world, or learn about Napa Valley’s pioneer winemaker, Far Niente, on Feb. 17. Between 15 experiences this month alone, there’s something to entice every eager culinary enthusiast.
“InsideOut” by Leigh Satchwitz
IMMERSE
Four years aft er launching in the Windy City, the immersive art and technology experience WNDR (wndrmuseum.com) is now branching out to three additional locations—Boston’s Downtown Crossing being one of them with a projected opening of this spring. The intersection of art and technology offers multisensory, localized versions of popular exhibits from WNDR Chicago alongside pieces by internationally acclaimed artists. “We’re excited to couple more iconic artists with emerging artists in the Boston WNDR,” notes David Allen, creative director of WNDR Studios. “The balance of fine art will be heavier than in our other locations. We lean into artists that help us ask questions or see differently.” Our favorite exhibit? The Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room Let’s Survive Forever, which features an illusion of endless mirrors and reflective spheres perfect for photo opportunities.
Leave Studio by Garden Streets’ kokedama workshop with your own moss ball plant, which combines art and nature into a long-lasting live sculpture.
CRAFT
Channel your inner green thumb with kokedama at Studio by Garden Streets (studio.gardenstreets.com), located inside the CambridgeSide mall. Translated directly to “plant in moss ball,” the workshop teaches students to create an artistic, spherical, soft moss ball that holds a lush, sculpted plant like ferns. “Guests will work directly with moss, soil, plants and get a little craft y and messy with their planting project,” says founder Jen Gouldstone of the Japanese art. “Our expert gardener guides guests every step along the way so they will have a wonderful time and be proud of and impressed by what they made!” Throughout February (Feb. 5, 14, 17 and 25), craft your own moss garden, which can hang from a hook in your kitchen, or dress up a dining room table, bringing the essence of natural living into your sanctuary.
Say “I love you” this month with stunning, long-lasting roses from Espoir Boston.
CHARM
Every rose has its thorn—except for those at Espoir Boston (espoirboston.com). Dedicated to designing long-lasting rose bouquets of the utmost quality and elegance, Espoir stands as the quintessential symbol of love. “Espoir’s mission is to inspire moments of happiness by revealing the gratitude one person can have toward another person,” says Nadezhda Saliba, who co-owns Espoir with husband Brandon Saliba. “We meet people and get the privilege of being part of special events and moments in time.” A perfect gift during the season of love, the Boston-based company uses biodegradable wax technology to replace sap and water within each rose—creating magnificent displays to last a whole year. Plus, the aroma lasts one to two months longer than traditional roses thanks to a touch of Bulgarian rose oil.
Golf season never has to end, thanks to Five Iron Golf’s spring league season starting this month.
PLAY
Enter February swinging with Five Iron Golf’s (fiveirongolf.com/boston) spring league season at the newly opened Downtown Crossing location. Home to one of the largest indoor golf simulation leagues in the country—with 15 locations including New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and more—Five Iron Golf is offering six weeks of regular season competition and one-week playoffs for adults starting Feb. 13. “Golfers can expect to keep their drinks cold and their game warm on Monday or Tuesday night every week for six weeks, with a week seven for local playoffs with all teams,” says general manager Seamus O’Sullivan, noting that there will also be swing juice specials, as well as canned favorites and local brews on tap. A big prize awaits for the winning team—a four-night stay at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic with six rounds of golf awaits as the national grand prize.
LexRx co-owners Alexandra Rogers and Alexa Nicholls Costa
TREAT
In need of a boost to lift you out of the winter blues? Nurse practitioner-owned and -operated aesthetic injectables practice LexRx (lexrx.co) officially set up shop in the Seaport with a pop-up last month. As the fourth addition to co-owners Alexandra Rogers and Alexa Nicholls Costa’s growing empire, the new pop-up offers high-end dermal filler and neurotoxin treatments, as well as Sculptra. Although 85D Northern Ave. is their smallest location yet, the award-winning practice is nonetheless still providing their most popular treatments like Fresh Faced, which does away with pesky forehead and brow lines. “We don’t need a lot of space to serve our clients. We’re excited to show what’s possible in a small but busy location,” says Nicholls Costa.
Place your order by Feb. 18 to receive the meals just in time for Mardi Gras.
DEVOUR
Flavorful gumbo, crispy po’boys and sweet beignets are just a few of the delectable bites included in Clover Food Lab’s (cloverfoodlab.com) specialty Mardi Gras box. “We love taking the flavors and textures of a traditional celebratory meal and figuring out how to make it plant based. A plant-based diet is better for your health and better for the planet,” says Creative Director Lucia Jazayeri. Ranging from small to large, the boxes feed multiple party sizes from intimate fetes to big celebrations. Looking for something extra sweet? Add on the king cake baking kit, complete with the traditional bean for your hiding.
The Jewelled Hobo Mini Bag from the pre-spring/summer 2023 collection wows with the iconic McQueen knuckle closure and skull motif.
STYLE
The wait is over—Bostonians can finally shop the hottest new styles from Alexander McQueen (alexandermcqueen.com) in person at Copley Place. Inspired by nature, the oak- and walnut-adorned boutique houses the high fashion brand’s chicest styles. Stop by this month to peruse pieces from the pre-spring/summer 2023 collection, including a dress with a cutaway bodice and waist, and applique embroideries in ivory Lyon lace; The Slash bag in padded leather with antique silver metal knuckle hardware; and more.
Find your dream vessel at the New England Boat Show, featuring luxurious boats, marine accessories and more.
DISCOVER
The nautical captain is sure to love this—venture over to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from Feb. 15 to 19 for a five-day splurge on all things boats. A long-standing winter tradition for over a decade, the New England Boat Show (newenglandboatshow.com) offers a peek into the world of seafaring vessels from Beneteau to Valhalla. “The show will feature hundreds of boats for every budget and lifestyle, plus the latest in marine accessories and gear,” says Jon Pritko, VP of Northeast Shows for NMMA. New this year: an indoor paddle sports pool and an Art of Casting pool for the avid fisher.
Photography by: KEN SCHLUCHTMANN; COURTESY OF STUDIO BY GARDEN STREETS; BRANDON SALIBA; COURTESY OF FIVE IRON GOLF; COURTESY OF LEXRX; JAYNA KROPAS; COURTESY OF: BOSTON HARBOR HOTEL; ALEXANDER MCQUEEN; NEW ENGLAND BOAT SHOW