9 Hot Happenings Coming to New England This Summer

Summer is flying by, so don’t miss out on these experiences.

Treat yourself to the decadent caviar service at the Grill 23 pop-up on Nantucket.

DINE
Summer on Nantucket is about to get even more decadent. From July 9-27, Bostonians can dine at the beloved Grill 23 & Bar (grill23.com), thanks to an exclusive pop-up dining experience at the newly reimagined White Elephant Nantucket (whiteelephantnantucket.com). This celebration is a first for both establishments, which are honoring impressive milestones—White Elephant is marking 100 years, and Grill 23 is toasting 40 years. “The two brands share common bonds of New England roots, dedication to excellence and valued guests,” shares Chris Himmel, president of Himmel Hospitality Group. “As White Elephant is renowned for showcasing first-class amenities, the Grill 23 pop-up is no exception.” Guests can expect Grill 23’s steakhouse favorites, like the shellfish sampler, steak tartare and A5 Wagyu, plus a curated beverage menu by experts Hugo Bensimon and Brahm Callahan.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s full dine-in service features a multi-course menu and craft beers

WATCH
Austin-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (drafthouse.com) is here to elevate your next film experience. This summer, the Seaport is welcoming the luxurious cinema’s first New England location that houses 10 screens and nearly 800 luxury recliners. “Our love of film permeates the theater environment and culture,” shares Alex Shebar, Alamo Drafthouse Community Manager, East. “We are excited to join Boston’s rich cinematic history, vibrant film culture and happening food scene.” Sit back and watch your favorite flicks while enjoying burgers and pizzas, craft cocktails, wine and draft beers. Moviegoers can look forward to a diverse selection of films, including documentaries, blockbusters and occasional fan favorites like “Legally Blonde” and “Ghostbusters.”Venture to Ocean House for an afternoon of perusing works by the beloved Ludwig Bemelmans

BROWSE
Perched on the bluffs of Watch Hill, Ocean House (oceanhouseri.com) is celebrating the legacy of Ludwig Bemelmans with a gallery of nearly 100 works by the famed Madeline illustrator. The exhibit, which debuted this spring to commemorate his 125th birthday, honors Bemelmans’ iconic works, drawn with a child’s eye and written with an adult’s sharp wit. “Our goal was to create a cohesive narrative for the collection, to tell the ‘story’ of Ludwig Bemelmans’ life through his own work,” says gallery curator Hilary Hatfield. Thanks to his hotel-owning family upbringing in Austria and his job at The Ritz-Carlton, New York, each piece offers a keen glimpse into the hospitality industry.Watch as talented sailors race to the finish at Edgartown Yacht Club

RACE
Celebrate a century of competitive sailing as Edgartown Yacht Club (edgartownyc.org) hosts its 100th Annual Regatta from July 12-16. Throughout the regatta, attendees can expect a full schedule of events, including the Regatta Ball, a Parade of Sail through the harbor by the Edgartown Catboat Rendezvous and, of course, five days of riveting racing. “There aren’t many clubs that have been running regattas as long as we have, and that’s something we look forward to celebrating with visitors, members, and friends,” shares event and race committee chair Elizabeth Balay. Junior sailors will wow on July 12 and 13, the keelboat Shields races July 14 to 16, and other keelboat classes are on July 15 and 16. Onlookers can also witness a special race around government marks for traditional Catboats on Saturday.

FETCH
Treat your furry friend on National Dog Day (August 26) at the newly opened Parachute (parachutehome.com) storefront on Newbury Street. Prioritizing high quality and sustainability, this home goods store strives to blend aesthetically pleasing design with practicality. Shoppers who bring their furry friends can take advantage of professional dog portraits, raffles, treats and more. “We hope that customers will come, make themselves feel at home and enjoy the merriment that comes along with this feel-good holiday,” says founder Ariel Kaye, owner of Australian labradoodle, Lox. “We always design our stores to feel like a gathering space.”Raffles Boston features seven stunning penthouses on the 34th and 35th floors.

STAY
For years, Bostonians have waited patiently as Raffles Boston (rafflesboston.com) climbed into the clouds. Finally, the highly anticipated oasis is open, offering everything from a stunning terrace to multiple dining destinations. “Each Raffles Hotel is a distinctive landmark, featuring its own unique personality and style while embracing the surrounding neighborhood by incorporating local flavor and culture,” notes general manager Oliver Dudler. Guests can choose from five elevated dining venues: Amar, Café Pastel, Long Bar & Terrace and a speakeasy. Housing a serene spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center and more, this new luxe oasis will be a destination of refined elegance with a unique, modern atmosphere.

PLAY
New England’s own Rally for Tennis (RFT, rallyfortennis.com) knows that sports are far more than just a way to break a sweat—and on August 1, they’re proving just that with its third annual event to benefit Advantage Kids, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit that empowers at-risk youth. Held at Brandeis University’s outdoor tennis facility in Waltham, the event will offer a free tennis clinic, games, raffles, and Q&A with highly ranked junior RFT captains. Outside of New England, RFT has now broadened its reach by holding events in New Jersey, Connecticut and Utah. “The expansion of RFT was inspired by the excitement and gratitude that the RFT volunteers felt from the athletes we were helping,” says Tait Oberg, who co-founded RFT with Cole Oberg and Alex Karagozyan. “Their smiles, laughter, and desire to learn were contagious.”Each Taste of New England event is a feast for the senses

TASTE
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience at The Lodge at Spruce Peak’s annual Taste of New England (sprucepeak.com) set against the backdrop of the Green Mountains from August 24-27. On Friday, “First Taste: An Evening With Our Star Chefs” will welcome back chefs Tracy Chang, Tatiana Rosana and Matt Ginn to cook up a sampling of thoughtfully prepared plates paired with exceptional wines. Headlining chefs for this year’s affair are James Beard Nominee Cassie Piuma, Emily Mingrone from Food Network’s Chopped, Kwasi Kwaa of Boston’s Comfort Kitchen and Will Myska of Maine’s Ore Nell’s Barbeque. “Inspiration always goes back to the freshest New England-sourced ingredients and brings each chef’s distinct flavor to the table,” says Sean Blomgren, The Lodge at Spruce Peak’s executive chef. Be sure to save room for the closing event on Sunday with interactive cooking demonstrations, panel discussions and even more tastings.
“GENUINE JOY” from Wellendorff.

CELEBRATE
This year marks Royal Jewelers’ (royaljewelers.com) 75th anniversary as one of the country’s leading luxury jewelers, selling everything from highly coveted brands to custom-made pieces. To commemorate the monumental feat, the Andover boite is celebrating in style by hosting various events throughout the year. This summer features experiences like a Fine Watches & Fast Cars evening with Breitling and Aston Martin at Chef Dave’s in Chestnut Hill and more. “We are very proud to be standing on the foundation of the core values of Royal Jewelers that my parents instilled in us when they started the business 75 years ago. These values are integrity, relationship building and trust,” Steven Leed shares, who is co-CEO with his sister, Paula Leed. This October, the celebrations continue with an exclusive Grand Seiko event.