Issuu

MyBoston OCTOBER 2026

BACK BAY & BEACON HILL

TIMELESS BEAUTY

DR. ANNA PETROPOULOS

A LASTING LEGACY

THE LENNY ZAKIM FUND

A Vision In

Green The Esplanade Reborn

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Mastering the Art of You D r. D a ve L e e

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CONTENTS OCTOBER 2026

F E ATUR E S

A Vision in Green

The Esplanade Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the same year it plans to open the longawaited Charlesbank and Smith Family Pavilion. 24

The Bridge Builder

Inside the impressive legacy of Lenny Zakim and the nonprofit he founded that carries on his anti-racist work. 28

Timeless Beauty

Dr. Anna Petropoulos, founder of the Center for Classic Beauty, talks with us about the delicate art of growing older.

CO LUM N S

PUBLISHER’S NOTE The Backyard We Share

LOCAL PULSE Community Calendar

LOCAL TASTES Riviera on the Charles

5 BEST Stylish Home Design Stores

LOCAL SOCIAL Summer Dock Party

MY SUNDAY Carlos Bueno

PHOTO OP Think Pink

COV E R Jen Mergel, James & Audrey Foster Executive Director Photography: Liz Linder Wardrobe: Akris Jewelry: Colby Davis Styling: Tara West Hair and Makeup: Niambi Strickland, Salon Stilisti Photographed at the Charles River Esplanade

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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

THE BACKYARD WE SHARE OCTOBER ALWAYS feels like a beautiful transition in Boston—a moment to slow down, get outside, and appreciate the neighborhoods and people that make this city feel like home. In this issue, we explore the many ways our community connects, cares, and continues to thrive. On our cover, we meet Jen Mergel, the James and Audrey Foster Executive Director of the Esplanade Association, and explore the incredible spaces along the Charles River that have become an extension of our homes—a place

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to walk, exercise, gather with friends, enjoy summer concerts, and simply spend time outdoors. We also look at longevity and aging well in a conversation with a local plastic surgeon. And with The Lenny Zakim Fund, we discover how supporting grassroots organizations can build bridges between people, neighborhoods, and the many communities that make Boston what it is. For design lovers, our 5 Best department takes you inside some of the neighborhood’s most interesting design stores. As always, we’re showcasing a new local restaurant, highlighting upcoming events, and sharing the people and moments worth knowing about. A special thank you to all of our local partners who make this publication possible. Without their support, we could not bring MyBoston to your mailbox each month. And exciting news: MyBoston South End edition launches next month! Tell your friends and neighbors about us, and keep the ideas coming—for stories, photos, local voices, and invitations to events happening around the neighborhood. We want MyBoston to be your voice and your community magazine. As always, see you in the neighborhood. With gratitude,

MyBoston BACK BAY & BEACON HILL

Publisher Renata Coker Renata.Coker@mybostonmag.com Editor and Photographer Claire Vail editor@mybostonmag.com Writers Allison Picott Morgan Vail Rebecca Rhein Trevor Fulmer Cover Photographer Liz Linder Advisory Board Collin Bray David Sharff John Michael Kennedy Leigh Harrington Lisa Mulman Sharin Schober Vivien Li Zach Kinnard Business Development Manager Lizzie Taylor Lizzie.Taylor@mybostonmag.com Account Executives Anne Cabot Anne.Cabot@mybostonmag.com Mason Porter Mason.porter@mybostonmag.com 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 Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer Operations Director Catherine Rosario

Renata Coker

Publisher, MyBoston mybostonmag.com @mybostonmag

Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden

MyBoston magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Boston, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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Community CALENDAR

October brings brisk days, fall colors, and Halloween revelry to our city. Enjoy this selection of exciting events happening in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and beyond. BY MORGAN VAIL

A display of Victorian mourning apparel and other objects at The Gibson House Museum. Photograph by Claire Vail.

October 1

October 3

Hosted in partnership with CityMahj, Berkeley invites you to a wondrous evening of Mahjong! Enjoy a casual play here with delicious bites of food, refreshing beverages served with smiles, and a relaxed atmosphere that welcomes anyone from a veteran player to a new beginner. Guided instruction will be provided at $70 per person. Open Play Mahjong will be provided for the more experienced players at $40 per person. This event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Berkeley Bistro + Bar, 154 Berkeley Street.

The act of grief for Victorians was strict and characterized by sets of social rules. Survivors of loss were expected to wear certain clothing and communicate with their peers in certain ways. Sparked by Queen Victoria’s mourning for her husband, Prince Albert, this practice was widespread and well-understood. To further examine Victorian customs of mourning, Robert B. Dimmick, Etiquetteer, invites you to come learn more about manners of dress and

Sip, Shuffle, Play!

Gibson House Museum: Elements of Victorian Mourning

lifestyle for those enduring grief at his lecture. This event begins at 4 p.m. at 137 Beacon Street with tickets available on the Gibson House Museum website.

October 3 to 4

MacGregor and MacDuff Kilt Fitting Service For those living in or around Boston hoping to celebrate their heritage from Scotland, come see MacGregor and MacDuff for a new look at your kilt fitting appointment. This quality service will bring an authentic experience of Scottish kilts to your wardrobe, employing

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October 9

Kelly Carmody: Summer Studio Attend a beautifully evocative solo exhibition by Boston-based painter Kelly Carmody, featuring her work in “Kelly Carmody: Summer Studio.” A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art as well as a student of the Art Students League and Numael Pulido, Carmody will display her paintings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, before the exhibition then runs through Oct. 31.

October 10

OrigiNation’s Twist & Shout Spotlights Dancers, Honors Black Leaders This annual fundraiser Twist & Shout hosted by OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center brings the Center’s Professional Dance Division to

appreciate its community leaders that value the art and the young people who make them. With the event will come a VIP reception and lovely performance along with an award show that will honor all the individuals embodying the values of OrigiNation. 2026 honorees include Boston Red Sox Senior Vice President Marcita E. Thompson, Alpha & Omega retailer Kathy Kim, and nutritional food entrepreneurs Rossemary and Hydn Vales. The event will start at 8 p.m. at The Strand Theater, 543 Columbia Road. Tickets begin at $75.

October 13

Building a Public Art City with Kate Gilbert, Executive Director, Boston Public Art Triennial Come attend a fascinating discussion with Kate Gilbert to understand how public art can change lives, strengthen civic identity, and lighten urban spaces for locals in the area. Referencing her extensive leadership with the Boston Public Art Triennial, Gilbert will speak on her engagement with the city and her vision for public art within Boston. Her discussion will include her experience with leadership and community-building as an economic and social practice, with the event starting at 6 p.m. at The Union Club of Boston.

October 16

Boston Lyric Opera: 50th Season Year Gala Honors Deborah Voigt Deborah Voigt’s, Opera superstar, had her company debut in BLO’s 1991 Ariadne auf

Left: On Oct. 16, Boston Lyric Opera will honor superstar Deborah Voigt, who had her debut at BLO in 1991. Photo Courtesy of BLO Top: On Oct. 17, attend the 2026 Massachusetts “More Than Pink” Walk at UMass Boston. Photograph courtesy of Susan G. Komen

Naxos with outstanding applause from critics all over, including a review by one John Rockwell in The New York Times that made her reputation skyrocket in fame. Join her now as she returns to Boston this fall to accept the Artistic Honoree Award at BLO’s 50th Anniversary Gala. The event will also honor former Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt, who is now known as President & CEO of Opera America, by naming him Community Honoree, along with loyal patron Linda Cabot-Black being named as the Leadership Honoree. This event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at BLO Opera + Community Studios, 15 Channel Center Street in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood. Tickets will start at $500.

October 17

2026 Boston Book Festival Returns to Copley Square Bringing New England’s most acclaimed literary event with 25,000 people from across the region to Copley Square, this event will feature an outdoor marketplace with incredible stories and ideas alongside author visits and prolific speakers. Boston’s Book Festival will highlight the power of words this year and focus on the celebration and appreciation of writers. Keynote speakers will include Edwidge Danticat, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Lewis, Imbolo Mbue, Walter Mosley, Michael Murphy, Renée Watson, and Emily Wilson. This free event will begin at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Copley Square, Boylston St. at Dartmouth Street.

October 17

“More Than Pink” Join Susan G. Komen at the 2026 Massachusetts “More Than Pink” Walk on Saturday at UMass Boston. Rally with the community and support patients and survivors as we work toward a future where no one dies of breast cancer. UMass Boston, Campus Center Lawn, 100 William T. Morrissey Blvd.

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LO CAL P ULSE together by acceptance, community, and love for the people who have made change in their lives. Created after World War II, Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem” is thought by many to be one of the most moving choral masterpieces of the 20th century. This free performance will be running from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Church Boston, 206 Clarendon Street.

October 25 PruBoo 2026

Above: A display of Victorian mourning apparel and other objects at The Gibson House Museum. Photograph by Claire Vail.

Bottom: On Oct. 13 at the Union Club, Kate Gilbert, Executive Director of the Boston Public Art Triennial, discusses how public art changes lives. Photograph Courtesy of the Union Club.

October 23 to 24

Vivo Performing Arts: Gravity & Myths’ “Ten Thousand Hours” This Australian contemporary circus group Gravity & Other Myths will set out to bring unbelievable skill and human talent to an inspired tale of greatness. Eight accomplished acrobats and one musician will instruct their audience on the way of gaining physical perfection and how it’s obtained through an enrapturing musical score that will include live percussion. “Ten Thousand Hours” will be a dedication to human physicality and its potential, with performances Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets will begin at $44 and Performances take place at Boston Arts Academy, 174 Ipswich Street.

October 24

Climate Change and the Future of Boston Attend this riveting discussion from author Courtney Humphries to better understand climate impacts on the city of Boston and the attempt to adapt to a changing world. The conversation will turn to an investigation of Boston’s expected rise in sea-level with extreme rains, hotter summers, and the possibility of potential flooding as attendees examine the city’s

development in the past 400-year history. Humphries will address Boston’s goals as well and how it will seek to achieve them through structural changes, strives for equality, inclusive approaches to climate mitigation, and resilience planning. This event will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 700 Boylston Street.

October 25

Trinity Choirs: Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem Commemorating loved ones who have passed before we have, the Trinity Choirs will offer a free performance of Maurice Duruflé’s “Requiem” at 5 p.m., in the hopes that people will be brought

Attend this event at the Prudential Center and bring your whole family for PruBoo 2026! With more than 30 participating stores, restaurants, and venues, children will be able to live out their trick-or-treat dreams with additional fun such as Halloween crafts, magic shows, face painting, and musical performances. All listed activities will be completely free and open to all. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street.

October 27

Duo Tesserae: Contemporary Music from Eastern Germany and Beyond Attend a musical program from Violinist Alwyn Tomas Westbrooke and pianist Michiko Saiki of Duo Tesserae, transforming rarely heard voices and music from Eastern Germany into dialogue with modern composers from all over the world. This program will feature work by Thuon Burtevitz, Wilfried Krätzschmar, Rebecca Saunders, and Eric Wubbels. Setting out to contrast traditions of East German music and perspectives, this concert also hopes to bring light to the names of underrepresented composers as it runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut, 170 Beacon Street.

October 31

The Liberty Hotel: Saints or Sinners The Liberty Hotel’s legendary Halloween celebration returns with “Saints or Sinners” —a 21-plus costume party that transforms the historic property into a heaven or hell oasis. Guests will enjoy live DJ sets, haunting photo ops, and immersive décor as the hotel becomes a horror movie come to life. This is Boston’s most iconic Halloween party, offering endless photo-worthy moments and a chance to dress as the angel or devil on your shoulder. From 9 p.m. to 1:45 a.m. For more information and tickets, go to libertyhotel.com.

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LO CAL TASTES

Riviera ON THE CHARLES

LPM Restaurant and Bar, an upscale dining concept that evokes the spirit of the Côte d’Azur, will debut in Back Bay this September at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street. BY CLAIRE VAIL

LPM’s escargots de Bourgogne with garlic butter and parsley are a favorite with guests. Photography courtesy of LPM Restaurants

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THE STUNNING beauty of southern coastal France and its rich culinary heritage is the inspiration behind La Petite Maison (LPM), a refined restaurant and bar concept with locations in London, Dubai, the Maldives, Bangkok, and other equally glamorous cities. It’s time to add Boston to that illustrious list. In September, LPM will make its debut in Boston at the Four Seasons Hotel at One Dalton, an appropriately elegant home for this new femme sophistiquée of Back Bay’s dining scene. The restaurant will be located on the hotel’s second floor and is designed by Sagrada Studio, whose decor evokes the Belle Époque era on the Riviera in a bright, airy space. LPM Boston’s Head Chef is Gabriela Guitron, previously Executive Chef at Zeru, Miami’s swanky awardwinning destination for Basque and Mediterranean cuisine. LPM’s menu promises to serve up the healthy, sundrenched flavors of the French Riviera, which will be especially welcome throughout Boston’s colder months. According to LPM, all food is made inhouse with experience and precision and is whisked to tables without delay. In a statement to MyBoston, LPM Restaurants CEO Nicolas Budzynski commented on his newest venture: “Boston has a strong dining culture and access to excellent local ingredients, especially seafood. We also found an ideal partner and location at Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street. It felt like the right city for LPM’s first location in the Northeast.” Diners at LPM’s other locations extol the virtues of the escargots de Bourgogne with garlic butter and parsley, the poulet (chicken), lamb chops, and myriad seafood dishes. Signature entrees on Boston’s menu will include the escargots, warm prawns in olive oil and lemon juice, delicate yellowtail carpaccio, saltbaked sea bass, a locally sourced tower of seafood, and lobster risotto. All of LPM’s pastas are handmade,

Above: LPM Boston’s Head Chef Gabriela Guitron. Below: Warm prawns served in olive oil and lemon juice.

including the pillowy gnocchi. No French dessert menu would be complete without crème brûlée, and LPM offers a classic version, along with a decadent cheesecake still light enough to leave room for a digestif. There are vibrant and sophisticated cocktails, including a refreshingly herby tomatini, LPM’s signature cocktail. Other highlights include the “Pablo,” a clean, crisp take on the classic gimlet, an homage to the absinthe that Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso shared in Paris, and “Lettre à Coco,” a bergamot and rose layered Champagne cocktail inspired by the notes in Chanel No. 5.

Wines, naturally, are sourced from the South of France, along with curated American selections. Bostonians can now look forward to the flavors of Nice just around the corner. And that’s very nice indeed. LPM Restaurant & Bar Boston is located at 1 Dalton St., Boston, and will welcome guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast service runs from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit lpmrestaurants.com/ boston and @lpmboston on Instagram.

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A Vision in

GREEN

The Esplanade Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the same year it plans to open the long-awaited Charlesbank campus and Smith Family Pavilion, a new $24 million building that will make the park a year-round destination. BY CLAIRE VAIL

EVER ATTUNED TO people’s needs, Frederick Law Olmstead, the 19thcentury visionary architect behind Boston’s 1,100-acre “Emerald Necklace” park system, would have appreciated some of its 21st-century priorities. “Its year-round restrooms,” laughs Mergel, the James & Audrey Foster Executive Director of the Esplanade Association. “Restrooms are key.” This fall, after two decades of planning and slightly more than a year after breaking ground, the Charlesbank campus and Smith Family Pavilion will be finished. At $24 million, the project is the biggest

privately funded state park initiative in Massachusetts, and a longanticipated new facility for residents and visitors. It’s also a crowning achievement for the Esplanade Association, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Built on the oldest part of the Esplanade, the Pavilion is 9,000 square feet of mostly publicly accessible space and amenities, including a café, a viewing deck, a concert area, and the Esplanade’s first permanent public restrooms. The building promises to make the waterfront usable throughout the year.

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Mergel—at the Esplanade’s memorial to Charles Eliot, who conceived of the origins to our state park system—wears pendants by Colby Davis of Boston, which will produce a special Esplanade pendant to benefit the park. Photograph by Liz Linder.

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Above: Men exercising on gym equipment along the Esplanade in 1889. Left: Sailing models on the Charles in 1972. Bottom: Before and after photos of the work the Esplanade Association did to restore the Fiedler Dock in 2005. Opposite page: Top: An aerial rendering of the Campus and Pavilion. Bottom: The site of the old Lee Pool, soon to be the new campus. Photograph courtesy of the Esplanade Association.

“It’s a game changer. We will basically go from a six-months-ofthe-year to a 12-months-of-the-year park,” says Mergel, who has led the fundraising efforts for the Pavilion since her appointment in 2023. “The Esplanade welcomes more than four million visitors every year. There are 35 million visits across 150 sites in the park system, and the 64 acres of the Esplanade get the most visits by a factor of ten. Now we’ll be able to serve them year-round. It’s great to see this hard work come to fruition.” GROWING UP GREEN Mergel is very much still Jenny—Jen, in her case—from the block, a local who has stuck close to her roots. She grew up in Dorchester in the carefree 80s, when kids still spent their summers outdoors and mainly unsupervised. Boston’s green spaces were her stomping grounds. Mergel roamed the streets, raced her bike down the neighborhood’s steep hills, and swam in the old Lee pool, now the site of the new pavilion. “I did not grow up with the means to travel to the Berkshires or to an island or to, you know, mountains to the north,” she muses. Occasionally she and her brother would ride their bikes four miles

from Jones Hill to Castle Island in South Boston, where they explored the waterfront that Olmsted began planning back in 1883. Mergel learned to fly a kite in Franklin Park, another of the Emerald Necklace’s jewels. As an undergraduate at Harvard, she studied sculpture. Her thesis in visual and environmental studies involved her casting tree trunks in translucent paper so they resembled human bodies, a work

that drew deeply on her childhood experiences in Boston’s parks. She pursued a master’s in curatorial studies at Bard College in upstate New York, after which she returned to Boston to work as a curatorial assistant at the ICA, which was in the process of moving from Boylston Street to its impressive new home in the Seaport. In 2010, she left for the MFA, where she headed the contemporary art department for six years, and from there went to work with the Emerald Necklace Conservancy on public art projects. She was instrumental in bringing Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya to Boston to display her ethereal fog sculptures across the park system in 2018. “I approach my work with a creative lens, having studied art and having worked with artists for over three decades. In the 1990s, I discovered that while I was not an artist myself, I loved the process of realizing other people’s artistic ambitions,” says Mergel. Mergel was asked to help plan Olmsted Now, the Emerald Necklace’s 2022 bicentennial, which got her thinking a lot about how past values affect the present. When Olmsted Now wrapped in 2023, the Esplanade

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Association happened to be looking around for a new director. Her life and career, much of it spent appreciating the importance of green spaces in people’s lives, made her the ideal candidate. “I would never have assumed back in 1998 that spending lots of time with trees in that way would circle me back to stewarding a park with over 1,900 trees, but here I am,” says Mergel. UNNATURAL BEAUTY As Mergel points out, very little of Boston is natural. Most of its streets are

built on landfill, a process that began in the 18th century. Architects and city planners living before the age of the automobile made critical choices that sometimes bewilder us today. Just try getting out of the city without the aid of a GPS system. “Almost all of the physical space in this city has been shaped by people who made intentional decisions guided by certain philosophies and values, right?” Mergel asks rhetorically. “Living in a place that was created through a series of considered choices is really interesting.”

Olmsted, one of Mergel’s many heroes, expressed his democratic values and empathy for others through such choices. “The Esplanade was born out of a public health crisis,” explains Mergel. In the 1870s, Boston’s overcrowded West End tenements were petri dishes for germs, and cholera and tuberculosis plagued the immigrants who lived there. Olmsted built a healthy outdoor space, adjacent to the West End by the waterfront, with separate gymnasiums—one for men and another for women and children— and designed a place for people to play, exercise, and improve their mental, physical, and social health. “He created space that demonstrably improved the quality of people’s lives, especially as the country was rapidly urbanizing after the Civil War,” says Mergel. The Esplanade had a running track, sand pits, and climbing devices, alongside space for social gatherings. There are records of plays and concerts happening by the late 1890s. In 1914, the first outdoor film was screened at Charlesbank. The first Fourth of July concert with Arthur Fiedler and the OCTOBER 2026 / 21

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Above: Mergel flying a kite in Olmsted’s Franklin Park, near her childhood home in Dorchester. Photograph courtesy of Jen Mergel.

Below: The Esplanade receives over four million visits every year. Photograph by Amy Hallal.

Opposite page: A rendering of gathering on Pavilion’s upper deck.

Boston Pops in 1929 soon popularized the Esplanade with crowds looking for a place to celebrate the country’s birthday. “It’s called the Emerald Necklace because it extends from Tremont Street, the one skinny street in Back Bay, to the landfilled South End. The park system went from Charlesbank to Charlesgate, all the way down to Franklin Park. Olmsted had originally intended to connect back to Castle Island in South Boston on the other end of the peninsula so that you would have had this green ribbon going around the neck of the city,” Mergel explains. “It was then, and still is, about giving people space so that they have agency to get outside, breathe fresh air, move, play and connect,” says Mergel.

Photograph courtesy of the Esplanade Association.

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A BREATH OF FRESH AIR By the 1990s, the Charles Riverfront was in poor shape, with broken benches, muddy lawns, graffiti, and dying trees. Neighborhood advocates Jeryl Oristaglio and Linda Cox, who lived nearby in Back Bay and Beacon Hill, respectively, took action. They, along with members of the Neighborhood Association of Back Bay and the Beacon Hill Civic Association, joined forces with Henry Lee, the founder of Friends of the Public Garden, to create the Esplanade Association in 2001. Cox succeeded in getting the Esplanade on the National Register of Historic Places, a major step. But according to Mergel, the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation still doesn’t have proportional staffing and funding to do all the work required to maintain it. The Esplanade Association currently has 16 professional staff, which will expand to 20 when the pavilion opens. While DCR holds

care, custody, and control of the park, and provides basic services such as trash removal, lawn, and restroom maintenance, the Esplanade Association does the rest, along with raising money for critical improvements. Many of those capital improvement projects have had a significant impact on the park’s usability, including the reconstruction of the river docks, building of two new playgrounds, renovating the Hatch Shell and Dartmouth restroom facilities, restoring the Lotta Fountain, revitalizing the Eliot Memorial, and restoring the Hatch Shell Oval Lawn. “We raise funds to irrigate and maintain the Hatch Oval, so it’s not a mud pit when people put down picnic blankets. We tend to the 13 gardens in the park. We are now working on finding a way to repair the benches. We care for the trees, we put up signage, and create pathways to make sure kids don’t get hit by bike traffic. We are working

with sister nonprofits to create a cleaner Charles River so you can swim in it again, like you used to be able to from 1937 to 1947,” says Mergel. Mergel and her team are eager to see people from all of Boston’s neighborhoods enjoy the Esplanade. “There’s a history of some people not feeling as invited as others to the park. We want that to change. We plan to offer programming that celebrates many cultural heritages. The new Pavilion has the amenities visitors have been asking for years: bathrooms with diaper-changing stations, an affordable café, and beautiful, shaded spaces for people to sit and enjoy the view.” Mergel says she is determined to continue the long tradition of deliberate decisions started by Olmsted and carried on by others before her, choices that shape how Boston green spaces can best serve the public’s needs and wants. “It’s our mission to make life better on the Esplanade for everybody.”

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The Bridge Builder

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Inside the impressive legacy of Lenny Zakim and the nonprofit he founded that carries on his anti-racist work. BY ALLISON PICOTT

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. Right: Current Grantee Partner DEAFinitely performing at LZF’s 2024 annual fundraising event with the Zakim Bridge in the background. Photographs courtesy of Annette Grant Photography.

SAY THE NAME “Zakim” to anyone who lives or works in Greater Boston, and the first thing that comes to mind for most is The Zakim Bridge. Formally known as The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, this beautiful cable-stayed bridge has been an iconic feature of the Boston skyline since 2003. But for some, especially those in Massachusetts’ nonprofit and philanthropic communities, “Zakim” is the name of the remarkable man who inspired The Lenny Zakim Fund, a Boston-based nonprofit charitable organization that has supported small local grassroots nonprofit organizations and their leaders since 1995. BRIDGING COMMUNITIES For many years, I drove over the Zakim Bridge not knowing who Lenny Zakim was. It wasn’t until about ten years ago, when I became involved in Greater Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities, that I began to learn about Lenny and the nonprofit organization that bears his name. Since 2022, I’ve been honored to

Lenny Zakim Photograph courtesy of Lisa Kessler.

lead The Lenny Zakim Fund as its executive director, and in this role have gained a deeper appreciation for not only the man, but the incredible impact he has had in Massachusetts for more than a half century. Raised in New Jersey, Lenny came to Boston for law school and thereafter went to work for the Anti-Defamation League as its New

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Above: Current Grantee Partner Circus Up performing. Photograph courtesy of Oliver Burns. Bottom right: Current Grantee Partners at LZF’s 2024 Annual Grantee Gathering, hosted in collaboration with other Boston-area social justice funders. Photograph courtesy of Haymarket People’s Fund. Bottom left: Former Grantee Partner Father’s UpLift. Photograph courtesy of Liz Linder.

England civil rights director, later becoming the executive director of ADL’s New England region. For 20 years, he fought tirelessly to end racism, antiSemitism, civil rights violations, and hatred of all. It was through his work and as a member of the community that Lenny became known and beloved for his ability to build bridges between people of different races and religions throughout Greater Boston and beyond. Highlights of Lenny’s many accomplishments include co-

founding the A World of Difference Institute, an anti-bias educational project formed in Boston in 1986 and eventually expanded to 29 other cities and six counties, and co-founding an annual Black-Jewish Seder in Boston, which inspired many interfaith Seders with Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish participants in Boston and nationally. LENNY’S LEGACY As a civil rights leader, Lenny often interacted with small grassroots

organizations and their leaders who were doing critical work in underserved, under-resourced communities throughout eastern Massachusetts, but lacked the necessary means to make a difference. In 1995, after Lenny was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, he, with the support of friends, supporters, and admirers, founded The Lenny Fund (later renamed The Lenny Zakim Fund, or LZF for short). LZF’s mission is to listen to grassroots organizations and their leaders who are most impacted by inequity and provide the funding, essential resources, and support they need to create lasting change. Founded as a public, charitable nonprofit organization, LZF’s work is made possible because of the generosity of individual and institutional donors who support 100% of our annual operating budget. LZF focuses on nonprofit organizations with annual operating budgets under $350,000, who are “under the radar” of larger funders. In addition to providing five years of grant funding, LZF grantee partners receive an array of capacity-building supports ranging from leadership coaching to essential trainings to pro bono legal services. LZF grantee partner organizations often say that the capacity-building resources they receive from LZF are as valuable as the grant funding itself. Being an LZF

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Top: Current Grantee Partner RICEMA performing at LZF’s 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony. Bottom: Allison Picott with representatives from the Current LZF Grantee Partner African Community Center of Lowell at the 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony. Photographs courtesy of Annette Grant Photography.

grantee partner is also widely seen as a “seal of approval,” a unique social capital that boosts their visibility and ability to attract other funders. The Lenny Zakim Fund has built its name and reputation among local nonprofit and philanthropic communities as a trust-based, community-centered, capacitybuilding funder. Since 1995, LZF has awarded more than $14 million in grants and provided capacity-building support to 435 community-based organizations throughout eastern Massachusetts. The breadth of Lenny’s legacy and LZF’s impact can best be appreciated by visiting LZF’s website (thelennyzakimfund.org) to explore LZF’s interactive grantee partner map of Massachusetts and read our monthly “Grantee Partner Spotlight” series highlighting the remarkable work of a particular grantee partner organization. Today, LZF remains committed to upholding Lenny’s vision, who passed away in 1999, to develop deep relationships and build bridges among people to advance social, economic, and racial justice in our communities. LZF prides itself on and is known by our grantee partners and peers alike for the authentic relationships we’ve built with our grantee partners and fostered among the members of our grantee partner community; these relationships are seen as valuable and enduring, lasting beyond the awards. THE ROAD AHEAD Last year, on LZF’s 30th anniversary, The Fund commissioned a 30year longitudinal study to better understand and articulate our impact, not only on the organizations with whom we’ve partnered, but also on Greater Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic communities. This impact study confirmed that LZF occupies a distinctive position

in Greater Boston’s philanthropic ecosystem and compels us to leverage our experience and influence as a trusted funder and thought leader. On Thursday, Oct. 29, LZF will host a Bridge Builder convening to share the study’s findings with the greater philanthropic community and celebrate 30 years of impact while also looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a capacity-building funder. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit thelennyzakimfund.org/bridgebuilder.

So, the next time you are driving over the Zakim Bridge or see it while on a walk through Boston, I hope you are reminded of the work of The Lenny Zakim Fund and see it as a bridge to a more just and equitable world. A long-time resident of Boston’s South End, Allison Picott has worked in Greater Boston’s nonprofit and philanthropic sectors as a fundraiser, consultant, and executive leader. In 2025, she was awarded YW Boston’s Academy of Women Achievers Award in recognition of her leadership. OCTOBER 2026 / 27

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Timeless Beauty Dr. Anna Petropoulos, founder of the Center for Classic Beauty, talks with us about the delicate art of growing older. BY REBECCA RHEIN

28 / MyBoston BACK BAY & BEACON HILL

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FOR MORE THAN 25 years, Dr. Anna Petropoulos, a double-boardcertified, Harvard-trained facial plastic surgeon, has helped patients navigate the changing landscape of overall facial aging through her business Center for Classic Beauty in Back Bay. Known by many of her patients as an “Ageless Coach,” she approaches aesthetics as a long-term conversation about maintaining balance, confidence, and restoration of natural beauty. MyBoston writer Rebecca Rhein sat down with her to discuss how the face changes, what patients often overlook, and how to make informed decisions at any age.

How do our aesthetic needs change as we age, and what does aging well look like through the decades?

The basic goal is the same at every age: maintain what you have and prevent aging changes, like skin laxity. The foundation is understanding how the face changes and to restore its natural balance and contour. However, no patient is like another. Two patients of the same age may need completely different treatments. In the 20s, the focus is often on prevention, healthy skin, and understanding the facial movement and structure. That’s when I begin to introduce the idea of what’s often referred to as “Baby Botox” to prevent dynamic wrinkles, lines caused by repetitive facial movement. In the 30s and 40s, we begin to see changes in facial contours, skin texture, and elasticity. As we move into our 50s, 60s, and beyond, changes in volume, tissue position, and laxity become more significant. Skin-tightening treatments or other procedures help restore a more balanced, youthful

appearance. Some patients who have progressed too far on the timeline of aging may need to utilize surgical options if non-surgical treatments are not sufficient. Thus, the provider must be well-versed and experienced in both surgical and non-surgical options to advise a patient.

What areas of the face tend to contribute to an older appearance in ways people may not expect?

Most patients forget the relationship between the eyes, cheeks, and midface. As we age, facial proportions change, and the goal is to restore them. Sometimes what makes someone look older isn’t a single wrinkle or an area of loose skin, but a change in the overall relationship between these key facial structures.

With so many treatments available, how do you prioritize what a patient needs, and how important is trust in that process?

I start by examining the whole face, not immediately suggesting treatment. We discuss together what is making them look older. What would create the greatest improvement? Trust comes from education and experience, but also from having an honest conversation. I want them to understand what I see and why I make a particular recommendation. And sometimes the most appropriate recommendation is to do less. A good result shouldn’t announce that you’ve had something done. My goal isn’t to create a different face. It’s to preserve or restore the best version of their face.

Opposite and this page: Dr. Anna Petropoulos, founder of the Center for Classic Beauty. Photography courtesy of Center for Classic Beauty

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Dr. Petropoulos consults with a patient.

How important are skincare, sun protection, nutrition, and lifestyle when it comes to aging well?

They are fundamental. The skin needs proper nutrition and building blocks to maintain healthy structural proteins and elasticity. Sun destroys collagen and creates wrinkles. Scientific skincare, nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness all contribute to how well we age. Hence, at our center, we offer multiple avenues of internal health, wellness, and weight management as part of our offerings to enhance our patients’ lives, especially as they enter menopause.

At what point does someone move from nonsurgical treatments to considering surgery?

It depends on the patient’s goals and

their degree of aging. When there is more significant skin laxity, tissue descent, or changes in facial contours, surgery provides a level of restoration that nonsurgical treatments cannot achieve. My job is to be honest with my patients when continuing to layer minimally invasive treatments may not be the best investment. In those cases, surgery can address the actual source of the concern and often provide a more significant, natural, and longer-lasting result.

And what role does maintenance play after surgery? Aging doesn’t stop after surgery. A surgical procedure can create a significant improvement, but maintaining healthy skin and

preventing ongoing laxity helps preserve that result.

Patients describe you as an “Ageless Coach.” What does that mean to you?

The best reward is the relationships I build with patients over the years and even decades. I’ve watched their children grow up while my own family has, as well. In a sense, we’ve grown through life together. I see patients through all stages of life, and ageing is a part of that, but only on paper! We’re all ageing together, but that doesn’t mean we’re any less beautiful. Rebecca Rhein works in marketing and communications, and is a guest contributor to MyBoston.

30 / MyBoston BACK BAY & BEACON HILL

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5 B E ST

Stylish Home DESIGN STORES Award-winning, Boston-based interior designer Trevor Fulmer takes us through some of his favorite home design stores in Back Bay and Beacon Hill. BY TREVOR FULMER

Landry & Arcari’s Back Bay showroom features an extensive collection of bespoke rugs, custom carpeting, and globally sourced designs.

LANDRY & ARCARI 333 Stuart Street Landry & Arcari is one of my favorite showrooms to source bespoke rugs and carpeting. From hand-knotted rugs to an expansive selection of carpet options, the showroom contains contemporary, traditional, and globally sourced designs. The company is also deeply rooted in community and relationship building through community events, designer-focused programming, and donations supporting women’s education in Southeast Asia. Their staff is knowledgeable, welcoming, and incredibly informative. I am also proud to partner with them on my own rug collection called Foundations. Inspired by vibrant memories, unforgettable experiences, and captivating places, the collection

blends hand-drawn geometric forms with meticulously crafted wool and luxurious silk. Each rug is designed to evoke a sense of time and place while balancing elevated design with longlasting durability.

NEENA’S LIGHTING 380 Boylston Street Lighting is one of the most transformative elements in any interior, which is why Neena’s Lighting is one of my go-to places. Representing countless decorative and architectural lighting brands, the showroom offers everything from sculptural pendants and contemporary sconces to understated recessed solutions. Their selection spans both modern and traditional aesthetics, making it an invaluable resource for projects of every style.

Photograph courtesy of Landry & Arcari.

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From top left: A sculptural pendant lamp from Neena’s Lighting. Photograph courtesy of Neena’s Lighting. The 1972 Rocker from Thos. Moser, a modern silhouette with classic proportions. Photograph courtesy of Thos. Moser. Upstairs Downstairs in Beacon Hill offers an eclectic range of old and new items. Photograph by Claire Vail. Bottom left: High-quality luxury bedding from Frette. Photograph courtesy of Frette.

As an interior designer, I understand the importance of a welllit interior. The team at Neena’s has deep expertise in coordination. They are collaborative, informative, and highly design focused, and can help with any challenge, from sourcing a statement fixture for a dining room to refining an architectural lighting plan for a larger renovation.

FRETTE 776B Boylston Street There are few brands that define luxury bedding the way Frette does. If you need luxury bedding, bath linens, and home accessories, look no further. The store showcases unparalleled Italian craftsmanship through luxurious materials and textiles, offering everything from

crisp, hotel-inspired sheets and plush towels to beautifully tailored duvets and decorative bedding. As a design professional, I appreciate how transformative textiles can be within a home, especially in a bedroom. The team at Frette knows everything about layering, fabric quality, texture, and styling. Incidentally, two of my award-winning Foundations rugs, inspired by Frette’s signature palette, are currently on view at Frette’s Back Bay flagship showroom.

THOS. MOSER 19 Arlington Street Thos. Moser’s showroom is filled with beautifully hand-crafted pieces that celebrate timeless design, exceptional craftsmanship, and the natural beauty of solid wood. Every piece feels purposeful, with clean lines, thoughtful proportions, and heirloom-quality construction. These are pieces that can be passed down for generations! One of my favorite designs is the 1972 Rocker. This piece blends a modern silhouette with classic proportions, striking the perfect balance between contemporary and traditional. The flowing curves and sculpted joinery make it a piece modern and timeless. The staff takes the time to explain the design process, wood species, and

construction techniques, making every visit an educational experience. Their commitment to quality and American craftsmanship is evident in every detail.

UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS HOME 69 Charles Street If I am searching for a piece with history and personality, Upstairs Downstairs Home is my first stop. Nestled on Charles Street in Beacon Hill, the shop is filled with antiques, vintage furnishings, artwork, lighting, and distinctive accessories that have been thoughtfully collected over time. No two visits are ever the same. I love mixing vintage pieces with contemporary interiors because they add depth, character, and a sense of permanence that cannot be replicated. Whether it is an antique mirror, a sculptural lamp, or an unexpected object that becomes the conversation piece in a room, I often find those finishing touches here. For anyone who enjoys interiors that feel collected rather than decorated, Upstairs Downstairs Home is one of Boston’s true hidden gems. Trevor Fulmer is Principal of Trevor Fulmer Design, a Boston-based interior design studio known for its contemporary Graphic Interiors. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, New England Home, and more. For more about Fulmer’s design services and product collections, visit trevorfulmerdesign.com. OCTOBER 2026 / 33

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“My family highly recommends Lara Shuqom and her team, The Collective at Compass. Lara provided the highest levels of service on the sale of our Boston residence. Her creativity and attention to detail in photos and the listing was superior. She demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of the market and had extraordinary international connections to potential buyers. We greatly appreciated Lara’s strategic insight and thoughtful reasoning. Her stellar negotiation skills played a key role in achieving a successful closing. Lara and her team, The Collective at Compass, were true partners in the sale process.”

- HAPPY SELLERS

Let’s create your legacy together.

LARA SHUQOM LARA SHUQOM Principal of The Collective Board of Directors & THE COLLECTIVE NABB 678.549.5357 | lara@compass.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. compass.com

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REAL ESTATE REPORT

AUGUST HOME SALES Back Bay and Beacon Hill Area

Bed

Bath

List Price

Sale Price

Sale Price % of List Price

DOM

430 Stuart Street Unit Penthouse 35B

Back Bay

4F 1H

$14,800,000

$14,250,000

96.30%

46 Beacon Street Unit Penthouse 7

Beacon Hill

3F 1H

$13,000,000

$12,500,000

96.20%

25 Beacon Street Unit 4

Beacon Hill

3F 1H

$8,995,000

$8,400,000

93.40%

147

400 Stuart Street Unit 20A

Back Bay

$3,685,000

$3,560,000

96.60%

1 Dalton Street Unit 4705

Back Bay

$3,500,000

$3,200,000

91.40%

157 Newbury Street Unit 3

Back Bay

3F 1H

$3,295,000

$3,175,000

96.40%

101

101 Mount Vernon Street Unit 3

Beacon Hill

$2,495,000

$2,550,000

102.20%

201 Newbury Street Unit 506

Back Bay

2F 1H

$2,449,990

$2,410,000

98.40%

40 Joy Street Unit 9

Beacon Hill

$1,999,000

$1,915,000

95.80%

48 Beacon Street Unit 1R

Beacon Hill

1F 1H

$1,824,900

$1,775,000

97.30%

128 Marlborough Street Unit 2

Back Bay

$1,750,000

$1,520,000

86.90%

139

19 Stanhope Street Unit 1C

Back Bay

$1,669,000

$1,610,000

96.50%

10 Bowdoin Street Unit 304

Beacon Hill

$1,649,000

$1,640,000

99.50%

34 Commonwealth Avenue Unit 4

Back Bay

1F 1H

$1,585,000

$1,550,000

97.80%

112

280 Beacon Street Unit 54

Back Bay

$1,545,000

100.00%

395 Marlborough Street Unit 3

Back Bay

$1,525,000

$1,500,000

98.40%

165 Newbury Street Unit 2

Back Bay

1F 1H

$1,499,000

100.00%

4 Charlesgate East Unit 705

Back Bay

$1,450,000

$1,500,000

103.40%

19 Bay State Road Unit 4

Back Bay

$1,449,000

$1,400,000

96.60%

107

180 Beacon Street Unit 6A

Back Bay

$1,425,000

100.00%

104

Address

Brought to you by Lara Shuqom, Principal of The Collective 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 08/1/26-08/31/26.

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LO CAL S O C IAL

Guests captured the stunning sunset for themselves.

Hundreds gathered for the Annual Dock Party at Community Boating Inc. Photograph by Mike Mejia

Summer Dock Party

On July 16, hundreds of people gathered for the Esplanade Association’s annual Dock Party at Community Boating Inc. and the Charles Eliot Memorial Lawn along the Charles River to celebrate the Esplanade Association’s 25th Anniversary. The waterfront views, live music, outstanding food, and great company made it a night to remember! Lucky attendees won door prizes from our community members, including AFA Protective Systems, Boston Duck Tours, Coolidge Corner Theatre, jetBlue, Shake Shack, and TreeHouse Brewing Co. Thanks to Max Ultimate Food and drinks from 90+ Cellars, Boston Beer Co., and Polar Beverages, and live music from DJ Kitz and Joe Sax.

Top left: Guests enjoyed beer from Boston Brewing, wine from 90+Cellars, and more. Bottom left: Guests were greeted by Esplanade Staff and Board members, including, left right, Ali Badrigian, Director of Projects & Planning, and Jeryl Oristaglio, Co-founder. Top right: Left to right: Judy Tedeschi, Jane Gorham Connolly, Lisa Leblanc (Esplanade Association Director of Organizational Support), Juli McHugh, Melanie Crocini, Anne Marie Cronin and Karen Shea. Bottom right: Helga DaRosa, representing Esplanade River Fit program sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA enjoyed the evening with her guest.

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Left to right: Guests Elyse Newman, Barbara Roche and Meredith Nethery join Esplanade Association Founder Jeryl Oristaglio (second from left) and Jen Mergel, James and Audrey Foster, Executive Director (second from right). Photograph by Claire Vail

Top: Attendee enjoys recording live music by Joe Sax Boston. Bottom: Left to right: Team Esplanade: Boston Marathon runners David Hollenbaugh and Tom Cook and their partners Jennifer Hollenbaugh and Christine Cook became fast friends meeting at a Dock Party years ago.

Top: Left to right: Alexandra Errante and Sloan Kennedy join Donnie Todd (center) representing longtime Esplanade sponsor JetBlue. Middle: Left to right: Shaun Campos and fiancée Alia Mohsen attended as winners of the Esplanade Association’s Dock Party ticket giveaway. Bottom: The Esplanade’s James and Audrey Foster Executive Director Jen Mergel announce prize drawings.

OCTOBER 2026 / 37

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MY SU N DAY

Carlos BUENO

A great Sunday in Back Bay doesn’t need to be complicated. BY CARLOS BUENO BOSTON IS AT its best early in the morning. I’m an early riser, so my perfect Sunday starts with a run along the Charles River Esplanade. There’s something about seeing the city from the Charles at that hour—the rowers, runners, and familiar faces—that reminds me how fortunate I am to call Boston home. If the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ll find me at Lynx Fitness Club. Afterward, I’d head to Long Bar & Terrace at Raffles Boston for a light breakfast—or pick up the Donut of the Week from Café Pastel, a favorite of my two daughters. They always want to know the latest flavor, and I’m usually expected to bring one home. I’ve spent my career in hotels, so perhaps unsurprisingly, I love sitting on the terrace and watching the rhythm of the day begin. I’m fascinated by how hospitality can create a feeling, become part of someone’s memory, and come alive through the people behind it. One of my favorite things about Boston is how walkable it is. Back Bay, the Public Garden, Beacon Hill. There’s history everywhere, but the city never feels stuck in the past. The Embrace on Boston Common is a place I often visit to pause and reflect. The best days don’t need to be complicated. I’d finish with an early dinner at Willie’s: pizza, pasta, a great bottle of red wine—ideally a single-vineyard California Cabernet Sauvignon—and, most importantly, family or good friends around the table.

A pizza from Willie’s hits the spot. All photographs courtesy of Carlos Bueno.

Above: Carlos with his two daughters in Back Bay. Below: The thought-provoking Embrace sculpture on Boston Common.

Carlos Bueno is a longtime leader in Boston luxury hospitality with more than 25 years of experience, most recently serving as General Manager of Raffles Boston, the only Raffles Hotels & Resorts property in North America. Deeply engaged in the city, he serves as Chair of the Back Bay Association and Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Lodging Association.

38 / MyBoston BACK BAY & BEACON HILL

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Boston Brownstones Realty, PLLC is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity Laws.

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PHOTO OP

Marchers at a walk to beat breast cancer cheer each other on. Photograph courtesy of the Susan G. Komen Foundation

THINK PINK BREAST CANCER knows no boundaries, whether it’s age, gender, socio-economic status, or geographic location. It is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. and will impact more than 7,000 women in Massachusetts this year. Join Susan G. Komen at the 2026 Massachusetts More Than Pink Walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, at UMass Boston. Our community will rally together and support patients and survivors as we work toward a future where no one dies of breast cancer. Read more about Susan G. Komen’s story and her legacy at komen.org.

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Real estate from Boston to Palm Beach

connecting the dots When you work with Peter Hill of our Palm Beach office, you get a nice guy from Boston and Palm Beach that knows real estate like the back of his hand. As a member of The Corcoran Group family, Peter fits right in, as he believes in our ‘live who you are’ ethos like he wrote it himself. So, whether you’re buying or selling in the Palm Beaches, or back in Beantown − Call (or text!) Peter at 508.353.9721.

Peter Hill | Sales Associate peter.hill@corcoran.com

All material herein is intended for information purposes only and has been compiled from sources deemed reliable. Though information is believed to be correct, it is presented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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