Looking to meet your New Year’s resolution in Boston? From making new friends to lending a helping hand, check out our local resolution recommendations below.
Read more books
- Brattle Book Shop | 9 West St. | Keep an eye out for the large pencil above the sign at one of America’s oldest bookshops and browse three floors of used + rare books.
- Beacon Hill Books & Cafe | 71 Charles St. | The multi-story bookstore in Beacon Hill made a big opening splash last year — visit the cafe after book browsing to sip tea and start your new read.
- Papercuts Bookshop | 60 South St., Jamaica Plain | Shop the woman-owned bookstore for a curated selection of fiction and nonfiction titles.
- East End Books | 300 Pier 4 Blvd. | The Provincetown-based bookstore has opened its new Seaport location, just in time for cozy winter shopping.
- Frugal Bookstore | 57 Warren St., Roxbury | The Black-owned community bookstore has been a literary oasis in Roxbury for 15 years, offering books for all readers.
- Brookline Booksmith | 279 Harvard St., Brookline | Head over to Coolidge Corner to see the recent expansion at the two-floor, independent bookstore.
Feeling extra committed? Check out our list of books by local authors to add to your to-be-read pile.
Meet new people
- Volo Sports | The Boston chapter of the Baltimore-based company has co-ed leagues for kickball, volleyball, and basically every sport you can think of.
- Girlfriends Boston | If you missed our Beacon Hill day with this group for meeting new girlfriends, be sure to follow the Facebook and Instagram pages to stay in the know.
- Boston Outdoor Adventures | This Meetup group has 16,000+ members who plan hiking, skiing, biking, and snowboarding excursions.
- Brunchclub Boston | Join to meet a new brunch buddy or two. Pro tip: Impress with your foodie knowledge by consulting our brunch guide .
Learn a new hobby
- PKL | 64 C St., South Boston | The South Boston indoor pickleball court hosts leagues, trivia, beginner’s mixers + more events for experience picklers and newbies alike.
- Cambridge Center for Adult Education | 42 Brattle St., Cambridge | The Harvard Square center offers cooking, performance arts + business classes.
- Improv Asylum classes | 200 State St. | Take a beginner’s improv class at the Asylum CoLab in Faneuil Hall — read about City Editor Sara’s experience at this fun + friendly class.
Watch local theater
- Emerson Colonial Theatre | 106 Boylston St. | See the limited performances of “Into the Woods” in March, straight from Broadway.
- American Repertory Theater | 64 Brattle St., Cambridge | “Life of Pi” will be on view at Harvard University’s theater through Sunday, Jan. 29.
- Footlight Club | 7 Eliot St. A, Jamaica Plain | America’s oldest community theater is putting on “Miss Holmes,” a play by Christopher Walsh, in February.
Shop sustainable
- Boomerangs | Multiple locations | With three locations in Greater Boston, sales from this thrift chain go toward AIDS research and care.
- Uvida | 28 Atlantic Ave. | Visit this zero-waste shop for personal products and household goods.
- Cleenland | 89A Norfolk St., Cambridge | Browse an array of refillable supplies like shampoo, dish soap, and produce bags.
Feeling extra committed? Check out our curated guide to 12 thrift and vintage shops .
Volunteer
- Animal Rescue League of Boston | The South End animal shelter is always seeking individual or group volunteers and foster parents.
- Boys and Girls Club of Boston | Volunteer areas at the after-school program include administrative support, child care, theater, and athletics.
- The Greater Boston Food Bank | Help end hunger in Eastern Massachusetts with a food sorting shift at the local food bank.
- Rosie’s Place | The first women’s shelter in the country, Rosie’s Place has flexible shifts for volunteers to lead art workshops, teach literacy classes, or prepare meals.
- Emerald Necklace Conservancy | Join the email list for invitations to volunteer programs, cleanups, and planting projects, or help keep the Emerald Necklace parks clean on your own time with a DIY cleanup kit .
Feeling extra committed? Check out our roundup of 30+ places to give back .