The best of 11 states - here in NYC

With bonus factoids from our resident quizmaster, Noah Tarnow of the Big Quiz Thing (bigquizthing.com).

California | Illinois | Louisiana | Massachusetts | New Jersey
Texas | Hawaii | Colorado | Minnesota | Nebraska | Oklahoma

Massachusetts

It’s impossible to imagine a place in New York that welcomes BoSox fans. But Red Sox Nation expats gather at The Hairy Monk (337 Third Ave at 25th St; 212-532-2929, thehairymonknyc.com) to watch David Ortiz & Co. on multiple plasma TVs while sipping Sam Adams Boston Lager ($6). The Irish pub is littered with Sox memorabilia, including an entire wall plastered with Boston Globe articles celebrating its home team. Theo Epstein once took a turn behind the bar as a guest bartender—who knows when he’ll show again.

With her mini-empire of Grettacole salons, G Spas and Gretta Luxe designer boutiques, Gretchen Monahan is Boston’s undisputed style maven. Those with some serious cash to burn can book a one-on-one hair, spa or fashion-styling session with Monahan in the Greenwich Village penthouse loft that includes her Gretta Style Studio (666 Greenwich St between Barrow and Christopher Sts; by appointment only, e-mail executive assistant Jennifer Fox, jennifer@grettacole.com), where she attends to VIPs like Kelly Ripa when her hectic schedule permits. The space also hosts seasonal sales with high-end clothing and accessories from Gretta Luxe at up to 60 percent off for more frugal fashionistas.

You don’t have to make the three-and-a-half-hour Acela trek to Charlestown to experience the delights of Boston celebrity chef Todd English’s cooking. The same rustic Mediterranean cuisine is just a subway ride away at Olives (W Union Square Hotel, 201 Park Ave South at 17th St; 212-353-8345, toddenglish.com), an ideal spot for feasting on brick-oven flatbreads, like the rosemary-inflected fig and prosciutto ($14). Don’t miss signature desserts: molten chocolate cake and vanilla-bean soufflé ($12 each).

If Massachusetts were an independent principality, JFK and Jackie would have undeniably been its king and queen (after all, the Kennedys are still considered American royalty). Pay tribute with a visit to the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St; 212-535-7710, metmuseum.org, suggested donation $20); not only was the structure a gift to the U.S. from Egypt in gratitude to the Kennedy administration for helping to save several temples, but Jackie could see the glass-enclosed wing its housed in from her Upper East Side apartment window.

New York and Beantown’s respective dessert phenomena meld as one in the Boston-cream cupcake available at Crumbs (multiple locations, crumbs.com; classic size $2.95, signature size $3.75). Just like the pie originally conceived at Boston’s Parker House Hotel, the cupcakes are made with vanilla cake, vanilla custard filling and a gooey chocolate fudge frosting, and are available in-store all this week. Flavors change regularly, but can be made by special request, so be sure to call ahead.

Fun fact: Four Presidents hailed from Massachusetts, all christened John: Adams, Quincy Adams, (John) Calvin Coolidge and JFK. (And we were close with Kerry.)

NEXT New Jersey

California | Illinois | Louisiana | Massachusetts | New Jersey
Texas | Hawaii | Colorado | Minnesota | Nebraska | Oklahoma

See more in Own This City