― Ned Raggett, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
I have nothing against Memphis, mind you (beyond a somewhat irrational feeling that moving back to the city where you grew up is tantamount to giving up), but if we're going to move to the South, I would much prefer Atlanta or the DC area. If we move at all, I'd like to go to San Francisco, DC, Chicago, Vancouver, Montreal, London, Berlin, Sydney, or Amsterdam. (If I knew Japanese, Tokyo would also be under consideration.)
― Dan Perry, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
Aerosmith now, please. I think the early 80's version (Steven Tyler locked away in seedy motels, emerging only to score smack) was preferable to todays incarnation. Though pissing off the crowd at the Indianapolis 500 is always admirable.
As much as I hate to admit it now, I used to be a Mets fan, and so alienated friends and family in 1986. Though on the bright side, the gambling was nice, I won countless bets and took money from friends and family alike.
― Tom Porrino, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
My parents still want me to move there. "We know you like big cities, how come you never gave Boston a try?" Because it always feels second rate to me. Sorry, Bostonians. And it just doesn't seem as gregarious a town as New York. Though it's a hell of a lot friendlier than the town I live in now, Los Angeles.
― Arthur, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Mike Hanle y, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ally, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Tracer Hand, Friday, 29 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
However, it has the big city charm (from the hours of 6 AM to 1 AM) without much of the skeevy element that causes me to despise New York when I'm not in awe of it. However, were I living on the outskirts of Boston, working in some sort of programming capacity, pulling down the mean green, I would be in such heaven. (For a little while, anyway.) That said, I should probably escape the East Coast one of these days and check out US locales not named Bump or Bend or Coos Bay.
― David Raposa, Saturday, 30 June 2001 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
The traffic. Where else do people routinely cut you off, then give YOU the finger? Where else but Boston can you find signs that say "traffic lights timed for frequent stops". Why are there so many intersections where the two streets have the same name? And is there a law against signs which name the major streets? Why is everything so backwards here?
Why, why, with so many young people, is there so little alternative culture here? Why are there so many sports bars?
Why does it cost so much? Sure, you can find similar prices in SF or NYC, but take a look at the space, quality, style and the neighborhoods in those cities. People keep going on about how close something is to "Central Square". Who cares? - So you can be near to the Maxi's 99c store, a (ubiquitous) Dunkin Donuts, the Jax liquidation outlet, Putnam's discount furniture, the list goes on. $1400 for a filthy 1br hole in some horrible vinyl-sided 70s renovation in this "highly desirable" neighborhood.
I guess this dowdy puritanical New England town is just not for me.
― Jim Spalding, Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― dj, Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Benjamin, Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Philip D Harris, Friday, 30 November 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Sue Shapiro, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Dan Perry, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― David Raposa, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ally, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― turner, Monday, 10 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
So, yeah, Bri, visit, ya fule.
― David Raposa, Tuesday, 11 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 11 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― youn, Tuesday, 11 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Tadeusz Suchodolski, Tuesday, 11 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ally, Tuesday, 11 December 2001 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Theresa Smith, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― bj winter, Friday, 1 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Dan Perry, Friday, 1 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― T. Kayas, Saturday, 23 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
First off, I've been living here going on five years now. I've never lived in "Boston" proper--I lived in Cambridge for 4 years (MIT), and now I work on documentary films for WGBH (the Boston PBS affiliate) and live in Somerville. I think in order to love/hate this place fully, you've got to experience all the parts of it.
Of course most of Boston--the rich, snotty parts, like the Back Bay--suck. Avoid them like the plague. Yes, Central Square (which is in Cambridge, not Boston) has become more gentrified..but look beyond Central; explore the outer edges..Jamaica Plain, Brighton, Allston, Somerville. South Boston. The parts of Cambridge that aren't directly on the T but still within walking distance. The parts that are less traveled.
There is beauty here; you just have to find it. And as much as I sometimes think I hate living here, I find myself getting defensive about it. Today in Central Square I ran into a group of kids from Berkeley. They were walking down Mass Ave, and one of them said "Dude, this is nothing like Telegraph." Of course it's not.. keep your alterna-hippies to yourself, I say. Sure, we don't have Amoeba Records, but we do have some fucking good record stores here! I live a stone's throw away from Other Music, Planet Records, Disc Diggers, Twisted Village, and Nuggets, to name but a few of the great independently- minded music shops around here.
So I found myself walking these Berkeley kids around Central Square, pointing at things and saying "See this bank? This used to be an anarchist bookstore. See this Gap and this Starbucks? This block used to be full of great independent coffeehouses." I felt terrible, and cheesy, a back-in-the-day geezer even though I'm in my 20s. But this small-town city is a part of me. Then I pointed them out to some interesting places that they should go. I cheer for the little independents around the city that are still thriving, and support them as much as I can. Central Square still does have things going for it. The Middle East, for one, (with many great & cheap shows this year!), Harvest, 1369 Coffeehouse, etc. I live near Davis Square now, which has got a good amount of independent coffeeshops, bookstores, and bars...good restaurants, and its own modest little art scene that isn't New York in scale but doesn't try to be. Everything here is in miniature, but there's something odd and wonderful about that sometimes.
Sometimes I feel like I'm living on a sinking ship--like this place has had it's day and now it's over. But that's like crying and saying that you'll never listen to an other band after the Pixies broke up, because they were the best band ever. (Mind you, I did this.) You've got to keep looking around for the interesting bits of life. And when I move out of here for good in August for grad school, I think I will miss it sorely, because for as many faults as Cambridge/Somerville/ Boston/etc have, they've still got a lot of good, and a lot that we take for granted.
And hey, if anyone is visiting the Boston area, send me an email and I'd be glad to show you around to all the glorious weird bits that still lie below the surface.
― geeta, Sunday, 24 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― T. Kayas, Sunday, 24 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Colin Meeder, Monday, 25 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
Really, a lot of the problems Boston has could be marked down to poor transportation infrastructure. Make it easier for people to go places and more people will consider going to them.
― Dan Perry, Monday, 25 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 25 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 25 February 2002 01:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
Hell, Seattle pretty much winds down at 2am on any given night, with the exception of a few later places... and that doesn't seem too, ur, restrictive... Or is everyone in Boston an excommunicatee from New York?
Same deal with OC.
What I define as "shutdown" time is the time where 80% of nightlife retail shuts down, therefore making barhopping, convenience store loitering, and various shopping vices difficult. The odd open late night joint or rock venue doesn't count.
― melysa, Monday, 1 April 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Eliza Sherman, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
I did arrive there when the weather became really good, so maybe that's why everyone along the way was so friendly (I'm talking passerbys here, not just friends). And the public transportation is good...
I'm very likely coming back for Terrastock in October...
― Brian MacDonald, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Chris, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
Woo-hoo!
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 9 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― geeta, Friday, 10 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Daver, Saturday, 11 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink
― Sue Shapiro, Monday, 20 May 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink
Note too that I don't need to trash other cities to defend here. The great things about Boston speak for themselves. If you want to hate Boston, it's easy to do, but it's also easy to do that anywhere. I know grass-is-always-greener type of people. But if you want to love Boston, it's really easy too. It's a great walking city with a lot of fun things to do.
People talk about the lack of integration, but I don't know how many of you have walked through the South End, where you'll see people from every continent in the world and other diverse backgrounds all on the same streets. And people say hello to you when you're walking down the street there. JP is really integrated too. Or check out Cambridge or Maverick Square in East Boston. Since the 1990 census, every area that had predominantly one racial group lost people from that group and gained people from other groups. We also have the university with the most nations represented (BU) of any university in the nation.
Things close at 2 and it's definitely annoying, but you can go to the North End, Chinatown, or certain bars after and hang around for most of the night. Boston's great in the day too. You're never more than two blocks from a great park of some waterfront, and there are some of the most beautiful skyline views in the world here. Check out the view from the East Boston waterfront, or the view when you're landing at the airport or the view from the Mass Ave Bridge. Walk along the harbor walk throughout the north end and South Boston.
As to friendly people, try really smiling and saying hi to people as you walk in the morning. Sure, many will look away or not say hi. I've tried the same experiment in a bunch of cities and that's true everywhere, but some people will say hi. And people are much more likely to say hi if you're just a bit further from downtown or the touristy areas- once you get into neighborhoods.
We definitely have great culture at a manageable size. We spend the most on culture per capita of any major city in the US. Our Symphony Hall is one of the three best, acoustically, in the world. Our Museum of Fine Arts has the second largest art collection in the Western Hemisphere. Then we also have several university art museums, the Museum of Bad Art, the world's largest outdoor modern art exhibition center (in the western part of the state), and a great sculpture park in Lincoln, MA.
Our local music scene is great. Listen to 101.7, WFNX radio, or the college stations and check out the bars around Central Square.
And it's a city of today. Where else can you find two of the nations top universities (three of the top 25) within four stops on a public transportation line? Where else do you have 5 of the top 10 hospitals in the nation? The largest music store in the world? The largest university library collection (the third largest library collection in general)? The most books per square mile in the nation (Harvard Square)? People who don't need to spend an hour getting ready to leave the house every morning? The city ranked healthiest in the nation by men's health? And the most liveable by some Swiss Magazine.
Then Massachusetts is ranked the second best place in the nation to raise a child for a combination of safety, education and other reasons. This is one of the best job markets in the nation, and has the most college-educated population of any state.
Boston brought you the telephone, the Internet, anasthesia, the nation's first subway, the nation's first post office, the nation's first police department, the nation's first YMCA, the birthplace of two churches, the bulk of 19th century literature.
Then let's talk about people. Harvard educated 7 of the nation's presidents. 4 presidents called MA home. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X both called Boston home at one time or another. We were the birthplace of the abolitionist movement and a center of the women's rights movement. We are undoubtedly the nation's greatest sports town, but if you don't like sports, it's not hard to find ways to avoid them altogether.
We had the most breweries per capita in the nation at the turn of the 20th century. Today, we have much of the best beer again. Sam Adams is great and a tour of the brewery, including 4 samples of beer and a free souvenir glass is only $1.
We have two of the nation's top 10 beaches, aesthetically, within this state. 3 of the top four liberal arts colleges (including the best women's one). The best roller coaster in the world, according to Park World Magazine (at 6 flags New England). We have one of the lowest murder rates in the nation in this state, and we have been held up as a national example of crime prevention.
We've also been seen as a national example for tobacco prevention, public health, and foster care and adoption services.
This is a city filled with life and on the cusp of more great things. The completion of the Big Dig will bring beautiful parks. We're updating our waterfront, our airport, and our sports parks. There's construction all over the city. Sure the construction doesn't look that great, but it's a sign of a city that's very alive.
We have always been a leading architectural city in this nation, and our building codes work very hard to ensure we keep things to scale. That's why our tallest skyscraper is only 60 stories. We have architecture from 4 centuries here, from famous names including I.M. Pei and Le Corbusier (Harvard's campus is the only place in the nation with architecture from him). We have intricate sculptures on the storefronts in downtown crossing and the building fronts in the financial district. Our skyscrapers show a lot of variation. Trinity Church is considered one of the top 10 architectural structures in the nation.
our ice cream is great; try Herrel's in Harvard Square, especially for their frappes.
If you know where to look, we have every ethnic food imaginable. And we continue to keep the independent stores alive. Some unfortunately are being lost to chains, but we still have many. Check out places like Arlington Center and other small town centers for these. The strip mall is not as ubiquitous here as elsewhere, and we have nice town centers.
Then the history is awesome.
Also, we're actually not as expensive a place for housing as many had thought. Recent census info showed that.
So I have way too good a memory for this stuff. I love my city, and if you have a pre-determined opinion, it's easy to remember the stuff that confirms it.
I think the windy streets bring more life to the city. It's awesome that cows were urban planners, though the signs could be better.
There are plenty of nice people around here. Don't complain about their city so much, and you'll find more of them.
jp
― JP, Friday, 28 June 2002 00:00 (10 years ago) Permalink
I am right next to a giant window, yeah
― "Bellini." (DJP), Thursday, 7 March 2013 20:24 (2 months ago) Permalink
Are we on for the 15th though? Where's Bingo?
― go to party leather (ENBB), Thursday, 7 March 2013 20:25 (2 months ago) Permalink
I might have to drop out of the 15th but I don't know yet
― "Bellini." (DJP), Thursday, 7 March 2013 20:26 (2 months ago) Permalink
The 15th? I might go. Miracle of Science? I like it better than Mead Hall, which tends to be full of dotcommers.
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Thursday, 7 March 2013 21:20 (2 months ago) Permalink
Oh I thought we were saying Independent or Precinct? If you could come out and Miracle was easier that would be fine though obv. I haven't been there in ages.
― go to party leather (ENBB), Thursday, 7 March 2013 21:24 (2 months ago) Permalink
Wait, I suck at reading comprehension. I can do anything – I just didn't want to go to Mead Hall. Meadthhall. methahole. I'll do my best to be there...
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Thursday, 7 March 2013 21:33 (2 months ago) Permalink
So I guess this isn't happening? That said, if anyone does want to still meet up I'd be up for it. I have the dog walker coming that day so don't have to worry about getting home immediately and could use with getting out for a bit after work.
― go to party leather (ENBB), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 12:51 (2 months ago) Permalink
Just talked to Remy and he's up for meeting up after work on Friday in either Harvard or Davis Sq if anyone else is.
― go to party leather (ENBB), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 14:54 (2 months ago) Permalink
I now don't even know if I am going to be in town this weekend ;_;
― Darth Icky (DJP), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 14:55 (2 months ago) Permalink
Aw, s'ok. We'll do it again soon. If you do wind up being here let us know though.
CAD?
― go to party leather (ENBB), Wednesday, 13 March 2013 14:55 (2 months ago) Permalink
i might be up for something early-ish on friday still. i need to go to rhode island for work but i think we will be back at a reasonable time.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 13 March 2013 16:34 (2 months ago) Permalink
so as not to distract from the other thread, i wanted to revive the talk of getting together today with jeff being in town and all. jeff (if you see this) not sure what time you're available, but i figured we could see if there's anything that would work/definitely not work for folks tonight.
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:45 (1 month ago) Permalink
have fun. i'm coming in on thursday.
― markers, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:46 (1 month ago) Permalink
turns out i won't be able to get back until later in the week. can we please (please?) do something thursday/friday/saturday? sorry to bail; in RI for family issue.
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:51 (1 month ago) Permalink
Tonight I think I can make it out around 7:30 PM. I'm in town till Friday though, so if someone wants to do something instead on Thursday, I'm cool with that too.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 17:58 (1 month ago) Permalink
yeah i can do either, whatever works for most ppl
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:13 (1 month ago) Permalink
I'm flexible
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:22 (1 month ago) Permalink
I don't know if I'm feeling up to it tonight now but Thurs would prob work if that's what you guys decide to do.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:42 (1 month ago) Permalink
ok, let's shoot for thursday then.
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:43 (1 month ago) Permalink
Let's just do Thursday. I should be able to get out a little earlier that day anyway.
― Jeff, Tuesday, 16 April 2013 18:43 (1 month ago) Permalink
OK, so tomorrow night then let's do this. I need to get out. Where we gonna go? LH? I've never been AND it's on my bus route home so that would be pretty sweet. What time would people be able to get there?
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 April 2013 14:09 (1 month ago) Permalink
I like LH, I was there on Monday night. Only had two beers though, so there is a lot more I wanted to try. I don't have any late meetings tomorrow, so I think I could shoot for 6:30 maybe? I just need to get my run in, in the morning so I don't have to after work. Shouldn't be a problem.
― Jeff, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 14:18 (1 month ago) Permalink
i should be p flexible, erica when do you think you'll be getting there
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 15:52 (1 month ago) Permalink
If I left at normal time I'd be there by 5:30 but if that's too early I can take the later bus and be there closer to 5:45-6?
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 April 2013 17:55 (1 month ago) Permalink
is this thing as close to harvard square as it seems?
― markers, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:02 (1 month ago) Permalink
closer to Kendall
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:07 (1 month ago) Permalink
ok thanks dan. i'm supposed to meet up with two other people tomorrow but might somehow actually be able to do a little of this too. who knows though. i'll be back in a bit
― markers, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:08 (1 month ago) Permalink
i should be able to be there by 6 at the latest, will shoot for earlier
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:45 (1 month ago) Permalink
is there parking by lh?
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:50 (1 month ago) Permalink
there is a little bit of non-resident at the intersection but not much unfortunately
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 18:50 (1 month ago) Permalink
so i won't be at this, but if all goes well i'm not disappearing again for a year. i'll keep watching this thread
― markers, Thursday, 18 April 2013 06:37 (1 month ago) Permalink
so my plan is to take the mysterious 85 bus at 5:20, should be at LH by 5:30
― call all destroyer, Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:36 (1 month ago) Permalink
hey should we try to get the Obamas to show up?
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:37 (1 month ago) Permalink
Duh, of course we should.
Oh! Awesome. Then I will take the 4:50 bus and should be there around the same time. The 85? I have no idea about this bus. I think I need to get off mine by CBC and then walk to LH but that's right down the street, right?
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:38 (1 month ago) Permalink
Just Michelle and her sexy arms. Also, what is LH?
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:38 (1 month ago) Permalink
Lord Hobo. The place we're going. It used to be the B-side Lounge (RIP) if that helps.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:40 (1 month ago) Permalink
God, I miss the B-side.
My plans still hold true. Looking at 6 to 6:30.
― Jeff, Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:42 (1 month ago) Permalink
I'm going to walk from Kendall if it's still nice, should see you then (H might be with me)
― POSTOBON Naranja (soda), Thursday, 18 April 2013 14:58 (1 month ago) Permalink
welp I tweeted him, let's see if this nu-fangled "social media" works
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:00 (1 month ago) Permalink
lol you did not
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:03 (1 month ago) Permalink
https://twitter.com/djperry1973/status/324900159043534850
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:05 (1 month ago) Permalink
RT'ed.
― Jeff, Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:06 (1 month ago) Permalink
<3
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:10 (1 month ago) Permalink
nice!
we sent them a wedding invitation tbh
― call all destroyer, Thursday, 18 April 2013 15:26 (1 month ago) Permalink
On my way.
― Jeff, Thursday, 18 April 2013 21:59 (1 month ago) Permalink
I'm walking in now
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Thursday, 18 April 2013 21:59 (1 month ago) Permalink
Is Barrack and/or the persons of interest there?
― Jeff, Thursday, 18 April 2013 22:03 (1 month ago) Permalink
hey guys, gonna be at Tavern Road on Congress tonight between 6 and prob 7:30? it's an Opus Affair thing, you should swing by
― Call me at **BITCOIN (DJP), Tuesday, 23 April 2013 17:55 (3 weeks ago) Permalink
aw, i was working down there yesterday but not today
― call all destroyer, Tuesday, 23 April 2013 18:11 (3 weeks ago) Permalink