Storm of Thoughts

The Thing About Boston Is…

I’ve lived in the Boston area for five years, which is plenty of time to get to know a place. Having come from northern New Jersey, New York has always been “the city,” which made Boston a big change. Of course, I had also never actually lived right in/next to a big city, so everything from the constant consideration of where you can (and can’t) get using public transportation to the crowds everywhere you go was an adjustment. But, now that the adjustment has been made and I’ve spent time in and around Boston, I can share with you some of my favorite and least favorite things about this city.

5 Things I Hate About Boston

1. The weather.
It’s a common complaint. After all, Boston winters are notoriously bad. Even if (like me!) you enjoy snow. (It’s pretty, after all.) Still, though, snow is complicated by actually having to shovel it to get to work. And once you’ve done that four or five days in a row, you’re ready to be done with snow forever. But, worse still, is the wind. Boston is always windy. Walking down the city streets? Windy. Taking a walk along the Charles River? Windy. Having a picnic in the Common? Windy. Furthermore, it’s windy in any kind of weather, from sunny days to drenching downpours. (For the record, rain and wind is the worst combination.) And that gets old fast. I don’t live in Chicago, after all.

2. “Yankees Suck” chants. (I’m sorry, Red Sox fans, but you know I’m from New Jersey.)
Now let me clarify this point. I am fine with a good “I hate your team” chant when appropriate. As a Yankees fan, I appreciate the rivalry between the teams. But the classic “Yankees Suck” chant started to grate on my nerves during baseball games when the Red Sox weren’t even playing the Yankees. And then when I started hearing it at Bruins games? Well, now, come on. Let’s at least be a bit more clever.

3. The crowds.
I like visiting tourist destinations. I like taking pictures, visiting well-known spots, and seeing what everyone else comes here to see. The problem with Boston is that the entire city is a tourist destination. Whether you’re shopping on Newbury Street, visiting Faneuil Hall, or even just happen to be anywhere in the city that crosses part of the Freedom Trail, there are bound to be large crowds of (often slow-moving) people. (Of course, this also has its benefits, like the novelty of running into an army of Revolutionary soldiers outside of Border’s.) When traveling by car, this also always means lots of traffic, even if you’re only going 5 miles away.

4. The construction.
I’m sure every city has its construction. But here, people don’t seem able to deal with it. Walking down the street to find scaffolding throws passersby into a panic. Four policeman are needed to direct traffic around 4 orange cones and a pothole. And something new is always being built somewhere it doesn’t seem like there’s enough space.

5. The drivers.
For more on this sore point, please read my Open Letter to Massachusetts Drivers.

5 Things I Love About Boston

1. The size.
Boston is no New York. It’s small, which makes it manageable. It’s easy to get around on the T and explore, spend a day wandering around without getting lost or exhausted (or having to resort to taking a cab!), and get to know favorite places. It’s full of families who have been here for generations and would never want to move anywhere else. Which, if nothing else, is just really nice.

2. The North End.
This little Italian district remains my favorite place to go for dinner. (Not to mention for dessert.) Pete and I have eaten out at a lot of different places, but all of our “usual restaurants” ended up being in the North End. It’s also where I always go to eat for special occasions or when my parents are visiting. It’s full of little Italian shops, narrow roads, parades practically every weekend, and little old Italian men sitting out on the sidewalk, talking and laughing. Plus, it has the best pizza, pasta, and cannolis. And, really, what more do you need?

3. The history.
I have always liked history, especially American history. And so much of it took place in Boston. Being able to visit the Old North Church, the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, graveyards full of American patriots, and so many other historical locations is one of the great things about being in Boston. Just walking down the streets and admiring buildings that have been here for centuries is pretty amazing.

4. The activities.
There is always something to do in Boston. While this is also true of New York, it wasn’t true where I grew up in New Jersey. Now, it’s just a quick trip to shop downtown, try out any number of restaurants, visit the aforementioned tourist locations, kayak on the river (or, you know, watch people on the river), or visit a comedy club. Some of my favorite events are concerts. While previously I was used to big concerts in even bigger arenas, I now know the fun of seeing bands (both new and unknown and big names) at small clubs where you can stand right next to the stage. (Note: This post’s photo is courtesy of Pete, one of those people who kayaks on the river.)

5. The Harbor.
I like being near the water. Whether dining outside at a restaurant, taking a boat trip, or simply walking by, being near the water always makes me happy. Plus, having fresh seafood nearby never hurt anyone.

What do you love and hate about your city or town? Leave a comment or write your own blog about it - I’d love to hear about some other locations!

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