Hunter

Boston is a city that has undergone significant changes over the years. From the arrival of Puritan settlers in 1630 to the thriving metropolis it is today, it has undergone many transformations and I have been blessed to have witnessed some of these transformations first-hand and can attest to how they have impacted the community. From the revitalization of neighborhoods to the booming tech industry, Boston's evolution has been remarkable and I am proud to call myself a Bostonian!

One of the most noticeable changes in recent years has been the transformation of South Boston.

Once a working-class neighborhood, South Bosto has now become one of the trendiest areas in the city. The Seaport District, in particular, has seen significant development with luxury apartment complexes and high-end restaurants popping up left and right. While some may lament the loss of old-school charm, it's hard not to appreciate how much life this new development brings to the area.

Another change that has put Boston on the map is its growing tech industry. It's no secret that Silicon Valley dominates when it comes to technology companies but Boston is quickly catching up. Our city boasts a thriving start-up culture with companies like Wayfair and DraftKings calling Boston home.

With the influx of young professionals into previously overlooked neighborhoods like East Cambridge and Somerville has breathed new life into these areas as well.

Despite all these changes, there are still things about Boston that remain constant and unchanging — our love for sports being one of them. Whether you're a Red Sox fan or Bruins supporter (or both!), there's nothing quite like experiencing game-day energy in Fenway Park or TD Garden.

As someone who grew up here, I've seen firsthand how Boston continues to evolve while simultaneously maintaining its distinct character and charm. I'm so thrilled to be able to call this city my home and look forward to seeing what other positive changes lie ahead for us in the future!

For those of you thinking of visiting, here are some features of our city that might interest you.

Historical Landmarks

Boston boasts an array of historical landmarks that are worth visiting. The Freedom Trail takes you on a journey through the city's past - from the Massachusetts State House to the site of the Boston Massacre.

Other must-visit landmarks include Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Paul Revere House.

Cultural Attractions

Boston is home to numerous museums and cultural institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. These institutions offer visitors a glimpse into Boston's rich cultural heritage.

Architecture

Boston's architecture is a blend of old and new styles that have evolved over time. The Back Bay neighborhood features stunning Victorian brownstones while Beacon Hill showcases elegant brick row houses with beautiful wrought iron balconies.

Food Scene

Boston has become known for its thriving food scene in recent years. From iconic seafood dishes at Legal Sea Foods to quirky doughnuts at Union Square Donuts, there's something for everyone’s palate.

Our Transformation and Growth

Let's look at some of the changes that have taken place in Boston over the past few decades. It is amazing how we have been able to transform Boston again and again, giving it new life and opportunities to reinvented itself to become a thriving city on the cutting edge of progress.

The Big Dig

One notable transformation was the Big Dig - a massive highway project that began in 1991 and took over two decades to complete. It transformed downtown Boston by removing an elevated highway and replacing it with an underground tunnel system which changed the skyline of downtown Boston for the better.

Neighborhoods in Transition

Over time, neighborhoods such as Somerville, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester have transformed from working-class enclaves into trendy neighborhoods filled with cafes, restaurants, and art galleries.

Boston's Innovation Economy

Boston has emerged as a hub of innovation and technology. With companies such as General Electric, Amazon, and Google opening offices in the city, Boston has become a hotbed of new ideas and entrepreneurs.

As someone who has lived in Boston for my whole life, I've witnessed the city's transformation firsthand. From historical landmarks to cultural institutions to trendy neighborhoods, Boston offers something for everyone. Whether you're a foodie or a history buff, there's always something new to discover in this endlessly vibrant city.

Hunter
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So. here's some tips/vocabulary:

Tip number one: Boston isn't really known for it's Pizza.

It is really sad, but I know that it is true. While there are some good places if you look around, it is Boston good. That means that it pales in comparison to the pizza that you will find at even the corner store in NYC.

The solution is to simply stick with seafood since it blows the NYC stuff out of the water.

When you hear a bit "gritty" people are talking about East Boston, it's "gritty" because people are afraid of the Hispanic majority and don't realize how great it is. For the most part the area is safe, especially during the day it also has some amazing food. If you are visiting from out of town I suggest using the Blue Line to get there.

Speaking of which, we call our rail/subway/metro system (MBTA) "The T". We'll use it like this: "take the T to East Boston" or whatever our destination is. Don't say subway. If you call it a subway we'll know what you mean, but Bostonians rarely use the term "subway", in most cases we will think you are referring to New York's Subway and thus ignore you.

The T is divided into 4 basic lines which are easy to keep apart. They are color coded so even out of towners will not get lost. Red, Orange, Blue and Green. Green is Light Rail which is the oldest subway system in America in case you didn't know that. The others: Red, Orange and Blue are the heavy rail.

Orientation is important, for example if a train is going "Inbound/Outbound", this simply it is referring to the direction it is facing from Park Street. We actually have another rail. And this is marked by the Purple Line. Purple is our commuter rail, which most people here don't need worry about. Since I never take the Bus Rapid Transit, this would be the Silver line, you will have to look elsewhere for clarification.

Even you only intend to travel a little bit by rail I would get a Charlie Card. It is so much more convinient. Charlie Cards are a contactless card, you just tap them against a card-reader when ever you get on a subway or bus. You don't have to remove it from your wallet, really. You can get one from an MBTA employee because most of them carry extra, I have also picked them up at 7-11s or you can go to a Charlie Card store. When you travel you just fill them up at a kiosk without much hassle. I like them, and this is actually the Bostonian preferred option over the Charlie Ticket. The tickets are just a paper ticket that's printed at the kiosks (same as the one you refill the card at), the only difference is (beyond convenience) is that the Card is cheaper per ride.

We have good Google Maps coverage, and even I use them for directions. They're clear and I haven't had any problems with them.

Skip the taxis.

If you plan to get somewhere fast I would suggest Uber or Lyft, both of them reign supreme here, especially when you want to get somewhere fast.

Frappes are milkshakes

  • Frappes are milkshakes.
  • Rotaries are traffic circles.
  • A packie is a Package Store - aka liquor store.
  • Jimmies are sprinkles (for ice cream).

Bostonians are super friendly and polite.

But let me add a definition for you on what we think is friendly. We define friendly and polite in such a way that people might get confused.

Our friendly is different than yours.

Here in Boston, it is polite not to waste people's time with pointless chatter. Tourists get this wrong all of the time. You say hello and they talk you full for five minutes with BS. In Boston, it is polite not to hide your contempt by saying phrases like 'bless his heart'. And I am looking at you heartlan America.

We prefer being told to fuck off if the situation calls for it instead of that passive aggressive BS that you get elsewhere. Just say it. People in Boston are mature enough to accept it and we like honest and direct instead of backhanded and slimy. And before you even start, catiness will never be tolerated.

Authenticity is admired.

And if you would like to know - sarcasm is a second-language to us.

Hunter
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I love clam chowder, and I used to make it from canned stuff, canned baby clams are ok, but the real difference is the fresh versus canned juice.

Our Boston by the Spoonful

If you need precise measurements, you'll have to use somebody else's recipe.

Go to a real fish market and get big quahogs, or chowder clams.

Make sure to use real clams, and I use the real big clams, because they are chowder clams. And you would just waste other clams. No there isn't a real difference. And you could use other clams, but they're more expensive.

I usually pick up 5 pounds is a good start, 10 pounds was too many unless you've got a crowd to feed.

Next scrub them with a brush. Make sure they are clean because from this point we are going to be keeping the fluids.

Boil about an inch of water or white wine in a pot.

Add your clams to the boiling water and put on the lid, and let them steam until they open. At this point I strain the clams through a colander and save the juice, setting them aside until they are cool enough to handle.

Meanwhile, start rendering about a quarter of your of chopped bacon in a few tablespoons of butter, I like to cook on medium low.

Optional: when your bacon starts to get crispy, add some anchovies, I use about 5-7. You can use salt pork if you want to go traditional.

When your bacon is crispy add a few cloves of minced garlic. Saute that a few minutes, I like it when the garlic starts to get a little brown and pungent, but don't burn it!

Next I will add some really finely chopped onions, celery, and a few sprigs of thyme, and some black and white pepper. Cook it until it's almost soft, then add a few tablespoons of flour. Continue to cook to get the raw flour taste out, you gotta keep scraping it off the bottom of the pan when it sticks, and then add some white wine and a few bay leaves.

Bring it all to a boil. The white wine is optional, but I highly recommend it if you are going for a traditional chowder.

Take your clam meat out of the shells and chop it up.

You will need to work on this step because big clams are tough. Make sure that you chop them small, this will make eatingyour chowder more appealing.

For those of you who are feeling ambitious, rinse your clams in the unfiltered clam juice to get the grit out. I strain the clam juice through a wire mesh coffee filter.

The reason for this to get the sand out of the meat. I use the metal filter because the juice it will clog a paper coffee filter.

New to chowder? Then you will want to taste the clam juice to make sure it is not too salty.

In the event that it is too salty you can dilute it with some water, so when you add the clam juice, it won't mess up your liquids to solid ratio. Whatever you do, do not add milk at this point or it will clot up once you start boiling the potatoes in the next step.

After the wine boils a few minutes I add the clam juice and the potatoes.

Cook the potatoes until they are tender, not super soft, then add some light cream until it looks creamy enough.

I really don't use too much cream because the starch from the potatoes make it very milky in appearances anyways and it will dominate your flavors.

Make sure you taste it at this point, if it is too salty from the clam juice, you might need to add some milk. Add more white or black pepper to taste.

At this point I like to add some smoked salmon. Granted I know that ths doesn't tradiationally belong here, and it is entirely optional and completely nontraditional, but it's quite tasty and I have moved over to this.

This could be a good bacon substitute if you don't like pork.

And last thing I add are the chopped up clams, bring up to a simmer and then shut it off or the clams will get tough.

Take out the bay leaves and thyme stems, scrape the thyme leaves off the stem back into the chowder if you desire.

I love learning new techniques. So if you have some ideas to share I am all ears!

Hunter
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I will warn you, don't come to Boston and expect a lively arty, nightlife scene. Puritan roots are to blame for that. The general attitude that nothing needs to go beyond music and drinks is another aspect that keeps us from reaching our full potential.

The main clubs are located near the Stuart and Tremont intersection near the theater district.

Here you will find Venu, Rumor, Bijou, Cure, Royale, Guilt...to name a few. The Estate is also nearby - just off Boylston st. Honestly, all of these clubs are overpriced in terms of cover and drinks, full of douchebags, and the staff are usually pretty biased toward the cashed up college kids who get tables or who spend big at the bar.

I would recommend Brahmin which has about the best that you can expect for our club scene. It is located in Back Bay.

The location is pretty nice, it is a two-storey building that acts as a bar/club/lounge, serving food during the day. Here is their website to give you a better idea of what you will find.

If you want a night out I would try and arrive around 10pm. The line goes pretty quickly and its free cover and they take some pride in their reputation. Something, most places don't do, which is another thing that they need – pride in their establishment.

Drinks are relatively well priced, they aren't cheap but they aren't astronomical either. And for Boston the atmosphere is second to none.

It is definitely better than a lot of the sketchy clubs that people will suggest and I always have way more fun there.

Another good option is Howl At The Moon. It is fun and they have good live music nearly every night. It really isn't a club though, more a bar scene. One good thing about Howl is that they have Down, it is well, downstairs from Howl and it serves as is a club/lounge.

It's nice because the two are linked via a staircase which allows you to move up and down freely. We generally have a good time there as well.

Hunter
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The Glenville Stops serves beer and wine only, but it is definitely a place to checkout if you are interested in an adult bar hidden. It's nice and quiet, and right off of the T. It is funny because it is actually right in the middle of a college neighborhood.

Devlin's in Brighton does weekly jazz and they do not have a cover charge, they have a low-key crowd devoid of college kids which only adds to the atmosphere. The food is great and their service is friendly. I've had two dinners there, both of them were more than I expected. However, I did order one appetizer which was not for me, but they just took it off of our bill without batting an eye. Like I said, great service. I recommend it if you want to get a group of 6-8 people together on a table and not shout.

I will add this to both suggestions, not every place is the same night after night, so use your common sense. I once experienced a are get taken over by about 40 drunken people from a wedding party come into what had been up until that point a great evening and turn the place on its head.

This is an extreme example but things can change pretty quickly.

In general I will say that you will have more success in general on a Sunday-Wednesday night than Thursday-Sat.

On top of that it also depends on the time of night. Some bars are crazier right after work, some are crazier late at night.

In Boston proper I would recommend The Hawthorne for most evening. As for late nights and weekends excluded this is not a solution since it is busy

For those of you who don't mind the metro area you could try TOAD in Porter Square Cambridge for chill live music. It has been a nice little retreat in the past and in general.

The Burren is another options it is located in Davis Square Somerville is nice if you want a more Irish pub type thing rather than a club. This is Boston after all!

The hard part for many is actually finding free live music. It simply is not a big thing in this area, a lot of bars are small in the area so it's hard to accommodate guests and a band. As a side note if you are going to be those groups that show up with a big party, do your server a favor, let them know when the first person shows up so they can plan your billing. Don't be the group that pays with 4 cards and a mix of Benjamins, then only tip on the card amounts leaving next to no tip.

Hunter

My husband and I don't have kids, but the older we get the more we realize that our family and friends are all parents. So I thought that I would put together a list of the more family friendly activities that our wonderful city offers.

Kid Friendly Boston

  • The Common is fun but only in the spring / summer. Swan boats, a fountain, tons of green space to run around and a pretty great playground. It's shitty for kids in the winter though.
  • George's Island is a good affordable option as well. You get a beautifu view of the city on the ferry ride to/from and the island has a lot of space to run around, fire pits to cook some lunch and tons of cool forts to explore. Also there's a Summer Shack which is a nice plus for everybody.
  • Gore Place in Waltham is only about a 15 min drive and it is a historic homestead that has children's activities like snowshoeing, sheep-shearing, and storytimes.
  • The Boston Children's Museum is WELL worth the money. If you're on a tight budget go on a Friday and it's only $1.00 per person to get in.
  • There's a kid-friendly restaurant in Cambridge called "[Full Moon]( http://www.fullmoonrestaurant.com)" - 1/2 the restaurant is a huge play room with a train table, kitchen, tons of dolls and trucks etc where the kids can run around / play while the parents relax and have a drink. The food is pretty great, it's not too expensive and its the only place like this in Boston.
  • First Friday's in the city all the galleries open and at 450 Harrison Ave there are a ton. My little one has loved it since she could walk free and awesome. Added bonus: Thursdays are free at the ICA as well and they have arts & crafts days for kids.
  • Near Haymarket / Faneuil Hall there is a nice playground with a big sandbox for the little ones as well. Within walking distance of this playground there is an outdoor merry-go-round which is cheap and fun. Again both these activities are spring/summer related.
    • Faneuil Hall has patio seating and free entertainment, weather-permitting. Don't eat at Dick's Last Resort. We have always found them very unfriendly which is what their claim to infamy is to begin with. Only got there if it is your last resort.