Why I’m a Bostonian
This article is part of a TNGG series on cities.
For most people, Boston probably doesn’t make the list of top cities to move to. It’s not the biggest city in the country and usually its most valuable components are overlooked. It may not be the most desirable city to live in, but for me and those who reside here, Boston is it.
Diversity isn’t first in mind when you think of Beantown. Boston started off as the heart of Puritanism in the colonies – not exactly what you would consider a “melting pot.” But, Boston is much more diverse than people think. Today, there are so many varied places to go and people to meet. There are always different areas of the city to venture to and learn something new. By just taking a trip through the heart of the city, you can find visitors from all over. In fact, Boston’s greatest amount of diversity comes from its younger residents – my generation.
Boston is also a city soaked in history. After all, it is the place of the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, the place the American Revolution started. You don’t have to go far to find the Freedom Trail or even hang out in Paul Revere’s house. For most people, history wasn’t the most desirable subject to study in high school. It was just a bunch of facts and dates that required memorization. But, Boston is always brought up in American History courses because it is such an important place. At the very least, for me, it makes the city that I know and love infinitely more interesting.
This all makes me wonder, what exactly makes cities such appealing places for Generation Y? At this point, it has been established by The Next Great Generation that Millennials don’t necessarily have shorter attention spans. We’re just capable of handling more input, and as a result, get bored easily. Cities offer stimulation that isn’t always accessible in suburbs. There is always somewhere to go, or someone to spend time with. It offers the stimulation necessary to keeping members of Gen Y around. Also, Boston is the most desirable metropolitan area for students. With over 52 institutions of higher education and 374,000 students, it is hard to deny this city as a hub of education with a younger vibe.
If you didn’t know already, MTV is currently working on a show called Wicked Summah. Basically, it’s the same idea as last year’s Jersey Shore. Get together a bunch of Boston stereotypes, put them on the Cape (for you non-Bostonians: Cape Cod), feed them alcohol and watch the madness ensue. As a result, most Bostonians are hanging their heads in shame trying to distance themselves from this reality TV show. It’s all about promoting the idea that Bostonians pronounce Harvard as “Havahd” and want nothing more than to kill a Yankees’ fan drink. Granted, some of these stereotypes have been based in truth, but it definitely isn’t my reality, or that of most Millennials who live in this city.
Needless to say, I’m proud to be a Bostonian. Not because I root for Boston sports teams or because I use the word “wicked” religiously. It is just because I love the city in which I live and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by edwardboches, ashley and McKenzie Lawton, alex pearlman. alex pearlman said: Cities week has begun!! Read "Why I'm a Bostonian" by @mckenzielawton http://ow.ly/1VgBN #TNGG [...]
McKenzie:
Needs some real reasons, some specifics, some examples. Anything from bars to hidden places to old neighborhoods to politics to social media leadership to sailing on Charles to thought leaders at MIT to the art museum at Tufts to the cliche Swan Boats to Fenway Park to the weird fact that the city closes down to early, to the proximity of beaches, the challenge of cycling between the evil bus drivers, the Greenway, inexpensive cheese at the marketplace where Haymarket used to be, the Green Line, Alston, the percentage of young people in the city (second only to Austin, Texas), the local music scene, the fact that more late night TV hosts come from here than anywhere else. I could go on. But you wrote the post. Give me some reasons why.
Hate to say that I find this a little
Just moved to Boston from NYC and found this a nice introduction to the city.
If I wrote down everything that I like in the city, the post would be way too long! haha
I do love touristy things like going to the MFA, walking down Newbury Street or the Duck Tours, but even something as simple as laying out on the Boston Common in the middle of a nice day and relaxing is what is really great about Boston. I like the fact that I can relax when I need to, because it's not the biggest city. However, there's always something to do. There's always a great place to eat nearby or something cool to do like hang out at a friend's house in Central Square or Allston.
I don't necessarily love Boston for the specific places that I frequent. At the end of the day I just love Boston for its personality. It's different and unlike other cities. It has this historical aspect, which is unique and kind of awesome. Right now, I'm living near Fenway and I always see and hear people at the Red Sox games. It's just a really great vibe that's kind of indescribable.
As part of the Millennial generation in Boston I do enjoy the music scene. It's rare that if a band does come to Massachusetts, it isn't in the city. I'd be lying if I said we didn't spend most of our time in areas around the Green Line from Hynes to Allston. Those are just the areas with a lot of colleges, and as a result, a lot of college students. Like I said, it's great living in a place where there are a lot of students. There's always someone to relate to or someone new to meet.
I appreciate your comment. I know that I didn't give a lot of specifics on Boston, but it's not just the specific places that make me love it. At the end of the day, I grew up in Massachusetts and have always had a connection with Boston.
Thanks, Melissa! I'm glad you thought so
too bad Boston is also one of the most racist cities in the country. considering how the average Bostonian takes pride in his/her “progressive” values it's even more disturbing such racist people call Boston home.
I live in Boston as well–the South End–and haven't noticed this level of racism that you mention. Racism sadly and ridiculously still does exist, and there will obviously be people who aren't mature or smart enough to get past such things, but what do you mean by your comment? Did something specific happen? Do you know that other cities are more racially friendly? Please explain more–I'd live to understand where you're coming from.
This is one of the worst written articles I've ever read. You didn't give a single reason why you liked Boston. Which goes to show you how horrible the place is.
I liked this post about Boston..I feel the same way, although I am not a native Bostonian. While I wrote for another blog, I compared living in Boston to my hometown of Oakland, California. Thought it might be relevant…enjoy!
Many people ask me why I moved to Boston from California. I know why people ask me…California sunshine versus evil Boston winter…I must be an idiot right?
However, there are many reasons why I love living in Boston more than my childhood stomping grounds. I grew up in Oakland, California. For those unfamiliar with Oakland, you can become educated with this city by listening to any popular Tupac single. Here are other reasons why I love Boston:
1) Bostonians appreciate good weather. Californians complain when the weather is bad (below 60 degrees) Bostonians talk about the weather when it is nice (over 40 degrees). Bostonians accept that the weather here is cold for 6-8 months and moves on to worrying about more important things…like the Red Sox.
One day I walked into my internship in a horrible rain and windstorm. I came into the office completely wet with a red welt on my face from being hit by a flying umbrella. Immediately I went into a California complaining mood, but nobody seemed to really care… it was kind of nice.
2) Boston sport fans don’t scare me. Okay, so Boston sports fans get drunk and at times can slap my butt from a moving car but for the most part they are harmless. When I see someone with an Oakland Raiders shirt on I turn around and walk the other way. Fans who voluntarily make a “black hole” in the stadium bleachers where unimaginable things occur should not be allowed around the general public. In addition, I am pretty sure a Red Sox fan after ten Sam Adams is still smarter than a sober Raiders fan.
3) Better Beer. I love Sam Adams, Harpoon, and Shipyard. Although when I lived in California I was not 21, and therefore did not at any point drink beer, I do return back to be greatly disappointed each time. I think Boston has the best craft brews, and although you can get Sam Adams on the west coast, it is made at a different brewery in Cincinnati and therefore not as good.
4) Bostonians Walk. When I asked my friend in San Francisco (10 minutes from Oakland) where the bar we were going to was she immediately said, “only 4 blocks but it’s over a hill so there is no way we are going walk there.” I walk to my graduate school in Boston from the North End almost everyday and it is a little over a mile away. Not only does it help me keep my girlish figure but also I get to people watch and get to know Boston better. I love how Californians claim to be uber-healthy but God forbid they walk to the gym (or 4 blocks for that matter).
So there are my reasons why I love Boston and like McKenzie I would not want to live anywhere else!
I appreciate your comment. My article wasn't meant to list every single place that I like in the city. It was to give people an idea of the city's personality, and as such, why I love living there.
Thanks for your comments Kendall. It's rare that I find someone who is originally from the West Coast and enjoys Boston. I hope you keep enjoying your time here
I'm proud too, the older I get. In fact, I recently tweeted about Boston ranking as the 3rd greatest US city, ahead of NYC and Chicago! I'm so proud! For me, the history of Boston is inspiring and exciting because it is the history of the entire country! Driving through Quincy and thinking about John Adams… Biking along the Charles and visiting Lexington and Concord… this is where it happened. We, the US, wouldn't exist today if men and women from Boston didn't get 'er done, so to speak. I just started watching Rob Reiner's series, “America, The Story of Us” and was embarrassed to be a Mayflower descendant. Puritans? Really? What we did to the Native Americans? Cringe. But I see that no-nonsense, hardworking, down-to-earth, adventurer spirit in Bostonians today and I love that we MADE America. Good and bad. I think it's extraordinary. It inspires me to be a better person every day, just living here.
It would be TRAGIC if that part about MTV’s new show was carried out.
Boston is known to be a prestigious, historic, academic, and sophisticated city. That show would be a disgrace to Boston!
I love your reasoning here. I grew up in a suburb of Boston, but went to school in the South, and now live in Somerville making a living recording independent musicians and collaborating in a number of startup ventures. Boston is a mecca of young talent, artistically, professionally, musically and otherwise. Boston’s rich history leads to an inevitable humility in life here; a satisfaction based in tradition that allows for a more fulfilling life. Take the city’s refusal to allow any additional towers on par with the Pru or Hancock buildings.
It should be noted that Boston is a worldwide hub for finance, academia, athletics and entertainment. The mutual fund industry was invented and thrives in Boston, and the market has a giant footprint in the retail and discount brokerage firms that reside here (think Fidelity, Prudential, John Hancock and others). As you mentioned, Boston is at the apex of intellectual, academic, medical and scientific inquiry, thought, and development. The many advanced and storied institutions here, from Harvard, MIT and Tufts to Dana Farber, MGH and Beth Israel, indicate and foster a serious intellectual backbone. Massachusetts is home to software, pharmaceutical, biotech, defense and R&D industries of notable impact. We are one of those few cities on earth to host three premier and storied sports franchises of different sports in the city limits (Celtics, Red Sox & Bruins). Each has won championships in their respected leagues, and each remains a perennial known threat in said leagues. Boston’s low film taxes and permit fees have drawn substantial interest from Hollywood, which has only further bolstered the cities footprint (think The Town, The Departed, Surrogates, and that Tom Cruise movie with that chick).
Those are just the mainstream highlights. The author aptly points to the intangibles as well. There is a spirit in this city, which I argue seems to stem at least partly from the sense of common, deep and lasting historical importance. There is a growing diversity across the city, with large Haitan, Portuguese and African immigrants joining the Irish, English and Italian populations before them.
I still go back to the music and general sense of independence. I feel a kinship to those patriots for whom Boston was a staging ground for rebellion and mischief.
I make mostly hip hop and piano based pop music. If anyone from the area is interested in collaborating, send me an email.