2008 Woodie Awards
Summer in Boston
Caroline Keefe
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: Opinion
Summertime in Boston is a beautiful thing. The city transforms from a predominantly college town to a mix of locals and tourists. The pace of the city slows down and the T is much less crowded. For the small population of students who choose to stay put and not sublet their apartments, the city has much more to offer than it did while you were freezing and trudging through the urban tundra the past few months of school. Sure, you might be dreading your summer class you stayed in Boston for, but there are plenty of opportunities to have one of the best summers of your life.
Let's start with the streets. Newbury Street in Back Bay is a great place to shop and dine. Restaurants open up their patios embracing the warm weather; thousands of people stroll in their most fashionable clothing enjoying the shopping and fine cuisine. Once you get tired of the crowds, head over four blocks to the Charles River reservation where you can relax on the docks, or take advantage of the bike path.
For more outdoor activities you can head down to Charles Street in Beacon Hill and check out the boutiques and quaint restaurants offered there. The Boston Common and Public Garden are divided by Charles Street and provide something rare in an urban environment-plentiful amounts of grass. The Boston Common has two tennis courts and a baseball field that are free to the public, as well as plenty of space to play a pickup game of frisbee, soccer or football. The Public Garden has a much more laid back vibe and most stretch out on park benches, or have picnics among the exotic flower arrangements while the swan boats cruise by in the pond.
If you're in the city sans automobile and want to spend a day at the beach, you are not stuck. Public transportation can get you there; the commuter rail can bring you to Rockport, Newburyport, and the blue line can get you to Revere Beach-and those are just a handful of the many beaches accessible by train. This is an easy way to dodge the vicious traffic heading to Cape Cod that will be present all summer long. So pack up your textbooks, hop on the train and study for that test on the beach.
Summer in Boston is responsible for reeling in mass amounts of people for one important reason: the Boston Red Sox. Tickets for the World Series champions might seem impossible and expensive to obtain, but if you take advantage of not having to drive a great length to the park, arrive early at the park's box office and pay face value for one of the many tickets kept on reserve for every game. Not only is Fenway a great place to enjoy a summer day or night, but jobs are also always available and perfect for college students.
So you might be bumming while most of your friends are at home eating home-cooked meals, swimming in their pools, and doing their laundry for free…but you are living in Boston, and that is not bad at all. Take the time to explore beyond the Suffolk campus, beyond the areas you now know like the back of your hand and really see what the city has to offer. You're summer will surely become something unique and memorable.
Let's start with the streets. Newbury Street in Back Bay is a great place to shop and dine. Restaurants open up their patios embracing the warm weather; thousands of people stroll in their most fashionable clothing enjoying the shopping and fine cuisine. Once you get tired of the crowds, head over four blocks to the Charles River reservation where you can relax on the docks, or take advantage of the bike path.
For more outdoor activities you can head down to Charles Street in Beacon Hill and check out the boutiques and quaint restaurants offered there. The Boston Common and Public Garden are divided by Charles Street and provide something rare in an urban environment-plentiful amounts of grass. The Boston Common has two tennis courts and a baseball field that are free to the public, as well as plenty of space to play a pickup game of frisbee, soccer or football. The Public Garden has a much more laid back vibe and most stretch out on park benches, or have picnics among the exotic flower arrangements while the swan boats cruise by in the pond.
If you're in the city sans automobile and want to spend a day at the beach, you are not stuck. Public transportation can get you there; the commuter rail can bring you to Rockport, Newburyport, and the blue line can get you to Revere Beach-and those are just a handful of the many beaches accessible by train. This is an easy way to dodge the vicious traffic heading to Cape Cod that will be present all summer long. So pack up your textbooks, hop on the train and study for that test on the beach.
Summer in Boston is responsible for reeling in mass amounts of people for one important reason: the Boston Red Sox. Tickets for the World Series champions might seem impossible and expensive to obtain, but if you take advantage of not having to drive a great length to the park, arrive early at the park's box office and pay face value for one of the many tickets kept on reserve for every game. Not only is Fenway a great place to enjoy a summer day or night, but jobs are also always available and perfect for college students.
So you might be bumming while most of your friends are at home eating home-cooked meals, swimming in their pools, and doing their laundry for free…but you are living in Boston, and that is not bad at all. Take the time to explore beyond the Suffolk campus, beyond the areas you now know like the back of your hand and really see what the city has to offer. You're summer will surely become something unique and memorable.
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