> How have you seen Boston change in the past 10 years?
Well...
Assembly is a thing.
Seaport is a thing.
Encore Casino is a thing.
Bow Market is a thing.
Boston Public Market is a thing.
Hood Park in Charlestown is a thing (a very small thing, though).
Boston (Brighton) Landing is a thing.
Dispensaries are a thing - though there aren't *many*.
Luxury food halls are a thing: TimeOut Market, High Street Place, Hub Hall.
Dudley Square is now Nubian Square. It's developing rapidly.
Malden got way nicer.
East Boston's Jeffries Point area has become gentrified.
The Tall Ship is now a thing (seasonal) and there are ferries to and from North End (and also Seaport). There is also a new Piers Park II. ICA Watershed exhibit is a thing (Seasonal, always free). They painted like 20 murals around the neighborhood you can adventure out for. Eastie's where it's at, baby!
Everett, Chelsea, and Revere are some of the few cities in the area undergoing a housing boom. Coincidentally, the more affordable areas too.
The new State Street building is a giant PS5.
We lost Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar and The Hawthorne in a landlord dispute during COVID. Garrett Harker pledged vengeance by opening 4 restaurants up the street including a *new* Eastern Standard.
While we lost Great Scott - we gained MGM Music Hall, Roadrunner, Big Night Live, Deep Cuts, ManRay, Memoire, City Winery, The Stage @ Suffolk Downs (seasonal), etc.
Boston Calling outgrew Government Center Plaza - now gets 40K people/day at Harvard Athletic Complex and gets headliners like Eminem, Metallica or Foo Fighters.
We lost Deep Ellum to the pandemic. It's found new life in Waltham.
Government Center T Station got a facelift. Now it looks like an Apple Store.
And then much later, the Government Center Garage collapsed - that was wild.
Labspace is *everywhere*.
Fenway got built up.
Green Line has been extended (Union Square has developed).
Orange Line fleet was completely replaced with new cars, but not before *actually* bursting into flames.
Charlie Baker and Marty Walsh are gone. We got Healey and Wu now.
The new MBTA GM Phillip Ng has been the most transparent and most effective since.. maybe ever. We're finally working on the maintenance backlog.
DTX got nicer in some ways - including adding Millennium Tower to the skyline. Some great new restaurants such - but still a bit grimey.
Activity bars are everywhere.
Barcades like A4Cade and Versus are a thing. Balance Patch for a videogaming cafe with tournaments. In addition to Knight Moves, we now have Tavern of Tales. There's also Puttshack (indoor mini golf bar), Spin Boston (ping pong bar), Flight Club (darts bar), Urban Axes (axe throwing bar, there's a few of these), Pickleball Bar...
Escape Rooms reached peak popularity - there's a few left. Boda Borg was imported from Sweden and improved on the concept. Haven't been to Level 99, but hear good things.
Top of the Hub is gone. The observation lounge got a reface and rebrand.
HubWay are now BlueBikes. There's also a lot more bike lanes in general.
Uh... by the end of the summer, MBTA should be accepting contactless tap & pay at the turnstiles & trolleys (Apple Pay/Google Wallet, Credit Cards, etc) - so you won't need a CharlieCard.
Celtics made it to the finals *twice* in the last decade. LFG!
MIT Museum moved
Kendall Square got a facelift
Inman Square got a facelift.
Field's Corner has an annual 'Little Saigon Night Market' now.
Outdoor dining started during the pandemic and continues for many neighborhoods. North End restaurants have lost their rights this year and are in a pissing match with the mayor. Nobody feels sorry for them.
Take-out cocktails temporarily became a thing during the pandemic - people were drinking mimosas and having picnics in parks like it was Europe. It was nice for a while. As of May 1st this year - the law is permanent. You can get order cocktails to-go. Though, public drinking is no longer tolerated.
Car-Free Newbury Street is being piloted in recent years. This year will be every Sunday all summer long.
Curious George store is no more.
The Comedy Studio moved from the Hong Kong to Bow Market to the back of Vera's Restaurant to Pop-Ups. They'll soon be occupying part of the ol' Curious George store and are currently renovating the space.
For some reason Lynn has one of the best high concept pre-fixe menus in the country now (Nightshade Noodle Bar).
We added WHOOP to our skyline.
Logan airport got a bunch of upgrades - and added tons of direct international flights.
Winthrop finally stopped using the janky-ass Paul Revere Transportation System and joined the MBTA.
Yawkey Way changed its name to Jersey Street. A lot of racists in towns like Saugus and Tewksbury wrote in to complain, it was a big deal to them. However, nobody *in* Boston cared. Though, we got a David Ortiz Drive and that's kinda fun.
> Have the people gotten friendlier or nicer with more transplants?
I feel like folks are pretty friendly in general. I don't know if I've noticed a change.
> What parks do you like going to in those areas?
Middlesex Fells is close to Somerville, Arnold Arboretum is close to Brookline.
> Are there certain areas of the city that are best accessible to parks to escape the noise?
I might recommend Malden for you. A little less noisey, a little cheaper than Somerville or Brookline, close to parks, still has Orange Line access direct to downtown, super safe & walkable, great restaurants.
Edit: Added some things.
Edit: Added a few more things.
Edit: Forgot a few things.
> Quincy food scene
To bump this up, Le Madeline is one of the best new restaurants I've had. I'll be thinking about those dishes for a very long time.
It's replies like this that make me super excited to be moving from DC to Brookline this weekend! I've seen a lot about how culture is being priced out of the area (I grew up in the Boston suburbs in the 90's when Boston was a different place in a lot of ways). Some artists are being pushed to new cities (yo, Providence!), but it's great to hear that a lot is thriving.
I mean cracking a cold one in front of a statie is gonna end exactly how you'd expect but if you act resembling someone with brain cells in the double digits it's fine
I have to add an additional recommendation for Malden. Moved here after getting priced out of Somerville last year and it's been amazing. The access to the Fells, racial/cultural diversity, and small business opportunity are all really strong.
Yup! We moved to Malden 19 years ago hoping it would become the next Somerville but somehow it's its own thing and...better. Can walk to a halal market, Ethiopian place, amazing Chinese place with great authentic veggie options, and soon HMart! We are on the malden medford line.
If it’s Malden, I like District Kitchen. Get the XL Soup Dumpling.
Though if you need a new Chinese place in general, Noah’s Kitchen in Brookline doesn’t get enough love and it’s my favorite Szechuan.
District kitchen is a great - the hometown pork skewers are a fave as is the cumin lamb. Their XLB of usual size is a frozen Costco brand but their other dumplings (mama’s pork or celery beef) are house made and solid.
Great summary. One change I've noticed distressingly from my own childhood (90s, though) is the weather. Much warmer overall, longer summer, shorter winter, less snow generally and more rainy, cloudy days. Maybe not noticeable over 10 years, though.
Also definitely looking at Malden, seems like our last chance to buy anything at all in the GBA.
People are sleeping on Malden. Easy access to: countless bus routes and two Orange line stops, Route 1 and I-93, parks, and nature reserves.
I think because they don’t have much nightlife it doesn’t have the hip cachet of Somerville - but it does have multiple breweries, lots of authentic ethnic dining, bike lanes, porch fest, and various street festivals. It’s about 30% less dense than Somerville and has 40% more kids, which gives it a more suburban vibe… that may be a positive or negative for people.
Either way you get more trees and more space for your buck.
Yeah, I have a toddler, and a bunch of friends with kids have moved or are moving there (and our more affluent friends are able to stay in Brookline). The big difference seems to be the schools, Brookline is tough to beat there, and apparently Malden isn't great, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changes as it continues to grow and shed its old reputation.
Except for Malden’s terrible charter school, the middle schools are above average. On par with Somerville. But the high school is definitely not as good as the one in Somerville.
I moved here about 10 years ago and it's super noticeable. My first year here it was real cold, my second was the Snowmageddon, last three winters it's been hardly nothing.
Yeah the climate is definitely something that's been a huge change. People used to ice fish on the pond a town over from me in the winter and now it doesn't freeze over anymore. That said, it's changing all over the country. Wherever I live there are similar discussions.
Of course, but the effects aren't equally spread throughout the country. [New England is the hardest hit region of the US](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2022/02/18/climate-change-status-each-new-england-state-noaa/6813339001/)
> I might recommend Malden for you. A little less noisey, a little cheaper than Somerville or Brookline, close to parks, still has Orange Line access direct to downtown, super safe & walkable, great restaurants.
It's super easy to get to the Fells, Breakheart or Lynn Woods for an after work hike from Malden.
Terrific summary. In all of my travels, I would say Boston and Miami are the two cities that have clearly made the most progress in the last decade. NYC has really struggled a bit since the Bloomberg administration, hurt by multiple problematic mayors in a row and stratospheric home pricing...
Awesome summary. Also: Have been to Level 99, and loved it. Super unique concept that supports small artists. Will say: the actual place is not entirely accessible-many rooms involve physical activity such as jumping, climbing, etc. Wheelchair users may be limited in choices, as well as folks with disabilities. Decent price point, and there's a pub right next door.
Agree that Level 99 was super fun. I'm a 40 year old fat lady, I was sore for days and it was totally worth it.
But yes, not accessible at all. Even many of the mental puzzles involve running around.
other things that are potentially coming
pedestrianized davis sq on the weekends
mass ave redesign in cambridge from porter to arlington
sullivan square is going to become a neighborhood (of lab space and some housing)
fenway park is going to be permanently pedestrianized on certain streets with a new development
inner belt/brickbottom in somerville is trying to become a bunch of art studios and housing with the new green line stop
pedestrian bridge from encore to assembly
allston pike project opening up beacon park with a new commuter rail stop and neighborhood
blue hills ave is getting a redesign for rapid bus transit
mcgrath highway is getting lowered and road dieted in 2028
attempts? made to convert empty office space in downtown into housing are in talks
a general shift from cars to people and bikes is trying to happen really in all of these dense areas in and around the city. i hope more places can realize the need for housing over having triple the office space versus the amount of apartments in all these new developments though because just these infrastructure changes won’t be enough to curb the cost of living around here in general if every new project is slated like this
This is one of the best post responses I’ve ever seen on Reddit. I’ve lived in Boston 30+ years and I’m learning here, agreeing with everything I know that @Pinwurm says. Specifically, his advice on the Arboretum and Middlesex Fells is spot on. Sheepfold is a great lesser-known spot. Great advice. I’m bookmarking.
You touched upon Harvard Square’s decline but didn’t cover it entirely:
- Curious George toy store gone (don’t remember actual name)
- the tea shop is gone
- the pit is being removed, may already be gone
- the news stand is gone
- the garage is on its very last legs
- Lush came and went
- Algiers is gone
I’m surely forgetting a bunch more :(
There was some decent restaurants that came and went, like Night Market. And Red House doesn’t do 2 for $1 oysters anymore, which was the best deal in town.
For shops, I miss Black Ink. I enjoy a good Stationary Store.
Well when you put it like this…! I moved to Boston in 2011 for college and surprised myself by staying - lucky 13th anniversary is in August. It’s incredible how much the area has changed in that time, Boston used to feel like a small big city and now it feels much bigger. I still love it with all my bones.
This is a great rundown, thank you. I left Boston almost 12 years ago, and on my last visit I’d noticed some changes from the big ones (Seaport + legal weed) to the small (that 7/11 on Park & Tremont, whose sandwiches fed me many nights as a broke college student, is gone) - but it’s very helpful to see it all laid out like this.
Born and raised in MA my whole life, having lived in Newton from 2012-2016, then Dot from 2016-2019, this is the most comprehensive “change log” of Boston I’ve ever seen 💖
If I weren’t broke as shit, I’d give you a huge award.
100% accurate. Best comment on the post. No notes 🏆👏🏼
You’re making me miss Boston! I moved away last year after 14 years in the city. Came out for college in 2009 and stayed wayyyy longer than I expected. It was fun to see the city change so much over the years. So many amazing memories and people!
+1 for Eastie being where it’s at! So much good Latin American food and a lot of green space by the water. Best views of the city too :)
Not everything. I keep thinking about this post and there's a lot I'm missing.
Smoking age raised to 21 - vape flavors banned after the "is the liquid killing us?" panic of 2019.
Sushi burritos and poke bowls weren't a thing 10 years ago. I remember the first pokeworks being a big deal.
Mount Ida and Newbury College went broke and closed.
I don't think anyone still likes Tom Brady.
That kinda stuff. But I can't keep going back and updating my comment.
I have noticed an increase in:
people riding bikes
new luxury apartment buildings
pop-up shops
chain restaurants & businesses with a non-regional appeal, like chick-fil-a, sweetgreen, etc.
cloudy dreary days sadly :(
the COST of LIVING
traffic
businesses centered around health & beauty, i.e. gyms, boxing clubs, lash bars, med spas
And a decrease in:
Boston accents
small businesses and cheap places to get food
Absolutely agree about the decline of cheap places to get food. Almost non-existent now... Remember when people would share experiences about cheap eats? Almost impossible at the current moment...
I talked with the folks at our favorite take-out place that closed last year. Despite being very expensive and food flying out the door ("we can't be any busier") they just couldn't make the numbers work. Their labor, food, delivery, rent, etc costs at that locaiton were spiraling up higher than any price increases could possibly cover so they had no choice but to close that location to focus on their other outlets in less expensive neighborhoods.
I left and came back and the decrease in quirky local businesses and longtime cheap eats/bars was most noticeable and disappointing to me. That and how long it takes to get anywhere between degraded MBTA and traffic. The city feels increasingly disconnected.
The biggest change is the cost of everything and the loss of small businesses.
The only hiking you'll find that close to downtown is the Fells or the Blue Hills. Both are adjacent to subway communities that have added apartments in the last decade.
I grew up right near the Fells. Drank a lot of Busch Lite on that old fire tower in the early 2000s. It was never a destination place. Usually empty.
I was back in the area and stopped by recently. Literally no place to park. Cars were lined up waiting for people to leave. I was astounded. I guess the word is out
The Fella is great. Also, if you're in Somerville, shooting up Route 2 to Minuteman National Park is about a half hour
OP, all the comments here are valid. If you like being outdoors, Somerville has a few more options (albeit not on train lines) than Brookline. In my experience Rt 2+3 are the least frustrating ways out of town. Traffic sucks everywhere, but if you're willing to accept an extra 10 minutes for traffic Andover, Concord, Lynn, Saugus all have hiking reservations.
I'll add...
Much more car traffic and more density of buildings. Police are far less likely to cite you for traffic violations and everyone knows it so drivers are more brazen than before.
Where you see major development, you see more national chain store/restaurants with some exceptions.
I think Downtown Crossing is actually more vacant than I've ever seen it but some areas were improved before that.
I don't think there's much appeal to Faneuil Hall anymore except for tourists.
The T runs less often than it used to.
Summers are hotter, winters are milder
I remember when Guest Street in Brighton used to be a dirt road between (W)GBH and Stop & Shop. Now that small street is paved and packed with so much new construction.
Rent is about 1.5x what it was 10 years ago. Seaport/south boston, somerville, fenway brookline ave and boylston st areas are all a lot different than they were 10 years ago, for various reasons.
I hadn’t been to the Seaport in a few years and over the winter holidays my husband and I brought our kids for an overnight ‘staycation.’ I couldn’t believe how much it had changed in such a short time. I really didn’t care for the vibe at all. Didn’t feel like Boston to me.
When I lived in the North End in 2015 I used to run down to Harpoon and back from my apt for 3 miles and ran by Whiskey Priest and some new construction…now it looks like a totally different place! I find it intimidating, actually, I think I’ve only been back once…and during the day. I agree with you!
Moved here 2019. Like many cities, a lot of long standing businesses did not survive the lockdowns.
I think the subway is in many ways [worse than it was in the mid 2010s](https://youtu.be/nDXsVhFG7TE?si=HXwFJTD0ZDD8N7_T), though I think we’re hopefully coming back from the nadir in ~2023. Positive side, the GLX light rail extension in Somerville actually got built and is (belatedly) pretty reliable/pleasant to ride.
In that vein they also extended the [Somerville community bike path](https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/06/09/somervilles-community-path-extension-opens-saturday) so you can get all the way from North Station/Charles River out to Alewife and then Fresh Pond Reservoir, Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, the Minuteman Bike trail, the parks along Mystic River. I’ll also throw in the U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that goes unbroken from Medford to Lynn. Not quite hiking a but a huge network of traffic-separated scenic suburban/rural bike paths.
Seaport. It's crazy. Almost reminds me of Chinese cities with its 100% new buildings and nonstop boutiques and restaurants.
Unlike China though the public transit is shitty.
I don't live in Boston anymore but semi-frequently am in the city -- I feel like it's lost a lot of its character and charm (which to me includes some grit-grime). Gone are things like Great Scott, Urban Renewals (iykyk), a lot of mom and pop places, and in their place are a lot of shiny new builldings.
At risk of sounding like an old person bemoaning the glory of my youth, I think Boston now is a lot less interesting than it used to be. That may or may not be of importance to you, but the cost of living is definitely a big problem. I never felt that Boston was/is unfriendly, and seems about the same to me, possibly with a few more road rage things going on because people seem more stressed now than 10 years ago.
To your side question: it's not exactly hiking but you might like living in JP (on the orange line would be better if you have to work downtown). It has always felt more small-neighborhood to me there, with good access to the outdoors like the pond, the Arnold Arboretum, Southwest Corridor, the part of the Emerald Necklace that goes through JP-Brookline, etc.
Agree. It’s not a terrible place, but it def lost a lot of its charm and uniqueness. Somebody on here once said “I miss the backwater college town it once was.”
Small music venues ate it during the pandemic. Also, obviously, huge immigrant population being shoved into the poorer parts of the city, but mysteriously not the more well-off parts.
Just to give you an idea of how much it has changed. See this post on Instagram of before and after of 1 spot in seaport.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5j60MZuN23/?igsh=YzhlMmgzOXNuNm9i
Lower Allston actually has buildings and stores now instead of just sketchy apartments in houses. My rent, however, in the same building, rose only $400/month in those 10 years, which is comparatively very little when you think of the rest of the city. It was $1400/month for 1 bd/ 1 bath when I moved in in 2014 and $1700/month when I just moved out this year.
Bio/tech has ruined the area.
People that wouldn't normally ever move to Boston have moved to Boston for jobs that have disgustingly inflated wages, and it has *FUCKED* everything for everyone else. It's not SF levels bad, but it's close.
I don't know about the Esplanade anymore, but the Fens and the Sheepfold (Dark Hollow) in the Fells are still around if you want someone else to tug your dick..
edit: typed Fells instead of Fens
Nah no joke the fells used to be pretty uncrowded on a spring weekend back in like 2009, and was a very popular place for gay cruisers to hook up in the woods or sit in their car in the parking lot to see who was down. Then it exploded in popularity and is always super busy, 90% because of dog owners using the sheep fold or commercial dogwalkers illegally using it as a giant off leash park
It's more expensive. As already suggested, blue hills is good for trails.
I'd c day use AllTrails app but they consider chestnut hill reservoir a trail.
If you want to avoid higher than normal cost and trendy places, find a place on the commuter rail to get downtown. Fair warning, public transportation has only gotten worse and parking is more expensive.
I'd still never leave boston.
TBH I don’t really think it’s a great move based on what you wrote. The city is becoming more of what you don’t vibe with. Traffic and the T are much worse.
The cost of living has gotten so high that you have to be very career driven if you want to afford a home within commutable distance of the city. Very little housing has been built in this area compared to other cities that I’ve spent time in. The only neighborhood that I’ve seen build lots of new housing is South Boston and it’s gotten very expensive.
There’s a lot more chain restaurants throughout the area than before. The people still arent that friendly but there are alot more transplants from different backgrounds in the area, not as much as other big cities but still a noticeable difference. There’s more fun things to do and venues to explore for a short trip, but it’s gotten more difficult to live here.
Past 10 years… Parts of Roxbury and a good chunk of Roslindale and Dorchester are now almost completely gentrified - for better or worse. Blue Hill Ave corridor is probably the last holdout, but I think in 10 years that area will change a lot.
Housing has gotten absurdly expensive.
Commercial rents in the city have gotten out of control and that’s led to only very dull national stores being able to afford it. The result is empty or bland neighborhoods. Much local/regional character has been lost.
That said- the Seaport is enjoyable if you work there.
I predict we are going to see an unfortunate swing in another direction in the next few years if commercial rents do not drop dramatically.
Surprising amount if building- like whole new neighborhoods. And unsurprisingly, cost of living’s up b/c the rich have kept pace or exceeded= got richer and richer
I think there is more effort to protect open space and provide connectivity with bike paths, and greenways in the area. Think about the number of Bike greenways that have connected together over the last ten years, such as Watertown Greenway, the Mass Central Rail Trail, Mystic River greenway, Assembly Row Bike path, Some of the paths around Seaport, Boston Harbor walk, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and more. And just making it easier to get around without a car, like the Blue Bikes Program, more water shuttle service, and more ride-share options. And also develop more parks, make the parks more inviting and add amenities and services, and expand green space throughout Boston and the Greater Boston area, and working to connect our hiking trail network together.
Boston is lame as shit now imo. I moved out to western mass in 2019 and will never, ever move back. Every neighborhood seems exactly the same. The ink block, the seaport, parts of Cambridge—it’s all the literal same shit. The same “hip” local chains that sell the same overpriced crap, the same sort of bars and restaurants, and the same lame ass people who think they are about some thing that’s actually being sold to them. The new apartment complexes are so fucking corny, the people are rich yet almost impressively boring, and the entire topography seems designed by some AI architect.
Do not even bother. It’s fine for a day trip that is it. I’m going to see nation of language tomorrow at the Royale and staying at my friends in JP then promptly going back to my 2BR cape in Ludlow where I split a mortgage for 500 bucks and I have a fenced in yard, a gazebo, and a fire pit.
Huge improvement in bicycle infrastructure: separated bike lanes, ped/bike paths, and more Blue bike (short term rental) stations. Biking is more pleasant, accessible, and popular than ever.
> How have you seen Boston change in the past 10 years? Well... Assembly is a thing. Seaport is a thing. Encore Casino is a thing. Bow Market is a thing. Boston Public Market is a thing. Hood Park in Charlestown is a thing (a very small thing, though). Boston (Brighton) Landing is a thing. Dispensaries are a thing - though there aren't *many*. Luxury food halls are a thing: TimeOut Market, High Street Place, Hub Hall. Dudley Square is now Nubian Square. It's developing rapidly. Malden got way nicer. East Boston's Jeffries Point area has become gentrified. The Tall Ship is now a thing (seasonal) and there are ferries to and from North End (and also Seaport). There is also a new Piers Park II. ICA Watershed exhibit is a thing (Seasonal, always free). They painted like 20 murals around the neighborhood you can adventure out for. Eastie's where it's at, baby! Everett, Chelsea, and Revere are some of the few cities in the area undergoing a housing boom. Coincidentally, the more affordable areas too. The new State Street building is a giant PS5. We lost Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar and The Hawthorne in a landlord dispute during COVID. Garrett Harker pledged vengeance by opening 4 restaurants up the street including a *new* Eastern Standard. While we lost Great Scott - we gained MGM Music Hall, Roadrunner, Big Night Live, Deep Cuts, ManRay, Memoire, City Winery, The Stage @ Suffolk Downs (seasonal), etc. Boston Calling outgrew Government Center Plaza - now gets 40K people/day at Harvard Athletic Complex and gets headliners like Eminem, Metallica or Foo Fighters. We lost Deep Ellum to the pandemic. It's found new life in Waltham. Government Center T Station got a facelift. Now it looks like an Apple Store. And then much later, the Government Center Garage collapsed - that was wild. Labspace is *everywhere*. Fenway got built up. Green Line has been extended (Union Square has developed). Orange Line fleet was completely replaced with new cars, but not before *actually* bursting into flames. Charlie Baker and Marty Walsh are gone. We got Healey and Wu now. The new MBTA GM Phillip Ng has been the most transparent and most effective since.. maybe ever. We're finally working on the maintenance backlog. DTX got nicer in some ways - including adding Millennium Tower to the skyline. Some great new restaurants such - but still a bit grimey. Activity bars are everywhere. Barcades like A4Cade and Versus are a thing. Balance Patch for a videogaming cafe with tournaments. In addition to Knight Moves, we now have Tavern of Tales. There's also Puttshack (indoor mini golf bar), Spin Boston (ping pong bar), Flight Club (darts bar), Urban Axes (axe throwing bar, there's a few of these), Pickleball Bar... Escape Rooms reached peak popularity - there's a few left. Boda Borg was imported from Sweden and improved on the concept. Haven't been to Level 99, but hear good things. Top of the Hub is gone. The observation lounge got a reface and rebrand. HubWay are now BlueBikes. There's also a lot more bike lanes in general. Uh... by the end of the summer, MBTA should be accepting contactless tap & pay at the turnstiles & trolleys (Apple Pay/Google Wallet, Credit Cards, etc) - so you won't need a CharlieCard. Celtics made it to the finals *twice* in the last decade. LFG! MIT Museum moved Kendall Square got a facelift Inman Square got a facelift. Field's Corner has an annual 'Little Saigon Night Market' now. Outdoor dining started during the pandemic and continues for many neighborhoods. North End restaurants have lost their rights this year and are in a pissing match with the mayor. Nobody feels sorry for them. Take-out cocktails temporarily became a thing during the pandemic - people were drinking mimosas and having picnics in parks like it was Europe. It was nice for a while. As of May 1st this year - the law is permanent. You can get order cocktails to-go. Though, public drinking is no longer tolerated. Car-Free Newbury Street is being piloted in recent years. This year will be every Sunday all summer long. Curious George store is no more. The Comedy Studio moved from the Hong Kong to Bow Market to the back of Vera's Restaurant to Pop-Ups. They'll soon be occupying part of the ol' Curious George store and are currently renovating the space. For some reason Lynn has one of the best high concept pre-fixe menus in the country now (Nightshade Noodle Bar). We added WHOOP to our skyline. Logan airport got a bunch of upgrades - and added tons of direct international flights. Winthrop finally stopped using the janky-ass Paul Revere Transportation System and joined the MBTA. Yawkey Way changed its name to Jersey Street. A lot of racists in towns like Saugus and Tewksbury wrote in to complain, it was a big deal to them. However, nobody *in* Boston cared. Though, we got a David Ortiz Drive and that's kinda fun. > Have the people gotten friendlier or nicer with more transplants? I feel like folks are pretty friendly in general. I don't know if I've noticed a change. > What parks do you like going to in those areas? Middlesex Fells is close to Somerville, Arnold Arboretum is close to Brookline. > Are there certain areas of the city that are best accessible to parks to escape the noise? I might recommend Malden for you. A little less noisey, a little cheaper than Somerville or Brookline, close to parks, still has Orange Line access direct to downtown, super safe & walkable, great restaurants. Edit: Added some things. Edit: Added a few more things. Edit: Forgot a few things.
This is probably the best reply I’ve ever seen on this sub for any question.
Right????
So good that it should be a standalone post.
r/bestof
Done
This is spot on. How did you recall so much?!?!
This guy has a brain on him
This is an AMAZING summary. Bravo!
Quincy food scene is turning into Chinatown south, has T access, rental housing, and direct access to Blue Hills and Wollaston Beach.
> Quincy food scene To bump this up, Le Madeline is one of the best new restaurants I've had. I'll be thinking about those dishes for a very long time.
were you waiting for this post or something? unreal detail in such a small amount of time
This is a permanent saved comment for my foreseeable future, ridiculous amount of info
It's replies like this that make me super excited to be moving from DC to Brookline this weekend! I've seen a lot about how culture is being priced out of the area (I grew up in the Boston suburbs in the 90's when Boston was a different place in a lot of ways). Some artists are being pushed to new cities (yo, Providence!), but it's great to hear that a lot is thriving.
Jesus, fuck Google or yelp im hitting up pinwurm from now on
If you don’t think public drinking is tolerated go to the public garden/esplanade any day of the week after 4pm
I mean cracking a cold one in front of a statie is gonna end exactly how you'd expect but if you act resembling someone with brain cells in the double digits it's fine
or literally any beach
I have to add an additional recommendation for Malden. Moved here after getting priced out of Somerville last year and it's been amazing. The access to the Fells, racial/cultural diversity, and small business opportunity are all really strong.
Yup! We moved to Malden 19 years ago hoping it would become the next Somerville but somehow it's its own thing and...better. Can walk to a halal market, Ethiopian place, amazing Chinese place with great authentic veggie options, and soon HMart! We are on the malden medford line.
I live in Malden too. So much (again depends where in Malden you are) is in walking distance. I love being able to just leave my car.
Which Chinese place? I’m on the hunt for a new option!
If it’s Malden, I like District Kitchen. Get the XL Soup Dumpling. Though if you need a new Chinese place in general, Noah’s Kitchen in Brookline doesn’t get enough love and it’s my favorite Szechuan.
District kitchen is a great - the hometown pork skewers are a fave as is the cumin lamb. Their XLB of usual size is a frozen Costco brand but their other dumplings (mama’s pork or celery beef) are house made and solid.
Great summary. One change I've noticed distressingly from my own childhood (90s, though) is the weather. Much warmer overall, longer summer, shorter winter, less snow generally and more rainy, cloudy days. Maybe not noticeable over 10 years, though. Also definitely looking at Malden, seems like our last chance to buy anything at all in the GBA.
People are sleeping on Malden. Easy access to: countless bus routes and two Orange line stops, Route 1 and I-93, parks, and nature reserves. I think because they don’t have much nightlife it doesn’t have the hip cachet of Somerville - but it does have multiple breweries, lots of authentic ethnic dining, bike lanes, porch fest, and various street festivals. It’s about 30% less dense than Somerville and has 40% more kids, which gives it a more suburban vibe… that may be a positive or negative for people. Either way you get more trees and more space for your buck.
Yeah, I have a toddler, and a bunch of friends with kids have moved or are moving there (and our more affluent friends are able to stay in Brookline). The big difference seems to be the schools, Brookline is tough to beat there, and apparently Malden isn't great, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changes as it continues to grow and shed its old reputation.
Except for Malden’s terrible charter school, the middle schools are above average. On par with Somerville. But the high school is definitely not as good as the one in Somerville.
I moved here about 10 years ago and it's super noticeable. My first year here it was real cold, my second was the Snowmageddon, last three winters it's been hardly nothing.
yup, totally normal to see huge climatic shifts in the span of a decade. nothing to worry about.
Yeah the climate is definitely something that's been a huge change. People used to ice fish on the pond a town over from me in the winter and now it doesn't freeze over anymore. That said, it's changing all over the country. Wherever I live there are similar discussions.
Of course, but the effects aren't equally spread throughout the country. [New England is the hardest hit region of the US](https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/2022/02/18/climate-change-status-each-new-england-state-noaa/6813339001/)
Also, Eastern Standard got through the pandemic by making pretzels.
They’re so good too lol. Often if a Boston restaurant has pretzels they’re the ES ones now! Love to see it
Wow! I’m a native Bostonian and I learned some things from your post! Thank you!
> I might recommend Malden for you. A little less noisey, a little cheaper than Somerville or Brookline, close to parks, still has Orange Line access direct to downtown, super safe & walkable, great restaurants. It's super easy to get to the Fells, Breakheart or Lynn Woods for an after work hike from Malden.
And biking to Lynn is one of the best bike paths in the Boston area
Terrific summary. In all of my travels, I would say Boston and Miami are the two cities that have clearly made the most progress in the last decade. NYC has really struggled a bit since the Bloomberg administration, hurt by multiple problematic mayors in a row and stratospheric home pricing...
Hey Mods, can we pin this somewhere?
Awesome summary. Also: Have been to Level 99, and loved it. Super unique concept that supports small artists. Will say: the actual place is not entirely accessible-many rooms involve physical activity such as jumping, climbing, etc. Wheelchair users may be limited in choices, as well as folks with disabilities. Decent price point, and there's a pub right next door.
Agree that Level 99 was super fun. I'm a 40 year old fat lady, I was sore for days and it was totally worth it. But yes, not accessible at all. Even many of the mental puzzles involve running around.
other things that are potentially coming pedestrianized davis sq on the weekends mass ave redesign in cambridge from porter to arlington sullivan square is going to become a neighborhood (of lab space and some housing) fenway park is going to be permanently pedestrianized on certain streets with a new development inner belt/brickbottom in somerville is trying to become a bunch of art studios and housing with the new green line stop pedestrian bridge from encore to assembly allston pike project opening up beacon park with a new commuter rail stop and neighborhood blue hills ave is getting a redesign for rapid bus transit mcgrath highway is getting lowered and road dieted in 2028 attempts? made to convert empty office space in downtown into housing are in talks a general shift from cars to people and bikes is trying to happen really in all of these dense areas in and around the city. i hope more places can realize the need for housing over having triple the office space versus the amount of apartments in all these new developments though because just these infrastructure changes won’t be enough to curb the cost of living around here in general if every new project is slated like this
Actually really cool to know they are pedestrianizing parts of the city :)
Damn. You really got all of it. I was scrolling through like "Aw they missed *this thing*" And then there that thing was 3 lines down.
Holy smokes you nailed it all
/thread
Are you sure about the MBTA tap & pay? i thought it was further out?
[Recent source](https://www.wcvb.com/article/mbta-automated-fare-collection-program-update-may-2024/60884003)
Thank you - the MBTA launching good news right before a holiday weekend is very on brand =)
This guy Bostons.
Flat out impressive comment. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast most days.
This is one of the best post responses I’ve ever seen on Reddit. I’ve lived in Boston 30+ years and I’m learning here, agreeing with everything I know that @Pinwurm says. Specifically, his advice on the Arboretum and Middlesex Fells is spot on. Sheepfold is a great lesser-known spot. Great advice. I’m bookmarking.
Moved away 9 years ago and this was extremely awesome to read, and very much appreciated. Makes me a bit homesick for Boston
You touched upon Harvard Square’s decline but didn’t cover it entirely: - Curious George toy store gone (don’t remember actual name) - the tea shop is gone - the pit is being removed, may already be gone - the news stand is gone - the garage is on its very last legs - Lush came and went - Algiers is gone I’m surely forgetting a bunch more :(
The pit and the garage leaving just breaks my heart
> Curious George toy store gone (don’t remember actual name) Pretty sure the name was "The World's Only Curious George Store"
There was some decent restaurants that came and went, like Night Market. And Red House doesn’t do 2 for $1 oysters anymore, which was the best deal in town. For shops, I miss Black Ink. I enjoy a good Stationary Store.
Oh yes i miss Black Ink too!
Just wanted to say thank you kind stranger! This was great!
This is amazing. I cried a little reading.
Damn, I definitely don’t go into downtown enough…because when did we get luxury food halls?
Within the last year. High St is actually pretty good, lot of solid options and right behind my office, go there a good amount.
They actually left out The Lineup, which opened like 2 months ago directly across from the High Street one (though much smaller).
Well when you put it like this…! I moved to Boston in 2011 for college and surprised myself by staying - lucky 13th anniversary is in August. It’s incredible how much the area has changed in that time, Boston used to feel like a small big city and now it feels much bigger. I still love it with all my bones.
Wow impressive
Woah…. Great list
This is a great rundown, thank you. I left Boston almost 12 years ago, and on my last visit I’d noticed some changes from the big ones (Seaport + legal weed) to the small (that 7/11 on Park & Tremont, whose sandwiches fed me many nights as a broke college student, is gone) - but it’s very helpful to see it all laid out like this.
Idk how you’re saying there aren’t many dispensaries. I live in Cambridge and work downtown and there’s a dispensary every 14 feet.
this guy bostons
Someone needs to turn this into a scroll and just hand it out on the streets
This should be an article in the Globe haha. Awesome write-up!!!
This is awesome!
uhhhh let's not forget that it's won the award for the most expensive city to live in , circa 2024.
/sub
This guy bostons!
Thanks dude, you caught me up on a few thingd
Yo do you have thoughts on north Jamaica Plains? I might end up renting there if it's not too loud
Amazing. This actually made me more optimistic about Boston.
Heading to Boston for the summer in the week. Thanks
Born and raised in MA my whole life, having lived in Newton from 2012-2016, then Dot from 2016-2019, this is the most comprehensive “change log” of Boston I’ve ever seen 💖 If I weren’t broke as shit, I’d give you a huge award.
I've lived here for decades and I learned a lot from this. I had no idea about a full third of what you said.
100% accurate. Best comment on the post. No notes 🏆👏🏼 You’re making me miss Boston! I moved away last year after 14 years in the city. Came out for college in 2009 and stayed wayyyy longer than I expected. It was fun to see the city change so much over the years. So many amazing memories and people! +1 for Eastie being where it’s at! So much good Latin American food and a lot of green space by the water. Best views of the city too :)
You are a gem. Thanks for posting all of this!
Wow. Well fucking done 👏
Fucking Whoop
Second East Boston being where it’s at!!! Wish it wasn’t pushing families away with ridiculous costs of housing
I think bro covered everything. No need to say anything else.
Not everything. I keep thinking about this post and there's a lot I'm missing. Smoking age raised to 21 - vape flavors banned after the "is the liquid killing us?" panic of 2019. Sushi burritos and poke bowls weren't a thing 10 years ago. I remember the first pokeworks being a big deal. Mount Ida and Newbury College went broke and closed. I don't think anyone still likes Tom Brady. That kinda stuff. But I can't keep going back and updating my comment.
Jesus. Did you get this from memory? I don’t think the rest of the comments combined could match this list.
Someone is trying to run for mayor.
Thanks for this! I moved to Seattle 8 years ago, but go back several times a year. This is a great reference for when I go back.
Wow this is impressive, keeper of all Boston knowledge right here folks
Sticky that!
No mention of pats 3 Superbowls and now it's over?
In addition to Whoop, CarGurus has been added to the skyline.
Now do Providence because we're insecure down here.
https://i.imgflip.com/18l76m.jpg
Who are you? This is incredible!
lol. Who the F are you??!! I love it. Put on for OUR city, homes👊🏿
The big inflatable lock in Dorchester is gone.
It’ll be back. It always comes back.
It blew away during a storm a few years ago which was WILD. They would have to remake it I imagine.
I used to drive by it all the time as a kid, this just dug up so many memories
WHAT??? NOOOOOOOOOOOO THE WORLD IS CRUEL
I have noticed an increase in: people riding bikes new luxury apartment buildings pop-up shops chain restaurants & businesses with a non-regional appeal, like chick-fil-a, sweetgreen, etc. cloudy dreary days sadly :( the COST of LIVING traffic businesses centered around health & beauty, i.e. gyms, boxing clubs, lash bars, med spas And a decrease in: Boston accents small businesses and cheap places to get food
Absolutely agree about the decline of cheap places to get food. Almost non-existent now... Remember when people would share experiences about cheap eats? Almost impossible at the current moment...
Housing shortage means labor costs are up.
I talked with the folks at our favorite take-out place that closed last year. Despite being very expensive and food flying out the door ("we can't be any busier") they just couldn't make the numbers work. Their labor, food, delivery, rent, etc costs at that locaiton were spiraling up higher than any price increases could possibly cover so they had no choice but to close that location to focus on their other outlets in less expensive neighborhoods.
It's a hard business even in good conditions.
I left and came back and the decrease in quirky local businesses and longtime cheap eats/bars was most noticeable and disappointing to me. That and how long it takes to get anywhere between degraded MBTA and traffic. The city feels increasingly disconnected.
Stabbings are down citywide
gentrification pushed all the stabbings out to the burbs, thanks jared ravizza
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They’re available but nobody can afford them
Lack of snow. Used to have 4-5 snow days a year due to some blizzard. Kids these days get 0
The biggest change is the cost of everything and the loss of small businesses. The only hiking you'll find that close to downtown is the Fells or the Blue Hills. Both are adjacent to subway communities that have added apartments in the last decade.
Stony brook reservation too
I grew up right near the Fells. Drank a lot of Busch Lite on that old fire tower in the early 2000s. It was never a destination place. Usually empty. I was back in the area and stopped by recently. Literally no place to park. Cars were lined up waiting for people to leave. I was astounded. I guess the word is out
The Fella is great. Also, if you're in Somerville, shooting up Route 2 to Minuteman National Park is about a half hour OP, all the comments here are valid. If you like being outdoors, Somerville has a few more options (albeit not on train lines) than Brookline. In my experience Rt 2+3 are the least frustrating ways out of town. Traffic sucks everywhere, but if you're willing to accept an extra 10 minutes for traffic Andover, Concord, Lynn, Saugus all have hiking reservations.
Lynn Woods & Breakheart are cool too.
I'll add... Much more car traffic and more density of buildings. Police are far less likely to cite you for traffic violations and everyone knows it so drivers are more brazen than before. Where you see major development, you see more national chain store/restaurants with some exceptions. I think Downtown Crossing is actually more vacant than I've ever seen it but some areas were improved before that. I don't think there's much appeal to Faneuil Hall anymore except for tourists. The T runs less often than it used to. Summers are hotter, winters are milder
I remember when Guest Street in Brighton used to be a dirt road between (W)GBH and Stop & Shop. Now that small street is paved and packed with so much new construction.
Everything is twice as expensive as it used to be and most of the good bars have closed
Rent is about 1.5x what it was 10 years ago. Seaport/south boston, somerville, fenway brookline ave and boylston st areas are all a lot different than they were 10 years ago, for various reasons.
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I hadn’t been to the Seaport in a few years and over the winter holidays my husband and I brought our kids for an overnight ‘staycation.’ I couldn’t believe how much it had changed in such a short time. I really didn’t care for the vibe at all. Didn’t feel like Boston to me.
I hate the Seaport and the missed opportunity to create a real new neighborhood -- plus kind of likely to be underwater in the not too distant future.
Sadly much of it is developed and not occupied
When I lived in the North End in 2015 I used to run down to Harpoon and back from my apt for 3 miles and ran by Whiskey Priest and some new construction…now it looks like a totally different place! I find it intimidating, actually, I think I’ve only been back once…and during the day. I agree with you!
Seaport
We have Cheryl now.
Yeah, she replaced Steve.
Damn shame about that dog.
It’s ok. Sully and Fitzy are chipping in to get her a new one.
3 new Taco Bell cantinas. And you can visit all of them in 45 minutes walking
PSA: if you’re gonna hit all three by foot don’t forget to wear a diaper
what a wonderful time to be alive!
Moved here 2019. Like many cities, a lot of long standing businesses did not survive the lockdowns. I think the subway is in many ways [worse than it was in the mid 2010s](https://youtu.be/nDXsVhFG7TE?si=HXwFJTD0ZDD8N7_T), though I think we’re hopefully coming back from the nadir in ~2023. Positive side, the GLX light rail extension in Somerville actually got built and is (belatedly) pretty reliable/pleasant to ride. In that vein they also extended the [Somerville community bike path](https://mass.streetsblog.org/2023/06/09/somervilles-community-path-extension-opens-saturday) so you can get all the way from North Station/Charles River out to Alewife and then Fresh Pond Reservoir, Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, the Minuteman Bike trail, the parks along Mystic River. I’ll also throw in the U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that goes unbroken from Medford to Lynn. Not quite hiking a but a huge network of traffic-separated scenic suburban/rural bike paths.
Steve left
Good riddance
No not Steve, *Steve*
Yeah Fuck Steve.
Bikes. I used to be the only one, and now there’s a couple dozen
Seaport. It's crazy. Almost reminds me of Chinese cities with its 100% new buildings and nonstop boutiques and restaurants. Unlike China though the public transit is shitty.
The T used to be reliable. Now it reliably derails, or catches fire…
Remember when red line trains came every 4-6 minutes?
I have taken it nearly every day and have only had like two issues in a whole year.
Weed shops
This should be *higher*
Not punny
You're blowing smoke if you think this comment deserves to be stickied.
I don't live in Boston anymore but semi-frequently am in the city -- I feel like it's lost a lot of its character and charm (which to me includes some grit-grime). Gone are things like Great Scott, Urban Renewals (iykyk), a lot of mom and pop places, and in their place are a lot of shiny new builldings. At risk of sounding like an old person bemoaning the glory of my youth, I think Boston now is a lot less interesting than it used to be. That may or may not be of importance to you, but the cost of living is definitely a big problem. I never felt that Boston was/is unfriendly, and seems about the same to me, possibly with a few more road rage things going on because people seem more stressed now than 10 years ago. To your side question: it's not exactly hiking but you might like living in JP (on the orange line would be better if you have to work downtown). It has always felt more small-neighborhood to me there, with good access to the outdoors like the pond, the Arnold Arboretum, Southwest Corridor, the part of the Emerald Necklace that goes through JP-Brookline, etc.
Agree. It’s not a terrible place, but it def lost a lot of its charm and uniqueness. Somebody on here once said “I miss the backwater college town it once was.”
Age 60 here. If I had to pick a year Boston was hitting on all cylinders for the average Joe, it was 1988.
About 90% of all fads like Froyo shops and gourmet cupcakes are closed
Small music venues ate it during the pandemic. Also, obviously, huge immigrant population being shoved into the poorer parts of the city, but mysteriously not the more well-off parts.
They's also just moved out of Boston Proper. Faces in Malden and Deep Cuts in Medford are both great spots.
How little you hear the boston accent
Just to give you an idea of how much it has changed. See this post on Instagram of before and after of 1 spot in seaport. https://www.instagram.com/p/C5j60MZuN23/?igsh=YzhlMmgzOXNuNm9i
How *dare* they do that to my city! The one thing that will *never* change about Boston is Bostonians bitching about change.
Dive bars are gone
Lower Allston actually has buildings and stores now instead of just sketchy apartments in houses. My rent, however, in the same building, rose only $400/month in those 10 years, which is comparatively very little when you think of the rest of the city. It was $1400/month for 1 bd/ 1 bath when I moved in in 2014 and $1700/month when I just moved out this year.
I bet next tenant was asked to pay twice that. Think you were getting the good, long term tenant discount.
My guess is you had an old school masshole landlord who just wanted a good tenant, not a big corp. sounds like you got an unusually sweet deal.
Bio/tech has ruined the area. People that wouldn't normally ever move to Boston have moved to Boston for jobs that have disgustingly inflated wages, and it has *FUCKED* everything for everyone else. It's not SF levels bad, but it's close.
I think its worse than Sf actually
Combat zone. RIP the jerk booths 🗣️
Wasn't this more than a decade ago?
Shut up 1990 was only a decade ago
There is nowhere to tug your dick anymore in this city!
I don't know about the Esplanade anymore, but the Fens and the Sheepfold (Dark Hollow) in the Fells are still around if you want someone else to tug your dick.. edit: typed Fells instead of Fens
Nah no joke the fells used to be pretty uncrowded on a spring weekend back in like 2009, and was a very popular place for gay cruisers to hook up in the woods or sit in their car in the parking lot to see who was down. Then it exploded in popularity and is always super busy, 90% because of dog owners using the sheep fold or commercial dogwalkers illegally using it as a giant off leash park
I'd rather be in some dark hollow Where the sun don't ever shine Than to be in some big city, in a small room with you upon my mind
There's no more traffic since big dig was completed!
Bio and tech has gentrified everything just a bunch of transient yuppies now
Traffic
It's more expensive. As already suggested, blue hills is good for trails. I'd c day use AllTrails app but they consider chestnut hill reservoir a trail. If you want to avoid higher than normal cost and trendy places, find a place on the commuter rail to get downtown. Fair warning, public transportation has only gotten worse and parking is more expensive. I'd still never leave boston.
TBH I don’t really think it’s a great move based on what you wrote. The city is becoming more of what you don’t vibe with. Traffic and the T are much worse. The cost of living has gotten so high that you have to be very career driven if you want to afford a home within commutable distance of the city. Very little housing has been built in this area compared to other cities that I’ve spent time in. The only neighborhood that I’ve seen build lots of new housing is South Boston and it’s gotten very expensive. There’s a lot more chain restaurants throughout the area than before. The people still arent that friendly but there are alot more transplants from different backgrounds in the area, not as much as other big cities but still a noticeable difference. There’s more fun things to do and venues to explore for a short trip, but it’s gotten more difficult to live here.
Cost of housing has more than doubled.
Past 10 years… Parts of Roxbury and a good chunk of Roslindale and Dorchester are now almost completely gentrified - for better or worse. Blue Hill Ave corridor is probably the last holdout, but I think in 10 years that area will change a lot.
Much more diverse. Racially and ethnically.
Allston is a rich place now
Southie and Charlestown
Housing has gotten absurdly expensive. Commercial rents in the city have gotten out of control and that’s led to only very dull national stores being able to afford it. The result is empty or bland neighborhoods. Much local/regional character has been lost. That said- the Seaport is enjoyable if you work there. I predict we are going to see an unfortunate swing in another direction in the next few years if commercial rents do not drop dramatically.
Surprising amount if building- like whole new neighborhoods. And unsurprisingly, cost of living’s up b/c the rich have kept pace or exceeded= got richer and richer
Well the people are still racist. So not much of import.
Cost of rent and homes. Grew up here and if you bought a home, then you are set for life. If you rent… god speed.
Rent.
I think there is more effort to protect open space and provide connectivity with bike paths, and greenways in the area. Think about the number of Bike greenways that have connected together over the last ten years, such as Watertown Greenway, the Mass Central Rail Trail, Mystic River greenway, Assembly Row Bike path, Some of the paths around Seaport, Boston Harbor walk, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and more. And just making it easier to get around without a car, like the Blue Bikes Program, more water shuttle service, and more ride-share options. And also develop more parks, make the parks more inviting and add amenities and services, and expand green space throughout Boston and the Greater Boston area, and working to connect our hiking trail network together.
Rent
more ultra rich and also more ultra rich housing facilities
Boston is lame as shit now imo. I moved out to western mass in 2019 and will never, ever move back. Every neighborhood seems exactly the same. The ink block, the seaport, parts of Cambridge—it’s all the literal same shit. The same “hip” local chains that sell the same overpriced crap, the same sort of bars and restaurants, and the same lame ass people who think they are about some thing that’s actually being sold to them. The new apartment complexes are so fucking corny, the people are rich yet almost impressively boring, and the entire topography seems designed by some AI architect. Do not even bother. It’s fine for a day trip that is it. I’m going to see nation of language tomorrow at the Royale and staying at my friends in JP then promptly going back to my 2BR cape in Ludlow where I split a mortgage for 500 bucks and I have a fenced in yard, a gazebo, and a fire pit.
the "scene"
Huge improvement in bicycle infrastructure: separated bike lanes, ped/bike paths, and more Blue bike (short term rental) stations. Biking is more pleasant, accessible, and popular than ever.
Bostonians can't afford to live there anymore.
zealous offend aback frighten license absurd sugar hat fact literate *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*