By Alexander Strum on October 19, 2008 1:56 PM
What's shaking?
My name is Alex and in this space on a regular basis you can find my commentary on Emerson's writing program, the literary community, and Boston in general. If you really wish to find out about me, you can feel free to check out my profile.
But I'm not what's important, at least not right now. What is important is Boston. As someone who grew up in the area, left it, and came back, I can vouch for the fact that it is a place like nowhere else. How so? Let's look at three things that distinguish this fine city from others:
1) Patriots' Day
Unless you're from Massachusetts or Maine, you probably think we invented this holiday to honor our illustrious football team. Not true. Patriots' Day is a holiday ONLY celebrated in these two states. It honors the memory of the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the American Revolution. What does it mean now? It's a random day off in the middle of April, enabling you to do nothing on a Monday with no guilt. Watch the annual 10 AM Red Sox game, and keep tabs on the Boston Marathon. So if you're after random days off, it's gotta be either here or Maine. Maine usually still has snow on the ground in April, so the choice is easy.
2) History Comes Alive
Although I don't have a specific source for this, it is reasonable to say that 78% of all significant American historical monuments are located in and around the Boston area. What's even better is that the city has been built up around them. There are graduate students who have apartments practically in the rectory of the Old North Church. We have chic bistros located across the street from where famous poets are buried. We even named our beer after a local statesman and patriot. Every Halloween, the town of Salem becomes a giant celebration because witches were hung there over three centuries ago. Every spring, local elementary schools take field trips to Plymouth Plantation, a mock village where the Pilgrims first settled, conveniently located up the street from a McDonald's and an Exxon Station. Massachusetts: Where it's not nerdy to immerse yourself in history.
3) Location, Location, Location
People from larger states like Texas and California won't believe how small everything is out here. The city of Providence (like a mini Boston with seedier bars and a plush mall) is located just 45 minutes away. The best skiing mountains in the east are an hour north of Boston, and one of the hottest places to spend your summer is an hour south on Cape Cod. There are rustic campgrounds within 30 minutes of trendy clubs. Ocean beaches, concerts, and what's arguably America's most vibrant sports scene abound. You're a 3.5 hour drive from New York City, 5 hours from Atlantic City or Philadelphia, and 8 hours to Washington, DC. If the situation is truly dire, Montreal, complete with pleasant French people and authentic croissants, is a mere 5 hours north. I don't know a single person who can't get behind that. You could conceivably drive from Connecticut, through Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and enter Maine in about 2 hours. Easy as pie.
Basically, Boston is the place to be, and if I haven't convinced you, blame me and not the city. Emerson itself is located a good golf swing away from the Commons, Theater District, Chinatown, Financial District, Government Center, Beacon Hill, South End and Back Bay. I urge you to come pay a visit and check it out for yourself. (And if you don't understand the title of my post, maybe I'll explain it another day.)
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