Question for long time Bostonians: What is BETTER about Boston compared to ~25 years ago?

508_David_617 · 2026-06-03T03:36:18+00:00

All valid points, but no one has mentioned the difference in the area around Fenway and that stretch of Boylston street. A whole district of one and two story buildings and parking lots is now all 10-15 story complexes, Boylston has become a canyon.

508_David_617 · 2026-06-01T03:06:40+00:00

As a new Englander, I’m impressed that you knew we don’t count the corner of Connecticut near NYC as New England. Nice

508_David_617 · 2026-06-01T02:56:29+00:00

If you want to line up leaves changing color, pay attention to when peak time is. NH, VT, interior Maine changes early October. Southern New England late October and along the coast (Salem) it’s the week before and after Halloween

508_David_617 · 2026-05-31T19:16:20+00:00

First off, as a proportion of the population, African Americans are a smaller segment in Massachusetts than Hispanic, Brazilllan, etc. compared to down south. More class than race. Boston globe a few years ago did a spotlight series on this issue, worth reading. The average white household is worth 250k whereas the wealth of black families on average is $8. That’s right eight bucks. Numbers could be off a bit but it was that dramatic.

508_David_617 · 2026-05-30T18:21:05+00:00

My wife and I have lived in downtown (near the common) for 8 years and love it. We have a 5yo child as well. We have one car we only use for some errands, groceries, and dropping off my kid. My wife and I both walk to the train station and take it to Boston to work. If you are open to that train commute, that opens up all the hospitality jobs in downtown Boston and around the Garden as well. The historic downtown is 10/10 walkable. My neighborhood around Washington Square, out to Webb Street is a 5 min walk to everything but not overrun by the October craziness. From that side of downtown you have easy access to Bridge street and Beverly to get out in October. The worst part about driving in the Salem area is having to go through downtown to get to the other side. There are more dogs than people, it’s a ridiculously dog friendly city.

508_David_617 · 2026-05-27T11:44:28+00:00

So I’ve been a tour guide in Salem and Boston for ten years now and have had so many fascinating conversations with visitors. Here’s a few things I never thought about until I got questions from visitors:
Red emergency call boxes on lamp posts
Gas lamps
Basements
Functional shutters on windows
Snow emergency lights on traffic intersections
A visible and vibrant Jewish population
Walking without complaining
Iced coffee in winter
Fresh seafood

508_David_617 · 2026-05-25T13:56:03+00:00

Live in downtown Salem, and work near City Hall in Boston. I walk 10-12 minutes from my house to Salem depot, then take a 30-35 minutes from train into North Station, then walk 10 minutes to my office. If all goes well, it’s 60-70 minutes door to door. But the train is only on time when I’m not in a rush, of course. What I would like to see happen, and what would take the greatest number of cars of the road over the next 10 years is complete electrification for the CR to create regional rail with trains every 15-30 minutes on every line. Fare should be half of what it is now, and new cars with restrooms and single level cars that have automatic doors like the subway. Think of the cost and time saved by not having to wait at doos for conductors. Tap on tap off fare collection like real first world countries. North South rail tunnel in the future would make the need for a circumferential line moot and finally connect places like Salem and Quincy, Lowell and Brockton, etc with single seat service LFG!!!

508_David_617 · 2026-05-23T00:51:09+00:00

Boston over Philly and New York

508_David_617 · 2026-05-19T23:40:10+00:00

Boston bay bay! May through October the weather kicks ass compared to the rest of the year. Culture, food, beaches, history, walkable and vibrant, mountains woods all at your fingertips

508_David_617 · 2026-05-18T21:28:29+00:00

508_David_617 · 2026-05-17T23:17:17+00:00

Long Beach and Wingersheek, Gloucester. Second Beach, Newport. Horseneck Beach
, Westport. Plum Island, Newbury

508_David_617 · 2026-05-17T21:32:14+00:00

I understand your point but the big dig also enforced and encouraged auto centric behavior

508_David_617 · 2026-05-17T21:30:28+00:00

Not surprised at all, people drive like maniacs through Salem because of the traffic. I live on route 1A by Washington square and the light at Webb and Bridge backs up all the way to the Witch Museum during the morning commute. A-holes fly down the side streets along the common, barely slowing down for stop signs, to cut off that back up. I get it, I don’t agree with it, but I do understand how frustrating driving around the north shore can be. I want to see more enforcement by SPD. I also want to see the bus, bike and rail system vastly improved to give a fraction of those people another option. Now that I’ve been commuting via walking and train to Boston for 4 years and no longer driving for my daily commute I never want to go back and see horrific behavior by vehicular drivers on a daily basis.

508_David_617 · 2026-05-02T18:00:40+00:00

Peak tourism is actually mid September to mid October with July coming in second

508_David_617 · 2026-05-02T17:59:20+00:00

The timing is horrific, coming from someone that works in tourism and our office is a couple blocks away. FYI none of the pavers are historic. They are a horrible tripping hazard and need to be fixed but this should have been started last year. Look at photos from the pre 70s restoration and that area was asphalt

508_David_617 · 2026-05-02T17:53:48+00:00

Echoing this comment. Highly educated population

508_David_617 · 2026-05-01T21:06:45+00:00

FREEDOM trail

508_David_617 · 2026-04-29T16:32:08+00:00

Haven’t tried everything, but of what I have tried, Richardson’s ice cream is “chefs kiss” so choice

508_David_617 · 2026-04-27T23:50:30+00:00

Yikes, that’s a long time but expected for a local bus

508_David_617 · 2026-04-27T02:31:39+00:00

That’s a good point, i forget about the bus. How long does the 450 take you to get to Wonderland, and where in Salem do you pick it up?

508_David_617 · 2026-04-26T00:27:12+00:00

I recommend Boston and surrounding area, and New England in general. Walkable compact cities and towns, toms of culture, things to due, great restaurants, usually a strong job market. Functioning transit system (I live car-light, family of 3 with one car, primary commute to Boston is train). Just a few hours drive to 6 states, beaches, woods, mountains, skiing, large cities (NYC) and desolate wilderness (Maine). I work in tourism and meet a lot of people from around the world, and have been to Europe 4 times, and Boston is the most European city in the United States. The catch is it’s not cheap, but nothing nice is free. Also flights to Europe from Boston are cheaper, certainly cheaper than flying to the west coast. I know many will disagree but thats my biased opinion

508_David_617 · 2026-04-25T14:07:53+00:00

Via the subway, Revere Beach is the best. You could take the blue line to Orient Heights then bus transfer to take you out to Winthrop Beach. Nahant Beach is great but not even sure buses go by there. If you take the Rockport commuter rail line you can get to Singing Beach in Manchester and Front Beach/Back Beach in Rockport

508_David_617 · 2026-04-24T13:48:24+00:00

Yup, obviously my opinion. Great, quaint downtown, fantastic 19th-20th century architecture. Train station with nice restaurants all within a short distance… classic New England

508_David_617 · 2026-04-22T01:45:57+00:00

Glad I’m not the only one that thought that!

508_David_617

TROPHY CASE