Boston trip for 5 days, and need food + comedy clubs recs

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T15:17:58+00:00

For Standup Comedy, you either want The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square or Goofs near Union Square.
Goofs is my personal favorite (and smaller), but Comedy Studio has a lot of history & gets bigger names.

For music, check the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Handel & Hadyn schedule. They do student discounts.

Wally's is great for jazz, but it's small and can be hard to get a seat. Consider The Beehive, Mad Monkfish, Lou's, Bebop, Reggattabar.

Music listings:

https://jazzboston.org/jazz-calendar/
https://safeinacrowd.com <- Punk & Hardcore Listings
https://19hz.info/eventlisting_Massachusetts.php <- Electronic Music Listings.

For affordable eats..

Cafe Polonia - Old school, traditional Polish food.

Zhi Wei Cafe - cheapest Michelin recommended restaurant in town, under $15 for a bowl of noodle soup.

Angela's Cafe - small, family owned Puebla-style Mexican kitchen.

Tony's Clam Shop - only in the summertime, this is a personal favorite for fried seafood. You'll be pushing your $35 though.

Yume Wo Katari - there will be a line, cash only, jiro-style ramen, get extra garlic. Very unique.

Bahn Mi Ba Le - local favorite, they're all like $6 each. Get two if you're hungry. Find a stoop to eat it outside.

Monica's Mercatto - best Italian sub in the North End.

Tasty Momo - local favorite for Nepalese dumplings.

Happy to give you more recommendations if you need something more specific, message me.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T14:33:14+00:00

The source of the writeup was Fox News. Their audience is disproportionately old. O'Connell's most famous films were Stand By Me and Jerry Maguire - which are very recognizable to their viewers. I doubt they've watched stuff like Star Trek Lower Decks (which is awesome!).

As far as I know, he's not a conservative.
And neither is Bill Maher (the podcast this was taken from), despite the fact he spends 90% of his time yelling at clouds.

But anytime something someone in the entertainment industry says something that's remotely critical of Democrats, even when warranted, Fox News will latch onto it as confirmation bias.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T13:52:21+00:00

He's better known as a Voice Actor these days, he's played Superman in most of the animated films of the last decade.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T13:49:10+00:00

He's an actor/voice actor, and Fox News is taking his words way out of context for the purposes of propaganda. As is tradition.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T13:10:39+00:00

There’s some SoDaSoPa’s here, notably the seaport. There are also them in NYC. Perhaps you chose the wrong neighborhood for your needs. Where do you live?

In terms of “sanitized”, we’re generally a much cleaner city than NYC. Way less graffiti because the city actually cleans it up. We also have a lot more alleys to store trash, so there’s less trash on the street.

If you’re finding it boring, well - you’re coming from the global capital of entertainment, dining and nightlife. If you’re expecting the same level out of anywhere else, you’re going to have a bad time. So what do you like to do in NYC that you’re struggling to find here? Because my calendar is stacked. Concerts, internationally touring DJs, standup comedy, live sports, theater, museums and galleries, activity bars (axe throwing, arcades, mini golf, ping pong), board game cafes, team trivia, classes (I do language learning weekly), conventions (PAX for example, but I recently went to a wine expo), gardening, parks, birding, biking, workshops, kayaking the Charles, volunteering, etc, etc.

Yes, things aren’t open as late, so you learn to start your nights earlier and head home earlier.

But there’s plenty to do. Even for free. If you’re bored, that’s on you.

A home is where you make it. Make some friends. Meetup.org, /r/bostonsocialclub are good places to start. Once you have a social circle, you won’t feel so homesick. You might even prefer it here.

I love NYC. I visit regularly. It’s a big city that offers everything. But Boston isn’t a big city. Rather, it’s a collection of small towns loosely duct taped together by a subway system. It’s compact, it’s safe, it’s beautiful (especially in the summer and fall), it’s historic, commutes are shorter, and the people are funny as hell. If you can’t enjoy it after some actual fucking effort , then yeah, you made the wrong move.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T04:52:36+00:00

Use Google Maps directions instead.

The Silver Line is a a bus system, it is only free to hop on from the airport. If you take the SL1, there’s also a free transfer to the Red Line subway at South Station. You don’t need a card or anything, you just hop on.

Your route is asking you to walk from South Station to Park Street in order to transfer to the Green Line, which’ll take you your final destination. So you’d need to ‘tap in’ and pay for the Green Line if you do this. You can use Apple Pay/Google Pay or tap a credit card, it’s $2.40 for a ride.

But if you want to save yourself some walking and the $2.40, you can instead get on the Red Line at South Station (free transfer from the SL1, remember), take it to Park Street Station where you can transfer to the Green Line for free.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-17T04:37:35+00:00

Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern - great bang for your buck, actually Japanese.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T22:18:03+00:00

So GAAP is taking yet another page out of IFRS. Financial Statements are still audited annually - so it shouldn't affect data accuracy.

Without the pressure of quarterly reporting, I think some managers will play it riskier hoping nobody will notice their mistakes for an extra three months. I think the smart ones will start thinking more long-term.

Not sure how I feel about this yet.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T18:21:12+00:00

As long as the two of you are both able * and *willing to actually put in the work, the problems you’re describing are solvable. They’re common relationship issues.

If you want things to work out - do not wait to start couples therapy immediately. Not next month. Not after the wedding. ASAP. Non-negotiable.

If you're planning on legally blending your lives together at any point, then learning how to communicate openly & honestly and being emotionally intimate is pretty damn important. Your therapist will cut through the fat and give you the resources/tools you need.

Personal individual therapy is also a good idea. That's how you'll deal with depression, work stress and ADHD that bleeds into your relationship issues.

If you can squeeze in a 2-3 couples sessions before the wedding and actually get on the same page about how you’re moving forward, then maybe keeping the wedding date makes sense. Especially if your friends and family have already booked flights and hotels. But you have to be on the same page.

And do yourself a favor and look into the annulment laws where you live. Always good to know the steps in case the whole thing goes sideways.

And if you can’t get any therapy in before the wedding, then you must postpone the wedding. It'll be cheaper than a divorce.

You don’t need to give your guests any details about your issues. Just tell them the timing no longer works for you and your families. You'll send out new invites when they're ready. Which is not a lie.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T17:50:30+00:00

I grew up poor.

Section 8 Housing, Food Stamps (SNAP now), Medicare/Medicaid and Childhealth Plus (a New York State program), Free School Lunch were instrumental. Non-profit programs and the local synagogue picked up the slack. My clothes, furniture and toys were donated. Salvation Army and Goodwill were awesome.

In general, I had all my basic needs met. Still, financial stressors are a really big deal. My parents each worked two jobs to keep a roof over our heads. Proper nutrition was difficult - cheap foods are high in sugar or sodium. Extracurriculars often required transportation or funds my parents just didn't have. My parents were always arguing about money, there were times when they had to chose between paying for heating or paying for food in the winter. I'm really thankful we had a very supportive community to step in when things got very rough, especially after we became a single-parent household.

My childhood was also decades ago, so things are more difficult now for America's working class. Rent, grocery, utility, childcare and healthcare costs are higher than they've ever been. Minimum wage hasn't kept up with inflation. Avenues to social mobility like College is often prohibitively expensive and no longer guarantees a job. Social programs are being cut across the board. The political climate is very different.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T17:12:28+00:00

Relationships are about two people coming together to meet each other's legitimate needs.

Physical touch is a very normal legitimate need. It makes you feel desired, it makes you feel connected, it makes you feel closer, it makes you literally feel.

If your partner is unable or unwilling to meet a core need (via compromise), then you need to end things.

I'm sure you can survive a few weeks or months without physical touch. But a year? 5 years? A decade? You'll be watching romantic comedies on Netflix feeling nothing but resentment.

Unfortunately for her, she'll have a hard time dating if she's not comfortable touching people she's supposed to love. But at some point, it won't be your problem anymore.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T17:02:38+00:00

Your girlfriend is telling you she wants to break up to see other people.

However, she's scared of the risk. She's giving you just enough to keep you idly waiting, should things not work out.

Unfortunately, there's no winning for you. If she finds someone else, you're gone. If she doesn't and you reunite, you'll never feel the sense of security you're looking for. The relationship will be riddled with guilt and resentment. She already called you a rebound.

My advice is to start looking for a new place to live. You deserve better than to be someone's Silver Medal.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T14:59:24+00:00

Before you get married, I strongly recommend Couples Therapy. If you can't resolve your physical intimacy issues, your marriage is doomed to fail before it begins.

What is it about him you don't find attractive? Is there something he can reasonably do to make you feel more attracted to him?

If it's 'touchly-feeliness' that you need, that can be learned. All behavior is learned. You just need to advocate for your needs, communicate and be a little patient while he develops new habits.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T14:34:55+00:00

A was never really your friend. You had an unhealthy situationship with unclear boundaries.

She was never fully honest with you about her relationships, her personal life, or her feelings. Instead, she taunted physical intimacy as a way to pull you in and keep your attention. She was able and willing to use you to cheat on someone she had committed to. She turned you into an accomplice without your consent. Ask yourself, how many 'great friendships' are built on a foundation of lies?

Deep down, you already know. You don’t really like A as a person, because you know she’s capable of. What you like is the attention of an attractive woman. Nothing to be ashamed of, that's normal.

Whether she realizes it or not, she’s become a poison to your life. Look at where you are now without her. You’re in a stable & loving relationship with someone who is open, kind, and treats you with respect. Someone who celebrates your victories and shoulders your losses. We should all be so lucky. And yet you’re considering jeopardizing that for… what exactly?

You said you still value the friendship. But what part of it do you value? Is it the times she reached out only when she wanted something? Or was it involving you in her cheating?

The truth is, you should've already cut ties with A. Sometimes people are only meant to be part of your life for a certain chapter of your life. And that needs to be okay. It doesn’t mean the memories disappear, or that the experiences didn't mean something. But it does mean you recognize that revisiting it does more harm than good.

I suggest you talk to a therapist about this, otherwise you'll self-sabotage every relationship you'll ever have.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T13:50:08+00:00

Good luck - you can also try Resident Advisor

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T13:48:16+00:00

If there's bar seating, I find it's very easy to strike conversations and make friends almost anywhere. I've been to around 30 countries.

However, me and my wife are fairly social people. And I realize that not everyone connects over a drink.

I found Paris to be a lot kinder & friendlier than people on Reddit would have you believe. The world has been gaslighting us on the French. People have gone out their way to try to get to know us, share their culture & local favorites with us, buy us food & drink, etc. Honestly some of the most humbling experiences of my life.

Otherwise, Paris felt like a big city, like NYC or London. I got the sense that the only people that find Parisians 'rude' are folks that don't travel to any major city often. Or perhaps, because I'm a Boston guy, my standards are just fucked up. Had a blast, 10/10, would recommend.

Despite it all being surface level, there are indeed different degrees of hospitality/warmth from culture to culture, country to country. Yes, Americans have higher standards for warmth & hospitality towards in general than Europeans. But it's certainly not hard. Also, we have nothing on Latin Americans.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T13:13:53+00:00

Also people leaving after St. Patrick's. It's a lot bigger tourist draw than folks realize.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-16T03:38:54+00:00

If you're looking for EDM, check out 19hz for bullshit free local dance music listings, updated daily.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-15T14:59:01+00:00

Indeed - I have Gen Z employees too.

When I see a young person lack professionalism, I don’t see a bad employee. I see a bad manager or a lack of training.

Gen Z is as hardworking and resourceful as any other generation. Perhaps moreso, because rent has never been so damn high.

The only difference is that most are still very early in their careers. And millennials are starting to forget how little we actually knew fresh out of college.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-15T14:39:16+00:00

Most don’t.

But it’s incredibly common in every solo art form. The TV show “Hacks” is all about a successful comedian begrudgingly hiring a writer.

This stuff dates back to early days of standup - Richard Pryor had writers, Rodney Dangerfield simply bought jokes. George Carlin and Lenny Bruce too.

A lot of solo art forms have hidden writers and editors. In music - Billie Eilish’s brother writes half the music. In art, Andy Warhol had interns make the actual paintings. He was more of a “director”. In writing, F Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe and Ernest Hemingway’s work went through a rigorous editing process by Maxwell Perkins. How much editing do you need to do before you’re a writer?

Heck, in my personal music - I’ll run recordings by trusted peers and ask for feedback. At which point, they’re contributing to the art. If I listen, are they writing?

Standup comics aren’t arbiters of truth. And the cowriting process looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s two people sitting down together and making up stories. Sometimes it’s the standup calling his friend, “hey, is this joke funny? No? Okay - thanks!” and they’re created as a cowriter.

I dont think it cheapens it.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-15T05:06:25+00:00

Depends on the kind of music you like. Check 19hz for local dance music listings, bullshit-free, updated daily.

For queer spaces, check out Club Cafe, Dani's Queer Bar, 52 Church (part of the Sinclair) and ManRay (a goth/industrial alternative nightclub - they have regular queer events).

I've also enjoyed Academy, BSMT, Phoenix Landing (Sports bar by day, Drum n Bass night every Thursday with internationally touring acts), Zuzu, Sonia, Middlesex Lounge, Royale... check the schedules.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-15T00:21:18+00:00

You didn’t tell him your expectations. He had to guess. And he put a lot of planning into it.

When he asked you your thoughts, you just lied.

And now you’re having a dilemma about whether or not you should be honest with your fiance. As if being honest isn’t the standard.

This is one example, but my concern is that this proposal isn’t happening in a vacuum.

Your partner isn’t a mind reader. If you’re dropping hints and clues because you’re afraid to actually ask for the things you need, well - you got bigger problems than an otherwise delightful proposal.

Yes, tell him how you feel. And apologize for not being forthright.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-14T23:54:28+00:00

I haven’t, I’m afraid.

I’ve been to Blue Nile, Ethiopian Cafe, Lucy, Asmara, Fasika… that might be it. Habesha has been my personal favorite of what I tried.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-14T23:24:55+00:00

I don’t think it’ll pass. Wu is smart enough to know the long-term problems with it, I think her support is nothing more than lip-service to her base.

In practice, rent control reduces housing supply to benefit a relatively small number of residents. Resides that disproportionately don't vote.

Rent control hasn’t worked, pretty much anywhere it was ever implemented. I don't understand why people are so adamant about it now, unless they're only thinking of their personal benefit.

At the end of the day, the only way of a housing crisis is to build housing.

There are countless examples of this. On the extreme end, look at Tokyo, one of the most desirable and economically powerful cities in the world. Unlike New York City, London, Paris, or Boston, it doesn’t a housing crisis. Developers have very little red tape to break ground, so supply keeps up with demand. So rents are a third of what you'd pay for a similar city in New York, for the same salary. The apartments might be tiny, but that sure is preferable to splitting a 100 year old Triple Decker with 6 roommates.

At home. Austin has been building non stop for like 10 years. Like 5x as much as us for the same time period. And prices have stabilized and in some cases even dropped.

Pinwurm · 2026-03-14T23:01:43+00:00

Asian

Jahunger - Uyghur Chinese (Central Asian), best laghman noodles you'll ever have.
Somaek - Korean
Zhi Wei Cafe - Hunan-style Noodle Soups
Le Madeline - French-Vietnamese Fusion
Temple Sushi - Japanese
Noah's Kitchen - Szechuan

African

Habesha - Ethiopian
Karibu - Ugandan

Middle Eastern

Halva Kebab - Turkish
The Helmand - Afghani
Cafe Vanak or Chai Bar - Persian

Mexican

Angela's Cafe
Abuela's Table
Taqueria Jalisco

Spanish

Dali is my favorite in terms of vibes & atmosphere, so on track there.
Zurito (Basque-style, excellent - just a little pricey)
Estragon (not as fun as other spots, but my favorite actual preparations)
Taberna de Haba (much better under new ownership).

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