The Boston Loop with Sandy

Get brunch in the South End, or go to the SoWa for food trucks. For brunch in the South End, Coppa is delicious, but super super expensive for what it is. I really like Metropolis for brunch. If you want to do a not-cheap-but-cheaper coffee and breakfast sandwich, you could go to Render on Columbus and Mass Ave.

Then just walk around! Seriously.

Before winter sets in, the Tuesday and Friday farmer's market at Copley Square offers a bounty of local produce. In the fall, expect outrageous quantities of apples, cider, and cider donuts.

First, go to Copley Square and walk around there.

Then walk down Newbury, and you could make a stop at the Thinking Cup for coffee or a pastry or sandwich.

From Newbury, where there are a lot of shops, walk over to the Esplanade along the Charles. There's an access point on the Mass Ave. bridge.

Walk down the Esplanade to Beacon Hill.

Walk through Beacon Hill to Boston Common.

Maybe end in the North End and get dinner there.

Italian picnic on the Greenway with Jingying

"Basement wonder bakery" Bricco, where the $6 prosciutto parmigiana loaf will be handed to you piping hot. This hefty meat and cheese-stuffed ciabatta will change the way you think about bread.

Start at Boston Public Market with iced coffee and Union Square Donuts. The vegan ones are so good. I’m not vegan, but the coconut oil adds this chewiness and texture that is really appealing.

Then walk down the greenway and admire the art installations. Maybe even take a ride on the carousel, if you’re feeling child-like.

You can pick up picnic ingredients in the North End to eat on the greenway with the sun shining on your face. Get salamis, cheeses, and olives from the Salumeria on Richmond St. and bread from the basement wonder bakery, Bricco.

On the other hand, if you’re feeling too lazy to assemble any foods, grab an Italian sandwich with everything--everything--from Monica’s on Salem, and if you have a companion, also get the steak bomb from Dino’s across the way. The steak bomb tastes like a much nicer version of a McDonald’s cheeseburger, in the best way possible.

Then walk toward the aquarium, and continue down the harborwalk. You can walk all the way to the ICA. And on the way back, you can stop for a lobster roll. There’s this one place called like, “Amazing Fresh Lobster,” or something just really straightforward like “This is Fresh Lobster.” 

Then go to the Lawn on D, and have some stuff from the food trucks. Sheherazad is the best food truck in Boston. There is cinnamon in the hummus! 

Then walk off your snack along the Charles River. Walking along the Charles isn't the most convenient thing, but you know, at this point you've eaten like four meals, so I think you can deal with it.

Then I’d go to Picco for ice cream, because I just love Picco. Mint chocolate chip ice cream, and dark chocolate sorbet. I insist on the sorbet. I insist.

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I think people like visiting Boston because

1. It's pretty

2. It's quaint

3. It's historic. Honestly, I feel conflicted about this one because one can only call Boston historic by American standards.

4. Universities

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There are giant brains quietly humming together to pull the leading edge of humanity hurtling into the future. If you spend enough time in Cambridge, you start to see and hear that everywhere.

Not in the disrupting industries with technology way of SF. Not in theWe Are Living In Blade Runner way of large Asian cities. In the, this stuff will save our lives without us realizing it for the next century way that is only happening in enclaves of scientific progress.

Also, the summers are pretty nice.

A stroll down Shawmut with Indigo

I work at Polkadog, a self-proclaimed treat boutique for dogs. We make everything that sits on the counter, and everything else in the store comes from all over the world. From every continent except Antarctica. We may have the biggest selection of dog treats, snacks, delicacies…I mean, variety is the spice of life.

The South End--specifically Shawmut Street--is just a great neighborhood to hang out in.

This charming residential block of Shawmut Street is packed with local go-tos. It's where South Enders pick up dinner party supplies, brunch on Saturdays, and walk their dogs.

Formaggio Kitchen down the street is a renowned cheese maven place. That's my favorite.

And Myers and Chang is also the bomb.com.  SoWa Market is going on nearby, and it’s bigger and better than ever, with a ton of food trucks, art, and vintage stuff. Then there’s Old Japan. It’s this store that has products from Japan and they have the biggest maneki-neko collection.

They also do garden tours here, because the South End has a lot of well-kept, famous gardens. There are also architecture tours that show the historical buildings. 

Once you’ve explored Shawmut, I’d stop at the Buttery and make a right toward Tremont.

Sailing on the Charles with Monica

I would do three things.

Let's say we're starting in the South End. I would go for a run and run to Cambridge from the South End, down Mass Ave. End up at Life Alive. I usually order the Goddess or the Green Goddess bowl and a Coco Alive smoothie. It’s basically like a healthy version of a piña colada.

Visit this Central Square spot for juices, smoothies, and wholesome bowls with the most delicious, garlicky sauces you (and anyone else you run into that day) will ever have the opportunity to smell.

Then I would walk to the sailing pavilion and sail on the Charles. There are a few different sailing pavilions—for BU, MIT, and then Community Boating, which anyone can do. But basically it’d just be water sports for a few hours. And if you're running or walking, you should definitely do it along the water or the Charles.

Last weekend, I went to a Berklee jazz festival. That was really cool. It happens once a year, but Berklee has a lot of concerts if you sign up for their email list or check out their website.