Charles River

North End, Waterfront, Back Bay, South End

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.

"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


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.

North End, Back Bay, Fenway

Boston on foot with Emily

One of the coolest things about Boston is that everything is walkable. Not to shit on the T, but you could do the entire day on foot. And there aren’t that many cities like that.

Do the first half of the Freedom Trail, but not the second, because like, the density of interesting spots decreases. In the beginning, you can see the Common and the Public Garden and you should definitely do that.

Then halfway, just end in the North End, where you should get a cannoli. Try both Mike’s and Modern Pastry—it’s the scientific way.

A view toward Arlington St. from the Public Garden offers  layers of architecture from different eras

A view toward Arlington St. from the Public Garden offers  layers of architecture from different eras

Walk along the Charles. You have to see the Charles. You have to. It’s beautiful. I think it’s beautiful in the winter, beautiful in the summer. It’s what sets Boston apart from other cities. I mean, I’m biased, because I like to run. My favorite part of the Esplanade is, between the Dartmouth St. and Fairfield St. bridges, there’s that area where it splits, and there’s a little section surrounded by water.

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Yeah, exactly, Gisele used to Instagram it all the time!

And if you can see a game, go see a game at Fenway. I was raised a Yankees fan, but I still think it’s the most beautiful, just incredible, baseball park in America. 

Boston's neon sunsets are best viewed from the dock on the Charles River Esplanade. They're even better if it's been a cloudy day.

Boston's neon sunsets are best viewed from the dock on the Charles River Esplanade. They're even better if it's been a cloudy day.

Cambridge, South End, Back Bay

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.

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.

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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.