Better Late Than Never….
Our blog system was down this morning so I am just now able to update it. Unfortunately, I’ve forgotten everything I was going to write about this morning. Seeing as it’s been a rather uneventful day, I guess there wasn’t much to share.
Oh, but our friend, Chris, is coming up for a visit tomorrow and staying through Monday. Being a big geek, I want to show him the best of Boston. I”m so fiercely loyal to this city Matt often jokes that I should work for the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Anyway, Chris is interested in seeing the gritty/bohemian side of Boston. HMMM – I’m stumped! LOL So far, I’ve planned the MFA for an art deco exhibit, dinner and a walk through the North End, Harvard Square, Back Bay/Newbury Street/Copley, South End.
For nature, I hope to show him Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Esplanade, Boston Common, Public Garden.
For culture, I’m thinking Ramrod, Manray and the Alley. For gritty/bohemian…i’m really stumped. Where would that be in Boston anymore? It’s all been so gentrified and cleaned up. So far, I’m thinking the western part of Newbury Street (Allston Beat, Newbury Comix, Otherside Cafe)…but Kenmore Square has cleaned up. Davis Square? That’s cleaned up, too…but still may be funky enough. And Harvard Square still has some independent charm…especially since the Aberzombie store failed here (which makes me so happy).
So…any suggestions? What’s uniquely Boston?
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Well, I think gritty/bohemian would have to be Central Square now… although even that is probably on the tail-end. You could go to Zuzu or the Middle East, then Man Ray. Or JP is still pretty bohemian for the most part. You can go bowling at the Milky Way. Hope that helps!
I don’t think there is really any true bohemia going on in New England. If there is, I am missing it entirely. For bohemia I think of NYC, New Orleans, France and Denmark. …maybe Berlin. …but Boston? I think we may be a bit too distant and reserved for bohemic lifestyles.
I’m not sure how gritty it is, but there is a stretch of Harrison Avenue in the South End where many of the old loft, warehouse and manufacturing buildings have been turned into art studios. A colleague of mine at MIT sent out invitations last fall to an open studio night where she had her recent work on display. That’s how I discovered a lively, burgeoning art scene in the city I had no idea was going on.
The area was crowded with people coming in to see the latest work of the art community. Not all of it was what you would call cutting edge stuff–there was some kitch and there was also the work of what you would call serious artisans and crafts people as opposed to artists. My friend Magda’s work, however, had a strong political and social content rudely breaking through highly finished luxury material surfaces that satrized America’s current obsession with extreme high end consumer goods. I think the Phoenix and Bay Windows would be the best papers to check for info on what’s going on and when to access it. Come to think of it, when I was there the buildings and streets were kind of torn up and a lot of the area was in the process of being fixed up, although not Disneyized or gentrified–at least not yet. So there WAS some grit! Hope you and your friend have a good time together.
The text was good, but i stil cant find the play ipdates. looking for it dude.
A heap of wheat, says the Song of Songs
but I’ve never seen wheat in a pile 🙂
did you like it?
Nice one, but what about der weg ? anywya, congrats from me.