mrsronweasley (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mrsronweasley) wrote2007-02-05 12:59 pm
mrsronweasley) wrote2007-02-05 12:59 pm
Boston, MA, a bird's eye view.
So, Boston has been on many a fangirl's mind lately, primarily due to the impending ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
muskratjamboree, and while people were making plans, I discovered that - the HORROR! - quite a few people didn't know all that much about Boston. This is not shocking, since Boston isn't as visible to the world at large as, say, New York or LA. And that is partly why I love it, actually.
Boston's got quite a fascinating history, it's beautiful, and it tends to hide itself well among its fellow American cities. I'm not yet certain as to why, but it's definitely independent and kind of subtle about being really damn cool. I can't explain it. You kind of have to feel it, really.
Boston's a bitch to drive in, if you're a Yankees fan, you better not say so out loud or else, and it's the city of a hundred colleges. It's a pedestrian town where cars have to stop for you and yet they push their luck, a town where r's disappear from where they're supposed to be and reappear in the oddest of places, and it's kind of my new and beloved home.
The story of me coming to love Boston is a long and winding one (I hated it on sight the first time I visited, but only because I was thirteen, on a road trip with my parents, and being the epitome of awkward teenage angst), but the point is, I've lived here on and off for the past six years, and love it with all my heart now. So I want to share it, especially with those of you who have plans on descending upon it come end of March.
And here it is. The link is to a YouTube clip. It's the beginning of a little film called "Boondock Saints" and it has one of my favorite views of Boston ever - it has it all. The action of the movie was filmed entirely in Toronto, but the beginning shots - about 3 minutes into the file - are all pure Boston, set to one of my favorte pieces of music. In fact, whenever I listen to it, I get that special feeling of Boston love. Because...Boston.
And here it is. Feel totally free to skip three minutes into the clip, and stop the clip after the boys enter their loft. (Though I highly. HIGHLY. Recommend the film in its entirety. It's fucking awesome.)
Boston, brought to you by two Irish brothers. (Start at the 3:10 minute mark or so.)
Here are some of my personal favorite highlights:
The Bridge at 3:24 and 3:32 is the way the Red T Line runs. The Charles bisects and the bridge joins together Boston proper and Cambridge, and it is my favorite spot in all of Boston. The possibilities - Boston! Cambridge! The memories, too, and every time I'm on the Red Line (which is a lot), I try to face the side of the skyline, because it never, ever fails to make me smile like an idiot. It's gorgeous and it's Boston and I really have no words for how much I love that view. (For instance, if you look in the distance, you might even see the spot where Anna, Katie, Moa and I had our make-shift picnic on the edge of the Charles two summers ago, and got rained on, and ate chocolates out of the box and made fun of Katie because she'd never owned a pair of sunglasses. "I'm from BRITAIN, dude!")
The Prudential at 4:09 - well, it's a landmark. It's the center. It's one of Boston's tallest buildings, and whenever I get back from NYC (by bus) and see it in the distance, I know I'm close to home.
Boston in general at 4:24 - just, city. There it is. With its beautiful small buildings and bizarre combinations of old and new, and its trees and roads and awful driving. There it is. I'm getting stupidly weepy now.
And then you can see the Wharf, and the south of Boston, and, well, there it all is.
And here is the song playing in the background, Jeff and Mychael Danna's "The Blood of Cuchulainn", for anyone who wants it.
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/j3f8w5
Less than TWO MONTHS! Who's excited? I'm excited. :D
muskratjamboree, and while people were making plans, I discovered that - the HORROR! - quite a few people didn't know all that much about Boston. This is not shocking, since Boston isn't as visible to the world at large as, say, New York or LA. And that is partly why I love it, actually.Boston's got quite a fascinating history, it's beautiful, and it tends to hide itself well among its fellow American cities. I'm not yet certain as to why, but it's definitely independent and kind of subtle about being really damn cool. I can't explain it. You kind of have to feel it, really.
Boston's a bitch to drive in, if you're a Yankees fan, you better not say so out loud or else, and it's the city of a hundred colleges. It's a pedestrian town where cars have to stop for you and yet they push their luck, a town where r's disappear from where they're supposed to be and reappear in the oddest of places, and it's kind of my new and beloved home.
The story of me coming to love Boston is a long and winding one (I hated it on sight the first time I visited, but only because I was thirteen, on a road trip with my parents, and being the epitome of awkward teenage angst), but the point is, I've lived here on and off for the past six years, and love it with all my heart now. So I want to share it, especially with those of you who have plans on descending upon it come end of March.
And here it is. The link is to a YouTube clip. It's the beginning of a little film called "Boondock Saints" and it has one of my favorite views of Boston ever - it has it all. The action of the movie was filmed entirely in Toronto, but the beginning shots - about 3 minutes into the file - are all pure Boston, set to one of my favorte pieces of music. In fact, whenever I listen to it, I get that special feeling of Boston love. Because...Boston.
And here it is. Feel totally free to skip three minutes into the clip, and stop the clip after the boys enter their loft. (Though I highly. HIGHLY. Recommend the film in its entirety. It's fucking awesome.)
Boston, brought to you by two Irish brothers. (Start at the 3:10 minute mark or so.)
Here are some of my personal favorite highlights:
The Bridge at 3:24 and 3:32 is the way the Red T Line runs. The Charles bisects and the bridge joins together Boston proper and Cambridge, and it is my favorite spot in all of Boston. The possibilities - Boston! Cambridge! The memories, too, and every time I'm on the Red Line (which is a lot), I try to face the side of the skyline, because it never, ever fails to make me smile like an idiot. It's gorgeous and it's Boston and I really have no words for how much I love that view. (For instance, if you look in the distance, you might even see the spot where Anna, Katie, Moa and I had our make-shift picnic on the edge of the Charles two summers ago, and got rained on, and ate chocolates out of the box and made fun of Katie because she'd never owned a pair of sunglasses. "I'm from BRITAIN, dude!")
The Prudential at 4:09 - well, it's a landmark. It's the center. It's one of Boston's tallest buildings, and whenever I get back from NYC (by bus) and see it in the distance, I know I'm close to home.
Boston in general at 4:24 - just, city. There it is. With its beautiful small buildings and bizarre combinations of old and new, and its trees and roads and awful driving. There it is. I'm getting stupidly weepy now.
And then you can see the Wharf, and the south of Boston, and, well, there it all is.
And here is the song playing in the background, Jeff and Mychael Danna's "The Blood of Cuchulainn", for anyone who wants it.
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/j3f8w5
Less than TWO MONTHS! Who's excited? I'm excited. :D
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CAN'T WAIT!
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And good call, on staying later! Because, man! BOSTON! It is so worth it. :D
\o/
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And in a few months, it'll be full of fangirls, and then it'll be the coolest it's ever been!
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i used to work at one memorial. the longfellow is all... home.
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denver is weird. and not a real city, imo. boston is a real city. mine.
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Which SUCKS.
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::happy sigh::
Have an excellent Monday!
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It makes me sigh very happily, too.
Thank youuuu! You too! ♥
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\mj/!
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And thanks for the Boondock Saints link. I've heard so many good things about that movie and the YouTube clip seemed like a perfect introduction. I must now go and rent...
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And YES. Go out and rent it - it's awesome. I watched it, then went out and BOUGHT it, and watched it again for the entire weekend. Still love it. Also, it's filmed in Toronto, so if you've seen "Men With Guns" you'll definitely recognize one place. And a bunch of dS actors, too. *g*
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Yeah. *g*
YEAY BOSTON....I'm local!!!
I recommend the reflecting pool at the christian science/mary baker eddy place, and also the irish famine sculptures in front of border's at downtown crossing as must-see!!
Helpful hints:
- The subway is the T.
- Commonwealth Avenue is "Comm Ave"
- Massachusetts Avenue is "Mass Ave"
- Wearing pointy heels is tough, because a LOT of the sidewalks are cobblestone.
There are all sorts of amazing little treasures everywhere...about three years ago, I took an alternate route walking from the T to my office, and ended up walking past the birthplaces of both ee cummings and the James brothers (and their sister Alice)!!Re: YEAY BOSTON....I'm local!!!
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It's kinda just sinking in that I'm going to BOSTON, actually. Heee.
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BOSTON. IS. THE BEST.
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There was an article in the travel section today on Boston, right beside one on Canada. I kind of can't help but see that as a sign. Thank you for sharing.
(And, uh, for the record? There it is. With its beautiful small buildings and bizarre combinations of old and new, and its trees and roads and awful driving. There it is. I'm getting stupidly weepy now. <= that, right there? That both makes me want to visit all the more, that it means that much to you, and also? That's kind of how I feel about my country watching Lord of the Rings. Yeah.)
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That's kind of how I feel about my country watching Lord of the Rings.
Christ, I can't even imagine. *yearns*
LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE! ♥
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But yay for your descriptions of the city! It sounds enchanting. I'm actually considering coming in on Wednesday so I can visit a couple of the colleges and see the city proper before heading out to Muskrat Land. :)
*scampers off to dl song*
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And it really is. It's such a pretty, wonderful city, and OMG YOU SHOULD TOTALLY COME EARLY, DUUUUUUUUDE! *flails all over you*
*licks you, just to be extra-convincing*
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Maybe for MJ 2015?