almost in Boston. Anybody wanna?

[davids]

In 1988 I did a bit of some community service work in Southie for my high school, a Jesuit institution which required such service as a requirement for graduation. Trust me, as a kid from the.... wealthier... burbs, I was terrified. Chose to do my service at a community after-school center, where kids hung out from 2-7pm or so while parents were still working. I used to walk from my HS in Dot to the day center in Southie- about two miles. I used to look at the IRA logos on the walls in the housing projects I walked through, not knowing what these were really all about. As someone who looks vaguely Italian, I think I was tolerated in the community. I'm lucky I didn't look more "ethnic" than that, as my naiveté would have likely landed me in hot water. The Jesuits sent me to do what they wanted me to do, but if I had the sense that I had now I'd be terrified.

The kids at the neighborhood house used to ask me what country I was from because I spoke funny. Mind you, I have no accent whatsoever (well, maybe a little NE trace). You southern folks might recognize me as a northerner by my colloquialisms, but other than that I don't have a particularly recognizable accent. This is how insular Southie was back then. Literally kids thought I was from Europe. Many parents didn't trust me to be with their children because I wasn't from the Town. There were kids there that had never been outside of their parish - not outside of Boston, outside of their parish. (As the crow flies I grew up about 20 miles south of the city).

Once I got in trouble at the neighborhood house because I used the term "pissed off" in front of the kids. Most of these kids were in the 8-12 year old range, and I heard the N-word routinely from them, and other words equally offensive. Like these kids had ever even seen a person of color.

I haven't really been back since, but from what I've seen it's just so different, it's indescribable. It no longer feels like you're in Belfast. The kids, I'm sure, listen to the same music that the kids in the city or the burbs do. So... homogenized now. When I was there, U2 was the bomb, and the song of the day was "Where The Streets Have No Name." Apt for a neighborhood where the streets are either numbered or lettered. I'll always associate that song with Southie.

No now we have the intolerance of racial insensitivity replaced by the intolerance of suburbanization. Not sure which is worse or better. Just some memories.

I could share my own stories, being a midwestern Jew who's spent his career in local government. But yours will do just fine (You're absolutely correct about the insularity. When I worked for the City's employment training agency, we struggled to get public housing residents to leave their neighborhoods - downtown was a foreign country.) The low point for me was definitely Carol Stuart murder in '89. It's a miracle there weren't riots.

Boston ain't what it used to be, thank God.

[Justin Spinelli]

He's really in Dorchester. Shhh.

who me? doesn't get more boston than the seaport district.

[rowdyhillrambler]

Good ride this morn with some locals over in the blue hills. Local flavor. Thanks, jscott ..

Whats a southie look like. At 5:30 in the morn mostly just Asians on stoops. Do they only come out at night?

[roseyscot]

Good ride this morn with some locals over in the blue hills. Local flavor. Thanks, jscott ..

Whats a southie look like. At 5:30 in the morn mostly just Asians on stoops. Do they only come out at night?

good on you for hitting that ride. if you want variety, there is a 5:45am ride that meets at Cutler Park in Needham. About 8-9 miles from where you're staying I would guess. I did it this morning for the first time in 3 or 4 weeks. It's dark out again at 5am, but fine by 5:30.

[jscott]

Apt for a neighborhood where the streets are either numbered or lettered.

One of my friends grew up on O Street...he had to walk a block to P.

Whats a southie look like. At 5:30 in the morn mostly just Asians on stoops. Do they only come out at night?

Try the packie or the spa, guy.


Seriously, thanks for coming out this morning. Nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay!

[SteveP]

the trouble with eating pizza at reginas in the north end is that you will live the rest of your life with no expectation of ever having better pizza.
so there is that risk.
i advise that you do not go there...
will ruin pizza in tennessee forever.

have also had some great meals at antico forno on salem st in n end.
if you like futball there are a couple of sports cafes in hanover st ( again in no end )

[roseyscot]

the trouble with eating pizza at reginas in the north end is that you will live the rest of your life with no expectation of ever having better pizza.
so there is that risk.
i advise that you do not go there...
will ruin pizza in tennessee forever.

have also had some great meals at antico forno on salem st in n end.
if you like futball there are a couple of sports cafes in hanover st ( again in no end )

there is much better pizza in both hamilton, ny and new haven, ct. though the north end desserts are worth checking out. if you want to venture out to brookline (direct shot on the green C line), my friend owns the washington square tavern and is an avid cyclist. actually, there is a cyclist party there tonight (wednesday) partially sponsored by landry's bike shop.

[SteveP]

there is much better pizza in both hamilton, ny and new haven, ct. though the north end desserts are worth checking out. if you want to venture out to brookline (direct shot on the green C line), my friend owns the washington square tavern and is an avid cyclist. actually, there is a cyclist party there tonight (wednesday) partially sponsored by landry's bike shop.

ha. never.
but you should go by wash sq tavern. lot of cyclists hang there.

[davids]

Good ride this morn with some locals over in the blue hills. Local flavor. Thanks, jscott ..

Whats a southie look like. At 5:30 in the morn mostly just Asians on stoops. Do they only come out at night?

You were in Dot, dude. My 'hood. Those are the guys who get up early. You see a whole different crowd staying up late.

Did you ride again today? I was with the 6:30 group and we passed the 6am guys as we entered the Blue Hills around 7.


Re: Pizzeria Regina. Pucci is correct. The corollary is never to eat at any other Pizzeria Regina. There is only one, despite what their signs say.

[rowdyhillrambler]

Got up and did the early group ride again. Much more relaxed today. 35 miles, met a guy Mark Virello, who took me on a tour. Hell of a nice guy. Roads with jscott and Adam shutes yesterday.

Riding here is another world.

May try to make it out to brookline tonight if I can figure out how to ride the train.

Boston folks have been nice. But, buying beer in Tennessee is easy. Here, man gotta look.

[roseyscot]

If you head to Washington Square, my suggestion is to get off at Summit Ave and grab a $6 burrito from Anna's Taqueria (corner of Beacon and Summit) first. Be sure you know what you want when you get to the counter (think Seinfeld Soup Nazi style ordering). Then, after eating the burrito, do some hill repeats on Summit Ave, or better yet, get your burrito to go, walk to the top of Summit Ave, and eat it at the park. Then continue walking outbound on Beacon to Washington Square. It's about 5-10 minutes to Washington Square Tavern (corner of Washington and Beacon, on the inbound, downhill side). By the time you get there, you'll have digested your burrito, and you'll be ready for the good selection of beers on tap.

If I make it there, I'll let you know.

Got up and did the early group ride again. Much more relaxed today. 35 miles, met a guy Mark Virello, who took me on a tour. Hell of a nice guy. Roads with jscott and Adam shutes yesterday.

Riding here is another world.

May try to make it out to brookline tonight if I can figure out how to ride the train.

Boston folks have been nice. But, buying beer in Tennessee is easy. Here, man gotta look.

[rowdyhillrambler]

Yea, did the early ride didn't know there was a later ride. Passed ya'll bout 4 of you wearing blue and white kits? If i woulda known I woulda met ya. Shame.

I went to pats pizza in lower mill last night, good pizza, but my expectations are low as a Tennessean on pizza. Was gonna try to eat at the ledge. They had local whiskers, my expectations are much higher. Southern gentlemen, from a line of bourbon drinkers and mash makers.

You were in Dot, dude. My 'hood. Those are the guys who get up early. You see a whole different crowd staying up late.

Did you ride again today? I was with the 6:30 group and we passed the 6am guys as we entered the Blue Hills around 7.


Re: Pizzeria Regina. Pucci is correct. The corollary is never to eat at any other Pizzeria Regina. There is only one, despite what their signs say.

[davids]

Yea, did the early ride didn't know there was a later ride. Passed ya'll bout 4 of you wearing blue and white kits? If i woulda known I woulda met ya. Shame.

I went to pats pizza in lower mill last night, good pizza, but my expectations are low as a Tennessean on pizza. Was gonna try to eat at the ledge. They had local whiskers, my expectations are much higher. Southern gentlemen, from a line of bourbon drinkers and mash makers.

Yep, that was me. I tried to get a bead on you guys, but the closing speed was too fast for my aging eyes. Damn, sorry to have missed you.

I haven't made it to the Ledge yet, but hear good things. I dined in last night with some surprise guests.

[jscott]

Yea, did the early ride didn't know there was a later ride. Passed ya'll bout 4 of you wearing blue and white kits? If i woulda known I woulda met ya. Shame.

I went to pats pizza in lower mill last night, good pizza, but my expectations are low as a Tennessean on pizza. Was gonna try to eat at the ledge. They had local whiskers, my expectations are much higher. Southern gentlemen, from a line of bourbon drinkers and mash makers.

Steel and Rye on Elliot St in Milton is good, basically around the corner from Lower Mills.

Also, anybody who thinks Pizzeria Regina is good hasn't been to Shakespeare's Pizza in Columbia, MO. Damn, do I miss that place.

[Jonathan]

Regina is quite good, but I liked the slice I had at Otto near Harbard Square better.

[davids]

I have a brother that lives in Dorchester. He never writes any more.

He outsourced that to your sister-in-law.

Regina is quite good, but I liked the slice I had at Otto near Harbard Square better.

The absolute best is available by invitation only, you know.