Feature Article

The 61 New Best Things About Boston

Page 4 of 5


35. We May Actually Have a Real Mayoral Race Next Year

Mayor-for-life Tom Menino will give up his job when an asteroid levels City Hall and at last unseats him from power. That, at any rate, is how it's often appeared in the first century of his administration. Throughout his reign, Hizzoner has never faced a credible challenger; Maura Hennigan, for example, had a better chance of de-throning Kim Jong Il.

Suddenly, though, it may be that all it takes to remove Menino from the job is an election. City Councilor Mike Flaherty, the one-time ally who's been slamming the mayor all over town lately, is looking like a formidable opponent. Another dangerous challenger, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce boss Ralph Martin, is quietly building his organization. Others, including charismatic City Councilor John Tobin of West Roxbury, smell blood in the water as well. And they're all doing what not long ago would have been inconceivable: publicly, or pretty close to it, weighing whether they want a piece of this, too.

With the city in the middle of significant change, it's about time that Menino was forced to defend himself and his vision against real competition. There's a creeping sense of Menino Fatigue in the air, and the public, given a viable choice, might just decide to break with the pettiness, ego, and defensiveness that have accompanied the prosperity and accomplishment of the Menino years. This is Boston, after all: Maybe we're ready to indulge someone else's pettiness, ego, and defensiveness. —Joe Keohane

 

36. Charles Coe, 55, writer

Photo by Yeheshua Johnson

He's one of the finest poets in a place with more than its share, a tireless advocate for the arts, and an honest-to-goodness larger-than-life character. But Cambridge's Charles Coe would make our list simply for the parties he throws. Endless food and drink, fascinating people, and something called the Garlic Orgy. What's not to love?

Born in Indiana, Coe banged around as a musician in Nashville and New Jersey before settling in Cambridge in '75. When not writing or delivering the best readings in town, he works for the Massachusetts Cultural Council. "The thing about Boston," he says, "is that people develop this interior life (37)—because you've got to be inside four or five months of the year." Coe figures it's these winter-haunted cerebral types that account for Boston's literary scene. "I'm a big fan of the independent bookstores," he says.

"I love Brookline Booksmith (38). I like McIntyre and Moore (39) in Porter Square."

Of course, as we're always told, all that time spent pondering heavy thoughts can make for an occasionally cold and unapproachable citizenry. At least at first. Coe recalls being startled during a visit to a San Diego café. A woman approached—"she gets her eggplant radicchio latte or whatever"—and [gasp] started a conversation. "I was reminded, ‘Oh yeah, I'm in Southern California.' In Boston, people are crusty and take time to open up to you, but once they do, it's solid. It's real (40)." —J.K.

We Love This Town Because…
… 41. In this city, there's a good chance your family doctor is a bestselling author, too.
… 42. Hoodsies! … 43. When homeless icon Mr. Butch died, nearly 1,000 people turned out for his memorial.
… 44. In addition to its unrivaled beer selection, Bukowski's has the peanut butter burger, the best thing since the PB & bacon sandwiches Mom served you. … 45. Danny Ainge didn't give up, even when most of us had given up on him.

 

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User comments

Boston pride
Posted by Anonymous | Mar. 26, 2008 at 2:47 PM
COMMENT:
I love Boston because it is full of self righteous liberals who have never set foot outside of the city. If they had, they would see it as the pathetic little place it is.
LOVE JOHN
Posted by Anonymous | Mar. 27, 2008 at 4:27 PM
COMMENT:
i freaking loveeeee j.kras
Boston rocks!
Posted by Sam | Mar. 27, 2008 at 10:19 PM
COMMENT:
I may be from Newton, but that doesn't stop me from proudly associating myself with Boston. I don't agree with everything on this list, but it's always nice to see efforts to highlight all that's great about one of America's greatest cities :)
FYI....
Posted by Anonymous | Mar. 28, 2008 at 7:42 AM
COMMENT:
I've travelled more than most and have lived in (and loved) London for some time and I STILL love Boston. Except for all its whiny bastards like you. Don't like it, LEAVE.
Best Web Diva!
Posted by sophia | Mar. 30, 2008 at 8:50 PM
COMMENT:
The funniest, most versatile (think: anything from legal, to medical, to explicit sexual issues) website advice columnist lives in Boston! Answering questions weekly with a mix of serious and tongue-in cheek advice, she's also got her M.A. in Psychology and practices in her field. And she's a total babe. Right here in our backyard :) Just one more reason that BOSTON ROCKS! Check out our homegrown girl at: www.whatwouldjoannado.com
Yankees fan or Arlen Spector ?
Posted by Jack | Mar. 31, 2008 at 10:07 AM
COMMENT:
that anonymous contributor 'sneaking in' on 3/26 at 2:47 has got to be either a Yankees fan or Arlen (Phil) Specter
This article is AWFUL
Posted by Anonymous | Mar. 31, 2008 at 10:40 AM
COMMENT:
1) It reads as if the writers spent 20 minutes at a Starbucks thinking up crap 2) Are these really the best 61 items you could come up with? Maybe I should be a journalist. 3) The tone and the plea for acceptance is more appropriate for Cleveland magazine, not Boston. 4) Which one of the writers is on Deval Patrick's PR staff. NOTE: Patrick has done NOTHING. Obama has worked his way through the crazy IL political system
Love
Posted by J | Mar. 31, 2008 at 12:05 PM
COMMENT:
I love Boston because I first loved in Boston. EVERYTHING was beautiful.
Boston Lofts
Posted by Martin | Mar. 31, 2008 at 4:37 PM
COMMENT:
I love Boston Lofts. When I visited and looked at real estate my favorite part about Boston had to be the lofts I found at Boston Lofts.
Boston Driving
Posted by Mike | Apr. 25, 2008 at 11:04 AM
COMMENT:
I agree Boston drivers have an undeservedly bad rep. Still, I've heard the low death-rate stat is attributable to proximity to outstanding hospitals, and that the accident rate is not correspondingly low.
Robin Young
Posted by Anonymous | May. 2, 2008 at 2:05 PM
COMMENT:
Met Robin in 1988 when she was on USA Today TV show. Very nice, even more impressive off-the-air.

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