Few tips for outsiders visiting/new to Boston.... (Brookline, Braintree: violent crime, home)

[nate14ri]

Hi everybody. I just wanted to create a thread to help list some of the stranger things about Boston that outsiders should know when visiting. Hopefully the locals can add to my list!

- People drive in the breakdown lanes during rush hour.
- You will get a Residential parking ticket if you park at a metered spot in the south end after 8pm. (found out this one the hard way and inspiration for this thread.)
- Snow plows will push the snow back towards your car after you've shoveled out your car/spot. Some people choose to abandon their cars all winter.
- Locals use all sorts of objects to reserve their street parking spot. Look out if you take someone elses spot.....
- Bars close at 2 am. the MBTA closes @ 12:30 am. go figure.


just a quick start. add more!

[Cantabridgienne]

...but contrary to what some claim, the T stopping service before bars close is *not* an excuse for driving drunk. Pony up some cab fare so we can all get home safely. I've never figured out why some people (not you, OP!) whine about being "forced" to drink and drive.

[Urban Peasant]

Rotaries (some people call them "roundabouts") cause trouble to out of state drivers too so let them beware. There are many in the city.

[snatale1]

Rotaries = Multiple streets coming into a traffic circle from different directions

Roundabout = 4 streets coming at each other from N,S,E,W, No stopping or slowing, Much more dangerous.

Yes, I'm retarded.

[bostonguy1960]

The MBTA doesn't necessarily close at 12:30; obviously, it depends which bus or subway you're using and if it's inbound or outbound. I believe the last "B" green line inbound from Boston College to downtown is 12:09 a.m. (amazing!). Not sure about the C, D and E lines inbound. The last Harvard Square red line inbound to Braintree is about 12:25 a.m. vs. 12:30 a.m. for the Ashmont counterpart (it's posted at the entrance to the turnstiles). Obviously from Alewife inbound, it's about 10 min. earlier!

The No. 1 bus from Harvard Square to Dudley station in Roxbury leaves just after 1 a.m. (I think). Hooray for a late option! I think the 66 bus from Harvard to Brookline Village and Brigham Circle and beyond runs later than other lines also.

The final airport blue line to Government Center may still be around 12:36 a.m., except Sunday a minute earlier or later.

Those Sunday subway schedules can be inconvenient, at least the Kenmore Square B line outbound to BU/BC. Forty-five minutes later, I think!. You'll sit and sit and wait on Sundays, at least in past years.

AT LEAST the Park St. green lines outbound back to Kenmore and beyond don't leave until 12:50 a.m. or later. They hold the trains until the red line connections are final. That means one can stand at Harvard & Comm. about 1:15 a.m. and grab that last B train to BC!

There must be other extremely late or early situations across the system as well.

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

...T stopping service before bars close is *not* an excuse for driving drunk. Pony up some cab fare so we can all get home safely.

Or better - do what I did, stumble home drunk! It's one of the best things to do in Boston. No better way to end a wild night than to stumble up Boylston St with the crowds of wasted puking college kids. You never know what's gonna happen, but it's rarely violent crime. Great way to end the night - getting some fresh air, enjoying the night, getting hit on by plastered college girls, then finishing off at Little Stevie's or NY Pizza.

[JasonAndAmelia]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Or better - do what I did, stumble home drunk! It's one of the best things to do in Boston. No better way to end a wild night than to stumble up Boylston St with the crowds of wasted puking college kids. You never know what's gonna happen, but it's rarely violent crime. Great way to end the night - getting some fresh air, enjoying the night, getting hit on by plastered college girls, then finishing off at Little Stevie's or NY Pizza.

That's my way of coming home. Any good deep dish pizza places in Boston?

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by JasonAndAmelia

That's my way of coming home. Any good deep dish pizza places in Boston?

Hell no. Pizza in Boston sucks. Pizzeria Regina - the original one in the North End is the only quality pizza I've ever had in Boston. The rest - NY Pizza, Stevie's, everything in the South End - it's all slop.

[JasonAndAmelia]

Damn, looks like I'll have to still be ordering my Deep Dish if we move up there.

[redpanda]

JasonAndAmelia--Sicilia's near BU has good deep-dish pizza! It's right off Comm Ave so you can get there pretty easily on the B line.

(Another Boston oddity--people will look at you strangely and not quite know what you're talking about if you say "Commonwealth Avenue" or "Massachusetts Avenue". It's Comm Ave and Mass Ave.)