Boston, MA

After 48 years, it’s official: Boston you’re my home

Published

2 years ago

October 4, 2022

After 48 years, it’s official: Boston you’re my home

I’m not Boston-born. I didn’t come for faculty and keep right here, like many individuals I do know. I selected this New England life 48 years in the past and by no means budged.

Staying put is a large change from my household’s historical past going again a minimum of three generations. My great-grandparents on either side have been born in Poland; their youngsters, my grandparents, moved to France on my mom’s facet, to Germany on my father’s.

My paternal grandfather moved his household from Germany to Italy earlier than the Nazis might cease him, however then Italian fascism chased them to Switzerland, the place my father met my mom. She had escaped the Nazi roundup of Jews in Paris — not like her brother, who died in Auschwitz.

My dad and mom moved to Italy after the struggle, however there have been no jobs, so that they got here to the US, touchdown in Brooklyn. From there, they moved to Newark for a job and a home, then to Denver for well being and work, then Greenville, South Carolina for a chance that fizzled. After my father died, my mom moved to the Boston space to be nearer to me; when requested the place she was from, she would say, “It’s an extended story.”

They discovered associates, however they by no means put down roots.

The author's parents, Helene and Maurice Diamant, on the boat that took them from Italy to the United States circa 1948. (Courtesy Anita Diamant) — The creator’s dad and mom, Helene and Maurice Diamant, on the boat that took them from Italy to the US circa 1948. (Courtesy Anita Diamant)

I got here to Boston after faculty as a result of I wished to reside in an enormous East Coast metropolis filled with tradition and fascinating individuals. New York was too large and nameless for me, however I had associates in Boston, so I got here to test it out. I walked across the metropolis one chilly, windy autumn afternoon, post-foliage — not its greatest look. However I used to be enchanted by the structure, the historical past, and all of the bookstores. I feel the Charles River clinched it. A ribbon of sunshine in the course of every thing, with parks on both facet.

My associates had an additional bed room in a sprawling Allston condo, and I received a job writing grant proposals for a small nonprofit primarily based on Beacon Hill. Inside a couple of months, I understood that I’d landed in a really Irish, very Catholic, somewhat parochial place the place I would by no means be totally accepted, a lot much less embraced. However that wasn’t a deal-breaker as a result of it was simple sufficient to search out my individuals — readers, movie-goers, poets, political activists.

The author and her husband at Fenway Park. (Courtesy Anita Diamant) — The creator and her husband at Fenway Park. (Courtesy Anita Diamant)

It took a couple of years earlier than I finished feeling like a complete parvenu. I discovered the vocabulary: tonic is soda; a “spa” was a nook retailer that bought lottery tickets and milk — not a retreat with massages and facials. Depraved-good is one phrase, likewise Yankees-suck. “The Backyard” doesn’t confer with the beautiful downtown park the place swan boats float and willows weep, however to the sector the place the Bruins (that’s Broonz) play hockey. “I went to highschool in Cambridge,” is code for, “I attended Harvard College.”

I memorized the initialisms — BC, BU, BPL, MFA, MGH, MIT, additionally The BI, The ICA and The T. Quickly, I used to be correcting newcomers concerning the pronunciation of “Peabody” (Pee-bud-ee) and “Worcester” (Wuhstuh). However I drew the road at “challah,” which native Jews pronounced “holly,” as “in deck the halls.”

Working for the Boston Phoenix, Boston Journal and the Boston Globe gave me extraordinary license to discover town. I interviewed nuns from behind a display screen at a cloistered convent, and medical doctors on the entrance line of the AIDS epidemic at Boston Metropolis Hospital — now Boston Medical Heart. I reported and wrote about native eating places, public schooling and the Charles River.

Early on, I joined Neighborhood Boating to discover ways to sail the river. One afternoon, the boat I used to be on capsized and regardless of dire warnings and the snarky track about its “soiled water,” I didn’t require a tetanus shot, although I by no means received the odor out of these sneakers.

The author leaps into the Charles River in 2015. (Courtesy Anita Diamant) — The creator leaps into the Charles River in 2015. (Courtesy Anita Diamant)

A number of a long time later, I placed on a washing go well with and jumped into the river as a part of a one-day public swim sponsored by the Charles River Conservancy, which is essentially chargeable for making it one of many cleanest within the nation — protected sufficient for kayaks and paddle boards.

Boston has modified loads since I received right here in 1975, when the Boston Metropolis Council was all white and all male, aside from Louise Day Hicks, a infamous racist and the previous president of Roar (Restore our Alienated Rights), an anti-busing group that fomented violence in opposition to schoolchildren. The mayor again then was Kevin White.
This 12 months, eight of the 13 Boston Metropolis Councilors are girls, six are individuals of coloration.

The mayor is Michelle Wu.

The eating places and artwork museums have gone from stodgy to world-class. An attractive 17-acre linear park — the Rose Kennedy Greenway — stands the place a noisome elevated freeway used to chop town off from its harbor, which is not the cesspool it was after I arrived.

I’m an unabashed Boston booster, however I’m not blind.

As much as 500 million gallons of sewage and stormwater runoff nonetheless discover their method into the harbor yearly. Boston — which is a majority minority metropolis — continues to be thought of one of many least welcoming cities by Black Individuals. The town — and suburbs — stay racially balkanized to an astonishing diploma.

Extravagantly costly skyscraper residences are underneath development whereas reasonably priced housing — by any measure — turns into extra of a pipe dream yearly.

After which there’s the Seaport District — an architectural blight and abrogation of all environmental, aesthetic and city-planning requirements. Mom Nature will finally treatment this insult to every thing that makes Boston distinctive with the rising tides of the planet’s warming seas. However what a colossal failure.

I do know: Boston winters are depressing, the visitors is terrible, public transportation is a multitude, public schooling is nowhere close to what it needs to be, and the “greatest” pizza on the town nonetheless has an extended solution to go.

However Boston is the place I received divorced after which remarried, the place I turned a guardian, knowledgeable author, a dues-paying member of the Jewish neighborhood, a win-or-lose Purple Sox fan, and the place I buried the ashes of three beloved canines. My very own burial plot shall be positioned in a close-by suburb off of 128 — however given visitors, I wouldn’t even strive throughout rush hour.

Boston is not only the place I reside; it’s the place I’ve come to belong.

Comply with Cognoscenti on Fb and Twitter.

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Boston, MA

Boston’s Southern French Restaurant Marseille Calls It Quits

Published

20 minutes ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Boston’s Southern French Restaurant Marseille Calls It Quits

Marseille, an 18-month-old French restaurant located at 560 Harrison Avenue in the South End, has closed down. The restaurant posted a message on Instagram last week alerting diners that it would be shutting down the social media account (which is now gone), and its OpenTable page now reads that Marseille has permanently closed as of Monday, January 13. No specific reason was given for the shutter. Owned by French restaurateur Loic Le Garric, the restaurant was his ode to sunny Southern French cuisine in various forms, including grilled octopus, a rich seafood stew, trout almondine, and more. Le Garric did not immediately respond to questions about the restaurant’s closure. The restaurateur’s other French spots, including Batifol (in Kendall Square) and Petit Robert Bistro (also in the South End), plus bakery and cafe PRB Boulangerie, remain open.

Boston is getting a new Detroit-style pizzeria

Descendant Detroit Style Pizza, a Toronto-based company with two locations there, is opening up a third shop inside the Prudential Center, Boston Restaurant Talk reports. It’ll be the first U.S. location for the pizza shop, which bills itself as Canada’s first Detroit-style pizzeria, and is yet another addition to Boston’s burgeoning Detroit-style pizza scene, which includes stalwarts like the five-year-old Avenue Kitchen & Bar in Somerville and newer additions like Detroit Pizza Co. in Brighton.

A tiny Cape Cod restaurant steps into the spotlight at Raffles

Luxurious Portuguese restaurant Amar, located inside high-end Boston hotel Raffles, is hosting a one-night-only collaboration dinner with Cape Cod tasting menu spot Clean Slate Eatery this month. Amar chef George Mendes and Clean Slate Eatery chef Jason Montigel are putting together a six-course dinner with dishes such as local oysters with a lemon-horseradish granita, bay scallops with Eastham turnips, winter squash, country ham croquettes, and Satsuma citrus, and a quail roulade with quince-vanilla puree, Périgord black truffles, and maitake mushrooms. The event takes place on Wednesday, January 22. Tickets are $175 per person; reservations can be made here.

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Boston, MA

Red Sox's Alex Cora Reveals New Plan For Top Boston Prospect

Published

10 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Press Room

Red Sox's Alex Cora Reveals New Plan For Top Boston Prospect

The Boston Red Sox are setting the bar high for top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer.

Mayer, baseball’s No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will be challenged this upcoming season to showcase his defensive versatility. Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters during Saturday’s Fenway Fest that the plan will be for the 22-year-old to play shortstop, second base and third base, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith.

Boston promoted Mayer, alongside Roman Anthony and ex-Red Sox prospect Kyle Teel, to Triple-A Worcester last season. Mayer, now 240 minor league appearances deep into his professional career, has logged 238 appearances at shortstop. So, the organization’s plan will pose an opportunity for Mayer to get familiar with other areas around the infield before Boston gives him the long-awaited call to its big league club.

It’s not an easy transition, but Cora isn’t alone in believing that Mayer is up for the test.

“I think he has the ability and maturity to be an all the way around infielder,” Red Sox infield instructor Jose Flores said Saturday, per Smith. “That being said, no doubt that he can play the left side of the field. Obviously second base will probably be a position that will be a little bit more awkward for him to learn on a faster pace just because it’s his blind side when turning double plays and all that. And it’s a little bit different. But it’s something that I know for a fact that he can pick up really fast. No doubt.”

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Boston selected Mayer, a shortstop out of Eastlake High School, with the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft, and allowed him to maintain that position.

Mayer made 65 starts at shortstop for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs last season and just one at third base, committing a combined 11 errors including one in four defensive chances at the hot corner.

He also batted .307 with eight home runs, 28 doubles, 38 RBIs and a .370 on-base percentage in 77 games with the Sea Dogs. Mayer didn’t get a chance to take the field with Boston’s Triple-A crew after suffering an immediate lumbar strain upon his promotion, which ended Mayer’s 2024 season in late August.

That concluded Mayer’s fourth season in Boston’s farm system on a rough note, however, it didn’t discourage the organization one bit.

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“I want to see the kids play,” Cora said, per Smith. “(Kristian) Campbell and Marcelo and Roman — I want to see them play.”

Mayer is expected to be ready by the start of spring training.

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Boston, MA

Watch New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics free live stream

Published

22 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Watch New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics free live stream

There is NBA action on Sunday, Jan. 12 that sees the Boston Celtics welcoming the New Orleans Pelicans to TD Garden in Boston.

The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston. Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so for free by using DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial. You can also watch on FuboTV, which also offers a free trial and $30 off your first month, or SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available.

The Celtics have lost two of their last three and are 11-8 since the start of December, and now sit at 27-11, still the second-best mark in the East. The Pelicans are 8-31, but have won three of their last five.

WATCH THE GAME FOR FREE HERE

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Boston Celtics

When: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. EST

Where: TD Garden in Boston

Stream: FuboTV; Sling; DirecTV Stream (free trial)

Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.

What is FuboTV?

FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off the first month for new customers.

What is DirecTV Stream?

DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.

What is SlingTV?

SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.

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An NBA 1st: Jokic, Westbrook record triple-doubles in same game for 2nd time this season

By MICHAEL KELLY Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook made NBA history on Friday night, becoming the first pair of teammates to record a triple-double in the same game multiple times in a single season.

Jokic finished with 35 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds for his NBA-leading 15th triple-double of the season in the Nuggets’ 124-105 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Westbrook had 25 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

“I think it’s that’s the style both of us play,” Jokic said. “I’m just glad we’re winning the games because that’s more important than the stats. It’s special, the relationship, how the guys are willing to run the lanes and get to the corner. They know the ball’s going to find them.”

They’re also the first to record a 25-point triple-double in the same regular-season game.

“Wow. That’s pretty crazy. We’re watching history, folks,” Denver coach Michael Malone said.

The pair also accomplished the feat at Utah on Dec. 30. Jokic had 36 points, 22 rebounds and 11 assists that night while Westbrook had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Westbrook made all seven of his shot attempts, both free throw attempts and didn’t have a turnover in that game.

Westbrook credited Malone with giving him the freedom to play his game.

“Being able to do that allows me to be able to make guys around me better,” Westbrook said Friday. “Try to bring this team some leadership, some energy, some toughness. We’re just getting started on figuring it out.”

Jokic had missed the previous two games with an illness before returning against the Nets. He went to the bench late in the third quarter one rebound shy of his 145th career triple-double and the Nuggets leading by 18.

Brooklyn rallied to get within five and Jokic returned and had nine points, four assists and three rebounds in the fourth.

Jokic got his 10th rebound after Westbrook blocked Keon Johnson’s shot with 6:51 left.

Westbrook had four assists in the fourth to record his 202nd career triple-double, which is the most in an NBA career. It was his third triple-double this season, his first in Denver.

Westbrook signed with the Nuggets last summer after spending the last three seasons in Los Angeles with both the Lakers and the Clippers.

The Associated Press contributed to this article

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