Boston Ranked As A Best City For Retail Therapy In The U.S.

Maybe it's not scientifically proven, but it's no surprise that shopping can simply make you feel better. You browse online or pop into your favorite store, and there's a distraction element that soothes the soul. StorageCafé recently released a report that details the best cities across the country for retail therapy, and the greater Boston area ranked among the top ten.

"Often at the crossroads between being considered therapy or necessity, shopping remains a favorite pastime for millions of Americans who turn to shopping to relieve stress and uplift their spirits," StorageCafé says. They go on to point out that part of the appeal to retail therapy is the instant gratification.

With the numerous options consumers have to shop these days, literally at their fingertips. StorageCafé researched what is really going on here. In addition, they examined the primary spending interests of today's generations. Areas such as number of retail establishments and employees per 1,000 residents, and retail square footage per capita were considered. Then, that was compared to the income and spending habits within the major metros across the country. As a result, an official list of best cities to get your retail therapy on was compiled.

Not only is Boston among the best, but it appears that some of the surrounding areas also offer some retail therapy benefits.

Of course, there are the obvious shopping attractions like Newbury Street. However, the boutiques in Cambridge and wide-range of outlets in the Newton area can also do the trick. To further emphasize this fact, Boston is the first area in the Northeast to make this list. That's right, even ahead of the New York City metro. In addition, it turns out that retail is a significant focus of residents and where they spend their money.

"The Greater Boston area offers more than 5.1K retail establishments, or 1.05 stores per 1,000 residents, the fifth-best ratio among the country’s largest metros," StorageCafé explains. Many shopping adventures can be done by walking from place to place also weighed in the favor of Boston ranking among the best cities for retail therapy.

I'm a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it's much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio's is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It's also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg's photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it's a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio's stays open until 2 am on weekends.

At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto's can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it's cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you'd like to add to your order.

Leone's Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone's sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino's is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino's describes it as "delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan." $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino's. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio's, Pino's stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.