Welcome to Boston college students! This week is college move-in week and there are a LOT of brand new college students in Boston.
Need to know for new college students in Boston
There are many other things you need to know about Boston while you’re settling in here. There are basic things about the landscape of the city and the highways. There’s also a lot to know about our sports teams and our pride for the city. We have several cities and towns in the state that if you don’t pronounce them right, you may end up in the wrong place. We are trying to help you because we know, as a newcomer, you don’t want to stand you. You want to blend in. That’s why you must learn these simple things about Boston.
What makes Boston Boston
In the past week, we’ve put together a list of our thoughts and we compiled it with the thoughts of our listeners. These are not ranked in any particular order. There are 17 things we simply think you need to know. A few that didn’t make the cut: “Be so careful if you’re riding a bike in this city! So many cyclists get hit by cars.” That was from Claudia Kass Lascola. “Yellow light means put your foot on the gas.” That was from Dieudonné Jérôme. One of my personal favorites was from Sandy Desjardins who said “it’s Wicked Cool here.” Now these are not super technical. These are for fun only. However, they are still VERY VERY important. Learn them. Follow them. Live them.
Here are the 17 things you need to know about Boston if you’re here from out of town. Have a great year!
We take our sports VERY seriously
In Boston, it’s all about Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox and Celtics. Not necessarily in that order. We value our championships. We are VERY loyal. If you wear another team’s jersey around us, you may not be safe.
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates after the Patriots celebrates after the Patriots defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Tom Brady is now and will always be THE GOAT
This is really an extension of #1. Tom Brady is a GOD to us here in New England. Even though he’s playing for another team, he will always be OUR quarterback and THE GOAT.
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots runs onto the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
We HATE when you call Boston "Beantown"
The nickname is stupid, we HATE IT, NO ONE from Boston calls it that. We’re not even sure where it came from. DON’T say it.
BOSTON – OCTOBER 10: Sailboats are seen on the Charles River with the boston skyline line in the backround October 10, 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hancock Tower is on the far Lefthand side. (Photo by William B. Plowman/Getty Images)
If you're a pedestrian, DON'T pay attention to walk signals. You could still get hit.
Boston area drivers do not care about pedestrians or street signs. We will go through yellow and red lights. We may not stop at stop signs. We may hit you if you’re walking. Pay attention.
CHICAGO – APRIL 20: A traffic light controls the flow of vehicles and pedestrians April 20, 2005 near downtown Chicago, Illinois. According to a survey released today, the nation?s traffic signals are mostly inefficient, leading to unnecessary delays, wasted fuel and increased air pollution as vehicles constantly stop and go. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Bars, lounges and clubs close VERY early
Don’t expect to hang out at a bar or club til 4am or even 3am. The Boston nightclub scene is very suspect. Last call as of a few years ago is 2 a.m. Many cities require bars to close at 1 a.m. Boston allows closing at 2 a.m., but the last drink must be served 30 minutes prior to closing time.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 27: Fans attend a sold out performance of Pandora Presents Delta Spirit at StubHub’s Next Stage at Middle East Nightclub on May 27, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Pandora)
The best way to learn the city is by walking
Boston is a great city whereas many of its most popular locations are within walking distance. If you really want to learn about the city, try walking around. Don’t drive.
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 7: People brave the frigid temperatures while walking in Downtown Crossing January 7, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. The freezing temperatures have combined with low wind chill factors that are expected to last through today before a mild warm up begins. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
The weather could be negative 20 one day, 70 the next
Our weather is VERY unpredictable. We do have four seasons however, you could get blizzard conditions one day, spring like conditions the next. You just never know.
BOSTON, MA — FEBRUARY 09: A local resident digs his car out from the snow on February 9, 2015, in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston was hit with a third major snowstorm in three weeks, with the latest storm starting on Saturday evening, and expected to continue through Tuesday morning, bringing another 8 – 16 inches of accumulation. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)
You may see people in shorts all winter long
This is an extension of our previous post. We don’t know why we do it, we just do. It could be January, you’ll still see Bostonians and New Englanders in shorts.
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 21: A man walks in shorts in Manhattan during a snowstorm that is moving through the Northeast on January 21, 2014 in New York City. Along with dropping arctic tempertures the storm is expected to bring three to five inches by nightfall, with another four to six inches falling overnight. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: A man wearing shorts and sandles stands on a snowy sidewalk the morning after a Northeast storm dropped more than two-feet of snow February 13, 2006 in New York City. The storm hit New York City on the night of February 11, 2006 resulting in blizzard conditions and setting a new snowfall record. The storm shut down airports in the Northeast and caused power outages. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
NO MOVING TRUCKS ON STORROW DRIVE
This is an important one. One that always seems to go by the wayside every college move-in day. The truck height limit on Storrow drive in Boston is 10ft. Know it. Live it. DON’T FORGET IT. And don’t get “Storrowed.” Getting Storrowed is another way of saying, you messed up and got your truck stuck under a Storrow Drive bridge
MORTON GROVE, IL – JANUARY 23: “Jumbo Size It” information is shown on a rear door of a U-Haul truck parked in a lot of a U-Haul store January 23, 2003 in Morton Grove, Illinois. Reno, Nevada-based U-Haul Co. is discussing debt restructuring. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
Boston College is in Newton
Names can be deceiving here. Boston College is not actually in Boston. It’s in a suburb of Boston called Newton. There will be an extension of this post below.
CHESTNUT HILL, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 31: A view of the campus of Boston College on March 31, 2020 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Students at Universities across the country were sent home to finish the semester online due to the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19). Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker put the state under a “stay at home” order in an attempt to contain the virus. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The T may not be the most reputable mode of transportation
We have a love/hate relationship with our MBTA system. The T can get you anywhere, or it can get you nowhere. As or today (9/1) the Orange Line is shut down for repairs. On any given day, other lines may be broken, shut down, late or all of the above.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 29: A view of a red line train pulling into Charles/MGH MBTA station on March 29, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Ridership has declined sharply due to coronavirus (COVID19) related school closures and people working from home. In response to the virus the MBTA has reduced service and enhanced cleaning protocols. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Rush hour is anywhere between 7am til 9pm
There really is no rush hour in Boston. You will see traffic any time during any day, even on the weekends.
388964 01: Commuter traffic makes it way along Interstate 93 May 8, 2001 in Boston MA. According to a study by the Texas Transportation Institute, 1.2 million people drive into Boston for work each day. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Newsmakers)
No one actually eats Boston baked beans or Boston Cream Pie
Yes, they may be the traditional snacks or food of Boston, but you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who eats them on a regular basis.
SYDNEY – MAY 29: TRIPLE M RADIO STATION’S BREAKFAST TEAM’S MICKEY ROBINS (L) AND TRIPLE M FM COMPERE PETER BERNER (R) FAILED TO BREAK THE GUINNESS WORD RECORD FOR EATING 335 BAKED BEANS WITH A TOOTH PICK IN TWO MINUTES. THE RECORD IS HELD BY A BELGIUM TEAM. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images).
If you can’t find a Dunkin’ within 100 feet, you aint lookin’ hard enough
Dunkin’ is a staple here. We start our day with Dunkin’ coffee. We end our day with Dunkin’ coffee. There is a Dunkin’ on almost every block in the city.
CHICAGO – SEPTEMBER 07: A cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and a donut bag sit on a counter September 7, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. In an effort to compete with Starbucks in the lucrative coffee market, Dunkin? Donuts has announced a goal of opening more than 10,000 new stores in the U.S. by 2020. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
On the highways, route 93 turns into 95, vice versa and it also turns into 128 and there are two areas of route 3 and MORE
Our highways can be VERY confusing. Make sure you’re paying attention.
378964 01: Students walk past a banner September 22, 2000 promoting the first presidential debate to be held at the University of Massachusetts at Boston in Boston MA. The October 3, 2000 debate between democratic hopeful Vice President Al Gore and republican hopeful Texas Governor George W. Bush will be covered by more than 2000 journalists according to Boston officials. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Newsmakers)