Schedule > Meeting #5 (May 2)

Discussion Session

Today we'll take a break from walking tours/workshops so we'll have time to talk about your homework from the last couple of weeks, review the tours/workshops we've done, and talk about what's coming up in the next month.

Please bring your photographs and the captions you wrote for your favorite photos. (If you have them in digital format and can't print them out, send them to me and I'll take care of it).

Neighborhood Exercise

Have you ever noticed a "Best of Boston" award hanging in a restaurant or store window? Every year the Boston Magazine judges who has the best restaurant, hair salon, bookstore, baker, etc. and publishes their opinions in a special issue. But what do you think are the best parts of where you live?

Pretend this week that you've been picked to choose the 2002 "Best of Quincy," "Best of Roxbury," or "Best of Brookline" awards for the place you live. Your homework is to hand out eight awards to places in your area, some of which can be the same kind as the Best of Boston Awards (to see their list, click here), and some can be ones you've made up (be creative). Included a brief description of what makes each selection "the best." E-mail it to me by Wednesday night and we'll share them with each other on Thursday.

For example, here's my list for Allston:

Best Ethnic Restaurant: Cafe Brazil (great seafood, friendly service, nice atmosphere)

Best Ice Cream: Herrels (rated one of the top ten best ice cream places in the country; great homemade black raspberry; lots of flavors)

Best Thrift Store: Urban Renewals and Goodwill (rich Boston University students keep these stores stocked with quality, name brand clothes for cheap)

Best Burgers: Sunset Bar and Grill (make-your-own burger gives you plenty of interesting options)

Best Hardware Store: Model Hardware (good prices, no frills; staffed by locals who know their stuff; Portuguese spoken if you need it)

Best Place to Park without a Boston Parking Sticker: Gordonand Saunders Streets (no permit parking, safe neighborhoods, plenty of spots if you park at the right times).

Best Laundromat: Boston Cleansing (it's the ordinary person's place to wash clothes; good prices; multicultural atmosphere; little waiting)

Best Hole-in-the-Wall Diner: Steve's Restaurant (cheapest food in Allston)