What a difference five years makes...
I graduated college in 1998, and have only been back to Boston a few times since.
But change is the nature of any city, any place at all.
And Boston has changed a LOT.
Some changes to Boston were for aesthetics, or business reasons.
Some for security.
But Boston is as beautiful as ever. From the East, the skyline isn't much different.
But the real change is in the west.
This is officially the coolest building in all of Boston.
Ever see that old movie "Metropolis?"
Then that's where you've seen this building before.
It's part of Prudential Center, their new big building.
It was so cool, I couldn't stop taking pictures of it.
There's a lot of new stuff in Boston...
But this was the coolest change of all.
Some things never change.
Bova's is still open 24 hours in the North End. Bova's kept me alive the summer of '99.
And there was a couch in this apartment that kept me warm. Though the friends have long since moved.
This bridge by North Station is new. Part of the 20 year old "Big Dig" project that never seems to end.
The Hancock Tower is there, but the observation deck is closed on account of terror. It had the best view of Boston, and a really great history program. Maybe someday they'll stop being afraid and reopen it.
The Christian Science Center reopened the Mapparium.
After a four-year $1 Million Dollar renovation, it's finally back for visitors to walk through.
Imagine a globe turned inside out. And there's a bridge through the middle. That's the Mapparium. (image courtesy roadsideamerica.com)
But the map is frozen in time, with countries like the "USSR" and "Belgian Congo" still shown. (Image courtesy the Mapparium.)
No photos were allowed inside, so I've borrowed these three images. (Image courtesy the Mapparium.)
The Citgo Sign in Kennmore Square still lights up.
And Boston is still reeling from their loss to the Yankees.
Fenway Park's Green Monster has seats on it now. That's new.
Apparently they're expensive.
Tower Records is now Virgin Records. (Not really sure that's worth mentioning.)
The view from Copley Square is getting some work.
The street is all torn up in front of the Library.
They're doing work on Trinity Church. The water table has shifted, so they're repairing the 4500 wooden poles that go from the foundation into the clay.
They'll be working on it for at least another year.
"Comm Ave" is still the same.
Full of monuments of people sitting in chairs or standing at podiums.
But this is my favorite one.
This guy, Sam Morison, he's a lucky dog. He's got the most coolest monument on the whole street.
His rock overlook is mounted in a fake beach, complete with bronze crabs and bronze seaweed on it.
And Sam perpetually contemplates the "sea."
"Dream Dreams Then Write Them Aye, But Live Them First."
Took a stroll down Marlboro Street.
Ran into a Halloween Carnival at the 1st and 2nd Church. (It's called that because back in '68 the 1st church burned, so they moved in with the 2nd church.)
Pony rides, candy, swap meet, bake sale, face painting, you name it.
I used to have classes in the church. It's a Unitarian Church, so they don't mind a class on Eastern Religions taught in their sanctuary.
Spooky witches and balloons.
And a special visit by Ladder 17.
The kids were crazy for the ladder truck.
They could climb up and look at the ladder, extended out over Berkeley Street.
The Firemen were all pretty cool and good with the kids.
And their machine was beautiful - of course.
Spooooooky Halloween decorations near Arlington Street.
This is new. Outside the Public Library is a new "City Toilet."
For a quarter you can go inside and do your business.
It was really clean and "welcoming"
It was really elaborate. A guy could live in there, except it kicks you out after 25 minutes.
When you're done, just push the button...
And the doors whoosh open. Like on "Star Trek."
Paid a visit to my old haunt, F.A.O. Schwarz. The company has been hit hard in the last few years, and I wanted to see if their second flagship store was still "intact."
Welcome to our world of toys.
They'd redone my old home. I used to be the Mayor of Action City, back when I worked here. The TV wall and superhero decorations are all gone. Not much Action left in Action City.
Heyo.
Continue to Page 2 for Sunset in Boston, Emerson College, the Esplanade, and the Lights of the City after dark!