Appreciating Boston

You know how people say "you don't know what you've got until it's gone"? They were right, you really don't. I'll be outta here in a few weeks and I'm kinda upset that I didn't get to spend very much time exploring Boston. That was actually my New Years Resolution, to explore Boston more, looks like I dropped the ball on that one.

But in all seriousness, this is a great city, probably one of the best in the country. I wish I could say that I've been to the Commons and all the other hot spots in the city, but sadly I haven't. Maybe next year I'll make the effort to spend my free time in the city instead of in a dorm room.

Either way, to anyone reading this, explore Boston. It's a once in a lifetime chance to see a city as a college student and really get to know the city inside and out. The T makes the city so accessible it's ridiculous and you can have a really good time for little or no money.

When you come to BC you're not going to school in a college town, your going to school in a city, and one full of colleges at that. Really take advantage of all the city has to offer, you won't regret it I promise.

Jake

Adventure through Boston!

Hey all,

Today, I went for a bit of an adventure through the streets of Boston. I think it's a pretty good (if tourist-y) route, so I figured I'd share some highlights:


View Walking Tour! in a larger map

We took the BC Shuttle down the road to hop on the D Line of the T:

Blue - Got off train 20 minutes later at Copley Plaza, left the stop and immediately found something interesting. I've never been in the Boston Public Library, and, oh my, was it enormous. And free!

Red - Walking past all the ritzy boutiques and art stores and cafes along the famous Newbury Street.

Green - Walked through the lovely spring-time Boston Gardens, and by the also famous Swan Boats (they were not running today, sadly). We then continued through Boston's version of Central Park, the Boston Commons. Lots of frisbee, dog walking, and Merry-Go-Rounding on a nice day here.

Teal - Hit up historic Tremont Street, one of the first routes of the Freedom Trail through downtown Boston. Strange that some of the people responsible for the creation of this country walked along that exact road.

Yellow - The circus was in town... literally! The Big Apple Circus tent was set up in the middle of the expansive Government Center plaza, outside the *gorgeous* (sarcasm) City Hall. We continued our walk past that irrational excitement that surrounds circuses, to

Purple - Quincy Market and Fanueil Hall, one of the main tourist centers and a very handy marketplace, entertainment center and shopping plaza for everyone. We watched one of the many street performers balance on the top rung of a 10-foot ladder while juggling three daisies, spinning a pillow on a pole off his mouth and doing comedic stand-up. Needless to say, he earned a tip from us.

Red - Finally, we made it to our destination! Annddd... way past it, accidentally. But after a bit of backtracking, we sat down and tasted the glorious Mike's Pastries (though personally, I'm partial to Modern Pastries across the street). Located in the heart of the Italian-influenced North End, and in the middle of downtown Hanover Street, you really can't go wrong with a trip to Mike's, Modern, Cafe Vittoria, the Gelateria, Pizzeria Regina, or really anywhere else in that neighborhood. Mmmm...

So there's your introductory walking guide to Boston. I'm two years in, 20 years native of the suburbs, and still love walking around to see all the things I've seen before, while finding all the new things I've never noticed. More to come soon, of course!

Meantime, email me!
~Joe
mahonjc@bc.edu

Boston

Hey y’all,

My name is Katherine McKenna, and I’m an economics major from Houston, TX. One of my favorite things about BC is the city of Boston. One of the cool things about BC is that we’re out in the suburbs, and we have awesome football games and tailgates just like other big schools, but you can also hop on the T (the subway) and go into downtown Boston or Cambridge. The trip usually takes about 20 minutes, and it is definitely worth it.

There are a ton of fun things to explore in Boston. My friends and I love to go to Newbury Street when the weather’s nice on Saturday or Sunday to go shopping and eat lunch. There are also lots of really cool museums and historical sites around Boston. Being in a city full of colleges is a blast. You can go check out parties at other schools like MIT or Harvard (who actually have fun parties, shocking huh?) or go see a concert at the House of Blues or other venues.

There are a ton of schools in Boston, and therefore there’s always something cool to check out. However, BC is nice because it is not directly in the hustle of the city.

Thanks,
Katherine

February Recap

Hey all!

I've had quite a remarkable past couple weeks, for which I want to briefly share some highlights. Moving from the future, backwards:

Tomorrow: I'm going to see The Lion King at the Boston Opera House!

Yesterday: I went to the ALC Ball (AHANA Leadership Council) at Copley Plaza Hotel. They bused hundreds of students into the city for quite the night of semi-formal dance-floor mayhem (and lots of really good food)! A popular event every year, it certainly lived up to its reputation as being "like Prom, but in college!". Well done once again, ALC!

Last week: Much of my last week of class is a bit fuzzy in my memory, as between my three exams and a paper - analyzing the use of Goethe's Gretchen in Faust in the lieder (songs) of Franz Schubert compared to that of Carl Loewe, in case you were wondering what it was about - all due in the first half of the week, I slept less than any human ever ought to (mostly due, of course, to my own procrastination). Still, I am loving all of my classes this semester, and I'm starting to feel like an actual college student. I'm not sure when this began, or how or why it is the case, but I'm just going to roll with it. And I'm falling in love once again - with Bapst Library.

Last weekend: An incredibly eye-opening experience at a Kairos weekend retreat. I won't get into details, because in case you ever end up going yourself, this retreat simply does not work if you already know anything about it.

Monday, Feb. 8th: Pretty exciting night, started with hundreds of Eagles packing onto a single T line train (MBTA) - which effectively prevented some of our opponents, the BU Terriers who live down the street, from getting on our train. Getting off in downtown Boston, we had to walk a bit to the TD Bank Garden for the BC/BU Beanpot Tournament Championship hockey game. While the game was incredibly close towards the end, BC held on for the 4-3 win! "We are!" - "B-C!"

Well, that's enough for now, I'll be back later in the week!

Joe M.
mahonjc@bc.edu

The Environment of Boston College

It only takes a quick glance at any promotional brochure to realize that Boston College has a beautiful campus. Located six miles west of downtown Boston in charming Chestnut Hill, a village of Newton, Boston College’s beautiful, collegiate gothic architecture is nestled an array of plush vegetation (that turns stunning in the autumn). The superficial beauty certainly improves times spent on campus. Still other ways in which the campus is arranged subtly enhance the college experience.

Firstly, student life is closely tied to academia. Geographically speaking, the vast majority of students live on campus, with the exception of a fraction of the junior class that is obligated to find off-campus housing for one year. I particularly like this feature because it allows for easy access to university facilities and resources. Additionally, BC’s campus is rather compact and far more navigable than the campuses of large state universities. Walking to class, the library, the stadium, et cetera takes almost no time at all.

Secondly, as I said before the campus is very aesthetically pleasing, but the pretty sights around the Heights have (I feel) a stronger moral impact on students. I have found that just living in a beautiful place will positively affect my mood any given day. If finals begin to burden me with stress or if I failed to meet my goals for a recent paper, I can always find some shred of relief in my life on this gorgeous campus.

Lastly, the charm is not limited exclusively to Boston College. Downtown Boston blends aged and contemporary architecture in fascinating ways that lend it much character. And neighboring Brookline offers a homey, uptown outlet for students as well.

The beauty criterion is frequently minimized in the college selection process, and it should be when compared criteria such as academics, school size, or geographic location. It really should not be the sole rationale behind an application, but that being said the beauty of BC certainly does improve the time spent here.

Until next time,
William

Free Time in Boston

Hello, prospective Eagles. My name is William, and I am a sophomore at BC in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science.

In my time at Boston College, I have found that dull moments are few and far between. The university and the city of Boston together offer more options for entertainment than anyone ever needs. This past Saturday was a perfect example. I woke up at 6:50 (which is a little atypical, believe you me) and hiked up to the Dust Bowl for the live broadcast of ESPN’s College Gameday on Campus. It was very rainy and I got drenched, BUT I got free ESPN memorabilia and thoroughly enjoyed myself through it all. I picked up lunch around noon, and returned to my room to dry my clothes just before heading to the actual football game—a nail-biter win against Florida State. The game ended at about 7:00, and I immediately headed from the stadium to the nearest T station for dinner and a concert downtown. I returned to campus at about 11:30, and as much as I would have liked to perpetuate my ever-active Saturday, I was so exhausted that I had to just retire to my residence hall, watch Saturday Night Live, with some friends, and call it a day.

That is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest features of Boston College. The school hosts plenty of events--lectures, plays, concerts, panels, games, the works—that you practically never need to leave campus for entertainment. Simultaneously, the city of Boston offers such a wide array of opportunities and activities--shows, shopping, restaurants, professional sports, museums, historical sites, et cetera--that tempt you to just travel downtown every day. So I’ll say it again: there’s never a dull moment during your time at Boston College. The university and the city together have too much to offer, plainly speaking.

Until next time,
William,
A&S ‘12

About me and my sophomore year so far!

Hi! I'm Libby and this is my first post! I will start by telling you a little bit about myself.

I am from Woodbury, Minnesota, but have lots of family on the East Coast so I have spent tons of time in the Boston area throughout my life. I actually lived in Duxbury, Massachusetts for two years when I was 7-8. I've played competitive traveling softball since I was 9 and enjoy co-ed intramural softball here at BC!

I am a sophomore and an Economics major in the school of Arts and Sciences. In the beginning of last year, I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to major in, between Psychology and Economics. It turned out, I grew to love Econ and decided to do a Sociology minor in place of a Psych major! I chose Sociology rather than Psychology because although I loved science in high school, my interests changed when I got to BC. I decided I like that Sociology focuses more on group interaction versus Psychology's study of the individual and the brain. I have always loved math! So, in addition to the Econ major and Soc minor I am hoping to take 6 classes in the business school: I considered applying to transfer to the Carroll School of Management last year, but decided I would instead take up to 6 classes in CSOM since BC allows it, and stay in A&S! I am taking Financial Accounting this semester to start my CSOM experience.

Last year, I lived on Upper Campus in Loyola Dormitory and this year I live in an eight-person suite in Walsh on Lower! I am loving it so far.

My first weekend back, in addition to watching BC dominate Northeastern in football, I went into Boston with my boyfriend (we met in Loyola in the beginning of last year!). We started at Boston Commons (the park, lots of people, grass, benches, paths) and migrated through Beacon Hill (tons of beautiful, really expensive homes tucked in a quiet little neighborhood), and walked along the Charles River all the way to a Boston University T-stop! It was really relaxing and it was a good way to spend a gorgeous day.

This weekend was Parents' Weekend. I always think it's really funny to watch all the parents walking around campus and in the dining halls and even in classes with their son/daughter! My boyfriend is from New Hampshire, so his parents came down to watch BC football beat Wake Forest. It was a very nerve wracking game! We had what seemed like a safe lead for a while, but then Wake Forest scored two touchdowns in the end of the 4th quarter to tie the game! Luckily, we made an exciting victory in overtime. After the game, we went to the North End (Italian section of Boston) for a delicious dinner!

Well, I think I'm going to head to the Plex (gym) but if you have any further questions feel free to email me at kroening@bc.edu or keep reading my posts! I hope to post about once a week.

Libby

Marathon Monday!

Yesterday was the 113th Boston Marathon, but it was my first experience witnessing the madness. At Boston College, Marathon Monday is a huge event, one surely looked forward to by all and definitely not to be missed.

In my first year, I chose to partake in the event with a club called the Campus School Volunteers. It was a phenomenal experience. The Campus School is a place for severely handicapped children ages 3-22. They require one-to-one care and many expensive pieces of equipment. The marathoners raise money for the school, and run the marathon for the kids. It was AMAZING! It's a goal that many people in December don't think they can achieve, but after lots of hard work and dedication, our dreams come true as we dash toward the finish line from Hopkinton, MA to Copley Square in Boston.

The greatest thing that I want to stress is the excitement from peers while passing BC. Everyone is so excited, even know they didn't know me, because when you see someone from BC you just feel an overwhelming sense of pride. I felt like I was flying, with everyone slapping my hand and screaming my name. With all of the pride and excitement, BC is the place to be to watch marathon hopefuls make their way to the top of Heartbreak Hill. It's such an amazing time, whether you're running or watching, and can't wait until next year's race!

One week!

Hello!

Sorry it's been so long, so much has been going on! I'm one week away from the big day-- Marathon Monday! Although I'm a little disappointed I won't be partaking in the festivities on campus, I'm really looking forward to hitting that 21 mile mark and running past all the screaming Boston College fans. As I've mentioned before, I'm running with the Campus School Volunteers, along with about 150 other BC students. I'm very excited - but will be very relieved when it's over!

Now that I'm completely done with midterms for the semester (I had 3 right before spring break!), I'm on the home stretch of this school year. Class registration happened last week, and luckily I got into most of the classes I needed/wanted to take. It's weird to think 2 years of college are already over - and some of my friends are going abroad next semester, which is also weird to think about. England, Scotland, Sweden, China... they'll be everywhere! Last week was also the housing lottery - I found out I'll be living in a 4-man in Edmond's! There were 8 of us, but with 5 people going abroad in the Spring, we figured it would be better to block two 4-mans. It should be great.

Tomorrow night I have club field hockey practice (in preparation for our game at Brandeis) and an Irish Society Movie Night-- Boondock Saints!

Well, until next time,
Megan

Weekend Update

Afternoon!

Quick note: today, I saw a whole bunch of tulips starting to sprout! It’s that time of year again!

OK, so this weekend is a busy one for me – in a good way. Last night, a couple friends and I headed into the city to go to a salsa dancing club, called Mambo’s, which was amazing – it’s all ages, cheap, and they even provide lessons for beginners! This is our second time, the first trip was hosted by BC.

(This is a good time to pause and mention the T system, for non-locals – the MBTA, or Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, provides public transportation around Boston. There are two stops from BC, one right out front of the main entrance and one just down the street, accessible via the BC shuttle. A T ride is only $1.70 with a free “Charlie Card”.)

Today, we went back into the city to visit the Garment District, a two-story clothing/costume shop near MIT with all kinds of costumes and inexpensive secondhand clothing for all occasions from all eras. Here, I was looking for a green suit and shirt ($23 total), which will be used tonight at the culmination of the weekend: Middlemarch. Middlemarch is an annual tradition, a costume/theme dance here at BC, involving a secret panel of students to set it up and announce its theme and the instructions on how to get tickets, via scavenger hunt, in the beginning of March (this year's theme: Board Games! The reason I need a green suit: six of us are going as the Clue characters; I am, naturally, Mr. Green). Just imagine: such a secret and high-scale event that it has closed the O’Connell House, the hangout on Upper Campus, for the past week. I can’t wait to see how it looks!

Have to go get ready for later,
Joe

Hi everyone! This is my first time writing on this so let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Megan, and I'm a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. Technically, I'm just a math major, but I plan on double-majoring with economics as well. Usually when I tell people that, they act like I'm crazy... but so far, it's not too bad.

Anyway, it's a Sunday night here at BC, which means I'm taking a break from most of the work I've put off for the weekend. I always think the weekends will be so relaxing and give me time to catch up, but it's always the complete opposite. There are always sooo many different things going on that make me procrastinate even more. Yesterday I woke up early to try to be productive. I went to the gym for a quick workout, but it turned out that the varsity tennis team had a match right on the courts in the Plex. I had finished my run on the treadmill, but I ended up staying for awhile to watch the boys play against Colgate. It was amazing to see that on a Saturday at 10am, there were still plenty of BC students and parents out to support their friends/children.

Later on in the afternoon, some of my friends and I went into Boston for dinner and shopping. Having the T stop right on campus is so convenient... and even if the B line is a little too slow sometimes, you can take the Comm Ave bus to the D line and it's just as simple. That's been one of my favorite parts of BC- having the city right at your fingertips, but not actually living in it. Anyway, we shopped on Newbury Street and ate, then headed back to campus.

I wish I had time to write more but I have to get back to my work. Hopefully I can get to bed at a decent time... I'm exhausted. I'm training to run the Boston Marathon with a group of about 100 other students through the Campus School. Every Sunday morning we do our long group runs, so today was a 13-miler through the streets of Newton and Chestnut Hill. Needless to say, I'm quite tired! Hopefully this will all pay off on April 20th- Marathon Monday!

Have a good week everyone,
Megan

Spring Awakening?

The spring semester is beginning, and while not exactly warm and relaxing, it has started with some pretty sweet moments.

First, and most importantly, of course: it is absolutely prime sledding season. Though the weather is WICKED cold, everyone came back from break with nice warm winter gear, which I enjoyed seeing after having waved goodbye to a friend going home to California in flip flops. Seriously, though – it’s winter. It’s supposed to be cold. Good old Mother Nature dropped a foot or so of snow, which I naturally had to shovel, being home for the holidays. Now, many have found hills around campus, especially here on Newton, to get trays and sleds out and fly down in all kinds of creative - and slightly insane - ways.


We started classes a week ago; we have until tomorrow when Add/Drop period ends to finalize our schedules, and I am still moving around in my schedule. So far so good, though – my professors are great and class times are really quite convenient.

I just went to a meeting for College Bowl, similar to Academic Bowl apparently, which I was never part of, but it deals with trivia. Last night was Zombie, Pirate and Ninja themed night. I hope to go to Laser Tag this Saturday at the O’Connell House, the center of freshmen social life on Upper, and maybe back into the city – my friends and I visited the Museum of Fine Arts for free, since we go to BC. Other extracurriculars abound, and I just applied for a job with the IT support staff.

In Organisms and Populations class, we learned that a blue whale’s testicles weigh over a ton, but a fruit fly has the largest sperm, longer in fact than its body… and this actually related to the lesson in evolutionary progress. In chemistry, we passed around blocks of dry ice that could freeze our fingers off if we held them for too long. Cold potato, anyone? In my philosophy/theology class, we discussed the various college-life habitats, the mating and courting patterns of freshmen, and social structure based on a BAC of 16.7 (or something ridiculous) and the goal of college students in general being able to replace their blood entirely with alcohol. Believe me, these classes are not boring – and far from being inapplicable to life. Except maybe the biology facts… but as a lesson, make sure to put plenty of effort into choosing courses at any school. The teacher can make or break your future in that subject.

Anyway, that’s it for now, I am not envying those that have to go through the selection and application process, though I do sympathize. Good night and good luck!

Joe M.