Tim Douglas: One of the greatest things about Boston and the Back Bay in particular is that—truly a town that thinks it is a city. And no days have more apparent that during the Boston Marathon when the whole city and several other, or the nearest suburbs, come downtown to the Back Bay and all tried to get a glimpse at this moment—the Finish Line of the Boston Marathon.
We are here at No. 70 Beacon Street. This is one of the first buildings ever put to land in the Back Bay. And you can see the windows—very purple tint. This comes from a certain type of glass at one point back in the 1800. It was being imported, I believe from India. After exposure to sunlight for a long time, this glass would turn purple and instead of defective which is what it was, became very fashionable and so all the prominent houses in the Back Bay had to have their purple tinted windows.
Built in the early 70’s, we are standing at the foot of the Hancock Tower, one of the most distinctive buildings in all of the city. Designed by IM Pei, it is entirely reflective of the neighborhood around it. Unfortunately, the designers did not take into account the high winds in the area. Boston is actually windier that Chicago. Soon after construction, huge panes of glass, much bigger that me started popping out of the side of the building and descending obviously to the street below. It was tenths time in Boston, they have since fixed the problem though.
Here we are in Newbury Street. Store for store—as I have been told the most expensive retail street in the country, beating out Rodeo Drive only it is because one way. When I first came to town, there were all kinds of used bookstore, used record stores a lot of those have gone by the wayside. There is also certainly a lot of high-end boutiques, salons, art galleries and like. Many of them still remained but even some of those had been forced to leave due to the absurd rent rates on Newbury Street.
Maria Rodriguez: In that street, it is like very wrong. So, even if you do not want to spend any money, there is somehow you do. You know, because it is really good stores and the people are very warm so that is what I would say. All you have to go, and if do, do not miss the Newbury Street.
Pat Fontes: People from out of state know Newbury Street in that area, so us being here, we are just stomped away, like I mean we are off to be in pod a little but we are not that much. We are record store dedicated to underground, LPs singles. Mainly electronic music but we do touch base in any other form. We are almost like a word of mouth kind of store, you know, come all and pop. One day I wish I could have lived in a penthouse in this neighborhood. It is a nice neighborhood.
Maria Rodriguez: The color of hair, nails to me it is the best and it is a great salon. It is like something that you do it for yourself and you feel good because it is just like you doing are this and it is a time for you and when you look back and when you look at hands, it is like—it is a difference. If you do not know how your nails done, you are having a bad day, trust me, it is not a good thing.
Pat Fontes; I like at the Match which used to be the Blue Catacafe, it is nice place you know, clean. And their Espresso Martinis are bomb. Trident Bookstore—good breakfast, pretty place, Other Side Café—their service is all that great but if you are inter for a beer or just a sandwich, it is golden.
Maria Rodriguez: I would like to go to The Ritz-Carlton which is a great place to go, very good environment, The Jury’s also I have been there—it is really nice. The Capital Grille. Louis is a great place. The restaurant is great, I do not if you have not been there?
Tim Douglas: We are on the shores of the Charles River which was once one of the most polluted rivers in the world. After years of environmental work, this is perfectly swimmable though residents are not very anxious to try it there, just quite yet. During summer time, this is a haven for runners or roller bladers, bikers—it is fabulous, almost resort within the city.
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