Boston with my Babe

This trip to Boston has been much different than my last in two ways:
(1) We had a whole day to explore the city
(2) It was not freeeeezing cold

DAY 1
Daniel Wayne attended college here at Berklee and will be the first to tell you that was a rewarding but sometimes hard place for him to live. While he attended school, he didn't do much of anything except music, music, music, commute through the icy North-Eastern winds and more music. You may hear him refer to this time period as his "challenging time." But whether it was challenging for him or not, I have still always been curious to travel through his old haunts and get a feel for what his life was like during that time. He tells me I bring sunshine to this town:) I think exploring the city without school obligations and pressures gave Boston and Wing an opportunity to bond. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

We started the day taking the T from our hotel in South Boston to his apartment in Brookline. While we are sitting on the train we each get a warning of flash floods sent to our iPhones. Everyone all over the city received the message at the same time. I didn't know whether to be impressed or creeped out that this phone was aware of my location. But I guess there is a comfort of knowing I will be informed of any earthquake/storm/tsunami headed my way.

The Brookline neighborhood was possible one of my favorites I have ever walked through. It was peaceful and so quiet that we could walk down the middle of the streets (my favorite place to walk) without interruption. The houses were all different colors but still fairly uniform in structure and if it makes sense, very New Englandy.

Love this face. Also, note the rain drops in the puddle.

Wing's building was what you would call the 'ugly building on the block' but was still more beautiful than any apartment building in California. It is big, rectangular and brick. He lived on the third floor on the backside that faced the ally. We could't go into the apartment but the front door still didn't lock so we stepped into the stairwell. The room smelled of musky cats and mold. Daniel said it hadn't changed a bit.

Wing on his familiar doorstep. It smelled like cat.

Cute door a little further down the street.

We walked from there to the Pizza place close by, his local CVS and grocery store. It was eery for him to be back and fun for me to picture, short-haired, scrub wearing, no beard Daniel wandering the aisles of the store for the perfect gummy candy or chocolate/peanut butter ice cream.

From there we took the T towards Berklee, first stopping off at Newbury St., a long lane of shops and boutiques. By that time, it really started to pour, maybe the most intense rain storm I've ever been caught in. The drops were so large that you would get drenched from a walk across the street but it wasn't completely miserable because it was so dang hot outside. Nonetheless, keeping our clothes from getting soaked completely through was paramount. We ended up sprinting from store front to store front until the clouds parted to blue skies out of nowhere.

Newbury Street bipolar weather.

We walked over to Berklee with the sun beating down. We walked through one of the campus' buildings and Daniel showed me some of his old classrooms. Though I only overheard fragments of lectures, I am certain: music school isn't for me.

We need lunch. 

We took another subway to Quincy Market downtown for lunch. The schizophrenic weather continued as it started to drizzle. We picked up bread bowls of delicious New England Clam Chowder (in NEW ENGLAND) and candy to snack on for the baseball game that night. When we finished eating it had started to pour and I mean P-O-U-R!!!!! The puddles on the lumpy cobblestone streets connected to form lakes large enough to jet ski. We knew we could't make it back to the T right then so we shopped a little downtown. The closest store was Coach, not necessarily our style but the proximity was ideal. After hiding out there for 20 minutes, the merchandise started to look appealing. I have been in the market for a new wallet pouch (because I can't deal with normal wallets) and Coach has just about every size, color and shape...plus we were stranded there anyway. The worker there could tell we were out-of-towners right of the bat. He also guessed we were from LA because we looked "like we stepped right out of Coachella." Hahahaha He said he meant it as a compliment but I'm not so sure. He said that "it's cute" but people just don't dress that way on the East Coast. Well, I could have told you that. I'm walking around in 90 degree weather and people left and right are wearing cardigans for heaven's sake.

Clam Chowda' in my "Coachella outfit"

A similar experience happened at Banana Republic, again a place I don't normally shop but when in Rome. I told the sales associate that I didn't want to buy the necklace I tried on because it's not the right chain length for me, which he responded "you just don't have the right blouse." No duh, I'm not Nancy Reagan.

That night we attended the Red Sox game with seats right down by the field. It was so fun to sit so close, I even had to duck a few times because of fowl balls. Yes, I ducked and covered. I'm reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George gets amazing seats to the Yankee game but still complains because he was told they'd have front row and was looking forward to putting his feet on the dugout but when he gets there he can't because he's actually in the 2nd row. Classic George. I love that show. "Radioactive" played over the loud speakers in-between the 3rd and 4th inning. They played about a whole minute of the song, it was so surreal! A quick stop for Thai food on the way home where Wing got recognized by a cute high school band that were at Berklee doing a 5-week summer program. They asked him all sorts of industry questions. It was really sweet. Then straight to the hotel to bed. That day wore me out!

Red Sox 

New wallet and ring.

DAY 2
I decided to walk along the water while the boys did promo. You'll notice throughout my blog that I should probably have lived in a Jane Austin novel with how much I love to walk. I strolled from the venue towards the cityscape and then got the idea to try and find the spot of the Boston Tea Party. It was only about a mile but the humidity did a number on my lunges and my hair. I wanted to go into the museum but decided against it when I was informed I would have to take an hour and a half guided tour. I'm more of a free spirit. Just kidding, I am, but that's not why I didn't do the tour. It's because I was so exhausted from the heat that I didn't think I could handle a tour and then the whole walk back. Normally I could walk all day every day but the humid heat is a killer.

World Trade Center Boston

Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum

Grateful for a gust of wind to cool me down.

This milk is just the right size for Daniel Wayne.

After soundcheck, we stopped by the Fish Market in front of the venue for Lobster Roll sandwiches. It was expensive but super fresh and delicious lobster and crispy french fries. Mm mm good! The spot was even featured on "Diners Drive-ins and Dives"

THE SHOW

The Venue: Bank of America Pavilion (right on the harbor)
Bands: Imagine Dragons, The Neighbourhood and X Ambassadors

View of the venue from the outside. 

About two-thirds of the 5,000 cap venue.

Sold out! 

Rocks 

Dan drummin' upside down

Radioactive

Such a great show! It is overwhelming to see the audience this big. So fun to have our friend Danielle and my cousin Megan with her fiancé, Quinn there! Wonderful to catch up and see their beautiful faces.