bostonbubble.com

[john p]

http://www.explorenewengland.com/travel/explorene/capecod/blog/2006/07/the_revere_beac.html

I'm told that Bianchi's is closing because they are developing the property in and around there. This place represents the heart and soul of old school Boston. If they put in a Starbucks I think I'd puke. That beach had motorcycles, muscle cars, dogs, bikinis, amazing pizza, roast beef sandwiches, lemon slush, the sun, the ocean... I loved it there; it was an oasis for me when I was younger. I just got back from Italy, first time, I can see how a lot of the culture carried over here, the personalities, the quality and freshness of everyday staple food, wine, family and friends breaking balls and having fun etc.

Steven Puleo, whose latest book about the Boston Italians, writes about how Italians aren't known for being writers so a lot of the culture doesn't get fully understood or recorded.

http://www.stephenpuleo.com/

All I can say is that you have to get out there and experience all the different cultures in Boston before the neighborhoods get gentrified and yuppified. I've listen to yuppies made fun of the poor Italian guy that would use a bathtub to shelter his shrine to the Holy Mother. A lot of these people didn't have much to bring when they came here, but not having much makes you realize what is really important and what you bring from one generation to the next. If you're not grounded like this you'll never appreciate what you have. If you've never been beaten down you'll never know what stuff it takes to get back up. Boston has tough people because we are grounded in this stuff.

Lastly, if you're new here in Boston, do your best to find the hidden gems and dig deep in to the local culture, talk to people at bars so that we don't end up throwing away the baby with the bathwater. And then try the pizza and you'll understand why Italians are so passionate about food.