Explain Boston to Me

In this episode, we're taking a walk down one of Boston's most iconic commercial corridors. Courtney Flynn is the second generation running Trident Booksellers & Cafe, which has been located on the "wrong side" of Newbury Street for almost 40 years. We  chat about running a small business in a city notorious for red tape, Newbury Comics, and who you'd rather sit next to at a bar: a rabid Philly sports fan or a rabid Boston sports fan.

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This week, I'm joined by two former Harvard Square Pit rats to talk about why suburban kids were drawn to this spot, the legacy of counter-culture in Harvard Square, and the spiritual — and physical — death of The Pit. We touch on the woes of gentrification, Soul Asylum, town versus gown tensions, and why it's always important to test out your vinyl shirt in a safe space before you wear it to high school. 

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Local writer Sean Maloney explains how the '70s scene in Boston set the stage for the Modern Lovers, and why Jonathan Richman continues to provide inspiration for some of the biggest acts of all time. He also claims it used to be cheap to live in Cambridge. What a life! In addition, we've got tangents on famous male virgins, coaching trees, and the local-music Mount Rushmore. 

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Today, things are taking a slightly more serious turn. It can’t be all orange dinosaurs and curbside sectionals over here. We’re talking about the Boston Marathon, and we can’t really do that without also talking about the 2013 Marathon Bombing.  With help from journalist Kevin Koscwara, I learn about what this annual event means to the region . #BostonStrong

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Today, we’re talking about the North Shore, and about Route 1 — that mecca of kitsch and nostalgia — in particular. To learn more, I spoke with a woman who’s mom was sent into labor by a lobster pie at Hilltop Steakhouse.

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On the first ever episode of "Explain Boston to Me,"  we’re talking about Allston Christmas, the smorgasbord of free curbside stuff that happens every September 1. To explain this phenomenon — and to give the overall scoop on Allston — host Lee Stabert is chatting with Matt Shearer, a reporter for WBZ News Radio. You might have heard him over the airwaves, but if you’re under 40 you’re probably more likely to have seen one of his viral “man on the street” segments pinging around the internet. Check him out @reportermatt on instagram or @WBZnewsradio on TikTok. 

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