Rebuttal

Friends-

A friend sent me a blog post titled "A Love Letter from Boston to San Francisco" this morning and I immediately took issue with it. Possibly as a cathartic exercise or maybe just out of loyalty, I felt that I needed to defend my dear Boston that had been unfairly accused on multiple counts. 

Below is my rebuttal to Rima Abousleiman's love letter. 

There's quite a bit of Rima bashing throughout, but I'd like to clarify that Rima is a terrible person and is absolutely incorrect about the city and people of Boston. 

Dear Boston,

My friends will be the first to tell you that I’ll defend San Francisco in all its glory to the death. The city’s virtues are innumerable; as Rima Abousleiman highlights, San Francisco’s Mexican food and weather are unparalleled. However, I feel as though she makes some contentions about you, my dear Boston, that are ungrounded and extraordinarily unfair. Shall we begin?

Boston, we met seven years ago during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school. Can you believe it’s been so long? It took a bit of time for me to warm up to you. “God it’s hot here,” I remember thinking. But you won me over with your brick buildings, lobster rolls, and gorgeous Wellesley College.

Admittedly, the weather in my beloved Boston was a huge shock my first year. Our cross country preseason double days were some of the hottest moments of my life. I remember on a particularly grueling Mass Bay 8-miler thinking, “this must be what dying feels like” and spending the majority of my free time sleeping or drinking water. Fall was when I truly fell in love with New England; red, orange, yellow, and even purple foliage prompted me to take about 1000 photos and claim to my coach “so…autumn really is a season” (one of the many stupid things I said/did regarding weather my first year). Once winter finally arrived, I was in shock. My freshman year roommate insisted we make a snowman out of the 1.5-inch dusting we received in early December. Getting on the last flight out before the blizzard hit at the end of the semester was unnecessarily nerve-wracking. As we all know, spring is a huge myth, or at best, about 15 minutes in late April, before the hot, humid summers return. I’ll never understand my New England friends who claim they love ‘seasons’. Seasons are the worst.

All that said, Rima Abousleiman, you are incorrect about my Boston.

Your contention about the people of Boston, Rima Abousleiman, is how I know that you’re an idiot and probably a terrible person. The community I found in Boston is unlike any I could have imagined. As a city of colleges and universities, Boston is full of educated, young people that challenged me intellectually, supported me emotionally, and tore up the city with me. While the Townie bro is alive and well, Massholes are virtually nonexistent. Ask the Scires, the warmest, most loving and welcoming family you could find. Or the Shanleys, who opened their Plymouth home to me for Thanksgiving. JUST LIKE THE PILGRIMS. The list of amazing Massachusetts natives goes on and on so check yourself, Rima Abousleiman, before I make someone hold my earrings.

Boston, like San Francisco, is a city of transplants. That said, people come to Boston to study at some of the top universities in the world, rather than moving to Silicon Valley to start an app. Sure, people in San Francisco are friendly, but my Boston friends are fiercely loyal. I had to hold off telling Molly Finn when an ex-boyfriend cheated on me because I knew she’d egg his car or kick him where it hurts. Kate Bergstrom let me complain for 1000 hours (this is a conservative estimate) about a stressful and challenging professional situation. I’m pretty sure I’ve spent days of my life on the couch at 64 P St. In total, my friends threw three going away parties for me to both celebrate my staying in Boston and offering me the warmest send-off I could ask for. The examples could go on and on. The people in Boston are just one of the many things that make this city great. You are the best people in the world. You’re my family. I love you.

Boston is a pretty flat city, Rima. That’s not a totally unfair statement. Wait…have you been to Beacon Hill? How about Brookline? Bunker Hill? I’ve heard there’s a hill near Boston that breaks peoples’ hearts. And since when is walking on hills the only way to get exercise? Tell that to the thousands of people that run on the Charles every day.

Two bookstores? You’re joking right? I’m just going to leave this here: http://www.boston.com/ae/books/gallery/usedbookstores/ Also, Boston has been named the most educated city in the country. I’m pretty sure reading is a big part of that. 

While I agree that Boston’s Mexican food leaves much to be desired, you’re ignoring all the other amazing food in the city. You specifically highlighted bagels in San Francisco, which admittedly, are pretty good, but back off of Boston’s bagels. Bagel Rising in Allston literally makes a trip to ALLSTON (whose hipsters give San Francisco’s a run for their money) worth it. Go into any restaurant in the North End. Seriously. Do it. The Italian food is better than in Italy. The South End has given me meals that would make you weep. Neptune Oyster House consistently delivers one of the top five meals I’ve ever had. Russell House Tavern’s secret burger should be illegal it’s so good. I suspect the secret ingredient in Sweet's frosting is crack. That's the only explanation for why it's so addictive. Mike’s and Modern make cannoli that people literally line up down the block for. Don’t start about Boston’s food; I will dance circles around you all day.

You’re right, Rima Abousleiman. Boston is a city that’s definitely not known for drinking. Definitely not. First of all, everyone knows Boston doesn’t have any happy hours because, thanks Puritans, it’s against the law. Those of us in the know (everyone) have figured out plenty of ways to get around that. Coogan’s dollar draughts every night of the week make getting buzzed while watching the Niners beat the Seahawks (or really anyone; shout out Pecherer) affordable. Zocalo’s bottomless mimosas are not only reasonably priced, but delicious enough to even make Annie Fairfield-Sonn drink in the morning.  If you’re concerned about whiskey, I’d suggest you check out Citizen Public House near Fenway where the selection is 200 strong. And finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Old Faithful: the Beacon Hill Pub, where beers are $3, mixed drinks are $4, and the Hoops machine offers free games about half the time. San Francisco is also doing beer wrong. Sure 21^st Amendment beers are great but have you ever had Shipyard’s Pumpkin beer? How about Sam Adam’s Porch Rocker? Harpoon’s beers and pretzels are not to be messed with. It’s not Boston, Rima Abousleiman, it’s you.

Boston, you were my home for a wonderful six years. Though our relationship was tumultuous, I’m grateful for the amazing friends and experiences you gave me. I have yet to see a more resilient, proud, and vibrant city. I’ll be back soon. Save a stool at BHP for me.

Love,

Libby