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Mother Nature shows no mercy when it comes to winters in Boston. But with bitter cold and blizzards bombarding us year after year, we Bay Staters know how to handle the harsher months with pride. Whether it’s by hitting the slopes at ski resorts throughout New England or warming up by the fireplaces of our favorite restaurants, we’re always ready to ride out the worst of the weather. As we once again face the season of numbing temperatures and foot after foot of snow, be sure to look out for these 18 tell-tale signs that it’s officially winter in Boston.
1. Your apartment is either a blazing inferno or an arctic tundra, based on whether or not your landlord has turned on the heat for the entire building.
2. Restaurants haul out heaters, igloos and yurts in an attempt to make outdoor dining in subfreezing temperatures seem hip instead of completely insane.
3. Everyone’s suddenly an armchair meteorologist, and words like “Nor’easter,” “polar vortex” and “windchill” inevitably make their way into daily conversations.
4. Bar stools are occupied by piles of Canada Goose, LL Bean and North Face outerwear instead of people.
5. Holiday Dunkin’ cups can be seen in gloved hands throughout the city.
6. Large household items like lawn chairs, garbage cans and ironing boards line the streets to block off shoveled spots.
7. Your friends flee the city every weekend, bound for the slopes of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
8. The non-athletic friends who remain would rather cocoon on the comfy couch rather than venture out into the cold after dark.
9. There’s a sudden absence of tourists because they realize it’s not all sunshine and seafood anymore.
10. Grocery store shelves are suddenly ravaged and void of all eggs, bread and milk at even the slightest threat of a snowstorm.
11. The T becomes crammed with a sea of puffy coat-clad commuters.
12. Waterproof, insulated boots start to seem like the only footwear you will ever know.
13. Sports bars are brimming with bundled-up Bruins and Celtics fans seeking shelter from the cold and a big screen TV to watch the game.
14. There’s a group text thread debating how many inches of snow we’re really expected to get.
15. Cars are abandoned under a sheet of snow and ice because sometimes, you would rather surrender your vehicle to the elements than have to pick up a shovel.
16. You have to tack on another 15 minutes to your commute time to scrape the ice off your car every single morning.
17. Schools and municipal buildings decide to close because it’s literally too cold out to function.
18. It snows so much that the governor declares a state of emergency.