25 rules to live by in Boston

Boston is a unique place to call home and its quirky nature constantly earns it kudos as one of the top places to live in the country. Sure, our driving is aggressive (we prefer to call it proactive, thank you), and our weather is a rollercoaster. There’s even a love-to-hate response to our accent’s non-rhotic (i.e. "r-dropping") sound, called both the most annoying in the country and the second sexiest. But when it comes to our sense of community, it’s ironclad. And once you’re part of it, you’re in it forever (at least in your own neighborhood). When you want to fit in among your fellow Bostonians, follow these 25 rules to live by in Boston whenever you’re in town. 

How to act like a 'real' Bostonian

1. When it comes to pledging your allegiance to your favorite cannoli, you must pick a side: Modern Pastry or Mike’s Pastry. They might be down the street from each other in the North End, you can only be faithful to one of these local bakeries. So legendary is this feud that there’s a PBS documentary currently being filmed called “Cannoli Wars” narrated by Morgan Freeman.
2. See a beach chair or milk crate in a shoveled-out parking spot after a snowstorm? Leave it. Those are space savers, and you don’t want a territory fight. (Except in the South End, where they have been banned.)
3. We only drink iced coffee from Dunks—all year round. Luckily, there are 85 Dunkins in Boston. Also we call it Dunks or Dunkies. No one actually says Dunkin’ out loud.
4. If possible, shelter in place on and around September 1. In true college town form, this is student season so it’s moving trucks galore (some even causing traffic backups thanks to “Storrowing” – see No. 22). Known as “Allston Christmas,” this is also the day many have to move apartments, leaving behind furniture and home goods to decorate the curbside.
5. Take the T everywhere. It’s the country’s oldest subway, so it’s not in the best shape (or ever on time), but the trains—especially the green line—stop all over the city and outlying areas. Trust us, it is better than driving, there is nowhere to park and the traffic is always terrible.
6. Get to know your sports because Boston loves its teams. Celtics, Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox, Revolution. We have one for every season, and we will dress accordingly in logo-ed garb. We’re also getting a new professional women’s soccer team soon.
7. We have a ton of neighborhoods - all come with different personalities and they’re all great. Among them are the bustling Back Bay, young set of Southie, diverse South End, up-and-coming Eastie, Brahmin-based Beacon Hill, touristy Faneuil Hall and the Italian-heavy North End.
8. Speaking of neighborhoods, Southie and the South End aren’t the same thing, so don’t get confused. And as luck would have it, East Boston is actually more north than the North End.
9. Unlike most major cities, Boston roads aren’t set up on a grid. Instead, the labyrinth of streets is a mix of one-ways leading to more one-ways leading to more one-ways. Remain calm. You can do this.
10. At any given moment, your street could be shut down as a movie set. Most recently, The Instigators (coming in 2024), Netflix’s Don’t Look Up and Free Guy joined the arsenal of other famous flicks shot here, including Goodwill Hunting, Fever Pitch and The Departed.
11. Don’t expect a crazy after-hours scene. We don’t have happy hour, bars close no later than 2am and the T only runs until 12:30am. Translation: This city goes to bed early.
12. Boston may be the fourth most densely populated large city in America, but seemingly no one you meet here is a people person. The secret? While we’re hesitant to say “hello” to or chit chat with strangers, when we’re with our own groups of friends and family, you can’t shut us up.
13. Get yourself a good pair of walking shoes. Boston is completely walkable.
14. Boston is a land of “firsts” (public school, park, library, pub, etc.), and we’ll be the first to tell you if you just walked by something historic.
15. Roast beef and seafood do go together, as evidenced by the popular roast beef and seafood shacks that dot the North Shore. The original Kelly’s Roast Beef is a must in the summertime.
16. Traveling from Boston to Cambridge or vice versa is a big deal. There’s an innate aversion to the trek “across the bridge,” so expect some pushback if you suggest it.
17. If you order fried clam strips instead of whole belly clams, be prepared to get the side-eye from locals. Learn to love the bellies because eating the entire mollusk is a sacred tradition in these parts (Woodman's in Essex is credited for the first in 1916).
18. The beacon of light located atop the 26-story tower at 200 Berkeley Street (the Old John Hancock Building) has been telling locals the weather since 1950. Commit to memory the poem deciphering its forecast: Steady blue, clear view; Flashing blue, clouds due; Steady red, rain ahead; Flashing red, snow instead.
19. Expect someone to yell out “Yankees suck” at any given time and for no reason at all.  
20. Respect our city’s chefs as celebrities—because they are, even if they don’t act like it. Boston’s restaurant kitchens are full of James Beard Award-winners (looking at you, Chefs Ken Oringer, Lydia Shire, Jamie Bissonnette, Karen Akunowicz) and TV stars, such as Top Chef alums Tiffani Faison and Will Gilson, Iron Chef challenger Mary Dumont and Hell’s Kitchen contestant-turned-sous chef Jason Santos.
21. We’re proud of our LGBTQ+ community here. In fact, the country’s first same sex marriage happened at Cambridge City Hall on May 17, 2004.
22. More frequently than you think, over-height trucks hit a bridge or get stuck on Storrow Drive. It’s called getting “Storrowed,” and these mishaps are fair game for social media memes.
23. If you want people to know you’re not from Boston, call it Beantown.
24. Tom Brady is no longer one of us, but Big Papi always will be.
25. Boston is proud. So be proud of it.