Walk with Me: 10,000+ Steps Exploring Boston
Written By: Sara Brown
As a remote intern with the Boston Preservation Alliance, I spend most of my days on a computer from the comfort of my home making content for social media or working on our website in Connecticut. But one day, I had the opportunity to be in Boston, visiting some of Boston’s Legacy Businesses. It was a matter of twelve hours, and over 10k steps later, I got to sample the best of what Boston has to offer!
WALK WITH ME!
This story began with the taste of a Strawberry acai refresher, and then I was ready to take the Green line, getting off at Hynes Convention Center.
Trident Booksellers and Cafe
I had to start a day of fulfilling adventures, and what’s better than a cozy cup of tea and a book? I highly recommend enjoying a cup of Blueflower Earl Grey while taking advantage of the outdoor seating. Trident Booksellers & Cafe has been on Newbury Street since 1984 and offers a wide range of tasty goodies, free wifi, and fun community events.
Newbury Comics
Anytime I’m in the Backbay I always make sure to visit Newbury comics. It’s a collector’s paradise, whether you’re into comic books, figurines, vinyl, or funky socks, their wide range of merchandise caters to all your nerdy needs. Locally founded in 1978 by two MIT students, this New England-wide business has been a well-loved retailer for four decades and spread to 26 stores across four states.
Winsor Dim Sum
After walking Newbury Street, the Public Garden, and the Common, I was ready for lunch in Chinatown. Luckily Winsor Dim Sum Cafe offers a variety of dishes that are friendly to a college student’s budget. 
The intimate dining space holds a few large tables and your dim sum items are ordered individually and served with jasmine tea. As someone who struggles to eat out due to dietary needs, this was perfect and the staff was friendly and happy to accommodate allergies. Various awards and achievements are framed on the walls boasting years of delicious service, it’s no wonder the City of Boston named Winsor Dim Sum a Boston Legacy 2023 Award Winner!
Brattle Book Shop
Founded in 1825, and under the Gloss Family since 1949, the Brattle Book Shop is a gold mine for used books. Three stories and outdoor shelves house well over 250,000 books, maps, prints, postcards, and more. I found it very easy to get lost in the pages of various books, spending a long time perusing the isles.
Capitol Coffee House
Walking along the Freedom Trail, I made my way to Capitol Coffee House. Unfortunately, I arrived just after closing but I did get to admire the facade. It is located in Sutton Corner, which is dedicated to William “Billy” Sutton who worked closely with John F. Kennedy. Most people say he was a loving person and he enriched the lives of all he worked with. For that reason, he was influential in Boston’s political landscape, thus why his legacy is cemented here.
CaFfe Dello Sport
A walk through Boston’s historic “Little Italy” will take you to a great place to watch live calcio (soccer) matches and sip espresso. This third-generation family-owned business offers various drinks alongside savory and sweet treats that maintain the Italian heritage of the North End. After a long day, I enjoyed a pistachio iced coffee, taking in the scenery from a comfy window seat.
Did I drink a concerning amount of caffeine, maybe? But I would say this was a successful trip exploring the Hidden Gems and Legacy Businesses of Boston.
Here’s my step count at the end of the day for proof. I have to admit I was thankful to see so many wonderful places, but I did spend the following day in bed resting!
Note: If you wish to recreate this trip, there are many ways to modify it so that it is accessible and user-friendly, such as using public transportation, taking more breaks, or splitting the journey over a few days!
Share your favorite Legacy businesses with the tags #PreservationHub and #SaveMyBoston. Not on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok? No problem! Share your adventures and send us an email at admin@bostonpreservation.org.
Recent
There was a newspaper clipping tacked to the wall in our office when I first joined the Alliance in 2013.
In partnership with the Dorchester Historical Society and Comfort Kitchen.
When: Sunday, October 20, 2024
Time: 2:30pm - 6:00pm
The City of Boston, with strong support from the Wu Administration, is advancing a proposal to…
Boston Preservation Alliance Presents their 36th Annual Achievement Award Recipients
Welcome to the third Alison About Boston blog post! I am the Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, which means that I wear many hats including leading our advocacy…
Welcome to the second Alison About Boston blog post! I am the Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, which means that I wear many hats including leading our advocacy…
When: May 9
Time: 4:30-6:00pm
Meeting Point: The Grain Exchange Building, 177 Milk Street
Register by emailing mdickey@bostonpreservation.org.
Welcome to the first Alison About Boston blog post! I am the Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, which means that I wear many hats including leading our advocacy…
May is National Preservation Month, giving us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
Several new Landmarks have been designated in Boston. Even more are pending approval and awaiting community feedback and support.
“Love is showing the important things that they matter.” A Landmark Love quote from the Frederick Middle School.
Update: February 29, 2024
The Boston Preservation Alliance has submitted a letter to the Wu Administration.
Each year the Boston Preservation Alliance presents the Preservation Achievement Awards to recognize a group of exemplary historic preservation projects or activities in Boston.
A Visual Guide to “Barbitecture” and Real-life Doll Houses
Written by: Sara Brown
Alliance Executive Director Alison Frazee received a call last night from Mike Firestone, the City’s Chief of Policy, informing her that the Landmarks Commission has been…
May is National Preservation Month which gives us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
May is National Preservation Month which gives us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
On behalf of the Boston Preservation Alliance and Boston’s preservation community, we would like to thank Councilor Kenzie Bok for her dedication to our city’s historic resources.
The Codman Award for lifetime achievement, named for John Codman who established Boston’s first historic district (Beacon Hill) in 1955, recognizes outstanding and career-long…
Thank you for helping us redefine preservation. Architecture is the surface of a city, but our history is deeper than a facade. It is the people, residents, and visitors that make Boston…
The leaves have been shaken off the trees, there is a chill in the air, and the sun sets just after 4 pm–that’s right, it’s nearly winter in New England and the gift-giving…
Written by Anan Shen. This is the first of a series of short stories about the West End.
As an advocacy organization for historic preservation, the Alliance often advocates to save historic buildings because of their stunning architecture or articulated streetscape.
Written and researched by Dan Bailey.
All photos by Dan Bailey and Matthew Dickey.
Stories about our neighborhoods are often told by adults for adults. But what landmarks and businesses define our neighborhoods through the eyes of the next generation?
Thousands and thousands of buildings line Boston’s streets. But one house is different from all the rest. It takes a bit of determination to find it.
Photos by Peter Vanderwarker.
A Weekend Photo Workshop with Peter Vanderwarker, Sept. 16-18
May is National Preservation Month which gives us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
On May 1, 2022, Boston celebrated the 200th anniversary of incorporation as a city at the Old South Meeting House.
Valentine’s Day is approaching and that means only one thing—it’s time to dust off those markers and share some love (Heart Bombs) for old buildings! What are heart bombs?
In a little triangle just south of Andrew Station, Polish and American flags fly in pairs. The air wafts with the smell of freshly fried dough.
Our Most-Watched Advocacy Projects of 2021 Are Below, But First…
The Alliance relies on generous supporters like you to continue our work in promoting, preserving,…
The Alliance has been utilizing every opportunity to further our goals of historic preservation advocacy and telling the fuller story of Boston’s past. Below are a few of our 2021…
Thursday, December 2, 10:00-11:00 am.
The Boston Preservation Alliance is Boston’s primary, non-profit advocacy organization that protects and promotes the use of historic buildings and landscapes in all of Boston’s…
Turn on your favorite sea shanty and prepare for the water. The Young Advisors are bringing their annual Libations for Preservation event to the sea!
Written by Ava Yokanovich
Photos by Ava Yokanovich
Interview with Angela Ward Hyatt
Photos courtesy of Angela Ward Hyatt
Before and after photos below!
Memories from former South End residents Judith Nee and Isabel O’Hara
Images from Neil Kadey and Judith Nee
Written by Judith Nee and Ava Yokanovich
Written by Mackenzie Barrall and Corinne Muller. Photos by Matthew Dickey.
Originally published July 2020. Updated July 2021.
The Alliance works closely with the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC), which resides within the Environment Department at the City, to further preservation efforts in Boston.
Written by Mackenzie Barrall
Photos by Ava Yokanovich
Written by Ava Yokanovich
Images taken by Ava Yokanovich along the Southwest Corridor Path near Titus Sparrow Park
Since 1988, the National Trust has used its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places…
Since 1988, the National Trust has used its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places…
Since 1988, the National Trust has used its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places…
Written by Jeanne Pelletier, Preservation Advisor to the Campaign for the Ayer Mansion, Inc.
There are untold stories in Boston being lost and we need your help to save them.
Save-The-Date
When: March 25
Time: 6 pm via Zoom
Featuring: Brent Leggs
This event is generously supported by the Nolan-Miller Fund
Corita Kent (1918–1986)
Artist, Educator, Advocate for Social Justice
Written by: Vicki Adjami
When: March 4
Time: 10 AM
Where: On Zoom
How: Register below to receive a zoom link
The Boston Preservation Alliance and the Young Advisors present:
Preservation Chatter 2020
Thursday, November 19
6 — 7 PM
David Rodrigues is the Manager of Facilities and Preservation at
Preservation takes many forms and requires many hands.
Boston Preservation Alliance stands united with the voices decrying the murder of George Floyd and the long-standing history of racism this tragedy demonstrates.
The Boston Preservation Alliance offers internships to graduate and undergraduate students to help train the next generation of preservationists by providing hands-on experience in…
Let’s come together to create a wave of generosity for the organizations that help Boston thrive.
Have a preservation question? Want to hear updates about any of the preservation projects we’re monitoring?
An Environment Notification Form (ENF) has been filed with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office.
May is National Preservation Month which gives us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
Written by Alison Frazee, Assistant Director, Boston Preservation Alliance.
…Join us for our Annual Meeting of Members
When: Postponed. New date is TBD
In light of concerns with COVID-19, we have postponed several of our upcoming events.
Is there a preservationist in your life? Or maybe you love architecture, history, and unique Boston stories as much as we do. If either of these is the case, then this is THE gift guide…
With the proposed redevelopment of the Hurley Building, we thought this is a good time…
Preservation advocates are imploring Massachusetts General Hospital to reconfigure its expansion plans to avoid demolition of three historic West End buildings, reports Dan Murphy of the…
By Isabella Labbe
August 6, 2019. Updated March 2023.
The Boston Preservation Alliance Board of Young Advisors presents:
Libations for Preservation
When:
Wednesday, July 24, 2019…
Karen McFeaters is a Boston-based painter whose work features locations around the city that highlight…
Roger Webb was the founder of the Architectural Heritage Foundation and…
Save the date for Beer + Mortar, a walking tour through Dorchester and Roxbury led by Matthew Dickey of the Alliance and HBI.…
The City of Boston invites you to a Community Meeting on the Northern Ave Bridge
Monday, June 3, 2019
Neighborhoods are living things. They evolve to the changing needs of their inhabitants. Rural farms become streetcar suburbs. Carriage lanes become roads. Thriving businesses fade.
In partnership with Massachusetts Historical Society and Fenway Alliance.
The state gets a $98M cut of GE’s sale of its property in Fort Point. Where should that money go?
May is National Preservation Month which gives us a perfect excuse to show off our beloved historic city.
Advocacy needed to OPPOSE a rule change to undercut the National Register of Historic Places
Please join us for our Annual Meeting | Registration is closed, but walk-ins welcome!
Boston Design Week Event
Boston Design Week March 27-April 7 2019
The Alliance’s Young Advisor’s Board is seeking new board members for 2019!
The Boston Preservation Alliance is now accepting nominations for our 2019 Preservation Achievement Awards!
The closing of Durgin Park (1827) following upon Jacob Wirth (1868) last year reminds us that Boston’s unique character comes from more than just architecture.
“An icon of the Boston skyline was very nearly protected against the city’s current rapacious development culture- but then the mayor stepped in.”
“An icon of the Boston skyline was very nearly protected against the city’s current rapacious development culture- but then the mayor stepped in.”
Mayor Walsh, Citgo, Related Beal (the developer of the site), and Boston University release a statement:
Mayor Walsh, Citgo, Related Beal (the developer of the site), and Boston University release a statement:
The City of Boston invites you to a
Community Meeting on the Northern Ave Bridge
The Young Advisors is a board of developing professionals whose role is to expand and amplify the Alliance’s mission of protecting places, promoting vibrancy, and preserving character.
On Monday, October 22, the Boston Preservation Alliance hosted the 2018…
Opening Remarks: Chris Scoville, Board Chair
Preservation Achievement Awards and 40 30 10 Celebration
To celebrate our 40th Anniversary year, the Alliance launched a special social media campaign: The Preservation Bucket List photo competition.
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Alliance, the 30th Anniversary of the Awards, and the 10th Anniversary of our Young Advisors Board.
Join the Alliance Young Advisors for a stroll through Mount Auburn Cemetery, the oldest rural cemetery in the US.
The debate over the future of the Citgo sign is still quietly grinding on.
The debate over the future of the Citgo sign is still quietly grinding on.
Boston has an estimated $20 million in annual funds to support capital projects in historic preservation, affordable housing, and parks and green spaces.
Developer Related Beal on Tuesday went before the Boston Civic Design Commission to submit its updated plans to redevelop buildings on Commonwealth Avenue near Deerfield Street.
Developer Related Beal on Tuesday went before the Boston Civic Design Commission to submit its updated plans to redevelop buildings on Commonwealth Avenue near Deerfield Street.
Developer Related Beal on Tuesday went before the Boston Civic Design Commission to submit its updated plans to redevelop buildings on Commonwealth Avenue near Deerfield Street.
Boston’s urban planners and placemakers have an opportunity to make the Northern Avenue Bridge, now a rusting relic in Fort Point Channel, a postcard-worthy destination that draws…
It has been nearly four years since anyone could walk across the old Northern Avenue Bridge, and two decades since you could drive across it.
The Boston Preservation Alliance was included in a 2018 national report regarding best practices for public outreach and education to build a knowledgeable, engaged, and activated…
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
As neighborhoods change over generations, it’s important that touchpoints to their past both remain in place and sensitively evolve to maintain their relevance.
Boston was once home to 31 breweries, enough to bestow this storied city with the title of “most breweries per capita.” A majority of the city’s breweries are clustered around…
The Boston Preservation Alliance offers internships to graduate and undergraduate students to help train the next generation of preservationists by providing hands-on experience in the…
Boston City Council voted on Thursday, June 21, to approve the first batch of Boston Community Preservation funding requests.
Boston City Council voted on Thursday, June 21, to approve the first batch of Boston Community Preservation funding requests.
You’re invited to a special preview for Alliance and Boston By Foot members. The Ladder Blocks Walking Tour will take place on Sunday, May 20, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Boston has a wonderful mix of historic buildings and sites, from stately row houses to 3-deckers, churches to commercial blocks.
The Young Advisors of the Boston Preservation Alliance are hosting a PechaKucha night on Tuesday, May 15 at The Algonquin Club of Boston.
The Alliance had an impressive showing at Preservation Massachusetts’s 30th Annual Paul & Niki Tsongas Awards Dinner held on May 9 at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.
May is Preservation Month. To mark the occasion, Boston Architecture Diary tapped Greg Galer to share recommendations for preservation events happening around the city.
Alliance Executive Director Greg Galer was a moderator for “Preserving Affordability, Affording Preservation,” an April 27th conference hosted by Historic New England.
The Boston Preservation Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Scoville as a new Board Chairman and the election of Sean Geary to the Board of Directors.
The Boston Preservation Alliance is hosting its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 21 at historic Old South Church at Copley Square.
From old fire departments to post offices that succumbed to the demise of snail mail, buildings across the country have fallen prey to shifting markets and the rise of technology.