40 Reasons to Love Boston
11.
Because we pioneered gay marriage.
Photo via Steve Annear / Boston Magazine
12.
Because you can walk just about anywhere.
It’s 15 minutes from the North End to the Common, 20 minutes from Southie to the Back Bay. And because our suburbs evolved before the advent of the car, many of their downtowns are pedestrian-friendly, too.
13.
Because it’s not just our college students who are smart.
Students Photo via Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock
Last fall, Massachusetts eighth graders scored higher in math and science than children just about anywhere in the world. (Only Singapore topped our science scores, while South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan bested us in math.)
14.
Because after a bitter cold New England winter, the first day of spring is damn amazing…
Boston Public Garden Springtime Photo via Marcio Jose Bastos Silva / Shutterstock
…and no one does a better fall.
Boston Public Garden Fall Photo via Col / Shutterstock
15.
Because even though this city has been permanently settled since 1620, we continue to embrace the new.
NEW URBAN MECHANICS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY C.J. BURTON / Boston Magazine
16.
Because, thanks to Sam Adams and Harpoon, we basically invented the craft-beer industry.
Sam Adams Beer Photo via Northwest Beer Guide / Flickr
17.
And thanks to Steve Herrell and Gus Rancatore, we’ve elevated ice cream to an art form.
SUNDAE PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE PETERSON, STYLING BY MOLLY SHUSTER / Boston Magazine
18.
Because this is the country’s laugh factory…
Photos via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Had our only contribution to modern comedy been the Amy Poehler, Louis CK, and Mindy Kaling trifecta, we’d have banked bragging rights. But the list of humorists hailing from Greater Boston goes well beyond this talented trio (from Burlington, Newton, and Cambridge, respectively): Conan O’Brien (Brookline); Jay Leno (Andover); Denis Leary (Worcester); Steven Wright (Burlington); Paula Poundstone (Sudbury); Rachel Dratch (Lexington); Jenny Slate (Milton); John Hodgman (Brookline); B. J. Novak (Newton); Dane Cook (Arlington); and the Corddry brothers—Rob and Nate (Weymouth). Our leading men have funny in their bones—Steve Carell (Acton); Matt Damon (Cambridge); and the Johns, Krasinski (Newton) and Slattery (Needham). Factor in the wits and wiseacres who spent their formative college years here (Marc Maron, Kurt Andersen, Simon Rich, Ike Barinholtz, Mo Rocca) and that’s a silly number of silly people for one city to spit out.
19.
…and its brain trust.
Al Gore Photo via RecycleBank / Flickr
Thank Harvard and MIT for populating Cambridge with what might be the world’s greatest concentration of living Nobel laureates. No matter what subject you’re interested in, a world-renowned expert resides nearby.
20.
Because our neighbors are just as likely to have four legs as two.
Coyote Mating Season Illustration by Jason Ford / Boston Magazine
From the bears in Brookline and the coyotes in Cambridge to Fred, the Somerville turkey who has his own Facebook page, we’re surrounded, in a good way.
