Darcel Rockett
My Fitbit registered over 15,000 steps on Sunday, thanks to a one-on-one tour with the likes of Boston University’s Wendy Swart Grossman (thanks for the connect Deanna Shoss).
We started at the Seaport Market and made our way over to ‘oh so many’ spectacular views, spaces and places. The first stop being a pop-up shopping experience for Black women entrepreneurs, where I purchased the cutest little black and white circle purse and colorful folding fan.
Onward to view the majesty of a beautiful summer day on the water near the Institute of Contemporary Art. The cityscape isn’t Chicago, but cool nonetheless. Cases in point: Did you know you can take a ferry to the airport?
Across the way from the ICA is Grub Street Center for Creative Writing, where I’m told it’s not unheard of that bigwigs come in and share their favorite poems with the world, as well as other fantastic programming to elevate writing skills takes place (ie. Mass Poetry is a partner in the space). This could very well could be my new hang out spot, given the use of my favorite color and my favorite thing to do: write.
Adventuring with a tour guide who’s been here for years working with colleges, Swart Grossman shared details about the Brookline Porchfest (Sept. 28) where community and neighbors enjoy camaraderie and music on one another’s porches. She shared the history of Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Loeb Fellow art projects that decorated the landscape of linear parks, and ancient, yet beautiful cemeteries along the way.
The walk was a portion of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile-long path through Boston that passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. And from Boston Common in downtown Boston, where the nation’s first subway was born, we passed the golden dome of the State House and walked by “The Embrace,” a 2022 statue that embodies the love between Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King in the 1965 Freedom Plaza.
Onward to the famous bronze duck statues a la Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way For Ducklings” in Boston Public Garden, which ended in jaunt through Beacon Hill and a walk through the famed “Cheers” bar.
Better than any bus tour could ever be, a Bostonian sharing the area’s history in real time, is priceless.
Monday’s adventure entailed a close-up of Harvard’s Business School and hugs, welcomes and advice from Nieman alumni.
And for my Saturday friends, the word of the week is rot–defined as if someone does nothing for even a moment, they are “rotting.” Who knew? I just thought it was still called taking a mental health day, but different strokes and all that.
Some other tidbits I picked up since I landed in Boston:
- There are editors in the world with the word existential in front of their title.
- The Black tax in America is somewhat different than the term in Africa
- And training exists to protect you from polar bears as well as protect polar bears from humans.
More later…until then, I’ll be trying to get my course schedule figured out. FYI: There’s a DJ class and a rap theory class at MIT! If I can lock it down as well as a proper hairdresser, I’ll be set!
