An Illustrated Guide to
Boston
by Speedy Ortiz
Illustrations by Sadie Dupuis
Western to Eastern mass transplants, Speedy
Ortiz headline a modern generation of grunge. Two
full-length albums and three EP’s under their belt,
the four-piece continue to champion the indie rock
landscape with their fuzzy rhapsodies. Frontwoman
Sadie Dupuis details five quintessential landmarks in
the band’s home of Boston, MA.
1.
2.
4.
3.
1. MIT Tunnels, Cambridge, MA
A stint at MIT failed to instill enduring scientific expertise in me, but I did leave with an abiding hard-on for
hacking—or at least MIT’s definition of hacking, which
amounts to (often clandestine) roof and tunnel exploration. Most of the school’s buildings are connected by
a series of traversable underground tunnels, and with
a skilled hacker to guide you (or a hacker’s map, in a
pinch), it’s fairly easy to scale some of the university’s
buildings, even the iconic Great Dome. Bear in mind
that this is teeeeechnically trespassing. If you’re a
law-abider, check out the campus’ nearby List Visual
Arts Center. Maybe wear a ski mask. You know, for that
dangerous feeling.
2. Norumbega Tower, Weston, MA
This nearly 40-foot stone tower, which is most often
locked from its front entrance, commemorates a
questionably existent Viking settlement alluded to on
European maps of North America in the 16th century.
Whoa! Whether or not a Norse city ever thrived in the
Boston ‘burbs, it’s easy to feel like a Viking pillager
when you climb into the Norumbega Tower from its
back window. (I can’t stop promoting trespassing. Sorry,
5.
Mom and Dad.) From there, you can walk up the tower’s
narrow spiral staircase, which is especially spooky at
nighttime, and from the top you’ll gain a tranquil view of
the Charles River.
3. Coolidge Corner Theatre,
Brookline, MA
A beautifully preserved art house cinema that’s been in
operation as a theatre since the ‘30s (although the building was built 30 years prior), The Coolidge plays a neato
selection of contemporary films, hosts campy midnight
showings on weekends, and curates series showcasing
classics, documentaries, and more. They’ve got big
screens in Art Deco-y rooms. They’ve got tiny screening
rooms that barely seat more than a dozen. Plus, they
serve beer. Isn’t it nice to watch a movie with beer?
4. Great Scott, Allston, MA
Sometimes I joke that I moved back to Massachusetts
four years ago so I could see more Pile and Grass is
Green shows, and I doubt I’ve seen either band more
often than at Great Scott. There are tons of rock venues
in the Boston area, many with long legacies (T. T. the
Bear’s, the Middle East, O’Brien’s, and newcomer The
Sinclair), not to mention the ever-transient cropping up
of alternative venues and house spaces that serve the
all-ages population. But in terms of sound, selection
of bands booked, house music, and Cheers-y, local bar
good vibes, Great Scott’s my favorite place to hang out
and see a show. Especially if the show features Pile or
Grass is Green. Don’t forget to snag a post-show rollup
at nearby Egyptian joint Azama — open ‘til 2 a.m., which
is a late-night Boston rarity.
5. Allston Diner, Allston, MA
“The only thing you can do to help a band is tell ‘em
where to get vegan breakfast on the way out of town,”
said Chris Weingarten one time (on Twitter — God help
me for citing Twitter). The Allston Diner is my go-to
recommendation for helping those touring bands when
I want them to stop drooling on my floor the day after
their show. It’s equally good for those who want bacon
with eggs as it is for those who want collard greens with
tempeh. It’s also nice for drinking coffee and reading
the Boston Compass’ show listings when I wake up
ready to face the day at around 1 p.m.