Boston - It's all about the views

DZH22 · #1 Posted **Aug 15, 2009, 3:48 PM**

Here is my first photo thread showing off my home city. It's a compilation of all my best views of it in the last year. Enjoy!

JivecitySTL · #2 Posted **Aug 15, 2009, 5:10 PM**

Breathtaking city.

TXLove · #3 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 3:07 AM**

Beautiful shots

KevinFromTexas · #4 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 8:48 AM**

Really nice.

STLgasm · #5 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 2:02 PM**

Boston is super. Does everyone agree that downtown Boston is in desperate need of a defining signature tower?

edsg25 · #6 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 2:38 PM**

Boston is, and always was, a gem.

Coldrsx · #7 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 6:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by STLgasm

Boston is super. Does everyone agree that downtown Boston is in desperate need of a defining signature tower?

personally, having toured it extensively last fall, i like how there is nothing outright defining of this city other than the conglomeration of the city itself.

dktshb · #8 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 6:44 PM**

Very nice! Great photos, thanks for sharing.

ls1z28chris · #9 Posted **Aug 16, 2009, 9:52 PM**

Stunning skyline shots. I've wanted to visit Boston for a long time now simply because of the historical nature of that city. Now I want to visit because of its urbanism and skyscrapers. Great stuff!

Cirrus · #10 Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 2:15 AM**

Not so much anymore, but for years and years the Pru *was* Boston's single defining signature tower.

STLgasm · #11 Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 2:21 AM**

Yeah, but the Pru isn't in the downtown cluster. I don't know, from far away the CBD skyline looks like a bunch of buildings around the same height and really could use some definition. It's still awesome as hell though!

vandelay · #12 Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 2:51 AM**

Speaking of Boston, you all might appreciate this thread on another forum:

http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10814

It's a treasure trove of old photographs of Boston. You can get a fuller picture of the abomination that Government Center really is in an historical context.

ATLBlaxican · #13 Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 4:19 AM**

Going to Boston this week Thrus-Mon to leave my lil bro at Boston University. Was ondering if anyone has any recomendations of where to stay, what to see, where to eat?? Anything would be great! Very excited about seeing the city though.

Coldrsx · #14 Posted **Aug 17, 2009, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATLBlaxican

Going to Boston this week Thrus-Mon to leave my lil bro at Boston University. Was ondering if anyone has any recomendations of where to stay, what to see, where to eat?? Anything would be great! Very excited about seeing the city though.

newbury guest house on well newbury was relatively inexpensive and a great experience.

we also hit up the hilton financial which gave us a chance to check out more of a downtown vibe.

DZH22 · #15 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 4:55 AM**

Thanks for the compliments on the pictures!

Boston's main downtown cluster looks like a bunch of buildings around the same height because it mostly is. The top 5 are all between 590-614 feet, creating a sort of plateau, and then this is filled in by a bevy of 400-500 footers (and obviously tons of infill).

As for where to go and what to see... well for starters since this sight is mostly skyscraper fans, there is the Prudential Tower observation deck and then the more obscurely known (but FREE!!!) observation deck in the Marriott Custom House (the tall clocktower by fanueil hall). It's free everyday, except you can only go at 2:00 and I'm not sure if it's open Sundays.
Make sure you check out the common, gardens, and definitely the esplanade for a possible free concert. The freedom trail is good for touristy stuff. Most of the main museums/atttractions such as the science museum, art museum, aquarium, etc are all above par.
Also a good bet is to go to Cambridge, with a funky urban scene across the river and a really nice area around Harvard.
I know there is a lot of good nightlife and food around BU, plus their dining halls are actually run by chefs so that isn't a bad option either. Make sure you hit the North End if you enjoy quality Italian Food. My favorite place personally is Pizzeria Regina, the cheese is to die for!

Not to water down the thread too much, but here are a couple pictures from this weekend.

and this last one courtesy of my roommate hanging out the window

blade_bltz · #16 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 8:09 AM**

That skyline shot from Blue Hills is epic.

Plateau or not, I like the Boston skyline because of its high spine concept, running from the Financial District all the way to the Back Bay (and arguably beyond). Unfortunately, NIMBYs and shadow laws will prevent the 'high' spine from materializing into anything but a continuous row of superwides...

stepper77 · #17 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 4:17 PM**

I LOVE Boston. I haven't been for a year and have been wanting to go back. Thanks for sharing!

hymalaia · #18 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blade_bltz

That skyline shot from Blue Hills is epic.

Plateau or not, I like the Boston skyline because of its high spine concept, running from the Financial District all the way to the Back Bay (and arguably beyond). Unfortunately, NIMBYs and shadow laws will prevent the 'high' spine from materializing into anything but a continuous row of superwides...

that Blue Hill angle from the south is familiar to me, though I never had a good enough zoom lens to get a shot like that. to OP; where exactly was it taken? Chickataubut (sp) Road? or higher up somewhere? I'd forgotten just how many trees the cityscape of Boston contains.

i_am_hydrogen · #19 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 5:00 PM**

Too much good stuff.

Leo the Dog · #20 Posted **Aug 18, 2009, 5:01 PM**

I'd say the John Hancock at 60 stories is Boston's premier tower.

I'm going back in September, can't wait to go back. Its amazing how Boston can fit all of the modern highrises in with all of the historic districts. There is very little available land and somehow the city manages to do it.

One Back Bay is looking good, I'll have to check that out first hand.