Miles, I am sending you, a bit late, best wishes for a Happy and healthy and benevolent new year - 2026. And to thank you for urging us all culturally forward, public hang-out spaces being only one of many, many elements we need more of. Too, too sad to learn that the former Sears Roebuck meeting hall will be closing soon. It has been one of my gathering spaces over recent years. We elders are in a special category of needing public/private gatherings and a comfortable space in which to assemble and laugh loud and long. I would readily appoint you as metropolitan assembly coordinator, along with walking trail developer and navigator. In Harvard Square, the Smith building can sometimes serve that purpose. I do appreciate your vision and energy in the work you do - bringing an urban civilization back to cities
Thanks so much, Jeanne; for the wishes and these thoughtful words. I would be *thrilled* to serve in either of the roles you envision (at one point, there was actually a super brief conversation about creating a Trail Czar type position in the city, but it never got beyond the "fun idea" stage.) The lack of political will to invest more in things that improve health and happiness is so frustrating to me; particularly in a state that often considers itself a leader on progessive matters.
But again, I suppose it boils down to this stubborn idea that government should be small and diminutive...and that imagining something different is a fool's errand. I didn't have room to mention it in this piece, but I'm very inspired by what's happening in NYC right now and I'm praying that it might shake more people out of that stagnant way of thinking about social investment from the state. The greenlighting of municipal daycare is a promising sign.
Parallel thoughts, Robin! Aeronaut is pretty much the only place comparable to Time Out that I'm aware of in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. I've hosted some events there over the years, for free, thanks to their vast back end seating area. They really provide an incredible service in having that space and making it so open to visitors.
The Berlin nightclub model is fascinating. I've long thought US cities treat public gathering spaces as a nice-to-have rather than essential infrastructure. The Montreal example really drives home whats possible when yu just accept that some civic goods need public subsidy to work. Curious if any US cities are experimenting with anything similar, even on a small scale?
Miles, I am sending you, a bit late, best wishes for a Happy and healthy and benevolent new year - 2026. And to thank you for urging us all culturally forward, public hang-out spaces being only one of many, many elements we need more of. Too, too sad to learn that the former Sears Roebuck meeting hall will be closing soon. It has been one of my gathering spaces over recent years. We elders are in a special category of needing public/private gatherings and a comfortable space in which to assemble and laugh loud and long. I would readily appoint you as metropolitan assembly coordinator, along with walking trail developer and navigator. In Harvard Square, the Smith building can sometimes serve that purpose. I do appreciate your vision and energy in the work you do - bringing an urban civilization back to cities
Thanks so much, Jeanne; for the wishes and these thoughtful words. I would be *thrilled* to serve in either of the roles you envision (at one point, there was actually a super brief conversation about creating a Trail Czar type position in the city, but it never got beyond the "fun idea" stage.) The lack of political will to invest more in things that improve health and happiness is so frustrating to me; particularly in a state that often considers itself a leader on progessive matters.
But again, I suppose it boils down to this stubborn idea that government should be small and diminutive...and that imagining something different is a fool's errand. I didn't have room to mention it in this piece, but I'm very inspired by what's happening in NYC right now and I'm praying that it might shake more people out of that stagnant way of thinking about social investment from the state. The greenlighting of municipal daycare is a promising sign.
Agree with every word. I recently visited https://www.aeronautbrewing.com in Somerville and it checks off a lot of your boxes (plus board games!)
Parallel thoughts, Robin! Aeronaut is pretty much the only place comparable to Time Out that I'm aware of in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville. I've hosted some events there over the years, for free, thanks to their vast back end seating area. They really provide an incredible service in having that space and making it so open to visitors.
The Berlin nightclub model is fascinating. I've long thought US cities treat public gathering spaces as a nice-to-have rather than essential infrastructure. The Montreal example really drives home whats possible when yu just accept that some civic goods need public subsidy to work. Curious if any US cities are experimenting with anything similar, even on a small scale?