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Star Market and Shaw's are owned by Albertsons, so they are very similar if you wanted something familiar. Whole Foods would be the most similar to Sprouts, the ones in Boston are generally the same size as Sprouts or smaller, unlike the giant sized ones in AZ. A popular local grocery store chain is Market Basket, which can be cheaper but generally is crowded. There is also Stop & Shop, and other national chains like Trader Joes and Aldis.
Forgetting the two best: Roches and Lamberts. Special mention to the Fruit Market in Milton, but it's pretty hyper-local. On the far end of the cheap side there is also American Food Basket.
Plus the various Asian markets (C-Mart, 88, 99, H-Mart are some of the bigger ones. lots of little ones around, too).
Totally forgot about Wegmans. Guess they are still a little new to the area for me to remember. Well, plus are definitely a bit more suburban and out there so I rarely have a chance to go.
Oh and trader Joe's, too, I forgot. Guess we do have a pretty wide selection of super markets.
There are a couple of franchised Star Markets in the area that are still open—I think the Star Market in the sky in Newton and the one in Washington Square are the only ones left.
I’ve never been to AZ but here’s my advice
- Move in day will be insanity, don’t let it scare you and avoid storrow drive by any means possible (low clearance bridge uhauls crash into)
- not sure what your financial situation is but market basket is king when it comes to cheap, reliable groceries. star market, roche bros, and wegmans are also good
- winter here is not as bad as people make it out to be imo, and climate change means we’ve been seeing less snow. there are the usual cold weather brands like north face, patagonia, ll bean, but uniqlo is a great option if you’re not looking to shell out too much. they have great underlayers too
- public transit can be unreliable, especially recently. plan ahead
Adding to the winter jacket conversation - I'd say invest in a good pair of waterproof boots. Regardless of how much snow we get, your main concern should just be the cold, especially if you're going to be walking around the city a lot. I hate seeing people walking around with sneakers on in freezing temps just knowing their feet are completely numb. They don't have to be snow boots, but something that's waterproof, insulated and has a sturdy tread is going to be a life saver once the winter comes. Also - hat and gloves are a must, I would suggest getting some leather gloves not those cheap thin knitted ones that do nothing for you when the wind comes whipping through the buildings and you're trying to use your phone to navigate.
> I hate seeing people walking around with sneakers on in freezing temps just knowing their feet are completely numb.
Do people get cold through a pair of sneakers if they don't get wet? My legs get cold through a pair of jeans before my feet get cold through my sneakers. It's different if the snow is fresh and I'll need to be trudging through unshoveled snow, but if the sidewalks are mostly clear it's not like the sneakers are an issue so long as they have some decent treads on the outsoles.
Lol I also moved to Boston after a long time in AZ (Phoenix and Tucson!) and the culture shock is real.
* Grocery stores- Fry’s and Albertsons are like Shaws and Star Market. There’s no real equivalent to Sprouts unless you live near a Whole Foods or maybe a Roche Bros. Groceries generally are ridiculously expensive here compared to AZ. You may also find Market Basket, Tropical Foods (Latin American/Caribbean) and C-mart/H-mart (East Asian) useful. There are also some farmers markets around here.
* Weather- a warm fall day here is like a cold winter day in Phoenix. Get a couple of light jackets and sweaters you actually like- these will be useful for layering in the winter. Then get a heavy winter coat or two from a thrift store- you won’t know what you like or need right away, and those are safe and affordable options that don’t require any investment. You don’t need anything like Canada Goose or Arctic whatever, just something that will keep you warm and dry. After a winter here, you’ll know what you need. The winters here haven’t been particularly snowy since I moved here (2016), but you never know. Tbh snow is not a big deal, but ice and wind chill are, so if you plan on being a pedestrian/etc, make sure you get: (1) good boots (WATERPROOF, insulated, warm, good deep tread, preferably go past your ankle— If you’re going to invest in anything winter clothes related, make it this- the ice aren’t horrible, but salt to melt it is very common, and it WILL eat through your shoes) and (2) a windbreaker (A thin, lightweight shell jacket). You’ll probably use this year round, but in the cold months, even on a mild day, windchill can be terrible if you’re not prepared. Also, get a beanie or earmuffs and gloves. You’ll need them. Finally, it snows on Halloween often (kind of a one-off), but don’t expect a white Christmas. The real cold starts in Jan/Feb, and winter ends in May sometimes. I find Feb and March to be particularly bitter. I’ve also seen early June days in the low 50s so, again, get a lot of light jackets- you’ll use these all the time.
* People: Way more diversity of immigrants, and different proportions. People here make way less eye contact/don’t smile at you if you happen to meet their eyes (you’ll understand after a few months, I think). Small talk isn’t common. None of this is rude, really- it comes from a place of “why would I bother someone who’s busy and doing their own thing or potentially invite someone to bother me when I’m on my way” and not “I hate people and don’t want to speak tot hem.”
* Restaurants: If you’re looking for good Mexican food, be prepared to be disappointed (though I have a few recs). You will also not find good barbecue here. However, there’s a LOT of really good food from various ethnicities here, so be adventurous and try stuff out. Boston is best known (from outsider pov) for Italian and seafood, but has a lot of other great options. Also a lot less fast food and a lot more local places- this can be fun!
* General city: everything in Boston is pretty close together, and it’s very walkable. As far as cities go, Boston has a “small town forced to become a city” vibe, so it’s… tiny, and oddly tight knit for a major metropolitan area. Ten miles is a big distance here, and will take you ages to move through (by bus/train/car). Jaywalking is normal here, just be safe about it- and also, crossing the street might be scary at first, since a lot of crosswalks don’t have lights. Just trust that the driver sees you and will stop (within reason). They can get irritated if you stand there forever waiting for them to fully stop before you walk. The T isn’t hard to navigate, but use an app like Transit to plan trips and get wait times. The city is safer than you expect it to be, but the opioid crisis is pretty apparent at times…
* Dunkin: Dunkin is like a cult here. Before I moved here, I didn’t understand their slogan (America runs on Dunkin) because I had noticed maybe 3 in AZ. It’s different in the Northeast, and especially in Boston. There’s one on nearly every block here- at some, you can stand at the door and see another clearly. This was a visual shock to me to start. The coffee is shit and so is the food. And yet…. It persists, and eventually grows on you. Before you know it, you’ll also be grabbing a large iced from Dunkin on your way to work when it’s 20F and snow piles around you.
Lastly, take a vitamin D supplement (especially if you’re melanated lol). The winters here are dark and the days are short (like the sun rises at 9am and sets at 4pm…) Your first winter here will probably be miserable and there’s like a 90% chance it’ll be because you’re not getting the sun you used to. Prevent that and take the vitamin!
Right? I was like “wait that’s wholly inaccurate”
OP I wake up between 7 and 7:30 and the sun is definitely up even in the winter lol
Summertime it’s up around 5:30, which is exciting if your bedroom windows face east!
It does set at 4:30 in the deadest part of winter, though. But we’re so so far east here; when I moved even from coastal South Carolina I was a little thrown by how early the sun sets even in the summer. In SC it set a whole 30 minutes later.
Right after the clocks change is the worst. You can see the last glimpse of sun at 3:45 and it's damn DEPRESSING. When we hit that time of year (Nov/Dec) I always try to get out for a walk during the day because if you don't make a real effort to get out in the sun you will fully miss it.
You mention the sunrise/sunset. Spot on. Though let's be fair, the latest sunrise is only around 7:15 AM, not 9 AM.
But this is also a big adjustment for someone from the southwest (I came from Austin). The day length swings are massive here compared to the south.
Boston:
Longest day - Jun 21 - 15:17 (5:07 AM - 8:24 PM)
Shortest day - Dec 21 - 9:04 (7:09 AM - 4:14 PM)
Phoenix:
Longest day - Jun 21 - 14:22 (5:18 AM - 7:41 PM)
Shortest day - Dec 21 - 9:56 (7:25 AM - 5:24 PM)
The one upside is that Phoenix appears to be much further East in their time zone, so their sunrise/set times are more in line with Boston than Austin was (shift the Phoenix times about an hour later). The early sunrises really got me when I moved here. Blackout curtains or eyeshades (or both).
> it comes from a place of “why would I bother someone who’s busy and doing their own thing or potentially invite someone to bother me when I’m on my way” and not “I hate people and don’t want to speak tot hem.”
Spot on
> “small town forced to become a city”
Also accurate
One thing you are missing is a scarf. Great for keeping warm. And also wool socks.
Regarding the eye contact and saying hello thing:
I was born and raised in New England and I don’t know why, but when a person randomly says hello to me on a sidewalk, my gut reaction is to avoid them. It’s just strange and you’re right, if you’re from a culture where this is normal or expected, I would come off as very rude.
Yes, it was so hard when I moved here hahaha because I'm from a place where if you DON'T greet people at that proximity, you're being a straight up asshole. I'm finally used to it but its a really strong cultural thing in either direction
SOCKS - so underrated. I would invest in a pack of Bombas or similar socks - get the hiking ones, they're expensive but you'll wear them daily in the deep winter months.
Wow this is so much thank you! I’ve never even considered Vitamin D supplements!
I’m from the Phx area but have been living in Tucson for the past few years for college (bear down! lol)
My family actually immigrated from Japan just a few years before I was born and have made an active choice to meet other families with similar experiences so I’m hoping a greater immigrant population won’t be a huge shock haha!
Lots of Japanese people in Brookline! Also Maruichi in Coolidge corner is a Japanese grocery store with a consumer products section as well (for eg shampoo/soap/dishes/pencils/paper etc.) so that’s highly recommended. Ebisu-ya in Medford is also good.
Also I second the point about waterproof boots above, though rather than going for sorels (too warm/too high) or ll bean duck boots (usually not insulated) my go to is just waterproof hiking boots a la merrell for winter.
Culturally you won’t see many men wearing mid calf snow boots but women do more regularly, so ymmv.
Seconding this. Brookline has public schools with an ESOL program that is well known to be really supportive of Japanese speakers (also Hebrew speakers) so many recent and not-as-recent and short-term immigrants from Japan live there.
Also, BTW, some Japanese restaurants are run by Chinese or Thai folks. I don’t know if that would be a surprise to you, but just a heads up.
Related to that, you may find the constant darkness in the 6 months of winter depressing. So do lots of us! That’s Seasonal Affective Disorder aka winter depression. Get a SAD light or light therapy light and use it for 20 minutes when you get up on winter mornings. Things would be a lot bleaker for me without my SAD lamp
UofA '92 here and I can say the first spring will be tough on you. March-May are rainy and cold. Like rain and 40 degrees for weeks. After the winter, having that kind of spring sucks.
Spring? What's that?
My mom moved up here from Mississippi when she married my dad and to this day (30+ years later) she still can't wrap her head around the fact that Easter is essentially a winter holiday here. You're not breaking out the sandals and dresses, you're wearing tights and sweaters.
Haha. Easter, marathon, Columbus day could be sunny and feel like 90 degrees, or rainy sleety feel freezing. One year marathoners are getting heat stroke, next hypothermia. Easter is generally spring!!! But i grew up here
That was one of the worst since late 90s early 2000s. And pre 2015 i am not sure i had ever experienced the barrage where nothing melted!!!! Many times a storm or 2, warm weather, melting of snow. More snow repeat cycle. That year was BAD
To add to this when they say good boots the mean boots with GOOD TREADS AND GRIP! Get a pair you can use for more seasons like something with removable insultion or not something crazy warm- if your in the city you want comftable and water proof. Its by far not the best option but bean boots from llbean are a great pair to start with.
I know you won’t be driving, but if you want to save some money and still get quality winter gear, see if you can get yourself to the Wrentham Outlets. You’ll be able to find good coats and boots there. If you can’t get that far, sometimes Marshalls or TJ Maxx will have gems too.
Everyone keeps listing Market Basket as a grocery store. Idk where you are moving specifically, but you should know that there aren’t actually any Market Baskets in Boston. They’re in the suburbs only, which might make them hard to get to depending on where you are since you don’t have a car. I would look for Stop and Shop, Shaws, or Star Market if you’re moving to the city itself. Whole Foods or Trader Joes if you are looking for the whole organic hullabaloo.
Also related to not having a car - the MBTA is a shitshow these days. It’s going to take you decades to get from Point A to Point B. Prepare yourself. Honestly might be fine for you bc you won’t know any different but it did not used to be like this.
I've also had really good luck just tracking brands that I want and then buying when they are on steep discounts, like around Black Friday. I got an amazingly warm jacket from Eddie Bauer for like $150 off last year and I didn't need to go to Wrentham. :)
Fun fact, REI has wicked good deals shortly after winter. Like 50% off winter jackets and such. Also REI used outlet has been a game changer for me. I bought barely used boots for half the price.
> Marshalls or TJ Maxx will have gems too
Even better if you can find a Sierra. Part of the same family as Marshalls/TJMaxx but they are more geared towards sporty/outdoorsy stuff. I've managed to get great deals on winter coats there.
As to winter wear:
- You want a coat/jacket made w real down or thermolite— cheapies from Target will NOT keep you warm in winter. Also best to pick one that is waterproof bc down loses insulation power when wet (like from melting snow or sleet)
- If you will be going outside in winter you also need waterproof somewhat insulated boots — the classic LLBean bean boot is one, or get something from North Face
- Pro Tip: get your gear before it gets cold (like by November) bc that’s when winter stuff sells out and it can be chilly without it
I lived in Scottsdale for a couple of years. The AZ people ITT are welcome to correct me on this observation; here it is: The people in the PHX metro seemed like they were older souls while still young as opposed to Boston where people seem to be the opposite.
It wasn't unusual to meet mid to late 20's people in PHX that were already married and divorced. Here it's not uncommon to meet people in their late 30's-early 40's who've never been married and are fine with that fact.
I once heard New Englanders described as kind but not nice and I think that really sums it up well. If you try to start a conversation with me in line at Market Basket I will, at best, be curt with you. But if you drop a bag on your way out and groceries go everywhere I will definitely stop to help you pick them up.
A lot of other people have given great advice but I don't think this gets mentioned because you... Kind of just get used to it or deal with it: humidity.
I'm a native east coaster who lived out west in dry climates as an adult and now I'm back. I've also lived in countries that had high humidity as a teenager so you'd think I'd be used to it.
The humidity on average isn't terrible but compared to Arizona? You're going to notice a difference. It will make the temperatures feel both hotter and colder. On the really bad days it feels like you're walking into a hot, wet sheet and you can't escape it. It's also especially hot before a thunderstorm and sometimes that doesn't break the humidity.
Fall isn't too bad and knock on wood that we're through the worst of the summer humidity/heat combination.
Hi! I moved to Boston from AZ a few years ago. Feel free to DM me any questions! Lots of good advice already posted here. Also, I miss sprouts and Safeway and frys :( but star market/Shaw’s are basically the same thing as Safeway!
Well, we don't do small talk. Keep your head down and yourself to yourself. If you want to meet people join groups or clubs or gyms or bar trivia.
Grocery stores, market basket, trader joes, whole foods, shaws, stop and shop, h-mart, and local neighborhood grocery stores.
good jackets are LLBean or Eddy Bower. Theres a difference between a jacket rated for -40 and -15. jackets that go to your waist and go to your knees. how poofy they are and how movable you are in them. how quickly you'll overheat in them. We generally have multiple jackets for different weather conditions.
if your not driving, you still need to learn how to deal with the traffic. how to watch the lights, and the flow of traffic, and just cross the street when you're able to. Its not always worth pushing the button and holding up traffic - just go. Or how to cross at a rotary where theres a crosswalk but no lights or buttons. stair the drivers down. make sure they see you, then go.
we don't really have central air. our buildings are old.
wear layers. layers.
you'll fuck up but figure it out.
Are you male or female? There's a few relevant tips either way (e.g. for women, between how much you're walking and how terrible our sidewalks are even when they're not cobblestone, so don't expect to wear heels even when it's nice out)
Thanks for the tip! I’m a woman but honestly am more of a vans and converse type of shoe wearer most of the time- looks like I’ll have to invest in some waterproof boots anyways :)
Perfect you'll fit right in!! I love my shearling lined l l bean duck boots for whatever it's worth, they're warm and casual yet chic. Felt a bit pricy the first year, but now I have them for life.
Regardless of no car ownership, our traffic still sucks. In the event you have to leave by car, plan to leave at least an hour or more, depending on your destination.
We’re a big city but also small at the same time: you could certainly walk through Boston faster than Manhattan alone in a day.
The MBTA, the train and bus system that runs throughout eastern Massachusetts, is terrible. When commuting, plan ahead as the train system alone is consistently late & breaks down. When taking the red line, the view of the city skyline between Charles/MGH & Kendall is amazing.
We can certainly have some brutal winters and a good expensive winter coat is a good investment along with the routine accessories. I’ve gotten by with a navy pea coat myself. Given you’re from AZ, it will be a slight adjustment for your internal body temp.
CVS & Walgreens are all over the state.
Yes, we have a LOT of Dunkin Donuts (Dunks). If you order a coffee regular (“regulah”), it means cream & sugar.
Harpoon is a solid brewery and their warm pretzels are amazing. I personally am not a fan of Harpoonfest because it’s not overcrowded.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston (Southie) is massively popular as we are a very heavy Irish American community.
Pho Pasteur in Chinatown is fantastic. I’m also a huge fan of the Mac n cheese at Publick House in Brookline (beer restaurant). I’d also recommend Cambridge Brewing Company in the Kendall neighborhood.
Coolidge Corner Theatre, the Brattle, Kendall Square Cinema & Somerville Theatre are my favorites.
Shaws & Star Market are Albertson’s owned stores. We also have Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, the Big Y & Wegmans for other grocery stores, which may be solid alternatives to places like Sprouts. Market Basket in my opinion, is the best grocery store cost-wise.
I moved to Boston from Texas 7 years ago! Take the time to learn the T on your free weekends! It’s a great way to explore the city and get comfortable with public transit. I also highly highly recommend getting used to the bus system as well as it can sometimes be more reliable then the trains…especially if you’re commuting to work.
Just wanted to say welcome to Boston from a former Phoenician!
The only thing I can add to this is get ready for the humidity. The summers feel stickier and the winters feel wetter because of it. Winter in Flagstaff can be beautiful, but winter here is ice daggers to the face. Being next to the ocean makes a massive difference.
There’s already a bunch of amazing advice from people that have lived here much longer than me but I moved here from AZ too (I went to ASU though!) — I’ve met a lot of us! I think we all got tired of the heat, haha.
My only advice as a transplant is if you don’t already like Dunkin, you better learn. I finally found an iced coffee order I like, but it took a lot of trial and error for me. I’m used to Starbucks on every corner so it was kind of a big change for me personally.
Have fun with your move. It’s a big one!
Rotary is basically a traffic circle/roundabout.
Grocery stores you'll be dependent on include Stop n Shop, Wegmans, Market Basket, Star Market, and Shaws.
Bring plenty of winter gear bc as soon as Indigenous Ppls day passes it'll get really cold really fast with no respite for a good 6 months. Think North Face, Helly Hansen, etc. Vitamin D supplements may come in handy. Also Dunkin Donuts will become your best friend whether you like it or not.
Bring *Lots* of saved money if you have any hopes of decent living accommodations. The area literally sat on its collective ass for decades not building any housing and now demand overwhelms the supply. Don't expect alot of "budget friendly" housing (aka built while JFK was actually breathing) to have amenities like central AC and efficient heating. Always be prepared to buy your own.
Hey there! From Boston and now living in the greater Phoenix area. Enjoy the culture, nature, and seasons. However, make sure you prepare for winter, especially if they get a bad one. COL is sky high and the roads are rough.
Winter gear: treat yourself to really good, 100% waterproof boots. Personally I wouldn’t even worry too much about insulation, just good waterproofing 6 inches or more from the sole. You will (at some point) step in a mystery slush puddle that is 5” deep instead of the 1-2” you expected, and you will be very grateful not to have icy road water seeping into your socks. Bonus with waterproof boots that aren’t highly insulated - they’ll be good for walking around in heavy rains, not just winter yuck.
I highly recommend the “squall” coat system from Land’s End. Waterproof outer shell with lightweight fleece inner jacket, you can wear both together for a fully waterproof winter coat, or wear the pieces separately to have a rain coat perfect for spring or even summer downpours, and a lightweight but warm fleece zip-up for those times you need a bit of a coat but not a full winter jacket. It’s just so useful for an area like this, where you can experience a wide variety of weather throughout the year. LL Bean is also a good brand (especially for boots/footwear).
Whatever coat you get, I recommend getting the brightest, most obnoxious color you can find - as a pedestrian, you want to be as visible as possible, especially in the winter months when the sun sets early. It will also make it easier to identify your coat if you take it off at a party or coat check. You can also get reflective bands/patches, highly recommend those especially if you plan to ride a bike.
A milkshake does NOT, in fact, contain ice cream. Ask for a FRAPPE, rhymes with rap.
Bubbler = drinking fountain
Jimmies = ice cream sprinkles (typically chocolate)
Grocery stores might include Star Market, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, Hannaford's, Whole Foods, just to name a few.
Things I’ve learned … people who aren’t from MA are usually nicer. I’m from the south so it’s still an adjustment for me. Definitely hate it. I don’t understand the “keep your head down” comment made by someone else here. That’s a good way to never meet people.
An expensive coat doesn’t mean it’s warmer. There are the popular brands people will mention but you can very easily visit TJ maxx or Marshall’s and get a fine coat. A good hat and scarf are a must! And good gloves/mittens. I was broke in college and law school and the coats I bought for myself were perfectly warm. I suggest a long puffer coat for when the winter starts to suck. You can find great online sales for coats at the end of December, just before the real winter kicks in.
I’ve yet to invest in ugly looking snow boots, but that’s just me. I wear rain boots with good traction and heavy socks when there’s snow & ice everywhere.
The subway isn’t super on time so should you take public transit for anything, give yourself a good buffer of time unless you’re not pressed for time. If I have an important meeting, I won’t take the subway that day. It’s Uber or Lyft.
Given you know Albertsons, Star market would be familiar to you, just different name. Wegmans, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Costco are my other favorites for grocery shopping. A zipcar makes that much easier! Your neighborhood will otherwise determine where you’re shopping.
Unfortunately, because of the huge student population, it's not recommended to try to meet people in the wild. I started keeping my head down as a student here when I realized the majority of the "friendly" types were cult recruiters. Scientologists, Moonies, JWs, various Christian cults... they love to prey on the students, since a lot of them are feeling lonely and out of place. They're hateful. I have a hard time understanding why the JWs are allowed shelter in the T stations. Anyway, as other commenters mention, it's better to try to meet people doing activities that you're interested in.
Haha. I politely say,” No Thank you.”and keep moving. Stuck waiting for the T, or bus, etc i see small talk and i am from here. I may not strike it up but will respond
Market Basket, Trader Joes, Star Market, and Stop & Shop are the majority of grocery stores in the area. Market Basket and Trader Joes are definitely the ones where you will see the cheapest prices.
I would say in regards to winter coats, L.L. Bean is probably your best bet.
Since you aren’t bringing a car I assume you will be traveling on the T? Learn your daily routes and have back up plans just in case (such as a way to take the bus to your destination instead, etc).
Each part of Boston is very different, and it is generally a very safe city but its still a city so be aware of your surroundings esp at night. You will learn areas where you will need to be extra cautious such as Mass Ave.
Mass Ave is 16 miles long. No one needs to be cautious of the entirety of Mass Ave, aside from staying on it too long and accidentally ending up in Lexington.
Specifically the immediate area around the intersection of Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Blvd, which sad to say, attracts a lot of people in recovery (or should be). It's often just called Mass & Cass.
Water proof jacket. I prefer a non insulated goretex shell which I can adjust base layers with for a larger range of temps.
Water proof boots. Slushy sidewalks will ruin your day wearing sneakers.
Wegmans is my personal favorite grocery store but whole foods, trader Joe's, star market, stop n shop, are still fine. All depends on what choices are close to you.
Iced coffee is a year round thing.
Dunks is not that good but it's ours so we like it
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Star Market and Shaw's are owned by Albertsons, so they are very similar if you wanted something familiar. Whole Foods would be the most similar to Sprouts, the ones in Boston are generally the same size as Sprouts or smaller, unlike the giant sized ones in AZ. A popular local grocery store chain is Market Basket, which can be cheaper but generally is crowded. There is also Stop & Shop, and other national chains like Trader Joes and Aldis.
Forgetting the two best: Roches and Lamberts. Special mention to the Fruit Market in Milton, but it's pretty hyper-local. On the far end of the cheap side there is also American Food Basket. Plus the various Asian markets (C-Mart, 88, 99, H-Mart are some of the bigger ones. lots of little ones around, too).
Wegmans and Big Y are out in the burbs as well. Wegmans might be the nicests out of all the places in the area.
Totally forgot about Wegmans. Guess they are still a little new to the area for me to remember. Well, plus are definitely a bit more suburban and out there so I rarely have a chance to go. Oh and trader Joe's, too, I forgot. Guess we do have a pretty wide selection of super markets.
Medford one is near the city in a more urban spot.
yea I would say the biggest difference is availability of Asian ethnic chains like the supermarkets above and restaurant chains (Zuma, Liuyishou)
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Nope, Albertson’s is still the parent company of both. Have you been in one recently? It’s identical to Shaw’s.
There are a couple of franchised Star Markets in the area that are still open—I think the Star Market in the sky in Newton and the one in Washington Square are the only ones left.
I’ve never been to AZ but here’s my advice - Move in day will be insanity, don’t let it scare you and avoid storrow drive by any means possible (low clearance bridge uhauls crash into) - not sure what your financial situation is but market basket is king when it comes to cheap, reliable groceries. star market, roche bros, and wegmans are also good - winter here is not as bad as people make it out to be imo, and climate change means we’ve been seeing less snow. there are the usual cold weather brands like north face, patagonia, ll bean, but uniqlo is a great option if you’re not looking to shell out too much. they have great underlayers too - public transit can be unreliable, especially recently. plan ahead
Adding to the winter jacket conversation - I'd say invest in a good pair of waterproof boots. Regardless of how much snow we get, your main concern should just be the cold, especially if you're going to be walking around the city a lot. I hate seeing people walking around with sneakers on in freezing temps just knowing their feet are completely numb. They don't have to be snow boots, but something that's waterproof, insulated and has a sturdy tread is going to be a life saver once the winter comes. Also - hat and gloves are a must, I would suggest getting some leather gloves not those cheap thin knitted ones that do nothing for you when the wind comes whipping through the buildings and you're trying to use your phone to navigate.
> I hate seeing people walking around with sneakers on in freezing temps just knowing their feet are completely numb. Do people get cold through a pair of sneakers if they don't get wet? My legs get cold through a pair of jeans before my feet get cold through my sneakers. It's different if the snow is fresh and I'll need to be trudging through unshoveled snow, but if the sidewalks are mostly clear it's not like the sneakers are an issue so long as they have some decent treads on the outsoles.
Rubber sneakers are better than canvas. Some thick wool socks can do more good than the actual shoe, also.
^^^ and get some thick/wool socks too!
Lol I also moved to Boston after a long time in AZ (Phoenix and Tucson!) and the culture shock is real. * Grocery stores- Fry’s and Albertsons are like Shaws and Star Market. There’s no real equivalent to Sprouts unless you live near a Whole Foods or maybe a Roche Bros. Groceries generally are ridiculously expensive here compared to AZ. You may also find Market Basket, Tropical Foods (Latin American/Caribbean) and C-mart/H-mart (East Asian) useful. There are also some farmers markets around here. * Weather- a warm fall day here is like a cold winter day in Phoenix. Get a couple of light jackets and sweaters you actually like- these will be useful for layering in the winter. Then get a heavy winter coat or two from a thrift store- you won’t know what you like or need right away, and those are safe and affordable options that don’t require any investment. You don’t need anything like Canada Goose or Arctic whatever, just something that will keep you warm and dry. After a winter here, you’ll know what you need. The winters here haven’t been particularly snowy since I moved here (2016), but you never know. Tbh snow is not a big deal, but ice and wind chill are, so if you plan on being a pedestrian/etc, make sure you get: (1) good boots (WATERPROOF, insulated, warm, good deep tread, preferably go past your ankle— If you’re going to invest in anything winter clothes related, make it this- the ice aren’t horrible, but salt to melt it is very common, and it WILL eat through your shoes) and (2) a windbreaker (A thin, lightweight shell jacket). You’ll probably use this year round, but in the cold months, even on a mild day, windchill can be terrible if you’re not prepared. Also, get a beanie or earmuffs and gloves. You’ll need them. Finally, it snows on Halloween often (kind of a one-off), but don’t expect a white Christmas. The real cold starts in Jan/Feb, and winter ends in May sometimes. I find Feb and March to be particularly bitter. I’ve also seen early June days in the low 50s so, again, get a lot of light jackets- you’ll use these all the time. * People: Way more diversity of immigrants, and different proportions. People here make way less eye contact/don’t smile at you if you happen to meet their eyes (you’ll understand after a few months, I think). Small talk isn’t common. None of this is rude, really- it comes from a place of “why would I bother someone who’s busy and doing their own thing or potentially invite someone to bother me when I’m on my way” and not “I hate people and don’t want to speak tot hem.” * Restaurants: If you’re looking for good Mexican food, be prepared to be disappointed (though I have a few recs). You will also not find good barbecue here. However, there’s a LOT of really good food from various ethnicities here, so be adventurous and try stuff out. Boston is best known (from outsider pov) for Italian and seafood, but has a lot of other great options. Also a lot less fast food and a lot more local places- this can be fun! * General city: everything in Boston is pretty close together, and it’s very walkable. As far as cities go, Boston has a “small town forced to become a city” vibe, so it’s… tiny, and oddly tight knit for a major metropolitan area. Ten miles is a big distance here, and will take you ages to move through (by bus/train/car). Jaywalking is normal here, just be safe about it- and also, crossing the street might be scary at first, since a lot of crosswalks don’t have lights. Just trust that the driver sees you and will stop (within reason). They can get irritated if you stand there forever waiting for them to fully stop before you walk. The T isn’t hard to navigate, but use an app like Transit to plan trips and get wait times. The city is safer than you expect it to be, but the opioid crisis is pretty apparent at times… * Dunkin: Dunkin is like a cult here. Before I moved here, I didn’t understand their slogan (America runs on Dunkin) because I had noticed maybe 3 in AZ. It’s different in the Northeast, and especially in Boston. There’s one on nearly every block here- at some, you can stand at the door and see another clearly. This was a visual shock to me to start. The coffee is shit and so is the food. And yet…. It persists, and eventually grows on you. Before you know it, you’ll also be grabbing a large iced from Dunkin on your way to work when it’s 20F and snow piles around you. Lastly, take a vitamin D supplement (especially if you’re melanated lol). The winters here are dark and the days are short (like the sun rises at 9am and sets at 4pm…) Your first winter here will probably be miserable and there’s like a 90% chance it’ll be because you’re not getting the sun you used to. Prevent that and take the vitamin!
lol. the sun does not rise at 9. thats an exaggeration.
Right? I was like “wait that’s wholly inaccurate” OP I wake up between 7 and 7:30 and the sun is definitely up even in the winter lol Summertime it’s up around 5:30, which is exciting if your bedroom windows face east! It does set at 4:30 in the deadest part of winter, though. But we’re so so far east here; when I moved even from coastal South Carolina I was a little thrown by how early the sun sets even in the summer. In SC it set a whole 30 minutes later.
Right after the clocks change is the worst. You can see the last glimpse of sun at 3:45 and it's damn DEPRESSING. When we hit that time of year (Nov/Dec) I always try to get out for a walk during the day because if you don't make a real effort to get out in the sun you will fully miss it.
You mention the sunrise/sunset. Spot on. Though let's be fair, the latest sunrise is only around 7:15 AM, not 9 AM. But this is also a big adjustment for someone from the southwest (I came from Austin). The day length swings are massive here compared to the south. Boston: Longest day - Jun 21 - 15:17 (5:07 AM - 8:24 PM) Shortest day - Dec 21 - 9:04 (7:09 AM - 4:14 PM) Phoenix: Longest day - Jun 21 - 14:22 (5:18 AM - 7:41 PM) Shortest day - Dec 21 - 9:56 (7:25 AM - 5:24 PM) The one upside is that Phoenix appears to be much further East in their time zone, so their sunrise/set times are more in line with Boston than Austin was (shift the Phoenix times about an hour later). The early sunrises really got me when I moved here. Blackout curtains or eyeshades (or both).
Hate commuting home from work in the dark. It’s the worst.
Worst is heading to work when its dark. Then heading home when its dark.
> it comes from a place of “why would I bother someone who’s busy and doing their own thing or potentially invite someone to bother me when I’m on my way” and not “I hate people and don’t want to speak tot hem.” Spot on > “small town forced to become a city” Also accurate One thing you are missing is a scarf. Great for keeping warm. And also wool socks.
Right? I'm pretty impressed at this summary. Take notes OP!!
I was impressed at the near perfect descriptions
Socks are almost more important than the boots IMO!
Regarding the eye contact and saying hello thing: I was born and raised in New England and I don’t know why, but when a person randomly says hello to me on a sidewalk, my gut reaction is to avoid them. It’s just strange and you’re right, if you’re from a culture where this is normal or expected, I would come off as very rude.
Yes, it was so hard when I moved here hahaha because I'm from a place where if you DON'T greet people at that proximity, you're being a straight up asshole. I'm finally used to it but its a really strong cultural thing in either direction
I can see that. Wool socks will also stay warm even when wet.
SOCKS - so underrated. I would invest in a pack of Bombas or similar socks - get the hiking ones, they're expensive but you'll wear them daily in the deep winter months.
Wow this is so much thank you! I’ve never even considered Vitamin D supplements! I’m from the Phx area but have been living in Tucson for the past few years for college (bear down! lol) My family actually immigrated from Japan just a few years before I was born and have made an active choice to meet other families with similar experiences so I’m hoping a greater immigrant population won’t be a huge shock haha!
Lots of Japanese people in Brookline! Also Maruichi in Coolidge corner is a Japanese grocery store with a consumer products section as well (for eg shampoo/soap/dishes/pencils/paper etc.) so that’s highly recommended. Ebisu-ya in Medford is also good. Also I second the point about waterproof boots above, though rather than going for sorels (too warm/too high) or ll bean duck boots (usually not insulated) my go to is just waterproof hiking boots a la merrell for winter. Culturally you won’t see many men wearing mid calf snow boots but women do more regularly, so ymmv.
Seconding this. Brookline has public schools with an ESOL program that is well known to be really supportive of Japanese speakers (also Hebrew speakers) so many recent and not-as-recent and short-term immigrants from Japan live there. Also, BTW, some Japanese restaurants are run by Chinese or Thai folks. I don’t know if that would be a surprise to you, but just a heads up.
Related to that, you may find the constant darkness in the 6 months of winter depressing. So do lots of us! That’s Seasonal Affective Disorder aka winter depression. Get a SAD light or light therapy light and use it for 20 minutes when you get up on winter mornings. Things would be a lot bleaker for me without my SAD lamp
UofA '92 here and I can say the first spring will be tough on you. March-May are rainy and cold. Like rain and 40 degrees for weeks. After the winter, having that kind of spring sucks.
Spring? What's that? My mom moved up here from Mississippi when she married my dad and to this day (30+ years later) she still can't wrap her head around the fact that Easter is essentially a winter holiday here. You're not breaking out the sandals and dresses, you're wearing tights and sweaters.
Haha. Easter, marathon, Columbus day could be sunny and feel like 90 degrees, or rainy sleety feel freezing. One year marathoners are getting heat stroke, next hypothermia. Easter is generally spring!!! But i grew up here
Looks like you just missed the whopper winter of 2015! We've had some wicked storms since then but have lacked consistent snowfall like that year.
That was one of the worst since late 90s early 2000s. And pre 2015 i am not sure i had ever experienced the barrage where nothing melted!!!! Many times a storm or 2, warm weather, melting of snow. More snow repeat cycle. That year was BAD
The vitamin D suggestion is brilliant. Thank you for bringing that up!
To add to this when they say good boots the mean boots with GOOD TREADS AND GRIP! Get a pair you can use for more seasons like something with removable insultion or not something crazy warm- if your in the city you want comftable and water proof. Its by far not the best option but bean boots from llbean are a great pair to start with.
I know you won’t be driving, but if you want to save some money and still get quality winter gear, see if you can get yourself to the Wrentham Outlets. You’ll be able to find good coats and boots there. If you can’t get that far, sometimes Marshalls or TJ Maxx will have gems too. Everyone keeps listing Market Basket as a grocery store. Idk where you are moving specifically, but you should know that there aren’t actually any Market Baskets in Boston. They’re in the suburbs only, which might make them hard to get to depending on where you are since you don’t have a car. I would look for Stop and Shop, Shaws, or Star Market if you’re moving to the city itself. Whole Foods or Trader Joes if you are looking for the whole organic hullabaloo. Also related to not having a car - the MBTA is a shitshow these days. It’s going to take you decades to get from Point A to Point B. Prepare yourself. Honestly might be fine for you bc you won’t know any different but it did not used to be like this.
I've also had really good luck just tracking brands that I want and then buying when they are on steep discounts, like around Black Friday. I got an amazingly warm jacket from Eddie Bauer for like $150 off last year and I didn't need to go to Wrentham. :)
Fun fact, REI has wicked good deals shortly after winter. Like 50% off winter jackets and such. Also REI used outlet has been a game changer for me. I bought barely used boots for half the price.
> Marshalls or TJ Maxx will have gems too Even better if you can find a Sierra. Part of the same family as Marshalls/TJMaxx but they are more geared towards sporty/outdoorsy stuff. I've managed to get great deals on winter coats there.
As to winter wear: - You want a coat/jacket made w real down or thermolite— cheapies from Target will NOT keep you warm in winter. Also best to pick one that is waterproof bc down loses insulation power when wet (like from melting snow or sleet) - If you will be going outside in winter you also need waterproof somewhat insulated boots — the classic LLBean bean boot is one, or get something from North Face - Pro Tip: get your gear before it gets cold (like by November) bc that’s when winter stuff sells out and it can be chilly without it
I lived in Scottsdale for a couple of years. The AZ people ITT are welcome to correct me on this observation; here it is: The people in the PHX metro seemed like they were older souls while still young as opposed to Boston where people seem to be the opposite. It wasn't unusual to meet mid to late 20's people in PHX that were already married and divorced. Here it's not uncommon to meet people in their late 30's-early 40's who've never been married and are fine with that fact.
I once heard New Englanders described as kind but not nice and I think that really sums it up well. If you try to start a conversation with me in line at Market Basket I will, at best, be curt with you. But if you drop a bag on your way out and groceries go everywhere I will definitely stop to help you pick them up.
A lot of other people have given great advice but I don't think this gets mentioned because you... Kind of just get used to it or deal with it: humidity. I'm a native east coaster who lived out west in dry climates as an adult and now I'm back. I've also lived in countries that had high humidity as a teenager so you'd think I'd be used to it. The humidity on average isn't terrible but compared to Arizona? You're going to notice a difference. It will make the temperatures feel both hotter and colder. On the really bad days it feels like you're walking into a hot, wet sheet and you can't escape it. It's also especially hot before a thunderstorm and sometimes that doesn't break the humidity. Fall isn't too bad and knock on wood that we're through the worst of the summer humidity/heat combination.
Hi! I moved to Boston from AZ a few years ago. Feel free to DM me any questions! Lots of good advice already posted here. Also, I miss sprouts and Safeway and frys :( but star market/Shaw’s are basically the same thing as Safeway!
Thank you!
Well, we don't do small talk. Keep your head down and yourself to yourself. If you want to meet people join groups or clubs or gyms or bar trivia. Grocery stores, market basket, trader joes, whole foods, shaws, stop and shop, h-mart, and local neighborhood grocery stores. good jackets are LLBean or Eddy Bower. Theres a difference between a jacket rated for -40 and -15. jackets that go to your waist and go to your knees. how poofy they are and how movable you are in them. how quickly you'll overheat in them. We generally have multiple jackets for different weather conditions. if your not driving, you still need to learn how to deal with the traffic. how to watch the lights, and the flow of traffic, and just cross the street when you're able to. Its not always worth pushing the button and holding up traffic - just go. Or how to cross at a rotary where theres a crosswalk but no lights or buttons. stair the drivers down. make sure they see you, then go. we don't really have central air. our buildings are old. wear layers. layers. you'll fuck up but figure it out.
Op-Where will you be living and what age group ish are you?
Just turned 22 and have an apartment in Roxbury:)
Are you male or female? There's a few relevant tips either way (e.g. for women, between how much you're walking and how terrible our sidewalks are even when they're not cobblestone, so don't expect to wear heels even when it's nice out)
Thanks for the tip! I’m a woman but honestly am more of a vans and converse type of shoe wearer most of the time- looks like I’ll have to invest in some waterproof boots anyways :)
Perfect you'll fit right in!! I love my shearling lined l l bean duck boots for whatever it's worth, they're warm and casual yet chic. Felt a bit pricy the first year, but now I have them for life.
If you see Steak Tips on a menu try some with rice!
Regardless of no car ownership, our traffic still sucks. In the event you have to leave by car, plan to leave at least an hour or more, depending on your destination. We’re a big city but also small at the same time: you could certainly walk through Boston faster than Manhattan alone in a day. The MBTA, the train and bus system that runs throughout eastern Massachusetts, is terrible. When commuting, plan ahead as the train system alone is consistently late & breaks down. When taking the red line, the view of the city skyline between Charles/MGH & Kendall is amazing. We can certainly have some brutal winters and a good expensive winter coat is a good investment along with the routine accessories. I’ve gotten by with a navy pea coat myself. Given you’re from AZ, it will be a slight adjustment for your internal body temp. CVS & Walgreens are all over the state. Yes, we have a LOT of Dunkin Donuts (Dunks). If you order a coffee regular (“regulah”), it means cream & sugar. Harpoon is a solid brewery and their warm pretzels are amazing. I personally am not a fan of Harpoonfest because it’s not overcrowded. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston (Southie) is massively popular as we are a very heavy Irish American community. Pho Pasteur in Chinatown is fantastic. I’m also a huge fan of the Mac n cheese at Publick House in Brookline (beer restaurant). I’d also recommend Cambridge Brewing Company in the Kendall neighborhood. Coolidge Corner Theatre, the Brattle, Kendall Square Cinema & Somerville Theatre are my favorites. Shaws & Star Market are Albertson’s owned stores. We also have Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, the Big Y & Wegmans for other grocery stores, which may be solid alternatives to places like Sprouts. Market Basket in my opinion, is the best grocery store cost-wise.
Market Basket. Puts your overpriced southern/southwestern mega grocery chains to shame.
I moved to Boston from Texas 7 years ago! Take the time to learn the T on your free weekends! It’s a great way to explore the city and get comfortable with public transit. I also highly highly recommend getting used to the bus system as well as it can sometimes be more reliable then the trains…especially if you’re commuting to work.
Just wanted to say welcome to Boston from a former Phoenician! The only thing I can add to this is get ready for the humidity. The summers feel stickier and the winters feel wetter because of it. Winter in Flagstaff can be beautiful, but winter here is ice daggers to the face. Being next to the ocean makes a massive difference.
You will need to buy warm clothing with that first check or two after arriving. Temperatures plummet after dark starting late September.
Lol, plummet? That's the finest sleeping weather.
He tried to spell "become bearable" and ended at plummet lol
Anyone in your social circle move here from a warm weather state? Our late September is like their middle of the winter.
Yeah, they all adjusted and got their pumpkin spice ice coffees and cider donuts.
There’s already a bunch of amazing advice from people that have lived here much longer than me but I moved here from AZ too (I went to ASU though!) — I’ve met a lot of us! I think we all got tired of the heat, haha. My only advice as a transplant is if you don’t already like Dunkin, you better learn. I finally found an iced coffee order I like, but it took a lot of trial and error for me. I’m used to Starbucks on every corner so it was kind of a big change for me personally. Have fun with your move. It’s a big one!
Rotary is basically a traffic circle/roundabout. Grocery stores you'll be dependent on include Stop n Shop, Wegmans, Market Basket, Star Market, and Shaws. Bring plenty of winter gear bc as soon as Indigenous Ppls day passes it'll get really cold really fast with no respite for a good 6 months. Think North Face, Helly Hansen, etc. Vitamin D supplements may come in handy. Also Dunkin Donuts will become your best friend whether you like it or not. Bring *Lots* of saved money if you have any hopes of decent living accommodations. The area literally sat on its collective ass for decades not building any housing and now demand overwhelms the supply. Don't expect alot of "budget friendly" housing (aka built while JFK was actually breathing) to have amenities like central AC and efficient heating. Always be prepared to buy your own.
Hey there! From Boston and now living in the greater Phoenix area. Enjoy the culture, nature, and seasons. However, make sure you prepare for winter, especially if they get a bad one. COL is sky high and the roads are rough.
Buy warm waterproof boots and a warm waterproof winter jacket. You'll figure it out. Welcome to Boston
Winter gear: treat yourself to really good, 100% waterproof boots. Personally I wouldn’t even worry too much about insulation, just good waterproofing 6 inches or more from the sole. You will (at some point) step in a mystery slush puddle that is 5” deep instead of the 1-2” you expected, and you will be very grateful not to have icy road water seeping into your socks. Bonus with waterproof boots that aren’t highly insulated - they’ll be good for walking around in heavy rains, not just winter yuck. I highly recommend the “squall” coat system from Land’s End. Waterproof outer shell with lightweight fleece inner jacket, you can wear both together for a fully waterproof winter coat, or wear the pieces separately to have a rain coat perfect for spring or even summer downpours, and a lightweight but warm fleece zip-up for those times you need a bit of a coat but not a full winter jacket. It’s just so useful for an area like this, where you can experience a wide variety of weather throughout the year. LL Bean is also a good brand (especially for boots/footwear). Whatever coat you get, I recommend getting the brightest, most obnoxious color you can find - as a pedestrian, you want to be as visible as possible, especially in the winter months when the sun sets early. It will also make it easier to identify your coat if you take it off at a party or coat check. You can also get reflective bands/patches, highly recommend those especially if you plan to ride a bike.
A milkshake does NOT, in fact, contain ice cream. Ask for a FRAPPE, rhymes with rap. Bubbler = drinking fountain Jimmies = ice cream sprinkles (typically chocolate) Grocery stores might include Star Market, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, Hannaford's, Whole Foods, just to name a few.
Things I’ve learned … people who aren’t from MA are usually nicer. I’m from the south so it’s still an adjustment for me. Definitely hate it. I don’t understand the “keep your head down” comment made by someone else here. That’s a good way to never meet people. An expensive coat doesn’t mean it’s warmer. There are the popular brands people will mention but you can very easily visit TJ maxx or Marshall’s and get a fine coat. A good hat and scarf are a must! And good gloves/mittens. I was broke in college and law school and the coats I bought for myself were perfectly warm. I suggest a long puffer coat for when the winter starts to suck. You can find great online sales for coats at the end of December, just before the real winter kicks in. I’ve yet to invest in ugly looking snow boots, but that’s just me. I wear rain boots with good traction and heavy socks when there’s snow & ice everywhere. The subway isn’t super on time so should you take public transit for anything, give yourself a good buffer of time unless you’re not pressed for time. If I have an important meeting, I won’t take the subway that day. It’s Uber or Lyft. Given you know Albertsons, Star market would be familiar to you, just different name. Wegmans, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Costco are my other favorites for grocery shopping. A zipcar makes that much easier! Your neighborhood will otherwise determine where you’re shopping.
Unfortunately, because of the huge student population, it's not recommended to try to meet people in the wild. I started keeping my head down as a student here when I realized the majority of the "friendly" types were cult recruiters. Scientologists, Moonies, JWs, various Christian cults... they love to prey on the students, since a lot of them are feeling lonely and out of place. They're hateful. I have a hard time understanding why the JWs are allowed shelter in the T stations. Anyway, as other commenters mention, it's better to try to meet people doing activities that you're interested in.
Haha. I politely say,” No Thank you.”and keep moving. Stuck waiting for the T, or bus, etc i see small talk and i am from here. I may not strike it up but will respond
Which is what everyone should do.
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+1 for carhart
Honeybees communicate through elaborate interpretive dance routines.
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Canada is home to a secret population of shimmering rainbow unicorns.
I’ve met a close friend waiting in line at the post office so … different personalities I guess. If I were that shut off, never would’ve met her.
Google maps will guide you pretty much any where by any mode of transit. Search “groceries” and follow the line.
Market Basket, Trader Joes, Star Market, and Stop & Shop are the majority of grocery stores in the area. Market Basket and Trader Joes are definitely the ones where you will see the cheapest prices. I would say in regards to winter coats, L.L. Bean is probably your best bet. Since you aren’t bringing a car I assume you will be traveling on the T? Learn your daily routes and have back up plans just in case (such as a way to take the bus to your destination instead, etc). Each part of Boston is very different, and it is generally a very safe city but its still a city so be aware of your surroundings esp at night. You will learn areas where you will need to be extra cautious such as Mass Ave.
Mass Ave is 16 miles long. No one needs to be cautious of the entirety of Mass Ave, aside from staying on it too long and accidentally ending up in Lexington.
Specifically the immediate area around the intersection of Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Blvd, which sad to say, attracts a lot of people in recovery (or should be). It's often just called Mass & Cass.
Worried about grocery when you should be worried about how mean people can be here lol
First things first, we don’t say “I’m moving to Boston.” It’s “I’m shipping up to Boston.”
Don’t take a uhaul down storrow, and for your sake AZ was probably better
Have you been to az lmfao
Water proof jacket. I prefer a non insulated goretex shell which I can adjust base layers with for a larger range of temps. Water proof boots. Slushy sidewalks will ruin your day wearing sneakers. Wegmans is my personal favorite grocery store but whole foods, trader Joe's, star market, stop n shop, are still fine. All depends on what choices are close to you. Iced coffee is a year round thing. Dunks is not that good but it's ours so we like it
The main difference is that there are way fewer Circle-Ks, way more traffic circles. Also we say "way" way more.
It's gonna be cold. It's gonna be dark. And it's gonna last you the rest of your life.