Culture
Boston Public Library at Copley Square: What to See
The first large free municipal library in the country, and one of the finest interiors in Boston. Admission has always been nothing.
Eleanor Whitcomb / August 18, 2026
Boston / Independent / Est. 2026Today's edition
Lead dispatch
Where to Eat Oysters in Boston and What to Order
New England oysters are named for the place they grew, and the names on the menu are the most useful information you are given.
Nadia OseiAugust 18, 2026
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Today in Boston
Culture
The MFA and the Gardner: Planning a Boston Museum Day
Two major museums sit within walking distance of each other, and they could hardly be more different in what they ask of you.
Eleanor Whitcomb / August 18, 2026
Harbor
Boston Harbor Islands: Ferries, Camping and What to See
A national park sits in the harbour a short ferry ride from downtown, and most residents have never been.
Terrence Boyle / August 18, 2026
Sport
Fenway Park: Seats, Obstructed Views and Getting There
The oldest ballpark in the majors was built for a different century, which is charming until you buy a seat behind a steel post.
Nadia Osei / August 18, 2026
Research
Longwood Medical Area: Boston's Teaching Hospitals
A few blocks in Boston hold an extraordinary density of teaching hospitals and medical research. Here is what is there and how to navigate it.
Nadia Osei / August 18, 2026
Research
Harvard and MIT: How Cambridge Became a Research Hub
Two universities a mile apart turned a industrial riverfront into one of the densest concentrations of research money on earth.
Nadia Osei / August 18, 2026
Housing
Boston Rent and Housing Rules Tenants Should Know
Massachusetts has no rent control, but it does have some of the strictest security deposit law in the country. Know which is which.
Terrence Boyle / August 18, 2026
City Hall
Boston City Council and the State House: Who Does What
Boston is unusually dependent on the state legislature for its own local decisions. Here is why, and what it means for getting anything done.
Eleanor Whitcomb / August 18, 2026
Transit
MBTA Subway Lines: Red, Orange, Blue, Green, Silver
Boston's colour-coded rapid transit is older than most systems and stranger than it looks. Here is what each line does, branches included.
Terrence Boyle / August 18, 2026
Transit
MBTA Fares Explained: CharlieCard, Tap and Transfers
What a ride costs, which payment method gets you a free transfer, and the one combination that quietly charges you twice.
Terrence Boyle / August 18, 2026