Do you hear that sound? 👂

The soundscape of Boston, MA

The fountain in the Boston Public Library courtyard.

The BPL courtyard has seating, sunny views + is open to the public. | Photo by BOStoday team

What is ASMR? It stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response — a feeling of well-being caused by a specific stimulus, like a sound.

While much of Boston’s soundscape is dominated by honks, the hum of city traffic, and the occasional train screech, we have a few favorite sounds that are uniquely Boston.

Today, we’re taking a look (or a listen) at some of these local sounds and how they make us feel at home.

☕ No matter what season, the sounds of swirling Dunkin’ iced coffee cups will place you right in the heart of Boston. Sip on the history of our beloved coffee chain.

🔔 Church bells can be heard from the 1,500-pound bell that was recently restored at the Park Street Church. You can also hear ringing from the Old North Church (famous for the Midnight Ride) and the bell from King’s Chapel, which was cracked in 1814 and recast by Paul Revere.

⚾ If you’ve been to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, you know this tradition is so good, so good, so good. All the fans stand together and sing the Neil Diamond classic, “Sweet Caroline.” This sing-a-long has been going strong since 2002 + we’re already looking forward belting it out during the next Sox season.

🧑‍🍳 Satisfy your sweet tooth with the crunch of a fresh cannoli. Boston has some of the best options for the Italian pastry — just visit Mike’s, Modern + Bova’s in the North End and you’ll see what we mean.

📚 Bostonians know if they want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, there’s a peaceful retreat waiting at the McKim Courtyard at the Boston Public Library amid the soothing water fountain sounds. This beautiful space is free and open to the public.

If you’re looking for more local sounds, rock out to our community Spotify playlist with classics like “Shipping Up to Boston” and “Dirty Water.”

What sound do you associate with Boston?

MAKE SOME NOISE 📣

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

Civic Engagement Day | Wed., Oct. 12 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 1 City Hall Square 5th Floor, Boston | Free | Boston residents with disabilities will learn about all of the ways they can get involved with local government.
Zero Net Carbon Zoning - Public Office Hours | Wed., Oct. 12 | 2 p.m. | Zoom | Free | Chat with Boston Planning and Development Agency + City staff about the proposed Article 37 Zoning Updates at this public feedback meeting.

Thursday

Light of Day Records Vinyl Pop-Up | Thu., Oct. 13 | 7-9 p.m. | Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Massachusetts Ave, Boston | $20.00 | Each ticket includes one record from a pre-selected bin, a curated flight of four beers + a private vinyl shopping experience.
Spooky Season Cookie Decorating | Thu., Oct. 13 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Lamplighter Broadway, 284 Broadway, Cambridge | $50 | Visit the Broadway taproom for a seasonal cookie decorating workshop, taught by Maria from Sweet Treats by Maria Rose.

Friday

Night in the Stacks | Fri., Oct. 14 | 7-10 p.m. | Boston Public Library Fund, 700 Boylston St., Boston | $100.00 - $200.00 | Dance the night away with other book lovers from across the city.
MIT Symphony Orchestra: Haydn, Britten, and Mayer | Fri., Oct. 14 | 8-9 p.m. | Building W16: Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge | $10 | Listen to the sounds from MIT Symphony Orchestra featuring faculty members Marcus Thompson + Natalie Lin Douglas — tickets are free for MIT ID holders.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

4 ways Cambridge-based Moderna gives back to the community

Benefits like professional development programs and paid leave, enables the team at Moderna to achieve greater things. | Photo via Pexels

Did you know? 39% of Moderna’s upper leadership (think: VP and beyond) is female — and 40% of employees identify as racially or ethnically diverse.

Moderna believes employees of diverse backgrounds drive innovation at the locally-based pharmaceutical company. That’s why Moderna leadership makes it a point to attract + retain individuals that represent a wide range of ages, ethnicities, genders + more.

Here’s how that diverse team gives back to BOS:

Raising CMV awareness. Moderna’s #nowiknowCMV campaign draws attention to this (largely unknown) #1 cause of birth defects in the U.S..
Volunteering. Colleagues volunteer in our local community with organizations like Pine Street Inn.
Supporting future scientists. Moderna hosts school events through Breakthrough Greater Boston, and participates in science fair judging.
Launching the Moderna Charitable Foundation. In 2022, Moderna started a foundation to support public health organizations, access to quality healthcare, and science education, particularly among underserved communities.

And Moderna isn’t just giving back to BOS — the team aims to improve medical access all around the globe.^

LEARN MORE ABOUT MODERNA

Content marked with a ^ is created by our Branded Content Studio — see more of their work + learn how they can create engaging paid content for your brand here.

Weather

74º | Mostly sunny | 10% chance of rain

Open

Area Four’s second cafe is now open in Kendall Square. Fuel up with Barrington Coffee Roasting Co. + MEM Tea, plus fresh pastries, breakfast, and pizza. Find the cafe at The Alexandria Center (One Kendall Sq.).

Closed

FoMu Ice Cream’s Allston location closed its doors earlier this week. The local chain is known for its plant-based ice cream that’s made with unique ingredients. Haven’t had a taste of FoMu? No worries — the Jamaica Plain, South End, and Fenway storefronts will remain open. 🍨

Number

$47 million. That’s how much the city spent for the acquisition of 36 multi-family buildings in East Boston as part of the efforts to ensure access to affordable housing for the area. This addition brings the total number of affordable units to 114 + establishes the state’s first Mixed Income Neighborhood Trust.
1,251. That’s how many square feet the average home is in Boston, according to American Home Shield’s size index. The average home size in Massachusetts is a tad roomier, clocking in at 1,800 sqft. 🏡

Outdoors

Celebrate the reopened Edwards McCarthy Playground in Charlestown on Mon., Oct. 17. The updated park will have dedicated spaces for children ages 2-5 and 5-12. Bonus: There’s also a fresh basketball court + walking path, plus more seating and bike parking.

Jobs

If you’re looking to chug along in your career, the MBTA is now hiring. To hear more about the available positions, head to the Employment Fair on Thurs., Oct. 13 at the Boston City Hall Plaza from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 🚌

Biz

Dorchester resident Elaine Chow runs the East Coast franchise of ChopValue, a sustainable company turning chopsticks into furniture + home goods. The business (which has been collecting chopsticks from local restaurants for six months) will open a Charlestown factory at the end of the month. (BostInno)

Community

We have two challenges for any local photographers out there — our BOStoday falltography contest + round two of Pics in the Parks. This week’s theme for the Boston Parks and Recreation Department challenge is texture.

Ranked

89. That’s where Boston ranked on WalletHub’s list of the best and worst cities to drive in (read: the 11th worst in the country) with a score of 46.80 out of 100. Drivers, let us know if you agree. 🚙

Announced

If you love this newsletter (and supporting local) as much as we love strolls in the Public Garden, morning lattes from Thinking Cup + Saturdays spent shopping along Newbury Street (which is a lot) — we’ve got something for you: BOStoday just launched a membership program. Learn more + sign up.

Trending

Fast-track those holiday shopping plans. For the first time, Amazon is hosting a second Prime Day with the Prime Early Access Sale today, Oct. 12. Some of the best deals we’ve seen: $120 off a Shark cordless vacuum, $100 off a Vitamix One, and $180 off a deep tissue massage gun.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Go big or gourd home 🎃

The official pumpkins of Boston, MA

Two of the pumpkins came from Erving, MA + one from Swanzey, NH. | Photo provided

Did you know that our city is home to an official pumpkin each fall? This year, Boston has gone all out — there is now a trio of gigantic pumpkins to admire inside the Boston Public Market.

While we typically only get two official pumpkins, this year’s inaugural trio features a “PumpKing,” “PumpQueen,” and a midsize squash (the heaviest squash ever, to be exact).

Wondering just how large + in charge these beauties are? Their combined total weight is more than 3,815 pounds.

We have Phillipston’s Red Apple Farm (a vendor at the year-round market) to thank for the pumpkins, which have arrived just in time for the fifth annual Harvest Party. Psst — if you forgot to grab tickets for tonight’s festivities, there are still a few left.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by City Editor Sara.

Editor’s pick: Has anyone seen any new artwork on the city’s utility boxes? Local artists are beginning to share their PaintBox program pieces, and I’m keeping my eyes peeled for some fresh paint. 🎨

Let me know if you’ve seen an eye-catching design in your neighborhood — it could be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? The show must go on at these local theater performances.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?