6AM City In-house

How well do you know Boston?

15 interesting facts about Boston
A team of four rowers going under the Boston University Bridge.
The Boston University Bridge is unlike any other in the world. | Photo by @paulcanottaggio
Did you know that Boston’s nickname is Beantown?

Nah, just kidding. If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around. As connoisseurs of the quirky and unconventional, we put together a list of Boston’s history, oddest characteristics, and more. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new.

Either way, test your local knowledge with these five interesting facts.
  1. The MBTA’s Tremont Street subway was the first subway tunnel in America and is the third oldest still in use worldwide. It opened to the public in 1897 and the original five-mile track ran from an entrance at the Public Garden and an entrance near Haymarket Square.
  2. The Zakim Bridge is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It stands 745 ft over the Charles River, and measures 1,407 ft long and 183 ft wide. Construction began on Oct. 1, 1997 and cost $115 million.
  3. Boston is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train going under a vehicle driving under a plane. Visit the Boston University Bridge to see this phenomenon.
  4. The biggest art heist in history happened in March 1990 at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Twelve paintings worth over $500 million were stolen by two thieves impersonating cops and the stolen art has never been recovered.
  5. Fenway Park is the oldest MLB stadium that is still in use, and it features a signature color. The Red Sox patented the color “Fenway Green” for the iconic Green Monster, which stands 37 ft tall.
Your turn. Think you can get one over on us? Let us know your favorite local trivia tidbit and you just might make it into the newsletter. Click the button below for 10 more fun facts about our city.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Did our fun facts surprise you?

A. Yes, I didn’t know any of these
B. I knew a few but there were still some surprises
C. I know my city well and knew all these already
FINAL ANSWER
Boston Children’s Museum

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 19
  • Holiday Quiz Vol. 1 | Monday, Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m. | Night Shift Brewing, 87 Santilli Hwy., Everett | Free | The special holiday trivia will cover everything from movies to music.
  • Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers | Monday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m. | TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston | $76-$659 | Catch a Monday night game with the Bruins.
  • “White Christmas” - The Sing-A-Long Version | Monday, Dec. 19-Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 12 p.m. | Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington | $21.50 | Sing along to your favorite holiday songs at this special screening.
Tuesday, Dec. 20
  • Brett Eldredge | Tuesday, Dec. 20-Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 8 p.m. | Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston | $125-$389 | Get in the festive spirit at the “Glow Live Tour.”
Wednesday, Dec. 21
  • Urban Nutcracker | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston | $50 | Watch a modern retelling of “The Nutcracker” featuring classical ballet, tap dance, hip-hop, and jazz.
  • Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers | Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston | $62-$1,554.50 | Cheer on the home team against the visitors from Indiana (hey INDYtoday).

We have a calendar filled with events and 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
6AM City In-house

7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor 👀
SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area.
SmartAsset matches you with vetted financial advisors in your area. | Photo by SmartAsset
Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not balancing finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Avoid these 7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor so you can get back to the balance that matters most.

Pro tip: For simplicity, try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*
GET STARTED, SMARTIE

Weather
  • 41º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain
Development
  • The BPDA approved six new affordable housing projects, plus one new office and lab space in Fort Point. The new developments will create 485 residential units, and almost half will be income-restricted.
Edu
  • Harvard received approval to build its new conference center that will be located on the Enterprise Research Campus in Allston. Construction for the 900,000-sqft David Rubenstein Treehouse center will begin next year. (Boston Business Journal)
Biz
  • General Electric Co. will open a headquarters office for its energy businesses in Kendall Square in 2024. The newly named GE Vernova will welcome up to 200 employees in the two-story, 50,000-sqft office at 58 Charles St. in Cambridge. (Boston Business Journal)
Eat
  • Craving a late night burrito? El Jefe’s Taqueria on Commonwealth Avenue has extended its hours to remain open to 3 a.m. If you’re looking for more late-night eats, we’ve got you covered. 🌯 (Boston.com)
Sports
  • The Red Sox have officially welcomed Masataka Yoshida with a five-year deal for the Japanese outfielder. He will wear No. 7 and previously played seven seasons with the Orix Buffaloes. ⚾ (CBS Boston)
Health
  • Holiday cheer isn’t the only thing spreading this season. The CDC reported “very high” flu activity in our state this season. Find a flu vaccine near you or plan to go to one of the local holiday pop-up clinics. (Verywell Health + CBS Boston)
Shop
  • Give the gift of a quality shave month after month with a Harry’s trial set and blade subscription. Choose your handle color, refill frequency, and let the good shave days roll in for as little as $5 on sign-up (yes, you heard that right). 🪒*
  • If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for someone on your list, look no further. Let us introduce you to gift cards from our BOStoday shop, Six & Main. Purchase a gift card today. 🎁
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
6AM City In-house

Two startups recognized by Google

Two Black-owned startups recognized by Google
Boston skyline at sunset.
The winners were selected from community nominations. | Photo by @emilydiercksphotography
Google has selected two local Black-owned businesses to receive $100,000 each from the Google Black Founders Fund. This is the third round of funding for the program that offers programming + mentorship for recipients.

Health Haven Rx was created by Yinka Ojutalayo after helping his dad manage the pricing on his generic prescriptions. The startup is two years old and uses software to provide price transparency for medications.

The CashEx app was founded by Kingsley Ezeani to offer a range of financial services for immigrants. The app helps users transfer funds between countries, open bank accounts, and move credit history. The startup was also recognized for the Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge Awards.

Applications for the 2023 Black Founders Fund will open soon. Sign up for notifications.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Jessica.

Editor’s pick: The countdown is on to Christmas, and I have been trying to get in the holly jolly mood by watching holiday movies. 🍿

According to this list, the most searched alternative Christmas movie in Massachusetts is Die Hard. I might add a film or two from other state’s favorites, like Mean Girls, Gremlins, and Step Brothers. Let me know your favorite holiday movie to watch this time of year.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? We spilled the tea on the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Jessica Burton, Sara Frazier, Sarah Leonhardt, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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