American Athens Soon To Be Bicoastal (In the literal and not pejorative sense).
21 May 2007 | lecollye
That’s right, I’m outta here. Unless something catastrophic happens between now and June 30th, after 26+ years in New England, I’m about to call somewhere else (the San Francisco Bay Area) home for a while. I’m not leaving for a job or a women, but because of numerous socio-cultural realities of the Boston area, that over the last few years I have come to realize I do not really want to experience anymore. I don’t have any second thoughts and am actually really excited to get on the road this summer.
That being said, I am not about to make this post or the rest of my “Boston era” posts about what I dislike about New England (I’m saving that for a forthcoming book), rather I am going to try to post regularly over the next few months about the people, places and things that I love about New England in general, and the Boston area specifically. From Fenway to Kelly’s Roast Beef, there are so many things that I love and will dearly miss about this area. I hope write a post every week that features a person, place or thing that I wish honor, as well as feature for others to enjoy in my absence over the coming years.
Winthrop, MA
On the map it looks like a little hook coming down off of Eastie. Only 8.3sq miles in area, including a golf course, Winthrop, MA is many things to many people, and has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have 3 grandparents buried there, my parents met at Winthop High and it is the place where I first learned to respect the roast beef sandwich. Winthrop is home of the Deer Island waste treatment center (which is actually part of Boston), constant jet noise and near-death flyovers. I spent large chunks of my summers and free weekends roaming the streets of that small town while I was growing up, and will always consider it a second hometown.
One of the more notable landmarks in this little town is the beach. In comparison to other beaches, Winthrop beach is relatively commercially undeveloped, with a majority of the “beach front” property still occupied by family homes, and a beach predominantly occupied by locals. Winthrop beach in the summer is something out of fiction; quite possibly the melanoma capital of the world (skin cancer may have been first diagnosed here), at any given time there are at least 30 overweight bronzed men in Speedos (who seem to think they are in Miami in the 1950’s) strutting on the beach wall, flashing their “guns,” intermingling with families, bikers and a never ending supply of seniors who walk up and down Shore Drive. Over the past 26 years, I have spent at least 1 day every summer at Winthrop Beach. I have seen people get arrested for letting a little too much fall out of their shorts, found a hunting knife in the sand at age 5, and can remember when you could swim in the water, then when you couldn’t and am glad now that you can again.
When I think about leaving the area for good, Winthrop is one of the first things that comes to mind. The beach is rarely crowded, except for a scorching weekend day, and a visit involves far less drama than nearby Revere Beach. So, if you are looking for a beach experience that doesn’t involve the Bourne or Sagamore Bridges, may I suggest a day in Winthrop, parking on Shore Drive free and meterless.
