Boston/East Boston

A lot of neighborhoods claim to be diverse, but East Boston is the real deal. "Eastie", as the locals call it, has always been a welcoming place for immigrants hoping to gain a toehold in Boston. Rapid gentrification along the waterfront has begun to take hold, and it remains to be seen what impacts that will have on this working class community.

Like much of the rest of the Boston area, East Boston was originally a series of five islands and marshy tidal bogs. Each of the islands were used either for farming or the grazing of livestock, and military fortifications were constructed when necessary. The two largest islands (Noddle's and Breed's) make up the modern commercial and residential heart of Eastie. The three smaller (Governors, Apple, and Bird) were combined with infill over the years to create Logan International Airport.

In the 1830s, the owner of the largest island, William Sumner, formed a company to direct expansion in the area. The railroad was brought in and ferries started service to try to connect East Boston to the rest of the mainland. While those ventures didn't work out so well, the urban planning that was done around this time remains. Visitors today will see one of the few areas of Boston actually laid out on a grid. This was also a prosperous period for locals involved in the Clipper ship industry, which flourished here. So renowned were the shipbuilders, Eastie would remain popular in the maritime trades long after the time of wooden ships had passed.

The ships carried more than just cargo, they also brought with them new arrivals and new ideas. A great many Canadians, Irish, Russian and European Jewish immigrants would appear throughout the 19th century. The Italians arrived at the dawn of the 20th century, and a growing population required additional housing. It's during this period when the streets first became lined with ever present three deckers, providing affordable housing for the recent immigrants. The fine Victorian mansions and sea captain's homes would remain atop Eagle Hill, of course, along with many handsome brick bow fronts in Jeffries Point.

The construction of the airport beginning in the 1920s was transformational. Also extremely close to downtown Boston, the noise and pollution from the air traffic kept housing prices affordable. This provided a landing space for the most recent influx of people hailing from South and Central America, the Caribbean, and South East Asia. Nothing stays the same forever, and today developers are moving in to capitalize on Eastie's waterfront views and adjacency to downtown.

Clearly Logan International Airport is the neighborhood's defining characteristic. There are, however, a few other ways to get here that don't involve undergoing a full body patdown.

1 Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, 1339 Bennington St (T: Suffolk Downs), ☏ +1 617 727-5350. 9AM-dusk daily. This protected Saltwater Marsh is Boston's last, and the perfect place to stroll and explore during fall, spring and summer months. The park itself is 241 acres, and 28 of them are available to the public. Free. (updated Mar 2022)

2 Bremen Street Community Park, Bremen St (T: Airport), ☏ +1 617 568-7442. 8AM-8PM daily. This sprawling 18-acre park in the heart of the neighborhood has bocce courts, Asian themed public gardens, playgrounds for the kids, as well as walking and bike paths. Free. (updated Feb 2017)

3 Constitution Beach, 799 Bennington St (T: Orient Heights), ☏ +1 781 485-2804 x105. 24 hours daily. Watch the jets come in for a landing at this nice public beach. Newly constructed bathhouse and concession stand, and there are lifeguards are on duty June to September. (updated Feb 2017)

4 Lo Presti Park, Summer and New streets (T: Maverick). Sunrise-sunset daily. Shoot some hoops while taking in some of the best views of Boston's downtown skyline. The city made nearby luxury condo developers install this nicely appointed free park. Free. (updated Feb 2017)

5 Piers Park, 95 Marginal St (T: Maverick), ☏ +1 617 561-6677. 7AM-9PM daily. 7-acre beautifully landscaped waterfront park with many amenities. Playground for the kids, fitness center, and professional sailing center renting boats and offering classes. Great views of downtown Boston, and when its warm there are concerts and public events weekly. Free, harbor cruise $85, five-day sailing pass $325. (updated Feb 2017)

1 Porrazzo Skating Rink, 199 Coleridge St (T: Orient Heights), ☏ +1 617 567-9571. 8AM-10PM daily, check calendar for specific events. $5 public skating, $5 skate rentals. (updated Feb 2017)

1 Atlantic Works Gallery, 80 Border St (T: Maverick), ☏ +1 857 302-8363. Sa Su 1PM-5PM. The art scene in East Boston has exploded over the years with the redevelopment of the East Boston Artists Group's Atlantic Works Art Gallery. Here you can drop in, view art at the dozens of studios artists keep in the historic building and, of course, purchase something for your wall. (updated Feb 2017)

East Boston is full of wonderful stores and restaurants representing its different ethnic groups. Long-time Italian restaurants stand next to Brazilian cafes.

1 Kelly's Pub (Kelley Square Pub), 84 Bennington St (T: Airport), ☏ +1 617 567-4627. 11:30AM-1AM daily. The small windows don't make this place look particularly inviting, but stepping inside revals a bright family restaurant. Filled with locals, it could be the best, non-dive bar to watch the Sox game. A friendly waitstaff serves up standard bar fare with very large portions. Stop in Wednesday for half-price pizza day (pretty good, especially the garlic pizza). (updated Feb 2017)

2 Downeast Cider House, 256 Marginal Street, Building 32 (T: Maverick), ☏ +1 857 301-8881. Th F 5PM-8PM, Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-7PM. (updated Feb 2017)

3 Eddie C's, 34 Maverick Sq (T: Maverick), ☏ +1 617 567-9395. M-Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-midnight. Dive bar close to the T with cheap pitchers. (updated Feb 2017)

4 Cafe Gigu, 102 Meridian St (T: Maverick), ☏ +1 617 561-4448. 3PM-1AM daily. (updated Feb 2017)

1 Hilton Boston Logan Airport, One Hotel Drive (T: Airport), ☏ +1 617 568-6700. The only airport hotel directly connected to the airport via an enclosed sky bridge. The Hilton Boston Logan Airport also offers round-the-clock, complimentary shuttle service (departs every 15 minutes from the hotel lobby) to all airline terminals, the subway, water taxis and car rental agencies. (updated Feb 2017)

2 Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, 101 Harborside Drive (T: Logan Ferry Terminal), ☏ +1 617 568-1234. (updated Feb 2017)

3 Embassy Suites Boston at Logan Airport (Hilton), 207 Porter Street (T: Airport), ☏ +1 617 567-5000. (updated Feb 2017)

4 Hilton Garden Inn, 100 Boardman St (T: Orient Heights), ☏ +1 617 567-6789. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Call the hotel from the airport for a shuttle bus pick up. From $149. (updated Feb 2017)

5 Courtyard by Marriott, 225 William F McClellan Hwy (T: Orient Heights), ☏ +1 617 569-5250. From $139. (updated Feb 2017)

1 East Boston Branch (Boston Public Library), 365 Bremen St (T: Airport), ☏ +1 617 569-0271. M Th noon-8PM, Tu W 10AM-6PM, F Sa 9AM-5PM. (updated Feb 2017)

Do what everyone else does and take the T under the harbor and into downtown Boston.

Take the Logan Ferry across the harbor to Hull, operating year round.

Water taxis offer more flexibility, take one over to South Boston and tie one on at Harpoon Brewery.

Hundreds of flights depart daily for points all around the world, a common destination could be anything from Nantucket to New York City.

Stay on the Blue line and ride up north to Revere Beach, in the city of Revere.