Sunday, October 17, 2010

Red Umbrellas at Faneuil Hall Boston


Boston summer’s don’t always hold the heat and humidity of other cities. The bay offers a breeze, while shadows are lowered to the streets within the irregular mixture of buildings. With Faneuil Hall only blocks from the waterfront, susceptible to these cooling winds, it draws an outdoor crowd looking for a casual stop during the day. The choice of restaurants only equals the variety of shops. And on a sweet summer’s day, sitting outside with friends or family, is like a picnic for the urban dweller.

Woven into the mix of vendors, performers and strollers, many of the restaurants and cafes provide outdoor dining as varied as the visitors. Families, children scribbling with crayons on paper, babies lulling in a pram or young teenage girls fiddling with their hair, don’t feel the restraints of the formal atmosphere indoors. Young couples, leaning in, speaking with that hint of a tease, stand out more than they’d like to think. Good friends linger over a beer and the sky is blue.

When the heat does arrive, up go the outdoor red umbrellas of Faneuil Hall. A birds-eye view must look like a sea of red lollipops have snapped to attention. Could the choice of color have anything to do with the intense feelings this old historic site stirs up?

Autumn can come quickly to New England, but to give up summer....oh, it’s only let go with a sigh and then a resolve to bear out the winter. And the red umbrellas retreat again. But with a bowl of Anthem’s award winning chowder to stir and sip, sitting outdoors at Faneuil Hall will always be one of the joys of Boston.