Friday Fun – Page 9 – Salem Happenings

Free Salem Scavenger Hunt

Are you an art fan planning to be in the Salem area this weekend? Well, if you are, you may want to check out the Salem Art Festival. The Salem Art Festival is a three-day celebration of art in all its forms, including the culinary arts, dance, film, music, painting, performance art, photography, poetry, sculpture, writing, theatre, and a whole lot more. In fact, the festival, which runs from today (June 5, 2015) until Sunday (June 7, 2015) has been giving local artists an opportunity to show off their work for seven years now, so there will be no shortage of things to see and people trying to see him.

However, if you’re concerned that your children may be a little too young for a large amount of family-friendly art, or in other words, will be bored out of their skulls by the time you’ve reached the second painting, you may be looking for something to keep them busy. If this is indeed the case, you’re in luck because this free scavenger hunt designed for children under the age of 12 will have you children looking for all of the famous (and not so-famous) landmarks around downtown Salem while you’re moving from one art location to the next (just so you know, the last location will have your kids looking for ice cream. You have been warned.)

Clue 1:
A very large bird after a long day in the sky,
Would return to his home on these sticks up high.

Clue 2:
Just as water flows down the side of a great mountain,
So too will it flow over you as it leaps from the…

Clue 3:
I have two hands upon my face.
You check my time to keep your pace.

Clue 4:
I ride on this right out of the room,
I’m magically powered with a crescent moon.

Clue 5:
During life, the falsely accused did their best,
But now their memorials all do rest,
By the side of the men who believed them unblessed.

Clue 6:
This museum is dedicated to people who were simply misunderstood
Because sometimes those who seem wicked are actually quite good.

Clue 7:
The first part of this place’s name is a person who uses a broom but has never swept the floor,
The second part of this place’s name is somewhere you live with your very own door.

Clue 8:
Looking for something oh so sweet?
Maria’s has something cold that is sure to help you beat the heat.

Answers: 1. The Stickwork Project’s Giant Bird Nests; 2. Fountain; 3. Almy’s Clock; 4. Bewitched Statue; 5. The Burying Point; 6. Witch Museum or Witch History Museum; 7. Witch House; 8. Maria’s Sweet Somethings.

Where Is All This Stuff? (All Locations are in Downtown Salem, MA):
1. The giant bird nests are part of the Stickwork art exhibit sculpted by Patrick Doherty, and these nest-like sculptures can be found in front of the Crowinshield-Bentley House at 126 Essex Street.
2. There are actually two fountains located on the pedestrian walkway on Essex Street, so you can look for one or both of them if you so choose. The first fountain (if you’re walking from the Crowinshield-Bentley House) is located in front of the Museum Place Mall and the second fountain is located across from Rockafellas at 231 Essex Street
3. The Almy’s Clock, which is the only thing left of the Almy’s, Bigelow, & Washburn Department Store that stood on the site until 1982, is located in front of the Commonwealth Financial Offices at 192 Essex Street.
4. The Bewitched Statue, which is a tribute to the fictional character Samantha Stephens from the famous TV series Bewitched, is located in Lappin Park at the intersection of Essex and Washington Street right in front of the Gulu Gulu Cafe.
5. The Burying Point, which was first established in 1637, is the oldest cemetery in Salem and the site of both John Hathorne, one of the judges that presided over the witch trials, and the site of the memorial to the victims of the trials. The Burying Point is located on Charter Street behind the Peabody Essex Museum.
6. The Salem Witch Museum and the Salem Witch History Museum, which are run by two completely different organizations, are both dedicated to teaching people about the events of the Salem witch trials and the innocent individuals who became victims of the witch hysteria. The Salem Witch Museum is located at 19 1/2 North Washington Square diagonally across from Salem Common and the Witch History Museum is located on the pedestrian walkway at 197 Essex Street.
7. The Witch House, which was the home of Jonathan Corwin, is located at 310 Essex Street. Jonathan Corwin was one of the judges that presided over the witch trials, and his home is one of the only structures from the period with a direct link to the trials that is still standing.
8. Maria’s Sweet Somethings is a souvenir, sweets, and ice cream shop located at 26 Front Street right around corner from most of the art festival’s exhibits.

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Shakespeare: Alive and Well?

There’s been a lot of talk this week about the possibility that someone has finally found the literary holy grail, an actual portrait of Shakespeare. In fact, the supposed discovery has been reported in almost every major publication and has been touted as the “literary discovery of the century” and “the greatest discovery in 400 years.” There is, however, just one small problem. Every bit of evidence points to the fact that the individual in the portrait, which is found in John Gerard’s The Herbal or General History of Plants, is actually a portrait of Dioscorides and not Shakespeare.

Don’t believe me? Just check this article in the Huffington Post. It describes every problem with the idea that the drawing found in the frontispiece is Shakespeare, including my personal favorite, the fact that the second edition of the book actually has the name “Dioscorides” printed under the image in question and not Shakespeare’s name. Now, if you would like to enjoy something that is actually related to Shakespeare, you’re in luck because while Shakespeare may not be alive and well, his works are certainly alive and well in the Boston area this weekend.

First, for all of the fans of tragic love stories out there, there’s always Romeo and Juliet and if you’re looking for Romeo and Juliet, the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has you covered. This is because the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is performing Romeo and Juliet at the Strand Theatre in Boston at 7:30 P.M. tonight (May 29, 2015) and 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 30, 2015.) These performances, which will actually feature the company’s early-career actors, will allow you to see Shakespeare’s classic tale of two lovers caught between two feuding families for a measly fee of $5. For more information on the Romeo and Juliet performances at the Strand Theatre, please visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s website.

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer a love story that isn’t quite so tragic, you may want to check out the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) Institute’s presentation of Much Ado About Nothing. The A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University will be performing Much Ado About Nothing at the Loeb Experimental Theater (Loeb Ex or the Ex for short) at 9:30 P.M. tonight (May 29, 2015.) This show, which will feature graduate acting students from the A.R.T. Institute, will give you the opportunity to experience Shakespeare’s sense of humor as you watch the pandemonium that can arise any time there’s a wedding but especially when the lovers are betrothed. For more information on the A.R.T. Institute’s presentation of Much Ado About Nothing, please visit the A.R.T. Institute’s Shows & Events page.

Finally, if you’re not really a fan of love stories or you’re just more of a history buff than a love story aficionado, the Bridge Repertory Theater (or Bridge Rep for short) may have what you’re looking for. This is because the Bridge Rep is performing Shakespeare’s historical play, Julius Caesar, at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts at 8:00 P.M. tonight (May 29. 2015), 2:00 P.M. tomorrow, and 8:00 P.M. tomorrow (May 30, 2015.) This production, which has taken some liberties with the dialogue to make it more accessible to modern viewers, will let you witness the tale of one of the most powerful men to ever live in the Roman Empire. For more information on the Bridge Repertory Theater’s production of Julius Caesar, please visit the Bridge Rep website.

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A Lego Birthday Party

Chances are, you probably remember playing with Legos when you were a kid (this is of course assuming that you’re not still playing with them now, which may not be a safe assumption.) In fact, Lego is one of the largest manufacturers of toys in the world with over 600 billion Lego pieces in circulation worldwide. As a result, it really should come as no surprise that just about everyone has played with some Legos at some point. However, if your kids are really into Legos or you would like to show them how much fun it is to build a car, a castle, a house, a robot, a skyscraper, a space ship, or any of the other things that you probably built with Legos when you were kid, there is an event this weekend that will let you explore Legos like you have never explored them before.

This is because the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston is celebrating its first birthday tomorrow and, as you might expect, they’re throwing one of the biggest Lego-themed birthday parties you have ever seen. The party, which will take place from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Saturday (May 23, 2015), will feature mini cupcakes and birthday crowns for every guest, a balloon artists, photo opportunities with the Discovery Center’s mascot, a live build by the Discovery Center’s Master Model Builder, and more. For more information on LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston’s First Birthday Celebration and/or to order tickets online, which are highly recommended, please visit the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston website.

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So You Want to Be a Graphic Designer?

Have you ever looked at a website and thought “wow, I wish I could make something like that?” Well, if you have or you’ve just always had a fascination with digital art and graphics, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of workshops that are designed to help you learn the basic skills you need to create your own website, design your own digital art and graphics, or even your own television broadcast. In fact, there are several workshops this weekend that will teach you the basics of graphic design and media without the enormous cost that typically accompanies a college degree program.

First, if you’ve ever looked at a website and said I could do better than this, this weekend may be the perfect chance for you to test that theory. This is because the General Assembly in Boston is offering a two-day Introduction to HTML and CSS from 12:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday (May 16th and 17th, 2015.) This workshop will teach you how to build a website from scratch and includes information on HTML5 and CSS3, using classes and IDs, settings margins, padding, site navigation, inline vs. block elements, layouts, and more. Best of all, by the end of the weekend, you will have created your very own live website. For more information on the Introduction to HTML + CSS 2-Day Weekend Workshop and/or to register for the event, please visit the General Assembly website.

If, on the other hand, you’d prefer to learn how to actually design the graphics, logos, and illustrations that appear on many websites rather than the website itself, you may want to check out the Introduction to Adobe Illustrator Weekend Workshop. This workshop, which is also offered by the General Assembly in Boston, will teach you the basics of Adobe Illustrator and includes instruction on adding text, brushes, image trace, layers, the pen tool, and more. In fact, by the end of the workshop, you will not only have learned how to use Adobe Illustrator to create your very own vector logo or icon, but you will also have actually created one. For more information on the Adobe Illustrator Weekend Workshop and/or to register for the event, which is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday (May 16, 2015), please visit the General Assembly website.

Finally, if you’re looking for a way to get your children into graphic design, journalism, or media in general, Cambridge Community Television has you covered. This is because Cambridge Community Television is hosting a special event entitled ” Media Maker Day at CCTV” from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 16, 2015.) This event will allow you and your family to learn how a television broadcast is made, learn how video and images can be manipulated and refined with Adobe Photoshop and Vine, make your own images and short videos, watch video from local filmmakers, and more. For more information on Media Maker Day at CCTV, which is completely free and open to the public, please visit the CCTV website.

Photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography / Hampton Patio / CC BY-SA

Geek Out This Mother’s Day

Are you a big fan of Star Wars, steampunk, or just all things geeky? Do random people see the costumes you wear and look at you like you’re actually from another world (Tatooine or Naboo, perhaps)? Have you ever tried to explain to someone what your geeky hobby is and why you do it? Well, if the answer to any of these questions is yes and you are a self-proclaimed geek, nerd, fanboy, or fangirl, you’ll be happy to know that there are several events this weekend that will help you show your friends and family what your geekiness is all about. In fact, if you’re a Star Wars fan, a steampunk Fan, or even an exercise geek, this is the perfect weekend to show Mom (or anyone else for that matter), the geeky things that you truly enjoy.

First, if you’re a Star Wars fan, you may want to head over to the Franklin Park Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting their annual Star Wars Day from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 10, 2015.) This event will allow you and your friends and family to see stormtroopers from the 501st Legion, famous characters from the Rebel Legion, participate in a series of Star Wars scavenger hunts, watch animals play with special Star Wars themed enrichment items, and more. Best of all, if you are planning to bring your mother, the zoo is offering free admission to all mothers in honor of Mother’s Day. For more information on Star Wars Day at the Franklin Park Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Special Events page.

Secondly, if you’re more of a steampunk fan than a Star Wars fan or you love both equally, you’ll probably want to be in Waltham this weekend. This is because the Watch City Steampunk Festival is this Saturday (May 9, 2015) from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on the Common in Waltham, Massachusetts. This festival will give you the opportunity to bring your friends and family into the world of steampunk with artwork, costuming, films, live performances, music, and a whole lot more. However, the thing that will probably truly put a smile on your face is the fact that you won’t have to pay a dime to get in because admission to the festival is free. For more information on the Watch City Steampunk Festival, please visit the Official Watch City Steampunk Festival website.

Finally, if you like to show the world your geekiness by regaling your friends and family with tales of all of the places that you’ve run through and how quickly you ran through them (which is important if you’re trying to avoid imperial stormtroopers or some other nefarious group of villians), you may want to check out the Geek Day Virtual 5K. The Geek Day Virtual 5K is a virtual marathon that runs from now until May 31st. This event will actually allow you to make your own marathon by choosing a 5K route, running it, and then reporting your time (with the appropriate fee of course) to the organizers. You will then receive a Geek Day Medal and a portion of the money from all of the fees collected will go to charity. For more information on the Geek Day Virtual 5K and/or to report your time for the event, please visit the Virtual Run Events website.

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Boston’s Alive with the Sound of Music

You may hear people saying may day today, but there’s no reason to panic. They’re not talking about a potential crash. They’re talking about the age-old celebration of the warm weather and all the things that warmth brings to the world around us. In fact, the only crash you will probably have to worry about this weekend is the crash on your couch after you check out all of the music and merrymaking that’s happening in the Boston area.

First, what do you get when you combine an improvisational comedy troupe in the style of “Whose Line Is It Anyway” with a Musical? Well, you would probably get something along the lines of Boston’s Unscripted Musical Project. Boston’s Unscripted Musical Project, or B.U.M.P. for short, is an improvisational musical performed at 8:00 P.M. on the first and third Friday of every month at the Catalyst Comedy Club on Melcher Street in Boston. This show will allow you and your fellow audience members to suggest a title for the show that the cast will then use to create a unique set of characters and songs on the fly. There’s no rehearsing, no script, and virtually no rules, so the only guarantee is that most of the audience will be laughing. For more information on B.U.M.P, please visit the Catalyst Comedy Club’s Website.

Secondly, if you’re a big fan of jazz and you’re looking for something that may be a little more rehearsed, you may want to check out all of the festivities surrounding Jazz Week. Jazz Week, which takes place at a number of locations throughout Boston, is a weeklong jazz festival that ends this Sunday. This festival will give you the chance to see over 200 live performances by jazz musicians from around the world, and most of these performances are completely free. For more information on Jazz Week, including where each performance is, please visit Jazz Boston’s Jazz Week page.

Finally, if you’ve always been a fan of 80’s movies and you love the idea of going to a musical, but you’re looking for something a little more scripted than B.U.M.P., you may want to check out the Emerson Colonial Theatre. This is because Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage is playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre from now until May 10, 2015. This show features almost all of the hit songs from the classic movie and a number of special effects that are beyond anything you’ve probably seen in a stage production before. For more information on the show and/or to order tickets, please visit the Broadway in Boston website.

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A Sunny End to April Vacation

If you’re the parent of a school-aged child living somewhere in the Boston area, April Vacation can be tough. In fact, since we had typical April weather (rain, rain, and more rain) on Patriot’s Day (which may have been the only day you had off this week), there’s a pretty good chance that your kids have been cooped up in your house for the duration of their April vacation. And, if they’re like most kids, they’re probably driving you just a little bit insane by this point. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to get your kids out of the house so they can enjoy the end of their vacation, you’re in luck because there are a number of kid-friendly activities scheduled for this weekend.

First, if your kid is a big fan of animals and/or fairy tale princesses, you may want to head over to the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Stone Zoo is hosting a Princess and Frog Day from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. tomorrow (April 25, 2015.) This event will not only allow your kids to meet a number of different princesses from well-known fairy tales and Disney films but will also give your kids a chance to make some arts and crafts and learn about all the animals that the zoo has with a special focus on frogs. For more information on the Princess and Frog Day at the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Events page.

If, on the other hand, your kids are big fans of the zoo but not such big fans of princesses, the Franklin Park Zoo may make more sense for your family this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo is hosting their annual Party for the Planet from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. today (April 24, 2015.) This celebration will feature special eco-friendly exhibits, scavenger hunts, and a number of other Earth Day-related activities in addition to everything the zoo typically has to offer. For more information on the Party for the Planet at the Franklin Park Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England Events page.

Finally, if your kids are into all things science (or you would really like them to be), you may want to check out the Cambridge Science Festival this weekend. The Cambridge Science Festival, which is sponsored by MIT but takes place throughout Cambridge and the surrounding area, features a series of activities, demonstrations, workshops, and tours that are designed to teach children and adults of all ages about a wide range of scientific and technological discoveries. Topics that will be covered at the festival this weekend include fashion technology, martial arts, math, optics, the science of sound and music, sky and space flight, web development, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Cambridge Science Festival, which ends on Sunday, please visit the Cambridge Science Festival website.

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Exploring the History and Culture of Boston

Patriot’s Day, which was originally established to honor the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the beginning of the Revolutionary War, is actually this Monday. Now, for anyone outside of Massachusetts and Maine, the fact that Patriot’s Day is this weekend probably doesn’t mean a whole lot because most states don’t celebrate the holiday. In fact, unless you’re a serious history buff or you live in Massachusetts, Maine, or Wisconsin (the only states to officially recognize the holiday), Patriot’s Day is probably just another day on the calendar. However, if you are in the Boston area, Monday is not only the third day of a three-day weekend but also an opportunity to watch the Boston Marathon and explore the history and culture of a great city.

As a result, if you are looking for a way to explore the history of Boston, there is probably no better way than the Inside the Box: Massachusetts State House Time Capsule Revealed exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibit, which ends on Wednesday (April 22, 2015), features a time capsule that was originally buried in 1795 by Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and William Scollay and then excavated and reburied in 1855 after a number of other items were added. This means that you will have the opportunity to see coins, plaques, and newspapers that are anywhere from 160 to over 360 years old. In addition to the time capsule, the exhibit will also feature other historical objects and portraits of some of the prominent individuals from the time periods in which the capsule was originally placed and previously opened. For more information on the Inside the Box exhibit , which is included in the museum’s normal admission price, please visit the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s Exhibition page.

If, on the other hand, you’re more interested in the current culture of Boston than you are in its history, you may want to check out the Boston International Film Festival. The Boston International Film Festival, which started last night (April 16, 2015) and runs until Monday (April 20, 2015), will feature 70 independent and experimental films from around the world. However, this festival will not only allow you to watch a number of short and full-length films but will also allow you to meet some of the stars, producers, and directors of these films, including stars that have appeared in well-known shows like Agent Carter, Nikita, 12 Monkeys, and more. For more information on the Boston International Film Festival, which is considered to be one of the best film festivals in the world, please visit the Boston International Film Festival website.

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Game of Thrones: Season 5 Premiere

Winter is coming, but fear not for the only snow we’re talking about here is a member of the Night’s Watch. In fact, as you may have guessed from the title, this week’s post is not centered around the winter season, but is instead centered around the HBO series, Game of Thrones. This is because this Sunday marks the premiere of the fifth season of the popular TV series based on the novels by George R. R. Martin. As a result, fans of the show can rejoice because their long wait for more battle, betrayal, brinkmanship, and beautiful visuals has finally come to an end. However, if you are a true fan of the series and you’re looking for a way to really get into the spirit of Westeros, there are a few things this weekend that are sure to help.

First, if you have children who are a little too young for Game of Thrones, but you would like to include them in the medieval excitement surrounding the series, you may want to check out Alex the Jester. Alex the Jester, who is performing at the Coolidge Corner Theatre tomorrow (Saturday, April 11, 2015) at 10:30 A.M., is a modern day court jester. He has appeared throughout the United States and Canada to demonstrate his comic skills and made several TV appearances, including appearances on America’s Got Talent and Showtime. For more information on Alex the Jester and/or to order tickets for the show, please visit the Coolidge Corner Theatre website.

Secondly, if your kids are old enough for Game of Thrones or you would really just like to try your hand at taking over the world of Westeros on your own, you may want to try the Game of Thrones Board Game. The Game of Thrones Board Game, which adds its own unique twists to familiar games like Risk and Diplomacy, will allow you and up to 5 other players to take control of one of the houses of Westeros. Your ultimate goal, of course, is to use every tool at your disposal to decimate your enemies and cement your control over the Iron Throne. For more information on the game and/or to order a copy, please visit the Fantasy Flight Games website or Amazon.com.

Finally, if you don’t have kids or you’re planning to leave the little ones with their grandparents while you find a way to embrace your love of your show, the Violet Thorn in Natick may have the perfect event for you. This is because the Violet Thorn has planned an Authentic Game of Thrones Dining Experience from 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (April 11, 2015) to close on Sunday (April 12, 2015.) This dining experience will allow you to enjoy a number of Game of Thrones-inspired dishes, including Baratheon Blood Wild Boar Rib, Beef n’ Bacon Pie, Dragon’s Tail with Fire Breath, Sansa’s Homemade Lemon Pie, and Violet Thorn’s King’s Landing Confit. For more information on the Authentic Game of Thrones Dining Experience, please visit The Boston Calendar website or the Violet Thorn website.

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Why Boston Doesn’t Want the Olympics

There’s been a lot of talk recently about Boston’s bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2024 and the growing concern that many people in the Boston area feel towards that bid. However, a lot of the coverage and comments coming out of the media and the Olympic committees seem to have created this notion that athletes are not welcome in Boston or that Bostonians don’t like the Olympics and, to be honest, this notion is pretty ridiculous.

Boston is a city that has an enormous amount of pride in its athletes from the Patriots to the Red Sox to the Celtics to the Bruins and every other team or individual athlete from the area regardless of the sport they participate in. In fact, there are more people in the northeast watching the Olympics every two years than there are in any part of the United States except for the very center of the country. As a result, the people of Boston are not against the Olympics because we don’t like the Olympics or because we don’t want athletes here, but instead because we are greatly concerned with the ability of our infrastructure and our leadership to handle something as monumental as the Olympic games. Now, you may be sitting there thinking “O.K., why are you so concerned?”, and that’s a very good question. So good, in fact, that I thought it was worth taking a break from my normal posts about events in the Boston area to answer it.

If you keep up with Boston news or you’re familiar with the events and projects that have taken place in Boston over the last 30 years, you probably know that Boston has a rich history and that rich history includes more than its fair share of problems. In fact, there were two particular problems during the last 30 years that have led the people of Boston to doubt the city’s ability to handle large endeavors.

The first, of course, is the Big Dig. The Big Dig, for those of you who may not be familiar with it, was one of the largest construction projects in the history of not only New England but of the United States as a whole. This project, which was also known as the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, was intended to be a 16-year, $3 billion operation to build two new tunnels, a new bridge, a new park, and to alter the path of route 93 in order to relieve some of the traffic congestion around the city. Unfortunately, like most great plans of mice and men, the project went awry and after 25 years and over $14 billion (9 years and over $11 billion more than originally expected), the city ended up with a new park, a less congested highway, and two leaky tunnels complete with falling ceiling panels, falling light fixtures, and unsafe guardrails. This led not only the citizens of the Boston area, but their elected officials as well to doubt the ability of the city to carry out large-scale projects and a number of projects, including the Green Line Extension Project, were put on hold. To make matters worse, the city didn’t have the money to pay for the entire project in full, so it is still paying for it now and estimates the final cost of the project after interest to be approximately $24 billion ($21 billion over the original estimated cost.)

The second problem, which has recently been brought to the forefront, is the city’s public transportation system. The city’s public transportation system, the T, has faced a number of challenges over the years, but this year’s historic winter proved to be a grueling test of the T’s ability to operate during difficult and/or unfavorable conditions. The problem is that when the T’s ability to respond to the unexpected (or even expected conditions beyond the norm) was put to the test, it ultimately failed. In fact, the T was not only forced to shut down completely on multiple occasions without warning, but was also unable to restore full service for almost a month after the big storms were over. Now, there is no question that there was a ludicrous amount of snow in Boston this year, as the city broke almost every snow-related record, and no one can completely fault the T for its failure to operate. However, if the T cannot handle a rough winter in an area that is known for its rough winters, how can anyone expect the T to handle millions and millions of extra people trying to enter and exit the city on a daily basis for several weeks?

In the end, the fact of the matter is that as much as Bostonians would like to be able to say that they hosted the Olympics and actually have the opportunity to attend them, it’s hard for the people of Boston and the surrounding areas to believe that the city could actually pull it all off without breaking the bank, bringing our highways to a standstill, crippling our public transportation system, and causing a slew of other unforeseen problems.

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Works Consulted
Hoffher, Justine. “Can We Talk Rationally About the Big Dig Yet?” Boston.com. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC, 5 Jan. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

“How Different Genders, Ages, Races, and Regions Watch the Olympics.” Nielsen. The Nielsen Company, 25 Feb. 2010. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Macur, Juliet. “If 2024 Olympic Bid is a Hot Potato, Boston Has No Appetite.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 2 Apr. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Wikipedia contributors. “Big Dig.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 15 Mar. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.

Wikipedia contributors. “Boston Bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 3 Apr. 2015.