The end is finally here. The last eight months have gone by so fast. Is it because I’ve been busy? Or having fun? Probably both… In just a few days, I’ll be done with the photojournalism graduate program and my classes and BU will be a thing of the past. Have I learned? Yea. Have I grown? Sure. Would I do it again?

Maybe…

There are things I’ve loved about the last eight months, and things I wish had happened differently. It’s been a couple of crazy semesters, so let’s take some time to reflect. Join me, won’t you? Won’t you…..?

I came to the BU photojournalism program because I wanted to surround myself in a professional environment, with professional people, to prepare myself for the professional world. There was a big variance in skill level among my peers (some people didn’t have any experience in photojournalism, and now some don’t want to go into photojournalism). I wish there had been more of an even playing ground. Now that the eight classes are over, I see that the world of photojournalism has changed over. It looked a lot more hopeful than it does now. The profession of photojournalism looks like it’s disappearing. Have I made a mistake?

From the start, I was worried that I might be wasting my time going back to school for graduate degree. A lot of people say the only thing that matters is the ability to get the picture every time and that a formal education in photojournalism is a waste of time. I disagreed, feeling as though it was essential to be trained as a journalist with a camera, and not just be another guy with a camera. I wanted to understand the laws that protect me, and to understand the concepts and ethics of photojournalism.

Did I accomplish that? Yes, absolutely, but it’s hard to stay positive when every other person I talk to tells me to get out of photojournalism while I still can, to head for the hills and learn a “real” trade. Then again, every other person I talk to tell me that there’s never been a better time for visual journalism, and soon organizations will be looking to hire people just like me. I’m confused. Just give me a straight answer! Or a job.

So I’ve got half the people telling me to try something new, and half the other people telling me hang in there. Sure, I’ll try to hang in there, but student loans are on their way, and I can only hang so for long.

My first semester here at BU was considerably more fun, and considerably easier. But “easy,” doesn’t enter into adult life, does it? I enjoyed my classes more, the professors were great, and everything was new. The difference between grad school and undergrad was obvious-more responsibility, higher standards, and there was a sense of professionalism among my peers. I had more free time to pursue stories and projects and create things I was proud of.

This semester was a lot more hectic. With 20 credits, two internships, a job, freelancing and roommate drama, I think I had too much to juggle at once. I spent the entire semester behind the camera, or in front of a computer. Or running around Boston. I didn’t have enough time or energy to put 100% effort into anything, and that was frustrating. I was shooting for one class in between freelancing, writing while I was editing, and interviewing while I was working. OK, maybe that’s what “real” life is like, but c’mon… seriously? Give me a break.

I realize I can be a pessimist at times, but I really only enjoyed about half my classes. Yes, I gained something from every class, but I found a lot of the material not only repetitive from what I had learned from experience before coming here, but there was also a lot of repetition from within the program. I kept getting, literally, the same assignments in different classes, learning software I had learned the semester before, and listening to the same guest speakers lecture our class.

There needs to be communication within the department about the course material. When the program is so short, you only have so much time to learn, and it was frustrating having to do something I had already done. It’s also expensive. Time is money, and when it’s more than a dollar a minute to be in the classroom, I wanted to be getting my money’s worth of information. Has this experience paid off? Yea, I’ve made some good contacts, I’ve learned more about the profession and myself as a photographer, but the answer to that question won’t come anytime soon.

I think I came here expecting to be handed a job as soon as classes were over. But the profession took a hit, and the economy took a hit, and things have changed. Only time will tell… Part of me wishes I had gone from undergrad straight into a job. By this time, I think I could have made myself a valuable member of a staff and survived cutbacks to some degree. But who knows? I can’t go back in time. Although I have my complaints, I’d recommend the program to anyone who is looking for a crash course in photojournalism, and anyone who doesn’t have a significant amount of experience with it. You’ll learn a lot about your style of shooting, how to improve, and you’ll have some of the best brains to tap for information. Not to mention, you’ll be doing it in an incredible city.

I love Boston. I think I’ve always been a city boy at heart and living in the city has been an experience in itself. Having gone to undergrad in upstate New York, the city was a nice change from what I’ve experienced. The ways I’ve grown came not only from classes, but also from living in this city for the last eight months. From the Head of the Charles, to surviving the T, to the whole Obama thing, to St. Patty’s Day, to BU Hockey, to the Marathon, there’s always something exciting going on. There’s so much energy, and so much history – I’m going to try my best to stay here. However, the eagerness to stay in Boston could close doors on job opportunities elsewhere.

So what now? I’m going to continue to freelance and pull in some money while I continue looking for full-time work. It may be a little unstable, but it’s going to take some time until newspapers figure things out and get back on their feet. I’m glad I did it, but I’m glad I don’t have to do it again. I’m eager to start working, to start making money and produce important work. I’ll always have the degree in my pocket to fall back on.

So until I find work, wish me luck, and I’ll keep shooting.

Go Sox.

Do you remember when Facebook was cool? You waited and waited until BU generated your college email so you could sign up for an account. Before Facebook, there was only MySpace, where creepy guys hit on you and unsigned bands wanted you to check out their crappy demos.

Social networking and media tools grew with us over the past four years. I’m about to graduate with a MySpace page, a Twitter account, a Facebook profile and two blogs. I’m told I need to create a LinkedIn page, stat! Plus maybe a Flickr account to upload the photos I take on my post-grad jaunt to Australia. I GChat and Facebook message along with tired old AIM. While students in the College of Communication tend to be tech- and Internet-savvy, that’s a ton of passwords for me to remember.

Facebook and Twitter have come up a lot in conversation recently and since I’m feeling all retrospective and nostalgic, I’m going to look at these past four years based on my Internet use.

I grew up just north of Chicago and BU was the only out of state school that accepted me. Thus, I really didn’t know anyone when I came to campus except for the few people I’d met at summer orientation. Like most new freshmen, I diligently tagged pictures from the summer before college and posted all of my classes to see who else was in them. That list became even more important when I was out for days puking from the norovirus that hit BU’s dining halls in my second semester, and I needed coursework. I realized a while ago that no one posts their classes anymore. I wonder why that is?

Around the same time that I stopped trusting the dining halls, I discovered the phenomenon of Facebook Stalking. Keep in mind, Facebook was about a year old when I logged on for the first time, so this was new and exciting (I think)! My friends and I looked up people we met at parties, people we made out with in Allston basements who, without combing mutual friends’ pools, we would never have remembered. It was totally innocent.

We in J-school learn about the Internet and perceived privacy, that for the most part what a person puts on the Internet is fair game, particularly posts on social networking sites. The Facebook Terms of Service fiasco a few months ago shined a big light for those who didn’t see the obvious: The Internet isn’t private! (Though the ownership quandary was completely legitimate.)

But four years ago, it certainly seemed like it. I felt awkward bringing up information from mutual friends’ wall-to-walls, even though it was right there for all to see, particularly after the invention of the News Feed.

Today’s Facebook finds us playing a “Scrabble”-type game, posting videos and various other things on each others’ walls and even updating our statuses from phones and Twitter. That college-only community has multiplied to include extended family and colleagues from work. In a way, it’s better that Facebook has opened up because people are more aware of what they post and who sees it. If I tweet a link on Twitter, yes, you can tell me how awesome it was.

Seriously, don’t judge, but I think this muddle is best summed up by Drew Barrymore in He’s Just Not That Into You:

“I had this guy leave me a voicemail at work so I called him at home and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry and so I texted to his cell and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It’s exhausting!”

Yes, Drew, it is. In my section of Feature Writing (JO309), we joked about friends’ Facebook and MySpace-fueled breakups. It happens.

But, as my friends and peers get ready to graduate and some to depart, social networking seems more important now than when we were all 20 minutes apart. People I really care about are going to L.A., to Europe, to Australia. I’m going to want to see their pictures, post videos on their walls and send them pixelated, corporate-sponsored gifts.

With friends gone, I’ll take anything I can get.

Local news is garbage.

Who can argue otherwise? Have you watched it lately? What do you actually learn in that 22-minute block?

Take, for example, the recent story about the “suspected Craigslist killer,” who also happens to be a BU med student named Philip Markoff. The local NBC affiliate, WHDH (Channel 7), opened its newscast with breaking news that Boston police had identified the man in the recent homicide at the Marriott Copley. This supposedly “serious” news program featured visually appealing logos and colors that looked futuristic and exciting. You can watch it here.

Then they bring in three reporters stationed, respectively, outside police headquarters, on the BU medical school campus, and outside the killer’s home in Quincy, Mass. Each reporter is supposed to add to the story, to develop the details for viewers. We think we’re watching, after all, to learn about important happenings in the world.

The first reporter, the one at police headquarters, tells viewers little of significance. A few three-second sound bites from Police Commissioner Ed Davis and another officer, a few photos recycled several times during the report, and, as a result, a wildly entertained audience. You think you’re learning, but learning never used to be this exhilarating. The constantly-changing images, the bright colors, and the brief sound bites feel more like Entertainment Tonight.

The second reporter does her stand-up from the med campus, announcing that “shockwaves” hit the school. She interviews three students who didn’t know the suspected killer. “I knew someone who had a class with him and he seemed normal,” said one of the future docs from BU. The other two had just as little to say.

For those of you keeping score at home, that’s two live reports, and zero new information of value to viewers.

The third time’s the charm, though, right? Wrong. If this were baseball, then Channel 7 struck out looking on a fastball down the middle.

The third reporter is live outside the alleged killer’s home. Her report features video and sound bites from neighbors of the alleged killer. One guy says, “He came over the other night and had a few beers and seemed like a nice guy.”

Earth-shattering stuff, really.

Three reports later we’ve learned that the Craigslist killer a) was taken into custody, which the anchors already told us, b) seemed normal and c) likes to hang out and drink beer.

This would be no problem if it were labeled as entertainment. The problem is that television programs such as this one are called news. That’s what Neil Postman says in Amusing Ourselves to Death, a highly influential book written in 1985 that remains as relevant as ever in today’s world of Internet ubiquity. Postman writes that Americans constantly seek to be entertained, which is a problem when it comes to understanding serious matters. Our understanding of the world is composed of fragments that don’t form together into an in-depth understanding of anything; as a result, we know everything about the last 24 hours yet nothing of the past 24 years.

This is exactly why newspapers cannot die. Think about the last time you read the newspaper. I apologize for jogging some readers memories with this mental exercise. When reading the newspaper, think about the amount of depth you receive, the minute details that you discover, and the tidbits of information you absorb that you would normally forget 10 minutes after watching the same story on the local news. Reading promotes long-term learning because you retain information better when you read it rather then watch it. The value in this cannot be overestimated.

Most of us aren’t even aware that we’re letting in the garbage and letting the good stuff die. Otherwise, we’d come to our senses and recognize what a huge mistake we’re making.

I was totally blown away this morning in my photo editing class. We were reviewing one another’s video work and the quality of the videos produced by my classmates — some of them are undergraduates — was just amazing.

At the beginning of the semester, I was upset that the size of the class is way too big for a graduate course, which I still hope the college can do something about for future students. We had to split the class into two sessions -  very inconvenient for both the professor and the students. However, the popularity of the class indicates a certain amount of need, and the need is compatible with the desired skills that a photojournalist should acquire before entering this field. I was sorry for the oversized class, but I was surprised to find out that after a whole semester’s struggle, we beautifully survived. So many talented work evolved and my eyes grew wide with excitement. We also took advantage of this opportunity to team up with some undergraduates, which personally turned out to be a pleasant experience. Check out some of the videos here, here, and here . View with full screen mode, please!

It might not yet be professional or perfect, but for someone who learned the techniques for the first time, this is a promising start. I used to keep myself away from video, because as a photojournalist, I’m always longing for sharpness, high quality images and the “decisive moment,” which cannot be well represented in videography. But time has changed, technology has made high-end video cameras cheaper and cheaper while the public has shown increasing interest in video stories in recent years. If still photography is more or less a product of the print era, video seems naturally existing for the digital era. Needless to say, traditional print journalism is facing a historic challenge nowadays (some website even began to make fun of how to recycle newspaper boxes). The following picture from Boston Globe now vividly reminds us of a nostalgic print era.

The convergence of media has made the distinctions between broadcast journalism and photojournalism disappear quickly and being able to make videos seems to be a must-have skill for young photojournalists who want to pursue a career in any related field. Some journalist in Scotland was even suspended by the organization he worked for just because he refused to shoot video. We do spend a lot of time getting familiar with all kinds of digital toys in class, and I believe many print journalism majors have to learn how to use these tools as well.

The photojournalism curriculum seems highly concentrated on teaching the digital tools, which I hope will benefit graduates. However, I’m still nervous about entering the job market as the program has only two weeks left. Maybe I’m not the only one puzzled by the question of mastering the tools versus mastering the art of storytelling. In my heart, it’s the latter that matters more, so I’m not a big fan of becoming a jack-of-all-trades. But since the importance of video and other tools are so overwhelming, to spend time and money on it seems an inevitable choice for most of us. The problem lies in how you balance the time invested in the two parts. Now I find myself stuck in the trap of learning the tools instead of pursuing the stories. In Chinese, there’s a word called 本末倒置，roughly translated as “to put the cart before the horse” – that’s what I’m feeling one month before I’m graduating from this program.

When I was reviewing my multimedia portfolio with a professor, he told me that the potential readers wouldn’t be interested in why my classmates wanted to become photojournalists, or how the economy has affected students’ lives, etc. (Those are the multimedia pieces I did over the past three months for in-class exercises.) I know it might not be of enormous interest to others, but it’s the only thing I got so far. Just like most of the students, we have three different shooting classes this semester, which requires us to constantly move around. The courses also require me to learn QuarkXpress, FinalCutPro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Audacity and InDesign… to name a few (phew!). So when will I have time to follow an in-depth story that is exquisitely produced by the new media I’m not yet familiar with? We did some simple topic just because we want to spend time on getting familiar with tools, and now I know a little bit about every new tool, just I’m still not confident enough about my ability to produce a high-quality multimedia story.

This morning’s peer work review somehow gave me some hope. Although we are fledgling photojournalism students without rich experience, there’s such energy and potential in most of us. The choice between learning all the tools and concentrating on the basics is still haunting me. Maybe you will have an answer?

(courtesy of Tenacious D)

So, I am graduating in a few weeks. As I think over that, and all the totally awesome times I’ve had at BU, I’ve decided to see how I might share those experiences with you, the faithful reader. Now I don’t intend to do this with self-indulgent anecdotes that sound so cool to me but would ultimately bore you to tears, but instead, I hope to instruct you on how to do these things for yourself. First up? Wicked pissah music career. (Career is used loosely. I never made all that much money, but I played all over. It was fun. Here’s how you can do it, too.)

Step 1: Be Kind of Good

First step is to play some music people kind of want to hear. You have two choices here. You could actually be good, practice your instrument, get a proficient group of musicians around you, write some original-but-catchy tunes in your genre of choice and take over the city. Or, because this city is so saturated with Berklee and Boston Conservatory and New England Conservatory students, you can really suck. You can make music so bad and quirky that it’s really hip to like you. The only key here is you have to put on a really entertaining show. And if you suck that probably means breaking stuff. Choose wisely.

Step 2: Get Your Name Out There

There are a few ways to do this. There are a few ‘battle of the bands’ type competitions in Boston. I don’t want to name them because the only one I did was miserable. Just kidding, it was Emergenza. Basically you have to sell your own tickets, and you move on from round to round depending on how many people you can get to come see you. The bad part of this is you feel like you’re fleecing your friends every time you play a show. The good part is, it trains you for the real world, because club owners don’t care how good you are, just how many people you can bring out.

You can also play open mics. They’re all over the city in various forms, and there’s even one here at BU, at BU Central, from time to time.

Step 3: Move Up to the Clubs

Once  you can pull 50-200 people to each of your open mic appearances, you’re ready for the mid-sized clubs. By this time you want a SonicBids Electronic Press Kit (an online profile strictly for club promoters and record labels), you want to apply for South by South West (a huge music festival where you can play showcases where only the press and record label representatives are allowed to watch you) in Austin, Tex., and you want to start playing All Asia, T.T. the Bear’s and other comparable clubs. You probably won’t get South by South West (and don’t be a sucker and go down there to play a non-showcase show, they don’t really do anything for you) but these clubs will welcome you with open arms if you can guarantee crowd of 50 to 200 people. They also won’t have silly rules like “You can’t play anywhere in Boston a month before or after you play at your club,” like most bigger clubs have. For the smaller venues, it’s all about the Benjamins.

Step 4: Get Famous

Now that you’ve grown into a cult classic in this town, with an indie album on iTunes, a pitch out to Q Division records (a local record label who you can send your SonicBids EPK to), and well-attended shows at Harper’s Ferry and the Middle East under your belt, it’s time to get a booking agent and book a tour. Only play places you know you can attract people, and clubs where you know you’ll be playing a bill with comparable bands. This is difficult to guarantee, so it’ll be a full-time job for someone. Once you’re big in a few cities, you’ll start to be attractive to bigger record labels. Don’t be afraid to sign indie, though. Be careful not to get locked into something too long term, but let them help you record an album or two, because that gets expensive.

Step 5: Get Lucky

Pretty much everyone tries this and fails. Good luck.

So, that’s the long and short of it. You need to make some connections with the right people at the right time, but other than that, that’s pretty much all you can do. The good news is, Boston is a great local music city. The bad news is, pretty much everyone has a band. Be special, make a few bucks, and have some fun.

I remember about a year ago, I was visiting BU for its open house day at COM. I remember driving up from Philadelphia, seeing roads signs just outside Boston that read, “Expect Delays: Patriots’ Day Weekend.” Flash forward a year later, and here I am at BU, shooting at the Boston Marathon.

Boston shuts down for the Boston Marathon, it’s Patriots’ Day,  a state holiday. BU didn’t hold classes, businesses closed down for the day, and most people took off from work. Athletes from around the world congregated in Boston to run the 26.22 miles toward the finish line. Starting from Hopkinton, the course winds through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. It continues on Route 16 through Newton to Commonwealth Avenue, turning onto Beacon Street in Brookline, continuing to Kenmore Square, and following down Commonwealth Avenue. The course turns right onto Hereford Street then left onto Boylston Street, finishing near the John Hancock Tower (the tallest building in Boston) in Copley Square. That’s tiring to read — I can’t imagine running it. Check out a map here.

A lot of Bostonians and students use the day off as a chance to drink and engage in other activities on this 20^th day of April. Ahem. Those lucky enough to have an apartment above Comm. Ave. could watch from above in style, but I went to Coolidge Corner around 7:30 a.m. to watch the calm before the storm. Officials were setting up barriers, police were beginning to organize, the early birds were starting to call dibs on the best places to watch the runners.

I had never been to a marathon before, so I didn’t know what to expect. There was a lot of anticipation for the runners to come by. Everyone was growing impatient, asking one another if they knew what time the runners were due. The wheelchair competitors were the first, followed by the elite women, and then finally the elite men.

I was a little surprised with how close one could get to the runners. Depending where you were, there was nothing blocking anyone from going into the street. After the incident at the 2004 summer Olympic games when Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima was attacked by a protester, I was surprised there wasn’t more enforcement.

I was putting my money on Kara Goucher (above, pink shirt) of the United States, just based on looks alone — but she came in third at 2:32: 25. Tip of the cap to Deriba Merga of Ethiopia who came in first for the men with a time of 2:08:42 and Salina Kosgei of Kenya who came in first with a time of 2:32:16 for the women.

It certainly was exciting, and you gotta hand it to them. Running 26 miles? At once? In like, fewer than 3 hours? That’s pretty impressive. It kinda makes me feel like I should head to the fitness center and get on the treadmill for at least a few minutes.

Nah.

These poor kids had no idea what they were getting into. They thought that some BU grad students would come teach them about exercising and eating right. Instead, they got COM Professor Jo O’Connor (wearing red, in the front). Just look at the poor kid 50 seconds into the video.

This past Monday, a group of BU students in Prof. O’Connor’s community relations class spent a couple of hours with elementary school kids in Dorchester. The interactive workshop, called “Small Feet, Big Steps,” intended to help the students at Roger Clap School qualify for a grant to so that the kids can have gym class.

Remember gym class? Gym was my favorite subject in elementary school, with recess a close second. I distinctly recall playing capture the flag, dodgeball, volleyball, basketball, and other games my gym teacher, Mrs. Maine, appeared to make-up.

My friends and I were highly competitive. After the annual fitness challenge, we barely spoke to each other. And when we did talk, it was about how awesome we did in the one-mile run. Not any Joe Schmoe can run a mile in fewer than 12 minutes.

I can’t imagine not having gym class. Not only did we stay healthy, but we bonded and created memories. Like the time Frank hit Joe in the head when playing dodgeball. Or the time Jeff broke his arm jumping over the boards while playing hockey. Or when John didn’t win the mile run because a girl beat him.

The students in Dorchester are not creating these bonds. They’re not creating these memories. They’re not learning the benefits of a physically active lifestyle.

For one day, at least, about 20 COM students changed that, and helped them with their goal of establishing a physical education program. Not only did the COM class spend the afternoon with the elementary students, but it wrote a check for $300 and presented more than $5,000 in additional donations.

“It was so generous of BU to come out and choose Roger Clap since we do not have a physical education program,” said the school’s principal, Mary Tormey-Hamilton. “The BU students were really enthusiastic and patient and had a great time with the kids. The students loved going home with T-shirts, a nutritional snack and prizes.”

The kids heard a motivational lecture from Terry Holland, Australia’s Women’s Skeleton Team Head Coach for the 2010 Olympic Games. Yeah, I had to look it up, too. Skeleton is when you ride a sled face-first down an icy track. The students also went through soccer drills, hip-hop lessons, stretching exercises, and a food pyramid seminar.

“It is important that my students be able to share their talents and knowledge with others while giving back to the community,” said Prof. O’Connor, the one torturing the kid in the video.

Anyone from around here knows Dorchester as one of the poorest neighborhoods in Boston. Many BU students come from well-off families who don’t worry about gun shots when they walk out their front doors. Through one event, one day at the elementary school, a few COM students could help these kids live healthier lives by funding the establishment of a physical education program.

Now that would be no small feat.

Photos courtesy of Alexandra Herendeen

(courtesy of girly drinks photos)

In continuation of my “How to have a totally awesome four years here” series, I’ve decided to make some bar endorsements. I’m not talking about the best place to chill with your favorite light domestic beer (for that I wholeheartedly recommend Our House West because it has great couches, a secret bar in the back, games to play, and it’s never crowded). I’m mean a place where you can get a well made cocktail and hang out.

East – Eastern Standard, Kenmore Square

(courtesy of esquire.com)

Right across from the CITGO sign in Kenmore Square sits this gem. A little on the pricey side, with cocktails running you about $10, you get everything you pay for. The drinks are fantastically mixed, the atmosphere classy, and the bartenders happy to see you. If you don’t know what you want, tell them what you like and they’ll make something for you. Eastern Standard also offers a great menu of classic cocktails dating to Prohibition and before. My favorite is the Jack Rose, but try a Frisco or a Sazerac and you won’t go wrong. Because Eastern Standard is expensive, it may not be the place to spend your night, but it’s perfect for starting it — or spending a Sunday evening preparing for the coming week. Drink to order now: Jack Rose (A cocktail from the 20’s, it’s made with Apple Jack which is the original American spirit. Legend has it Lairds still makes it with the original recipe, crafted by George Washington. It’s sour with a bite.)

West – Deep Ellum, Union Square

(courtesy of veganblarg.com)

Deep Ellum in Allston Proper, is the best drink destination if you’re out west. It’s also a little pricey when it comes to cocktails, $7-10, but they’re top notch drinks. You can also get a unique beer, too. With 22 drafts and 100 bottled beers, you’re bound to find something you’ve never had. They also import a cask beer from god knows where every month. They tap it ’til it’s done and then put something else new and strange in. Whether you like cocktails or beer, you won’t be disappointed.

The added bonus of Deep Ellum is the food. Decently priced and delicious, you can get the bar classics like an Angus burger for $8, and each morsel is worth the price. Definitely a place to get dinner, or get the evening started. Drink to order now: Deep Ellum Old Fashioned (It’s a house recipe and it’ll change your life. Even if you generally stay away from cocktails, this is one to try. It’s got an interesting citrus and spice taste that comes from the homemade bitters they make in-house. Plus it’s made with rye whiskey, always a win-win.)

In closing, I’d also like to endorse another practice: becoming a regular. Once you’re of drinking age, pick a bar by your house and go there on the reg. For my roommates and I, our destination is Harry’s. It’s nothing special, the food’s good enough, the brews are what you’d expect (cheapo lites to hoppy microbrews) and the music is never too loud, but it’s where my friends and I spend our weeknights. There’s something nice about having a local place where you always go, not too far from home, but just far enough that you don’t have to feel like a bum sitting on your couch sipping from countless bottles of Magic Hat. So, find a place like Harry’s. We’re not saving a stool for you.

So, while you’re here, and of age, enjoy the spots Boston has to offer, and find a few of your own.

As the few bursts of fine weather may hint, summer in Boston is awesome. Yes, it gets obnoxiously hot in July and August, but where in the U.S. doesn’t? Student-filled Boston becomes pretty mellow in the summer, and most residents prefer it that way.

Sublets: First of all, you need a place to live. Craigslist and the Facebook Marketplace are rife with listings, but chances are, you know someone who needs a summer subletter. Particularly upperclassmen, I’ve found, need help since many don’t stay through the summer because of jobs or internships elsewhere. While I’ve found success with the Internet, it’s nice to get a roommate recommendation from someone you know. 

Summer clothes: Chances are, when you’re packing up, you’ll find a ton of stuff you haven’t worn in ages. Given the general thrift trend as result of the shaky economy, why not sell the little-worn clothes at Rescue in Union Square, Allston, or at the Garment District in Kendall Square, Cambridge? Whatever cash you earn can go toward new summer duds. If you’re feeling generous, donate old clothes to the Goodwill on Commonwealth Ave. by the Paradise Rock Club or to Urban Renewals in Allston Village for some Karma points. 

The T: More specifically, the B Line. It’s a different machine in the summer without BU and BC kids moving around en masse. You can usually get a seat! T-jumpers be advised: that shit doesn’t fly in the summer. You can’t hide behind the usual horde piling into one of the back doors unless you’re behind a group of BU summer program attendees. It sucks. Get a T-pass. 

Though, why take the T at all? When the weather is beautiful, get on a bike. Boston recently passed legislation making the city more bike friendly. Review it here before you hit the road. 

Music venues: With the volume of students in Boston remarkably smaller, it’s actually possible to get tickets to popular shows. Save T fare and walk (or bike) to the box offices at the Middle East or the Paradise Rock club to buy tickets on a nice day, allowing you to spend the meager savings on booze at the show. 

Shakespeare In the Park: This summer, from July 31 to August 16, go see A Comedy of Errors on Boston Common. Pack a blanket and a picnic dinner and get there early if you want to be able to see the stage. And, if Shakespeare is not your thing, it’s a nice excuse to take a nap under the stars. 

Beaches: Boston has them and most are really nice. I’m told to hit Carson Beach in South Boston over Revere Beach on the Blue Line. Both are a reasonable bike ride away. Make a day of it. 

Lastly, I need to plug the Boston Skill Share taking place at MIT this weekend. They’ve got some amazing people coming to teach and they are offering free vegan breakfast and lunches. While it’s not a summer thing, check out bike maintenance and craft workshops, and pick up a project you can work on once finals are over. Check out the skill share here.

Photo credit: Jim Rosvold

Getty Images Photo

You know the story by now. With under a minute to go in the national championship game, BU found the back of the net twice in 42 seconds. An unthinkable comeback.

Then, about 12 minutes into the overtime period, Colby Cohen’s deflected slapshot gave the Terrier hockey program its fifth national title.

Putting this game into proper historical context can be difficult in its immediate aftermath. But who’s going to argue that last night’s title game wasn’t the best collegiate hockey game ever played?

Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe opened his column with this: “It simply had to be the greatest college hockey game ever played.”

Coach Jack Parker, who’s been at the helm for 36 years, said it was the best he’s ever seen.

“Wow. What a hockey game. What a finish. All I can think of is it’s the greatest comeback I’ve been involved in.”

Parker equated Nick Bonino’s game-tying goal to Red Sox outfielder Bernie Carbo’s game-tying home run in the sixth game of the 1975 World Series. Carbo’s homer set the stage for one of the most famous World Series moments, Carlton Fisk’s game-winning home run off the left field foul pole. Bonino equals Carbo. Fisk equals Cohen. Just as Fisk’s home run was anything but ordinary because it hit the foul pole, Cohen’s goal was similarly unique because the deflection threw everyone off… most notably, Miami University goalie Cody Reichard.

I’ve been a Boston sports fan all my life, but BU winning is better than a Patriots, Celtics, or even Red Sox championship. This is our school. We have a sense of ownership in this title, even if we didn’t skate a second on the ice. We have a lot more in common with the guys on the hockey team than we do with the professional athletes that some of them will become.

Last night, about 1,500 of us sat in Agganis Arena in shock. Miami University had just scored its third goal. Was this really going to happen? Were we going to win everything else this season, from the Ice Breaker tournament in October to the Hockey East tournament in March, only to have the most prized victory elude us? I began the grieving process.

Time ticked away. Two minutes remaining. 1:45 remaining. 1:30 left. Less than a minute to go. Even at this point, scoring one goal was unlikely.

The first goal was met with mild applause at Agganis. Still no reason to get too excited. But as the offense attacked in the Miami zone, hope grew. A silent, stunned arena 43 seconds prior erupted like Mt. Saint Helens when Bonino’s goal restored our view of the 2008-09 BU mens hockey team. These guys always find a way to get it done.

Under their sweaters, the players wore “Burn the Boats” t-shirts, which stands for the 100-percent commitment made by each of them this season. The phrase originates from Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez, who ordered the destruction of his boats so that no one in his fleet could bail once they reached Mexico.

The best season in Terrier history was capped with the best college hockey game ever played. On Tuesday, we celebrate with a parade down Comm. Ave. On Duck boats. Someone keep the matches away from Jack Parker.