Sunday Morning On The North End

I've always had an affinity for Boston, since the first time I visited as a teenager on a school trip.  Early in my high school years, I remember being convinced this was the place I was meant to attend college.  As an adult, I've found myself here from time to time, usually to visit friends and occasionally for work.  A few years ago, I had time to wander the winding streets of the North End--one of those things on the list of things to do in Boston that I had never quite gotten around to.

One such day in search of coffee, I happened upon a delightful neighborhood cafe called Boston Common Coffee. It's the kind of place reminiscent of the coffee shop on "Friends"--comfy couches, great coffee.  It's also conveniently close to the American nirvana of cannoli, Mike's Pastry.  

This morning with a little time before my flight, I wandered over to find my coffee spot.  The North End is Boston's own take on the winding, narrow neighborhoods where one gets lost in Rome.  I don't think I've ever gotten to this cafe the same way twice, and I couldn't give you directions.  

It's a perfect, sunny June morning and from my chartreuse cafe table on the sidewalk, the Sunday morning rituals of North Enders poke at my focused reading of the Sunday NYT--a paper copy.  

Neighbors greet each other "Hey!  Whatcha doin today?"

A couple stops with their photographer for an engagement photo "so this is your spot?"  She asks. "Can you lean in and kiss each other?  Let's pop over to this alley."

Runners stop in, with the post-run glow, ready for coffee.  Half a block down, a store owner sweeps the sidewalk. Birds chirp and the occasional traffic noise floats from a few blocks away, still people come in and out--carrying coffee and dry cleaning, or sporting gear, or the leash of a dog.

It's Sunday morning on the North End.

Originally published July 4, 2014