Boston::Los Angeles: A Comparative(ly) Foolish Study

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oystahsEvery so often while travelling I tend to subconsciously compare and contrast the city I’m visiting against Los Angeles. Fellow denizens, I’ve just returned from Boston. Boston! God damn it. What a city. All these “neighborhoods”… All this “walking”… All this “walking from neighborhood to neighborhood” … All this “bicycling” … All this “riding the subway to get around” … God damn it. I love it. We don’t have it. We drive. So?

Boston has working names for all its little areas. We do too. Boston has hot dog shacks. Damn it, we have hot dog shacks. Boston has big parks. Damn it, we have big parks. It’s uncanny, I tell you. God damn it. I’m going to side-by-side this one. It’s not comprehensive but it’s a start. I said it.

Neighborhoods
They Have… Which Means… We Have… Which Means…
The North End Little Italy No Little Italy Maggiano’s
Beacon Hill Expensive historic row homes Bunker Hill All manner of freaky shit under God
Plymouth Rock Pilgrims Eagle Rock Target
Chinatown Chinatown Chinatown Chinatown
Cambridge Westwood Westwood Cambridge
Brookline Los Feliz Los Feliz Brookline
Jamaica Plain Brentwood Brentwood Jamaica Plain
Jamaicaway Egregious DUI Corridor PCH Egregious Gibson- Nolte Corridor

More foolishness, including photo side-by-sides, after the jump.

Parks
They Have… Which Means… We Have… Which Means…
Franklin Park Golf Griffith Park Ponies
Boston Common/ Public Garden Public Garden/ Boston Common MacArthur Park Pastrami
Arboretum Huntington Gardens Huntington Gardens Arboretum

Culture
In Boston… In Los Angeles…
Geese are the biggest assholes of all birds Seagulls are the biggest assholes of all birds
It is possible to see the entire City of Boston in a few hours’ time via bicycle It is possible to see the entire City of Culver in a few hours’ time via bicycle
Every other man looks like Billy Joel Every other man looks like Joel Billy (?!)
Every other building you see is (a) college, (b) historic as all hell, or (c) both Every other building you see is disposeable. Hey, that’s not so bad. That’s not so bad!
People are generally friendly as all hell. People are adept at judging you silently and immediately. Hey. That’s not so bad. That’s not so bad!

Visuals
In Boston… In Los Angeles…

Street Meat: Italian Juiced
Street Meat: Baconwrapped

Charles River in Jail
Statue in Jail

Locksmith Shack
Locksmith Shack

Chinatown lounge generally full of itself: Weggie’s
Chinatown lounge generally full of itself: Hop Louie

It’s getting out of hand. I’m stopping. I’m no expert on either city. I just know how to put together a chart. Feel free to add categories and I’ll update as needed. Have a time of it!