Field Guide: A taste of Mattapan

In February, references to the words 'transgender' and 'queer' were quietly purged from various National Parks Service websites. That includes pages dedicated to Boston’s many national parks.  Among the resources that were taken down from Boston’s National Parks was an audio tour of Downtown and Beacon Hill titled “Their Dreams, Their Rights, and Their Love.” The tour was meant to show how Boston’s LGBTQ+ community has lived and thrived despite oppression and erasure. The tour still exists on the History Project's website, where it was posted after it was removed from the National Parks Service website.  To get a sense of what the "Their Dreams, Their Rights, and Their Love" tour has to offer, The Common met up with Theo Linger, History Project board member and former National Parks ranger; and Meaghan Michel, History Project volunteer and former National Parks ranger.    Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

WBUR's Candice Springer shares three awesome, local events that will get you outside in May. Check them out: Big Queer Food Fest Boston Public Art Triennial WBUR Festival Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Local organizers plan to mark MLK Jr.'s historic 1965 Freedom Rally in Boston by holding a march of their own. Journalist and Historian  Dart Adams is the co-chair of Everyone250. The organization's mission is to highlight stories and histories that often get overlooked — especially during celebrations marking America's independence. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Martinus Evans' doctor told him he either had to lose weight or risk early death. So he took up running - both out of necessity and perhaps a little spite. Evans has since run several marathons. He also founded the Slow AF Run Club, which is an organization meant to inspire and encourage runners of all shapes and abilities. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Little self-published booklets known as 'zines' have long been a staple of DIY and counter-culture movements. They have deep roots in underground music scenes like punk. Today, zines are having a renaissance, with more DIY-ers returning to the medium to spread information and stories - as well as to avoid increased censorship. The Common recently visited the Boston Public Library's Jamaica Plain branch to check out the BPL's zine collection with children's librarian and local punk drummer, Chris Strunk. Where to find zines in Boston For the month of April, public libraries across the Boston Area are encouraging patrons to dive into zines with their 2025 Zine Library Crawl. Explore these Boston-area zine libraries to participate, or explore on your own any time. Boston Public Library Zine Collection Participating branches include: Central, Codman Square, Connolly, Egleston Square, Grove Hall, Jamaica Plain, Parker Hill, Roslindale, Roxbury, Framingham Public Library Harvard University’s Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America   MassArt Morton R. Godine Library School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University’s W. Van Alan Clark Jr. Library Somerville Public Library (all locations) Watertown Free Public Library If you're looking for digital zines, you can also visit the online archive of Cambridge's Papercut Library, a free and volunteer-led collection featuring zines and other media from over 16,000 independent creators. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Catholic nuns and priests led Boston's anti-war movement during the Vietnam era. A new podcast tells the story of the lengths many Irish Catholics went through to protest the war — including breaking into official buildings to steal draft cards. The Common spoke to Host and Producer Brendan Patrick Hughes about his new podcast  "Divine Intervention." Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

When Tim Colegrove decided to open a computer repair store in 2021, it was partially because he was interested in entrepreneurship. He also really needed a place to keep the vintage computers and gear that were piling up in his home. So, The BYTE Shop was born: A computer repair shop AND museum to the modern home computer in Jamaica Plain. The Common visited Tim at The BYTE Shop to talk about the store's fully operational computer history exhibit (that is open for the public to come and try), as well as how community and sustainability play into its mission. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

WBUR contributing arts critic Lloyd Schwartz joins The Common to discuss classical music. The Somerville poet laureate and Fresh Air classical music critic also shares recommendations from his arts guide to Greater Boston classical events on offer this spring. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

When you walk in the doors of justBook-Ish in Fields Corner, it is immediately clear that it is more than just a bookshop. The space invites patrons to stay for a while. There is a bar with a menu of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. Visitors can take a seat at the communal table and chairs, or snuggle up in one of several window reading nooks. JustBook-Ish was founded by Porsha Olayiwola, who is a former Boston Poet Laureate, and Bing Broderick, who previously served as the executive director at Haley House. Porsha and Bing wanted to provide a 'third place' in the neighborhood. The concept of a 'third place' is one that’s gained a lot of popularity in recent years. It refers to a space that isn’t work or school or home, where folks can relax and connect with their community. The Common recently took a trip to justBook-Ish to talk to Porsha about why our community needs more 'third places' and why that drives their mission. Here are other bookstores and 'third places' to check out:  Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury Street Narrative Bookshop in Somerville Lovestruck Books in Harvard Square Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Boston-based comedian Bethany Van Delft thinks the Boston comedy scene is having a moment. Five years since the pandemic began, she reflects on how it has impacted the comedy industry today from sold-out shows to a fervent demand for standup over what she calls "weird" comedy. Here are Van Delft's recommendations for a good laugh: Favorite up-and-coming local comedian: Carolina Montesquieu A venue for a good show: Goofs Comedy Club in Somerville Comedy show producers: Men in Comedy and Don't Tell Comedy Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.