Coming out/Northeast

From Fenway window, scan of an older photo taken some time in the early 1980's Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

George... of course, in this, he's not sitting in his usual window. (Photo taken some time in the early 80's)

Park Drive & Queensberry, next to the same apartment (see adjacent picture) Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

In the center of the Fenway are a number of small restaurants and retail businesses. Like very much of the rest of Boston, though, there was quite a bit of construction of new high rise housing on the edges of the area in 2007. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Most of the Fenway is 4 story apartment buildings and the architecture is very consistent, except a couple of buildings like the red brick building in the picture below. Many of the apartments were converted to condos at some point. When I lived there, it seemed that most of the buildings did not have elevators, though I suspect that has changed as some were converted to condos. One thing that hasn't changed is that parking is atrocious -- the majority of the buildings do not have garages or parking lots. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Fenway Park baseball stadium, the home of the Red Sox, is just a couple of blocks northwest of the Fenway neighborhood. The stadium is so wedged into the neighborhood, that you could pass it without hardly knowing it was there. Interesting also is that two of Boston's more popular gay bars were behind where I was standing when I took this picture in 2007. So, on weekend game nights, you had gay bar patrons and baseball fans passing in the streets. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

One of the reasons the area is called the Fenway is that there is a stream running through the area which forms what is called a fens (a type of wetlands). Across from where I lived is a long park, the Back Bay Fens, which is quite lush during the summer -- the satellite map provides a good perspective. The park has multiple athletic fields, gardens, and a large community vegetable garden - but is also very well known as a gay cruising area. The area was a quite popular cruising area when I lived there in the 70's, and I was surprised to see that it was still well-used when I visited in 2007. Close to each other in the park are memorials to the Korean, Vietnam, and WWII wars. But, what was most important, was that surrounding those memorials were areas where gay men would lay out in skimpy bathing suits, and retreat into the bushes at times. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

One of the most well-known features of the fens is the "Victory gardens," community gardens maintained by residents of the area. The gardens had first been established during WW II to grow vegetables, though many of the plots now are just flowers. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Opposite the gardens, with the Prudential tower rising in the distance, are the tall reeds of the fens. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Most of the time I lived in Boston, I lived in the Fenway area. The fens were then, and still were in 2007, a popular gay cruising area. It was always slightly disconcerting to cruise the fens, with the Prudential tower seemingly watching overhead. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

The fens.. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Looking back over the fens from the bridge on Boylston drive. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Though this may look like the Fenway, this is Back Bay. Like the Fenway, much of Back Bay is apartments that have been converted into condos, though some of these buildings are single family homes. Back Bay is generally more upscale than the Fenway, which is evident from the variety and elegance of the architecture (and the street lights). Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Around Back Bay. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Around Back Bay. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

Around Back Bay. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set

The north boundary of Back Bay is Storrow Drive (shown here) and the Esplanade, which is a park along the Charles River. The gold dome in the distance is the State House. Makes most sense if viewed as part of Coming Out/Northeast set