Somewhere Between Home and Home

Okay, I know.

I told you all I moved back to Boston, gave you this whole speech about new beginnings and bringing About Us with me... and then kind of left you hanging on what I've actually been doing since I got here.

So, let's get into it.

I've been outside to say least. I've been trying things. I've been bringing my kids to some of the places I remember from growing up. I've walked into events where I didn't know a single person and left with new Instagram friends. I've eaten some really good food, stayed out way later than I planned a few times and honestly have just been having a really good time getting reacquainted with the city.

Because coming back to somewhere you grew up as an adult is interesting.

I'm older. I'm a mom now. I'm building a business. Naturally, I'm experiencing the city completely differently than I did the last time I lived here.

So these first couple of months haven't really been about exploring Boston. They've been about reintroducing myself to it.

And I have A LOT to tell you about.

One thing I've realized pretty quickly is that moving doesn't mean I suddenly need a whole new life or personality. I actually liked my life in Syracuse, and at one point it definitely felt like home.

I loved finding random events around the city. I loved outdoor and indoor fitness classes. I loved a good R&B night. I had my favorite places to eat, my people and a community that made living there fun.

So it's been really cool finding some of those same things here.

Take Pilates in the Park.

Y'all already know I love a good outdoor wellness session. So laying my mat down outside here, surrounded by a bunch of new faces, felt strangely familiar.

Different park. Different instructor. Different city, but I knew that feeling.

And then, of course, I found the R&B nights.

I've been to the Bobby Nsenga Experience at Royale and We Heart R&B at The Garage, and both scratched that very specific itch for me. However, I fear I'll never get the feeling of hearing a Syracuse roller at an R&B event here LOL.

Nonetheless, it was nice realizing I don't have to reinvent what having fun looks like just because I moved.

It felt like me. Just here.

And Boston has also given me plenty of opportunities to try things I wasn't doing before.

That's how I ended up at a salsa class and social at The Anchor in Charlestown, different networking events and community spaces around the area.

Some things feel familiar. Some are completely new and I'm enjoying both.

Being Home Also Means Getting Some Things Back

Now, we have to talk about the food because Boston has been feeding me very well.

I've tried new places like Cactus Club, Captain Loui, Gianna's and Wei Shu Wu Hotpot, and I already have opinions about which places we need to talk about again.

But being back also means getting reunited with the places I genuinely missed while I was in Syracuse.

And this is where Supreme House of Pizza gets its moment.

There are plenty of places to get a good steak and cheese around here. And yes, I said steak and cheese. Not a cheesesteak or a chopped cheese, a steak and cheese... sub to be exact. 😂

But I want mine from Supreme, in Brockton.

That's one of those spots where you already know your order, know exactly what it's supposed to taste like and don't need anybody on TikTok to tell you whether it's good.

And honestly, those places excite me just as much as discovering somewhere new.

That's something I want About Us to reflect, too.

Of course we're going to try the beautiful restaurants. We're going to check out new openings. We're going to get dressed up and make reservations somewhere nice.

But I also want to tell you about the neighborhood spot somebody has been ordering from for 15 years. The place you immediately go back to when you come home. The businesses that are woven into people's actual lives.

Because that's part of what makes a place feel like home.

Finding My People

I've also been getting acquainted with the community here.

I started locally with Fuller After Dark, a networking event put on by Greater Brockton Young Professionals. I attended Speema's Rebranding Brunch and found myself surrounded by women talking about business, marketing, growth and everything I'm already thinking about as I build this next version of About Us.

And that's probably one of the things I've enjoyed most.

Every time I go somewhere, I learn a little more about what's happening here.

Who's creating things? Who's bringing people together? Where are people actually hanging out? What businesses do people genuinely love? And what are the things happening around here that you might completely miss if nobody tells you about them?

Those are the questions that made About Us what it was in Syracuse.

Now I get to ask them in a much bigger playground.

And This Time, My Kids Get to Come Along

There's another part of being back that has been especially fun: I'm experiencing Boston as a mom now.

I've been finding parks and splash pads with the kids, getting them outside and taking them to places like the Boston Children's Museum.

I'm also getting to introduce them to places I remember from my own childhood which is funny because I'm not seeing those places for the first time but I'm watching them see them for the first time.

And that's pretty cool.

There's a lot more I want to do with them, and actually, there's a whole series coming about that.

But that's a conversation for another day.

So, What Have I Actually Been Doing?

Honestly? I've been building a life.

I've been trying new things, going back to old favorites, taking my kids places, meeting people, finding events, eating well and saying yes to things just to see where the night takes me.

Somewhere along the way, I've realized I don't have to choose between loving the life I built in Syracuse and being excited about the one I'm building here.

Syracuse is where I built About Us and learned just how much community can change the way you experience a city.

Boston is giving me the chance to take everything I learned there and see what happens when I do it again, with more experience, a bigger vision and a city I already have history with.

And that feels exciting. That's where About Us comes in.

There are restaurants I need to tell you about. Events we need to talk about. People doing really cool things around the city. Hometown favorites that deserve their moment. Places I'm excited to bring my kids. And plenty of things I haven't even found yet.

Some of it will be new to me.

Some of it I've known my whole life.

Either way, you're coming with me.

And now that I've finally caught you up...

we can get into the good stuff.