September 13, 2025: The Boston Trip (Day 2)
Quite possibly the greatest tourism day of all time.
Started the morning with a tour of Luke’s office, the 17-story PTC tower rising over the Seaport district. Elliptically shaped, the open-plan interior mixes huddle rooms with café‐type casual spaces. Amazing views of Boston Harbor and the cluster of restaurants and shops.
Breakfast and coffee at PopUp Bagels. The crowd stretched out the door but totally worth the wait. The bagels offer a crispier crust and softer crumb than a traditional style, and their “schmears” (cream cheeses/butter spreads) are smack-your-granny good.
After some shopping and wandering, we had lunch at Petula’s in Southie. With the feel of a café by day and neighborhood restaurant by night, there's a charming and relaxed energy about it.
Visited Luke’s South Boston house and relaxed for a bit. He shares the place with several roommates in this quiet neighborhood filled with shops and small eateries.
“Pre-game” before dinner at Cafe Vittoria, possibly Boston’s oldest Italian café. Located in the North End, the decor has tin ceilings, marble floors, ornate mirrors, and vintage photos. There’s also a basement cigar room, one of the last surviving licensed smoking lounges in the city.
A showstopper dinner at Lucca Italian, a higher-end option in the historic North End, glowing with candlelight and granite floors. Luke grabbed a reservation by the retractable front wall that opened up to Hanover Street for an incredible “open dining” experience. A $500k Lamborghini was parked about 10 feet away.
As if the evening wasn’t already cinematic, fireworks suddenly lit the harbor. We walked close enough to see the canisters launching from barges right in front of us.
Bova’s Bakery came next, a local favorite known for their pastries and desserts. There is often a line down the sidewalk, even late at night. Inside, display cases overflow with traditional Italian-style sweets and the smell of sugar and dough. There’s no sit-down dining, only take-out, perfect for late cravings.
We strolled down by the water again, gawking at the large $90 million yacht docked by the pier and owned by Boston Red Sox owner, John Henry. Just as we arrived, out steps John Kerry, who won the Democratic nomination in 2004, running against George W. Bush. He barely lost the election, and had he won Ohio, he would have become president. He later served as Secretary of State under President Obama. Some locals asked us to take a picture as they gathered around him.
Returned to our hotel room, watched some college football, and finally rested. Total step count for the day: around 25,000.
What an amazing day.