Why Boston?
Boston is not the city you might think it is. It's a big city in a surprisingly small area. It's not New York, it's New England; with red and orange leaves in the fall, and a winding river with sailboats and kayaks. Boston is the America you read about in history books. The pilgrims landed near here, the Revolutionary War was fought here. A walk through the city is an introduction to the founding of an entire country. With 52 colleges and universities in the city, it's an educational hub, with tens of thousands of students from all over the world moving in every fall. There are museums and theatres, and amazing restaurants and concerts, but it also has a real sense of community, with each neighbourhood standing out as a distinctive part of the city. Bostonians are intensely proud of their home town. You'll get off the plane, hear the locals talk as if they were extras in Good Will Hunting, and wonder: are they are for real? Yes, they are.
A comfortable bed <
Boston is a walking city, so you'll want to stay in a central location. The beautiful Ritz Carlton, Boston Common, recently renovated in 2008, sits between the posh shopping area of the Back Bay, and the city's largest park, known as the Boston Common and Public Garden. Rates start at US$452 (Dh1,660) per night for a single or double room, including taxes (www.ritzcarlton.com; 00 1 617 574 7100).
If you want to stay somewhere a little different, the Beacon Hill Hotel (& Bistro) offers 12 uniquely decorated guest rooms in two 19th-century townhouses in the blue-blooded Beacon Hill neighbourhood. A common roof deck offers a chance to mingle with other guests, while the small elegant rooms featuring shuttered windows overlooking Charles St keep the hotel from feeling too much like a hostel (www.beaconhillhotel.com; 00 1 617 723 7575). A double room starts at $246 (Dh904) per night, including taxes and breakfast for two at the award-winning Beacon Hill Bistro.
Find your feet <
The best way to start exploring the city is to put on some comfortable shoes and take to the street. Most of the main neighbourhoods - the Financial District, Back Bay, the Theatre District, the North End, Beacon Hill - are all within walking distance of each other. A classic route to follow is the Freedom Trail: a 4km line of red bricks that begins at the Massachusetts State House (the seat of the state government) and ends in the cute Italian neighbourhood of North End. Along the way, the trail visits 16 historical sites from the American Revolution including the Old North Church ("The British are coming!") and the USS Constitution. If it's too cold or rainy to walk - and there's a fair chance that it will be - you can just jump on the "T". Short for MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority), the T is the oldest underground subway system in the United States. The bus system is a bit confusing, but the colour-coded subway map is easy to navigate, and will get you to anywhere you need to go, including the airport.
Shopper's paradise<
In need of a lobster-shaped coffee mug? A T-shirt that says "pakh the cah in hahvahd yahd"? Look no further than Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. This area has been a marketplace since 1742, although the building itself was rebuilt in 1762 and then again in 1898. Alongside the touristy knick knacks, there are rows of push carts featuring the work of local artists, a few larger stores, and a variety of restaurants. Keep an eye out for street performers and re-enactors in Revolutionary War dress playing the fife and drums. There is also a farmers' market every Monday and Wednesday across the street at City Hall Plaza.
For more serious shopping, head straight to Newbury St and Boylston St. The parallel streets run the length of the Back Bay neighbourhood. The stores are almost perfectly lined up according to price, so use the alphabetised cross streets (A-H) to find your bearings. Jump on the Red Line and head to Harvard Square for some alternative shopping. Located in Cambridge, just across the Charles River from Boston, Harvard Square has a feeling all its own and features offbeat bookstores and art galleries.
Book a table<
You can't visit Boston and not have clam chowder; the best is found at Legal Sea Foods. A bowl is a reasonable $6.95 (Dh25) and comes with oyster crackers and fresh bread. The rest of the seafood menu is equally delicious. There are 10 locations in Boston, but for the best oceanfront feeling, visit the one at Long Wharf, near the Aquarium (225 State St, 00 1 617 742 5300).
Feeling like something a little more raw? The Neptune Oyster (63 Salem Street, 00 1 617 742 3474) is a hip, intimate little restaurant located in North End. Don't be put off by the stylish interior and its frequent placement on top 10 lists, the atmosphere is actually very relaxed and welcoming. Stop by early to avoid a wait; it is very popular and doesn't take reservations. Entrees start at $24 (Dh88).
For an after-dinner treat, indulge in a taste of Italy. Everyone knows about Boston's Irish history, but there is an equally strong Italian heritage, and its epicentre is the North End. Try an amazing cappuccino at Caffe Vittoria (290 Hanover St; 00 1 617 227 7606), and then move next door and sample the cannoli at Mike's Pastry (300 Hanover St; 00 1 617 742 3050).
Meet the locals<
There is no better place to meet a true Bostonian than at a Red Sox game. Take in America's pastime at Fenway Park, the oldest baseball park in the country, and the seats are just as cosy as they were in 1912.
What to avoid <
Driving. Motorists are notoriously aggressive, the streets are sometimes confusing, parking is expensive and hard to find, and traffic wardens rarely miss an opportunity to issue a ticket.
The "duck tours". Fun for kids, the amphibious vehicle tour of the city verges on the cheesy for adults (you are actually asked to quack). It's also a bit pricey (adults pay $31 [Dh114], kids age 3-11 pay $21 [Dh77]).
Don't miss <
Fall is a beautiful time to visit New England, and a uniquely Boston fall event is the Head of the Charles Regatta, a rowing competition held every year during the second to last weekend of October. The regatta is the largest of its kind, and it attracts the most elite rowers from all over the world.
The Museum of Science (www.mos.org) may be aimed at children, but the exhibits are truly fascinating for people of all ages.
emcnamee@thenational.ae
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
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England Test squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
THE%20SWIMMERS
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
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ELECTION%20RESULTS
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
