Urbanology 101: An Interview With the Mayor of ‘Boscago’

Max Grinnell, The Urbanologist

Boston may be a small city, but it’s a great one, and no one knows that more than city expert and self-titled “Urbanologist” Max Grinnell. With roots in Seattle and Madison, Wisconsin, Max has dedicated most of his life to studying how cities work and teaching others through his publications, website, and — most importantly — Twitter.

As @theurbanologist, Max explores Boston and Chicago (an area he calls “Boscago”) and highlights the best parts of both in terms of entertainment, growth, sociology, and more.

Max lent us an ear to talk Boston, Twitter, and what it really means to be an urbanologist.

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Student Guide: Who to Follow on Twitter in Boston

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As much as we complain incessantly about #Boston, you’ve picked a good city to call home while you’re in school. And one thing we’re really good at is social media. Our Mayor (@marty_walsh) hosts #TwitterChat(s) regularly, we’ve won various awards for the city’s social media prowess, and here’s a protip: if you know who to follow on Twitter, that’s enough to be “in the know” in this city.

So here’s a good list to get you started (subscribe to it here):

General Boston

@BostonTweet
@OnlyInBOS
@universalhub
@BostInno
@ConciergeBoston
@BostonAttitude
@BostonReview
@morisy
@steveannear
@Fara1
@dbernstein
@HeyRatty
@senatorjohn

Events

@TheBostonCal
@BostonTweetUp
@BriteBoston UPDATE: Inactive since 2015.

City of Boston (important) Accounts

@CityOfBoston
Mayor: @marty_walsh
Food Trucks: @bosfood
Bikes: @bikeboston
@DoITBoston

News

@BostonGlobe
@BostonDotCom
@DigBoston
@MetroBOS
@BetaBoston
@WBUR
@wgbhnews
@BostInno
@BostonMagazine
@TheImproper
@cambridgechron
@7news

Live Updates

@CityOfBoston
@UniversalHub
@MassDOT
@BostonPolice
@BostonFire
@BEMSincidents

Schools

@BU_Tweets
@EmersonCollege
@Northeastern
@BostonCollege
@Suffolk_U
@UMassBoston
@BerkleeCollege
@EmmanuelCollege
@Harvard
@MITstudents
@SimmonsCollege
@MassArt
@TuftsUniversity
@SMFABoston

Neighborhoods

@allstonratcity
@YourAllstonBri
@BrightonMainSts
@SomervilleCity
@MissionHillMass
@JP_02130
@thefenway
@YTfenwaykenmore
@kendall_square
@cambridgeUSA
@WelcomeToDot
@DTownBostonBID
@HelloGreenway
@go_centralsq

Food & Drink

@onthebar
@thedrewstarr
@petemfboyd
@hiddenboston
@mysecretboston
@mcslimjb
@bostonmixdrink
@eaterboston
@blumie
@boloco
@ZagatBoston
@TheWriteStuffSK
@lmennies
@thrillistboston
@RestoWeekBoston
@BostonChefsNews
@BostonChefsJobs

LULZ

@backbaymemoirs UPDATE: Inactive since 2015.
@centralsqpigeon  UPDATE: Inactive since 2016.
@lukeoneil47
@BDPizzaBrighton UPDATE: Inactive since 2015.
@The66bus
@TomBradysEgo
@iamchrisscott
@bostonmo

A&E

@AllstonPudding
@DigBoston
@Vanyaland617
@SoundofBoston
@BDCwire
@Boston_Calling
@together
@boweryboston
@LostinSound_org
@mmmmaven
@MASSEDMC
@lawnond
@GlobeMusic
@mfaboston
@ICAinBoston
@amandapalmer

Venues

@mideastclub
@zuzubar
@TheSinclair
@paradiserockclb
@GreatScottROCK
@Brighton_Music
@middlesexlounge
@The_Wilbur
@hob_boston
@ttthebears UPDATE: TT The Bears has closed as of July 2015.
@goodlifebar

MBTA Accounts

@mbta_alerts
@mbta_bus_alerts
@MBTA_CR
@MBTA
@MBTATransitPD

Other Transportation

@bikeboston
@Hubway
@Uber_BOS
@HailoBoston
@Lyft
@Bridj

The best Twitter accounts in Boston

@mettermedia
@haveyoumetter
@discolyssa
@saraherib
@kciccolini
@jasminejamboree
@angelabray
@heshi393
@sierraunsworth

Who are your essential Boston tweeters? Let us know in the comments!

Metter Media LLC is a Boston-based social media management company that implements community-based, localized social engagement strategies for small businesses and corporations alike. Need help with your social media? Email Lauren today.

The Social Media News Revolution: One-On-One with @universalhub

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It was pouring rain on a Wednesday afternoon when I sat down at Foley’s in the South End with Adam Gaffin, aka @universalhub. We were both dripping wet and armed with all the supplies we needed: laptops and smartphones, and both of us seemed to be running on very little sleep.

The night before was the first night that Twitter blew up with news from #Ferguson, Missouri, and if I didn’t already feel more like my old journalist self again, sitting with Gaffin and talking at warp speed about the way we ingest news nowadays made it so. He needs no introduction: @universalhub, the biggest source of real-time news in Greater Boston, convener of crowdsourced iPhone reports and hero of citizen journalism, especially via social media.

In short: we bro’d out for a very long time.Continue reading

How Social Media Changed a Boston Bartender’s Career

Tenzin Samdo

Everyone knows Boston loves to drink. From our intense celebrations during St. Patrick’s Day and the Boston Marathon to the notorious “drunk train” that is the B line, to being consistently named America’s drunkest city, we get a reputation for being more than willing to partake.

What is often overlooked, though, is Boston’s appreciation for craft beer, locally made liquor, and remarkable craft cocktails. We have some of the best people in the country behind the stick, and one such barman, Tenzin Samdo, wants to make it known.

As @bostonmixdrink on Instagram and Twitter, Tenzin shares his own specialty cocktails as well as those he experiences throughout the city and on international travels – and he knows his stuff. His accounts are filled with gorgeous shots of unique drinks, beautiful sights, and his adorable son, and his IG has gained over 8,000 followers in less than two years.

With a mocktail of watermelon juice, basil, and cucumber in hand, I sat down with Tenzin at his home turf, Trade, and chatted about social media and the Boston bar scene.

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A Man, A Mouse, and a Twitter Account: How Disney Could Step Up Its Social Media Strategy

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“You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” – Walt Disney

It also requires an engaging Twitter strategy.

The suits and imagineers behind Lake Buena Vista, Florida’s Walt Disney World (WDW) take many steps to stay current: attractions are built and updated, Starbucks are popping up everywhere, gluten-free and vegetarian food options have been added aplenty, craft beer selections have grown, and last year they even rolled out the MyMagic+ program, an app-and-wristband combination resulting in some serious online magic.

But what they boast in factory-created fantasy, they lack in thorough social media presence.

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