Lizzie Taylor

During what can feel like perpetual New England winters, Sundays are days of rest, but in August, Bostonians are maximizing every glorious moment of our long-awaited summer. My Sunday starts right here on Newbury Street with Tracksmith run club as we take on the weekly long run. For distance runners, August is a training month for the upcoming fall marathon season (I run Charlotte, North Carolina every year), and Boston boasts incredible routes along the Charles River Esplanade, Chestnut Hill Reservoir, or Emerald Necklace loops.

After my run, it’s time to grab a banana from the track house and head to the Public Garden to read, stretch, and enjoy the green spaces of our city. August brings the heat, but the garden is filled year-round with blooms, birds, and the smiling faces of tourists and residents alike. Boston is truly a book lover’s town, and on a nice Sunday afternoon, you’ll see people with paperbacks all around the garden and the Common, from parents reading “Make Way for Ducklings” aloud to fidgety toddlers to grad students cramming Dickens novels. Spending time in the Public Garden always inspires me to fill my own apartment with seasonal flowers, and I usually browse Winston Flowers on Newbury on Sundays, so my Monday morning starts with a fresh arrangement on my desk.

We wait all year for those long August summer nights. The later sunsets and evening breezes after a hot day make every night feel like something to celebrate, and my favorite occasion spot is 1928 Beacon Hill. Tucked away on Mt. Vernon Street, this neighborhood gem serves up the coldest martinis, refined and curated interiors, and unbeatable service.

Although I’m not a Boston native, this city is an easy one to fall in love with. I learned the streets and neighborhoods by running around the city, but it’s the people who make Boston feel like home.

Lizzie received her master’s degree in English at Boston College. She is now working as the Business Development Manager of MyBoston Magazine and lives in Back Bay.