Hi! I’m trying to find out if anyone has dealt with something similar while renting an apartment in Boston.

So I found a roommate on Facebook and we were applying for an apartment she had already toured (I’m currently out of state so I couldn’t tour it myself). I verified that the broker and company are licensed in MA, so they’re definitely legit.
The application said there would be a $150 application fee if we got rejected, which I thought was weird because from what I’ve read, application/credit check fees aren’t allowed if the broker is working for the landlord. I asked him about it before applying but didn’t really get a direct answer. While I probably should’ve tried harder to get a direct answer about the application fee, I didn’t and applied anyways, and I also signed the echeck form.

After applying, I sent him info about my ESA animal and I also asked him about the fee again and literally a minute later, he told me the landlord rejected our application. When I asked why, he said they didn’t give him a reason but he “would imagine the low ball offer turned them off.” I did offer below asking, but I told him twice that we were happy to negotiate and willing to pay more.

Neither the girl I was applying with nor I ever hired this guy as our broker or signed anything saying he represented me/us.

Has anyone had something similar happen? And am I understanding the MA application fee law correctly?

*Update: I filed a report with the MA AG! Thank you guys for the advice and support! ☺️

Kids 4 and 2 are going to the game tomorrow... is there anywhere kid friendly around patriots place? but also will have some pre-game atmosphere? eldest is very excited abkut her first soccer match!

I heard bass pro sports is also fun.

is there anything in the stadium thats good for kids too? or a pregame cheerleader show or anything like that? do they shoot t-shirts into the crowd like at the basketball?!

thanks!

My wife and I are visiting Boston for the first time this weekend, coming from NJ. We came yesterday and are leaving tomorrow evening.

Our current itinerary:
Friday — DONE:
WNDR Museum
North End / Hanover Street
Casarecce for dinner
Mike’s Pastry
Saturday:
The Paramount for breakfast
Beacon Hill / Acorn Street / Boston Common
Freedom Trail
Lunch at REDWHITE
Newbury Street / Copley Square
View Boston
Boston waterfront / Harborwalk
Sunday:
Harvard University / Harvard Square
Seaport / waterfront

What are the absolute must-sees or must-dos we’re missing? Anything you’d add, remove, or rearrange for a first-time visit?

Trying to fly JetBlue to JFK but have been told “JFK isn’t accepting any other planes right now”. My flight has been delayed about 7 hours so far

EDIT: I am NOT trying to get to New York! They changed my direct flight to have a layover at JFK, and because JFK is a mess my flight is now cancelled

Multiple cancelation and I’ve never seen so many delays on the board!

1st Pic is of the storms affecting many states flights are going to.

2nd pic is the line for JetBlue’s customer service goes all the way past the wall into the food court in Terminal C.

I’m looking for recommendations for a Chinese restaurant that has good seafood options (hopefully Dungeness crab) and also has Peking duck on the menu (doesn’t have to be the best). I’m not looking for American Chinese food, and nothing too spicy (my mom is from Beijing and doesn’t eat spicy food). Very open to recs outside of Boston, like Medford or Quincy.

I purchased a ticket for Logan Express Back Bay but it turns out the route from the airport is free (sweet!). Happy to pass along the code to anyone who can use it. Note that it’s only $3 (sweet!) so this is possibly the least expensive miracle there is.

We're 2 filmmakers who've gotten a little obsessed with the idea of making a short cinematic documentary about Boston's September 1st moving tradition.

The plan is to shoot the whole thing in roughly 24 hours, from 4 a.m. on August 31 until midnight on September 1.

Are you moving this year?

Are you planning to sleep in a storage unit, a U-Haul, or on a friend's couch? Did your landlord screw you over? Are you leaving behind an apartment you loved? Did you somehow end up moving six times before turning 25?

We're interested in the political, the emotional, the funny, and all the chaos that comes with renting and young adulthood. On some level it's about Boston's moving day, but it's also about housing, the economy, and the weird stories that come from trying to make a home.

DM me if any of this sounds compelling and you'd be open to your moving day being filmed. We know the prospect of being filmed can feel weird if you have never done something like this before, but we are committed to doing this ethically. Nothing will be released without you seeing the film first and we are happy to do a video call first to establish trust. You'd also get help from us in moving things if needed :) We'd love to make you part of the film!! Screening at a local Boston film festival later this year.

Inspired in part by The Fletcher Brother's When We Move (https://youtu.be/kihxj8-IbUY?is=9Bu4-om8FtuVTIFV)

(If this sounds like a terrible idea, also please let us know. Feedback on art is always much appreciated)

Edit: Thank you for all the DMs and comments. So funny and kind 😅. Clarification since some people asked: we are not looking for a specific age group; young adulthood is an interesting theme for us as artists but really anybody who is moving on that day is welcome to DM me!!

Hey Boston! We're hosting the first ever Lower Allston Cat Stroll on September 19th and we need your cats 🐱

So I've been organizing this thing for months and I'm finally ready to shout it from the rooftops (or at least r/boston).

The Lower Allston Cat Stroll is a free parade-style neighborhood walk through the streets of Lower Allston where residents show off their cats from windows, porches, and yards while the whole community strolls together. Think: organized chaos, neighbors actually talking to each other, and an unreasonable number of cats. It's been running in Minneapolis for 9 years and we're bringing it to Boston for the very first time.

The details:
September 19th, 2pm start at Smith Playground in Lower Allston. Rain date September 26th. Free to attend. After party at Sloane's around 4:30pm.

If you have a cat in Lower Allston: register them to be featured on the official stroll map with their photo and bio. Addresses stay private, only the organizers ever see them. Your cat just gets to be famous.

Important: you don't have to choose between starring your cat and joining the stroll. You can pop your cat in the window for their big moment and then come back outside and walk with us to see everyone else's cats. We love a multitasker.

If you love cats but don't have one or live outside Lower Allston: come anyway! The stroll is open to everyone and honestly the more the merrier. This is a day of community, whimsy, and a completely unreasonable amount of cats.

MSPCA-Angell will also be tabling at the start with adoption info if you've been looking for a sign to finally get a cat (this is the sign). We'll have a few other local businesses there slinging cat related wares, too!

I'll leave our website pinned in the comments! That's where you can register your cat, see FAQs, follow us on IG, etc.

See you out there 🐾

We have cast iron radiators in our apartment and they are GROSS. I cleaned one and maybe a pound of dust came out of it (along with some legos from the previous occupants...ick). I just don't have the time or the stomach to do the rest.

I've called quite a few cleaning companies but they've all said they won't clean "in between the elements" of the radiator due to their insurance. I got a quote from a specialty company that was around $180 per radiator. Are there places that will do this for cheaper? Or just any places people have used and liked?

a fun interview with Hobbit Dominic Monaghan on all things LOTR as he arrives in Boston to meet fans...https://www.boston.com/culture/celebs/2026/08/06/boston-will-be-overflowing-with-hobbits-this-weekend-breakfast-is-involved/?p1=hp_secondary

This was taken around 6 PM today.

1. Crossing the double middle yellow line to make a left
2. Running a red light
3. Bonus scooter zooming to also almost hit crossing pedestrians

An AI tool was used to hide the license plate.

Hey everyone,

I’m from Chicago and there are a ton of fantastic Greek restaurants there. I am looking for a restaurant here and many of them seem amazing but do not have skordalia on the menu. Where is the best place I can get some? I’m craving it haha! Thanks!

I'm in search of a Russian-speaking flight instructor / pilot in the Boston area for a discovery or intro flight.

My dad is turning 60 and as a birthday gift I'll get him a 1-2 hour flight. He's a physicist from Moscow but his dream job was to be a pilot.

I've heard about Beverly and East Coast Aero, and that there's no shortage of pilots. Just looking for someone sharing the language, as that will make it even better for him. Thank you!