TORI: I AM TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY IS DEVELOPING A NEW INNOVATION CENTER TO STOP THE NEXT OUTBREAK BEFORE IT HITS LOCAL HOSPITALS, AND IT IS FUNDED BY THE CDC.

I WILL SPEAK WITH THE PROGRAM'’S DIRECTOR ABOUT WHAT HE HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH.

THEN WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO BOSTON NIGHTLIFE.

WHAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER, WHAT IS MISSING, AND WHERE TO GET THE BEST LATE-NIGHT MUNCHIES.

THE UNITED STATES WAS VASTLY UNPREPARED FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND THE CDC WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

TWO THAT END, THE AGENCY IS GIVING NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY $17.5 MILLION TO CREATE A CENTER FOR SPOTTING AND STOPPING THE NEXT OUTBREAK.

CALLED EPISTORM, THE CENTER WILL LEAD A GROUP OF 10 COMPANIES TO MONITOR AND PREDICT WHEN VIRUSES WILL SURGE AND HOPEFULLY GIVE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS TIME TO PREPARE.

I AM JOINED NOW BY THE HEAD OF THE NEW CENTER, ALESANDRO VESPIGNANI, WHO ALSO DIRECTS NORTHEASTERN'’S NETWORK SCIENCE INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

ALESANDRO: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TORI: SO, YOU HAVE PREDICTED -- THIS IS WHAT YOU DO, YOU PREDICT THESE PANDEMICS.

AND I WONDER, WHAT CAN WE IMMEDIATELY EXPECT IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE?

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE WAVES OF COVID, OR PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE?

ALESANDRO: WELL, WE'’RE APPROACHING THE WINTER SEASON.

THE WINTER SEASON IS WHEN RESPIRATORY VIRUSES GENERALLY TEND TO BE AN ISSUE.

THEY ADD TO THE BURDEN IN HOSPITALS.

SO WE HAVE COVID, BUT WE ALSO HAVE RSV, WE HAVE INFLUENZA.

AND SO IT'’S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO HAVE WAA WAY TO LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN ORDER TO HAVE INTELLIGENCE TWO PEOPLE FIGHTING THE DISEASES IN HOSPITALS, WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT.

THIS IS WHAT THIS CENTER IS ABOUT, TO GENERATE INTELLIGENCE THAT IS ACTIONABLE AND CAN BE USED TO FIGHT BETTER DISEASES, NOT JUST PANDEMIC, BUT OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASE THREATS.

TORI: I UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL BE WORKING ON AT THE CENTER, BUT WHAT CAN WE TAKE FROM THE WAY THAT THE COUNTRY HANDLED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND CONTINUES TO, AS A LESSON FOR THE FUTURE?

ALESANDRO: I THINK, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THIS COUNTRY, BUT THE WORLD WAS UNPREPARED FOR SOMETHING, TO AN EVENT OF THE PROPORTION OF THE PANDEMIC, OF COVID-19.

FROM 2019, THEN WE FAST-FORWARD TO NOWADAYS, A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT TO OUR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, OUR CAPACITY TO ANTICIPATE MORE THE VIRUS, TO GATHER DATA HAS BEEN DONE.

IT'’S INCREDIBLE, EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEARS.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE MORE PREPARED, TO NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL DURING THE CRISIS BUT TO BE PREPARED IN STANDBY FOR THE NEXT CRISIS SO WE CAN HAVE BETTER INFORMATION AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO.

WE WANT TO KNOW WEEKS IN ADVANCE WHAT WE SHOULD DO, AND WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF THE THREAT.

AND FOR DOING THAT, WE NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT IS LIKE A NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST CENTER THAT IS ABLE TO PROJECT THE PATH OF MAJOR STORMS, AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO EXPECT.

WE NEED TO DO THAT AND BE IN THAT POSITION IN THE NEXT YEARS.

TORI: I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ALREADY LEARNED A LOT FROM THE RESEARCH DONE ON COVID, IN TERMS OF RNA TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL THAT WE CAN APPLY TO OTHER DISEASES AND CURES.

ALESANDRO: YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, CAN WE PROJECT HOW MANY CASES WILL COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, IN CASE OF AN OUTBREAK THAT IS NOT IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WANT TO KNOW.

NOT JUST WITH COVID, BUT WITH EBOLA IN WEST AFRICA AND OTHER DISEASES.

SO WE NEED TO BE READY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THREATS THAT COULD COME FROM MANY OTHER DIFFERENT PLACES.

WE NEED TO BE READY, ALSO TO MANAGE WHAT ARE SOME DISEASES THAT ARE REGULAR, LIKE INFLUENZA.

WE DON'’T HAVE TO FORGET, INFLUENZA IS STRAINING THE SYSTEM EVERY YEAR.

SO THERE ARE, HOW WE SAY, PATHOGENS AND VIRUSES ARE ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD, AND WE WANT BETTER TECHNOLOGIES AND BETTER INTELLIGENCE TO FIGHT THEM.

TORI: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WE ALREADY HAVE A NEW VARIANT OF COVID.

IT IS NOT AS DEADLY, BUT IT IS DEADLY FOR MANY PEOPLE.

SHOULD PEOPLE, IN PREPARATION OF THE WINTER SEASON, SHOULD PEOPLE BE MASKING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING?

AND WILL THERE BE ANOTHER BOOSTER?

SHOULD PEOPLE PANIC?

ALESANDRO: NO, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PANIC.

WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO 2019.

WE'’RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD.

IT'’S A DIFFERENT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE, SO THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT IT'’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR FRAGILE PEOPLE, FOR SENIOR PEOPLE, TO GET BOOSTED.

THERE'’S A NEW BOOSTER THAT HELPS.

IT'’S IMPORTANT POPULATION GETS THIS VACCINE, AS WELL AS THE FLU VACCINE.

THE WINTER SEASON IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM.

AND THE MORE WE ARE VACCINATED, AND ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE FRAGILE OR AT RISK, THAT WE'’RE CAREFUL.

SO IT'’S NOT A MOMENT TO PANIC.

WHAT FOLLOW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HEALTH AGENCIES AND THE CDC.

TORI: GREAT.

ALESANDRO VESPIGNANI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

ALESANDRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TORI: NEXT UP, BOSTON IS KNOWN FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

COLLEGES, BIOTECH, A DUNCAN ON EVERY BLOCK.

BUT NIGHTLIFE IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

WHY?

AND WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO LIVEN THINGS UP?

GBH NEWS AND AXIOS HAVE TEAMED UP TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

JEREMY SEIGEL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE, THE BAR HOPPERS, AND PARTIERS OF BOSTON.

JEREMY: DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON?

>> THERE IS NO NIGHTLIFE.

OH, IT SUCKS, IT SUCKS.

IT'S PRETTY TERRIBLE.

JEREMY: BOSTON'’S GREAT.

BUT IT'’S NOT A CITY THAT'’S KNOWN FOR ITS NIGHTLIFE.

BUT THE CITY WANTS TO CHANGE THAT REPUTATION.

THEY JUST HIRED COREAN REYNOLDS, THE NIGHTLIFE CZAR, AND HER JOB IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT NEW WAYS TO MAKE THE CITY BOTH MORE CONVENIENT AND MORE FUN AT NIGHT.

AND TONIGHT, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE BOSTON A BETTER CITY TO GO OUT AT NIGHT?

DO ANY OF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON?

ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON?

YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE?

>> YEAH, NO.

LET'S TALK.

LET'S TALK.

>> WELL, HOLD ON ONE SECOND, I NEED TO GIVE HIM THE COVER CASH.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REALLY FUN SPOTS THAT MY FRIENDS AND I GO TO, AND THEY'RE ALL COINCIDENTALLY IN THIS AREA.

USUALLY SINGING KARAOKE.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITE'S "“THE KILLERS.

"” JEREMY: ARE YOU WILLING TO DO A LITTLE KARAOKE ON MIC RIGHT NOW?

>> OH MY GOD.

♪ SHE DOESN'’T LOOK A THING LIKE JESUS, BUT HE TALKS LIKE A GENTLEMEN.

LIKE YOU'’D IMAGINE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG ♪ ♪ JEREMY: YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE BOSTON NIGHTLIFE BETTER?

>> PROBABLY LESS COVERS.

YOU PROBABLY SAW I HAD TO RUN AND GIVE MY FRIENDS $40 TO GET IN.

JEREMY: YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON?

>> OH, IT'’S CRAZY OUT HERE, DUDE.

IT'’S JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF NONSENSE ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, BEING SOBER AND SITTING HERE, YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW TO REACT.

I DON'’T KNOW IF IT WOULD MAKE IT BETTER OR WORSE, BUT LET PEOPLE DRINK ON THE STREETS.

IT WOULD CAUSE A --SHOW, BUT IT WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT MORE FUN.

>> OH, WHAT'S UP?

JEREMY: I'’M TALKING ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON.

>> OH, GREAT.

I THINK IT'’S THE BEST PLACE EVER FOR NIGHTLIFE.

JEREMY: WHAT'’S YOUR BEST NIGHT?

LIKE, WHAT WOULD MAKE IT THE BEST?

>> GOING TO SEAPORT, HANGING OUT THERE.

GOING TO A NICE DINNER, THEN COMING -- THIS IS MY FAVORITE STRIP OF ALL THE BARS.

AND THEN JUST HITTING EVERY SINGLE BAR HERE.

>> I FEEL LIKE BOSTON HAS A LOT TO OFFER IN TERMS OF JUST LIKE, LATE NIGHT TRAVELS.

LOTS OF GREAT TAVERNS.

I FEEL LIKE YOU'’LL NEVER RUN OUT OF PLACES TO SEE DOWN HERE.

>> IT DOESN'’T START EARLY ENOUGH.

SOME NIGHTS I'M LIKE, OH, IT'S A GOOD NIGHT, BUT OTHER NIGHTS IT JUST FEELS LIKE THERE'’S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE.

I WISH THERE WERE MORE PLACES, THOUGH, BECAUSE LIKE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, OH, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS WEEKEND?

IT'’S LIKE, CISCO CLOSES KIND OF EARLY.

IF YOU'’RE ON THE WATER, TALLSHIP AGAIN, IT'’S MORE OF LIKE THOSE ARE PLACES YOU GO DURING THE DAY.

IN TERMS OF NIGHTTIME, THERE MAY BE LIKE PERSONALLY, LIKE FOUR PLACES.

JEREMY: AND IF YOU COULD TELL THE CITY WHAT TO DO TO IMPROVE NIGHTLIFE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

>> EXTEND THE CURFEW PAST, WHAT IS IT, 2:00 A.M.?

RIGHT NOW, ALL THE LIGHTS TURN ON AT 1:30 A.M. AND YOU ARE HOME BY 2:00.

JEREMY: ALRIGHT, SO WE'’VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT NIGHTLIFE OVER HERE.

BUT LET'’S HEAD SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SEE WHAT WE MIGHT BE MISSING.

FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF THE TRAVAILS OF A NIGHT OUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE GREEN LINE.

I'’M WALKING FASTER THAN THE T. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON?

>> OH, IT SUCKS.

IT SUCKS.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

JEREMY: ALRIGHT, WHAT MAKES BOSTON NIGHTLIFE NOT GOOD?

>> IT'’S VERY CULTISH.

PEOPLE JUST HANG OUT WITH THEIR OWN PEOPLE AND THEY'’RE NOT OPEN TO MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

FOR US, WE ARE OF AN ETHNIC GROUP, AND THERE'’S NOT MANY OF THOSE IN BOSTON.

JEREMY: OK, SO YOU FEEL LIKE NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON, LIKE -- IT'’S NOT INCLUSIVE?

>> YEAH, CAN I SAY THIS IS?

IT'S VERY WHITE CENTRIC.

JEREMY: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK COULD BE, LIKE, COULD MAKE IT BETTER AROUND HERE?

NOT NECESSARILY THE CITY, BUT JUST IN GENERAL?

>> NO, I THINK BOSTON HISTORICALLY IS JUST SO ROOTED IN ITS CULTURE.

I THINK THERE'’S A LOT OF BARS AROUND HERE, BUT MAYBE LIKE, DIVE BARS AND STUFF.

THERE IS NOT MUCH.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'’S KIND OF JUST SPORTS BARS, WHICH IS WHAT BOSTON, I FEEL LIKE, IS.

JEREMY: HOW DO YOU GET AROUND AT NIGHT?

I GOT MY BIKE RIGHT HERE, MAN.

YEAH.

JEREMY: IS THAT ENOUGH?

LIKE, DO YOU TAKE UBERS ON TOP OF THAT OR PUBLIC TRANSIT OR JUST THE BIKE?

>> NOW I'’M A BIKIN' MAN.

JEREMY: WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON BETTER?

>> MAYBE SOME BETTER BIKE LANES?

I DON'T KNOW.

JEREMY: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MUSIC AND ARTS AND CULTURE AROUND HERE AT NIGHT?

>> IT'’S KIND OF DEAD NOW, YEAH, IN THIS ALLSTON-BRIGHTON AREA.

JEREMY: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THINGS HAVE CHANGED?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

THERE'’S A LOT OF EMPTY PLACES AROUND HERE.

THERE'’S A LOT OF --ING RATS.

>> WE MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

JEREMY: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CITY COULD DO TO MAKE NIGHTLIFE BETTER?

>> RUN THE TRAINS ALL NIGHT.

LET THE BARS OUT LATER.

THE MAIN THING I BELIEVE IN GENERAL IS TRANSIT ALL NIGHT, BECAUSE WAY LESS PEOPLE WOULD BE DRUNK DRIVING, LITERALLY.

>> NIGHTLIFE ENDS AT 2:00, BUT THE TRAIN STOPS AT 1:00.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE WARY OF THAT.

JEREMY: WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD MAKE NIGHTLIFE BETTER?

>> IF IT WAS -- IF IT WENT ON UNTIL ABOUT 4:00 A.M.

INSTEAD OF 2:00.

JEREMY: WHAT ARE THE PLACES YOU GO TO HEAD OUT?

>> WE GO TO A BAR TO HAVE A DRINK, OR WE COME TO HABIBI'’S, WHICH IS RIGHT DOWNSTAIRS FROM HERE.

JEREMY: OH, NICE.

>> WAIT.

I'M COMING.

I'M COMING.

JEREMY: SO WE'’VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON.

SOME WILD STUFF, SOME GREAT IDEAS, LIKE MAKING DRINKS CHEAPER.

MAKING COVER CHARGES CHEAPER.

THE T, 24 HOURS?

I WOULD LOVE THAT.

TORI: PARIS ALSTON AND STEPH SOLIS BOTH JOIN ME NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT THEY FOUND AND FOUND MISSING IN BOSTON'’S MY LIFE SEEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

HE WENT OUT IN BOSTON AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?

PARIS: AS JEREMY DISCOVERED IN HIS PACKAGE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AFTER DARK IN BOSTON.

TORI: THAT WAS NOT MY INTERPRETATION BUT I LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHTER] PARIS: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND EVEN NIGHTCLUBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BUT FOR SOME REASON IT DOESN'’T HAVE THE GUSTO OF A NEW YORK OR D.C. FOR ATLANTA OR L.A.. BOSTON IS A SLEEPY CITY AND VIA A SURVEY OF FOLKS WE TOOK, WE HEARD PEOPLE KIND OF LIKE THAT.

THEY WANT BOSTON TO STAY A LITTLE QUIETER AT NIGHT.

BUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO OUT, THEY ARE WANTING TO PUSH THE LIMITS AND HAVE MORE AND DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

AND ALSO, SEE MORE DIVERSITY IN THEIR NIGHTLIFE SO THEY CAN HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENCES.

TORI: I KNOW THERE WAS THIS THING A WHILE AGO, I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS STILL OPERATING, IT IS CALLED THE WELCOMING COMMITTEE.

WERE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS?

THEY WOULD HOST EVENTS LIKE GAY AND LGBTQIA EVENTS AT DIFFERENT BARS.

BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN VERY RESTRICTED I THINK.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS JEREMY TALKED ABOUT AS WELL, IS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH OPTIONS IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT SPACES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

RIGHT?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE FOUND IN YOUR REPORTING?

STEPH: ABSOLUTELY.

FOR ME, I AM 31, I DON'’T GO TO BARS OR CLUBS A LOT.

REPORTING ON THIS SERIES FELT VERY VALIDATING, BECAUSE I ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT SPACES WHO SEEM TO FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THEY WANT SOBER OPTIONS, OR THEY WANT TO PLAY BOARD GAMES, OR HAVE OPTIONS THAT INVOLVE OTHER QUEER PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OR SPACES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

TORI: YOU FOUND OPTIONS FOR NERDS AS WELL.

STEPH: IT IS ALSO FAR AND FEW BETWEEN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'’T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE T, OR YOU DON'’T FEEL SAFE TAKING THOSE OPTIONS.

TORI: TRANSPORTATION IS SUCH A BIG PART OF IT, NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO OUT AND NOT DRIVE DRUNK OR WHATEVER, BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THESE RESTAURANTS AND BARS, TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME WITHOUT HAVING TO PARK IN THE CITY AND DRIVE BACK OUT.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT BRINGING BACK -- I KNOW WE HAD THIS BLIP OF LATE NIGHT T. PARIS: WE DID, AND JEREMY DID STENTS OF REPORTING ON THAT.

IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT IS GOING TO COME BACK, AT LEAST NOT IN ITS ENTIRETY AS WE SAW IT BEFORE.

EVEN AS PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON THIS NOT JUST FOR GOING OUT, BUT B HAS THAT -- BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO FOR WORK.

OUR WHOLE MORNING TEAM COMES IN AT 4:00 BUT IF WE NEED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THERE IS NO OPTION TO DO THAT.

BUT WE KNOW THE CITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE NEW NIGHTLIFE CZAR, IS LOOKING FOR WAYS SO THE CITY'’S NIGHTLIFE ECONOMY IS JUST AS ROBUST AS A DAYTIME ECONOMY, AND THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE OPTIONS TO GET AROUND AND TO GO PLACES, OR EVEN JUST AS THE NIGHTLIFE CZARM, S -- CZAR, SHE SAID SHE JUST NEED TO GET A JUG OF MILK AT 11:00 AT NIGHT, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

TORI: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT POSITION.

TO ME, THE THINGS THAT MAKE NIGHTLIFE MORE FUN ARE ALSO SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL.

WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT ISSUES OF DATE RAPE AND ROOFIES IN BOSTON BARS.

THAT WAS A DISCUSSION -- I WROTE AN ARTICLE IN 2018, THE VEGAS-IFICATION OF BOSTON.

THE GRANT IS COMING, THE SEAPORT BAR, ALL THESE OTHER DESTINATIONS.

THEY ALSO HAD A BIG FOCUS ON HAVING FEMALE SECURITY GUARDS AT THE BATHROOMS, HAVING PEOPLE WATCHING AT THE BARS, APPLYING THESE NEW STRATEGIES.

I AM WONDERING IF ANY OF THAT HAS COME UP IN YOUR REPORTING AND THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO.

STEPH: IT DEFINITELY HAS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE PATRONS OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THEY SAY THEY DON'’T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING OUT IN A LOT OF SPACES.

TORI: THE STORIES ARE TERRIBLE.

IT IS REALLY SCARY.

STEPH: THAT IS NOT TO SAY IT CANNOT HAPPEN OR IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN LGBTQ+ SPACES OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES, BUT IT'’S JUST ANOTHER THING PEOPLE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR.

TORI: PEOPLE WANT A SAFE SPACE.

THE NIGHTLIFE CZAR WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, SHE HAS BEEN AT THIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

WHAT HAS SHE BEEN PUTTING INTO PLACE, WHAT ARE HER IDEAS, AND WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE FUTURE?

STEPH: THE LAST I HEARD, AND I BELIEVE JEREMY DID AN INTERVIEW, THE NIGHTLIFE CZAR WAS DISCUSSING A COUPLE OPTIONS TO GIVE NOT JUST BARS AND RESTAURANTS LIQUOR LESSONS IS BUT BYOB OPTIONS TO COFFEE SHOPS, NAIL SALONS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES, TO ENSURE PEOPLE HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO STAY OUT LATER, BRING BOOZE IF THEY WANT TO, BUT STILL HAD THAT OPEN SPACE IF THEY DON'’T.

SO THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A SUGGESTION WE HAVE SEEN.

I BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I PRESLEY DID AS COUNSELOR, ATTEMPTED TO GET DONE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT GET DONE AGAIN AS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION.

TORI: BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH AND HAPPY HOUR ARE STILL ILLEGAL -- ILLEGAL -- IN BOSTON.

THOSE ARE DEEP IN THE BOOKS.

PARIS: THAT IS SAY GOING -- THAT IS SEGUEING INTO THE LIQUOR LICENSING, WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THE SUCCESS IN THE NIGHTLIFE INDUSTRY.

AND WE KNOW THAT, FOR INSTANCE, OUT OF THE 1400 IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, AROUND 2% ARE BLACK OR MINORITY OWNED, WHICH IS A VERY SMALL NUMBER.

AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD STORIES OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE SELLING OFF LIQUOR LICENSES, OR BEING ABLE TO BUY THEM FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO BREAK INTO THIS INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY FROM A MARGINALIZED POPULATION, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF CAPITAL ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR TO GET STARTED.

TORI: THAT IS ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE SAFETY THING AS WELL, IS THESE SPACES ARE OFTEN VERY SEGREGATED IN BOSTON BECAUSE OF HOW SEGREGATED THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE.

PARIS: ABSOLUTELY.

I WENT TO TWO PLACES TO LOOK MORE INTO THAT.

OUR PRODUCER, WHO ALSO HELPED CO-REPORT THE STORY, WE WENT TO THE SEAPORT, WHICH IS CUTTING OUT THIS ENCLAVE, FOR ALL PEOPLE, BUT REALLY FOCUSED ON BLACK ON BLACK CULTURE AND TAPPING INTO ROOTS OF JAZZ, SOUL, AND R&B TO CREATE THAT.

ALSO A PLACE IN CAMBRIDGE WHICH IS CELEBRATING LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN AND INVITING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TO CELEBRATE THAT CULTURE AS WELL.

AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, IN PLACES LIKE MATTAPAN OR ROXBURY, OR DORCHESTER, THERE ARE NIGHTLIFE VENUES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME KIND OF ECONOMIC DRAW.

THEY ARE ALSO STRUGGLING COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND AS THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING GENTRIFIED, THEY ARE DEALING WITH THINGS LIKE PEOPLE CALLING ABOUT NOSE COMPLAINTS, AND WANTING SOME POLICING TO HAPPEN.

AND NOT BY POLICE BEING CALLED, BUT IN SOME PLACES MAYBE.

ADDING TO THAT, LASTLY HERE, THERE HAS BEEN A REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RESPECTABILITY WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE OF COLOR GOING OUT IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.

THINGS LIKE DRESS CODES, OR RESTRICTING THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT'’S BEING PLAYED.

LIKE, SAYING THAT HIP HOP CANNOT BE PLAYED, WHILE WE KNOW THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT MAKES A POPULATION OR A PARTY SAFE.

TORI: ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN WEAR TIMS OR SNAP BACKS WHEN THEY GO OUT.

PARIS: EXACTLY.

THERE IS A GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN PUTTING THAT PRESSURE ON THE NIGHTLIFE CZAR AS WELL TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IN THIS ECONOMY.

TORI: IS BOSTON FUN YET?

ARE WE HAVING FUN?

[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN GO TO A BOARDGAME BAR, OR A WARGAME LOCATION WHERE YOU DON'’T HAVE TO DRINK.

YOU CAN MAYBE GO TO A NOW SALON AND BRING A PAPER BAG WITH A 40 IN IT.

IS THAT FUN?

ARE WE POST-PURITANICAL?

STEPH: I DON'’T KNOW IF WE ARE THERE YET.

TORI: WE WILL FOLLOW UP.

PARIS: I MEAN, I HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING THE LATE-NIGHT FOOD RUN, AND ALSO GOING TO THE TWO PLACES I JUST MENTIONED, GRACE BY NINA AND LA FABRICA.

THERE IS FUN TO BE HAD HERE.

YOU DO HAVE TO WORK A LITTLE HARD TO GET TO IT.

TORI: THAT IS THE THING ABOUT BOSTON, YOU HAVE TO SEEK IT OUT.

IT DOESN'’T ALWAYS OPEN ITSELF UP FOR YOU.

STEPH: YOU HAVE TO SEEK IT OUT, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONEY FOR UBER OR LYFT, AND FOR FOOD, AND SOME OF THESE EVENTS COST A LOT OF MONEY.

TICKETS ARE $50, $100 SOMETIMES.

TORI: I GUESS WE ARE WORKING ON.

STEPH AND PARIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PARIS: LET'’S GO OUT SOON.

TORI: YEAH, LET'’S GO OUT.

NOW LET'’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT PARIS FOUND SAMPLING SOME OF THE BEST LATE-NIGHT EATS IN THE CITY WITH KEY HENSON.

PARIS: WHEN IT COMES TO LATE-NIGHT FOOD IN BOSTON, IT CAN BE HARD TO KNOW YOUR OPTIONS.

WHAT'’S OPEN?

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IS IT GOOD?

WELL TONIGHT, WE'’RE TAKING A JOYRIDE TO PUT LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO THE TEST.

WE'’RE JOINED BY OUR FRIEND KEY, A FOOD REVIEWER WHO'’S AMASSED A FOLLOWING BY TRYING OUT TONS OF LOCATIONS IN BOSTON AND BEYOND.

OUR GOAL TONIGHT, TO BEAT THE CLOCK AS WE TRY TO GET A TASTE FROM SPOTS ACROSS THE CITY BEFORE THEIR KITCHENS CLOSE.

OUR FIRST STOP IS PARK 54 IN HYDE PARK.

KEY: IT'’S HARD TO MISS ON WINGS.

I'M USUALLY GOOD WITH BUFFALO.

PARIS: OK, LET'’S TRY THAT.

KEY: BUT I KIND OF WANT TO TRY THE HENNESSY HONEY BARBECUE.

PARIS: OK, HERE WE GO.

THE HEAT COMING OFF THE WINGS.

I CAN TASTE THE HENNEY.

KEY: THESE BUFFALO ARE GOOD.

PARIS: YEAH?

KEY: IT'’S REALLY GOOD.

PARIS: OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT.

KEY: IT'S LIKE, GOT GOT A NICE SWEETNESS TO IT, IT'’S REALLY GOOD.

PARIS: THIS SAUCE IS REALLY THICK.

YOU CAN SORT OF TASTE THE LAYERS OF THE HONEY AND THE HENNESSEY AND THE BARBECUE.

KEY: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF BUILT LIKE A GRAVY.

IT'’S A GOOD START.

PARIS: IT IS A GOOD START.

WELL, PARK 54 SURE WAS GENEROUS WITH THOSE WINGS, BUT IT'’S TIME TO GET GOING TO OUR NEXT STOP.

KEY: TO SIMCO'S?

PARIS: RIGHT ON BLUE HILL AVE.

IT'S A NICE LITTLE WALK UP SPOT.

KEY: THIS MENU IS INSANE.

IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EVER WANT WHEN YOU STUMBLE OUT OF A BAR.

CHICKEN DINNERS, GREEK FOOD, SUBS, SEAFOOD, ICE CREAM.

PARIS: THANK YOU.

OK, YEAH, SO THIS IS A SMALL ORDER.

KEY: OH, MY LORD.

PARIS: OH, MY GOD.

LOOK AT THAT.

KEY: THAT'S A LOT OF CLAM.

LOOK HOW BIG THESE THINGS ARE.

PARIS: MY MOMMA WOULD LIKE THESE.

KEY: RIGHT NOW, I KNOW IT'S SCRUMPTIOUS.

I'’M TRYING TO PUT MYSELF, LIKE, FRESH OUT OF A BAR.

LIKE, THIS WOULD PROBABLY CHANGE MY LIFE.

PARIS: I FEEL LIKE THIS WOULD HIT.

IF I WAS LIKE, LIT?

[LAUGHTER] KEY: I WOULD SIT RIGHT HERE ON THIS BRICK AND JUST EAT IT.

PARIS: TIME FOR FORT HILL BAR AND GRILL.

WE CALLED OUR ORDER AHEAD TO PICK UP.

KEY: I PUT IN AN ORDER FOR A RASTA PASTA.

PARIS: AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A WEEKDAY, THAT MUSIC WAS TURNED ALL THE WAY UP.

THANK YOU.

KEY: DID YOU GET A SMELL OF THIS?

PARIS: NO.

KEY: IT SMELLS INSANE.

PARIS: OH MY GOD.

IT SMELLS AMAZING.

THAT DOES SMELL GOOD.

LET'S GET INTO THIS RASTA PASTA.

OK, THAT WAS REALLY HORRIBLE.

I'M SORRY.

MMM.

KEY: OK. PARIS: I MEAN, WE ARE THREE FOR THREE RIGHT NOW.

KEY: WE ARE THREE FOR THREE.

PARIS: OUR NEXT MARK IS A FAVORITE OF KEY'S, STOPPING FOR A PIZZA AT ANCHOVIES IN THE SOUTH END.

KEY: I JUST ENJOY THE VIBES OF IT.

NICE, LIKE DIVE BAR SETTING.

IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE BOSTON, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE TYPE OF PLACE YOU SHOULD TRY.

PARIS: OOH, LOOK AT THAT PULL.

IT'’S THE PULL FOR ME.

KEY: RED PEPPER FLAKES.

PARIS: I LIKE A LITTLE PARMESAN, TOO.

KEY: LISTEN, I'’M NOT DOING THIS.

THIS IS DOING IT BY ITSELF.

OBVIOUSLY WE HATED IT BECAUSE WE HAD TO GET THROUGH ALL OF IT.

WE'’LL SAVE THIS LAST SLICE FOR THE VIEWER AT HOME.

PARIS: OH YEAH.

FOR THE ROAD.

AND IT'S NICE IN HERE, TOO.

LIKE, PEOPLE ARE OUT, THE MUSIC IS GOOD.

KEY: YES, IT'’S BUSY, IT'’S FUN, IT'’S WELCOMING, IT'’S REALLY WELCOMING.

PARIS: I KNOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW BOSTON COULD GET LIKE, LIT ON A WEEKDAY LIKE THIS.

WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF A PICK-ME-UP.

MAYBE SOME LIKE, SOUTH STREET DINER COFFEE?

KEY: OH, GET A NICE HOT DINER COFFEE?

CHEERS.

PARIS: YES.

I ALSO LOVE BREAKFAST AT NIGHT.

KEY: IF MY MOM WAS LIKE MAKING PANCAKES FOR DINNER, FOR SOME RANDOM REASON, IT WAS LIKE A HOLIDAY.

PARIS: DID WE SAY IT'’S GETTING LATER?

WE'’RE IN THE HOME STRETCH NOW, BUT IF WE WANT TO MAKE IT TO LA CHIVA'’S BEFORE THEY CLOSE AND MAKE A PIT STOP AT BOVA'S ON THE WAY, WE NEED TO GET GOING.

KEY: ARE YOU READY TO TRY TO PARK IN THE NORTH END?

PARIS: NO.

NEVER READY TO PARK IN THE NORTH END.

KEY: NOT SURE, ARE THEY PICKING UP THE TRASH RIGHT NOW?

PARIS: OH MY GOD, RIGHT NOW?

THIS IS LIKE, THE OBSTACLE THAT WE DEFINITELY DO NOT NEED RIGHT NOW IS THE GARBAGE TRUCK.

OH, COME ON.

KEY: I GENUINELY HAD NO IDEA THEY CAME OUT THIS EARLY.

PARIS: WE GOT IT.

IN AND OUT.

KEY: HOME SWEET HOME.

PARIS: YES.

YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ALL NIGHT.

CAN I GET A PEANUT BUTTER CANNOLI OUT?

KEY: ARE YOU GUYS OUT OF THE RED VELVET CAKE?

I DIDN'’T GET MY RED VELVET CAKE, BUT THEY HAD A RED VELVET CUPCAKE, SO, CLOSE SUBSTITUTE.

CLOSE SUBSTITUTE.

IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY.

SHE ALMOST JUST THREW HER CANNOLI OUT OF THE BOX.

PARIS: I'M LIKE THROWING EVERYTHING AROUND YOU.

KEY: IT'’S BEEN A LONG NIGHT.

PARIS: IT HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT.

IT'S OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH.

CAN WE MAKE IT TO LA CHIVA BEFORE THEIR DOORS CLOSE?

I'’VE GOT TO 2:55, YEAH.

KEY: WE MADE IT.

WE MADE IT.

PARIS: WE DID IT.

OK, LET'’S GET INTO THIS.

SO THIS IS LIKE A BEEF EMPANADA.

MMM.

KEY: THAT'S REALLY GOOD.

PARIS: THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

OH, A HAM AND CHEESE.

KEY: OH, IS IT HAM?

OK, GOT YOU.

PARIS: OK.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY GOOD IF YOU JUST NEED, LIKE, SOMETHING QUICK.

OK, SO NOW I'’M ACTUALLY READY FOR DESSERT.

KEY: ARE YOU READY?

PARIS: I'’M READY.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING ON THIS CANNOLI ALL NIGHT.

MY FAVORITE THING TO GET FROM BOVA'S, IN ADDITION TO THE COOKIES, I LIKE THE COOKIES A LOT, BUT THIS NICE PEANUT BUTTER, CHOCOLATE CHIP CANNOLI.

AND THEY DIDN'’T HAVE YOUR RED VELVET CAKE.

KEY: THEY DIDN'’T.

THEY DIDN'’T.

BUT A RED VELVET CUPCAKE IS SIMILAR, OBVIOUSLY.

PARIS: MHMM.

KEY: AND I TRUST THAT THEY KEPT IT NICE AND MOIST.

IT LOOKS REALLY DELICIOUS.

NICE HOUND -- OR MOUNDS OF THAT CREAM CHEESE ICING ON TOP.

PARIS: MMM.

AS GOOD AS EVER.

TORI: FOR MORE FROM GBH NEWS HEAD TO WGBH.ORG AND SEARCH NIGHTLIFE IN BOSTON.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

I'’M TORI BEDFORD.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪