[HairOfTheDog]

Blame zoning, MADD and the anti-smoking campaign for shutting down all the decent and unique little bistros, bars and saloons.

While each of those have a part in these changes... I actually blame technology. There is no such thing as local anymore in this media age...

[metesky]

Yes, well there is that too. Like losing regional accents because all the newscaster talking heads have the same accent no matter where you go, the kids start talking in the same flat tone.

I proudly go out of my way to make sure I keep sounding "Boston", even though I haven't lived in Town for over forty years.