Home Boston.com The Huntington News Contact

Boston.com

A collection of some of Laura's recent articles from Boston.com.

For all of Laura's Boston.com articles, please click here.

Boston.com •

Review & setlist: Niall Horan brings ‘The Show’ to the Xfinity Center

Following up two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden is a daunting task, but the crowd at Xfinity Center delivered for Niall Horan’s performance at the Xfinity Center Saturday night.

The former One Direction star took to the Mansfield stage as part of his tour, “The Show: Live on Tour.” This is his first headlining tour since 2018, following the ill-fated “Nice to Meet Ya Tour” in 2020.

For a tour lasting ten months, it could understandably be hard for an artist to connect with the city th...
Boston.com •

Why is candlepin bowling mostly played in New England?

On a cold winter weekend, an indoor activity might be more appealing to some than braving the elements to go skiing or skating. Fortunately, there’s another sport to be played, and in much warmer conditions — bowling.

Traditional bowling, commonly referred to as tenpin bowling, is played from coast to coast, although you may know it as “big ball” bowling if you’re from New England. However, if you’re going bowling in the region (or maybe parts of Canada), there’s a good chance you might be head
Boston.com •

Photos: Readers share their incredible gingerbread house creations

On a snowy — or rainy and windy — December day, the last thing most people would want to do is an outdoor activity such as sledding or ice skating. A fun, indoor alternative? Making a gingerbread house.

The holiday activity, believed to have originated in Germany, is an interactive, entertaining and — most importantly, if kids are involved — edible activity for the whole family to enjoy.

We asked readers to share their best gingerbread house creations with us, and we’re sharing nine of our fav
Boston.com •

Best concert of 2023: You'll love (or hate) our readers' pick

Dozens upon dozens of concerts took place in the Bay State this year, and many music fans in Massachusetts likely went to quite a few of them.

According to a LendingTree survey, the average concertgoer in the United States will attend around three shows a year, even as ticket prices and resale costs skyrocket.

We asked readers what the best concert they went to this year was. We heard from 39 readers, who shared concerts spanning different genres, locations, and sizes. A few readers who respon
Boston.com •

New England has 4 of the best American dishes of 2023, according to the New York Times

If you’re looking for a delicious restaurant meal in New England, you’re in luck — four of the best American dishes come from the region, according to the New York Times.

A group of writers from the Times compiled a list of 23 of the best dishes they ate while covering restaurants and food across the country, and four New England restaurants made an appearance on the list: fried chicken at Tavern on State in New Haven, Connecticut; halibut chraimeh at Honey Road in Burlington, Vermont; bacalhau
Boston.com •

What was the best concert you went to this year? Share with us.

Concerts are an exciting way to experience your favorite songs, as well as giving avid fans the opportunity to see their favorite artists live.

Dozens of concerts took place in the Bay State this year, from the smallest to the largest of venues in Boston and beyond.

Some of the biggest artists performed here this year, such as Beyoncé, who brought her “Renaissance World Tour” to Gillette Stadium Aug. 1, Taylor Swift, who performed three nights at the stadium in May as part of the ongoing “Eras
Boston.com •

Which kind of Christmas tree is best? Readers say real ones.

On a picturesque December morning, the entire family gathers around the Christmas tree as they open presents and give gifts, showing appreciation for their loved ones.

However, Christmas trees are becoming increasingly more expensive. One local business recently told Boston.com that prices for trees this year went up around $1 per foot. Additionally, depending on the size and type of tree, the price can range from $58 to $220.

Another option for a Christmas tree is buying an artificial one, wh
Boston.com •

Readers: We want to see your gingerbread house creations

Gingerbread cookies are one of the most popular Christmas cookies among Boston.com readers, and a popular Christmas tradition involves them.

To celebrate the holiday season, many people construct gingerbread houses, which typically consist of only six cookies — four for the walls, and two for the roof. However, in recent years, the festive dessert-architecture combination has become more elaborate for many.

At Target, for example, they offer not only kits to make the standard gingerbread house
Boston.com •

These are the best things Boston.com readers said in 2023

Readers had a lot to say this year.

Throughout 2023, we asked readers to tell us their thoughts on all that’s been happening across the region and beyond.

Some of our most engaging stories included vacationing in Cape Cod and New Hampshire potentially “turning into Massachusetts.” As the year comes to an end, we’ve compiled reader quotes from some of our most popular stories in 2023.

“The Cape was perfect and now they ruined it.”

In June, we asked readers if they were planning on vacationing
Boston.com •

Love this restaurant in the North End? Mariah Carey does too.

Most everyone needs a pick-me-up before or after work, and that includes Mariah Carey.

While in Boston for her “Merry Christmas One And All!” tour, the “Queen of Christmas” stopped by Strega, an Italian restaurant in the North End.

Carey’s visit to the North End happened after her Monday performance at TD Garden, according to MassLive.

Strega is part of the Varano Group, a collection of restaurants and dining establishments overseen by Nick Varano. According to the Instagram post, the Christm
Boston.com •

Taylor Swift Boston-area moments we remember ‘All Too Well’ in honor of her 34th birthday

New England was enchanted to meet you, Taylor Swift.

Today, Dec. 13, is the singer-songwriter and TIME magazine’s Person of the Year’s 34th birthday (part of the reason why 13 is her lucky number). The last year has been a successful one for her, performing sold out shows on “The Eras Tour” and breaking records with her concert film and “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

Swift has a long history with New England — she performed at an NFL stadium for the first time at Gillette Stadium, and has gone on
Boston.com •

Review & setlist: All Boston needs for Christmas is Mariah Carey at TD Garden

There are very few concerts where you’d expect a singer to bring their makeup artists onstage or ask what a Boston cream pie actually is in the middle of the show. When you’re seeing the Queen of Christmas, however, this kind of thing just makes sense.

In her first concert in Boston since 2019, Mariah Carey took to the TD Garden stage Monday night to spread Christmas cheer with an extravagant performance.

Carey’s Monday performance at TD Garden was part of the ongoing “Merry Christmas One And