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Writer and director Cord Jefferson, who won the best adapted screenplay Oscar Sunday for his film "American Fiction," wanted to portray a more diverse side of Massachusetts than what typically comes out of Hollywood.

Why it matters: When the wider American movie-going audience thinks of Boston as a film setting, they're apt to identify the city with Irish gangsters, academic institutions or sports victories.

Jefferson's script about a Black writer and his family of doctors defies the stereotype.

What they're saying: "I said no pictures of Fenway Park, no pictures of duck boats on the Charles. ... I wanted to explore a different side of Boston and, you know, one of the different sides of Boston is Black people," Jefferson said after winning his Oscar.

Axios's Maxwell Millington asked Jefferson how he approached Boston as a setting when adapting Percival Everett's 2001 novel "Erasure" into his directorial debut in 2023.

Jefferson wanted to "reflect the diversity of the Black experience," and show multiple Black characters from different backgrounds interacting, he said.

"It's important to recognize that no one Black person contains the totality of the Black experience," he said.

In setting much of the film in a beach house outside Boston, Jefferson says he included a nod to the Black community in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, which has long been considered a haven for Black vacationers.

"We weren't able to shoot in Martha's Vineyard because the film didn't have Martha's Vineyard money," Jefferson said of the film that cost less than $10 million to make.

Instead, the beach scenes were shot in more accessible places like Scituate.

Another Best Picture nominee, "The Holdovers," featured scenes of a Black private school chef played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph visiting family in Roxbury.

Randolph won the Best Supporting Actress award for the role.

Oscar-winner filmed a different side of Boston

Cord Jefferson won the best adapted screenplay Oscar Sunday for his film "American Fiction."

Writer and director Cord Jefferson, who won the best adapted screenplay Oscar Sunday for his film &quot;American Fiction,&quot; wanted to portray a more diverse side of Massachusetts than what typically comes out of Hollywood.Why it matters: When the wider American movie-going audience thinks of Boston as a film setting, they&#x27;re apt to identify the city with Irish gangsters, academic institutions or sports victories.

Culture

Boston's real estate market is slowing down, according to the latest data from Redfin.

Why it matters: After two-plus years of plummeting inventory and sky-high home prices, Boston buyers can finally get some relief.

What's happening: Homes sales are decreasing, and homes are staying on the market longer.

Now buyers have more power to negotiate, Melvin Vieira Jr., president of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, tells Axios. 

Buyers are taking more time to do inspections during the home-buying process, Vieira said. That means sellers are going to have to bend. 

Yes, but: Mortgage rates are above 6% for 30-year loans, which makes monthly payments drastically higher than they would've been a year ago or even six months ago. 

Even as housing prices fall, the monthly payments might put ownership out of reach for many. 

For example, a $600,000, 30-year loan costs $1,142 more a month than it did in 2021.

By the numbers: Inventory in Boston Spiked 12.3% from August to September. But it's down 12% year-over-year, per Redfin.

Closed sales are down 22.1% compared to this time last year.

Median home prices are up 7.3% year over year, but they've fallen in the last three months.

In July, the median sales price was $685,000, and in September it was $649,000.

In May, just before mortgage rates spiked, 74.4% of homes sold over asking. In September, only 51.6% sold over asking. 

On the flip side, only 13.2% of listings reduced their original asking price in May, compared with 29.6% in September. 

Bottom line: Home prices are coming down as mortgage rates curb demand, but the market is still tight and pricy. 

Boston's real estate market is cooling down

Median home prices are up 7.3% year over year, but they've fallen the last three months.

Sail boat in Boston Harbor, Boston against the cityscape of Back Bay Boston, Massachusetts, USA from across the Charles River. 

Photo: Sergi Reboredo/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Real estate

Boston&#x27;s real estate market is slowing down, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="latest data from Redfin" data-vars-click-url="https://public.tableau.com/shared/R7HJ6R4H9?:showVizHome=no" data-vars-content-id="a588d126-e8ce-4504-8cef-f20c7f903710" data-vars-headline="Boston&#x27;s real estate market is cooling down" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://public.tableau.com/shared/R7HJ6R4H9?:showVizHome=no" target="_blank">latest data from Redfin</a>.Why it matters: After two-plus years of plummeting inventory and sky-high home prices, Boston buyers can finally get some relief.

Real Estate

POV: You're trying to find a place to eat a nice, cheap lunch. We've got you covered with four tasty lunch options for $10 or less. 

What's on the menu: You can get the "Bag Lunch" at Al's that comes with a small sandwich, chips, and soda, small sub or wrap, large sub, a bowl of soup or chili, and  a salad. 

Cost: Varies by location. Subs (starting at $8.50), Bag Lunch (starting at $10), soup + chili (starting at $7), salad (starting at $7)

Details: See all Al's Cafe hours and locations here. 

What's on the menu: Besides sushi, Avana serves poke bowls, salads, soups and other appetizers. 

Cost: Choose from one of 16 sushi rolls for $9.95 from 11am-3pm Monday-Friday. 

What's on the menu: Located in Jamaica Plain, El Oriental de Cuba features authentic Cuban dishes and sandwiches, tropical fruit smoothies, breakfast and coffee.

Cost: Sandwiches (starting at $6.99), smoothies ($4), chicken soup ($5.99 small, $7.99 large), stuffed patties (starting at $1.50)

Hours: 8am-9pm Monday-Thursday; closes at 10pm Friday and Saturday and at 8pm Sunday.

What's on the menu: Gene's serves noodle dishes, flatbread sandwiches, soups and skewers.

Cost: Noodle soups (starting at $9.97), flatbread sandwiches (starting at $5.50)

4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston

We've got you covered with four tasty lunch options for $10 or less.

Gene's Chinese Flatbread Cafe. Photo: Nick Ferrari/@tunastakes

Food

POV: You&#x27;re trying to find a place to eat a nice, cheap lunch. We&#x27;ve got you covered with four tasty lunch options for $10 or less. <h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]"><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Al&#x27;s Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.alscafes.com/index.php" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.alscafes.com/index.php" target="_blank">Al&#x27;s Cafe</a></h2>What&#x27;s on the menu: You can get the &quot;Bag Lunch&quot; at Al&#x27;s that comes with a small sandwich, chips, and soda, small sub or wrap, large sub, a bowl of soup or chili, and a salad. <ul><li>Cost: Varies by location. Subs (starting at $8.50), Bag Lunch (starting at $10), soup + chili (starting at $7), salad (starting at $7)</li><li>Details: See all Al&#x27;s Cafe hours and locations <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.alscafes.com/locations.html" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.alscafes.com/locations.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </li></ul><h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]"><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Avana Sushi" data-vars-click-url="https://www.avanabostonma.com/" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.avanabostonma.com/" target="_blank">Avana Sushi</a></h2>What&#x27;s on the menu: Besides sushi, Avana serves poke bowls, salads, soups and other appetizers. <ul><li>Cost: Choose from one of 16 sushi rolls for $9.95 from 11am-3pm Monday-Friday. </li><li>Address: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="42 Beach St." data-vars-click-url="https://goo.gl/maps/8WQYbKtkRDzGnLrc6" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://goo.gl/maps/8WQYbKtkRDzGnLrc6" target="_blank">42 Beach St.</a> </li><li>Hours: 11am-9:45pm Daily</li></ul><h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]"><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="El Oriental de Cuba" data-vars-click-url="https://elorientaldecuba.net/homeE.html" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://elorientaldecuba.net/homeE.html" target="_blank">El Oriental de Cuba</a></h2>What&#x27;s on the menu: Located in Jamaica Plain, El Oriental de Cuba features authentic Cuban dishes and sandwiches, tropical fruit smoothies, breakfast and coffee.<ul><li>Cost: Sandwiches (starting at $6.99), smoothies ($4), chicken soup ($5.99 small, $7.99 large), stuffed patties (starting at $1.50)</li><li>Address: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="416 Centre St." data-vars-click-url="https://goo.gl/maps/GsyZQtQCqpoghvvU6" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://goo.gl/maps/GsyZQtQCqpoghvvU6" target="_blank">416 Centre St.</a></li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hours" data-vars-click-url="http://elorientaldecuba.net/ContactE.html" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://elorientaldecuba.net/ContactE.html" target="_blank">Hours</a>: 8am-9pm Monday-Thursday; closes at 10pm Friday and Saturday and at 8pm Sunday.</li></ul><h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]"><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gene&#x27;s Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://genescafe.com/" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://genescafe.com/" target="_blank">Gene&#x27;s Cafe</a> </h2>What&#x27;s on the menu: Gene&#x27;s serves noodle dishes, flatbread sandwiches, soups and skewers.<ul><li>Cost: Noodle soups (starting at $9.97), flatbread sandwiches (starting at $5.50)</li><li>Address: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="86 Bedford St." data-vars-click-url="https://g.page/gene-s-cafe?share" data-vars-content-id="c40252c2-d102-43b4-8641-10a86a91ab61" data-vars-headline="4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://g.page/gene-s-cafe?share" target="_blank">86 Bedford St.</a></li><li>Hours: 11am-6:30pm Monday-Saturday</li></ul>

Food and Drink

It's the best time of year. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of this holiday season in Boston. 

These are a few great places to see holiday lights:

Black Market Nubian: Grab a gift from one of 30+ Black-owned small businesses. BNM is hosting pop-up shop events each Saturday until Christmas Eve. 

Boston Women's Market: From art and clothes to candles and home goods, there's plenty of locally made gifts to choose from.

Photo: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images

It's never too early to plan a trip to meet Santa and his elves. Walk-ups are welcome, but you get a free call from Santa if you book a reservation. 

Travel to the "North Pole" with hot cocoa and a cookie aboard the Cape Cod Central Railroad. The ride includes a visit from Santa and his elves and a special gift for each child.  

Cost: Matinee rides start at $44 (ages 3-12) and $54 (age 13+). Nighttime rides start at $59 (ages 3-12) and $69 (age 13+).

Location: Train departs from 70 Main St. (Buzzards Bay)

If you go: Plan to arrive 45 minutes prior to departure to allow time for parking and picking up tickets. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure.

Still in the market for a Christmas tree? Here are a few local farms. 

Smolak Farms: Self-service farm with balsam and Fraser firs. Details.

Crane Neck Tree Farm: This farm offers a variety of trees including Douglas firs and blue spruce. Cash or check only. Details.

Pakeen Farm: Trees include balsam, Fraser and concolor fir and blue, white and Norway spruce. Pakeen also sells firewood and birch logs. Details.

Sleighbell Christmas Tree Farm: Sleigh Bell is a one-stop shop for knocking out most holiday bucket list items. Guests can buy trees, wreaths and gifts and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Details.

Southwick's Zoo's annual Winter Wonderland is back. This year visitors can enjoy both Winter Wonderland and the Festival of Illumination which features a ride through an enchanted forest on Santa's train.

Hours: 4:30–9pm Wednesday–Sunday until Dec. 31. Closed on Christmas. 

Here are a few must-see holiday performances:

"A Swingin’ Little Christmas with Jane Lynch" at City Winery.

"Candlelight Hanukkah: A Spotlight on Jewish Composers" at Temple Ohabei Shalom.

"Tafuta! A Young Child’s Search for the True Meaning of Kwanzaa" at Roxbury Community College.

"A Swingin’ Little Christmas with Jane Lynch" Photo: Bobby Bank/Getty Images

The Honan-Allston branch of the Boston Public Library is screening "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Popcorn and soda will be provided. 

Grab your skates and check out these Boston-area rinks:

Sip on a Holiday Spiked Chai or Jingle Balls Nog at one of three Miracle pop-up bars in the area.

The locations are Hotel Marlowe (Cambridge), Mystic Station (Malden) and Central Tavern (Milford)

Photo: Bruce Yan/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

10 must-do holiday activities in Boston

Use this as your Boston holiday bucket list.

Illustration of a snowman with Axios logos for eyes.

holidays

It&#x27;s the best time of year. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of this holiday season in Boston.

Things to Do

New year, new dates to lock into the calendar now. Here’s what to look forward to in Boston in 2023. 

The world's oldest annual marathon returns this spring. This year's event will feature national record holders, Abbott World Marathon Major champions, and several Olympians and Paralympians in the men's and women's fields.  

Where: Starts in Hopkinton at the Doughboy statue on East Main Street (near Ash Street), finishes on 700 Boylston St. in Boston.

Details: Information about the race, including how to watch and enter, is provided here.

🍀 March 19: South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade

🎤 May 19–21: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

🎵 May 26–28: Boston Calling Music Festival

🎞 June 20–28: Roxbury International Film Festival

🇺🇸 July 4: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

The 9 biggest events in Boston this year

Here’s what to look forward to in Boston this year.

Runners cross the finish line during the 126th Boston Marathon on April 18, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. 

126th Boston Marathon. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

New year, new dates to lock into the calendar now. Here’s what to look forward to in Boston in 2023. <h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">1 big event: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="127th Boston Marathon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon" target="_blank">127th Boston Marathon</a></h2>The world&#x27;s oldest annual marathon returns this spring. This year&#x27;s event will feature national record holders, Abbott World Marathon Major champions, and several Olympians and Paralympians in the men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s fields. <ul><li>When: Monday, April 17</li><li>Where: Starts in Hopkinton at the Doughboy statue on East Main Street (near Ash Street), finishes on 700 Boylston St. in Boston.</li><li>Details: Information about the race, including how to watch and enter, is provided <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="here" data-vars-click-url="https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/enter" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/enter" target="_blank">here</a>.</li></ul>More events this year: 🎭 Feb. 23–26: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Annie" data-vars-click-url="https://www.boston-theater.com/theaters/hanover-theater/annie.php" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.boston-theater.com/theaters/hanover-theater/annie.php" target="_blank">Annie</a>🍀 March 19: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="South Boston St. Patrick&#x27;s Day Parade" data-vars-click-url="https://southbostonparade.org/" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://southbostonparade.org/" target="_blank">South Boston St. Patrick&#x27;s Day Parade</a>🎤 May 19–21: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gillettestadium.com/event/taylor-swift-eras-tour/?" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gillettestadium.com/event/taylor-swift-eras-tour/?" target="_blank">Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour</a>🎵 May 26–28: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Calling Music Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://bostoncalling.com/" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bostoncalling.com/" target="_blank">Boston Calling Music Festival</a>🎞 June 20–28: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roxbury International Film Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.roxfilmfest.com/2023festival" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.roxfilmfest.com/2023festival" target="_blank">Roxbury International Film Festival</a>🇺🇸 July 4: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bso.org/boston-pops-fireworks-spectacular" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bso.org/boston-pops-fireworks-spectacular" target="_blank">Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular</a>🎟 Aug. 12–19: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Provincetown Carnival" data-vars-click-url="https://ptown.org/calendars/carnival/" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ptown.org/calendars/carnival/" target="_blank">Provincetown Carnival</a>🎪 Sept. 15–Oct. 1: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Big E" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thebige.com/" data-vars-content-id="e38415c7-b3d3-4e99-b6fc-3310855f6e48" data-vars-headline="The 9 biggest events in Boston this year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thebige.com/" target="_blank">The Big E</a>

Maxwell Millington

Featured stories

Oscar-winner filmed a different side of Boston

The 9 biggest events in Boston this year

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4 places to grab lunch under $10 in Boston

Boston's real estate market is cooling down