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Review Brooks & Crowley
October 2025
781-251-0555
brooksandcrowley.com
439 Washington Street Dedham, MA 02026
*Services Throughout Massachusetts
FROM RECORDS TO PUNCHLINES GROWING UP WITH MUSIC AND LAUGHTER
I just learned that Oct. 1 is National CD Player Day, which got me thinking about the music I grew up with. For me, it started long before CDs. Back then, if you had a few bucks saved from a paper route, buying a record felt like a huge decision. I remember standing in the store flipping through sleeves and trying to decide what would be worth my hard-earned money. Some of my earliest album purchases were from The Cars and Boston, and I played them nonstop. I probably drove my brothers crazy with how often Boston was playing. It wasn’t only the rock records that stuck with me, though. I also had a stack of comedy albums that we’d play until we were doubled over laughing. A lot of it came from my uncle Peter. He lived with my grandmother and was obsessed with music. He had everything, including
Bob Dylan’s entire catalog, bootlegs and all. But some of the strangest records he owned were the best. One we loved was Tom Lehrer, an MIT professor who played piano while singing ridiculous songs about things like poisoning pigeons in the park. He was half virtuoso and half stand- up comic, and we couldn’t get enough. I didn’t realize it then, but those afternoons listening to Dylan, Lehrer, and comedy records launched a lifelong love of music and comedy for me. By the time I was a teenager, I started spending a lot of time in comedy clubs around Boston. I wasn’t old enough to be there, but the door guys usually let you in as long as you looked the part. Boston had no shortage of small venues back then, and we’d hit different clubs during the week just to see who was on stage. The best part was that you’d never know who’d be coming up to the mic. Sometimes, it was a local comic just getting started. Other times, it was someone on the verge of breaking out. I still remember seeing Steven Wright before most people knew his name, but he was just one of many great comedians I saw perform. All of them kept you on your toes, too. In Boston, getting called out by the comic was part of the deal. If you came in late or sat too close to the front, you were fair game. It toughened you up, but it also made the night more entertaining. I’ve always thought the best comics and the best musicians have something in common. A comic can make you laugh just by describing their breakfast, and a musician can stop you cold with a simple riff. Both rely on honesty, timing, and the ability to connect with an audience. That’s probably why I love them equally. I may not be sneaking into clubs anymore, but I still get to live shows when I can and spend plenty of time listening to my favorite music and comedy albums. And every time I turn on an old record or sit in a room with a comic working the crowd, it takes me back. Those were the nights that shaped how I hear a story, how I appreciate timing, and why I still think Boston is one of the best places in the world to fall in love with live performance. –Steve Brooks
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Music, Lounges, and Midair Dancing
The Rise of Party Planes
The 1970s were the golden age of commercial flying, and airlines went all out to make traveling by plane more than just getting from one place to another; they tried to dazzle passengers along the way. With the release of Boeing’s 747, airlines had more
space to work with, so some chose to turn air travel into something closer to a night out. Air Canada was all in on the trend. On transatlantic flights between Toronto and Europe, the upper deck of their 747 became
American Airlines even had a piano in the back of the plane. It wasn’t exactly a grand piano, more of a sturdy Wurlitzer organ, but it gave fliers something to gather around. The goal of these airlines was to create a glamorous experience for passengers. But the good times didn’t last long. By the early 1980s, most airlines had traded disco lights for passenger capacity, and the lounges and passenger bars faded out. People were flying more than ever, but the party plane era quietly ended. Still, it’s fun to look back on this period of air travel when the additional space in bigger planes meant bars, lounges, and music. For a little while, at least, flying came with cocktails, conversation, and maybe even a chance to dance down the aisle.
a full-on disco. Passengers danced to 8-track tunes beside mirrored walls. You could hit the dance floor even at 35,000 feet. They weren’t the only ones, either. United Airlines turned its upper deck into the “Friendship Room,” while Qantas called theirs the “Captain Cook Lounge.” Singapore Airlines had the “Raffles Lounge,” which came equipped with slumberettes for anyone looking to lie down after an in-flight drink or two. And
A Window Opens in the Market
Is Now the Moment to Buy or Refinance?
Mortgage rates have kept many people stuck for the last couple of years. If you bought a home in the last two or three years, you might be sitting with a rate in the high sixes or sevens. And if you’ve been holding off on buying altogether, those numbers might have scared you away. But something finally changed. Rates have dropped. As of mid-September, the average fixed mortgage rate is around 6.1%. That’s the lowest in roughly three years. Some housing economists expect rates to stay near this level through the end of the year, though a lot depends on inflation and upcoming Fed decisions. For now, buyers and homeowners are seeing the most favorable rate environment they’ve had in quite a while. Refinancing activity has already jumped, and would-be buyers who had stepped back are giving listings a second look. For the first time in a while, the door may be opening.
We’ve been watching the market closely at Brooks & Crowley, and this is what we’ve been hoping for. Nobody expects a return to those COVID- 19-era rates in the threes, but a meaningful drop like this can make a real difference. If you bought a home recently and you’re stuck with a higher rate, now might be the time to refinance. That might mean a lower monthly payment or shaving years off your loan term. And if you’ve been waiting to buy, this shift may give you the room to move forward. But it’s smart to act fast. Lower rates bring more competition, and we could see that heat up quickly. We work with fantastic local lenders and are happy to connect you with one if you want to explore your options. When you’re ready to move forward, we can help with everything from purchase agreements to closing. Reach out anytime. We’re happy to discuss your situation and help you figure out the best path forward.
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DESK JOB? DON’T SETTLE HEALTHY HABITS TO FIGHT DESKBOUND BLUES
Staying healthy and fit can be a challenge when your job requires you to sit at a desk most of the time. A growing share of Americans spend their workdays at a computer, and as many as 70% of them eventually develop neck, back, or shoulder pain or problems with obesity. Research shows that embracing healthy habits can help you avoid those harmful effects. Here are a few to try. prevent neck and shoulder pain. Choose a chair that provides lumbar support. Adjust the height of your chair and monitor until you can sit in a relaxed, erect posture with your feet flat on the floor and the top of your monitor slightly below eye level. Notice when your gaze drifts downward and your shoulders become rounded, MASTER ERGONOMICS Following good ergonomic practices can and correct your posture by lifting the top of your head toward the ceiling. Adjust your keyboard so your wrists are level and relaxed when typing to allay wrist and arm strain.
toward your chest and rolling it gently from side to side. Relax your neck by holding your hands behind your head with fingers intertwined and pushing back gently against your fingers. Stretch one arm over your head, lean to the opposite side, then switch arms and repeat. DESIGN YOUR SPACE Creating a pleasing, well-organized workspace can help motivate you to stick to healthy habits. Use colors and materials that feel inviting and comfortable. Choose desk items and organizing tools that help you keep your work surface tidy and clear. Add plants, decorative objects, or wall art that inspires or uplifts you, and display objects that spark pleasant thoughts, such as family photos. Use natural light whenever possible, or a full-spectrum light that is close to daylight. Taken together, these subtle changes can help you maintain your health and well-being, without missing a beat at work!
GET UP AND STRETCH Break away from your desk and walk around for a few minutes every hour, if possible. Do gentle stretches to relax your back and neck. Loosen your upper back muscles by bending your chin
Have a Laugh!
Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew
This delicious dish will keep your family warm, full, and happy as the weather cools down.
Ingredients
• • • • •
1 onion, diced
• • • • • •
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp turmeric 1/4 tsp cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups green lentils, rinsed 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
Fresh parsley
•
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
directions
1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for about 3 minutes. 2. Add all other ingredients except for salt and parsley. 3. Turn the heat to high until it is boiling, then reduce it to low and simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through. 4. Remove pot from heat and stir in salt. Top with parsley and enjoy!
Inspired by EatYourselfSkinny.com
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
439 Washington St. • Dedham, MA 02026
Inside THIS ISSUE
1 The Sounds That Raised Me
2 Disco at 35,000 Feet
Good News for Buyers and Owners
3 Smart Moves for Staying Healthy at Your Desk
Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew
4 A Spooky Good Time in Boston
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Haunted Happenings in the Hub Boston’s Best Halloween Events
If you’re looking for Halloween fun this October, you’re in luck. From costume parties and trick-or-treating activities to spooky stories and haunted walking tours, Greater Boston has no shortage of Halloween-themed events for the whole family. Here are three local events to help you celebrate the spooky season Boston-style. PRUBOO AT THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER Get the kids dressed up and head to the Prudential Center for one of Boston’s favorite
Halloween traditions. The 31st annual PruBoo takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., packed with festive fun. More than 30 participating shops and restaurants will be handing out candy, and the event features face painting, Halloween crafts, magic shows, and a live musical performance by The Stacy Peasley Band. All activities are free, but families can make a $5 donation to Boston Children’s Hospital to receive a special trick-or-treat bag. BEACON HILL WITH A BOO! If you’ve never seen Beacon Hill on Halloween, this is your year to change that. Boston by Foot’s “Boo!” tour dives into the hidden history of one of Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods. Your guide will lead you through shadowy alleys and gaslit streets while sharing stories of murder, mystery, and mayhem. Hear about the dismembered body of Dr. George Parkman, the Boston women accused of witchcraft, and the neighborhood’s
connection to ghost stories and serial killers. Running Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 at various times, the tour is creepy, local, and unforgettable. NIGHT IN THE STACKS AT BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY On Halloween night, the Central Library transforms into a moody, literary-themed party for adults 21 and up. Night in the Stacks runs from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. and features food, dancing, live music, and an open bar. Tarot card readers and a wandering haiku poet will add to the fun. Of course, there will also be plenty of spooky stories. The party also includes special access to the exhibit “Revolution! 250 Years of Art + Activism,” which opens the day before Halloween. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes inspired by Gothic literature and local lore. Money raised from the event will support free programs and services at the Boston Public Library.
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