From Carson Beach to Charles River Esplanade and Boston Common, people ditched puffer jackets for tank tops, shorts, and T-shirts to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather.
Some were out biking, strolling, running, or reading a book under the sun; others sat around with friends or just by themselves.
“I am definitely enjoying the sunshine and the lack of clouds,” said Christina Fleisch, 26, who recently moved to Dorchester and sat near Carson Beach.
For many, the day truly felt like spring break after a long winter in which 61.5 inches of snow fell in Boston. Much of the snow has melted, but there are still piles and patches left on city streets.
A group of students visiting from France gathered on the Boston Harborwalk before touring the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
“It’s very funny to be outside when it’s very warm, and there’s still snow on the ground,” said Kiran Hinze, a 30-year-old housing counselor at the Boston Common.
Nyx McDougle, 25, said the winter was really hard this year compared to the past couple years. McDougle said they wanted to come out to enjoy the first few strong rays of sun.
“Just wanted to get out, get my feet in the sand, get my skin exposed to the warm air,” McDougle said as they were lying down on a mat at Carson Beach.
They planned on spending the afternoon at the beach and brought a few books and a LEGO set.
For others, the sunshine was an excuse to slow down and spend time together.
Kerry Byrne, 39, who works for the City of Boston, sat near Carson Beach, with her parents, enjoying a lunch by the water while recovering from a broken leg.
“I’m almost two months into recovery, so [I] figured just to get down here and get some fresh air,” Byrne said as she planned on having chicken salad and tuna fish prepared by her mother for lunch.
Nearby, at the University of Massachusetts Boston campus, students also took advantage of the spring-like day between classes.
Omar Palencia takes a break from editing a project outside the Campus Center at UMass Boston. He said, “Smelling the sea air, it feels like peace.”Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
Liz Prochazka, a 21-year-old biology major, and her boyfriend, Ethan Rickard, a 20-year-old history major, walked hand-in-hand along the waterfront before classes.
“It’s very nice compared to the heavy snow and cold breeze, except for the giant mountains of dirty snow,” Prochazka said as she pointed out to a few lingering snow piles.
“Drove into school kind of late, but then we just went on a walk, because it’s just a nice day,” Rickard said.
Skie Manda, a 22-year-old graduate student, had been waiting for a sunny day to start training for the Boston Marathon.
“It was really hard for me to practice because it was really cold for the past couple of months,” Manda said. “This is my first run of the season. I’ve been doing pretty good so far.”
Downtown, workers stepped away from their offices for a quick dose of fresh air and sunshine at the Charles River Esplanade and the Boston Common.
People sunbath on a dock on the Charles River Tuesday while the river is still frozen.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Mike Lavin, 31, an auditor, spent his lunch break on the esplanade, which is just a 15-minute walk from his workplace. He usually comes down there around three times a week during the summer.
“The vitamin C feels so good, and guess that it’s definitely a mood booster,” Lavin said as he sat on a bench near the river. “I definitely feel a difference in my day when I’m able to get out here.”
Hinze walked through the Common during their lunch break. They planned to spend their entire break at the park and try to step on the grass if it isn’t very muddy.
“I’m very glad that we have the 70-degree weather,” they said. “I hope we have a few more days.”
Julia Klopfer, 27, a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, met a friend for a five-mile run along the river on her day off. In the morning, she enjoyed the sun along with a cup of coffee on her front porch.
“It’s nice to feel the sun on my skin and just have a little bit of a respite from all the cold weather and watching all the snow melt,” Klopfer said as she waited for her friend near the river.
Northeastern students Perris Fisher, 24, and Elise Turner, 24, decided to have a picnic. They got coffee and EL Jefe’s and came to the Common.
“It was a beautiful girl’s day,” Turner said.
Freshman Joel Lopez relaxed on a bench between classes at UMass. Lopez said he was enjoying the weather, “there’s been some bad weather. I like the smell of the sea water.”Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff
Some brought their pets outside to enjoy a rare warm day in March.
Jeff Neale, 37, came down to the esplanade with his mother’s cat, Jack Jack.
“This little guy’s been inside all winter and crying to get out,” Neale said, looking down at the fluffy grey cat he’s been looking after. “The dock here is not too much noise, so I figured [I’d] give it a try.”
At the Public Garden, Paul John, 38, played baseball with his five-year-old son, Harry, on his day off.
“He’s kind of been cooped in a little bit because of the storms and the weather, but we’re enjoying the weather and have some fun today,” said John, who works as an accountant. “Hopefully it holds up. I think we’re going to have a fantastic summer this year.”
While many embraced the warmth, most knew they could not be fooled by Mother Nature. Forecasts show colder temperatures returning next week. Still, for one day, Bostonians were happy to forget about winter.
“You better get it before it’s gone,” said David Byrne, 71, who was out having lunch with family near Carson Beach.
Aayushi Datta can be reached at [email protected].
