Garden State

Fourteen TD Garden secrets

kay, so the comparatively sterile TD Garden has made some progress toward enjoying the legendary status of its rat-infested, obstructed-view predecessor. For one thing, the honchos in Buffalo who own the place, and the guys in Toronto who ultimately control the naming rights, have given it back the hallowed “Garden” name. Kudos for that. But the real character of the 19,600-seat TD Garden is in the neighborhood around it, where true fans enjoy the pre- and post-game craziness. Here, just in time for the start of Bruins and Celtics season, are secrets of and around the TD Garden:

The crowd at this bar isn’t rooting for the home team.
 

One place to relive this city’s great sports moments
 

A humble homage to a vanished neighborhood
 

Have a side of reggae with your Sunday brunch.
 

Good food at a TD Garden concessions stand? Yup
 

A cheap nightspot in a pricey ‘hood
 

Among noisy clubs, a pub where revolutionaries drank
 

Where JFK hung out
 

New takes on a comfort-food classic