The Art of Taking a Walk at Patriots Place in Foxboro

The Art of Taking a Walk at Patriots Place in Foxboro

I was born in Walpole, Massachusetts, which is very close to a location called Patriot Place in the neighboring town of Foxboro. Patriot Place is a large shopping center where tons of people shop, hang out, and attend sporting events. Many activities go on every day which makes it the perfect place for me and my friends to hang out at- considering it is the closest shopping center to us. Patriot Place is my ideal location because of the amount of things that happen around me when I'm there. Patriot Place is not only my favorite place to hang out; additionally, it is the perfect place for a flaneur to explore.

When I lived in Walpole, every Sunday and every weekend, Patriot Place was where everything was happening, including many of my unique experiences. Whenever I first arrived at Patriot Place, the first thing I saw was a massive building called Gillette Stadium. This is the home of the New England Patriots; hence, it was named Patriot Place by Robert Kraft. I often hear the football games being played as I visit Patriot Place, and sometimes I even hear Tom Brady throw a touchdown to one of his receivers. Me and my friends are diehard Pats fans and we often go to there just to watch the game on the big screen outside of the stadium, making it the perfect place for us to watch the games on Sundays. We also walk around to just look into all the stores that are there, but we end up making our way to a restaurant called Five Guys. Five Guys has the most delicious burgers I have ever tasted, and many people agree because the line extends outside of the restaurant. In fact, every place has a line at Patriot Place because it's Sunday and the Patriots are playing. The atmosphere outside of these stores is amazing because I can smell the food that the vendors are selling and I can hear the music that is playing from the speakers all around the shopping center. However, with everything going on around me, it just seems perfect because I have my friends and I have my favorite sports team both in one place at the same time. Additionally, when me and my friends somehow get bored, we can just go to the movie theatre that is right next to the stadium. Patriot Place is my ideal spot to be at; also, it would be the perfect location for a flaneur to explore.

In my opinion, I am a flaneur who likes to wander and experience the atmosphere around me, but the meaning of a flaneur varies from person to person. James Fredal believes that a flaneur is "the pedestrian voyeur and chronicler of everyday urban life, one who immerses [themselves]