How can we prepare to get through the storms of life?

My mother-in-law, my husband and my mom died in the last six years. While I was deeply saddened by this, I still had to take care of most administrative issues for them and keep looking to the future. I wanted to have work and clients after this was over. As freelancers, our clients disappear when we disappear.

How did I keep clients through these crises?

Years ago, I was a contractor for a government client that expected to be my top priority. While I spent almost a year working 40 hours a week for them, I neglected all the clients I had worked with in the previous years. Then one day the work from this client trickled down to next to nothing, and it took another 6 months to build up my client base again.

Since then, I have built working relationships with colleagues where we cover for each other. If I am sick, have a family emergency, whatever, I let the client know that my colleague will be taking it from there. I put them in touch with each other and move on. The client gets what they need, my colleague gets a bit more work, and I can take care of the things that happen in life. This is open and transparent, and it works really well.

When dealing with death, this process frees me up a lot.

How do I keep my head together?

These are stressful moments in life. I went to a presentation at my church years ago about self-care for caregivers. When caregivers neglect their own self-care, the people they are caring for suffer. I apply this principle to everything I do. Even so, after dealing with three deaths in six years, I am playing catch-up with some of my own health issues. Below are some of the things I do to take care of myself, and I expect everyone to have a unique list. I share it just to get people thinking:

• I take care of my health and do something that makes me happy every day. When we are not well, we are not able to serve those we care about effectively.
• I do not avoid the things we enjoyed doing with my loved ones because those things bring me joy.
• I have started to do things I enjoy and the person I miss had no interest in.
• I still hold to the values we shared and often try to hear the advice they would give me.

When there is a death, I follow a checklist inspired by a newspaper clipping my mother-in-law had. My mom died in Argentina, my husband died in the Seattle area, and my mother-in-law died in Oregon. They were very different people in different places, and I had to figure out how to make each memorial service something that represented them and was comforting for my family.

Customize funeral arrangements.

Whether the death happened in Oregon, Washington state or Argentina, I adapted local practices. I started while they were alive, having conversations about what they wanted. I told them that when the time came, I would have to make a lot of decisions, and I needed their guidance.

Funeral homes have well-developed checklists. A Google search for funeral homes in your area will give you insight into local expectations. Houses of worship have chaplains to advise you and other resources. Your friends, relatives, etc. may want to help you plan. When my mom died in Argentina, I was sitting at home in Auburn, Washington. My brother and my uncle were in Argentina, and I checked messages on WhatsApp constantly during the flights and while waiting in airports. I also told them that if anything went sideways, the most important thing here was to show each other love and it would be OK.

Be yourself at the memorials.

The funeral organizers asked for pictures for a slide show that would run in a loop when my mother-in-law died. That just didn’t fit who I was and how we wanted to honor her. So we collected items that represented her and put them on a couple of tables people could approach during the fellowship time at the memorial. That worked great. We put out awards nobody knew about, and it was healing to dig into her things to see how we could share who she was.

Then we did the same thing with my husband and my mom. Cookbooks, tennis rackets, patents, books they read, quilts they made, pictures they took… The conversations sparked by these displays were great.
The timelines for memorials are different based on the community your loved one was part of. In Argentina, you bury people in 24 hours. In the US, it is pretty flexible. I adjusted to a combination of my preference (the Argentine way) and the expectations of the community I was part of. The local chaplains and pastors were helpful with that.

Be ready to deal with money. Deaths come with expenses.

When their health was winding down, I took enough money out of their investments to last a few months, pay for the funeral, etc. I overestimated by a lot and shared what was left with the other heirs.

It helps to be a cosigner on their checking account and have power of attorney for dealing with finances. Keep in mind that a power of attorney is valid only when the person is alive, so it is important to make these withdrawals when we have an idea it will be needed. When my husband was in the hospital the last couple of days, I told him I had to talk to our financial advisor. He knew I had to do that and was happy I was going. This is where having a cosigner on the person’s account can make things a lot easier.

When we realize they won’t live another 10 years, have an honest conversation about what their preferences are. Then write it down so you have a record to come back to.

Again, it is important for someone to have power of attorney for healthcare and for financial decisions at this point. In a sense, it is not just about the death. It is about the smooth transition, caring for that person we love at the end of their life and sharing that love with others.

Let others know.

Notice your loved one’s habits. Who are the people they call the most, the ones they get more messages from on WhatsApp or email? Make a list of people to contact based on their phone records. I went through my mother-in-law’s phone before her death to see who she contacted more frequently and made a “contact these people” list. I read it to her, and she added a few names. Those people were very glad I had checked in with them.

In Argentina, on the other hand, as soon as a couple of people know, they start calling each other. About 40 people showed up to my mom’s memorial and burial the day after she died. My sister and I flew in and went straight from the airport to the funeral grounds.

What can you do with their stuff?

Don’t rush to distribute everything. That can wait a year or so. Get over the pain before selling important things. Even though I say that, my husband’s clothes were gone within a week

With my mother-in-law, we told her nursing home that they could keep her clothes for other seniors who could use them. With David, I checked with my son and my son-in-law to see what they wanted to keep. The rest went to Goodwill within a week. With my mom, my sister took care of distributing the clothes to the places where she thought my mom would want them to go.

However, we are taking our time distributing things that are special to us. When we visit the apartment where my mom lived, which is now ours, we want to have some things that remind us of her. We will know when it is time to distribute those things.

It’s OK to laugh and to cry almost at the same time.

It is okay to cry, laugh, and even laugh at the weird things they did. Nobody is perfect, and it is okay to laugh at them, to say “finally, I can do this thing!”

I have been going to a support group for widows and widowers, and it has been great to know I am not alone. Community centers have information about local resources.

An organ donor group sent me a leaflet on how to get through this stage in my life. I set it aside, and when I came back to it I was ready to get into it and be comforted. Just keep stuff.

We got lots of cards about David, my husband. I put them all in a folder, opened them quite a bit later, and around Christmas I sent notes to some of the people who wrote to me. He died in January, so that was a long time later. I wrote to people when I was ready.

David loved photography. I bought a camera he would be jealous of, and I go for photography walks. We sang together in choir. I am in a choir now. These are ways I keep him in my life now.

Every death is different. The relationship we have with each person is unique. These things are just to help you think. Working through a death is working through a transition in a relationship. They will always be with you in some way. I remember each of them almost daily through the things I learned from them, the experiences I wish I could share with them, the texts and phone calls I miss and, sometimes, through the relief that they can’t tell me they don’t like something.

My mother-in-law died in Oregon in 2019, my husband died in Washington state in January 2024, and my mom died in Argentina in May 2025. The last six years have been challenging, but the following things have helped me keep moving: My children have been super supportive, and my friends and colleagues have been amazing. Friends and family have been essential. People have helped me at every turn. I just had to ask. So when people say they want to help, take them up on that. We just can’t go it alone on this type of thing. Even going to run errands together softens the blow. Without my community, this would be a different story.

David, my husband, was proud of being “Mr. Helen” and supported me as I got involved with the profession, with my grandkids, and with my kids. This helps me carry on today.

About the Author

Helen Eby lives near Seattle, Washington, where she works as a translator and court interpreter. She is an ATA certified translator (English to Spanish and Spanish to English) and a Washington State certified Spanish court interpreter. She enjoys supporting colleagues in the translation and interpreting professions, and digging into complicated issues. When she is not busy with translation she can be found playing with her family, out with her camera, or hiking on a trail.

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It was my first year as a mentor in the ATA Mentoring Program. I had not volunteered before because I assumed any advice I could give might be less than helpful to anyone wanting guidance. But last year the program was one mentor short, so I offered to step in.

What is the Mentoring Program? Every year, ATA offers translators and interpreters the opportunity to be paired with another language professional who provides guidance in developing or growing a language business. Both mentors and mentees are ATA members, since participation in the program is a members-only benefit.

How Do I Join?

Both mentors and mentees must apply to be part of the program. The mentor application process is fairly uncomplicated: mentors fill out a form explaining what type of business advice they feel they can offer. Their information is then added to the list of potential mentors, and they are contacted when their expertise matches a mentee’s needs. The mentor application process is open year-round, so mentors can register at any time.

The mentee application process is more detailed. Every year, potential mentees can apply from January 1 through March 31. On their application, they must explain in detail what type of business help they need and what goals they hope to reach. The Mentoring Program team then matches the mentee with a suitable mentor. The pair is introduced via email, and they work together from the beginning of May through the end of October.

What Does a Mentor/Mentee Pair Do?

The goal of a mentor/mentee pair is to give the mentee personalized support in building or improving their business practices. The exact practices they work on depend on the mentee’s goals. How they work on them is also highly individualized and dependent on the pair’s preferred method of interaction.

Hannah and I met regularly on Google Meet. I often asked what she wanted to discuss and what progress she had made or what activities she had tried since our last meeting. I answered her questions as completely and honestly as I could, and I suggested books and other resources she might find helpful. In hindsight, I may have suggested more books than one can reasonably read in six months, but fortunately, book reports are not required in the program.

We also had a shared Google Doc that held the list of resources I had prepared for Hannah, her notes on her progress, and a list of action items for each of us. Between meetings, we added notes and comments to this document, so it became both a written record of our discussions and an informal means of communication between meetings.

By the end of our time working together, Hannah had made several changes to her website, defined her language pairs and specializations more clearly, identified specific types of jobs to go after, and purchased a second computer to protect herself against tech-related emergencies. She still has our notes, which include a crash course in marketing, her plans for the future, and all the resources I suggested so she can try them out whenever she chooses.

Other pairs will work differently. You may decide to schedule weekly phone calls or communicate entirely by email. You may spend time evaluating your website, working on SEO, discussing how to find and approach potential direct clients, or getting concrete advice on how to start your own agency. What you work on and how you work together is up to you; the only caveat is that you should know how to use any technology the two of you decide to incorporate. If you plan to meet on Microsoft Teams, for example, make sure you understand how to log on and turn on your camera and microphone. Unfortunately, tech glitches can easily derail a potentially beneficial conversation.

What Does the Program Not Do?

The program is intended for mentoring in business development, not translation or interpreting skills. Mentees should understand that their mentor may not work in the same language pairs or specialization. Even if the mentor and mentee work in the same fields or languages, they should not use their mentoring time to practice interpreting, review and correct translations, or work on language-related skills.

It should be very clear to mentee applicants that the mentor will not provide coaching for the ATA certification exam. The Mentoring Program is for business development, and while ATA certification is a worthwhile business goal, exam preparation is outside the scope of the program.

Mentees also need to know that they, not the mentors, set the pace. The program is mentee-driven, which means a mentor does not hand the mentee a schedule or a list of assignments like a classroom teacher. The mentee needs to explain what they need, ask questions if they don’t understand, and be ready to put the mentor’s suggestions into practice.

What Can I Get From the Program as a Mentee?

Every year, the Mentoring Program coordinators ask mentees what they liked about the program. Here are some of their answers from 2025:

• Getting clarity about short-term, medium-term and long-term goals
• Positioning myself in the right niche
• Learning about the importance of networking
• Adapting my resume

These are far from the only benefits. When reflecting on , current ATA President-Elect Ben Karl pointed out that mentees receive not only advice and encouragement but also networking opportunities if their mentor introduces them to colleagues. Besides, having a trusted colleague to bounce ideas off of before taking action can reduce anxiety for professionals who hope to make a big change in their businesses.

What Can I Get From the Program as a Mentor?

Year after year, mentors report that they benefit from the program as well. Deborah Wexler, a former leader of ATA’s Mentoring Program, has written about what mentors gain from their service: improved leadership, better communication skills, renewed pride in the profession, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with helping a colleague succeed. Last year’s mentors seem to agree. Here’s what they said they gained in 2025:

• A renewed sense of community, collegiality, and reciprocity
• Faith in the next generation
• Self-confidence
• Empathy
• Understanding of the professional behavior and attitude of younger generations

On the practical side, mentors who hold ATA certification and complete one mentoring cycle receive two Continuing Education points to help maintain their certification. You can earn points for each year you serve as a mentor.

Conclusion

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience as a mentor. First of all, my main concern – not being helpful – proved to be unfounded. I think I was able to help Hannah move forward with some of her business goals. I also had the chance to review many of the resources I’d once used and set aside, which gave me a fresh perspective on my own business. Finally, I got the opportunity to get to know another colleague, and I looked forward to our monthly discussions.

Whether you want to give or receive advice, I encourage you to join the Mentoring Program. I enjoyed the experience so much that I’m hoping to work with another mentee this year. Will you join me? Visit the Mentoring Program webpage to learn more and submit an application.

About the Author

Danielle Maxson has been translating since 2009 and specializes in medical translation with a focus on patient records. She is an ATA-certified Portuguese to English and Spanish to English translator and the former chair of ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee. Before focusing on translation, she worked as a Spanish teacher and a medical interpreter. For more information, visit .

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Call for Speakers

ATA is still accepting session proposals for ATA67. We seek advanced, specialized, relevant, and original content that will give attendees an edge in their careers, set them apart from the competition, and provide an advantage over AI. You’ll find the full list of session topics and descriptions on the ATA67 website.

Open to Everyone

You do not have to be an ATA member to submit a proposal.

By contributing to the advancement of your profession, you will build your reputation and résumé, widen your networking circle, and position yourself as a key player to help shape the future of the T&I industry.

Proposals will be chosen through a competitive peer-review process. The Conference Organizer, along with experts in the relevant language and subject area, will assess each proposal’s relevance and its potential to engage the audience and stimulate discussion.

Need More Information?

If you have any questions, please contact Cat Kenol, Senior Professional Development and Events Coordinator at ataspeakers@atanet.org.

Submit Your Proposal by March 20!

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Instead of a teacher presenting content, group members hold each other accountable for achieving specific goals. Every meeting follows a defined outline, which helps to share time fairly and ensures equal speaking time for all attendees.

Apply by February 28!

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ATA is continuously working to add more benefits for our members. In fact, there are so many, even longtime members might not be aware of everything ATA has to offer! Find out what you’ve been missing!

During this FREE, fun, and informative session, learn how to access your ATA member benefits and services, or just catch up on what’s new and get live answers to your questions from ATA’s Membership Committee.

There will be additional sessions this year if you can’t make this one. This live session is intended to be an interactive real-time experience and will not be recorded.

Register Here!

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Call for Speakers

ATA is now accepting session proposals for ATA67. We seek advanced, specialized, relevant, and original content that will give attendees an edge in their careers, set them apart from the competition, and provide an advantage over AI. ATA67 will be a fully in-person conference.

Open to Everyone

You do not have to be an ATA member to submit a proposal.

By contributing to the advancement of your profession, you will build your reputation and résumé, widen your networking circle, and position yourself as a key player to help shape the future of the T&I industry.

Proposals will be chosen through a competitive peer-review process. The Conference Organizer, along with experts in the relevant language and subject area, will assess each proposal’s relevance and its potential to engage the audience and stimulate discussion.

Submit Your Proposal by March 6!

Book Your Room Today

ATA67 will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. The hotel is located near San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center. Known for its stunning bay views, historic piers, and pedestrian-friendly promenade, the area is easily accessed by BART, MUNI, and ferries.

Special Rates

• $279: Single/Double Occupancy
• $304: Triple Occupancy
• $329: Quadruple Occupancy

Rates are exclusive of tax. ATA67 rates at the Hyatt are available until October 6, 2026, or as space allows.

Beware of Booking Scams

The only way to make reservations at the guaranteed ATA rate is to contact the hotel directly. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to represent ATA or the hotel, please obtain the name, phone, and email, and contact Madeleine Mayuga at madeleine@atanet.org.

Book Your Room Today!

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Belonging to a community of colleagues who are facing the same challenges as you has never been more important. Whether you’re connecting with colleagues through free membership in any of our divisions and special interest groups, learning valuable skills from expert speakers during one of our webinars or at the Annual Conference, or exchanging challenges and solutions during networking events, meet-ups, or on ATA’s social media platforms, you’ll find that ATA members are there for each other. Don’t go at it alone in 2026.

Tax Deduction Reminder

If you plan to include payment of your 2026 membership dues on your 2025 tax return, you must renew by December 31. Please consult your accountant for tax advice.

Questions? Need Additional Information?

Your satisfaction is important to us! If you have questions or concerns about ATA member benefits or services, email membership@atanet.org or call +1 (703) 683-6100, extension 3001.

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After 4 full days of learning, networking, and connecting with your fellow T&I professionals, we hope you have returned safely to your homes with great memories of ATA66. Thank you for your attendance, support, and help in making this year’s ATA Annual Conference a success. We look forward to seeing you again, October 28 – 31, 2026, for ATA67 in San Francisco, California!

ATA66 Recap Video and Photos

If you missed the Closing Session on Saturday, then you missed the ATA66 video recap. Here it is again so you can relive those conference memories! Click to watch! And don’t forget to check out the !

View the ATA66 Photo Gallery

Watch the ATA66 Recap Video

Watch the Promo Video for ATA67

Submit Your Overall Conference Survey by December 2 for a Chance to Win

Your ideas and suggestions have helped shape ATA’s Annual Conference over the years. Please take the time to complete your ATA66 Overall Conference Survey and tell us what you think.

Surveys submitted by December 2 will automatically be entered to win a free registration for ATA67 in San Francisco, California (October 28-31, 2026). Look for the surveys on the ATA66 Conference app.

Questions? Contact ata66registration@atanet.org.

ATA66 Continuing Education Points

ATA-certified translators may earn 1 CEP for each hour of conference sessions attended, up to a maximum of 10 CEPs. In addition, ATA-certified translators may earn 1 CEP for each hour of AST courses attended, up to a maximum of 5 CEPs per day. Certified and credentialed interpreters may also be eligible for ATA66 continuing education credit!

Learn more

Thanks Sponsors and Exhibitors!

Sponsors and exhibitors played a crucial role in making this a memorable conference. Please take a minute to visit the websites of this year’s Sponsors and Exhibitors and consider returning their support in your business decisions.

Get Your ATA66 Swag!

Conference-themed t-shirts, caps, bandanas, and more are now available at the ATAware Store.
Visit the ATAware Store

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I’m looking forward to my first ATA conference in Boston this year. And not just because there are lots of people I’m excited to meet in person, but also because Boston was the first place I lived after college. I spent two years in Cambridge and two in Somerville, but for those who know Boston, these places are an important part of its metro area.

Not only did I live there when I took my first full steps into real adulthood, but I’m from Massachusetts originally. I grew up in Ashland, which is a very small town (right next to the much bigger, better-known Framingham). Ashland is approximately 26.2 miles west of Boston. I know that because the original starting line for the Boston Marathon is in Ashland – though it’s since been moved to neighboring Hopkinton (our high school sports rivals). It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized Marathon Monday wasn’t a nationwide holiday (it’s also Patriots Day, FYI) because there was no way they were sending us to school on a day when half the roads in town seemed to close so that fresh-faced and eager runners could barrel down them, still fifteen or so miles from hitting the evocatively named Heartbreak Hill.

But I digress. I figured since the capital of my home state (and my home for four years) is about to welcome a bunch of translators from far and wide, I’d share a few of my favorite places to go and things to do there. Some will take you further from the newly developed Seaport District, where the conference is being held. But I think it’s worth it to get out of an area that was underwater not too long ago and lacks some of the history and character that other neighborhoods provide. That said, I’ve included a few Seaport recs as well, in case you’re too wary of venturing down into one of America’s oldest subway systems.

As a caveat, know that this list is fully biased towards my preferences, but if you’re reading a native’s list of recs, maybe that’s to be expected. It doesn’t include some things like the Museum of Fine Arts or a tour of Fenway (the oldest active ballpark in the MLB!) because you can find those on pretty much any list. Also, I’m a vegan (and have been vegetarian over half my life), so if you’re looking for Boston’s best steak, I cannot tell you where to find it. With that covered, let’s dive into the fun and food I recommend checking out while you’re in Boston if you find the time.

Fun

Museums/Culture

The site of a famous art heist in 1990, this museum (my favorite in Boston) displays the work of collector Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was a world traveler and friend of John Singer Sargent. The collection is vast and impressive, the building housing it is gorgeous, and the policies are incredibly quirky. For example, anyone named Isabella gets in for free. And you can still see the empty spots on the wall where the paintings were stolen from.

Oddly enough, this exhibit is located at a Christian Science Center, the Mary Baker Eddy library. But you can pay to go inside its Mapparium, a stained-glass globe that welcomes visitors with a short presentation on the context and geopolitics that shaped it and a chance to play around with some fun auditory effects that come from being on a bridge in the middle of a glass sphere. It’s an odd, intriguingly immersive experience and one I love introducing to friends who visit from out of town.

This is a great spot especially if you’re bringing kids. I remember spending a lot of Saturdays here with my grandmother growing up. Between exhibits with local relevance (like the one they had on the Big Dig when I was a kid), the immersive omni theatre, and the Rube Goldberg machine, this museum will always hold a place in my heart. It’s also the departure point for Boston’s famous Duck Boat Tours.

Plunge into history at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum (also an unofficial landing place for local actors, which included many friends of mine). This experience takes you on a tour led by a real historical character from revolutionary Boston, who will tell you all about the U.S.’s bid for independence. And yes, you can throw some fake tea into the channel (not quite the harbor). It’s another good one for kids but a little bit pricier than a standard museum.

The BPL’s central location is in Copley Square. They often have exhibits that you can check out or you can just enjoy the Italianate Renaissance architecture.

Parks and Green Spaces

Public Garden/Boston Common

The Boston Common is the oldest public park in the nation. Stretching out from the State House, this green space is a nice spot to stroll through, though it’s not actually that large. It’s right next to the public gardens, a more curated space with ponds, bridges, and statues, including an homage to Make Way for Ducklings. You can get in a swan boat or simply walk around and enjoy the nature and autumn foliage. If you want some scenery, head north from the Common into Boston’s Beacon Hill, arguably its most picturesque neighborhood with narrow brick streets and gorgeous apartment buildings.

Walk along the Esplanade

The Esplanade is an extended park that runs alongside the Charles River. It’s a great place to walk or run, with ample footpaths past the bridges, boat houses, and playgrounds that line it.

If you’re willing to go a bit further afield to get a fix of nature, the Arnold Arboretum (run by Harvard) is a beautiful place to visit and really commune with the trees. After all, Massachusetts is home to Thoreau and Emerson.

Shops and Activities

Newbury Street

Newbury Street is lined with shops and boutiques, both big and small. Highlights include and , where you can thrift clothing.

This is one of the oldest and largest used bookstores in America. Browse inside or out.

Cambridge

Harvard Square

The oldest university in the U.S. (noticing a trend yet?), Harvard is famous for everything from its presidential alumni to its starring role in Legally Blonde. Head across the Charles on the Red Line to check out Harvard Square, an area full of students, shops, and several parks. It’s the best place to learn that, despite what you may have heard, you cannot “pahk a cah in Hahvahd Yahd.”

Somerville

If you want to engage in a local tradition, head further from downtown to check out some candlepin bowling. This variation, which uses smaller balls and narrower pins, is very much a part of New England culture, and it’s my preferred way to bowl. Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Davis Square is a great place to try it out. It’s also attached to American Flatbread pizza company. Reservations recommended.

Brookline

Coolidge Corner

Time to head west of the city. Coolidge Corner is a chill area with options for dining and drinks as well as the famous , an Arthouse Cinema that’s been in operation since 1933.

Near Coolidge Corner is Brookline Booksmith, an independent bookstore that hosts frequent signings and events.

Food

This South End restaurant offers delicious Asian fusion and sharing plates. A spousal collab between Christopher Myers and Joanne Change (both also of Flour Bakery fame, mentioned later on this list), this place offers bold flavors and creative takes on Asian staples. Not to be missed for foodies.

With two locations in the South End (on Shawmut Ave and Clarendon Street), this is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch. They have delicious baked goods, cater to dietary restrictions, and are a favorite among artists performing at the nearby Calderwood Pavilion, where some of Boston’s best home-grown theatre often debuts (and where I did a stint as a stagehand).

I’ll admit I’ve never been here, but this trendy Italian eatery is one of my Boston friend (and current New York roommate)’s favorite spots to go whenever she’s in town. I trust her opinion when it comes to food.

While this ice cream chain has locations all over eastern Mass, the J.P. in its name stands for Jamaica Plains, the Boston neighborhood where it was first founded. Luckily, there’s a location just a twenty-minute walk from the Convention Center. For those who, like me, don’t do dairy, there’s also a FoMu in the Seaport area, which I’ll talk about later.

Moving slightly further North (just past the Commons), if you’re looking for cool places to get a cocktail, I recommend Carrie Nation. Its name and aesthetics are a nod to the Prohibition era, and the back bar is a great place to get a cocktail, shoot some pool, and chat with fellow linguists.

If you want something that’s less a nod to history and more history itself, check out the Omni Parker House. The hotel dates back to 1855 and the structure to 1927. Plus, it’s the home of the original Boston Cream Pie, and you can still get one there today. The Last Hurrah is a whiskey bar attached to the hotel, where there’s also a restaurant.

Officially heading into the North End, Mike’s Pastry is a very famous Italian pastry shop and remains the site where I’ve seen the most cannoli ever in one place. Lines can get long, so if you’re not picky about touristy fame, Modern Pastry is right nearby and has an equally delicious offering. Speaking of sweet treats, the North End is also the site of the famous (and tragic) Molasses Flood of 1919. They say on hot summer days, you can still smell molasses in this area.

Night Shift has its main taproom in Everett, MA, but they have locations in Boston, including a taproom in Lovejoy Wharf and a Beer Garden on the Esplanade further west. I used to love meeting up with friends at the latter location, which overlooks the Charles River. As a bonus, you’ll often have some food trucks show up there, and it’s a great spot to dog-watch.

Cambridge

We’re heading into my old stomping grounds of Cambridge, famously the actual location of Harvard University. °Ő´Ç˛őł¦˛ą˛Ôľ±˛Ôľ±â€™s is, hands-down, my favorite ice cream in Boston (as a note, I was only vegetarian at the time). I think it’s worth a trip to Cambridge for this alone, but there’s plenty more to do there, so I’d say hop a ride on the Red Line or the (new-ish) Green Line extension. And yes, unlike New York, you do refer to train lines in Boston by their color.

My absolute favorite brunch spot. Their French toast is incredible, and since I don’t eat that anymore, you might need to do it for me.

This is just south of Davis Square, which is in Somerville. This farm to table restaurant is small but mighty. They combine delicious, fresh produce with superb flavors to make food that tastes and feels great.

In the Seaport

This modern art museum also boasts a beautiful view of the harbor in addition to interesting exhibits.

The closest thing that Boston has to a cult may be fans of Flour Bakery. Luckily, there are two locations in the Seaport. Order ahead because it can get very busy at lunchtime, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. As a bonus, I’ve had several friends work here, and they all have nothing but good things to say about Joanne Chang, the owner and head baker.

Trillium or Harpoon

For fans of beer, the Seaport has a few options for taprooms. has a location in Fort Point, just north of the conference location. And ’s headquarters are solidly in the Seaport. You can tour the Harpoon facilities or just visit their taproom, which has lots of draft options as well as some delicious pretzels.

This outdoor venue has a bar, swings, ping pong tables, and other lawn games. It’s a tiny bit of Instagram bait, but it’s also a nearby outdoor space where you can go unwind after a long day of sessions.

A nice place to sit on some benches and look out onto the harbor.

If you’re looking for some Mediterranean food, Boqueria offers Catalan tapas in a place named for Barcelona’s most famous market.

A great place to grab a quick bite for lunch. Vietnamese-inspired sandwiches and other fare.

For non-dairy ice cream lovers, FoMu offers all-vegan ice cream (coconut base) in a variety of seasonal flavors.

If you’re traveling with kids, the Seaport is Home to the Boston Children’s Museum, recognizable thanks to the giant bottle of milk outside its entrance. While I’ve never been personally, that milk bottle is intriguing enough to make me want to go.

So, did I miss anything? For those who’ve lived in or been to Boston, what are your favorite hidden gems?

About the Author

Olivia C. Caputo is a Queens-based Spanish to English translator and subtitler, as well as a proud NYCT member. She’s worked on indie films and documentaries as well as content for some of the world’s largest streaming services, with projects ranging from SDH creation, subtitle and dub-script translation, and audio description. She is also branching into literary translation and editing. You can find more of her writing at the ATA Compass and on her blog at occtranslations.com.

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The post A (Former) Boston Local’s List of Things to Check Out Around ATA66 appeared first on ÇéÂÂ×ÔĹÄ (ATA).

The ÇéÂÂ×ÔĹÄ Annual Conference is just around the corner. In what’s become an annual tradition, I’m reading through the conference website and mulling over the presentations I’d like to attend, especially the business-related talks. The choice is never easy, and this year business itself hasn’t been easy for many of us. If that’s been your experience in 2025, maybe attending a business practices presentation will give you some new ideas and a fresh perspective on how to succeed as a language professional.

But how exactly do you make that choice? For the past few years, I’ve matched session descriptions with the needs of several fictional translators and interpreters. Here are my imaginary friends for 2025, along with my suggestions for business-related presentations that may appeal to them.

Tatiana is a translation student who hopes to find her first clients after she graduates in the spring of 2026. She’s not confident about her business acumen and would like some guidance.

• Carving Out Your Path – Seasoned professional Giovanna Lester will offer advice on marketing, customer service, and other key skills for freelancers, as well as useful tools for language professionals. This session is for beginners and is tailor-made for Tatiana.
• SCORE: A  (Mostly) Free Resource to Grow Your Business – Tatiana would likely benefit from professional guidance as she seeks to establish herself. I will introduce attendees to the United States’ largest network of volunteer business mentors and explain how to apply for a mentor and use the vast array of other resources SCORE offers. Having worked with two different mentors, I know I’ve benefited from their outsiders’ perspective. Hopefully, people like Tatiana will check into SCORE’s resources and find something to help them as well .

Guillermo is an interpreter who wants to up his game. He’s been burned by misunderstandings with new clients who don’t know how to work with an interpreter. He thinks he should have some educational blog posts to show new clients, but the idea of writing a blog is painful; he’s more of a talker.

• Power Up Your Freelance T&I Business through Client Education – Jessie Liu and Tianlu Redmon will talk about how to educate clients, and they’ll highlight the benefits of taking the time to teach clients how to work with T&I professionals. Guillermo will find some actionable steps he can take to improve his own client relationships.
• Amplify Your Voice! How to Craft a Powerful Podcast for Linguists – Guillermo may find podcasting fits his friendly, talkative personality better than blogging. In this Advanced Skills and Training session, Dolores Rojo GuiñazĂş will explain all stages of the podcasting process. She says, “In a world full of written content, podcasting lets us connect at a deeper, more human level. . . . It is about positioning yourself as a thought leader, nurturing client relationships, and opening doors to collaborations. It is a marketing tool that keeps working for you long after the recording ends.”

Niels’ business has been hit hard by recent changes in the industry, especially the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He’s disillusioned and not sure how to bounce back and enjoy the type of success he had a few years ago.

• Are You AI-Resilient? – Joachim LĂ©pine’s presentation is aimed squarely at the elephant in the room – the technological advances that have disrupted our work so severely. According to Joe, “AI can be a scary topic for us as translators and interpreters—but what if it could become the catalyst for long-overdue mindset shifts that will carry our professions into the future?”
• Staying Ahead of the Curve – This session, listed in the Interpreting track, looks at what happens and what to do when life throws you a curveball. Javier Castillo will present ways to future-proof a career.
• Presidents’ Panel: Strategies For a Changing Future – ATA President Geoff Koby and other industry presidents and leaders will participate in a panel discussion on the future of our industry. Niels will learn how the T&I associations he belongs to can advocate for him and other language professionals, and he’ll gain a wider perspective on the direction the profession is taking.

Simone has been trying to move from agency work to direct clients this year, with little success. She can’t seem to get a handle on marketing in a way that works for her. Networking is a particular problem; Simone doesn’t feel she can dress professionally and wishes she could look better and feel more confident when talking with potential clients.

• The Art of Persuasion: Nudge Your Prospects Into Saying “Yes!” – Mariella di Bua will present some copywriting strategies that should help Simone craft more effective marketing copy.
• Freelance Freedom: Shift Your Mindset, Manage Risk, and Market Smart – Veteran presenter Molly Yurick will discuss ways linguists can gain more control over their business operations. She says, “I used to feel small as a freelance translator in such a big market and industry and used to act small in line with that way of thinking. Some life experiences . . . helped me take on a more business-oriented mindset. I started acting bigger and operating my business very differently. . . . My talk will provide practical strategies for strengthening long-term stability, and I’ll also share a straightforward email marketing approach that helps professionals stay visible and top-of-mind with new and existing clients.”
• Translating and Interpreting in Style – Kelsey Trotta will discuss professional wardrobes and how to build one, as well as how to dress in a manner that will resonate with target clients. Simone will learn both how to dress and how to shop for clothing she can wear with confidence. As Kelsey explains, “Trends may come and go, but being well-dressed never goes out of style. When people tailor their look to their target market, it helps them attract higher quality clients by communicating that they understand and respect their client without saying a word. In my talk, I even discuss a case study where a wardrobe change transformed the client’s ROI in a week.”

Taylor is still fairly new to the profession and wants very much to succeed. They love all the linguistic challenges of their work, but the day-to-day administration of a freelance business has never been smooth sailing. Taylor needs some guidance on how to keep organized and on top of all the little things that make business run smoothly.

• The Project Management Bible: Principles, Challenges, and Strategies – A solid understanding of project management could help Taylor streamline daily operations and avoid missed deadlines, forgotten invoices, and other issues. Milly Golia and Rocio Manfredi will outline the entire project management process for freelance translators.
• Beyond the Clock: Using Time Tracking to Improve Your Business – Shizuka Otake will go beyond simply tracking time to explain how time data can help with business management and decision making. Taylor may find tracking the time spent on projects and business tasks reveals patterns they can change or get rid of entirely.

Descriptions of these and other sessions, including times and room assignments, can be found at the conference website. Which presentations do you plan to attend, and why? Please share your thoughts in the comments!

About the Author

Danielle Maxson has been translating since 2009 and specializes in medical translation with a focus on patient records. She is an ATA-certified Portuguese to English and Spanish to English translator and the chair of ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee. Before focusing on translation, she worked as a Spanish teacher and a medical interpreter. For more information, visit .

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