Hey, I'm going to Boston! Where should I go?

[catpower2000]

My friend just told me that, for my birthday present, she's taking me to Boston for the weekend of the 24th-26th. I'm so excited! (Not least of which because I've never been on a plane before.)

So tell me, what do I absolutely need to see? Give me suggestions for sight-seeing, restaurants, bars, clubs, culture. It will be cold by then, but not too cold. I want to get a good feel for the town.

Thanks in advance for info!!

Cat :)

[MissMillie]

1. Isabella Gardner Museum

It's my favorite

[edzontar]

5. The Gardner is the best--but also visit

The Museum of Fine Arts (nearby) and the Peabodu Museums of Anthropology and Natural History at Harvard--don't miss the glass flowers!!!

The USS Constitution--at the Charlestown Navy Yard, is also a must-see.

And be sure to take a stroll in the Public Gardens and in Harvard Square.

[CBHagman]

2. Be sure to visit Salem.

I too once went to Boston during the last week of October, and of course I had to check out Salem's Halloween celebrations. :-)

Actually, the town of Salem is worth taking a walk around. Visit the memorial to the victims of the witch hunt, the old graveyard, the House of the Seven Gables, the cove.

In Boston proper, be sure to check out the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

[Braden]

6. when in Salem

visit the world class Peabody Essex Museum! <civicpride/>

[Caution]

7. The Peabody Essex

Is one of the single best museums in the country and no one seems to know about it. They recently had a massive renovation allowing them to display a much larger portion of their collection.

For fine dining in Salem try
The Grapevine ($$)

or

Cilantro ($)

(excellent true Mexican here with an incredible array of tequilas for either sipping or a truly world class maragerita)

Try not to get sucked into Finz which pushes itself as a top-tier seafood restaurant but which is WAY over-rated and over-priced

(another Salem resident here :)

[Braden]

8. South Salemite here

I went for the first time last sunday. I've lived here near Forest River Park for three years and hadn't gone in. When I did I was mad at myself for having waited!

[catpower2000]

10. Okay, which one? The Gardener or the Peabody?

I'm allotting time in my 2 1/2 days to see ONE museum--just have too much other sightseeing to do. So which, if you had to pick one?

Cat

[Caution]

14. Very tough call

If you are going to stop by Salem then you should hit the peabody essex, but if you are going to stay in boston proper than do the gardner

[catpower2000]

20. Not sure yet! I'd love to stop in Salem...

but I don't know if we'll have time. I wish I had a week! But 2 1/2 days will have to do. :)

Cat

[Warpy]

50. Filene's Basement

There are two levels, and it's a hoot and a holler. That's the REAL Boston. You can also do the tourist stuff, but Filene's Basement is a must.

[Caution]

3. Salem

while not quite halloween, the festivities will be in full swing by then and halloween is always a great time in salem. Salem Beer Works for a good beer while in town.

as for boston proper:

sightseeing:
U.S.S. Constitution
Bunker Hill
Freedom Trail (esp the Old North Church)
Fenway Park
Duck Tours
Swan Boats
Boston Common
Faneuil Hall

Shopping:
Newbury Street

Dining:
Radius ($$$)
Troquet ($$$) - My personal favorite (which somehow i left out when i first put this list up..subconsciously I'm probably trying to keep it hidden :)
No. 9 Park ($$$)
Abe and Louies ($$$)
Legal Sea Foods ($)
Olives ($$$)
Kingfish Hall ($$)
Julien ($$$)
Sel de la Terre ($$)
Federalist ($$)
Excelsior ($$$)

Clubs:
Axis
Avalon
The Middle East (local/punk)
TT the Bears (local)
Manray (Goth/industrial)


Pool Halls:
Jillians
Felt
The Rack

Museums:
Gardener
Museum of Fine Arts
Peabody Essex (Salem)
Newbury Street (Art Galleries)

Places to see:
Harvard Yard
MIT
The Hatch Shell
The Boston Pops

Bars:
Pravda
Berkowski's
The Cactus Club
Boston Beer Works
The Harp
The Place


Hope this Helps

[catpower2000]

16. Wow, thanks!

The friend with whom I am going lived in Boston for seven years, so I will cross-reference your list with her and see where she's been!

She tells me there are several fine restaurants in the North End--are any of your choices located there?

Cat

edit: grammar is hard!!

[Caution]

22. I didnt really touch on the north end too much

most of the restaurants listed are outside of the north end and are basically my personal favs in boston, as for the North End, well you've got:

Dom's($)
Giacomo's ($$)
Pagliuca's (Pags) ($)
Sage (YUM! $$$)

and for straight pizza, pizzeria regina (where you're bound to bump into local sportswriters, i see bob ryan there all the time)

[T Roosevelt]

4. Maybe you could meet up with some Boston DUers

I'm sure they know exactly where to go...

BTW - Boston is a GREAT town!

[catpower2000]

9. I hope to! But not this trip...

I'm only going to be there for 2 1/2 days, and I really want to dance with the one that brung me--IOW, I'm looking forward to this trip as a way to spend time with my friend and her family up there. :)

But I surely do hope to meet some Boston Duers eventually!

Cat :hi:

[Caution]

12. For dancing

Axis or Avalon or if you are into the Euro thing you could do Karma (though i freaking hate it). If you are into the Goth/Industrial thing and like to sway a bit looking tortured as a form of dance, Manray is always fun.

[catpower2000]

18. Who doesn't like to sway while looking tortured??

LOL! Actually, Colleen and I like to get a bit toasty on pinot grigio and dance uanshamedly to Britney Spears. Anywhere like that? :)

Cat

[WilliamPitt]

24. The Big Easy

on Boylston will do you right if Britney is your cup of tea. Buncha places on landsdowne, too.

[StopTheMorans]

25. The Harp, Hurricane O'Reilly's

Coogan's, and Jose Mc's are all good bets for that scene:)

[WilliamPitt]

11. Music fan? Central Square.

Bunch of good clubs there. If you'd like, I can compile a comprehensive list of spots and restaurants and stuff. Boston is a non-smoking city now. :)

P.S. I'm not sure of the schedule, but you might be getting here just as Boston wins the World Series. :):)

[LynneSin]

13. Will, this just proves it - you are delusional

You know the Red Sox will not be in the world series.

:shrug:

[SiobhanClancy]

17. Cambridge will be nonsmoking tomorrow..

Last night I smoked my last one,at Casablanca:(

[catpower2000]

23. Any suggestions would be much appreciated...

Particularly for good restaurants. She said definitely we would go to the North End for dinner one night.

Is it really nonsmoking? Even in the bars? That would be wonderful! I'm already one of those annoying fuckers who starts to cough as soon as she's in a smoky room. I always used to think "Oh, suck it up!" LOL! But it's really gross when you don't smoke, I don't know how my nonsmoking friends dealt with it all those years!

I thought the Red Sox were cursed or something. :shrug: I'm a Mets fan myself. :)

Cat

ps. Hey, you'll note I didn't gloat. So you better be nice to me for the rest of the football season. ;-)

[WilliamPitt]

28. I abase myself before your niceness

I was expecting a beat-down. :)

Check your PM in a few minutes...and yes, the entire city is non-smoking.

[StopTheMorans]

15. Boston Duer here

and there are a lot of us. At least 6 of us were at the Franken book signing in Harvard Square last night, it was a lot of fun. As for places to go and things to see, here is my personally skewed (I'm 24) list:)


Sight-seeing: the city is easily walkable and you can see most of the essential sights if you have a few hours. the freedom trail is always a good bet, but you don't have to follow it and can see the sights just as easily on your own (it passes the old south meeting house, the site of the boston massacre (the old state house?), faneuil hall, the north end (paul revere's house), the granary burial ground (where sam adams and many other patriots are buried), the old north church (one if by land, two if by sea), and many other historically significant sights, most of which are all right in downtown boston. The north end is beautiful, if you like Italian, go there, pick a restaurant, and you won't be disappointed. There's also a lot of great seafood places on the water (my personal fave. is the Boston Sail Loft, cheap, great atmosphere, right on the water). You can walk along Newbury (Hynes Convention Center T-Stop) all the way to the Boston Common and then to Faneuil Hall in the span of an hour or so, and you'll see many of the important sites.

Bars: depends completely on what you're looking for. If you're looking for the Irish bars with a more "authentic" (read, not all Irish people, but they try to get the feel down), in Faneuil Hall, try:
The Black Rose, Kitty O'Shea's, An Tain

If you're looking for places with a bar and also a dance floor (a younger crowd, top 40 music, loud) in the same general area, try Clarke's, Hennessy's, The Purple Shamrock, Ned Devine's, the Place, the Hong Kong, Sissy K's or even Coogan's or Jose McIntyre's (a bit smuttier late at night) and if you go to north station (roughly a 10 min walk from Faneuil Hall), The Harp, Paddy Burke's, and Hurricane O' Reilly's are all a great time. Just get to whatever bars you choose to go to early, most places have a line by 10:00 or 10:30, and expect a 5 or 10 dollar cover at some.

If you're looking for "club" clubs, try places more like Pravda, the Roxy, or the Avalon (i.e. black pants/black shirts techno/house music, etc...). If you're looking for dive bars or if I missed something, let me know, I can tell you some of those too. Hope that helps:)

on edit: btw, I didn't describe anything on the "other" side of the river (read: cambridge) b/c others already have:)

[catpower2000]

32. Wow, great! Lots of good info here...

I think you covered all the possible club scenes. Thanks very much, that's very helpful.

I definitely want to see the Old North Church, as well as the Boston Massacre site. I love the Northeast, it's so jam-packed with history! Being a Philadelphia native, I've always loved turning every corner to find ANOTHER place of historical interest.

Thanks for the help.

Cat :)

[trof]

19. The Maparium

At the Christian Science center.
A huge glass globe you walk THROUGH. Like seeing the world from the center of the earth. The acoustics are mind boggling.
Here are some items on the itenary of a visitor from Rome.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/15170/c1f6c/4/

[catpower2000]

41. Wow, that sounds amazing!

Thanks for the tip!

Cat

[MaineDem]

21. Take a tour

There's so much history in Boston and it's so easy to miss it. I recommend taking a trolley tour or the duck tour. That's a lot of fun. (You get to "quack" at people) :) They only take a few hours and it's a good way to see something you'd otherwise miss.

There's always the tours of Fenway Park. As Will hinted, it'll be all decked out in bunting for the World Series. ;)

THe North End is the Italian section of the city and there are majorly delicious restaurants and bakeries. Mike's Bakery not only has these sinful things called Lobster Claws but they have pics of Bill Clinton on the wall. My kinda place!

[catpower2000]

26. Wow, you guys are better than a guidebook! Keep it coming!

And thanks! :)

[arwalden]

27. Where Is Nathaniel Hawthorne's House?

Isn't that in Boston?

[Caution]

29. If you are thinking of the House of Seven Gables

That is in Salem. Makes a great visit.

[Zolok]

30. What no mark outs for the Museum of Fine Arts?

A gem of a museum excellent antiquities section...lotsa fine paintings...not to be missed in any way.
It's located on Huntington Ave in Boston.
Also the J.F.K. Library...a fine take in IMHO.

[Caution]

31. I second the MFA

You can actually do the gardner and the MFA together if you don't mind doing em quick. They are relatively close to one another.

I'm ashamed to admit ive lived in the boston area for my entire life (30 years) and I've never been to the JFK library. I'll have to rectify that.

[SiobhanClancy]

33. The North End

The oldest part of Boston,and my personal favorite. Lots of Italian restaurants...Pagliuca's on Parmenter,and Pomodoro on Hanover are two that I like. Cappuccino and gelati are good at Caffe Vittoria. Modern Pastry has heavenly pastries,and IMO is better than the overexposed Mike's.

[Caution]

35. Yay! Mike's is SO over-rated

Modern Pastry is WAY better. And here I thought I was the only one.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

48. Modern Pastry and Maria's Rock!

My mother-in-law is from Italy-she says Mike's suck!

Modern Pastry fills your cannoli's fresh-they are wonderful!

[jonnyblitz]

37. Regina's pizza also, siobhan

:hi:

[SiobhanClancy]

39. How could I forget???

And weren't we just talking about Regina's last night? It sounds so good,I'm tempted to go down there today...but it's probably going to be Armando's(a delicious little hole-in-wall neighborhood pizza place at Huron and Concord in Cambridge,if anybody wants to know!)

:hi:

[freethought]

45. Yes! Yes! The North End and Fanuel Hall.

It is the destiny of anyone who visits Boston to visit the North End for a dinner at one of the small restaurants. Then amble on over to Fanuel Hall for some dessert. If you can try to see if there are any tickets available for a show in the theatre distict.

[gratuitous]

34. You guys are all too nice by half!

When I saw the thread subject line: "Hey, I'm going to Boston! Where should I go?", my first thought was, "The eastern end of Massachusetts. If you find yourself in the Atlantic Ocean, you've gone too far."

And the Red Sox stand as good a chance of winning the World Series as the Cubs do.

[catpower2000]

43. Hee! I thought of that afterward...

Someone could have posted "Go straight to hell!" Luckily, the vast majority of people on this site are very nice. :)

Cat

[GOPisEvil]

36. Go to the People's Republic...get their "commie" t-shirt!

Wear it in airports, especially if you are visiting a "Red State". Oh, never mind - that's what Pitt did. :P

Never been to Boston - have fun.

[catpower2000]

42. LOL! Sounds cool!

I think it's going to be a blast. :)

Cat :hi: David!

[BigMcLargehuge]

38. ask your friend to drive you an hour south for dinner

go to The Back Eddy in Westport, MA. My brother owns it. They have received several national reviews. My brother was featured in a couple of NYT stories about sustainable agriculture and local produce centric restaurants.

check out the site at www.thebackeddy.com

the best food in MA

[Crewleader]

40. Hey Big Guy....I'll let my family know of the place

since we are good friends from the same neighborhood...:hi:


Have fun catpower....wish I could go back to New England to see the leaves change...maybe next Fall I will be able to go...:-)

[catpower2000]

44. Wow, it looks amazing...

I don't know if we'll have time, we're only going to be there for a weekend, but I will definitely keep it in mind for the next time I'm there, hopefully for a bit longer next time! It seems like I'd need at least a week to see even the highlights of Boston. It's also obvious how much native Bostonites LOVE their town. I'm looking forward to loving it too!

Cat

[lpbk2713]

47. Too bad your time is limited.

You said you're a history buff. If you had an afternoon to spare you'd probably like Plymouth and all that's there. Maybe a side trip to Cape Cod too.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

49. I love the Back Eddy

Is Chris Schlesinger still involved at the Back Eddy? the East Coast Grill is great too!

[HawkerHurricane]

46. USS Constitution

Oldest ship in commission. History afloat.

[trof]

51. Durgin Park

http://www.durgin-park.com/default.asp
Almost forgot.
You have to go here for lunch or supper.
It's a Boston institution.
The old bag waitresses (and I say that lovingly and nostalgically) who serve up the victuals toss in the comments, insults, and general hilarity for free.
Tip them well.
;-)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

52. Boston is beautiful! And a great restaurant town!

Boston has some of the most beautiful architecture outside of Europe. When you walk around Beacon Hill and Back Bay, you get the feeling that you're somewhere in London.

We go out to eat a lot (not as much as usual due to diets), but here is a list of some of our faves and some must-see tourist places:

Upscale to Middle:

I don't like real snooty places-most of my faves are pretty informal.

Chez Henri, between Harvard and Porter Squares in Cambridge. French/Cuban fusion. Sit at the bar and have a Mojito and Cuban pressed sandwich. Appetizers and sandiwches under $10, entrees over $20. It's a laid-back, local clientele (like me!).

Also good in Cambridge: East Coast Grill, Blue Room, Ole Mexican Grill, Central Kitchen.

Claremont Cafe, Columbus Ave, Boston' South End. A fabulous place for brunch, outdoor seating through the fall. They have a nice dinner menu too-cozy and romantic.

Also good in the South End: Tremont 647, Franklin Cafe, Hammersley's Bistro.

Carmen: next door to the Paul Revere House on North Square in the North End, this is a nice place for a quiet, cozy dinner. Fabulous food.

Sage: also in the North End, Butternut squash ravioli to die for.

Also good in the North End: Prezza (trendy), Davide (expensive-great service and food), Mamma Maria's (red sauce).

Cheap and Delicious:
Bartley's Burger Cottage, Harvard Square. Awesome burgers and AMAZING onion rings!

Galleria Umberto, North End, lunch only. Amazing Calzone, Pizza and rice balls. On Hanover St-the line is often long at lunch, so get there early. The serve until they run out of food.

Redbones: Davis Sq, Somerville. Yummy BBQ, not as cheap as the two restaurants above but you can still get out of there for under $20-a serious bargain in Boston!

Nice, Classy Place for a Drink:
The Oak Room, Boston Copley Plaza Hotel in Copley Square

Nice, Trendy Place for a Drink:

Central Kitchen, Central Square, Cambridge
Via Matta, Downtown/Back Bay
blu, Downtown. Nice view of the city and lots of good-looking men.
Cuchi Cuchi, Central Sq, Cambridge
Mistral, South End/Back Bay

Good Dump for a Drink:
The Littlest Bar, Downtown. A landmark and fun place!
Foley's, Downtown. Punk Rockers, old drunks, and business people all in one dumpy place.
The People's Republik: a favorite with a lot of DUers.

[catpower2000]

53. Great info, thanks so much!

You know, I'm having fun cross-referencing all these lists with the other posts to see what is recommended multiple times. I've seen Sage come up a couple of times now, as well as the Blue Room and the East Coast Grill.

Thanks again! :)

Cat

ps. Y'all, I'm getting more and more excited about this trip. If I wasn't so in love with my hometown (Philly), I'd seriously be considering a move to Boston!

[Forkboy]

54. My house

ok..it's not in Boston but it's only an hour away :D

[catpower2000]

55. Hee!

Maybe next time, doll. :hug:

Cat

[OldSoldier]

56. Eat at Legal Seafood

My alma mater is the US Army Intelligence School, Fort Devens. 45 minutes on the MBTA and you're in Boston.

One of the first things we had to do was Meet Colonel Sweet. The colonel walked in and, I shit you not, he looked and sounded exactly like Andy Griffith. Acted like him too. Anyway, Colonel Sweet talked for about thirty minutes about the school, the training we'd receive (or as much as you could tell people who weren't indoctrinated yet) and the standards. Then he went into the little spiel on the area we were in. How it was the most historic part of America. How it was the most beautiful part of America. And why was it so beautiful? Because Legal Seafood was in Boston! Eat at Legal Seafood, he said.

By the time Colonel Sweet got done with his sales pitch for Legal Seafood, I was starting to think eating at Legal Seafood was a graduation requirement. Okay, let me get this over with quickly so I don't forget and get washed back to the next class--as in being forced to stay in New England longer would have been a hardship. We couldn't leave post until the first Friday we were there. That night I went to Legal Seafood. He passed out maps so we'd know where to go.

Turns out he was right. I was at Fort Devens from the middle of February to the middle of August and I ate at Legal Seafood seven times. Wonderful place to eat.

Come 1990 and it was time to go back to Fort Devens for more training. The plane lands, I get my stuff...I do believe I may have been the first person in the history of the City of Boston to eat at Legal Seafood while sitting on a duffel bag.

Listen to Colonel Sweet. Eat at Legal Seafood.

Other enjoyable places include any grinder shop. There's just something about a New England sub that's different from other places' subs.

So yeah, get a sub and eat at Legal Seafood.

[catpower2000]

57. Great story, thanks!

That's two votes for Legal Seafood. :)

Cat

[youngred]

58. LUCKY

That's on top of my places I want to go that I've never been list.

Have fun Cat, I want full details when you get back

[catpower2000]

59. Don't worry, I'll tell you everything...

I'm sure you'll make it up there soon! :)

Cat :hug: