[OT] Boston Trip

[Westwind]

I would also highly recommend parking and taking the T. If you aren't staying in the greater metro area, take Piratecat's directions and then go from 90E to 128N and hop on 2E from there. The end of the red line (Alewife) is down this road and has a huge parking garage on it. The red line will give you access to Harvard Square, Davis Square (where I used to live, so I'm biased, but still a fun place--home of Your Move Games as well), as well as Park Street, where you can connect to the green line (and see the Back Bay), check out the Common, or start to walk along the Freedom Trail.

One of the things I love about Boston is the number of high quality restaurants to be had. Depending on budget and total amount of time spent there, I'm sure I (or any of the many Boston denziens here) could give recommendations. Either way, you can't go wrong getting dessert and espresso at Mike's in the North End.

 

[Blood Jester]

Last, first:

Westwind: Thanks, you answered my next question already (i.e. where is a good place to park if we use the T)

nopantsyet: There is so much good stuff to try, and it is so close, we might go for the 'multiple-day-trips-over-a-few-weeks' approach as opposed to an over-nighter. * For me this is a short drive.

widderslainte: T'ain't no such thing as 'too cold'! But forts and castles are always good!


*Also, Sialia mentioned Gondola rides before Oct. 13 and Piratecat mentioned Salem-near-Halloween goodness, so two trips might be the minimum needed!

Thanks again, and thank you for the new info.

 

[Cedric]

Well...first things first.

www.citysearch.com

Absultely fabulous website to check out what any city offers. Other then that, most people have hit the high points, I would just add that one of the best Chinese Food Restaurants I've ever eaten at is in Boston.

Chow Chau's (I might have that backwards, Chau Chow's?)

Now there are two of those downtown in Chinatown, you want the small one with the vinyl booths and very little of anything written in English.

The large Chow Chau's across the street is expensive and touristy.

Cedric

 

[Sialia]

Ah Nostalgia!

Eat something smeared with Cabot butter. Shouldn't be hard to do-- most of the decent restuarants use it there--for all I know in your neck of the woods they do, too, you're not that far away.
But I have to buy imported french foo foo butter to get anything that good out here. So indulge me and raise a biscuit for me, unless you're at risk for bypass surgery or something like that.

If you're in to really good music, check out what's playing at Jordan Hall--it is one of the finest acoustic experiences on the planet. The hall itself is a musical instrument, and if you listen carefully, you will be able to feel the way the music moves around the space. It's sort of like sitting inside the cello while Yo Yo Ma plays.

More things to do near Copley Square: check out the pretty ceiling of Trinity Church. The acoustics are pretty cool up there, too, but I don't think there's concerts there as often.

Legal Seafoods (a local restuarant chain) are all over the place, and I've never eaten in one that wasn't terriffic. If they still have "Screaming Chocolate Thunder" on the desert menu, order it.

Elephant Wok, if you like French Cambodian food. Spicy! And, oh, the lamented lost Chestnut Mousse Feuilette! They had it on the menu for a few years, and then they took it off for a while--maybe it's back? Hope springs eternal because it was the very finest desert ever . . . no, wait!

Ok, this will cost you a serious wad of cash, but you won't regret it: Ambrosia. Ok, Ambrosia is the very finest restuarant I have ever eaten in. Do look in to celebrating somethign importnat and wonderful there.

 

[Umbran]

(I recomend Tealuxe as a nice place for a cup of tea and a small bite.)

There is also a Tealuxe in Harvard Square, if you plan ot ake P--cat's advice and stop there. Wonderful tea and baked goods, though sometimes it's difficult to get a seat, as it's a small place....

 

[Paradox]

Yes, leave the car! Not only are the traffic patterns screwy (you have to know what lane you need to be in, and be in it before you need to.... and they don't let folks in...) but we have a little thing called the Big Dig. Lots of construction and detours.

If possible, park ouside the city, and take the commuter rail in, as parking in town gets very expensive quickly.

There's the Freedom Trail. New England Aquarium. The Museum of Science. The U.S.S Constitution (Old Ironsides.)

And the leaves should be changing colors soon. (Rt. 3 North would have been pretty, but it's all under construction, and they've torn out the median.)

 

[Sialia]

Ok, this isn't exactly a recommendation.

I've never been to this place.

Although I admit a guilty fascination with their website, akin to rubbernecking at a train wreck. At least check out the website. It's free. It's . . . special.

Somebody has put a frightening amount of work into this.

(I should talk, given my online hobbies, eh?)

Museum Of Bad Art

http://www.glyphs.com/moba/

MOBA Permanent Gallery
580 High Street
Dedham, MA 02026
781.444.6757

(Defintely call first if you are even thinking about this. The website doesn't seem to actually encourage visitors.)

um.

On the other hand, the clean one, in very serious recommendation, check out the sculpture garden at the De Cordova. (http://www.decordova.org/) This is probably my favorite art museum in the entire Boston area.

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Just moved out of Boston. Great place. Two quick restaurant recommendations — The Burren in Davis Sq./Somerville (right on the Red Line) and Border Café in Harvard Sq./Cambridge (also on the Red Line). The former is an Irish pub and probably my favorite place to grab a pint and some food (typical pub stuff). The other is a Tex-Mex/Cajun place, and a lot of people have mixed feelings about it. I love it — and most of my friends do, too. I'd recommend checking it out and, if you eat there, get the catfish — good stuff. One caveat, both places are wicked busy most of the time. Have fun!

Best,
Nick (tKL)

 

[Qlippoth]

Originally posted by Kajamba Lion Just moved out of Boston. Great place. Two quick restaurant recommendations — The Burren in Davis Sq./Somerville (right on the Red Line) and Border Café in Harvard Sq./Cambridge (also on the Red Line).

A second hearty vote for the Burren (though I'd advise against going after 9pm on Thurs/Fri/Sat nights--unless you want to elbow your way through the college kids). Redbones (also in Davis Square) has great food (of the barbecue variety) and a lovely selection of ever-changing beers.

 

[Blood Jester]

Quick note:

You all still ROCK!

If I don't respond frequently, it's not cause I'm not loving the info, work just gets in the way, and I'm doing the listen-don't talk thing.

Thanks guys.

And PC, when I have a target time zone, I'll let you know, and if you guys are free at some point, it will be great to meet you.