Boston trip

[Lebowski]

My girlfriend and I will we be heading to Boston for 6 days in July. I know some of you guys live(d) out there. Can I get some suggestions for restaurants, sight seeing, day trips near the city, etc.

Thanks.

[Squints]

I think eo will be all over this, but I'll offer some choices without giving a whole lot. My wife daughter and I spent a few days there this past summer, so your trip will be different than ours. I will say to go on a Duck Tour. A WWII amphibious vechicle tours the city. A fun tour, "character guides" if you will and gives an overview of the city, it's popular, not too long and worth the money. There is a ticket guide in Quincy Market that offers discounted tickets, but they are same day sales so you may need to be flexible.

Fenway Park- if you are a baseball enthusiast. If you can't go to a game, take a tour you go through most of the ballpark- press box and on top of the green monster to name a few. We did that and the tour was full- approx 50 to 75 people. I believe it was $15/per.

We stayed at a Homewood's Suites a short drive to the blue line subway and took that in very easy. But stay in the city if you want that experience

Depending on how much you plan to do in the city, take a day trip to the Cape, we spent a week in Falmouth prior to Boston. Not sure what you can do in a day except go to a beach and take in the atmosphere. Check it off the list.

Now that is an outsiders/tourist viewpoint. I'll leave it to the locals to give you clubs and restaurants upon clubs and restaurants. Have fun and enjoy, it's a great town to visit. Would go back.

[DrPoove]

Was just there for a wedding. Skipjacks is tasty and not too pricey if you like seafood.

[El Heffe]

Dude, where are you kids staying? That'll help with the suggestions. I've been up here for 10 years myself so I'll throw out what I know.

[Lebowski]

Thanks guys.

We are staying at Copley Square Hotel (47 Huntington Ave).

Already purchased tickets for 2 games at Fenway. Was there years ago (and under 21), cant wait to go back.

[MartyM]

went there a few years ago. I enjoyed eating at The Charthouse where they had some real good chowder. Did the tour at the Sam Adams brewery. Had way too many samples and the wife was a little angry but she got over it. Did the tourist things like Duck Tours, Fenway tour (it was Yankees weekend so tere was no way to get tickets without paying an arm and a leg) and the John Hancock Tower

[Squints]

Thanks guys.

We are staying at Copley Square Hotel (47 Huntington Ave).

Already purchased tickets for 2 games at Fenway. Was there years ago (and under 21), cant wait to go back.

I know that hotel. It's a good one and your like a block or two from the green line subway (also the Fenway subway). Good find and again, have fun!!

[Ziner]

Eoy, its your time to shine! Lets see whatchu got after ripping on the former or current Chicagoians

[e0y2e3]

FWIW: You are staying a mere ten minute walk from me. I live about 60% of the way between you and Fenway so if you want to have a beer and make fun of people from Y-Town give me a call. I of course recommend the pub across the street from me/where I spend all my money:

http://www.crossroadspubboston.com/

Nothing special about it aside from the fact that I am there all of the time and I am pretty awesome.

Food, what you want I can recommend it.

Affordable, easy walking distance of you, the best collection of sandwhiches in the world (all done by various boston chefs and for 10-14 bucks) with beers and outdoor seating:

http://www.parishcafe.com/

Expensive and Littly Italy style:

http://www.luccaboston.com/

Real bad ass steak house within a very very short walk from your hotel:

http://www.abeandlouies.com/

Locke Ober is a former men's club that has housed everyone from JFK to every other bad ass in the city over the last 100 years. Fantastic meal (one of my very favorites in the city), service, wine, and incredible building to be inside (not in the coolest of neighborhoods, but within walking/easy T distance of you:

http://www.lockeober.com/

This place is not too far and the guy was just on Top Chef Masters. Legit food and what not.

http://www.radiusrestaurant.com/

That said, on the food I need a bit more directions. I can send you to anywhere from the famous Man versus Food Burger of Death:

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/01/tonight-on-man-v-food-the-eagles-deli-burger-challenge-in-boston.html

To a place with solid bar food and 200 different tequilas.

[e0y2e3]

On to the obvious, you put your girlfried right in the heart of luxury Boston Shopping. Copley Place and Newbury Street. Make sure you walk Newbury for even just a little bit.

http://www.newbury-st.com/

Literally tons and tons of bars cafes and what not within a mile radius of you.

Brewery section:

Before going to Fenway hit up Boston Beer Works (across the street). Great beer, Boston tradition, decent food:

http://www.beerworks.net/home/index.html

Sam Adams (can do the tour but a bit more of a hike than the Harpoon Brewery):

http://www.samueladams.com/verification/?nocookie

Harpoon (recommended tour due to location):

http://www.harpoonbrewery.com/index.cfm?pid=28487

Cambridge Brewing Company (fantastic affordable place to drink and eat in Kendall Square MIT/Cambridge/not far)

http://www.cambrew.com/

History and Art:

Freedom Trail (you walk and listen to a toolbox in costume tell you about things ranging from samuel adams grave to paul revere's house. Like a two mile walk but a nice overview of the city and unmatched history):

http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (filthy rich lady that left incredible art/home as a museum. Also the site of the largest art heist in US history. You can still see the hanging frames they cut the pictures out of):

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/

Day trip out to Lexington/Concord (more revolutionary history and supposedly a good time, have not done it). Can also day trip to Salem (supposed to be real cool) and Plymouth (who cares about a rock. I have done none of these but have heard good things. I recommend Google.


Other things you may want to do: (make sure to check out each of the neighborhoods linked below)

Duck Boat Tour (Not my style, but meh, it will sort of show you the city):

http://www.bostonducktours.com/

Walk Harvard Square (do it, worth your time, although in July I would bring a shot gun to deal with all the other tourists):

http://www.harvardsquare.com/

-> Drink and eat here on the not too expensive side of things while in Harvard Square: http://www.johnharvards.com/index.shtml

Walk around Beacon Hill (very near you/just across Boston Common, cool architecture, good pubs, etc.....)

http://www.beaconhillonline.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

Walk the Back Bay (my hood, where you are staying):

http://www.visitbostonbackbay.com/site/

Walk the historic North End (again, just cool little italy section of Boston, awesome farmers markets, bakeries, etc..... make sure you eat here)

http://www.northendboston.com/

-> while there have a pastry from the best pastry shop in the city: http://www.mikespastry.com/

-> and feel like you are in the godfather and hit up this cigar bar: http://www.stanzadeisigari.com/

Have a cocktail atop the Pru (right next to you and the best view/drink combo in the city:

http://www.topofthehub.net/

Put Ziner on ignore.

Visit Faneiul Hall (tourist hell, so if you skip anything this should be it, but the street performers rock... freedom trail hits it briefly and would suffice):

http://www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com/

Etc... etc...

Ultimately, Boston is an eating and drinking city. Do both until you cannot anymore. Also, it is a walking city, so just get out and explore. You are in a nice central location to the Back Bay, North End and Beacon Hill, the best places to bounce around. And let me know more of what type of food you are looking for. My Back Bay link includes more galleries and museums. There are tons. If that is your thing. And a day out on the cape may not suck, but you know no one and would be fighting tourist death. Good luck.

I'll think about more. If you give me any direction you want to go I'll produce what I can as well. I've got some sight seeing to do myself the next couple weeks with the little bro up for 4th of July Mayhem/Boozefest and the parents up the weekend after. And remember, putting Ziner on ignore is key to having a good trip.

BTW: knowing when you are going would help, as events and what not are always rotating.

And I am sure you want seafood, thinking about the best place to send you now. Will come to a conclusion tomorrow.

[El Heffe]

eoy, the place you're thinking of is Sunset Cantina by BU (Boston U). Good place, good bar food and GREAT tequila selection. Tried to go there on my bachelor party crawl but was too drunk and didn't get in, probably a good thing. Also since college kids aren't around might now be too crowded. It's not too far from where you're staying on the T (Boston's subway). take the "B" line (Boston College line) to Pleasant Street I believe and it's a block or two walk.

Some other good palces:
North End: Tratorria Il Panino (get the veal saltimbocca), it's right of Hanover Street, and as eoy said go to Mike's Pastry, the best in the city

There's also a great seafood place in the North End called Neptune's Oyster. It's a little tucked away so ask for directions and it's small, but incredible. Since you're staying in Copley I recommned a quick walk to the South End, great bistros that way and some are high end, some more reasonably priced. PICCO is good (a pizza & ice cream joint).

In terms of sight seeing, if the Sox aren't in town try to get a tour a Fenway, there's a lso a bar in Fenway called the Bleacher Bar. It actually has a huge gargae door that looks out on to the field, but they close it during games, but it's still cool when the door is open.

Along with eoy, the Freedom Trail is good. You can do a tour or just walk it yourself for free. Plymouth is a little far if you're only there for a few day, plus the Rock sucks. It's more like a pebble. If you do have time for a day trip, go to Salem, really nice museums like the Witch Museum and the Peabody-Essex. Also, good seafood place called Finz, right on the water and get the Buffalo calamari.

I'm not a Faneuil hall man myself, but if you've never been to Boston you should at least check it out. But don't buy anything, it's way over priced and chinzy.

[e0y2e3]

eoy, the place you're thinking of is Sunset Cantina by BU (Boston U). Good place, good bar food and GREAT tequila selection. Tried to go there on my bachelor party crawl but was too drunk and didn't get in, probably a good thing. Also since college kids aren't around might now be too crowded. It's not too far from where you're staying on the T (Boston's subway). take the "B" line (Boston College line) to Pleasant Street I believe and it's a block or two walk.

Depends, I was there two Tuesdays ago and it was hell because the Sox were playing.

Hour wait for a table for two and no room at the bar.

That said, it's a fine place to get shitty. As my hangover the next day can attest to.

As for the North End advice I have full faith in you. The North End is the last part of the city I really need to lay into eating everywhere (hit four or five restaurants thus far). The Cigar bar is the shit though, no doubt, as is Mikes.

And the South End has some of the best food in the city (the gay area, if you will) so also not a bad suggestion. That said, the neighborhood is feh so I don't eat there all that often. It's the most recently gentrified part of Boston (Southie is in the process) and you can tell: still plenty of low income housing, plenty of gays (not that that is a bad thing) plenty of old folks that wanted larger places... etc... probably the most diverse of the core Boston neighborhoods, but not all that exciting to walk. Food is bomb diggity though.

This place is real cool there, a butcher shop/bar/restaurant:

http://thebutchershopboston.com/

[El Heffe]

Never been to Butcher Shop, but been meaning to. For a high place in the South End, try hammersley's: www.hammersleysbistro.com. Excellent food.

Some nice to do, depending on the weather (and eoy since you need to hit up the North End I recommed this as well), go to a place called Il Panino Express (yes, same owners as Trattoria) get a prosciutto sandwich for $7 (it's HUGE and a great deal really more than enough for two), and just walk around the North End and take it all in. Then when you're done get some bakery at Mike's or gelato. Great way to spend an afternoon.

[Lebowski]

Many thanks to e0y2e3, el heffe and the others who have commented.

We will be staying out there July 22-27.

Thoughts on some of the better seafood joints would be helpful as well. Also, a list of bars around Fenway to hit.

e0y2e3, pm me with your contact info, we'll meet up for a draft.

Thanks again.

[e0y2e3]

Fenway is easy, you can hit crossroads on the way in if you just want a local pub. You SHOULD hit Boston Beer works (I linked up thread, only beer there though) and if you want to catch the Tribe Game on any night you can always hit Game On (right across the street).

Fenway is surrounded by bars, literally, but the Cask & Flagon, Boston Beers Works, Game On corner has everything you need.

My seafood thoughts are a bit scattered, as I am torn between a few places and between experience/views versus just eating. Will have more in a few, going to run this by my boy/filter.

[peeker643]

Is Legal Seafood still in business there E? I recall a very good Lobster Milanese there but it was almost 20 years ago. God damn that hurts to say.

[jb]

Fenway is easy, you can hit crossroads on the way in if you just want a local pub. You SHOULD hit Boston Beer works (I linked up thread, only beer there though) and if you want to catch the Tribe Game on any night you can always hit Game On (right across the street).

Fenway is surrounded by bars, literally, but the Cask & Flagon, Boston Beers Works, Game On corner has everything you need.

My seafood thoughts are a bit scattered, as I am torn between a few places and between experience/views versus just eating. Will have more in a few, going to run this by my boy/filter.

Bah.

Fenway is for tourests.

[e0y2e3]

Is Legal Seafood still in business there E? I recall a very good Lobster Milanese there but it was almost 20 years ago. God damn that hurts to say.

Yeah, there are plenty of them, went to my first while in B-more. Legal is alright and I'd rec it or Tia's on the Waterfront. Both are on Long Wharf http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&ei=tD5OSp6hJ9bJtgfrjqyiBA&resnum=0&q=long%20wharf%20boston&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl and decent. I find that Tia's has better food than Legal (legal is a bit of a tourist trap at this point and has WAY too much fried crap on the menu, as it's legend and franchising has outgrown its past prestige) but Tia's gives you crap portions and costs more. For straight up lobster or anything along those lines I say jump at it. Both are great at fresh food and have great views/outdoor seating on the water. I was thinking more complex on the sea food thing and probably over-thinking it. I mean, how hard is it to steam a lobster?

[e0y2e3]

Fenway is easy, you can hit crossroads on the way in if you just want a local pub. You SHOULD hit Boston Beer works (I linked up thread, only beer there though) and if you want to catch the Tribe Game on any night you can always hit Game On (right across the street).

Fenway is surrounded by bars, literally, but the Cask & Flagon, Boston Beers Works, Game On corner has everything you need.

My seafood thoughts are a bit scattered, as I am torn between a few places and between experience/views versus just eating. Will have more in a few, going to run this by my boy/filter.

Bah.

Fenway is for tourests.

And Massholes.

And Yuppies.

[e0y2e3]

Oh yeah and I bet you were at one of if not the first Legal Peeker....

LOL......... http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm?pid=11279

[peeker643]

Oh yeah and I bet you were at one of if not the first Legal Peeker....

LOL......... http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm?pid=11279

I don't know which one I was at.

I was working for Balston out of Haverhill and they took me out to one of 'em. Cool place. Went to Smith & Wesson's plant in NH or MA or somewhere up there too.

Same with Raytheon? They had a plant there as well someplace. Prolly woulda been '91 or '92.

Spent the week there for training and ride alongs and ended it with a huge steak and clambake with tons of shell fish and booze. That I remember. Not so much regarding the products.

[e0y2e3]

Oh yeah and I bet you were at one of if not the first Legal Peeker....

LOL......... http://www.legalseafoods.com/index.cfm?pid=11279

I don't know which one I was at.

I was working for Balston out of Haverhill and they took me out to one of 'em. Cool place. Went to Smith & Wesson's plant in NH or MA or somewhere up there too.

Same with Raytheon? They had a plant there as well someplace. Prolly woulda been '91 or '92.

Spent the week there for training and ride alongs and ended it with a huge steak and clambake with tons of shell fish and booze. That I remember. Not so much regarding the products.

I "know" where you work, but I am getting closer and closer to thinking you are a part of the last breaths of the mob.....