by Kelly | Jan 23, 2018 | Boston, Fit Travel, Massachusetts, North America, Travel, United States
There is no shortage of fitness options in this city! Boston is an epicenter of young professionals, and we certainly uphold the millennial stereotype of enjoying our studio classes and other workouts in the city.
Outdoor Options
Boston has many green spaces perfect for working out year-round. As the top running race in the world, the Boston Marathon, is held here, you will always see people who are either training for the Marathon or inspired by the runners running through the streets and on the Esplanade along the Charles River. If you are not at a level to participate in the Boston Marathon, the Boston Athletic Association offers 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon Races that run on the same streets through the city. In fact, the 5K occurs two days before the Marathon and the route has runners race right over the Marathon finish line after making the infamous right on Hereford, left on Boylston turns that marathon finishers make.
Boston Marathon Top Runners
Biking has also become popular in Boston recently. Many people use the city’s well-constructed bike lanes to commute to and from work, but if you’re looking for more of a leisurely ride you can rent a Hubway bike with a credit card from any of the Hubway stands and then ride along the Esplanade or the Charles River Bike Path in Cambridge with no risk of interference from motor vehicles.
Many fitness centers offer free outdoor classes in the summer as well. Through these programs you can find yoga in the parks, early morning outdoor boot camp classes, and Zumba® by Healthworks at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in the evening!
Spin Studios
What city full of young professionals would be complete without a plethora of spin studios? In Boston, you will find the national studios Soul Cycle, Turnstyle, and Flywheel, as well as local studios including B Spoke, The Handle Bar, and C-Town Cycle. Most of these locations offer free or discounted classes for first-time students, so you can try as many as you’d like without spending your entire vacation budget! My favorite – so far – is Turnstyle’s South End studio, but I have friends who prefer B Spoke, Soul Cycle, and Flywheel as well.
Yoga Classes
As with the spin studios, Boston’s residents would not be content without yoga studios around every corner. There are really too many to list, with local studios seemingly appearing every week, but some of my favorites include Down Under Yoga and Core Power Yoga (especially the C2 class). I’ve never had a bad experience at a Boston yoga studio, and similar to the spin studios, most studios will offer first-time student discounts or free classes so you can check them out while you’re in the city.
Yoga in the shadow of Boston’s Faneuil Hall
Indoor Rock Climbing
A recent phenomenon in the Boston area is indoor rock climbing. Brooklyn Boulders and Rock Spot Climbing are the two favorites among Bostonians. Just show up with your sneakers and the gyms will have all the other equipment that you need, like helmets and ropes. A professional on site will be available to explain everything and help belay if you’ve never done rock-climbing before, so if you are up for something new this is certainly worth trying out!
Dancing Lessons
A common theme you will come to notice in my posts is that I love to dance, and try to fit dancing into my life as much as possible. Because of this, I must talk about dancing in Boston as a fitness option. In addition to just sweating it out in one of our clubs or lounges on a weekend night, Boston offers dance lessons at various studios for those looking to learn the basics of different styles of dance.
The Boston Ballet, the company that produces The Nutcracker each year, offers open adult classes to which you can drop-in. If you’ve never danced before, the company provides an Intro to Ballet Workshop where you can start your journey towards becoming a ballerina. If you travel a bit outside the city, The Studio in Brookline also offers drop-in adult dance classes for all levels in many styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and pointe.
To learn some Latin dancing, especially Caribbean-style salsa, check out the lessons offered by Salsa y Control in Allston and Cambridge. The instructors from Salsa y Control also offer lessons at The Havana Club in Cambridge on Friday nights before the club is open to all levels for the best Latin dance party in Boston, where you can show off the moves you learned!
Night Out at the Havana Club
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by Kelly | Jan 5, 2018 | Boston, Massachusetts, North America, Travel, United States
The other day a good friend asked for ideas of things to do in downtown Boston with his wife for their anniversary, and I completely blanked! To be fair, it was the middle of December and forecast to be the coldest day of the season so far with a high of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, so I was limited to activities that didn’t require being outside at all. Since that day, and in preparation for writing this entry, I’ve been thinking hard and talking with friends about what the top attractions are in Boston. I hope there’s something that appeals to everyone!
Go See a Game
Red Sox – Yankees Game in the iconic Fenway Park
One of Boston’s many nicknames is the “City of Champions,” and with good reason: we have professional teams for all four of the major American sports (football, basketball, baseball, and hockey), and each has already won at least one national championship in the past 10 years. No matter which season you decide to visit Boston, you will be able to catch a game. If you want a relaxing, family-friendly atmosphere to both spend time with your friends and catch a game in America’s oldest ball field, check out the Red Sox at Fenway Park from April through September (or October if they make the playoffs!). If you want an intimate venue where you’re part of the action, head to TD Garden to watch either the Boston Bruins play hockey or the Boston Celtics in a basketball game: they share the venue, so be sure to check out which team is in town when you are in Boston. If you’re willing to make the trip – and pay the price for the tickets – you can catch a train or drive about 40 miles South of Boston to Foxboro to watch the five-time Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots take on other football opponents on Thursdays, Sundays, or Mondays from August through January.
Finally, if quintessential American sports are not your thing, you could always catch a New England Revolution game (soccer), watch thousands of top runners from around the world compete in the Boston Marathon, which takes place the third Monday of April every year, or cheer on crew teams in the Head of the Charles the third weekend of October. College sports teams in the area, including Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern, and Harvard, are also exciting to check out, and usually for a fraction of the price of their professional counterparts!
Check out Boston’s Museums
Boston is a world-class cultural center with many opportunities to see valuable works of art and experience scientific innovation at any of the museums around the city. I’ve listed some of my favorites with a brief description below.
Museum of Fine Art: Premier collection of world-renowned art from Ancient Egypt to modern America, including incredible temporary exhibits as well.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Site of the famous 1990 Rembrandt Heist, former mansion of Isabella Stewart Gardner filled with her personal collection of art she collected in her world travels during the 20th century.
Museum of Science: Contains not only typical science museum exhibits, but a great Planetarium and Omni experience theater. From March through November you can also head to the Observatory on Friday nights to check out the real night sky.
John F. Kennedy Library: The 35th American President was born in the Boston suburb of Brookline, where his house is still available for tours in the Spring and Summer months. His Presidential library sits on the South Shore of the city, accessible by public transit, and takes visitors through his youth, time serving in World War II, Presidential achievements, assassinations, and other contributions to the country by his family members.
New England Aquarium: While not technically a museum, this aquarium is great for aquatics-lovers to stop by with its multi-floor eco-system in the center, a touching-tank with sea rays and sharks, and the main attraction, penguins!
Mapararium: Take a tour inside this three-story glass globe built in the early 1900s, to see not only this impressive feat of architecture but also how the world has changed in the past century.
Many of Boston’s museums offer special monthly events as well with drinks, music, and programs geared towards adults, including the Museum of Fine Arts’ First Fridays, the Gardner Museum’s Third Thursdays, and Boston “Grown-Ups” Museum night at the Boston Children’s Museum.
Walk the Freedom Trail
Whenever I have family members visit me in Boston for the first time, they always ask about walking the Freedom Trail. While the trail is claimed to start in the Boston Common and end at the USS Constitution ship in Charleston, I would recommend going backwards and ending at the Common where there are plenty of locations to grab food or drink and relax when you have finished, including the original Cheers bar. There are 16 official stops on the Freedom Trail, which can all be found by following the Red Brick Line in the sidewalk (similar to Dorothy’s Yellow Brick Road in the Wizard of Oz). Here are the stops I find most interesting:
USS Constitution: From the late 1700s, this is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. After surviving the War of 1812 fighting against the British troops, she was given the nickname “Old Ironsides.” You can buy tickets to go on board and take a tour while she is docked.
Bunker Hill Monument: The second stop on the trail going backwards, the monument has 294 steps to climb to the top for a unique view of Boston.
Old North Church: The oldest church still operating in Boston, the steeple of this church is where the lanterns were purported to have been hung, “one if by land, two if by sea,” to signal to Paul Revere how the British were approaching so he could set off on his midnight ride to alert the colonists.
Paul Revere House: Built in 1680 and purchased by Paul Revere in 1770, you can visit the house where Revere and his family lived during the Revolutionary War.
Faneuil Hall: Filled with cute shops and vendors on the first floor, the meeting room on the second floor is where our Revolutionary Leaders met during the war, and where the Sons of Liberty expressed dissent against Royal oppression. While here, you can also stop by the shops and eateries of Quincy Market.
Site of the Boston Massacre: Identified by just a plaque, you can stand on the exact spot where the British troops shot at the colonists to ignite the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. A reenactment to commemorate the event takes place every year on the site.
Old State House: Visit the Old State House for a fascinating museum about the Revolutionary War, then step outside to look at the golden lion statue sitting atop the roof: in 2014 a time capsule from 1901 with its contents in almost perfect condition was found in the lion’s head when it was taken down for restoration.
Granary Burying Ground: An incredible cemetery in the heart of Boston near the Common, including a giant monument with the name “Franklin” on it, under which Ben Franklin’s parents are buried. Other individuals of note buried in this cemetery include Sam Adams and John Hancock.
Massachusetts State House: Impossible to miss with its gilded dome, the Massachusetts State House was built in 1798 and is still used by State Senators, Representatives, and the Governor to conduct state politics. You can take a tour or just step in to look at the interior of the dome and artifacts around the rotunda.
Boston Common/Boston Gardens: The Freedom Trail begins, and in this case ends, at the Boston Common. Used for many public purposes, including witch hangings in the 1700s, today you can find many families and college students enjoying the sun in the Common in the warm months, and ice skating on Frog Pond in the cold months. Walk through the Common to the Boston Garden, where the Swan Boats continue to make their way around the Pond in the summer months after almost 150 years of operation.
Swan Boats in the Boston Garden Pond
Take in a Show
Seeing as it is currently the holiday season in Boston, I cannot imagine being in this city without catching one of the many shows available. Check out the schedule at the Boston Symphony to see whether the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops are performing: if you are under 40 years old, you can get $20 tickets for select performances, and if you plan your trip to see the Boston Pops right, you could see John Williams himself conducting some of his hits from movie scores including Jaws, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Harry Potter! Many college music groups also provide cheap or free shows, including most Berklee organizations and the Boston College Symphonic Band, who performs at the Hatch Shell each summer.
If theatre is more your thing, you can check out Shakespeare in the Common during the summer months, or a hilarious version of Shakespeare with a drunk cast member not quite following the script in Sh*tfaced Shakespeare. Again, many colleges will also put on their own theatrical productions throughout the year.
You may instead choose to see the Boston Ballet (their version of the Nutcracker is amazing), a Broadway in Boston show, or check out a comedy performance at the Improv Asylum. Many top-billing performers also come through the city frequently, performing not only at big venues like TD Garden but also more intimate music venues like the Royale, House of Blues, and Paradise Rock Club.
Chromeo performing at the House of Blues
Of course, as in any city, you could also fill your days wandering the streets of Back Bay, Downtown, South Boston, and the North End, going on college visits to view the campuses of Harvard, MIT, Tufts, and Boston College, and sit by the water in the Seaport or at the beach, but I wanted to provide examples of some of the unique cultural experiences Boston also has to offer.
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by Kelly | Mar 25, 2017 | Boston, Massachusetts, North America, Travel, United States
Boston has a plethora of restaurants, bars, lounges, and places to dance and experience the nightlife! As this blog is meant to focus on high-end locales, I will highlight some of my favorite luxury restaurants, bars, and clubs. If you’d like additional information on any of the places discussed, or suggestions for less-high-end locations, please feel free to contact me!
Restaurants
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Eastern Standard
The Eastern Standard provides your typical upscale American fare with a European ambiance. It is also just a couple of blocks from Fenway Park, making it a great place to go before or after a Red Sox game. They have amazing oysters sourced from the Southern Coast of Massachusetts due to their affiliation with their neighboring restaurant Island Creek Oysters (also highly recommended). This is also a hot spot for brunch with a fantastic Eggs Benedict and House Smoked Salmon. The rest of the menu, including the cocktail menu, rotates on a seasonal basis, but I’ve gone here for years and have never been disappointed. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city, you can sit on Eastern Standard’s sidewalk patio in the heart of Kenmore Square in the warmer months, allowing you to enjoy the warm weather while engaging in some fantastic people-watching.
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Smith & Wollensky at the Castle
At the end of the 19th Century, Massachusetts built a Victorian Armory for its First Corps of Cadets. It was one of many armories in Boston at the time, but is now the last standing Victorian Armory in Boston and home to Smith and Wollensky , one of Boston’s premier steakhouses. When you arrive at The Castle, as the Armory is now called, you are greeted by the friendliest, most helpful staff, who bring you to your table in one of the many available rooms. There is certainly an air of elegance throughout the entire restaurant, though it is coupled with well-placed armory memorabilia. On top of the atmosphere, the food is incredible: the steaks, especially the filet mignon, are carefully selected and cooked perfectly. One of my favorite side dishes is the Truffled Macaroni & Cheese: if you can’t make it to Smith & Wollensky in the near future, their Macaroni & Cheese recipe is available online (I made this for my family one year for Easter and it was a big hit)!
(Update June 23, 2018: Smith and Wollensky recently announced they will be closing their Castle location in Boston: locations are still open downtown on Atlantic Wharf and a new location is coming soon to Wellesley, MA)
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Babbo
Babbo is an up-and-coming Italian restaurant in Boston’s up-and-coming Seaport district. A Mario Batali restaurant, Babbo brings a modern feel to classic Italian dishes. Last time I was there I ordered the Polpette Alla Griglia (Octopus on the Grill) and also tried the traditional Pizza Margherita. The octopus was a little spicier than I had expected, but still enjoyable and well-cooked. The pizza was relatively authentic compared to what I’ve eaten in Northern Italy, with a slightly thicker crust than the original Pizza Napoli. I also ordered the Sardinian Iced Tea, a mixture of prosecco, lime juice, and meletti amaro (an Italian liqueur), and it did not disappoint. For the wine drinkers, Babbo has an extensive list of Italian wines, all of which are fantastic. If you’re looking for something fresh yet classy in Boston’s hottest new district, Babbo is the way to go. One word of caution: as the Seaport is still being developed, parking can be a bit of a challenge, so if you are able to take the T instead, you can get off at Courthouse on the Silver Line, the closest stop, or take the Red Line to South Station and walk just over the water to Babbo.
Runner-Up Restaurants: Pier 6, Ristorante Fiore, Ruth Chris
Lounges
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Top of the Hub
No post about Boston’s food and drink scene would be complete without discussing the Top of the Hub, Boston’s sky-high, 360 degree-view restaurant and bar on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center. Many Bostonians have mixed feelings about the Top of the Hub, and I’ve heard it’s meals are overpriced for mediocre food (I have never come for an entire lunch or dinner). However, its drinks are amazing – both the classics and specialty house cocktails – as well as its desserts. During the day you can enjoy your drink with one of the best views of the city in a very relaxed atmosphere, high above the aforementioned hustle and bustle. In the evening things get a bit more lively: one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday night is to sit in the lounge at the Top of the Hub, enjoying the live jazz music and watching couples try to showcase their skills on the dance floor.
Here I am at the Top of the Hub enjoying a chocolate lava cake birthday dessert and a caramel apple martini while looking out on Boston
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RumBa
Named for its extensive selection of rums from around the world, along with the Bostonian pronunciation of “bar” (hence Rum-Ba(r)), the InterContinental’s RumBa is one of my favorite cocktail bars in Boston. While my friends and I are easily the youngest people by decades when we go here, grabbing drinks at RumBa surrounded by accomplished business professionals makes us feel suave and sophisticated. This is a great place to come either after attending an event in downtown Boston or on a weekend afternoon in the summer when you can sit on the deck by the water. Their collection of liquors is extensive. I almost always order one of the rum cocktails with Mount Gay rum, which takes me back to my days on the beach in Barbados enjoying local rum punches.
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Legal Harborside
Boston has a large selection of rooftop bars that open in April and remain open through the Fall. A few even opened for a couple days this past February when we had a week with temperatures in the 60s! Every year one of my friends and I obtain a list of all the rooftop bars in Boston and vow to get to each of them during the summer, and while every year we fail, Legal Harborside is one rooftop bar we have made it to multiple times. Not only does this place have killer sangria, but it also offers small plates including some pretty intense, delicious sushi. Sitting over the water in the Seaport, Legal Harborside has a retractable roof, high top tables with a city view, and large white lounge couches, if you can snag one. This is also one of the hottest after-work and weekend places to gather, and if you don’t arrive early enough you’ll encounter a fairly long line waiting to go upstairs to the third-floor roof deck.
Runners-Up Lounges: City Bar at The Lenox, Lolita, Audobon, The Charlesmark Lounge & Bar
Nightclubs
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Icon/Venu/Cure
Space Entertainment throws some amazing dance parties at their clubs. The current lineup includes Cure on Thursdays, Venu on Fridays, Icon on Saturdays, and Cure again on Sundays. Cure is located under the Wilbur Theater – no, those people in line are not waiting to see a show, as I thought when I first went here – and has the most lounge-like feel of the three venues. It has many couches set up around and throughout the dance floor, though there is still plenty of space for dancing. However, don’t plan on using the couches unless you buy a table or make friends with someone who bought a table. Venu has a larger dance floor space in the middle of the club but much less personality than Cure: it is clearly meant for dancing. Icon (formerly Rumor) has two rooms with dance floors that include stages and VIP sections. Icon’s back room hosts Latin Nights on Saturday nights, but to control the crowds you need to either buy a table in the Latin Room or obtain a wristband from one of the club’s promoters. Because these are the only ways to access Icon’s Latin Room, the tables sell out quickly and it is very difficult to get a promoter to give up a coveted wrist band, let alone multiple wristbands for your crew. The difficulty with getting into the Latin Room is one of the reasons I prefer Cure Thursdays: Cure also boasts a back Latin Room, but movement between the main room and the Latin Room is fluid as long as there is space, no wristbands or tables needed. Regardless, you can’t go wrong with any of these locations if you are looking to dance and rub shoulders with some of the who’s-who of Boston: visiting sports teams and big name sports stars have been known to make appearances at each of these clubs.
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Bell in Hand
Bell in Hand is America’s oldest continuously operating tavern. It was where the Sons of Liberty, including Paul Revere and Sam Adams, gathered to plan the American Revolution in the 1700s, and the notorious Whitey Bulger met with his cronies in the 1970s. Today it is frequented by students and young professionals as a great place to grab a drink and dance to either the live cover bands on the first floor or top-40 music played by a DJ on the second floor. Entrance into the bar itself can include a wait that is well worth it, with another line awaiting you inside to reach the second floor. Both floors offer great nights of dancing depending on what you’re looking for: while the second floor has a more club-like atmosphere, don’t feel that you are missing out if you decide to forego the second line to enjoy the first floor’s band.
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Alibi
You won’t find as many students at Alibi as the other clubs: this locale tends to attract successful young professionals in their late-20s and early-30s. Located in The Liberty hotel, you usually won’t have to wait in line as long to get in here as some other clubs, and cover and tables are a bit cheaper, though there is less of a designated dance space. Instead, people just dance with their friends throughout the bar. If you are going out with people for whom dancing is not their thing, one of the nice things about the Alibi is that while some of you are dancing in the lounge, others can enjoy The Liberty’s calmer drinking areas Clink and The Liberty Bar.
Runner-Up Nightclubs: Umbria Prime, Scholars, The Brahmin
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by Kelly | Mar 16, 2017 | Boston, Massachusetts, North America, Travel, Travel Advice, United States
So you want to visit Boston!
I have lived in Boston for about 10 years, first as a student and now as a young professional, and I am so excited to share what I know about the city over the next few posts. The first thing you need to do is get here: Boston is easily accessible by car, plane, train, and bus.
Driving to Boston
Boston is on the far Eastern coast of the United States. If you’re going to drive here, you have a few major highways to pick from. Visitors from the West, you’re probably going to drive in on Route 90 aka the Mass Pike or the Pike. I use the Pike every time I go home to visit my family and in 10 years I have never had a great experience. The speed limit may be posted as your standard 65 m.p.h., but if you’re not going at least 70 in the middle lane you will have someone on your bumper almost immediately. Further, the left lane is not necessarily used for passing, but for drivers going over 80 m.p.h. I recommend spending as little time on the Pike as possible, though it is unfortunately the best way for most drivers to reach Boston.
The other major highways running through Boston are Routes 93 and 95, both running North to South. In fact, Route 95 runs the entire length of the U.S. East Coast from Maine to Florida! They are more manageable to drive on than the Pike , but be careful going South on 93 as it doesn’t continue down to Rhode Island or Cape Cod (aka “the Cape”) but instead loops back around to the city.
As in any major city, parking in Boston can be difficult to find and expensive. If you are able to find a metered spot, I recommend using the “Park Boston” app to pay for your meter. If you find yourself out longer than anticipated and your meter is about to run out, you can just re-load time using your smartphone instead of running back to your car. If you are heading for the North End, the best garage to use is Parcel 7 because most North End locations will validate your ticket, leaving you to pay just $1 for 2 hours or $2 for 3 hours, which is unheard of in Boston. Most hotels will have parking garages available for you to leave your car, but likely at a steep price. Many people will opt instead to leave their cars outside the city at a T-station and take the T (the metro system) into the city instead.
Flying to Boston
Sunrise over Boston Harbor from the window of Boston’s Logan Airport
Boston has its own airport pretty close to the city, Boston Logan Airport (BOS). This is the best airport to use to get to Boston, and it is serviced by 40 different airlines flying to and from 35 different countries and territories as well as most of the U.S. Other regional airports include Manchester, New Hampshire, and Providence, Rhode Island, but they are smaller, about an hour away, and will require you to rent a car or take a bus or train into the city.
Once you arrive at Logan Airport, you can catch a taxi at the taxi stand. The ride to city center will be about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic and cost about $35 plus tip. You can also rent a car, though as a local I have never had that experience so unfortunately cannot offer any information on doing so.
Your other option to get into the city is to take our metro system, known as the T! I highly recommend taking the Silver Line (which is actually a bus) to South Station, and then connecting to the rest of the T system from there. This is probably the quickest and most direct way to get to the city, and will take about 20 minutes. The other T line accessing the airport is the Blue Line: to use this line, you’ll need to catch the #88 shuttle bus at the airport, and then transfer at the aptly-named Airport T stop. Either way you choose, it will cost $2.75 per ride with a Charlie ticket, $12 for a 24-hour pass, or $21.25 for a 7-day pass. If you can find a Charlie Card at the airport, rides will be just $2.25 each.
Boston by Train or Bus
As with most cities, the most direct way to the city center is to arrive at the train station. Boston’s South Station is the main Boston station for Amtrak trains, though some trains also arrive at the North Station. The bus terminal is also located at South Station. Two types of trains roll into Boston each day, the Accela and the Northeast Regional. The Accela is more expensive, but travels faster and has less stops. Its interior is also more spacious and it usually has a dining car. The Northeast Regional is cheaper but stops multiple times along the Connecticut coast, in Rhode Island, and in southern Massachusetts coming from New York City (which could be ideal if you’re not originating in NYC).
South Station by Night
You can take a bus to Boston from New York City, Springfield, MA, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or Connecticut. Your bus line options run the gamut from the super-cheap Lucky Star and Mega Bus lines to the very common Peter Pan and Greyhound buses.
Both the Red and Silver lines of the T run through South Station, so as soon as you arrive you can easily get to your final destination! There is also a taxi stand available just outside where you can catch a cab.
The T
Welcome to Boston! Now that you’re in the city, stay tuned for posts in the near future highlighting places to go and things to see.
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