Boston for a day, what to do?

[abc]

May go to Boston for work in October and potnetially have a free day to kill. Any recommendation of what to do?

I've been to Boston a few times before. Not too familiar with it but have done much of the typical touristy things. So looking for a bit out of the beaten path kind of stuff, in the city or surrounding area.

 

[deadheadskier]

eat

great food town.

 

[gmcunni]

i was just there over the weekend.

1. fanieul hall for shopping and lunch
2. duck tour around back bay + charles river
3. dinner @ boylston street - ate @ atlantic fish company - great food
4. tour of fenway park. if you like baseball, regardless of your team, it is a great tour.

 

[abc]

eat

great food town.

Love that! Any particular recommendation? Fresh seafood?

I need to gain some weight if I were to keep up with the gang going down the hill!

 

[deadheadskier]

depends on your tastes, budget.

I'd recommend reading through here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/12

Not that you can't get a decent meal in Faneuil Hall, but there are more tourist traps in there than good eats, same goes for Newbury Street and the Northend.

 

[Paul]

depends on your tastes, budget.

I'd recommend reading through here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/12

Not that you can't get a decent meal in Faneuil Hall, but there are more tourist traps in there than good eats, same goes for Newbury Street and the Northend.

Agreed.

Although a bit touristy, Legal is good as is Jaspar White's Summer Shack over in Copley,

 

[billski]

May go to Boston for work in October and potentially have a free day to kill. Any recommendation of what to do?

I've been to Boston a few times before. Not too familiar with it but have done much of the typical touristy things. So looking for a bit out of the beaten path kind of stuff, in the city or surrounding area.

My picks:

• North end late. Bring home stuff from Mike's for mom. Make many friends.
• Harvard Peabody Museums are pretty intense way to spend a day.
• Harvard Memorial Hall - stick your nose inside for a few minutes.
• Passims in Harvard Square
• Herrels in Harvard square before it closes. Almost all the good stuff is gone now. RIP The Tasty...
• BSO open rehearsals
• Paintings and art in BPL
• Medieval Manor Theater - bizzare at worst outrageous at best. Good manners are prohibited.
• Hilton's Tent City
• Maparium @ Church of Christ the Scientist
• Trinity Church noontime organ recitals
• Food shopping in Chinatown. I mean like bring home some real Chinese candy or how about a dead chicken?
• Hasty Pudding Theatricals
• Muqueca Brazilian Restaurant - Cambridge
• Ether Dome - Mass General Hospital
• Gardner Museum
• Boston Athenaeum
• Warren Anatomical Museum, Harvard Medical School, Boston - definitely bizzare.
• Sandy's Music, Cambridge
• Art studios in the South End - showtime in September
• Anything at Boston Center for the Arts, south end
• MIT Museum
• Kupels in Brookline
• After you stuffed yourself at Mikes, walk down to the MDC rink on commercial ave at night and go to the water side. the MOST spectacular view of the Zakim bridge.
• Go stare at the Smoot markers on the Mass. Ave bridge.
• We climbed up through the clock in the old customs house. Freaking scary. Don't think anyone would let you do that any more. Too bad.
• Speaking of has-beens, it's too late for you, but bowling under Fenway Park was always a hoot. If you really must bowl, go to Kings.
• Do the North End on a saint's day celebration.
• Stick your nose in any church that you walk by. there is some incredible art and architecture hidden away in these gems.
• Leave your manners at home at eat fish at no-name restaurant on Fish Pier. Just go for the experience.

And no, I didn't steal these from a list. I've done all of them. That's enough for one day
Suggest you have a slight independent streak for many of these have no hand-holding.

 

[riverc0il]

My goodness, what a question! Please narrow the possibilities down at least a little bit! I would not even know where to begin without further clarification.

As a general tidbit, Boston is a great walking city. Unless the weather is bad, plan out a route to walk that makes some logical sense and don't bother with the subway unless you really need to get form one side of the city to the other to fulfill an itinerary.

 

[Angus]

Bill had alot of good suggestions but I'd start at the common and via public gardens start walking out the backbay by way of Newbery street - and stop at Bill's suggestions..Trinity Church (copley square); Maparium @ Church of Christ the Scientist and then Gardner Museum...you could then walk along the fenways to fenway park and take the t back to the common on the green line...

 

[abc]

My goodness, what a question! Please narrow the possibilities down at least a little bit! I would not even know where to begin without further clarification.

As a general tidbit, Boston is a great walking city. Unless the weather is bad, plan out a route to walk that makes some logical sense and don't bother with the subway unless you really need to get form one side of the city to the other to fulfill an itinerary.

Sorry for asking such a general question. But I'm kind of interested in a lot of things just a little bit.

Will actually be taking multiple trips up there for work. So a day here and half a day there...

The list is great. Since food will be paid for by client, that's top priority.

I could also bring my bike with me on one of the trips. Suggestion for a good loop with nice/interesting views? (minimum of 20 miles to worth bring the bike.) Or a good off-road loop that's worth 2-3 hours?

 

[playoutside]

Building on Bill's list...
Definitely check out the Maparium. Summer Shack is right nearby. Great seafood.
If you go to the Art Studios in the South End, check out Rocca for dinner. Great atmosphere and food. One of Michela Larson's restaurants.

 

[billski]

Eating. Fire & Ice. roll your own food, they cook it. Casual but fun, very creative, very funky place. Lines can get long, hugely popular. Definitely won't break the bank. Loc @ Church st. in Harvard Square. Oh yeah, there is one in Boston too.

Oh, and I don't know if it's still there, but the largest number of ATMs in one location for one bank (well used to be anyways) is right next to the coop. Worth 30 second look-see. While you're there, go rub John Harvard's boot for good luck,or any communicable disease of your choice

....and, while standing outside the Coop, look up to find the law offices of Dewy, Cheatham and Howe. For real. Well, kinda. Good luck!

 

[Philpug]

Eat: North End. Mikes.

 

[riverc0il]

Personally, I think Fire & Ice is over rated. Probably not an opinion shared by most. I never eat in Boston unless I am out with others that want to eat out somewhere specific. This seems to be the popular go to spot for many but it just does not do it for me. Kind of like how a buffet is a novelty until you realize you can get a better quality breakfast for less money without the novelty.

Angus has a good plan of attack for a walk. You can throw in the Esplanade along the Charles which is a great walk. Newbury Street is good for people watching though I wouldn't shop there but I have had dinner at some places in that area but can't remember the names.

My type of dining in Boston used to be South Street Diner at 3am. The type of place where the strung out waitress will smack the E'd out patrons around if they get out of line. Or slimey disgusting pizza at less than reputable establishments such as HiFi in Cambridge. A McD's drive through on the outside of town at 4:30am when dawn is just cresting the edge of the ocean. Who needs $40 a plate meals when you have entertainment like that!

 

[deadheadskier]

The list is great. Since food will be paid for by client, that's top priority.

If your client is opening up the wallet

Overall Fine Dining Excellence: 9 Park, Espalier, Clio or Craigie on Main in Cambridge

South End: The Butcher Shop or Hammersley's Bistro

North End Italian: Tresca or Bricco

Seafood: Neptune Oyster - as outrageous as $25 for a lobster roll sounds, it is the best in the city by far.

Asian influenced: Oya

Steak House: Grill 23

Waterfront: Sel de la Terre....becoming a chain, which I typically don't support, but it is excellent.

Unique: Tangierino in Charleston

Chinatown: Shabu Zen

Harvard Square: Harvest

Off the Beaten Path in surrounding towns: Gran Gusto, Oleana, EVOO

Lunch: Sportello

Cocktails: Bond in the Langham Hotel

Things to avoid: Any Todd English restaurant, Columbus Restaurant Group, Back Bay Restaurant Group, Top of the Hub. All have become far too corporate. They have kitchen talent, the menus of the restaurants can be unique, but their choice in ingredients can be very substandard. All the talent and creativity in the world will not make up for crap ingredients. Barbara Lynch, Ken Oringer and Lydia Shire would be examples of Boston celebrity chefs with multiple restaurants who have not jumped the shark.

 

[snowmonster]

Great list above but I would add for consideration:

South End: B&G Oysters

Steak House: Ruth's Chris, Abe & Louie

Chinatown: Dim Sum at Chau Chau CIty

Harvard Square: Upstairs at the Square

Cocktails: Clink in the Liberty Hotel

Barbecue: Redbones (Davis Square)

Venezuelan: Orinoco

Sushi: Fugakyu

Ethiopian: Addi's Red Sea

Deli: Zaftigs

Mexican: La Verdad, Ana's Taqueria (good and cheap burritos)

Brazilian Rodizio (all you can eat meats): Midwest Grill

 

[deadheadskier]

I'll have to check out some of your ethnic suggestions. My knowledge is a bit weak in that area for Boston.

 

[midd]

I'd avoid Mike's and hit up Modern Pastry for the goods in the North End.

deadhead has a great list, my primary addition would be cocktails at Clink/Alibi at the Liberty Hotel and dinner at Scampo, also at the Liberty. Lydia Shire restaurantI've been to a handful of times, never having left unfulfilled.

edit: second to recommend Clink

 

[midd]

Avoid Tremont 647, although if you've watched this season of hell's kitchen you already know.

 

[deadheadskier]

clink/scampo are indeed fine recommendations.