Attention ATOT Bostonians

[xanis]

I'm about 90% sure that I made a thread a while back about some Boston stuff (I was going to a conference for work at the time) but I'm going back and I'm in need of some more info from any ATOT Bostonians.

I'm looking to go to Boston for a few days in September (Thursday to Sunday). I'll be driving from Southern NJ.

The girlfriend and I will be doing something in Mansfield, but we want to spend some time in Boston. I'm looking for accommodations in the greater Boston area that (a) Won't break the bank; and (b) come with parking (free is preferred, but I'm willing to pay a little bit). Obviously I won't be able to stay in downtown Boston within my budget ($200/night) but I'd at least like to be somewhere in between Mansfield and Boston. If possible, I'd like to be somewhere that I could take the train into the city so I'm not going broke paying for parking.

I'm also looking for some good activities and restaurants. Any suggestions? I went to a few the last time (21st Amendment I think? It was good). We'll probably hit up the Museum of Fine Art and maybe another tour or two, but I'd like to hear from residents to see if there's anything interesting or off the beaten path that we could do (we like unique activities).

Thanks in advance! And no, no pics.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Check out waltham and newton for hotels. Should be able to find something in your price range.

As for restaurants, here are some good recommendations -

1. Miracle of Science Bar and Grill (Cambridge) http://www.miracleofscience.us/ - Dine with MIT nerds. Get the Ronny Burger. Jelepenos and cheese mixed into the beef = awesome. Don't like MIT? Get your grub on at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage (Also Cambridge) - where Harvard elite go to pound some meat. http://www.mrbartley.com/

2. Koreana (Cambridge) http://koreanaboston.com/ - Authentic Korean food at a reaosnable price.

3. Addis Red Sea (Boston) http://www.addisredsea.com/ - who knew ethiopian food could be so good?

4. Sam Lagrassas (Boston) http://www.samlagrassas.com/ - home of the wicked awesome pastrami sandwich.

5. Elephant and Castle Pub (Boston) http://www.elephantcastle.com/ - Good bar food. Right in the heart of the financial district.

6. Dirty Dicks (Boston) - A tourist spot for sure. But very fun. Expect to be insulted. Its part of the schtick.

7. North End - yeah, the north end isn't a restaurant. Its a neighborhood with the best damn italian food for miles. Walk there, pick a restaurant at will, and you will be satisfied. I think I have eaten at every joint in that neighborhood, and I have never been disappointed except when trying to find a parking spot.

Activities -

1. Duck tours - yeah yeah, I know. They are corny and touristy. But they are also fun and will give you a nice overview of Boston landmarks and history.

2. North End - Mikes Pastry - You haven;t been to Boston unless you go to Mikes.

3. Take a stroll on the Boston Common and then down newbury street (high end shopping)

4. Codzilla - high speed jet boat tour of the boston harbor (do this instead of duck tours). Alternatively, do the Boston mini speed boats http://bostonminispeedboats.com/home.html

5. Fenway park tour - call to make sure space is available. http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp

6. Boston institute of contemporary art http://www.icaboston.org/

Good luck and have fun!

 

[RossMAN]

tagged Boston.

 

[xanis]

Check out waltham and newton for hotels. Should be able to find something in your price range.

As for restaurants, here are some good recommendations -

1. Miracle of Science Bar and Grill (Cambridge) http://www.miracleofscience.us/ - Dine with MIT nerds. Get the Ronny Burger. Jelepenos and cheese mixed into the beef = awesome. Don't like MIT? Get your grub on at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage (Also Cambridge) - where Harvard elite go to pound some meat. http://www.mrbartley.com/

2. Koreana (Cambridge) http://koreanaboston.com/ - Authentic Korean food at a reaosnable price.

3. Addis Red Sea (Boston) http://www.addisredsea.com/ - who knew ethiopian food could be so good?

4. Sam Lagrassas (Boston) http://www.samlagrassas.com/ - home of the wicked awesome pastrami sandwich.

5. Elephant and Castle Pub (Boston) http://www.elephantcastle.com/ - Good bar food. Right in the heart of the financial district.

6. Dirty Dicks (Boston) - A tourist spot for sure. But very fun. Expect to be insulted. Its part of the schtick.

7. North End - yeah, the north end isn't a restaurant. Its a neighborhood with the best damn italian food for miles. Walk there, pick a restaurant at will, and you will be satisfied. I think I have eaten at every joint in that neighborhood, and I have never been disappointed except when trying to find a parking spot.

Activities -

1. Duck tours - yeah yeah, I know. They are corny and touristy. But they are also fun and will give you a nice overview of Boston landmarks and history.

2. North End - Mikes Pastry - You haven;t been to Boston unless you go to Mikes.

3. Take a stroll on the Boston Common and then down newbury street (high end shopping)

4. Codzilla - high speed jet boat tour of the boston harbor (do this instead of duck tours). Alternatively, do the Boston mini speed boats http://bostonminispeedboats.com/home.html

5. Fenway park tour - call to make sure space is available. http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp

6. Boston institute of contemporary art http://www.icaboston.org/

Good luck and have fun!

Awesome info, thanks! It's funny that you mentioned the Elephant & Castle; when I was in Boston the last time, I stayed in the hotel attached to it (Club Quarters) and thought it was pretty good.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Came in here expecting talk about Bosnians.

 

[jaedaliu]

Have a friend that bought the groupon for a 2 hr (half sized) segway tour for himself and a friend visiting town. He liked it so much he went the following weekend with his wife for the 4 hour tour.

The ?problem? with Waltham and Newton is that they're not on the train line that runs by Mansfield. There's also a lot of traffic heading away from the area during rush hour. But if rush hour driving isn't a big deal, those are good.

For the event in Mansfield, Patriot's Place is a nice mall in nearby Foxwoods if you're looking for some shopping or dining before/after.

 

[xanis]

Have a friend that bought the groupon for a 2 hr (half sized) segway tour for himself and a friend visiting town. He liked it so much he went the following weekend with his wife for the 4 hour tour.

The ?problem? with Waltham and Newton is that they're not on the train line that runs by Mansfield. There's also a lot of traffic heading away from the area during rush hour. But if rush hour driving isn't a big deal, those are good.

For the event in Mansfield, Patriot's Place is a nice mall in nearby Foxwoods if you're looking for some shopping or dining before/after.

How's Quincy? I've been looking at some hotels there and they seem to be pretty reasonable. Also, the train (forget the line) runs to South Station.

 

[Kreon]

If you go to the North End to eat, I suggest Ricardos or Artu. Both are off of Hanover St (the main st through the North End), but you can find them easy enough on Google maps.

If you go to the MFA, also check out the Isabel Gardner museum behind it. You have to walk a few hundred feet through/around a nice park to get there though. If you like art, it's a good combination.

For eating around the MFA, that really depends on what you want to eat. If you're hungry and want some good pizza, across the street is a place called UHOP. Its basically your standard college pizza place. About a 15 minute walk from there is the Prudential Center, where you can find the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Legal Seafood and others. If you're looking for a variety of small restaurants, walk towards the Pru and head left when you hit Massachusetts Ave.

As for Quincy: Some parts are good, some are not. Google maps can give you a decent idea of which places to avoid.

If you're downtown for the nightlife, keep in mind it will be expensive. $5 covers after between 9:00 and 10:00, usually a $10 cover after 11:00 and the drinks are usually pretty pricy too. There are cheaper places, but they tend to be packed with college kids (but they can still be fun). I tend to frequent these places on the rare occasions I go downtown because I was a broke student, and now I'm a cheap professional.
EDIT: And the last train is at 12:30. Its also doubtful there will be cabs willing to drive you to your hotel.

Also check out the Fenway area for bars, especially if you like the Red Sox. They're pretty reasonably priced, and where I usually go when I go out. If you like sports bars (with good food) check out Jerry Remy's, Cask and Flagon or Baseball Tavern. Sweet Caroline's had a pretty decent microbrew selection, if I remember correctly.

 

[NetWareHead]

7. North End - yeah, the north end isn't a restaurant. Its a neighborhood with the best damn italian food for miles. Walk there, pick a restaurant at will, and you will be satisfied. I think I have eaten at every joint in that neighborhood, and I have never been disappointed except when trying to find a parking spot.

Pretty much this, North End is great Italian food.

2. North End - Mikes Pastry - You haven;t been to Boston unless you go to Mikes.

Disagree. Mike's is nothing to write home about. I mean its good but not great enough to need to wait in a line of tourists that stretch around the block for over an hour. OP, if you simply must try Mike's, then just go in there, cut the entire line and get a bakery clerks attn and give your order immediately with no BS. The ridiculous wait is caused by tourists with absolutely no clue of what a cannoli is and if they really need another napolean, followed by "oh wait, Ive never heard of a rum baba. Can you tell me if it it has gluten?" Just give your order quickly and you will be served and out of there in 5 minutes tops. I usually walk in there and quietly say "look I know there is a line but I live around the block. I just need 6 cannolis." and they understand.

Otherwise, if not, Bovas bakery next block over makes great pastries, is open 24/7 and is not mobbed with tourists likes Mikes. They also make great bread and pizza.

 

[Kreon]

Otherwise, if not, Bovas bakery next block over makes great pastries, is open 24/7 and is not mobbed with tourists likes Mikes. They also make great bread and pizza.

I second Bova's. One of my favorite places in the North End.

To get there: go down Hanover St, turn down Prince St on the side of St Leonards (the church). Walk down a block. Enjoy delicious pastries/sandwiches/breads.

 

[preCRT]

The ?problem? with Waltham and Newton is that they're not on the train line that runs by Mansfield. There's also a lot of traffic heading away from the area during rush hour. But if rush hour driving isn't a big deal, those are good.

For the event in Mansfield, Patriot's Place is a nice mall in nearby Foxwoods if you're looking for some shopping or dining before/after.

Foxborough, not Foxwoods [the casino in CT].

There is a commuter rail that runs from South Station in Boston down through to Mansfield, but it is infrequent, not like the subway [red/green/blue lines].

Mansfield is dull. There is a concert venue, Comcast Center, in a swamp & a boring outdoor mall [Mansfield Crossing]. Next door in Foxboro, there is Gillette Stadium and the attached Patriot Place. Up Rt 1, in Dedham, is another outdoor mall, Legacy Place. Closer to Mansfield, at Rts 1A & 495, there is a supposed Outlet mall in Wrentham, full of tourists.

http://www.mansfieldcrossing.com/
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Comcast-Center-tickets-Mansfield/venue/8213

http://www.patriot-place.com/
http://www.legacyplace.com/

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=10

 

[xanis]

Wow, some really great advice in this thread. Thanks!

The reason for going to Mansfield is a concert at the Comcast Center, so we're only going to be spending a few hours there on Saturday night.

Right now I'm thinking of staying at the Boston Marriott Quincy. It's appealing because the train ride to South Station is only ~15 minutes and the parking/room rates are good, but is it in a decent area? Thoughts?

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Pretty much this, North End is great Italian food.

Disagree. Mike's is nothing to write home about. I mean its good but not great enough to need to wait in a line of tourists that stretch around the block for over an hour. OP, if you simply must try Mike's, then just go in there, cut the entire line and get a bakery clerks attn and give your order immediately with no BS. The ridiculous wait is caused by tourists with absolutely no clue of what a cannoli is and if they really need another napolean, followed by "oh wait, Ive never heard of a rum baba. Can you tell me if it it has gluten?" Just give your order quickly and you will be served and out of there in 5 minutes tops. I usually walk in there and quietly say "look I know there is a line but I live around the block. I just need 6 cannolis." and they understand.

Otherwise, if not, Bovas bakery next block over makes great pastries, is open 24/7 and is not mobbed with tourists likes Mikes. They also make great bread and pizza.

Bova's is good, and a definite alternative to Mikes. I was just trying to save you the headache of trying to explain to the hoards of people who will ask you if you went to Mikes why you did not go to Mikes.

 

[spittledip]

Bova's is good, and a definite alternative to Mikes. I was just trying to save you the headache of trying to explain to the hoards of people who will ask you if you went to Mikes why you did not go to Mikes.

Send him to Modern- less line and better pastry.

 

[sjwaste]

That time of year, you could take advantage of the good weather and the tourists being gone, and head up to Portland. $200 a night should get you on the waterfront at the Hilton Garden Inn. From there, a lot of great, walkable restaurants and bars. Pretty solid art scene up Congress St. toward State. Plenty to see and do for 3 days. It's about 2 hrs north of Boston.

 

[Capt Caveman]

To add to some of the comments already, the MFA is exhibiting a Samurai exhibit currently which I'm hoping to check out soon. I don't know if it'll be still be showing in Sept.

For the North End, I love Giacomo's and after dinner, the Improv Asylum on Hanover St is always good for laughs.

Quincy or even Braintree would be good places for cheaper hotels outside of Boston and you're on the Red line to Boston.

 

[440sixpack]

Right now I'm thinking of staying at the Boston Marriott Quincy. It's appealing because the train ride to South Station is only ~15 minutes and the parking/room rates are good, but is it in a decent area? Thoughts?

New building, good location. Haven't stayed there but the few times I've been in seems like a really nice building. It's in a commercial park so dead after hours, some bad traffic around the morning / afternoon rush hours.

 

[marmasatt]

Every one seems to have left out the obvious tourist activities so I'll make sure they're included in this thread: Quincy Market/Fanuel Hall, Boston Aquarium and the Science Museum are all relatively cheap touresty things to do. I would second Cambridge for plenty of sightseeing - lots of little cafes, walking around the Charles, stopping in a corner pub for a drink...

 

[DigDog]

oh wow.

first rome then this.


right ...

i'm sure you can stay in downtown boston for two hunnred a night; as a matter of fact, i think you cna stay in boylston street / copley square for that cash. TRY THE LENOX HOTEL. they used to be reasonable, meaning that showing up can cut your rate. it's 230/night atm, but you might get a good deal.

for food, go to Government Centre subway stop and down the stairs, to the Quincy Market. follow the road left *before* the market (where the cars drive) and in 1 minute of walk you will be at Ye Olde Oyster House. http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/

or simply inside the quincy market.

or at any of many sushi places in boston, Samurai should be good (once called Guyama), in boylston street.
Or the fish restaurant just across the road from there, up the escalator, in the prudential mall.

tbh boston is so awesome that making plans is ridiculous. just walk around.
oh and f* the duck tours, they blow.

 

[Meghan54]

After living on Cape Cod for 2 years and going into Boston on a weekly basis, all the above is excellent advice. But, here's some practical advice:

1. If you're going to be driving in/around the Cambridge area, be very aware of bicyclists, mostly MIT students, without a clue about the rules of the road. They'll just cut in front of you anytime, anywhere, and be dumbfounded when you honk at them.

I swear, MIT students are damned book smart, but don't seem to have the common sense God gave a sack of doorknobs.


2. Mass. drivers cannot merge onto the highway, or at least have no concept of doing it. Instead, they'll slow and/or stop at the end of the merging lane waiting for someone to slow in the right hand lane.....which happens all the time. And the idea that escaping into the left lane would help is misguided. The left lane gets the fast movers, true, but also the "I'm so scared of driving on the highway" drivers who will camp out in the left lane and won't move out of it until they're 100 ft. from their exit, whereupon they'll either just cut across several lanes of traffic without looking or damned near stop in the hopes that somehow, sometime their 30mph speed will be enough to move across two lanes of 60mph traffic.


3. Microcenter is in Cambridge on Memorial Drive. If you don't have easy access to one, go spend some time.....you'll probably come out with your wallet a little lighter.

 

[suse920]

After living on Cape Cod for 2 years and going into Boston on a weekly basis, all the above is excellent advice. But, here's some practical advice:


2. Mass. drivers cannot merge onto the highway, or at least have no concept of doing it. Instead, they'll slow and/or stop at the end of the merging lane waiting for someone to slow in the right hand lane.....which happens all the time. And the idea that escaping into the left lane would help is misguided. The left lane gets the fast movers, true, but also the "I'm so scared of driving on the highway" drivers who will camp out in the left lane and won't move out of it until they're 100 ft. from their exit, whereupon they'll either just cut across several lanes of traffic without looking or damned near stop in the hopes that somehow, sometime their 30mph speed will be enough to move across two lanes of 60mph traffic.

As someone who has commuted into Boston for the past 6 years , I have to disagree with this.

The only place I've seen the merging issue happen is coming to/ from the cape on route 3, where there is a large elderly population combined with small onramps. I've seen cars stopped on those ramps multiple times.

Merging during rush hour is more of a game of chicken. If there is any sort of a space you take it. If there isn't any sort of a space you start to merge and make a space.

If you are trying to get in/ out of the city keep in mind that rush hour makes using 93 and 95 pretty miserable from 6:30-9:30am and 4-7pm. Also fridays (especially in the summer) traffic starts around noon. Also stay away from the fenway area if there is a sox game going on, unless you plan on going to it. Keep this in mind for travel times.

495 might as well be the autobahn. Don't be surprised if traffic is moving at around 75-80. It isn't uncommon to have someone tailgating you while moving at 80mph. If you are actually going 65 stay in the right lane and say a few prayers.

As others said there isn't much going on in the Mansfield area. Patriots place and Gillette stadium are in Foxborough and they have some great restaurants, but it really isn't a destination (unless you're a pats fan).

I'd recommend trying to catch a sox game, making the museum rounds, getting dinner in the north end, and taking a drive up to Portsmouth, NH /seacoast area if the weather is nice.

 

[Kreon]

1. If you're going to be driving in/around the Cambridge area, be very aware of bicyclists, mostly MIT students, without a clue about the rules of the road. They'll just cut in front of you anytime, anywhere, and be dumbfounded when you honk at them.

I swear, MIT students are damned book smart, but don't seem to have the common sense God gave a sack of doorknobs.

Has nothing to do with MIT. It has everything to do with a city not setup in the least for cyclists and people (both drivers and cyclists) being unaware of laws. Most notably that it is illegal for cyclists to run red lights, and perfectly legal for cyclists to take up the entire lane (despite making them assholes). Try driving around Huntington Ave. At least Cambridge tends to have bike lanes.

 

[Fritzo]

Go here and save $$$$$:

http://www.betterbidding.com/

I use it everywhere I go.

 

[Meghan54]

As someone who has commuted into Boston for the past 6 years , I have to disagree with this.

The only place I've seen the merging issue happen is coming to/ from the cape on route 3, where there is a large elderly population combined with small onramps. I've seen cars stopped on those ramps multiple times.

Merging during rush hour is more of a game of chicken. If there is any sort of a space you take it. If there isn't any sort of a space you start to merge and make a space.

If you are trying to get in/ out of the city keep in mind that rush hour makes using 93 and 95 pretty miserable from 6:30-9:30am and 4-7pm. Also fridays (especially in the summer) traffic starts around noon. Also stay away from the fenway area if there is a sox game going on, unless you plan on going to it. Keep this in mind for travel times.

495 might as well be the autobahn. Don't be surprised if traffic is moving at around 75-80. It isn't uncommon to have someone tailgating you while moving at 80mph. If you are actually going 65 stay in the right lane and say a few prayers.

As others said there isn't much going on in the Mansfield area. Patriots place and Gillette stadium are in Foxborough and they have some great restaurants, but it really isn't a destination (unless you're a pats fan).

I'd recommend trying to catch a sox game, making the museum rounds, getting dinner in the north end, and taking a drive up to Portsmouth, NH /seacoast area if the weather is nice.

Actually, first, Boston's rush hour is one of the easiest to live through of all the big cities I've been in, incl. Atlanta, NYC, Wash. DC-NoVA metro area. Boston's pales in comparison to those.

Second, I'ver witnessed and almost rear ended other cars multiple times in Boston because vehicles suddenly slow to let a driver merge. It's nice, but completely unnecessary....it's up to the merging driver to match speeds and fit in. No chicken involved unless you get an ass that speeds up and tries to close the spot, which pretty much sums up the two types of drivers in and around Boston.

 

[Meghan54]

Has nothing to do with MIT. It has everything to do with a city not setup in the least for cyclists and people (both drivers and cyclists) being unaware of laws. Most notably that it is illegal for cyclists to run red lights, and perfectly legal for cyclists to take up the entire lane (despite making them assholes). Try driving around Huntington Ave. At least Cambridge tends to have bike lanes.

Has everything to do with the entire Cambridge area and esp. around MIT. I got very tired of dodging bicyclists who refuse to obey the rules of the road, which includes using the right hand lane (which doesn't make them a-holes, just law abiding riders, btw). It's much worse at night when they zoom across 4 lanes of traffic, no lights, no reflectors....

Wife was surprised by how stupidly the Boston students were on their bikes, too, and she grew up around there.