WELCOME TO BOSTON
Boston is well known for its long and rich history, seafood, cultural organizations, unique shopping, varied architecture, colleges and universities, professional sports teams, entertainment venues, enduring racial tensions, narrow streets and offensive drivers, classic sociological studies, and much more. We hope that our SSSP guests will have rich experiences in our “walking city” and return home with fond memories. In spite of our “cold” reputation, Bostonians are very proud of their city and are usually helpful to visitors. Walking and using the MBTA (“the T”) make it easy to get around. I give MBTA directions below but walking is usually fine with a good map. The nearest MBTA station is “Arlington Street” (with its temporary entrance on Berkeley Street at Boylston Street) on the Green Line.
To appreciate
Boston’s world-class Museum of Fine Arts (“the MFA”) is worth a visit of several hours; take the MBTA Green Line E Train to the MFA stop just beyond Northeastern University or walk out Huntington Avenue. The Museum of Contemporary Art, our newest museum, juts out along the Harbor in South Boston, near the Silver Line of the MBTA that you take at “South Station.” The Old State House and the New State House (both on the Freedom Trail) are well worth seeing for historical value. The Science Museum is excellent at the “Science Park” station on the Green Line. For the New England Aquarium, take the Green Line to “Government Center” and change to the Blue Line for two stops to “Aquarium” station. If you have children with you, the amazing participatory Children’s Museum is on the Waterfront, a three block walk from “South Station” on the Red Line. In Cambridge, the Harvard Museums and the MIT Museum are worth seeing along with their respective campuses; take the Red Line from “Park Street” station to “Harvard Square” and “Kendall Square” stations, respectively.
In the vicinity, Newbury Street offers great window-shopping and gallery-hopping. Boylston Street and the Copley Place and Prudential Center indoor malls have more national chain stores. Macy’s (formerly Jordan Marsh) is in Downtown Crossing, two stops to “Park Street” on the Green Line and a block’s walk on Winter Street, but Filene’s with its infamous bargain basement is gone (the basement will reopen in a few years, they say). Harvard Square is best for books and recordings; take the Red Line.
After a tiring tour, museum visit or shopping excursion, enjoy our famous seafood or other great restaurant meals. “Legal Sea Foods” restaurants are located a block away from the SSSP hotel, and in the Copley Place and Prudential Center malls. Traditional Boston foods can be found at Durgin-Park in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace and at the Union Oyster House (Boston’s oldest restaurant) nearby. Several good restaurants are on Boylston Street and alfresco dining with people-watching is ideal on the sidewalks of Newbury Street. For Italian food, take the Green Line to “Haymarket” station and walk a few blocks into the North End.
Check the guides available at the registration desk for listings of plays, concerts, and other performances while you are in Boston. “Bostix” booths at Faneuil Hall and in Copley Square have some half-price tickets on the day of shows. Special treats in the summer include free outdoor concerts and movies on the Charles River Esplanade, in Copley Square, and at City Hall Plaza (go to “Government Center” or “Haymarket” on the Green Line).
Enjoy Boston and learn all you can. Explore on your own and talk to local SSSP members to get their recommendations. GO RED SOX!
Will Holton, Northeastern University
2008 Local Arrangements Committee