stimps

We will be arriving by train in Boston on the afternoon of July 4.
I would like to know if there are fireworks in the evening and where would be a good spot to view these from.
What other celebrations occur on July4?
I was considering having an early dinner, say at Hammersley's.Should I book ahead?
Is this an impractical idea given that we are staying at the YWCA in Berkeley St?
Are there other nice restaurants closer to home?
Thanks!

yk

July 4th is a HUGE deal in Boston. Yes, there will be fireworks on the Charles River.

This website will list all the events during the week of July 4th. Celebration lasts for a whole week (before and after).
http://www.july4th.org/

And yes, you should book ahead for Hammersley's. It's not too far to walk from the YWCA.

We prefer viewing the fireworks from Cambridge. It's less crowded there (near Kendall). On Boston side, people start heading out to the Esplanade in the morning to stake out their spot; remember, fireworks don't start until 10:30pm. It'll be very crowded on the Esplanade, and I'm not sure if you can get a decent viewing spot if you go late (ie, after dinner).

Ackislander

You should always book at Hammersley's.

There other restaurants in Hammersley's class but there are none in a class above it, for the sort of food it serves.

BUT I agree that it is iffy to do a dinner reservation and expect to enjoy the festivities.

It is an easy walk from the YWCA to the Esplanade.

I don't know how old you are, but if you are young, you will enjoy picking up some sandwiches and enjoying the madness on the Esplanade (some hours of semi-pop music followed by light classical, followed by the 1812 Overture with real cannons and church bells, then after a brief interval, fireworks over the river). You will need something to sit on as all this takes place on a lawn.

You will have to go through a designated entrance (follow the crowd) and the police will search bags and confiscate alcohol.

If you are older, you should consider YK's suggestion of viewing from the Cambridge side of the river. You can take the subway to Kendall Square and walk easily from there.

The downside of this is that you will wind up walking back to your lodging, not far if you are a good walker, long if you are not, because there will be long waits for the subway.

gail

There is no way this poster will be able to pick up some sandwiches and enjoy anything on the Esplanade on July 4th - arriving in the afternoon by train. They start letting people on very early AM and it is packed within minutes. People stake out spaces and then they start packing further down the Esplanade where you can neither hear nor see anything - unless it is on large speakers. Forget about a blanket and a nice picnic.

Check carefully to make sure any restaurant you pick is even open on July 4th.

But consider fireworks from Cambridge as mentioned above or taking in some of the other July 4th activities. Boston on July 4th is great- but be prepared for crowds and do not plan on just strolling over to anything at the last minute.

nytraveler

To be anywhere near the bandshell/fireqorks you have to be there early am. Agree to try to find a distant spot with a little elevation to get a veiw - since you will be arriving so late.

(And do understand there will be hundreds of thousands of peopl.e You might prefer to watch on TV - the Boston Pops concert/fireworks is broadcast around the country, along with the Macy's fireworks from NYC and the National concert
/fireworks from the mall in DC.)

wyatt92

While you'll be too late to get a spot on the grass at the Esplanade, there's plenty of room to sit and view on Storrow Drive if you want to be near the Hatch Shell.

Ackislander

Sorry, Gail, on this one, but when we lived in Milton, we _never_ went to the Esplanade before 7 PM. Two years we found space for five of us in the paved area along the water by Community Boating, a couple of other years we were w-a-y back by Clarendon Street. If you don't care about seeing Keith Lockhart, you can hear the music and see the fireworks with 300,000 of your closest friends. Perhaps I should have specified _how_ crowded it would be

Finally, my sister moved into an apartment on the back side of Beacon Hill, and we just sort of walked out onto Pinckney or Revere to see the fireworks.

Amuse_bouche

I love having an amazing meal, such as Hammerseys and then doing a stroll amongst the crowds and taking it all in. The bridges are also nice.

gail

Ackislander - have to admit I have not tried in a few years to get on Esplanade since it was so hatefully crowded - but daughter tried when she was in HS a couple of years ago and was unable to get close. Maybe you should have saved her a space by Cpommunity Boating! She is less savvy in immediate BackBay area - so perhaps that is the answer.

There are certainly places in Back Bay/Beacon Hill or Cambridge where one can see higher fireworks - but it would be hit or miss and I would not even begin to try to explain to an out of towner how to find them.

Best place is the roof of a Back Bay building which I did many many years ago. (Actually best is now neighborhood moveable party we do each year with oysters by one person's pool, lobster boil at my house and illegal fireworks in the street - about 20 miles from Boston - but do admit one must do the Esplanade thing at least once)

stimps

You're all describing what sounds like New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour so I totally get the picture. Thanks for the website. I think I'm still keen on a meal and will take pot luck with what we see. Just being in the crowd should be fun for us to compare American and Australian revellry. Maybe not so many drunks!!

gail

Regarding drunks - many years ago happy drunks were the rule on the Esplanade - when I was younger the thing to do was to pack a big cooler of beer and wine, a much smaller cooler of food, and head for the Esplanade at 8 AM, stake out a place, and spend the day with a bunch of new and old friends. Now they check coolers and one can not come and go from Esplanade to restock supplies.

If you want to act American on July 4th, wear something red, white and blue. The holiday commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence (from Great Britain). There is always some local news station that goes around and asks young people the meaning of the holiday and the incorrect answers are usually quite funny. In Boston it is a big deal not just because Boston was very involved in the fight for independence but because summer is so short here we take any excuse for a celebration (although admittedly this is a good one).

Now police are much less tolerant of rowdy street drunks - if that is your thing come back on St Patrick's Day (3/17). Enjoy your trip - any further info we would all be happy to help. If you get a chance, let us know your impressions.