Quintessential Boston

History 101

Boston may no longer be the "Hub of the Universe," yet it is the undisputed epicenter of American history. Much of the political ferment that spawned the nation took place here, and visitors are often awed by the concentration of sites. Locals, on the other hand, take them in stride. Sure, they revere Revere as much as the next guy. But to Bostonians, the past isn't abstract. Rather, it is woven into the fabric of daily life. Families routinely picnic on the same Common where Puritans grazed their cows; and the faithful still worship in Old North Church, where two lanterns were fatefully hung on the night of April 18, 1775. Community activists, similarly, follow Sam Adams's example by debating hot topics in Faneuil Hall, while bookworms continue to gravitate, as Emerson and his transcendentalist buddies did, to the Boston Public Library.

Cultural Encounters

The 17th-century Puritans dubbed Boston "the city on a hill"; 18th-century patriots called it the Cradle of Liberty. To 19th-century arts lovers, however, it was the highly cultured Athens of America. Today Boston still packs quite a cultural punch. For instance, Symphony Hall (a Victorian showpiece with unparalleled acoustics) is widely considered to be one of the world's finest concert venues. And that's just the tip of the artistic iceberg. As part of the Fenway Cultural District, Symphony Hall counts among its neighbors such venerable institutions as the New England Conservatory of Music, the Huntington Theatre Company, the Mary Baker Eddy Library, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts. All offer free public access during the annual "Opening Our Doors Day" and various other points in the year.

The Red Sox

The "Red Sox Nation" doesn't have a representative at the United Nations, but its citizens couldn't be more fervent if they did. Though Bostonians are wild about their football, hockey, and basketball teams, only the Sox can bring the entire town to its feet -- or its knees. Want to see what the fuss is about? The Fenway Park ticket office next to Gate A opens at 10 AM. If you strike out there, a limited number of tickets are sold at Gate C two hours before game time. Alternately, you can sidle up to a guy holding out tickets just after game time, and haggle. Once inside, be prepared to don a Red Sox cap, down a Fenway frank, and sing along to Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline," in the eighth inning.

Wicked Good Food

Boston's independent restaurant scene is on par with New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. So while history buffs look back fondly on a certain tea party, foodies simply look forward to dinner. For all the talk of cod and beans, the area lays claim to a long line of "celebrity chefs:" M. Sanzian (remembered largely as the inventor of Boston cream pie) made quite a stir in the mid-1800s and, a century later, Julia Child launched a culinary revolution from her Cambridge kitchen. These days it's Todd "Iron Chef" English, Lydia Shire, Ming Tsai, Gordon Hamersley, and Jasper White who make eating out a gastronomic adventure. The ideal time to taste their wares and try up-and-coming competitors is during Restaurant Week (held in August and March) when more than 100 participating eateries prepare three-course prix-fixe menus for as little as $20.