Parking Isabella Gardner Museum
May 14th, 2012, 04:22 PM
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Parking Isabella Gardner Museum
Boston's Isabella Gardner Museum web site recommends parking at Museum of Fine Arts for which the fee is $6.00 for 1/2 hr/$24 maximum charge. Ordinarily, I would not have a problem paying for parking. However, I need to move the car to another location in PM with another parking charge.
My question is - Does anyone know if on a Saturday at 10:30 AM, there are any metered spots or other parking options worth checking out within walking distance of Gardner Museum?
Thank you, Lottie
My question is - Does anyone know if on a Saturday at 10:30 AM, there are any metered spots or other parking options worth checking out within walking distance of Gardner Museum?
Thank you, Lottie
May 14th, 2012, 06:28 PM
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You'll probably be able to find a nearby metered spot at 10:30am on a Saturday morning. There are a good # of metered spots on the streets surrounding the MFA and the Gardner. Most of these meters are 4 hours too, which is a plus.
May 15th, 2012, 02:42 AM
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Caution. Gardner is within walking distance of several colleges and also Fenway Park. I do not know when your trip is - but if it is this month, check out graduation schedules for Emmanuel, Simmons - and even Northeastern Universities and Harvard Medical School.
Also, check out Red Sox schedule for the Saturday you will be there. There are occasional Sat afternoon games which will mess up parking, traffic and ability to move car in the afternoon - or even drive in the area later in the day for a nite game. Also some areas around Fenway have electronic meters that convert 4 hours spaces to 2 hour spaces on game days. These electronic meters do not require quarters - but also will tell the meter reader person if you have moved your car or just repeatedly fed the meter. Not sure if conversion from quarter-eating meters to electronic cash/debit card meters yet.
Not sure I agree with Ackislander. I have no clue what time people in the area get out of bed, but much of the area parking is Resident Only (to avoid people in nearby schools and hospitals from taking all the free or cheap spots). Many spots will be taken up by these people.
Still, check on-street parking when you get there, and you can always use garage as default.
Also, check out Red Sox schedule for the Saturday you will be there. There are occasional Sat afternoon games which will mess up parking, traffic and ability to move car in the afternoon - or even drive in the area later in the day for a nite game. Also some areas around Fenway have electronic meters that convert 4 hours spaces to 2 hour spaces on game days. These electronic meters do not require quarters - but also will tell the meter reader person if you have moved your car or just repeatedly fed the meter. Not sure if conversion from quarter-eating meters to electronic cash/debit card meters yet.
Not sure I agree with Ackislander. I have no clue what time people in the area get out of bed, but much of the area parking is Resident Only (to avoid people in nearby schools and hospitals from taking all the free or cheap spots). Many spots will be taken up by these people.
Still, check on-street parking when you get there, and you can always use garage as default.
May 15th, 2012, 06:42 AM
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The spaces behind the new back entrance to the MFA are usually available at that time, and we have even found spaces in front of the Gardner, tho later in the afternoon. But gail, I agree about the colleges. That area is heavily patrolled because of the students (I used to teach at Simmons), and when we were at the Gardner last month, there was a car with a big yellow boot right in front of the Museum.
We are members at the MFA, so we usually take a swing thru the neighborhood to see if we can get a metered space before going to the garage, which is slightly less outrageous for members.
In a pinch, you can park relatively cheaply at the Pru garage on the Huntington side on Saturdays, getting the museums on a Green Line H car on the T.
We are members at the MFA, so we usually take a swing thru the neighborhood to see if we can get a metered space before going to the garage, which is slightly less outrageous for members.
In a pinch, you can park relatively cheaply at the Pru garage on the Huntington side on Saturdays, getting the museums on a Green Line H car on the T.
May 15th, 2012, 09:45 AM
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Here's a list of 2012 Commencement dates:
http://www.bostonzest.com/2011/11/bo...ring-2012.html
Northeastern, Emmanuel already had their commencement. Mass college of Art & Simmons are this Friday.
I haven't had any trouble finding metered spots near/around MFA on weekend mornings ...
http://www.bostonzest.com/2011/11/bo...ring-2012.html
Northeastern, Emmanuel already had their commencement. Mass college of Art & Simmons are this Friday.
I haven't had any trouble finding metered spots near/around MFA on weekend mornings ...
May 15th, 2012, 09:57 AM
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Agree with Ackislander. Try to get there at about 10 o'clock and drive around the park on the side of the new main entrance to the Gardner. Those are all metered spots and are for 4 hours. Bring quarters: it's $1.25 per hour. I don't think any of the meters in that area are new ones and that isn't resident only parking.
You can and will get a ticket in Boston if you exceed the time limit on any meter. Doesn't matter if they are new or old meters. To stay longer you have to move the car and find another space on another block to not get a ticket.
Wentworth has had their graduation so it should be fairly quiet in front of their dorms opposite the ISG Museum.
You can and will get a ticket in Boston if you exceed the time limit on any meter. Doesn't matter if they are new or old meters. To stay longer you have to move the car and find another space on another block to not get a ticket.
Wentworth has had their graduation so it should be fairly quiet in front of their dorms opposite the ISG Museum.
May 16th, 2012, 05:24 AM
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Thanks for all the good points - I will take the info with me.
I had already checked Red Sox & graduation schedules but if I hadn't, it would be an important consideration, which is why this forum is great!
After Isabella Gardner Museum, I am headed to SpeakEasy Theater, 539 Tremont Street @ Boston Center For The Arts. I will probably have another hour or two before the show. Any suggestions for things to do that area, other than walking around?
I had already checked Red Sox & graduation schedules but if I hadn't, it would be an important consideration, which is why this forum is great!
After Isabella Gardner Museum, I am headed to SpeakEasy Theater, 539 Tremont Street @ Boston Center For The Arts. I will probably have another hour or two before the show. Any suggestions for things to do that area, other than walking around?
May 16th, 2012, 07:21 AM
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With this scenario, there could be real advantages to leaving your car at the Pru and taking the T to the Gardner.
After leaving the museum, you could shop (window or for real) in the Prudential Center or Copley Place or walk over to Newbury Street. It's about a 20 minute walk to your theater from the Pru Center.
After leaving the museum, you could shop (window or for real) in the Prudential Center or Copley Place or walk over to Newbury Street. It's about a 20 minute walk to your theater from the Pru Center.
May 16th, 2012, 11:42 AM
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What are you doing with your car? I guess you want to park somewhere near the BCA? Metered parkings are harder to find there on Sat afternoons/evenings, and they are 2-hr meters. I usually have better luck finding a metered spot on Harrison Ave. Meters are effective until 8pm in the evenings though.
Alternatively, you can park at the 100 Clarendon Garage or the 10 St James Street Garage all day for $10/$12 and not worry about finding parking near Gardner and the BCA. See this website and pre-print the discount parking coupon. http://boston.centralparking.com/Bos...y-Parking.html
There are quite a number of intersting small boutiques in the South End, esp along Tremont street (just head south from BCA). If you need a place to eat, my sis-in-law raves about Picco, right next door to the BCA.
http://www.piccorestaurant.com/
Alternatively, you can park at the 100 Clarendon Garage or the 10 St James Street Garage all day for $10/$12 and not worry about finding parking near Gardner and the BCA. See this website and pre-print the discount parking coupon. http://boston.centralparking.com/Bos...y-Parking.html
There are quite a number of intersting small boutiques in the South End, esp along Tremont street (just head south from BCA). If you need a place to eat, my sis-in-law raves about Picco, right next door to the BCA.
http://www.piccorestaurant.com/
May 16th, 2012, 01:35 PM
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yk - yes, I was planning on moving my car to BCA area. I have printed the coupon and made note of Picco.
Ackislander - I will use Pru parking and the T to get to the museum, if I decide to walk to Newbury/Copley Place afterwards. That's a good plan.
Thank you both for the help.
Lottie
Ackislander - I will use Pru parking and the T to get to the museum, if I decide to walk to Newbury/Copley Place afterwards. That's a good plan.
Thank you both for the help.
Lottie
May 17th, 2012, 04:37 AM
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Another possibility that would lower your parking charges considerably would be the Boston Common Underground garage, which you can access on Charles St. between Boylston and Beacon. All-day parking on Saturday is very reasonable (about $12, maybe, the last time I was there).
You can take the T to the Gardner, either directly from the Common (Arlington station), or if you have time and it's a nice day you can walk along Newbury or Boylston St to the Fenway area. After you're done at BCA, it's a nice walk (or short cab ride) back to the Common area.
You can take the T to the Gardner, either directly from the Common (Arlington station), or if you have time and it's a nice day you can walk along Newbury or Boylston St to the Fenway area. After you're done at BCA, it's a nice walk (or short cab ride) back to the Common area.
