nostongirl

My 73 year old mom and I are going to Boston Opening Day weekend to see the Red Sox on Sunday. We are staying at a place on Commonwealth: it says it is a little under 1.5 miles. Is this walkable? Looking for suggestions on restaurants in Back Bay and things to do as we are staying the weekend. Thanks!

gail

Where exactly as you staying on commonwealth Ave? (Called Comm Ave by everyone). It is going to have to be walkable to Fenway, since taking public transportation that distance is just not practical on game day; even a taxi is going to sit in traffic. From anywhere on Comm Ave it is city streets with sidewalks. On game days traffic is gridlocked for about a mile any direction from Fenway, and people walk in the streets as well.

Plenty of advice here and threads on activities and food - I will instead give Fenway advice.

1. Dress warm. I don't care how warm it is outside, dress warm. That means a hat and gloves as well. Ignore weather forecasts you get a few days before you arrive; they are wrong. Many seats are under cover - an advantage if it rains a bit, but also without sun to warm you up.

2. The seats are, relative to other ball parks, narrow and uncomfortable. Get up a stretch or walk around if you have any joint problems.

3. While food inside Fenway has greatly improved over past decade, it lacks the variety of other sports venues. Tell your mother she must buy a beer, even if she does not want it. They card (ID) everyone, regardless of age. It is really a thrill to be carded decades past legal minimum drinking age.

4. Boston fans are really into the game. Admire the new World Series banner. Fans stand and cheer for plays even in the very early innings. They used to chant "Yankees suck" at random times thruout a game, even if not against the Yankees. Now that this is true, it is rarely chanted.

5. Although it makes no sense, they play "Sweet Caroline" as a sing-a-long towards the end of the game.

6. Security is real. You can not bring in backpack or food, even water. They will search women's purse, although I find if you are older, they are not too serious about that. There are roving people with cameras (and ID - not just creeps with cameras) who will want to take your photo. Let them - it is free, they give you a little card and you can go look it up on-line and decide if you want to buy it. They are usually pretty good and make a nice souvenir.

Have a good time at Fenway. We go to several games/year and it is usually fun, but weather is always bad for us - we don't have tickets for that weekend, so it should be fine.

china_cat

Gail is mistaken about #6. You can bring in food and water, as long as water bottles are sealed. And you can bring in bags, although I would bring the smallest purse because there is just no place to put it in the narrow seats.

1.5 miles is walkable, but obviously it's a little long, so it depends on whether your mother can handle it. Walking on Comm Ave all the way to Kenmore square is certainly doable. And you could take a cab, particularly if this is a weekend game, so you are not dealing with both Fenway traffic and rush hour. If you go an hour beforehand it won't be So gridlocked. Otherwise, you may take the green line from where you are staying. The only caution is getting ON the green line after a game is a mob scene. We generally hang out for an hour, having a drink or an ice cream allowing the crowds to thin.

Make a reservation for dinner at either Eastern Standard or Island Creek Oyster bar before the game. Both are very close to the park, have excellent food, and if you go there, you will certainly be early enough to not have too much traffic for a cab or major mobs on the t. If you like seafood, Island Creek is a destination whether going to Fenway or not!

china_cat

One more thing, let me echo Gail's warning about dressing warm. April in Fenway is cold! Add one more layer than you think you need, you won't regret it. I,m going opening day. I'll wear silk long johns, turtleneck, fleece, and a windbreaker, plus hat, and gloves, and wool socks.

BigRuss

<They used to chant "Yankees suck" at random times thruout a game, even if not against the Yankees. Now that this is true, it is rarely chanted.>

As you can see, you're entering a twilight zone where fans are not in touch with reality.

And Fenway is a unique experience - the seats are narrow, the fans are Bostonian (ugh) and the viewing angles can be odd (especially if you're stuck behind a pole or a pillar or seated at a strange bend in the wall around the first base line).

clarkgriswold

I would suggest walking halfway, stopping for a snack and a sit, then continuing onward with your 73 year old mom.

clarkgriswold

www.sonsieboston.com

HKP

...the fans are Bostonian (yeah! )...


Question to people who know the Comm Ave/Fenway neighborhood well. Would it make sense to take a cab very early (ca. 1 1/2 -2 hrs. early) to some restaurant/café nearer Fenway (maybe Kenmore area?) and hang out there, so that the walk for OP's mom is only that last bit? Of course, any estab. near Fenway would be jammed before gametime, so maybe you have some hints re: that. I suppose there's the same problem getting back afterward, and maybe an easy return trip is more important than getting there.

china_cat

yes. As I suggested one can usually get reservations at either Eastern Standard or Island Creek. Eastern standard has a nice Sunday brunch too. And 90 minutes early should be enough for easy arrival by taxi.

I like to go for cocktails at the Hawthorne afterwards. it seems to be less mobbed than Eastern Standard, and has nice cozy seats. Pricy, yes, but really good bartending. Or go to dinner nearby. There are a couple of good places that tend to be not quite as crazy as right at the park. Petit Robert Kenmore is good. Also Deuxave is very nice and an easy walk from the park.

oh one more option, just thought of...after the game you can usually get a pedicab somewhere near Landsdowne street. I've actually never tried this, but I think they get through traffic pretty well, maybe that would be a nice way to cut down on walking? they go back to the Prudential center, I believe. Not sure where they go after that, but you could probably catch a regular cab if you get as far as the Pru and are tired.

Ackislander

In theory, you could take the commuter train to the new Yawkey Way Station from Back Bay Station. Of course the time and the price would have to work out,

nostongirl

Wow.! I cannot tell you all how very much both mom and I sincerely appreciate all the great tips and information!!

Great thoughts on either walking partway and taking a break or going early, lunching, taking a cab etc.

I have heard you can watch batting practice if you get there early; how far in advance of game time is early and is it worth it?

I am thinking of trying to get reservations at island Creek Oyster Bar; does anyone have favorite dishes there?

Again, thank you all for your help! I hope that I can be as helpful in the future!

nostongirl

Oh, we are staying at College Club B & B. Has anyone stayed here?

cw

I've heard good things about the College Club but I live in Boston and have not stayed there. It's in a great location, one block from Newbury Street with lots of shops and restaurants and near the Public Garden and Boston Common. You're near the Arlington St. Station on the Green Line so you can take the subway to Kenmore for Fenway Park. Take trains marked B, C, or D, but not E, which doesn't go to Kenmore. The E train goes to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Gardner Museum, if that interests you. You can look at www.mbta.com for planning routes via the T.

I'd also recommend walking the Freedom Trail which begins at the Boston Common.

The oysters at Island Creek are great, as you might expect. I'm a sucker for the oyster slider appetizer. Fried oyster on a small roll--yum!

clarkgriswold

lobster roll !

china_cat

i like the lobster roe and short rib noodles at Island Creek. Also, whatever fresh fish is on special. And yeah...the oysters of course, if you like raw oysters.

gates at Fenway open 2 hours early, and batting practice goes till about 1 hour before game time, maybe. Its always the road team practice, because the home team takes batting practice earlier. I'm not a big fan of BP, I find it kind of boring. the only time I really enjoyed it was when I had monster seats. so we were up on the wall trying to catch batting practice homers.

the other thing you might do (and I've never done it, so not sure how crowded or difficult), on Landsdowne street, which runs along Fenway behind the green monster, is the Bleacher Bar. This bar is actually underneath the bleacher seats, and has a view of center field through one of those garage doors you see in dead center on TV. you can actually watch BP from in here, and they reportedly have decent food. I expect if you were here 3 hours before gametime, you might see the Sox take batting practice.

tchoiniere

I have been to the Bleacher Bar. It can get crowded but can be worth it too. Even if you cannot get the seats next to the door, you get a good view through it. Decent food and good beer selection.

As for BP, I like getting there for the beginning of it as its a good opportunity to walk around the inside of the stadium and seeing it.