Cambridge
Nov 24th, 1999 | 04:08 AM
#2
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with Christmas coming, how about doing some shopping? If you cook, I would suggest visiting the Italian North End of Boston and Chinatown for some unusual ingredients. Visit Bread and Circus for organic and vegetarian things. Spend some time in the bookstore and stock up on your favorite authors. Wander Beacon Hill and enjoy the architecture? Take a tour of Boston, you are sure to learn something. Museum of Fine Arts? Visit the Science Museum and it's Omni Theatre . Sorry, I know nothing about sports if that's up your alley!
Nov 24th, 1999 | 04:12 AM
#3
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Assuming you mean Cambridge, MA, there was a very recent thread that had some good ideas (search on either "Boston" or "Cambridge").
Otherwise, if you already "know" Boston, spend a day poking around the Harvard area -- browse books at the Coop and other bookstores, eat at one of the many interesting restaurants, check out the Peabody Museum on Oxford St. for gems or glass flowers or anthropological things (actually pretty interesting), check out the Fogg Museum for small but good art collection, wander around Brattle St., Mt. Auburn, for shops and neighborhood "feel," head up Mass. Ave. for slightly less august neighborhoods but interesting shops, restaurants. If the weather's at all clement, a walk along the Charles is a historic and restorative thing to do.
Henrietta's Table in the Charles Hotel is excellent, but there are some great ethnic restaurants in the area, too.
Completely OTHER in feel is the Central Sq. area, which is much more local, much "funkier," but with also some great restaurants.
And if you don't know Boston, get on the "T" and get to know it -- Beacon Hill (walk from one of the good restaurants on Charles St. up the hill to Louisberg Sq., esp. if it's before Xmas); Public Garden, Newbury St., plus the obvious Museum of Fine Art, etc.
Otherwise, if you already "know" Boston, spend a day poking around the Harvard area -- browse books at the Coop and other bookstores, eat at one of the many interesting restaurants, check out the Peabody Museum on Oxford St. for gems or glass flowers or anthropological things (actually pretty interesting), check out the Fogg Museum for small but good art collection, wander around Brattle St., Mt. Auburn, for shops and neighborhood "feel," head up Mass. Ave. for slightly less august neighborhoods but interesting shops, restaurants. If the weather's at all clement, a walk along the Charles is a historic and restorative thing to do.
Henrietta's Table in the Charles Hotel is excellent, but there are some great ethnic restaurants in the area, too.
Completely OTHER in feel is the Central Sq. area, which is much more local, much "funkier," but with also some great restaurants.
And if you don't know Boston, get on the "T" and get to know it -- Beacon Hill (walk from one of the good restaurants on Charles St. up the hill to Louisberg Sq., esp. if it's before Xmas); Public Garden, Newbury St., plus the obvious Museum of Fine Art, etc.
Nov 24th, 1999 | 05:20 AM
#4
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You've already received plenty of good recommendations, but here are a few more:
The Fogg is indeed great, and if you like museums you should also check out the Sackler (I think you can get a combination ticket).
If you're interested in gardens, famous people, great views, walking, or any combination of the above, go to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery (on Mt. Auburn St., a couple of miles outside Harvard Square; I think the Watertown and Waverly buses stop right in front) and walk around. It's an extraordinary garden and has plenty of historical graves including Mary Baker Eddy, Longfellow, Winslow Homer and Buckminster Fuller among many others (you can pick up a map at the entrance). On the top of one of the hills there's a tower you can climb; at the top is a fabulous 360 degree view of Boston, Cambridge, and far beyond.
One of the best house tours I've ever taken is the one at the Longfellow House, on tony Tory Brattle Street. I'm not sure if they run tours in late fall/winter, but if they do it's highly entertaining, interesting, and worthwhile.
Harvard Square is known for two things in particular: ice cream parlors and bookstores. For ice cream I'd recommend Herrells or Toscanini's, for bookstores Wordsworth is the king.
There is a little trolley which I think you board in front of the landmark Out-of-Town-News store, by the main subway entrance across from the Coop. The trolley will take you on a guided tour of Cambridge, including the magnificent houses on Brattle Street.
And of course, walk around Harvard Yard.
The Fogg is indeed great, and if you like museums you should also check out the Sackler (I think you can get a combination ticket).
If you're interested in gardens, famous people, great views, walking, or any combination of the above, go to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery (on Mt. Auburn St., a couple of miles outside Harvard Square; I think the Watertown and Waverly buses stop right in front) and walk around. It's an extraordinary garden and has plenty of historical graves including Mary Baker Eddy, Longfellow, Winslow Homer and Buckminster Fuller among many others (you can pick up a map at the entrance). On the top of one of the hills there's a tower you can climb; at the top is a fabulous 360 degree view of Boston, Cambridge, and far beyond.
One of the best house tours I've ever taken is the one at the Longfellow House, on tony Tory Brattle Street. I'm not sure if they run tours in late fall/winter, but if they do it's highly entertaining, interesting, and worthwhile.
Harvard Square is known for two things in particular: ice cream parlors and bookstores. For ice cream I'd recommend Herrells or Toscanini's, for bookstores Wordsworth is the king.
There is a little trolley which I think you board in front of the landmark Out-of-Town-News store, by the main subway entrance across from the Coop. The trolley will take you on a guided tour of Cambridge, including the magnificent houses on Brattle Street.
And of course, walk around Harvard Yard.
Dec 2nd, 1999 | 09:20 PM
#6
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You don't say where exactly in Cambridge you'll be... many businesses are located in the Kendall Square area. The only things in that area that come to mind are the MIT campus and a mall.
And speaking of malls, many locals would argue that's what Harvard Square has become! It's not quite that bad, but it does have a Gap, a big Abercrombie & Fitch, dunkin donuts, two Starbucks, etc. It is still worth walking around, for the Fogg, Coop, the campus, and some remaining unique establishments.
Central Square is funky, as described above. If you're a walker, you could stroll all down Mass Ave from Harvard or Kendall Square to reach it.
All three squares are accessible by the subway's "Red Line".
And don't forget, Cambridge is just across the Charles River from Boston.
And speaking of malls, many locals would argue that's what Harvard Square has become! It's not quite that bad, but it does have a Gap, a big Abercrombie & Fitch, dunkin donuts, two Starbucks, etc. It is still worth walking around, for the Fogg, Coop, the campus, and some remaining unique establishments.
Central Square is funky, as described above. If you're a walker, you could stroll all down Mass Ave from Harvard or Kendall Square to reach it.
All three squares are accessible by the subway's "Red Line".
And don't forget, Cambridge is just across the Charles River from Boston.
