Ideas sightseeing Cape Cod/Boston in a very short time.
May 27th, 2012, 09:00 AM
#61
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Ooh, a Hammond organ! I'd think it would be fine covered inside the van inside a parking garage affiliated with a hotel. (I'm no expert on criminality, but I'd think your average smash-and-run criminal wouldn't know what it is.)
In Boston, for an event every autumn we used to stay at the Colonnade opposite the Prudential Center. They have a parking structure integrated into the hotel and they'll validate the ticket so you get a little discount on the parking fee. I really like the location, nicely roomy rooms (recently renovated), and the Brasserie Jo is a good hotel restaurant and bar. (For breakfast, though, we pig out at Charlie's, a Boston institution a few blocks away in the South End.)
Another time we stayed near the hospital complex in Brookline. Basically the only hotel there - a Holiday Inn if I remember correctly - takes advantage of their monopoly on the location so that the quality is really poor. And the parking structure was dark and narrow to maneuver even our compact car!
Last year (for the same event), we stayed at the hip Liberty Hotel. Not my "cup of tea" at all! (By contrast to Brasserie Jo's cozy crowd, the bar was way too loud, and didn't have the selection we're used to at the former.) However, your kids might get a kick out of this converted jail, if even just to peek inside if you're in the area.
I'll try to remember what other hotels I've stayed in and provide more suggestions...
In Boston, for an event every autumn we used to stay at the Colonnade opposite the Prudential Center. They have a parking structure integrated into the hotel and they'll validate the ticket so you get a little discount on the parking fee. I really like the location, nicely roomy rooms (recently renovated), and the Brasserie Jo is a good hotel restaurant and bar. (For breakfast, though, we pig out at Charlie's, a Boston institution a few blocks away in the South End.)
Another time we stayed near the hospital complex in Brookline. Basically the only hotel there - a Holiday Inn if I remember correctly - takes advantage of their monopoly on the location so that the quality is really poor. And the parking structure was dark and narrow to maneuver even our compact car!
Last year (for the same event), we stayed at the hip Liberty Hotel. Not my "cup of tea" at all! (By contrast to Brasserie Jo's cozy crowd, the bar was way too loud, and didn't have the selection we're used to at the former.) However, your kids might get a kick out of this converted jail, if even just to peek inside if you're in the area.
I'll try to remember what other hotels I've stayed in and provide more suggestions...
May 27th, 2012, 12:00 PM
#62
Socialworker, there will be a Leslie speaker, to go with the Hammond, which again is large and very heavy. There will be a guitar amplifier also, but SIL may take that with him to the hotel room. I need to have discussions with DD and SIL about what they want to do, but they are gigging on a cruise ship at the moment, only getting short e-mails and brief Skype calls. Thanks again for all the suggestions.
May 27th, 2012, 12:55 PM
#64
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My apologies for the poison ivy detour. I was simply commenting and then replying to an angry retort - a now deleted post. I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous. Of course I didn't think the likelihood of nelsonian and family exploring Hyannis for a few days would likely have the time for a hike that could lead to a painful outbreak, but others who read this thread might decide to collect the pretty leaves.
Not sure I would lodge in Brookline as a one time visitor with limited time. The reason I don't like the Park Plaza, is that many of the rooms are small and stuffy with windows that don't open, or they open above the dumpsters and delivery area which in the heat of summer is vile. The lobby is quite nice and old school though.
I would consider priceline for two rooms in backbay.
Again, I am sorry for putting this thread off track, but I did it to protect other people that might read this thread.
Not sure I would lodge in Brookline as a one time visitor with limited time. The reason I don't like the Park Plaza, is that many of the rooms are small and stuffy with windows that don't open, or they open above the dumpsters and delivery area which in the heat of summer is vile. The lobby is quite nice and old school though.
I would consider priceline for two rooms in backbay.
Again, I am sorry for putting this thread off track, but I did it to protect other people that might read this thread.
May 27th, 2012, 01:07 PM
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There is absolutely no rush, for me to know what you will eventually decide nelsonian. We should be home at that time and will not need any extensive advance notice if you do decide to take me up on the offer! 
May 27th, 2012, 02:55 PM
#67
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I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous.
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lg: YOU are the Only poster who tried to make a little joke about the colorful ground foliage!! Are you forgetful? I know a great visual motor exercise that can increase your coordination and improve your memory! You seem to be a little obsessed about poison ivy as you've brought it up once again. Perhaps you could focus on something else now?
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lg: YOU are the Only poster who tried to make a little joke about the colorful ground foliage!! Are you forgetful? I know a great visual motor exercise that can increase your coordination and improve your memory! You seem to be a little obsessed about poison ivy as you've brought it up once again. Perhaps you could focus on something else now?
May 27th, 2012, 03:41 PM
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Bowsprit, no need to accuse me of your false accusations and distort my genuine and kind intent negatively. I was only defending my intent that had been completely reinterpreted and distorted.
Meanwhile I have tried to add some very helpful commentary and advice in regards to the poster's plans.
I've noticed that I need not provoke you for you to be unusually aggressive towards me. It is a habit, I hope you grow out of.
Meanwhile I have tried to add some very helpful commentary and advice in regards to the poster's plans.
I've noticed that I need not provoke you for you to be unusually aggressive towards me. It is a habit, I hope you grow out of.
May 27th, 2012, 04:28 PM
#70
Ackislander yes, it is a Hammond C3, but the top has been cut from the bottom for slightly easier transportation. The only difference between the B3 and the C3 is the B3 is already chopped.
I was thinking about Priceline, but if you bid for two rooms wouldn't there be a possibility you would end up in different hotels.
I was thinking about Priceline, but if you bid for two rooms wouldn't there be a possibility you would end up in different hotels.
May 27th, 2012, 04:40 PM
#71
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Re: Priceline
Not if you bid for two rooms in one bid. I've been lucky getting the Weston, which was slighly dated last year but has heavenly beds for a fraction of the going rate. It's worth checking out the betterbidding and other bidding for travel site to find what hotels are likely in what areas. I suggested back bay, because I think it is a safe choice for bidding. No real live wire choices.
Of course there are lots of great places that you could book with a 24 hour cancellation policy and then try pricelining before you leave manhattan.
Not if you bid for two rooms in one bid. I've been lucky getting the Weston, which was slighly dated last year but has heavenly beds for a fraction of the going rate. It's worth checking out the betterbidding and other bidding for travel site to find what hotels are likely in what areas. I suggested back bay, because I think it is a safe choice for bidding. No real live wire choices.
Of course there are lots of great places that you could book with a 24 hour cancellation policy and then try pricelining before you leave manhattan.
May 27th, 2012, 05:06 PM
#73
"I was simply commenting and then replying to an angry retort - a now deleted post. I find it irresponsible to continue to wax poetically about the beautiful ground foliage when you have been told most of it is poisonous"
Ridiculous. There was no angry retort. My comment was deleted and I was commenting on how interesting it was that a "brand new" poster was obsessed with poison ivy on the dunes of Cape Cod - just like a previous poster was. I suppose my mistake was listing three of the names that poster used.
For those who are wondering, that previous poster was really upset that something I wrote about the fall foliage was actually chosen as a quote used in a guidebook. That previous poster was quite sure that the fall foliage I saw was poison ivy. Kind of like THIS poster.
Silly, silly stuff. Silly stuff indeed. How ridiculous to sidetrack a thread with suggestions for nelsonian's visit with cautions about poison ivy. Ridiculous, indeed.
Ridiculous. There was no angry retort. My comment was deleted and I was commenting on how interesting it was that a "brand new" poster was obsessed with poison ivy on the dunes of Cape Cod - just like a previous poster was. I suppose my mistake was listing three of the names that poster used.
For those who are wondering, that previous poster was really upset that something I wrote about the fall foliage was actually chosen as a quote used in a guidebook. That previous poster was quite sure that the fall foliage I saw was poison ivy. Kind of like THIS poster.
Silly, silly stuff. Silly stuff indeed. How ridiculous to sidetrack a thread with suggestions for nelsonian's visit with cautions about poison ivy. Ridiculous, indeed.
May 30th, 2012, 09:18 AM
#75
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We teach a class in the Boston suburbs and usually take the class on the Boston Duck Tours. Not open during our last Nov. class so I made my own tour:
1. Symphony Hall - built in 1900 for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the hall its home.
2. Christian Science Center - is The Mother Church and administrative headquarters of the Christian Science Church founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879.
3. Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music.
4. Left – Apple Store – the largest in North America
5. Prudential Center - The Pru,[1][2] is a skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. The building, a part of the Prudential Center complex, currently stands as the 2nd-tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower.
6. Boston Public Library - the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use.
7. Old South Church - was built on newly filled land in the Back Bay section of Boston home to one of the older religious communities in the United States.
8. Boston Public Garden - established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray[4] petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Home to the Swan Boats.
9. Boston Common - During the 1630s, it was used by many families as a cow pasture. The Common was used as a camp by the British before the American Revolutionary War, from which they left for the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It was used for public hangings up until 1817.
10. Cheers Pub – where everybody knows your name.
11. Beacon Hill - a neighborhood of Federal-style rowhouses and is known for its narrow, gas-lit streets and brick sidewalks. Today, Beacon Hill is regarded as one of the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in Boston.[4]
12. State House - The original wood dome, which leaked, was covered with copper during 1802 by Paul Revere's company. (Paul Revere was the first American to roll copper successfully into sheets in a commercially viable manner.) The dome was first painted gray and then light yellow before being gilded with gold leaf during 1874. During World War II, the dome was painted once again, this time black or gray (depending on the source), to prevent reflection during blackouts and to protect the city and building from bombing attacks. During 1997, at a cost of more than $300,000, the dome was re-gilded, in 23k gold.
13. North End - the city's oldest residential community, where people have lived continuously since it was settled in the 1630s. Though small (⅓ mi²), the neighborhood has approximately 100 eating establishments, and a variety of tourist attractions. It is known as the city's Little Italy for its Italian-American population.
14. Old North Church - is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent. This phrase is related to Paul Revere's midnight ride, of April 18, 1775, which preceded the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution.
15. Paul Revere’s House - Paul Revere owned this house from 1770–1800, although he and his family may have lived elsewhere for periods in the 1780s and 1790s.
16. Faneuil Hall - The ground floor was originally used to house African sheep brought over from the northwestern region of New Hampshire. The program was short lived however, due to a shortage of sheep and reasoning behind the program in the first place.
17. MIT- Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States,
18. Harvard Square - Harvard Square is a large triangular historic center of Cambridge.[2] Adjacent to Harvard Yard, the historic heart of Harvard University,
19. Boston University - BU is categorized as an RU/VH Research University (very high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
20. Fenway Park - has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use.
21. Copley Place - constructed in 1983
1. Symphony Hall - built in 1900 for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which continues to make the hall its home.
2. Christian Science Center - is The Mother Church and administrative headquarters of the Christian Science Church founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879.
3. Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music.
4. Left – Apple Store – the largest in North America
5. Prudential Center - The Pru,[1][2] is a skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. The building, a part of the Prudential Center complex, currently stands as the 2nd-tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower.
6. Boston Public Library - the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use.
7. Old South Church - was built on newly filled land in the Back Bay section of Boston home to one of the older religious communities in the United States.
8. Boston Public Garden - established in 1837 when philanthropist Horace Gray[4] petitioned for the use of land as the first public botanical garden in the United States. Home to the Swan Boats.
9. Boston Common - During the 1630s, it was used by many families as a cow pasture. The Common was used as a camp by the British before the American Revolutionary War, from which they left for the Battle of Lexington and Concord. It was used for public hangings up until 1817.
10. Cheers Pub – where everybody knows your name.
11. Beacon Hill - a neighborhood of Federal-style rowhouses and is known for its narrow, gas-lit streets and brick sidewalks. Today, Beacon Hill is regarded as one of the most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in Boston.[4]
12. State House - The original wood dome, which leaked, was covered with copper during 1802 by Paul Revere's company. (Paul Revere was the first American to roll copper successfully into sheets in a commercially viable manner.) The dome was first painted gray and then light yellow before being gilded with gold leaf during 1874. During World War II, the dome was painted once again, this time black or gray (depending on the source), to prevent reflection during blackouts and to protect the city and building from bombing attacks. During 1997, at a cost of more than $300,000, the dome was re-gilded, in 23k gold.
13. North End - the city's oldest residential community, where people have lived continuously since it was settled in the 1630s. Though small (⅓ mi²), the neighborhood has approximately 100 eating establishments, and a variety of tourist attractions. It is known as the city's Little Italy for its Italian-American population.
14. Old North Church - is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent. This phrase is related to Paul Revere's midnight ride, of April 18, 1775, which preceded the Battles of Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution.
15. Paul Revere’s House - Paul Revere owned this house from 1770–1800, although he and his family may have lived elsewhere for periods in the 1780s and 1790s.
16. Faneuil Hall - The ground floor was originally used to house African sheep brought over from the northwestern region of New Hampshire. The program was short lived however, due to a shortage of sheep and reasoning behind the program in the first place.
17. MIT- Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States,
18. Harvard Square - Harvard Square is a large triangular historic center of Cambridge.[2] Adjacent to Harvard Yard, the historic heart of Harvard University,
19. Boston University - BU is categorized as an RU/VH Research University (very high research activity) in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
20. Fenway Park - has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use.
21. Copley Place - constructed in 1983
May 30th, 2012, 12:13 PM
#77
Wow thanks Mary_Jane what great information. I would love the PDF, my e-mail is sharon dot f at clear dot net dot nz.
Can you actually go inside the Berkley College of Music, DD was interested in going there when she was looking at colleges after high school.
Thanks so much
Can you actually go inside the Berkley College of Music, DD was interested in going there when she was looking at colleges after high school.
Thanks so much
May 30th, 2012, 12:35 PM
#78
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You definitely can go inside Berklee. It's very close to Symphony Hall and the well-regarded Huntington Theater, as well as to the Christian Science center if you have an interest in viewing the Mapparium. (FWIW, all of these are a short walk from the hotel I mentioned earlier, the Colonnade.)
Map of Berklee:
www.berklee.edu/visiting/directions.html
Events at Berklee in Nov 2012:
http://www.berklee.edu/events/month/2012-11
Mapparium:
www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium
Huntington Theater:
www.huntingtontheatre.org/
// Coincidentally, just this afternoon I read an article in the Guardian UK about Berklee. Nothing new for those who know about the school, but cool nonetheless to see it in an international newspaper!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...e-grammy-music
Map of Berklee:
www.berklee.edu/visiting/directions.html
Events at Berklee in Nov 2012:
http://www.berklee.edu/events/month/2012-11
Mapparium:
www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium
Huntington Theater:
www.huntingtontheatre.org/
// Coincidentally, just this afternoon I read an article in the Guardian UK about Berklee. Nothing new for those who know about the school, but cool nonetheless to see it in an international newspaper!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012...e-grammy-music
May 30th, 2012, 01:16 PM
#79
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Nelsonian--
We took two friends from Japan to Boston some years ago. I didn't think ahead of time how much we took for granted of American History and had some explaining to do.
If you want an easy way to brush up on the pertinent American history, hunt down the Liberty's Kids cartoons on youtube.(We get them at the library.) They are well done, and famous actors do some of the voices. Here's an index of the episodes, with summaries if you click on the different episodes. The first several pertain to Boston. There are others related to New York.
http://libertyskids.com/story/index.html
You have gotten great recommendations; Freedom Trail, Paul Revere's house and the Plimouth Plantation were all excellent. We also enjoyed Sturbridge, but I think you'd do better to see things in Boston given your limited time.
Enjoy your trip!
We took two friends from Japan to Boston some years ago. I didn't think ahead of time how much we took for granted of American History and had some explaining to do.
If you want an easy way to brush up on the pertinent American history, hunt down the Liberty's Kids cartoons on youtube.(We get them at the library.) They are well done, and famous actors do some of the voices. Here's an index of the episodes, with summaries if you click on the different episodes. The first several pertain to Boston. There are others related to New York.
http://libertyskids.com/story/index.html
You have gotten great recommendations; Freedom Trail, Paul Revere's house and the Plimouth Plantation were all excellent. We also enjoyed Sturbridge, but I think you'd do better to see things in Boston given your limited time.
Enjoy your trip!
May 30th, 2012, 07:16 PM
#80
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Nelsonian, www.lastminutetravel.com often has some very good deals for hotels in Boston. They are "mystery" hotels but pretty easily identified by the photos they show (which are the same as on the hotels websites). So I'd happy to help ID any hotels you find there. You can reserve two rooms at one time. It's not showing any great deals right now but it may be too early. And I don't know if there are any large conventions in town that week.
Another new resource in Boston is a new app by the National Park Service. It covers the Freedom Trail and the Black History Trail and allows you to customize your own tour. It is available right now for IPhones and IPads for free. At ITunes, search for NPS Boston and it will come up.
Another new resource in Boston is a new app by the National Park Service. It covers the Freedom Trail and the Black History Trail and allows you to customize your own tour. It is available right now for IPhones and IPads for free. At ITunes, search for NPS Boston and it will come up.
