39 replies to this topic

[Cotuit]

As Boston gears up for the Democratic National Convention, The Boston Herald brings us...

15 Must Sees: You haven't been to Boston until you've visited...

1) The Freedom Trail - The 2.5-mile red brick path crisscrossing downtown Boston is a pilgrimage every visitor should make. How else could you pack 300 years of history into your daily exercise? You can visit the world's oldest commissioned warship, climb 294 stairs to the top of the Bunker Hill monument, and check out the final resting place of revolutionary hero and beer baron Samuel Adams, all in one afternoon. Pick up maps for a self-guided tour at The Greater Boston Convention and Visitor Center on Boston Common. Visitor's Center: 147 Tremont St., Downtown (617) 357-8300; thefreedomtrail.org. T: Red & Green lines, Park Street Station.

2) Fenway Park - Forget all the newfangled, modern behemoths that pass for ballparks nowadays. Fenway is the real deal. It may be dirty, cramped and filled with obnoxious fans, but it has a magic and charm that can only be felt in person. Smelling the fresh-cut grass of the infield while sipping a watered-down Bud Light is what Bostonians imagine the afterlife to be - well, that and celebrating a Red Sox World Series win. You can tour the park daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (except on game days, when tours stop three hours before game time.) The Sox play their archrivals, the N.Y. Yankees, at home July 24 and 25, but tickets will be nearly impossible to get... unless you're a real political heavyweight. 4 Yawkey Way, Kenmore Square; (617) 267-1700 (Tours Hotline 617-226-6666); redsox.com. T: Green Line, Kenmore Station.

3) Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge - Named for local civil rights activist Leonard P. Zakim, this gorgeous showpiece of the infamous Big Dig highway project has won universal acclaim. The widest cable-stayed bridge in the world, it begins where the underground Central Artery surfaces near the Fleet Center and carries Interstate 93 across the Charles River. While most sights in Boston reflect its illustrious past, the funky yet elegant architecture of the Zakim Bridge represents Boston at the dawn of the new millenium. The design of the inverted Y-shaped towers was intended to reflect the nearby Bunker Hill monument. Causeway Street, behind the Fleet Center. T: Green Line, North Station.

4) The North End - The Old World is alive in well in this charming urban neighborhood that celebrates its Italian-American roots. While trendy bistros and nouveau cuisines have begun to crowd out the older, family-run shops, there's still a distinctly mom-and-pop feel to the community. In the summer, an Italian street festival every weekend adds to the European charm. When Convention business gets to be too much, let the smells of veal scallopinni and mussels marinara lure you into this quaint little enclave, which is also home to the famed Old North Church. Salem Street, Hanover Street, Commercial Street. T: Green & Orange Lines, Haymarket Station.

5) Copley Square - There's so much to see and do here you may experience sensory overload. In the center of the square sits the breathtaking Trinity Church, completed in 1877 by H.H. Richardson and considered to be one of America's architectural gems. Across the street is the enormous and equally jaw-dropping Boston Public Library, whose stunning marble interior somehow manages to surpass its grand exterior. Oh, and they also lend out books. Nearby is Newbury Street, Boston's answer to Fifth Avenue, where all things chic, trendy and expensive can be found. Boylston Street between Clarendon and Dartmouth Streets. T: Green Line, Copley Station.

6) Boston Common/ Public Garden - What began as grazing land for the Puritans is now the country's oldest public park. Forty four acres of meandering paths and rolling hills right downtown will make even rural visitors feel at home. With the gold-domed Massachusetts State House at one end, and the graceful townhouses of swank Beacon Hill along the northern edge, the Common is the heart and soul of old Boston. Across Arlington Street is the Public Garden, the nation's first botanical garden, famous for its year-round botanical displays and the pedal-powered Swan Boats that cruise the pond. Boston Common: Park Street between Beacon & Tremont streets. T: Red & Green Lines, Park Street Station. Public Garden: Arlington Street between Beacon and Boylston streets. T: Green Line, Arlington Street Station.

7) Sam Adams Brewery - We might all still be drinking watered-down domestic beer or pricey European imports if it weren't for the Samuel Adams Brewing Company A tour of this groundbreaking beer company, which introduced the term microbrewery to America, includes a beer-tasting lesson and the all-important commemorative pint glass. 30 Germania St., Jamaica Plain MA. (617) 522-9080; samadams.com. T: Orange Line, Green Street Station.

8) Harvard Square - You don't need a 1600 on your SATs to enjoy Harvard Square. Its bohemian charm has been diluted in recent years by commercial retailers of the Abercrombie & Fitch persuasion, but plenty of independent spirit remains. Street performers attract crowds most warm nights, and the diversity of ethnic eateries can cause decision-making panic attacks. Be sure to also check out the storied, ivy-covered interior of Harvard Yard, pronounced by tourists and non-Bostonians around the globe as Hahvahd Yahd. Massachusetts Avenue and JFK Street, Cambridge. T: Red Line/Harvard Station.

9) Museum of Fine Arts/ Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - These two art museums, which are nearly next-door neighbors, exemplify the Boston Brahmin cultural tradition. The MFA houses an awe-inspiring array of ancient, classical and modern works, including one of the world's best collections of Egyptian art. The Gardner is home to the eclectic collection of founder Isabella Stewart Gardner. The gorgeous building modeled after a 15th century Venetian palace, and features one of the sexiest courtyards in the world. The Gardner was made famous, regrettably, by the still-unsolved theft of 13 works of art in 1990. Museum of Fine Arts: 465 Huntington Ave., Fenway. (617) 267-9300; mfa.org. T: Green Line (E branch), Museum stop. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: 280 The Fenway, Fenway. (617) 566-1401; gardnermuseum.org . T: Green Line (E branch), Museum stop.

10) John F. Kennedy Library and Museum - What Democrat would come to Boston for a party convention and not visit the JFK Library? Situated at the tip of Columbia Point in Dorchester, this architectural jewel (designed by I.M. Pei) is a fitting tribute to Boston's favorite son. The museum offers a first-rate look at Kennedy's life and presidency, along with a changing schedule of exhibits on American history. Kennedy's 26-foot sloop Victura is displayed on the lawn, facing the entrance to Boston Harbor. And the ocean-view sunsets are breathtaking. John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Columbia Point, Dorchester. (617) 514-1600; jfklibrary.org. T: Red Line, JFK/UMass station.

11) Arnold Arboretum - Need an escape? Head for the verdant hills of the Arnold Arboretum -- 265 acres of woodlands and meadows designed by the famed Frederick Law Olmsted in 1879. The Arboretum is a tranquil oasis just a few miles from downtown, with one of North America's finest collections of trees, shrubs and flowers. 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain. (617) 524-1718; arboretum.harvard.edu. T: Orange Line, Forest Hills Station.

12) MIT Museum - You don't have to be a nerd or a Mensa member to enjoy the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's showcase of innovation, with exhibits of all things robotic, technological and seemingly impossible. 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. (617) 253-4444; mit.edu/museum . T: Red Line, Kendall Station.

13) Christian Science Center - Who'd have thought that concrete and stone could be so beautiful? The sweeping expanse of the Christian Science Plaza, home of the Christian Science Mother Church, is the closest thing white-steepled New England has to the Vatican. In addition to the spectacular Romanesque Mother Church, the complex also includes a 670-foot reflecting pool and the gorgeous Mapparium, where you can walk inside a three-story stained-glass globe of the world. 175 Huntington Ave., Back Bay. (617) 450-3790; tfccs.com  T: Green Line (E branch), Prudential or Symphony stop.

14) Boston Harbor Islands - Cool off with a short cruise through Boston's historic harbor to Georges Island, where you can picnic, hike, or explore a Civil War-era fort. Small water taxis will take you to some of the other 33 islands dotting the harbor. You'll see the city from a new vantage point, and get a terrific view of Boston Light, the country's oldest continually used lighthouse site (1716). Boston Harbor Cruises, 1 Long Wharf, Downtown. (617) 227-4321; bostonharborcruises.com. T: Blue Line, Aquarium Station. For information about the harbor islands, access nps.gov. 

15) Boston Athenaeum - A private library dating back to 1807, the Athenaeum's esteemed membership has included John Quincy Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and hundreds of other important people with three names. The Athenaeum houses an impressive art collection and also continues the tradition of serving a high tea on Wednesdays. You don't need to be a member to check out the grounds and take a tour. 10 1/2 Beacon St., Downtown. (617) 227-0270; bostonathenaeum.org.

[Ron Newman]

Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market is a puzzling omission from that list.    Sure it's touristy, but this is a list for tourists.   It's a genuinely historic site, as well as the launchpad for the idea of an outdoor urban  'festival marketplace'.

I'd also put Mt. Auburn Cemetery on the list.

And how can you recommend Copley Square without even mentioning the John Hancock Tower?

Edited by Ron Newman, 02 July 2004 - 05:57 AM.

[Cotuit]

Well I would say that the Mt. Auburn Cemetery isn't Boston, but they did list Harvard Square, so I guess we're not nitpicking. You'll hit Quincy Market on the Freedom Trail, but I agree, it's worthy of it's own spot. It could take Fenway's spot, I hear Fenway is suspending tours the week of the convention. I'm sure some of the higher level VIPs will get tours however.

With the Hancock's observatory closed, I recommend the Pru over it.

[Ron Newman]

Sure, people should go to the top of the Pru.  

But if you're going to recommend Copley Square for the architecture, it make no sense to ignore the Hancock.

[Cotuit]

Boston's Modern Must-Sees
By Norman Dalager / Boston.com

Boston is well-known for colonial history, but a lot has happened in the Hub since the beginning of the 20th Century as well. Here's a list of some more modern landmarks and hidden sights that you'll find around town.


Larry Bird's Bronze Sneakers
Boston Celtics legend and NBA superstar Larry Bird reached a monumental milestone in 1998 by entering basketball’s Hall of Fame. Later that year, Converse (long endorsed by Bird during his playing career) dedicated a  plaque in his name at Boston’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace, featuring  a list of Bird’s career accolades and a pair of his size 13 ½ sneakers cast in bronze.
Location: Faneuil Hall, Boston
Public Transportation: Government Center (Green or Blue Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Arnold "Red" Auerbach Statue
Basketball and cigar fans alike will appreciate this tribute to former Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach. Red led the Celtics to an unprecedented eight straight championships from 1959-1966, giving him plenty of occasions to enjoy a victory cigar. The statue shows Red holding a rolled up booklet in one hand and toting a trademark cigar in the other.
Location: Faneuil Hall, Boston
Public Transportation: Government Center (Green or Blue Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


New England Holocaust Memorial
Six 54-foot tall glass towers stand near Faneuil Hall as a memorial to those who were killed during the Holocaust. Six million numbers are etched on the glass towers, each one representing a number of a prisoner in the concentration camps. Each tower stands above a chamber where smoldering coals emit smoke that rises through metal grates and up through the tower.
Location: Faneuil Hall, Boston
Public Transportation: Government Center (Green or Blue Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge
One look at this bridge and you’ll see why the Discovery Channel ranked it as one of the world’s top 10 best bridges. The two concrete towers echo the shape of the Bunker Hill Monument across the Charles River, and the cables are lit with dramatic blue lights when the sun goes down. At 185 feet, it’s the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world and the only asymmetrical bridge in North America. There are great views from Charlestown, or you can drive over it yourself on Interstate 93. (Globe file photo)
Location: North End, Boston
Public Transportation: North Station (Green or Orange Line
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


The "Skinny House"
Boston apartments are known to be pretty small, but this house takes the cake. Measuring a whopping ten feet wide and 30 feet deep, this four-story house is rumored to have been built out of spite to block the light from reaching the neighbors living behind it.
Location: North End, Boston
Public Transportation: North Station (Green or Orange Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Site of the Great Molasses Flood
On January 15, 1919, a gigantic tank filled with 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, sending a crushing, 30-foot, 14,000-ton wave along the waterfront near the North End. The accident killed 21 people and injured 150 more. Today, a plaque commerates those who died; some say that on a hot, humid day you can still smell the molasses. (Globe file photo)
Location: Lagone Park in the North End, Boston
Public Transportation: North Station (Green or Orange Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Christopher Columbus Park and Rose Kennedy Garden
Separating the North End and the waterfront, Christopher Columbus Park gives visitors ample open space to enjoy. During warmer months the park is popular with dog owners (so watch where you step), while the Rose Kennedy Garden provides a serene setting to read a book or enjoy a snack.
Location: Along the Waterfront, Boston
Public Transportation: Aquarium (Blue Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


The New England Aquarium
Set right along the water, the Aquarium features both indoor and outdoor exhibits designed for the whole family. Take the kids up and down the spiral staircase to see the cleverly-designed five-story aquarium filled with giant sea turtles, barracuda and sharks. Seals will meet and greet you outside, and the penguins are always popular.
Location: Central Wharf, Boston
Public Transportation: Aquarium (Blue Line)
Cost and Hours: Cost: Adult $15.95, 60+ yrs $13.95, 3-11 yrs $8.95, Under 3 free. Go to neaq.org for hours.


Hood Milk Bottle
Standing 40 feet tall, this giant milk sits next to the Boston Children’s Museum, just across the Fort Point Channel. In 1930, Hood Dairy built the structure entirely of wood, and it was moved to its current spot in 1977. The bottle is home to an ice cream stand and snack bar during the summer, and there are tables nearby where you can sit and relax. It's would take an estimated 50,000 gallons of dairy product to fill the monster milk bottle.
Location: 300 Congress St., Boston
Public Transportation: South Station (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


The MTV Real World House
The year was 1997, and seven strangers moved into this 2,500 square foot converted firehouse in Beacon Hill to have their lives taped for a season of "The Real World" on MTV. The firehouse sits on the corner of Mt. Vernon and River streets, just off Charles Street, and now houses an independent community center.
Location: 127 Mount Vernon St., Beacon Hill, Boston
Public Transportation: Charles/MGH (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Doors open to members only



The World’s Largest Copyrighted Piece of Artwork
This massive gas tank sits off Route 93, just south of Boston. Artist Corita Kent was commissioned in 1971 by Boston Gas to paint the tank, and delivered this bright rainbow of colors. Kent, an active Vietnam War protester, is alleged to have shaped the profile of Ho-Chi Minh into one side of the blue stripe. (Globe file photo)
Location: Dorchester
Public Transportation: Broadway (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Samuel Adams Brewery
Famous as a patriot, Samuel Adams was both a revolutionary and a brewer. Today, you can tour the Samuel Adams brewery in the Boston neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, where you can go behind-the-scenes to see the brewing process and catch a fresh, free sample (21 and over).
Location: 30 Germania St. Jamaica Plain, Boston
Public Transportation: Stoney Brook (Orange Line)
Cost and Hours: Tours are free and held 2pm W (5/1-8/31) & Th; 2pm & 5:30pm F; 12pm, 1pm & 2pm Sat


Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
For a personal encounter with works from the likes of Rembrandt, Titian and Raphael, visit the once private collection of socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner. The museum was once a private home, and it's modeled on a 15th-century Venetian palace and boasts three floors of galleries around a Mediterranean-style garden courtyard. The Gardner Museum was the site of a high-profile art theft in 1990, when a Vermeer and a dozen other works were stolen. The empty frames still hang on the wall today, as Gardner's will mandated that nothing in the collection is to be moved or re-arranged. (Globe file photo)
Location: 280 The Fenway, South End, Boston
Public Transportation: Museum (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: $10 ($11 on weekends), Seniors: $7 College Students: $5 w/ I.D. Members and Children under 18 are free.Tues-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.


The “Plywood Palace”
Decadently dominating the Boston skyline, the glass John Hancock Tower is a 60-story high mirror in the sky. Finished in 1973, early problems with heat and wind caused many of the glass panels to fall out, endangering people below. The problems were fixed long ago, but for a short-time the tower was known as “The Plywood Palace” for the wood used to temporarily cover the holes left by the falling glass.
Location: 200 Claredon St., Back Bay, Boston
Public Transportation: Arlington (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: Public access inside the building is limited


"Reverse the Curse" Road Sign
Traveling outbound on Storrow Drive can make for a pleasant drive or walk, but ignore the breathtaking view of the river and pay attention to the road signs! YOu might catch a glimpse of a Boston landmark that echoes the ruthless cry of Boston Red Sox fans all over New England. A “vandal” sent a desperate message to “Reverse The Curse” by using spray paint to alter a sign posted on the Longfellow Bridge that once read “Reverse Curve.”
Location: Storrow Drive and Longfellow Bridge
Public Transportation: Charles/MGH (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day



F.A.O. Schwartz Bear
All that is left of a once thriving F.A.O. Schwartz toy store on Boylston Street is a 12-foot tall, 3-ton bronze teddy bear. The iconic sculpture, create by local artist Robert Shure, was donated to the City of Boston after the store closed its doors in early 2004. While the city may someday move the bear, for now it still sits happily on the sidewalk, and is still a good spot for a photo with the kids.
Location: 440 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston
Public Transportation: Copley (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Boston Marathon Finish Line
You don’t have to run the 26.2-mile course to cross the official Boston Marathon finish line. Held on the third Monday of every April (which is also Patriots Day), "Marathon Monday" is an unofficial holiday for many in the city. People line the course to cheer on world-class runners and to celebrate themselves. The route winds through Boston suburbs and neighborhoods and finishes on Boylston Street right in front of the Boston Public Library. The finish line spans Boylston Street, and gradually fades each year before being re-painted again in April.
Location: Boylston Street, Back Bay, Boston
Public Transportation: Copley (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


]The Boston University Bridge
True, there are many bridges in Boston, but this bridge offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity. It's believed to be the only place in America where, simultaneously, a plane can fly over car driving over a train traveling over a boat. Watch out below (and above)! And while you're there, you can check out the often witty graffiti painted on the train bridge by local college rowing teams.
Location: Commonwealth Ave. and Brookine St., Allston
Public Transportation: BU East (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Citgo Sign
This 60’ by 60’ neon wonder that stands above Kenmore Square is a local icon. It contains more than five miles of neon tubing, and it's lit from dusk to midnight most nights. You can get a good view from Commonwealth Avenue, just outside of Kenmore Square, or from inside nearby Fenway Park, where the sign is visible over the famous Green Monster. (Globe file photo)
Location: Kenmore Square, Boston
Public Transportation: Kenmore (Green Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Arthur Fiedler's Giant Head
If you're walking on the Esplanade (the park along the Boston side of the Charles River), stop and visit the Arthur Fiedler statue. Fiedler spent 50 years conducting the world-renowned Boston Pops orchestra, and he introduced free outdoor concerts at the nearby Hatch Shell during the summer. One of those concerts, in 1976, set a Guinness World Records for the largest audience (400,000) to attend a classical music concert.
Location: The Esplanade, Boston
Public Transportation: Charles/MGH, Boston
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


John Kerry's House
Get an up-close and personal look at Senator John Kerry’s five-story, 9,798 square foot Beacon Hill townhouse. It's valued at $6.9 million, and while the outside looks sort of ordinary, the inside boasts five bedrooms, six bathrooms, six fireplaces, and an elevator. The home borders the very exclusive Louisburg (pronounces "Lewisburg") Square section of Beacon Hill, and it's a good idea not to hang around too long -- the Secret Service usually has agents posted nearby. Understandably, the house is closed to the public.
Location: 19 Louisburg Square, Beacon Hill, Boston
Public Transportation: Charles/MGH (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Admittance prohibited


"Smoots" on the Harvard Bridge
MIT students are world-famous for their brains and creativity, and the invention of the "Smoot" as unit of measure is no exception. In 1958, the pledge class of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity marked the length of the Harvard Bridge (which goes to MIT) using pledge Oliver Smoot as a measuring tool. For the record, Smoot was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and the bridge is 364.4 Smoots (plus an ear) long. The bridge is marked with colored lines to mark every 10 Smoots, and the markers are painted on the sidewalk on the outbound side of the bridge.
Location: Over the Charles River between Back Bay and Cambridge
Public Transportation: Kendall/MIT
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


The "Steaming Globe"
Steam rises from below this sculpture of the earth, designed and built by a team of artists from the M.I.T. Center for Advanced Visual Studies program who collaborated with landscape architects, urban designers and engineers to build this piece of art.
Location: Kendall Square, Cambridge
Public Transportation: Kendall/MIT (Red Line)
Cost and Hours: Free, open 24 hours/day


Site of the Great Brinks Robbery
On January 17, 1950, seven robbers – made their way through several locked doors and up to the second floor where they hustled over $1.2 million in cash and more than $1.5 million in securities from Brinks employees. At the time was the largest heist in U.S. history and dubbed "The Perfect Crime." The robbers and several others involved where all tied to organized crime and were later caught and charged with the robbery.
Location: Prince St. and Commercial Street, North End
Public Transportation: Haymarket (Orange and Green Line)
Cost and Hours: The Brinks Building still stands at 169 Prince St. in the North Terminal Garage

From Boston.com

[Neo]

Thanks for posting that!  That was awesome, I really enjoyed it.

[Scott]

They are telling people to go see the gas tank   , they may be slightly disappointed after the subway ride to Broadway like they recommend and the 5 mile walk to the tank.  This happens because the friggin Globe has hired every New Yorker in the business. I mean the Globe is closer to the gas tank than Broadway and you would take Savin Hill or Columbia or even Fields Corner to get there before Broadway.

[Cotuit]

The Globe suggesting people ride the Ashmont branch. Are you mad!?  

[Ron Newman]

If you're trying to find the Skinny House, "North End" isn't going to help you much.

Is it possible to see the gas tank from inside a Red LIne car?  If so, where?

Edited by Ron Newman, 08 July 2004 - 12:20 PM.

[Cotuit]

Ron Newman, on Jul 8 2004, 02:19 PM, said:

Is it possible to see the gas tank from inside a Red LIne car?  If so, where?

I used to ride the redline to Quincy everyday, and I can't remember if you can see the gas tanks (it was plural back then) from it. If you could it would be between JFK and North Quincy on the Braintree Branch.


---You MUST be able to, I just can't picture it.

[Scott]

Yes, you can see it from the Quincy train and commuter rail trains where they cross over Morrissey Blvd at Lamberts Fruit and the Swiss Chalet and again at the Neponset River crossing. On the Ashmont branch the train is elevated from Savin Hill to Fields Corner and the tank is visible most of the way.

[bigbuilding]

Very well put together thread:

A few sites that I can think of(hopefully not already posted): the Museum of Science, NE sports Museum which I think relocated from Cambridge to the Fleet Center, old stadium site at Northeastern, Boston Fire Museum, State House, USS Constitution(the old Hancock Observatory exibits should be set up there).

I watched a segment on NECN about a new book that list free sites to visit in the Boston Area.  There were many great places that I have never heard of.  I will try to buy the book and post the link and some of the sites here.

[Hudman]

what about the cheers bar? that has to be a must see

[BostonFaker]

Hudman, on Apr 10 2005, 09:32 PM, said:

what about the cheers bar? that has to be a must see

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's only a MUST see if you ARE a tourist.  I hated when they actually changed the name to Cheers from the former Bull and Finch pub.

[emerging.me]

Great thread! Thanks for putting this together. We'll be there next month... Driving up from Columbia, SC for a week or two.  I've been to Boston before, but have never really done more than a drive-through tour.  We're planning on hitting Providence, then Boston and some scenic rural areas like the Blackstone Valley.

I'm a big fan of modern achitecture and funky residential neighborhoods, so if anyone has any suggestions for checking those type of things out in the Boston area. (I'll post a similar question in the Providence forum.)  Thanks!

Edited by emerging.me, 16 April 2005 - 09:32 PM.

[BostonFaker]

emerging.me, on Apr 16 2005, 10:31 PM, said:

I'm a big fan of modern achitecture and funky residential neighborhoods, so if anyone has any suggestions for checking those type of things out in the Boston area. (I'll post a similar question in the Providence forum.)  Thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's that new crazy looking MIT builiding.

[Cotuit]

emerging.me, on Apr 16 2005, 11:31 PM, said:

I'm a big fan of modern achitecture and funky residential neighborhoods, so if anyone has any suggestions for checking those type of things out in the Boston area. (I'll post a similar question in the Providence forum.)  Thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's kind of the wrong part of the country for modern architecture.   But yes, there is the funky MIT buidling, the Stata Center at 32 Vassar Street in Cambridge.





Also at MIT is Simmons Hall at 229 Vassar Street in Cambridge.

[BostonFaker]

I can do without Simmons Hall....

[paperback]

wow, i've never seen simmons hall before. that first picture is not only a great picture of simmons hall, but also a great photograph altogether

[Cotuit]

paperback, on Apr 18 2005, 01:54 PM, said:

wow, i've never seen simmons hall before. that first picture is not only a great picture of simmons hall, but also a great photograph altogether

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They're not mine, I Googled them up.