34 Hours in Boston

Harvard is gorgeous. The red brick, the ivy, the atmosphere, the history - it's amazing. Just walking around there makes you feel smart.

I love walking around, shopping, and eating at small little places in New England. Boston is no different - Cambridge & Newbury street were the two best places we went for that kind of stuff.

Quick Tips:

BUY A GOOD MAP.
I have been lots and lots of places, and I have never encountered a harder city to navigate in than Boston. Streets have 2 or 3 or 4 names (I-93, 1A, 3, & Southest Expressway are all the same road). Get the best directions out of the airport that you can (Alamo Rent-a-car had pre-printed ones). Even with directions, and no traffic (it was 1 AM), it took us 45 minutes to go 11 miles to our hotel, and this included getting a little lost.

Beware of bad areas of Boston. Our Boston friends said these were parts to be careful in: Charlestown, Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury.

Best Way To Get Around:

Well, we drove, and walked, and used the subways - all of which worked well. Driving isn't always the best due to traffic, confusing roads, one way streets, and parking is difficult to find or expensive in many parts of Boston.

The subways were pretty easy. The Green Line is also known as the "Yuppie Line" and seemed really safe, even late at night.

Among all the historical landmarks and sights in downtown Boston is the "oldest" hotel in the US: The Omni Parker House. Since 1856, The Parker House has been the longest continuously operating hotel and has hosted many presidents and celebrities from all over the world. The hotel has been recently restored and renovated, and is awe-inspiring the moment you walk through the revolving door.

Our stay began when we pulled up outside the School St. entrance (traffic around the hotel is brutal) and were greeted by Randy the valet ($33/night parking or $12 for the day). He was friendly and helpful and he had us all laughing while unloading our luggage ($5 tip). We stepped inside the large, beautiful lobby of the hotel, and headed to the check-in desk. Check-in was hassle-free and we ended up in a large handicap (i.e. extra large) double bed room on the 3rd floor.

Shortly after arriving in our small-ish room (it's an old hotel), our luggage arrived ($5 tip). Our room was beautifully furnished in custom cherrywood furnishings: two beds with down pillows, an armoir housing the TV, a stocked bar ($7 for a tiny liquor bottle), two plush chairs covered in rich red fabrics, a desk, and two phones. The white bathroom was HUGE and impeccably clean! On the nightstand was an overpriced plethora of snacks (gummi bears, pistachios, chips, a $6 bottle of Evian, a small $22 bottle of wine, etc.). In the large closet were two plush white robes, an iron, and an ironing board. There was also a personal voicemail from the hotel manager welcoming us. Everything was a nice touch.

The hotel is conveniently located to many downtown sights, including Freedom Trail, Boston Common, Newbury Street, and Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market. It's also 1 block to the Boston subway Green & Orange lines.

The hotel lobby is a sight of it's own: with it's grand ceilings, ornate cherry wood walls, two restaurants (Parker's & The Last Hurrah), and many antique furnishings to hang out on. There's even a neat painting in a corner of the main lobby depicting the hotel in the 1800s.

In the morning, we were able to check out from the TV in our room, and left our luggage at the front desk ($5 tip) while we explored Boston a bit. Later that day, we picked up our luggage and within 15 minutes had our car out front waiting for us ($5 tip).

Overall, this luxurious hotel is the perfect blend of historic charm and modern day conveniences.

The evening after we checked into Omni Parker House, it began pouring down rain. We decided to eat at one of the restaurants in our hotel. First we walked up to Parker's, the hotel's restaurant, near the front desk. After looking over the menu, we decided it was a little out of our price range, with entrees starting around $20.

Next, we walked towards the Tremont Street exit of the hotel, and found The Last Hurrah. It was dark and distinguished looking inside with a large bar and lots of small tables. After looking over the menu displayed in the lobby, we decided that it was more for us. We sat ourselves towards the back at a small table with four large armed chairs. There were large windows back here, and we could watch the rain and the people hurrying around outside in the cold (it was about 50 degrees - in August).

Almost immediately, our waitress brought us a metal bowl of warmed mixed nuts. We were hungry, and the nuts were delicious. In the center of the table was a drink menu with long lists of wines, specialty cocktails they offered, and a list of the fine cigars available. There's even a drink named after one of the Omni's most famous guests - Charles Dickens.

The food menu consisted of mostly sandwiches, soups (including Boston Clam "Chowda"), finger foods, and salads. Everything was around $10-15. Three of us had ordered sandwiches (turkey & roast beef) with potato chips on the side, and my other friend had a cheese & fruit plate. The sandwiches came on a kaiser roll with all the fixings. Everything was delicious.

While waiting for our food, we all decided to order a drink. Their specialty drinks were $8 and up. I had a pear martini - made with fresh pears! My friends had a glass of merlot, cape cod ($6), and a large margarita.

We all agreed that this had been one of best experiences on this trip. The food was good, and the atmosphere was just what we needed on a rainy saturday night.

Wandering down Newbury Street on a gorgeous afternoon, we were looking for somewhere to eat outside and enjoy the weather.

Being price-conscience girls, we checked out the menu at Milano's. With entrees starting around $7, we were soon seated at an outside table with an umbrella near the sidewalk, perfect for people watching.

Milano's claims to be "Northern Italian Cuisine," but to me, I would call it "Hip Italian." The menu consisted of pizzas, sandwiches, and pasta dishes. Two of us ordered sandwiches, one ordered a pizza, and the other ordered a chicken pasta dish.

Our meal started with fresh bread and seasoned olive oil. Soon after, our food arrived - artfully arranged on colorful dishes and looking delicious. My Italian sub sandwich came on panini bread with meats, tomatoes, and a spicy condiment. On the side was this cold pasta mixed with fruit juices. The pasta was SO good, my favorite part of the meal. Everyone else enjoyed their food as well, and most of us had leftovers.

Our waiter was awesome. He was super friendly and helpful and talked to us for a long time about our Boston visit.

Overall, I highly recommend Milano's - great service, wonderful atmosphere, and great, reasonably priced food!

Our Boston friend knew that we wanted a good time at a fun club that played rap/dance music. Leaving our hotel, she led us to Tremont Street, where there were lots of clubs. She had a destination in mind: The Big Alley. The Big Alley is, surprisingly enough, an alley with several clubs in it. Located just off Boylston St., it would be hard to miss with the large iron gates and lights.

When you walk through the big iron entrance leading the Alley, there are lots of people everywhere. The first club we passed was The Big Easy. Once inside, you have the option of paying a little more cover and having access to the club downstairs also (Sugar Shack). For $10, it seemed like a good deal to us!

We headed upstairs to The Big Easy. The walls were painted with New Orleans-themed pop art and the bartenders were giving away beads. There were three bars surrounding the large-ish dance floor. The dance floor was sunk into the floor with a stage on one side, surrounded by a white wooden railing, and there was a balcony that wrapped-around overhead. The floor was packed with all kinds of people (all ages, all races) dancing to the 80s/pop/rap music the DJ played.

After grabbing a drink (along with a Kamikaze shot... not so good), we headed up to the balcony, where there was even a small dance floor and another bar. There was another empty back room with lots of seating, red plush walls, and several pool tables.

After a few songs there, we were disappointed to learn that we couldn't take our drinks with us the Sugar Shack - we had to finish them before leaving, even if it was just a flight of stairs away in the same building.

Finally we headed down the stairs and around the corner to Sugar Shack. When you walk in, you smell pizza, and hear loud hip-hop/R&B/rap music and head down another long flight of stairs to the main floor. Here, black walls, lots of lights, and a medium-sized dance floor with several mini-stages to dance on all around surround you. By the bar there are several red velvet booths and a little more color. I personally liked this place better than The Big Easy, and I think all of my friends did too. We danced a lot here, and had a great time for the rest of the night.

At closing time, the crowd of people poured out into the alley. Once again, we smelled pizza - they were selling it at a small window just outside and we decided to have some ($3/slice). It was some of the best pizza I've ever had in my life. It was so good and just what I needed after a long night of dancing and drinking.

Also in The Alley: Sweetwater Cafe and Bishop's Pub, but we didn’t have time to check them out.

During our unofficial tour of Harvard, we decided to go inside Memorial Hall/Sanders Theater just because it looked interesting. It turns out that it's one of the most historical buildings on campus. Inside, it was gorgeous, and we were sure that it must have served as a church in some lifetime. However, after overhearing a tour guide, we learned otherwise.

Memorial Hall came about just after the Civil War ended - The President of Harvard wanted to build a memorial to the Harvard graduates who had fallen defending the Union during the war. After much delibertation, it was decided that a building would be built that would also house a theater. Most aspects of the building were completed by 1878. The windows of the great hall were later filled with stained glass given by the alumni classes. Memorial Hall houses more stained glass than any building in the US that is not a church.

Inside the central room of the Hall, plaques list the names and places of death of 136 Harvard graduates who died in the Civil War, including Colonel Robert G. Shaw, whose heroics are relived by Matthew Broderick in the movie "Glory." The 137th man is not listed: he died in the war 2 years shy of graduation.

In addtion to the names, Memorial Hall has been used for many things over the years. Graduations were held in the hall until 1911. Sanders Theater is still the largest auditorium at the University, and has seen speakers over the years ranging from Bill Clinton to Martin Luther King, Jr. to comedic acts. The Boston Symphony also played there for a number of years.

Today, Sanders Theater continues to be used for numerous musical, theatrical, and ceremonious events. On the other end of the Hall is the three storied underclassmen commons area consisting of eateries, computer services, and studying areas.

Memorial Hall is a fascinating building rich in history. I found it very interesting that it is the student cafeteria as well - Only at Harvard, I guess!