The Sinclair

The Sinclair is a restaurant/music venue in Harvard Square. The food is good and the venue is small and intimate. Since the venue is so small not technically in Boston Proper, it usually hosts some lesser known artists. But, with tickets starting at around $15, it could be fun to go discover a new artist.

http://www.sinclaircambridge.com/

Chinatown

Just a short distance from Downtown Crossing, you will find Chinatown, a great place to get delicious food for not a lot of money. On our trip, we ate at a Korean Japanese fusion restaurant called Suishaya Boston. Q Lounge and DK bubble tea have also been recommended to us by locals.

Cooper Gallery

1. The Ethelbert Cooper Gallery of African & African American Art is located on Mt Auburn st, right off the heart of Harvard Square. This beautiful, culturally inspired exhibit is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, Unfortunately, the gallery will be closed this summer. But will reopen with a new installation this Fall.

http://www.coopergalleryhc.org/

New England Open Markets

During the warmer months, Boston is home to open markets that operate every weekend throughout the spring and summer. Each market is a unique home for hundreds of performers, food trucks, fresh produce stands, thrift shops, and vendors of handmade goods. The Cambridge Market is open on Fridays, The Greenway Market on Saturdays, and The South End market is open every Sunday.

http://newenglandopenmarkets.com/

Boston Calling Block Party

If you can't make it to the Boston Calling music festival, you can still get a taste of the experience at the Boston Calling block party. Every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm, throughout the summer, there are free, open parties with food, games and live music. Then, an "after party" runs from 8pm to 11pm.

House of Blues

The House of Blues is a mostly standing room venue located in Fenway. It's a swanky venue that usually attracts a pretty young crowd. Past performances have included ASAP Rocky, aer, and Hozier. Tickets for shows usually start at around $30. Some upcoming performances are Juicy J, FLUME and George Ezra.

http://www.houseofblues.com/boston/

Uber and Lyft

If you're not really feeling public transport to get in, out, or around Boston, Uber or Lyft are great app-based car services that are cheaper then a cab ride. You simply download the app add either your credit card or Paypal information and go. Most people are familiar with Uber, however, Lyft is also a great option for shorter rides. Lyft will give you $5 off up to ten rides in the Boston area so, if you're trying to get from Harvard Square to Fenway, you could get a free ride.

ICA

The ICA or Institute of Contemporary art is located in the Seaport District, right off of Northern ave. The museum houses all art forms ranging from sculpture, to film, to live performance art making it a great multi-sense experience. Periodically throughout the day, the museum will host mini gallery talks that anyone is welcome to join. Admission is free for anyone under 17 and for anyone on Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm.

http://www.icaboston.org/

Boston Food Trucks

While we were out and about we saw our fair share of food trucks and carts. You can mostly find the around the busier areas such as Downtown Crossing and the South Station Area. We were able to find food from pretty much anywhere in the world at one point or another. Form Cuban Sandwiches to Tacos to Ice-cream we found it all. Food trucks are great if you don't really want to spend to much, but still want to get food full of flavor and fast! Going out in Boston doesn't have to be expensive as long as you're willing to get creative!

Jodie

Lizzy's Ice Cream

Lizzy's Ice Cream is just off of Harvard Square, near the Sinclair. They make homemade ice-creams, sorbets, and frozen yogurts with over 70 flavours and many customizable toppings. The also sell ice-cream cakes and gallon tubs. Stop by for some great ice cream and support a local business while you're at it!

Jodie

The Garment District

The Garment District is a HUGE thrift store where you can by individual items, costumes, and clothes by the pound. You can find really awesome things here if you are open to buying second hand. There are even some designer items and everything is really fairly priced. We stopped by to grab some last minute things for prom and it was perfect. I'm not someone who shies away from second hand or re-purposed items, I just make sure to wash them really well before I use them.

The Garment District is pretty easy to find but isn't really theat easy to get to on the T, thought we did. Take the Red Line to Kendall/MIT and then follow Broadway until you find the Garment District (about a 10-15 minute walk). If you're going to buy a lot of stuff, I'd suggest taking a car.

Jodie

Photo courtesy of http://www.garment-district.com/

Harvard Square

Believe it or not, Harvard Square is super easy to get to. Jump on the Red Line and away you go! Just make sure you get off at Harvard Square and you're there! There is a lot to do once you get there too. There are loads of stores including Abercrombie, Urban Outfitters and Anthropology as well as a bunch of coffee places and restaurants. There are also Art Galleries and ice cream places to check out while you're there!

Jodie

Cafe's and Restaurants near the MFA

The MFA is super close to Northeastern University so there are loads of awesome places to eat and most of them are pretty cheap too! There are numerous chain cafes and restaurants including Au Bon Pain, Qdoba, and Starbucks, but there are also a lot of other really great place to eat if you're willing to look.

Symphony Sushi is on Gainsborough Street and is really nice. When we ate there we ordered the Pork Bun, the Tuna Maki, the Alaskan Maki, and the Avocado Maki. The food came pretty fast and we were really pleased with what we ordered.

We also visited Pavement Coffee House which is right opposite Symphony Sushi. It's a cute little coffee place that serves all your favorites and even some other cool things like their Cayenne Ginger Ale. There is a chalk map of Boston on one of the Panels above the counter and you can display your artwork on the walls too. It would make a great place to study and just step away for a little while.

Jodie

The MFA

Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is located just off of the E Branch of the Green Line At the Museum of Fine Arts stop. It's super easy to find and a great way to spend the day. Youths (aged under 17) can get in free on weekends and holidays, and after 3 on weekdays, just make sure to take your IA or some form of ID for proof of birth. The MFA also has days where the entire museum is free to all visitors, such as Memorial Weekend.

Once you get your ticket, you can enter and renter as many times as you'd like in a day, so you could go and grab lunch somewhere nearby if you choose to. There is also a small park opposite the MFA with a Rose Garden if you just want to hang out there for a while.

The Museum is divided up into numerous different sections, separating art from around the world. If you spend the entire day, it is definitely possible to visit each and every gallery, however, if you're short on time you can just stop in where you feel like it. There are some temporary exhibits and some permanent ones, so it is definitely worth revisiting even if you have been before.

There is a huge range of artwork from ancient pieces form Greece and Egypt, as well as Contemporary pieces from this century. Whatever style of art you prefer you can definitely find it here.

Jodie

                     

Boston Common

Boston Common is an awesome place to hang out with friends and have a picnic. You can get there by taking the Red Line to Park Street, and it is just at the end of Newbury Street. Whilst there isn't much to do in the park itself, there are a lot of places to eat around the perimeter. The common is within walking distance of Newbury Street, the Prudential Center, Faneuil Hall, and the Aquarium.

There are also a lot of events held on the Common. From the Walk for Hunger to free Dance and Music performances, it really has it all. You can ride the swan boats for only a couple of dollars and you're also fairly likely to see a busker or two.

Jodie

Downtown Crossing

Downtown Crossing is an awesome place to shop and eat if you don’t feel like Newbury Street is for you. There are loads of shops including H&M, Marshalls, and T.J.Maxx, as well as a lot of places to eat. Downtown Crossing is on the Red Line with connections to the orange line. It is located by the Theatre District and is also within walking distance from Chinatown.

Jodie

Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market

Faneuil hall is a great place to go if your family comes to visit. There are loads of places to eat, lots of street entertainment, and even sights of the harbour. The Quincy Market Place is full of fast food joints serving food from around the world, so everyone can find something they enjoy. If you want a falafel but your mom wants pizza and your sister wants Thai food, then this is the place to go! In the glass side extensions there are a bunch of cute carts selling everything from socks to souvenirs. There are also a bunch of restaurants, including Dick’s Last Resort, and a bunch of stores you can visit too.

Jodie

The Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park

Located right next to the Aquarium, this beautiful park is a great place to sit and hang out or to have have a picnic. The park looks out over the marina so you can see loads of awesome boats, the surrounding skyline and even watch the water taxi come and leave. We also found the Cookie Monstah food truck located just over the street so we grabbed some cookies and ice cream to eat as we hung out.

Jodie

Warehouse Bar and Grille

We found Warehouse Bar and Grille as we walked to Faneuil Hall. Located on Broadway at Milk St, it is a short walk away from Faneuil Hall and the surrounding Harbour, and provides a slightly quieter place to eat, but still has a lot of atmosphere. The interior had a cool warehouse type finish, with visible air ducts and pipes. Decorated in green and black with se matching outdoor furniture, it was a great place to stop at for lunch.

We ordered two "For the Table" plates, Alligator Bites, and Chips and Guacamole. These plates were a little more expensive considering that there weren't really enough Gator Bites to share, however, there were enough Chips and Guac to share. We also ordered the Tuna Tartare and the Tomato and Basil Pasta with chicken. Our meals came pretty quickly and were definitely well sized portions. Our meal was pretty affordable and was really enjoyable.

Jodie

The Barking Crab

After walking past the Barking Crab, we decided to stop in and have lunch. This super cute Crab shack had great food and an awesome atmosphere. Set up with long tables and overlooking the marina, there was a lot of chatter in the air as we sat down. We quickly looked over the menu and ordered our food. Whilst there were some pricier dishes, there were definitely some less expensive ones as well. Our food came pretty fast and we both dug in without anytime to waste, seeing as how we had missed breakfast in order to make it to the bus on time. Our food was delicious! We had ordered the Barking Burger and the Naked Lobster Roll.

Located just next to the Courthouse and right on the Marina it makes an awesome place to eat lunch!

Jodie

The Pucker Gallery

We found the Pucker Gallery tucked away on the third floor of a rather unremarkable building on Newbury street. The elevator leads right into the gorgeous, open gallery the showcases primarily African and Israeli Art through mediums ranging from sketch, to pottery to fabric painting. The Gallery is a great way to escape form all of the mainstream pop culture that is expected of Newbury and appreciate some really beautiful installations.

www.puckergallery.com

Sam

Street Entertainment

Even if you're not looking o shop, Newbury street is still a great place to hang out. While walking down the street we passed a ton of street performers and buskers. The first group of performers we ran into was a jazz band on the corner of Hereford street. They were fun and very receptive to my taking pictures of them. However, the performer who really seemed  to draw people in  was right in front of the Boston Public Library. His name was Snap Boogie and his dancing landed him in the finals of season six of America's Got Talent and a role in the film The Way Way Back. Throughout Snap Boogie's performance he was engaging, making jokes and for the finale, he flipped over five members of the crowd. So, if you ever fond your self bored in Boston, just walk around; entertainment is everywhere.

http://beautyinthestreets.com/
@beautyinthestreets

Sam

Beantown Pho&Grill

While walking down Newbury street, we found a little Vietnamese-Thai fusion restaurant called Beantown Pho&Grill. It is located on the lower level of a brownstone between Gloucester Street and Fairfeild Street, just across the street from Johnny's Cupcakes, however, there is also outdoor seating. For lunch, we ordered Pad Thai, Pho Tai (beef pho) and  Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake). Everything was authentic and pretty inexpensive. Overall, Beantown Pho&Grill is a great place to take some time off from shopping on Newbury, have some great food and even people watch a bit.

Sam

The Greenway

After getting off the T at Courthouse, we walked over the bridge and found a cute little park called The Greenway. What immediately drew us in were the hammocks. There were three hammocks set up around the small grassy area so we hung out here for for a while just enjoying the sun. As well as the hammocks, there were also plastic

Above us hung a huge piece of outdoor installation art. One of The Greenway's projects is to make art more accessible to the public by having temporary outdoor exhibitions. On our visit we saw Janet Echelman's As If It Were Already Here (photographed below).

The Greeway is super close to the Waterfront so it makes a great place to stop and just hang out for a while, or even have a picnic. It is also within walking distance of the ICA so you could stop by there too.

Jodie

Southwest Corridor Park

After getting off the T at Back Bay Station we realised that there wasn't really much there. We thought we might have been able to find a coffee shop or something to grab some breakfast but we had no such luck... We did, however, find a cute little path to walk along. With pretty flowers, a small park,  a separate dog park, and great skyline views of the city, the Southwest Corridor Park made for a great stroll. It would be an excellent place for a picnic or first date.

Jodie

The Boston Public Library

We stopped into the Boston Public Library to check out the cafe restaurant we knew was located there. Once we arrived we amazed by the beautiful artwork on the walls of the main staircase directly opposite the entrance. We walked around the various rooms in the library, wondering how we had been there sooner. Pretty much all of the rooms were airy and light, but there was one large room that resembled the library from Harry Potter. Inside the Library is a courtyard with a fountain. There are chairs and tables set up so you could work also outside if the weather is nice.

The Map room was one of my favorite areas in the library. The room displayed not only historical maps but also fictional ones. Detailed colored maps of places like Middle Earth, Narnia and the world of Alice in Wonderland. There was also a social exhibit called the Liberty Tree. Visitors were able to write what Liberty means to them on a leaf and then hang it on the tree. You are also able to take leaves home and then drop into a drop box in the Library Lobby to be hung on the tree.

However you like to study you could definitely find a quiet space to work or for a study date. You could also just wander around inside if you feel like stepping away from the busyness of the Back Bay area. With restaurants located down Newbury and in the Prudential Center, you could even grab a bite to eat.

Boston Public Library: http://www.bpl.org/
The Courtyard Restaurant: http://www.thecateredaffair.com/bpl/courtyard

Jodie

MBTA

For our first trip into Boston we planned on taking the 240 bus from the Milton Public Library to Ashmont Station, and then taking the Red Line to Downtown Crossing, and then the Orange Line to Back Bay.

We woke up early and left Millet at about 9:30am to make it to the bus stop in time to catch the 9:38 bus. We made it to the bus stop a couple of minutes before the bus was due to arrive so we sat and waited for it to pull up. By 10 am we realized that the bus was no where to be found and so we decided to walk to the Trolley Stop in Lower Mills. Once we made it to Lower Mills we had no problems. We jumped straight onto a Trolley, and then onto the Red Line train. When we arrived at Downtown Crossing we transferred to the Orange Line with out any problems and pulled into Back Bay a few minutes later. 

To come home, we took the Red Line from Park all the way to Ashmont, and then took the bus back to the Milton Public Library. We had to wait 25 minutes for the bus to come, during which time 3 trolleys cam and left again. We decided that we had done enough walking however, so we didn't mind the wait.

Our advice? Since the buses only come once every hour on a Sunday, plan ahead and be there at least 5-10 minutes early. Also if you don't mind the walk, sometimes the trolley can be faster, depending on when the next bus leaves.

Jodie