Boston NYE First Night

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:57 pm

Going up again this year, so need some advice from you Beantowners. Got a decent 4 nite pkg at Hyatt Regency downtown that includes parking, bkfst, and 2 First Night buttons. One of our fave things from last yr was the NYE concert at Park Street Church. Any other NYE events you can recommend?

Did the Freedom Trail and shopped Newberry Street. This time also want to walk around BU and BC because daughter is considering applying there next yr. Already know admissions will be closed and no tours available but anybody familiar with these campuses with words of advice (besides pray for grant or scholarship money?)

Considering the ICA museum. Worth the time?

Restaurants: your fav seafood, lunch, and North End Italian places?

Anything else?

MUCH THANKS!

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:18 pm

Jmq, The Isabella Stewart Gardener is my very favorite Boston museum. http://www.gardnermuseum.org/the_museum ... uction.asp
It is exquisite. It is open on New Year's Day and Jan. 1 which just happenes to be the museum's 105th anniversary. It's far more intimate and elegant than the MFA around the corner, IMO, although the MFA, of course, is no slouch. If you enjoy museums the ISG is not to be missed. Here is a review: http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July05 ... abella.htm

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:22 pm

Agent99 wrote:Jmq, The Isabella Stewart Gardener is my very favorite Boston museum. http://www.gardnermuseum.org/the_museum ... uction.asp
It is exquisite. It is open on New Year's Day and Jan. 1 which just happenes to be the museum's 105th anniversary. It's far more intimate and elegant than the MFA around the corner, IMO, although the MFA, of course, is no slouch. If you enjoy museums the ISG is not to be missed. Here is a review: http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July05 ... abella.htm

Thats the second recommendation I got on the Isabella. Have to check it out and see if we can do it. Cool that its open Jan 1.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:53 pm

[quote="jmq"]This time also want to walk around BU and BC because daughter is considering applying there next yr. Already know admissions will be closed and no tours available but anybody familiar with these campuses with words of advice (besides pray for grant or scholarship money?)

Pray for grant and scholarship money.

BC has more of a campus feel than BU. BU is spread out along 2 miles of Commonwealth Avenue, with no "quad" or other typical gathering place. If you are not going to be able to take a tour/get into the buildings, I would go to BC if I could only choose one to spend some time at. Their campus is very pretty, with lots of gothic buildings. Plus, it is a lot smaller to walk around!! Both campuses will be closed, as you know, so you are not going to get a feel for what it is really like at either one, unfortunately.

If you end up hungry around the time that you are touring BU, go to Eastern Standard in the Hotel Commonwealth (open for b-fast, lunch, and dinner). It has a brasserie atmosphere, reasonably priced food, and I think the best cocktail menu in the city.

Considering the ICA museum. Worth the time?

I say yes, but I am going to third the recommendation for the Gardner if you only have time for one museum. It is really unique, with a beautiful indoor courtyard filled with plants and sculptures. You can really tell that it was once someone's home.

Restaurants: your fav seafood, lunch, and North End Italian places?

Seafood: I actually think you do better staying away from the "seafood joints" like Legal Seafoods and Skipjacks, and just selecting a nice place to eat that happens to have seafood on the menu--which is almost everywhere. Legal does have excellent raw bar. If you end up there, stick with the basics, which they usually do fairly well. The sides are terribly bland though.

Also, it gets mixed reviews, but I personally have always had good food at Jasper White's Summer Shack--especially their fried clams and grilled littlenecks--they also have a cognac-butter braised lobster that John says is amazing (I don't eat lobster so can't comment firsthand). The location in the Back Bay is closest to your hotel.

Lunch: Sel de la Terre, which is right by your hotel, would be a good choice. (Note there are two locations, I am referring to the one at the waterfront). You could also just walk back over to the North End too. It's not far. There's a tiny place called the Daily Catch that does really good seafood pastas like linguini with clams, and squid ink pasta, etc. Only go to the North End location, the Courthouse location is terrible.

North End Italian: Prezza for upscale, Pomodoro for cheap, and Carmen for somewhere in between.

Hope this helps, and hopefully these are not the same recommendations I gave you last year!!

Maryanne · Post by **Maryanne** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:03 pm

I am going to ditto everything that Liamsaunt said.

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:17 pm

liamsaunt - much thanks for detailed reply.

Maryanne · Post by **Maryanne** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:29 pm

yes, you can never go wrong with liamsaunt! i totally agree with everything she said. sometimes i think she is my little sister, separated at birth.

my daughter went to BC so if you ever have any questions...

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) · Post by **Marcia (Mrs. Pete)** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:37 am

JMQ, as you know, my daughter applied to BC and we are on pins and needles here waiting for the decision (she applied for early action so we are supposed to hear by Dec. 25). It is her 1st choice school, with everything else falling way below it (Michigan-Ann Arbor is her 2nd choice). We visited the Boston area schools in August so it was quiet then, too. It didn't matter, you'll still get a feel for the campuses.

I echo Liamsaunt and Maryanne in recommending Eastern Standard at the Commonwealth Hotel. We had a wonderful meal there. BTW, the Commonwealth is a lovely hotel, that's where we stayed.

Enjoy your time in Boston.

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:56 am

I fourth Eastern Standard, It's our pre Fenway Park favorite! I also second Prezza in the North End. Our sentimental favorite in the North End is Lucia right on Hanover. It's old school authentic cooking of the Abruzzo reigon.....not fancy but cozy with big leather booths and muraled walls. Their Braciolettine Calabrese is delish. I love Boston.

Marcia, best of luck to your daughter. We're also on early action pins and needles, I feel your pain. Although BC was our first pick for #1 son, he has his heart set on Emerson College which is right off Boston Common. We'd be thrilled for him if he gets good news. Emerson's letters go out no later than Dec 15 so I'm running to the mailbox every day!

Marcia (Mrs. Pete) · Post by **Marcia (Mrs. Pete)** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:16 pm

Agent99 wrote: Marcia, best of luck to your daughter. We're also on early action pins and needles, I feel your pain. Although BC was our first pick for #1 son, he has his heart set on Emerson College which is right off Boston Common. We'd be thrilled for him if he gets good news. Emerson's letters go out no later than Dec 15 so I'm running to the mailbox every day!

Don't you think that BC will have an answer out to us before they break for Christmas? What admissions people would really be hanging around pouring through applications when the whole place is shut down after next week? I'm heading to the post box now, I think I just heard the mail carrier drive away...

Good luck to your son, too! Might all of our children end up in Boston? That would be kind of funny. And wonderful.

Fingers crossed.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:18 pm

If your children applied early action/decision they will find out before the holiday break.

Hope that helps ease your anxiety!

Agent99 · Post by **Agent99** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:54 am

liamsaunt wrote:If your children applied early action/decision they will find out before the holiday break.

Hope that helps ease your anxiety!

Thanks Liamsaunt. We'll hear by the 15th and it's killing me. He is far more relaxed about the process....too relaxed for my druthers....but the kid will never have an ulcer so there is a bright side! In fact, I think he's forgotten that the 15th is Monday. He's away until Sunday with his high school for a Model UN conference. We'll get the news while he's there. Does the size of the envelope still give away the verdict as it did in my day?
Crossing my fingers for the kids and hoping to be celebrating on Sunday!

jayseadee · Post by **jayseadee** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:13 pm

Agent99 wrote:Does the size of the envelope still give away the verdict as it did in my day?

Too Funny. It was the same in "my day" as well, except for my college of choice. They sent out a very nice formal letter of acceptance before all the forms and stuff. Of course, I didn't know that until I stopped balling my eyes out enough to actually open and read it.

Other North End choices:

La Summa (also on Fleet Street next to Prezza) - on the lower cost side; food always good; service sometimes like island time.

If you're hungry and want seafood and a Legal's is nearby (usually they are), the food is good; I've not found the sides to all be bland and the Banana's Foster dessert is great.

Also agree with the Gardner museum choice (we're bringing family there the week before), but the ICA is worth it and closer to your hotel.

On a a nice clear day, I still enjoy visiting the observatories at either the Pru or John Hancock.

Given the rain we've been having, it wouldn't surprise me if the Ducks continue to operate - if only for a good mode of transportation.

Maryanne · Post by **Maryanne** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:19 pm

yes, the ICA is pretty cool actually... and right there.

Went to a really unusual and beautiful wedding there last year.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:59 pm

Just a note: the John Hancock observatory is permanently closed. It never reopened after September 11th and in fact the space is now offices.

The Prudential Skywalk is open though! It's basically the same view.

The Duck Tours stop operating for the season on December 23. Too bad, because it is a lot of fun! John and I take one every couple of years. Sometimes I even learn something new about the city.

Jayseedee, I've never eaten at La Summa. I'll have to check it out.

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