123 Boston

Great Neighborhoods to Consider if Moving to Boston

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Boston is one of the best cities in the United States. It is full of culture, has beautiful architecture and landscaping, and there is always something to do. The city has many different neighborhoods, each with its own culture and design. When moving to Boston, it is important to know which neighborhood is the best to live in.

The South End is arguably the best neighborhood in Boston to live. It is located near the Prudential building, Copley Square and Newbury Street. So shopping and dinning options are endless. It is also relatively quiet and gives a residential feel. Back Bay is located right next to the South End and is another excellent choice. It is a little more pricey, but is close to shopping, dinning and the Boston Common.

Jamaica Plain is another great Boston neighborhood. It is a little more affordable than the other neighborhoods and also has a younger crowd. There are a lot of bars and nightlife in the area, as well as an extensive arts scene.

Cambridge is a great choice as well. Located just outside of the city, Cambridge has a lot of shopping, dining and entertainment options. All within walking distance. It is also just a short ride on the T to get to the heart of Boston.

Discover Edgar Allan Poe’s Boston

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Boston, the birthplace of the Red Sox, Boston baked beans, and Edgar Allen Poe is a perfect vacation destination. Though Poe himself largely shunned Boston prefering to make his home in Baltimore, in recent years Boston has come to embrace it’s famous prodigal son.

For many years Boston has held itself estranged from the memory of the famous writer due to his unpopular, and dark opinion of his birth city. Poe square, near Poe’s birthplace, was dedicated in spring of 2009 to honor the accomplished, though tortured writer. This was a step forward for those still holding a grudge against the memory of the outspoken and accomplished writer.

Boston also holds history in high reverence and offers a variety of museums for visitors to explore. Spending a day exploring The Commonwealth Museum, The Childrens Museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts is only the beginning. The Nichols House Museum gives a glance into the home life of the typical turn of the century family.

A variety of parks and historic sites await, inviting visitors to relax, and learn. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is nestled in a ten-acre park with views of both the city and the sea, and high-points in history within its walls.

Boston’s Literary Heritage

admin — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Boston is the official home for experiencing what life was like before this present time. Finding a piece of Boston’s heritage is easy to do considering there are a lot of pieces available to indulge yourself in. For starters, the Freedom Trail is an amazing way to stroll down Boston’s memory lane while having a lot of fun. This self-guided, 2.5 mile long trail will take you through Boston’s oldest areas. It will consist of 16 sites that are some of Boston’s most historical sites. This journey on Freedom Trail will bring to life the role of Boston in American freedom.

To showcase the different aspects of Boston, a great place called the Isabella Stewart Gardner is a spectacular museum that has a wide range of arts available for you to admire. This fabulous museum has a great collection of arts that are from different eras, styles, and places.

Shopping on Newbury street is an excellent way to always remember what Boston is all about when it comes to yesterday’s Boston as well as today’s Boston. The street has maintained the carriage-trade aura, and still features a lot of silversmiths, jewelers, antiquaries, and last but certainly not least, the louis, Boston.

Boston Crme Pie Martini

www.123boston.com — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

There is no better way to celebrate being in Boston than with a slice of Boston Crme Pie. For those who may not always have access to desserts but still want to toast the great city of Boston we provide the following recipe for an “all grown up” version of the city’s pie namesake. It’s yummy, so please remember to drink responsibly!Ingredients

1 shot vanilla vodka1 shot chocolate liqueur (we love Godiva)1 shot Irish Crme liqueur1 cup crushed iceChocolate syrup for garnish

Directions

Combine all liquor ingredients and crushed ice in a cocktail shaker.
Shake like it’s going out of style.
Pour the yumminess into a chilled martini glass.
Drizzle with a little bit of chocolate syrup and serve.

Because the recipe calls for all equal parts it’s easy to blend a batch for a crowd in advance of the festivities and then just shake with ice and serve portions as ordered.

Eat at Boston’s 75 Chestnut

www.123boston.com — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:17:50 +0000

Located in Beacon Hill, 75 Chestnut serves the best in American cuisine. The restaurant has been serving great food and unique events since 1997. Since the restaurant is opens at 5pm, it is the ideal location for dinner. Chestnut has an ever changing menu; however, menu items have varied from Filet Mignon to Herb-Crusted Halibut Filet. The restaurant even serves delicious sandwiches: such as the Turkey Sandwich or the B.B.Q. Sirloin Steak Sandwich.After your unforgettable meal, indulge in one of the restaurant’s decadent desserts. Naturally, Chestnut includes a Boston Cream Pie on the menu. Furthermore, if you order the Children’s Charity Boston cream pie, a portion of the sale will go to Cheers for Children Charities. Other dessert choices include a crme brulee collection, a German apple strudel , and the 75 Chestnut sinful chocolate trilogy.Keep up to date with 75 Chestnut’s weekly events, too. For example, every Wednesday is Wine Wednesday. For 30, you can enjoy certain wines with a two course meal.Check the 75 Chestnut website for more on their delicious menu, as well as their entertaining special events.

Fun for Free

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:48:25 +0000

The economic recession may finally be letting up, but most people are still looking for ways to save money, especially on vacations. If you’re planning a trip to Boston, you’re in luck. This city has plenty of activities that are great for friends and family, absolutely free. Check out of our favorites, for a cheap, good time.

The Freedom Trail: This 2.5 mile-long, brick trail navigates visitors through the city to 16 different historical sites. A few of the sites charge admission fees but most can be toured for no charge. You can opt for the self-guided tour or book a tour along the trail at the Boston Common Visitors Center. The Freedom Trail takes you along a stroll through the beautiful city of Boston, present and past.
Audio iPod tours: The city of Boston provides downloadable audio files that serve as tour guides through various areas of the city. There is a tour for the Boston Harborwalk, Fort Point Channel and Public Garden. Each tour is an hour long audio file that covers one mile. All you need is an iPod.
State House Tours: For a better understanding of the politics and history behind the city of Boston, book a tour at the State House. Tours are given on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and last about 45 minutes.
Climb Bunker Hill Monument: This 221-foot-tall obelisk was built in memory of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War. This Pyrrhic victory for the colonists is perhaps best remembered for the phrase that was coined by Colonol Prescott before the battle: “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” You can make the journey up the 294 stairs to the top of the monument daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Street Performers outside Quincy Market: Daily acts can be seen outside of this dining and shopping center. Performances range from jugglers and magicians to dancers and contortionists. These unique entertainers will amuse and amaze you, absolutely free.

Get a Taste of Beantown Culture

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:36:17 +0000

Song, dance and comedy abound in this unique American city, with a wide variety of performing arts venues for every taste. After a day taking in the rich history or perhaps one of the many sporting events of Boston, spend the evening at one of the city’s concert halls or theaters for a bit more refined entertainment.The Citi Performing Arts Center is comprised of two theaters, The Wang Theatre and The Shubert Theater, both of which opened in the early 1900s. These theaters host a range of performances from comedians to a cappella groups. The center was recently renamed after signing a 15-year deal with Citigroup. Upcoming acts include Jerry Seinfeld, Sheryl Crow, Ron White and Celtic Thunder.Considered to be one of the “big five,” the Boston Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1881 and holds concerts at Symphony Hall and Tanglewood Music Center in Boston. This world renowned orchestra is directed by James Levine and has featured many well known and respected conductors and instrumentalists. These two theaters also host a number of other performances throughout the year. Crosby, Stills and Nash will be performing at Tanglewood on September 1 and Symphony Hall will host the Squash Showdown, a game of squash between four of the best squash players in the world, on September 22, just to name a few.For an extremely unique experience check out show listings at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), located in Harvard University’s drama center. Works performed at the A.R.T. often use artistic interpretation to portray classic works in an original way, exposing new ideas that haven’t previously been explored. Currently at the A.R.T., The Donkey Show is receiving widespread critical acclaim. This disco musical is a fun and lively modern twist off of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Stroll Through History on the Boston Freedom Trail

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:21:37 +0000

The city of Boston is rich with history, and if you plan on visiting the area, you should set aside at least one afternoon for exploring the city’s past. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long brick path that navigates pedestrians to 16 different historical sites. The trail was the brainchild of Boston journalist William Shofield and former Boston mayor, John Hynes pushed this idea through to fruition. The trail has been helping visitors discover the history of this country for over 50 years, particularly as it was during the Revolutionary war.The Paul Revere House is a popular stop along this trail, located in the North End of the city, and was owned by Revolutionary War hero, Paul Revere, from 1770-1800. The trail also runs through King’s Chapel Burying Ground. This cemetery has been the final resting place for a number of famous people since 1630, including John Winthrop, William Dawes, Elizabeth Pain and Mary Chilton. The Unitarian church, The King’s Chapel, which was the first Anglican Church in New England, is located in this burial ground.The Bunker Hill Monument, built to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill that took place during the Revolutionary War, considered to be a Pyrrhic victory for the colonists, is another stop along the freedom trail. This 221 foot granite monument was completed in 1843, and has since seen a number of additions and renovations. In front of the obelisk stands a statue of Col. William Prescott who is famous for telling his troops, “don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes,” as he led his men into the Battle of Bunker Hill.A number of other sites are located along the trail such as the USS Constitution, Old North Church, Boston Common and the Massachusetts State House. This trail is the perfect way to get a little exercise while brushing up on your American history.

No Sport Goes Unnoticed

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:09:01 +0000

Unlike many large cities in the US who only have a few big sports teams, Boston has a professional franchise for almost every major sport. From football, to basketball to hockey and soccer, Beantown is every sports fan’s dream offering games and matches all year long.One of its best-known teams, the Red Sox have been calling Boston home since they were founded in 1901. The Red Sox have one of the largest fan bases in professional baseball, and recently broke the “Curse of the Bambino,” ending their 86 year championship drought as they took the World Series title in 2004. Residents and visitors of Boston head out to the world-famous Fenway Park every spring and summer for some of the best baseball there is.Another national favorite in the Boston area, The New England Patriots are one of the most successful teams in the NFL, having won the super bowl three times in the last decade. The Patriots play their home games in the Gillette Stadium, located just outside of Boston.Boston’s prestigious sports reputation continues into the NBA with the Celtics. The Celtics hold the record for the most World Championships with 17 titles, narrowly missing an 18^th with their 2^nd place finish in this year’s NBA finals. The Celtics have been playing their home games in the TD Garden since 1995.As if three hugely successful professional sports teams weren’t enough, Boston still has more. The New England Revolution is the city’s Major League soccer team, which was founded in 1995. Revolution shares Gillette Stadium with the Patriots. The Boston Bruins have brought professional hockey to the area since the 1920s. The Bruins also call TD Garden home, and are five-time winners of the Stanley Cup Championship. In addition to the plethora of teams that can be found in this city, Boston hosts a number of annual sporting events such as the Boston Marathon and the Head of the Charles, a regatta held every October.

History, Shopping, and Great Dining all in One

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:58:11 +0000

Over 250 years ago Revolutionaries Samuel Adams and James Otis gave speeches to citizens and passerby at Faneuil Hall, promoting the colonists independence from the British. It is now one of the most popular stops along the Freedom trail, with a number of shops and restaurants on sight.Quincy Market is located near Faneuil Hall and is a hot spot for dining in the area. A replica of the famous Cheers restaurant can be found in Quincy Market. The Comedy Connection, a well-known comedy club in the city, also calls this building home. This market was built in the 1820s and is named after Josiah Quincy, the mayor who organized the construction project.Faneuil Hall has many mainstream retail stores such as Nine West, Victoria’s Secret, and Harley Davidson. There are also a few galleries, notably the Museum of Fine Arts, which is located in the South Market Building. The museum opened on America’s 100^th birthday, July 4 1876, and now contains around 450,000 pieces in exhibits that range from the Americas, to the Ancient World, to Textile and Fashion Arts.Faneuil Hall is also a site of impressive entertainment, including the memorable street performers. An array of traditional acts such as balloon artists, clowns and jugglers can regularly be seen performing outside of the market. However, more unique performers can be seen from time to time such as Alakazam. This duo with an Australian contortionist and a circus stuntman will blow you away with their breathtaking act. Ten31 presents another fascinating performance with their living statues. A combination of creative well-made costumes, body paint and talented actors will have you taking another look to see if these statues are real or not.