Comments on: Seeking fashion, covetousness, wine, and French coffee

Question: Seeking fashion, covetousness, wine, and French coffee

The Whelk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:56:37 -0800

Going to Boston/Cambridge for few days (April 2-7th) and wondering what I should see, do, or eat ...

Details: I've been to the area before, albeit many years ago and done the standard tourist stops. I'll be staying in Cambridge. I don't have a car. Very interested in weird or neat events and shows, what local listings should I check out?

By: phoenixy

phoenixy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:01:07 -0800

The Boston Phoenix for event and show listings. All the local schools have their own event listings too if you like the more academic stuff. (Harvard, MIT, etc.)

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:33:30 -0800

Subscribe to the RSS feed of the Bostonist arts and events page.

By: ArgentineBlonde

ArgentineBlonde — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:54:01 -0800

The Harvard Museum of Natural History and the adjacent Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology are pretty great.

By: teragram

teragram — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:08:35 -0800

This isn't out of the ordinary, but it is cheaper than usual: the Musuem of Fine Arts in Boston is free on the first weekend of the month with a Bank of America card, if you have one of those.

By: MasonDixon

MasonDixon — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:17:10 -0800

Live Music just up the Red Line in Davis Square:
Johnny D's .
The Somerville Theater

or in Harvard Square at Club Passim

or in Central at The Middle East
or TT the Bear's Place. There's also Bluegrass night, Poetry Slams and Bands at the Cantab Lounge.

Unique/Older/Art Films at The Brattle Theater in Harvard Square.

By: explosion

explosion — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:18:03 -0800

Check out the Cambridge Office of Tourism for some suggestions. The Boston Museum of Science is pretty impressive and a fun time.

Don't worry about a lack of a car, the entirety of Cambridge is T-accessible if you're willing to walk about a mile aside from riding the train. I live in Cambridge, and a car's a liability more than a convenience.

By: teragram

teragram — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:29:41 -0800

Also, live music at Toad in Porter Square (no cover, small place, I like Monday night in particular).

If you like beer, try Bukowski's in Inman Square (the beers tend to be $1-$2 more expensive than you feel they should be, but it's my go to bar anyway) or Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston (somewhat of a college-y crowd, but 112 beers on tap).

Restaurants I enjoy include East Coast Grill (not cheap but very tasty seafood and bbq, Inman Square), All-Star Sandwich Bar (sandwiches! Inman Square), Red Bones (bbq, nice beer selection, Davis Square), R.F. O'Sullivan's (BURGERS! between Inman and Porter Squares), and Baraka Cafe (North African food, nice small space, Central Square).

By: bitter-girl.com

bitter-girl.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:42:27 -0800

Definitely seconding Red Bones in Davis Square -- I used to live in Porter, a short walk away, and there is a TON of stuff to do just in the Harvard-Porter-Davis area alone (all are stops on the Red Line T, too). My friends' shop Magpie in Davis is awesome if you want to find handmade stuff by local artists and crafters to take home with you, and if you're more of an eco-bent, someone I know just opened Greenward nearby, too. The Lizard Lounge (Harvard-Porter area, more towards Harvard) also has lots of good shows. Ditto the Middle East and TT the Bear's above. And apparently there is a new CHOCOLATE FACTORY in Somerville giving tours. Oh why, oh why did I move away?

By: Sidhedevil

Sidhedevil — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:26:11 -0800

On the "weird and neat" front:

- The home of offbeat music and performance art: The Lily Pad.

- Johnny's List of Weird Boston Events.

Check the LiveJournal b0st0n and davis_square groups for announcements of upcoming events, too!

By: galaksit

galaksit — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:25:31 -0800

You should also check out Tourfilter Boston for listings.

Depending on your tastes, the WMBR Noise/Experimental Music Concert Report may be your thing. There's also the WMBR Rock/Pop/Punk Concert Report.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:12:48 -0800

Wow! great so far. Any recommendations for eating in Cambridge? Bars of both the straight and bent variety?

(wanders off to check the listings links)

seriously, a chocolate factory? Does it also have fireworks and puppies and water slides?

By: YFiB

YFiB — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:40:22 -0800

Plenty of fine recommendations. The only thing I can think to add is that the Institute of Contemporary Art is free on Thursday nights.

By: gursky

gursky — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:10:41 -0800

if you have any interest whatsoever in contemporary art, go to the aforementioned Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). i just got back from Boston and other than hanging out with my brother, the ICA was the highlight of my trip. it's easy to get to (right off the T, and they have clear directions on their website) and it's on the water (great for photos) and the Shepard Fairey exhibit is on right now. i love it. i love it.

for food, i have 2 recommendations:

- Miracle of Science in Cambridge (excellent food, good atmosphere, and you get to order off of the periodic table -- would probably go here for lunch)

- Emma's Pizza in Cambridge (the best pizza i've had outside of Naples, awesome service -- very busy so maybe call ahead to see how busy it is, or be prepared to wait 10 or 15 minutes)

By: thekiltedwonder

thekiltedwonder — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:54:02 -0800

The Border Cafe & Mr. Bartley's are both excellent.

By: thekiltedwonder

thekiltedwonder — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:58:36 -0800

Oh, and the New England Aquarium is excellent. They currently have a great penguin exhibit and their main aquarium is fantastic.

By: hurdy gurdy girl

hurdy gurdy girl — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:34:38 -0800

When I was in Boston last spring, I had an excellent meal at The Elephant Walk, a Cambodian/French restaurant. I went to the one in Boston itself, but it looks like they have a Cambridge location too. They've got lots of vegan/vegetarian options as well as meat and seafood.

Mmm. I'm hungry just thinking about it.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:10:50 -0800

We ended up taking part in the huge pillow fight courtsey of the weird Boston event's page. Thanks Metafilter!