Things to do in Boston after 6 p.m.

April 27, 2007 2:26 PM

What to do in Boston after 6:00 p.m. May 6-9?

I will be in Boston for the annual BIO convention, and I'll be working my firm's booth during the day, but I'll be on my own at night. The other members of my firm are biotechnology attorneys (I am the marketing director) so they are going out with contacts and clients at night, leaving me all on my own. What kinds of things can I do at night in Boston? I think the time means that lots of sightseeing is off limits, but maybe not.

I have reviewed the earlier threads, but none specifically address the timing issue I seem to have.

Bostonians, please enlighten me. I'd be proud to do the same should you ever come to the Windy City.

posted by MeetMegan to Travel & Transportation around Boston, MA (16 answers total)

Go to a Red Sox game? They usually start at 7:15. Easy to get over there on the subway, and you can get obstructed view seats on game day for $20 or so. They're right behind home plate, and in the second inning you can usually just move to other seats for an awesome view. I did that lots of times when I lived in Boston.

Go to a rock show? The best ones are across the river in Cambridge's Central Square. Take the red line to the Central stop and you'll be right near my two favorite clubs, the Middle East and TT the Bear's. Lots of great local bands play there every night, and cover is usually only $8 or $10.
posted by autojack at 2:34 PM on April 27, 2007

There's beautiful Faueil Hall / Quincy Market for a nice stroll and some shops.

There some good nightlife off of Lansdowne Street, which is right behind Fenway Park. From what I remember, a little seedy, but a lot of fun.

Cambridge is also beautiful.
posted by phaedon at 3:01 PM on April 27, 2007

Faneuil.
posted by phaedon at 3:02 PM on April 27, 2007

If you want see points of interest, we always point friends to the Boston Duck Tours. It sounds potentially cheesy, but they're very enjoyable. You'll need to call ahead to confirm the time (it's based on sunset) and book it over, but it's worth doing.

The Museum of Fine Arts is really great and open until 10pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.

Quincy Market food stalls are open until 9 (some later) if you want to get dinner there, and there are some decent watering holes around there. If you're interested in bars, I will provide a list of ones that don't suck and then argue with the other Bostonians here about it.
posted by Mayor Curley at 3:06 PM on April 27, 2007

Go to a movie at The Coolidge. It's a real silver screen, one of the largest screens in the Boston area, a lovely Art Deco theater, it shows movies you won't see anywhere else, and the excellent popcorn comes -- if you so desire -- with real butter. (Or at least all that was true a back when I worked there.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:47 PM on April 27, 2007

Go old-school write-your-score-by-hand candlepin bowling at Sacco's Bowl Haven in Davis Square.

See a movie at the Museum of Science's IMAX theater. This theater is a huge dome rather than a flat screen so the experience can be really immersive.

Go walking in the North End and get tasty dessert and espresso.

Catch an improv comedy show at Improv Asylum.
posted by cadge at 6:08 PM on April 27, 2007

If you take cadge's advice on Sacco's, poke around their website -- you can print off coupons for free shoe rentals.
posted by danb at 7:13 PM on April 27, 2007

On a clear night, the top of the Prudential Building can be nice, and they're open until 10pm. The 9th is Opening Night at the Pops and Ben Folds is the special guest. You could explore the old part of the Boston Public Library (open until 9pm). And the MFA is open until 9:45 on Weds.
posted by FreezBoy at 8:03 PM on April 27, 2007

The ICA is a short walk from the convention center, and I think Thursday nights are free. The Westin beside the convention center has a neat looking bar, also check out the Barking Crab, from there if you like a bit of a walk, you can have a nice stroll up the waterfront to the Aquarium, Fanueil Hall, & The North End (Boston's traditional Italian neighbourhood).

Or, catch the Red Line to Park Street station, and walk across Boston Common, admiring the Gold Domed State house, through the Gardens, admiring the swan boats tied up for the night, and down Commonwealth Ave. If the weather is fair, and it will be bright until about 8pm, is a nice walk and will give U a good feel for the Back Bay. One block over from Commonwealth Ave is Newbury Street which has a lot of fancy stores.

Further afield, go to Harvard Sq (jump on the Red Line) and wander about, the Sq and Harvard's Campus.. Shay's is a neat wee pub on JFK street for a pint or glass o'wine. Check out the Regatta Bar in the Charles Hotel to see what concerts are on. Or catch a movie at the Harvard Square Theater.
posted by zaphod at 10:16 PM on April 27, 2007

Seconding everyone who's recommended walkabouts - Boston is a lovely city to walk around it, and it'll still be light when you're done with work. Walk along the Charles River Esplanade, watching the sail boats, do parts of the freedom trail. head over to Harvard Sq and walk around there.
posted by darsh at 11:48 PM on April 27, 2007

Other things to do in Harvard Square:

A movie at the Brattle Theater.
Herrell's ice cream with mix-ins--try to snag a table in the bank vault.
Poking through the used books in the basement at the Harvard Bookstore (open later than the Coop).
posted by brujita at 11:54 PM on April 27, 2007

There's an interesting talk being given in Harvard Square at 7:30 (at First Parish Church at 3 Church Street):

Impeachment: The Last Resort

Former federal prosecutor Elizabeth de la Vega (author of U.S. v Bush) conducts a hypothetical grand jury indictment of administration officials who conspired to defraud the United States by misleading the nation into war. What is the process for impeachment established by the Constitution? How does this process work in a partisan political system?
posted by tentacle at 6:28 AM on April 28, 2007

Copley square has a day-of ticket booth and you can see what shows are playing. It's at the corner of Boylston and Dartmouth.

The Blue Man Group started in Boston, I believe, and often you can get tickets from the booth. If you're looking for something impromptu for an evening that might work.

and YMMV, but I thought the duck tour was awful.
posted by cotterpin at 7:05 AM on April 28, 2007

For really late night bowling Boston Bowl is open 24 hours a day (not much is open in Boston really late night). If you want to do something touristy/cheesy Ghosts and Gravestones tours are kind of fun, they take you to historic "haunted" sites and tell you stories. (Full disclosure - I used to work for that company, but I don't anymore) I'd also recommend just walking around the city, heading down to the North End and just grabbing a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes.
posted by fermezporte at 9:11 AM on April 28, 2007

There's live music (mostly jazz) happening every night between May 6–9 at Berklee College of Music. If the concert is held in the Berklee Performance Center, tickets cost $5. Otherwise admission is free. (The only exception on the dates you mention is Joshua Redman's concert on May 6, which costs $40/$32.50.)

You can find the calendar here, with directions and a campus map. All of the concerts listed on those dates are located in either the Berklee Performance Center or at 1140 Boylston Street (where, again, admission is free), both of which are located less than 5 minutes' walk from the Hynes/ICA stop on the Green Line. If you're coming from the BIO Convention, you'll take the Red Line from South Station and change trains at Park Street.
posted by cribcage at 11:08 AM on April 28, 2007

Dinner at Brown's restaurant followed by a stroll down Klaston Ave to see all the amazing street performers.
posted by iconjack at 12:42 PM on April 28, 2007