Around Boston & Cambridge: the inside scoop

Concerts:

The Paradise Rock Club on Comm Ave in Allston (Babcock stop off the B-line) hosts bands of all kinds: indy rock to house djs, washed up rockers to local favorites. It's a smaller venue with a couple of bars, an upper deck complete with couches and cocktail tables, a dance floor, stage and plenty of noise to satisfy your musical itch. Check the listing in the Metro entertainment section to see what's going on each week.

Sports:

Do it all! The Celtics are in town at the Fleet Center (North Station off of the Green and Orange lines) at least once a week during the season and the nosebleed tickets (which aren't bad at all) can be purchased for $10! Like hockey? We've got Bruins at the Fleet Center too. Definitely take in a Sox game at the greatest stadium of all, Fenway Park. It's small enough to see the names on the back of the players' jerseys from most seats and a great place to take in the true spirit of Boston in the afternoon. Note: it's Nomah, not Nomar.

Jazz:

Wally's is a hole-in-the-wall jazz club located at the corner of Mass Ave and Columbus Ave in the South End. With no more than 6 tables mirroring the room-length bar, it hosts some of the hottest jazz musicians in the Boston scene. The place is packed to standing room only (and all you can do is stand) every weekend, but its worth it to hear the incredible sounds that the musicians continue to create (Mass Ave stop on the Orange line, or Symphony off of the E-line).

Reconnect with Nature:

Tired of city-life? No car? No worries! Check out the Boston Harbor Islands. Daily ferries leaving from Long Wharf to the islands are offered year round (Orange line to State Street or Blue Line to Aquarium). The ferry only costs $8 for a round trip ticket. Many of the islands have historic tours of old military forts (George's and Castle Islands), house Outward Bound expeditions (Thompson's Island) or are untouched pieces of land that permit low-impact camping (Grape Island). Visit http://www.nps.gov/boha/ for more information about ferry schedules, camping permits, historic tours and other information about the islands.

Harvard Shuttle Service

This was one of my favorite things about Harvard. It traveled anywhere between Porter and Central Squares and would pick you up anywhere and drop you off anywhere. It is free for Harvard affiliates. It operates between 7pm and 3am. Sometimes you have to wait 20 minutes to get a ride, but its better than walking (especially in the bitter winter) as long as you are not in a hurry. Many people think it is just for school related activities, but its not. They will pick you up at home and drop you off at a bar, they just want Harvard students to be safe. The drivers are friendly also which makes for a nice ride.

Cheap Night Out:

Living on a budget and need some entertainment? No worries! Use that fine ID you pay so much for to get a discount every evening after 6:00 at the Aquarium's Imax theatre (Blue line to Aquarium or Orange to State Street). The Museum of Science (Green line to Science Park) also has nightly laser and planetarium shows for about $10. If you like kids and want to see what's going on at the Children's Museum, check it out for $1 (yes, ONE dollar) on Friday nights (Red line to South Station). Attention Art enthusiasts: the Museum of Fine Art is FREE every Wednesday night after 5:00. This (unfortunately) does not include admission to the featured exhibit, but does give you access to all of the museums exhibits. Definitely check out the armor room.

Breakfast:

Moogy's Cafe on Chestnut Hill Ave in Brighton (take the 86 bus to the Chiswick stop) is a great little place to get started in the morning with all kinds of creative breakfast and lunch options: The C3PO, SlambaJamba, and my personal favorite, Grateful Hash. Curious? Check it out. You can even play Connect4 on the couches while you wait.

Pizza and Bowling:

If you like specialty pizzas and bowling alleys, check out Bela Luna in JP. Upstairs is the pizza joint that features Real City Soda (brewed in JP) and pizzas with everything from anchovies and eggplant to pineapple. When you're done gorging yourself, head downstairs to work it off at the Milky Way Lounge that features live (most often local) music and candle-pin bowling. Take the 39 bus from Back Bay station (Orange line) to Centre St.

Brewery tour:

Check out Harpoon Brewery on Fisherman's Wharf (take the Red Line to South Station). The local brewery is tiny and only takes a spin in the middle of the room to see it all, but it's free, the guides are great and there's samples of all of the Harpoon favorites (a must in this neck of the woods). Call for daily tour times (I think it's 1:00 and 3:00 pm).

Rock Bottom: "Cheap weekday eats and the only pool table in the Square."

Grendel's Den: "Fabulous happy hour dinners for cheap."

The Border Café: "Wannabe Mexican food, but the margaritas are okay."

Cambridge 1: "Great ambience and excellent pizza."

Christina's Ice Cream, Inman Square "makes a home-made killer of a treat called Mocha Explosion that can only be improved by putting it atop a fudge-covered brownie from Rosie's (around the corner) called "Chocolate Orgasm."

What They're Saying

"I cannot imagine a city that offers more opportunities to learn and to be exposed to great minds and new ideas. There were always amazing speeches, presentations and debates to attend on any issue imaginable." - Liz A.

"I love the diversity in Cambridge. The city also has a great social and intellectual energy." - Kristi J.

"Explore Boston & Cambridges of Cambridge, soak up the various manifestations ethnic diversity (restaurants, cafes, groceries, etc), and appreciate the history of the area. It's a lovely place to be while learning about learning. - Medha K.

"This is my fifth year of living in Boston, and I absolutely love it here. I've gotten into the live music available in Cambridge and Somerville, especially roots rock and blugrass. Whatever your passion, you'll find an outlet for it in this culturally rich city. There's a good chance you'll never want to leave." - Becki N.

"I love to walk and look at the people around... Charlie's hamburgers are pretty good and cheap (the perfect ending for the school week). The fall is amazing... colors like those are difficult to even imagine... the libraries where I have spent many hours reading (and sometimes napping) are nice... The cultural life (concerts, conference, etc) is quite intense (for those who have time)... However, the best part of living in Cambridge is that the ocean is not far away... in 25 minutes you can be breathing the air of the ocean that steals away worries and anxieties and fills the heart and the head with ideas and sometimes crazy dreams... nope, nothing compares to that... - Alumnus Jose M.

"There are plenty of clubs around Cambridge and Boston to dance into the wee hours, many of which have no cover charge. As far as I can tell, they do not discriminate based on ability." - Jason M.

"Central Square is awesome. India Palace is a great Indian restaurant. Chinatown is also a lot of fun with a lot of cheap, good, authentic restaurants. Inman Square has Christina's ice cream and S&S deli, both excellent. Music on Friday and Saturday Nights in Harvard Square when it's warm. The experimental (FREE) theater in the American Repertory Theater building has good student run shows." - Jed W.

"Cambridge is small enough to feel at home quickly, but large enough to always keep you busy. There are many wonderful restaurants and bars, and each area (Davis Square, Porter Square, Harvard Square and Central Square) offers its own unique personality. I came to Cambridge not knowing anyone, and the intensive nature of TAC/MCMS allowed me to quickly get to know so many interesting and talented people." - Jen H.

"I got an awesome bicycle tour of the whole city of Cambridge from Larry Aaronson, a teacher in Cambridge. It was part ethnography, part history, part childhood-homes-of-the-stars tour, and part storytelling. He will probably be a mentor teacher next year too, but even if he isn't, try to get him (or someone as knowledgeable) to show you around." - Alan R.

"Somerville, Cambridge's neighbor-to-the-north, has some cool areas such as Davis Square and Union Square. I'm biased as a Somerville resident (the rent is cheaper too!). Dial-A-Pizza on Beacon Street, Somerville has (for pick-up only) $5 large cheese pizzas." - Alan R.

"Check out the inventive, professional-caliber productions at the American Repertory Theatre. It's right across the street from the Ed. School, and student tickets are just $12. So much of Boston is in walking distance and when it isn't there is clean, user-friendly public transportation." - Alan R.

"If you're coming from a place that stays up late, you may be disappointed by Boston's lack of late-night and all-night spots. But you're going to be teaching, so this will be healthy for your sleep pattern. If you insist on getting a sandwich at 4 a.m., there is always the White Hen Pantry. You will grow to love the Boston accent. And you'll either come to love or hate the Red Sox if you don't already." - Alan R.

"Hong Kong Restaurant/Night Club (in Harvard Square by Holyoke) This was my favorite club in the Boston area. It has a restaurant on the first floor (which I never tried), a bar on the second floor, and a dance club on the third floor. "The Kong" is free, which of course attracts students and later on in the night locals start showing up too, so there is a real mix of people. The dance floor opens at 11:00. It usually plays great hip hop and occasionally a set of techno, 80s or Top 40. The bar is also famous for its scorpion bowls." - Teresa W., TAC '02