Boston Attractions for PubConf Attendees

[agerhart]

If you are already signed up [webmasterworld.com] for the Boston PubConference [semconf.com], or if you are thinking about attending, here is some things to do and see while in Boston:

General Attractions/Shopping

- Museum of Fine Arts [mfa.org]
- Boston Duck Tours [bostonducktours.com]
- Faneuil Hall Marketplace [faneuilhallmarketplace.com]
- Boston Common
- Freedom Trail [nps.gov]
- Boston Tea Party Ship and Tours [bostonteapartyship.com]
- Copley Place/Square
- Newbury Street [newbury-st.com]
- Sports Museum of New England [sportsmuseum.org]
- Fleet Center [fleetcenter.com] (if you are staying for a few days and want to catch a game or show!}
- Boston's North End [northendweb.com]

Bars and Nightlife
Boston has a million bars....these are just a few of the good ones.

BARS
- Boston Beer Works
- Who's on First
- The Black Rose
- The Purple Shamrock
- Trinity
- Back Bay Brewing Co.
- House of Blues
- Sky Bar

CLUBS/BARS
- Avalon
- Karma Club
- Axis
- The Roxy
- House of Blues
- The Sugar Shack
- Paradise

[lorax]

Ah the Black Rose - fond memories.

[Rumbas]

Thanks for the info Andrew. Good to have a couple of places to give to a cab driver.

So, where would you be hanging out trying to convince the girls you know stuff about search engines ..on the Internet, you know! ;)

[Nick_W]

Thanks!

Did you forget the Cheers! bar? or is that just too corny?

Apparently it's about 4 blocks from the hotel, I'll be sitting on the right hand corner of the bar as you come in ;)

Nick

[Loki99]

Agerhart,

Thank you for the recommendations. Could you also recommend one of the hotels below? Anyone of them stand out from the rest?

Boston Harbor Hotel
Fifteen Beacon
Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
Seaport Hotel

[jpjones]

Which Cheers Bar? The original from the tv series, or the new touristy affair in Quincy Market? I've eaten in both, and my friend made the mistake of saying "Cheers" in both of them. Hows that for corney? ;)

Why don't we have a conference competition as to who can eat the most Giant Norm Burgers... (plus the chips & salad they serve it with)?

JP

[Edouard_H]

...hanging out trying to convince the girls you know stuff about search engines ..

That would be The Rack near Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market. Great list agerhart; I would add a trip to Harvard Square (fifteen minutes from downtown on the Red Line). John Harvard's Brew House is excellent and there is a museum at the university with a bizarre collection of ancient taxidermy.

[agerhart]

Did you forget the Cheers! bar?

I sure did!, but hey, I said it was a short list. Cheers bar is a classic....the original one!

Which Cheers Bar? The original from the tv series, or the new touristy affair in Quincy Market?

The original, not in Quincy Market.

Boston Harbor Hotel
Fifteen Beacon
Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common
Seaport Hotel

Never stayed in any of these, but I know that the Boston Harbor Hotel, and all of the hotels on the harbor, will be very expensive. Although expensive, these hotels are near the North End, Fleet Center, and Faneuil hall. (I think)

The Ritz-Carlton is obviously going to expensive as well, but I am sure it will be very nice. The Boston Common area is really nice too.

[lorax]

And just a hair over 6 weeks away!

Hey, maybe we should call the Car Talk guys and ask them to come over to the conference and give us some pointers on getting our own radio show up and running. ;)

[hannamyluv]

It's not a bar, but I have to say, if you are looking for an absolutly indulgent place for a bite to eat, Finale was FABULOUS! Oh my god... the desserts looked too good to eat and tasted too good not to. Coffee drinks and liquors were also served. Yum!

[Tim]

I have stayed at fifteen beacon and it is great but expensive. The new Ritz Carlton on the common is nice but the building is a mess (fire there recently -the best workout place in town is there though). There is a new hotel near the conference which is meant to be very nice and is less expensive than the ones mentioned called 90 tremont (ninezero.com) . Boston Harbor and the seaport are out of the way. You want to be near back bay/ South end Beacon Hill for the weekends.

[caine]

Had a look at the list, very comprehensive, don't look like i am going to struggle getting a beer.

[Tor]

Thank`s Andrew. Never been to Boston before, so this will help me survive I expect. ;)

[paynt]

More survival questions Andrew.

Tell us what the weather is like in April, what to bring special for clothing. Thinking a trench coat is ok? Do I need an umbrella?

Are we to rely on taxi’s? The bus, walking? What are the costs of taxi's? What are the meal costs for a nice restaurant?

[digitalghost]

>>Are we to rely on taxi’s?

No, Prowlers. [exoticrentals.com] ;)

[sheilarae]

tim
i agree 90 tremont is super nice , i put my guests up there, (when i dont want them staying with me ) and the rate is pretty good, they run specials and it is trendy and near everything

15 beacon is a little stuffy,

the new ritz yes had had some opening pains, but if you like to people watch the gym is great always a celebrity working out there

i would do nine zero 90 tremont and you are only a 5 mintue walk from to the hotel

sheila

[skibum]

Dinner cost in Boston anywhere from $10.00 for a small fast food type place to $50.00 for surf n' turf with an appetizer and a drink at Legal.

Weather could be 40s to 85 degrees. It's been wacky on the east coast this year. A light jacket **should** be adequate for late April.

I've gotten the Park Plaza (where SES was) on Priceline for $65.00 in the past. Not the greatest place but just a couple blocks from PubCon - would not advise paying full price for it though - rooms just aren't that nice.

Lots of things are within walking distance of the hotel, the T is handy to get around Boston (probably stops near the hotel - not sure). From the airport there are "Hotel vans" that will take you to most hotels in downtown Boston. They are $9.00 each way compared to probably at least 2x that in a cab. You can take a bus then switch to the T for a few bucks but it might take an hour or more with the transfers.

[paynt]

I'm riding with you digitalghost, count me in.

skibum - great budgeting advice, thanks.

[sheilarae]

dont do legal seafood for seafood, it is way way overpriced and not that great, they have so many resturants around the country prices are crazy! and they dont buy the best fish they negoiate the cost to the boats and buy the lowest grade, , oops am i going to get sued?

if you are a lobster seafood person best bet near hotel is a francise called mrcommiacks it still high priced, if you love it and real to really eat fresh seafood, grab a cab or get together with someone, and go to the fish pier, it will cost you about $10 for the cab way worth it, you have the NO NAME a famous seafood restaurant no thrills, night on the pier i mean on the pier , its at the fish pier northern ave , they buy right from the boat you see the boats pull up and you can watcht the fish come into the resturant, they server beer and wine and a full lobster dinner , a pound and 1/2 lobster with corn on the corn and a coleslaw , bread and usually a other side is about 19.00 and at other places it runs about 29.00 with only 2 sides

the other option on the waterfront (next to the no name )is jimmy haborside old family business (my husband and kids & mom are there now, everyone after the famous south boston st patricks parade goes here & senator's get up and sing, , great view of the habor and the planes coming a little more upscale then NO NAME right on norhtern ave also, but great service full service resturant and you also have pier 4 next to nice alitlle overpriced but nice . the waterfront is a great place to explore!

and for the airport it is $25.00 -30.00cab ride, but also the t is $1.00 go downstairs the t bus its free will take you to the t and take the blue line (your only choice ) to devonshire/state street then take the orange line to new england medical you are across the 25yards across the street from the hotel

it will take you 25 mintues quicker than the cab, i travel once a week and and grab that!

if you have any questions sticky mail me i live, about 500 yards from the hotel so this is my backyard,

sheila

if anyone has any question sticky mail me i live right next to the hotel, well 500 yards so that is my backyard,

[The Contractor]

It's great to get this kind of information from the locals - keep up the good work :)

[Chuma]

Kibo spotting?

Here's some things that have been enjoyed by people in the past:

New England Aquarium:
[*kibo.com...]

Boston Science Museum
[*jwgh.org...]

Thanks

[Tor]

Excellent post sheilarae! This is just the kind of input I`ve been hoping to get from someone who really knows Boston. ;)

[skiguide]

Just came across this on another forum - perfect for something to do sunday if the weather's nice:

Free sailboat rides along Boston's historic waterfront will highlight a weekend of celebration as the sailing season gets underway on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, 2003, from 1pm to 6pm at the Boston Sailing Center.
Seasoned skippers and landlubbers alike are invited to join the festivities at Lewis Wharf. Harbor sailing trips will be conducted by experienced sailors aboard a fleet of boats ranging in length from 23 to 40 feet. The Center's teaching staff will be on hand to answer questions about sailing lessons and membership programs.

Those who sign up during the event will have a portion of their lesson and/or membership fee donated to Save The Harbor/Save the Bay, a nonprofit agency working to conserve and improve Boston Harbor as a recreational resource.

This year's event marks the 27th annual Free-Sailing Weekend at the Boston Sailing Center. Headquartered in a converted Louisiana riverboat which is permanently docked at Lewis Wharf, the Center’s floating classroom and boat moorings are just a short walk north of Faneuil Hall Marketplace along Atlantic Avenue. Public parking is available nearby.

For more information, contact the Center at [phone] or visit their website at www.bostonsailingcenter.com.

[EliteWeb]

I went to Salem a few years back when I was in boston. :P Anyone ever been there to do the witchy kinda tourisms ;) Lots of history tied to Salem around that way..

[sheilarae]

if anyone wants to go to salem take the orange line to north station, go upstairs and take the commuter rail to downtown salem and it lets you right off in salem. the whole trip will cost you about $8.00

halloween there is alot to do , but alot of the shops have closed,

[agerhart]

For those who may be interested:

[cnn.com...]

[tedster]

I did a little research about what's happening at the major sports and entertainment venues around PubConference time:

ROCK
Orpheum
--- Bonnie Raitt (Apr 26)

ROCK
Paradise
--- The Delgados (Apr 25)
--- Matt Nathanson (Apr 26)

HOUSE /TECHNO
--- The Roxy (upstairs at the Wyndham - Apr 26)

JAZZ
Scullers
--- Keely Smith (Apr 24, 25, 26)
--- Tower of Power (Apr 30 - May 3)

CLASSICAL MUSIC
Symphony Hall
--- Emanuel Ax (Apr 24, 25, 26)

COMEDY
Comedy Connection (Fanueil Hall)
--- Kevin Pollack (Apr 25, 26)
--- Dean Edwards (Apr 26, midnight)

WRESTLING - WWE
Fleet Center
--- Nationally Televised RAW (Apr 28)

BASEBALL
Fenway Park
--- Red Sox vs Kansas City (Apr 28)