Art and Architecture in Boston

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The MFA is one of the largest museums around. An entire day could be spent admiring the works, both ancient and modern, that live within these walls. Along with many amazing (and famous) paintings, the MFA offers visitors the chance to enjoy artifacts from around the world. Home to four dining venues, there is a choice for all tastes eliminating the need to exit throughout the day. The MFA hosts many unique events including lectures, music, films, art opportunities for kids, and even cocktail parties. The gift shops offer art inspired items that allows guests to reflect on their favorite parts of the museum.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert
465 Huntington Ave., tel. 617-267-9300
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 Isabella Stewart Gardner was a patroness of the arts. With her passing she sought to conserve her collection and required her home, home modeled after a 15th-century Venetian palace, be turned into an art museum. Hanging within these walls you'll find works by James Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Titian, Matisse, Rembrandt, and Raphael. The courtyard is an oasis in any season, filled with beautiful plants and flowers. A 2012 major renovation, connected the past to the present and added amenities like the Studio, where hands-on workshops focus on creating art that enhances the teaching that is taking place in the galleries. The Museum also hosts a concert series. A concert is held on the first Thursday of each month and focuses on cutting-edge classical music while the third Thursday is reserved for a special jazz concert.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert
280 The Fenway, tel. 617-566-1401
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The Romanesque Mother Church of the Christian Science religion is part of the sect's Boston headquarters. Mary Baker Eddy, a New Hampshire native who moved to Boston in 1881, founded the church in 1879. Members spurn modern medicine in favor of prayer-based healing. The church was built in 1894, and the reflecting pool along the building is a relaxing spot for people of all faiths.

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The Boston Symphony is a world renowned orchestra that performs from October to April with special performances for the winter holiday season. Catering to patrons of all ages, The BSO offers afternoon and evening showtimes. Founded in 1881,  the BSO repertoire includes contemporary music, but classical is their specialty.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert

301 Massachusetts Ave., tel. 617-266-1492

www.bso.org

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A quickly adapting survivor of the downloading revolution, Newbury Comics is a funky local chain of what were originally record stores; it now stocks a wide selection of posters, gifts, novelty items, T-shirts -- and, of course, comics. You'll also still find CDs (and tapes!) of particularly cutting-edge music, with lots of independent labels and imports.

Our Local Expert Says:

Cheap and healthy food with a laid back atmosphere.

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As one of the city's few counterculture/bohemian cafes, the Other Side serves as a key meeting spot for its loyal, eccentric clientele. Students are drawn to the bargain-basement menu of healthy, Californian cuisine, while hip 20-somethings squeeze into comfy sofas and nod along to the cafe's painfully current soundtrack of alternative tunes. When the weather's agreeable, patrons crowd onto the large front patio, which can hold about 44 customers, to smoke the night away. Tattooed waiters match the colorful surroundings.

Our Local Expert Says:

Go for breakfast at any time of the day or just sit and have a coffee.

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When you want a bite to eat and some intellectual stimulation, this cafe and bookstore is just the ticket. Looking for a book on witchcraft, dreams, Buddhism or western philosophy? These are just a handful of subjects you will come across. You will also find a wide variety of magazines, including imported editions. The store has a small dining area, overlooking Newbury Street. Try the orzata cappuccino or a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich. There are also more substantial entrees, including canelloni and pork chops. The cafe also serves beer and wine.

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The center of Copley Square is home to a simply stunning church, Trinity Church. Even the non-religious will be beckoned by its beauty to take a look behind the doors. This Episcopal church, completed in 1877, is a  Romanesque design that is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of church architecture in the nation.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert
206 Clarendon Street, tel. 617-536-0944
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Travelers entering the Boston Common will see Beacon Hill to the north, bustling Tremont Street to the east, Emerson College to the south, and gated greenery to the west. Beyond those gates is a well-manicured, but still approachable public garden. Lagoons, walking paths, bridges, statues and flowers galore make it the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll (or simply a path from the Common to Newbury Street). If you're looking for things to do with the kids, take the Swan Boats, and check out the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the northeast corner.

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One of the Nation's oldest public parks, Boston Common, encompasses nearly 50 acres and was once used as pasture land by Puritan settlers. Also former military grounds, The Boston Common played an important role in shaping America. Today, the park is a popular destination for recreational athletics, joggers, and families. The Frog Pond is a year round favorite; functioning as a wading pool in the summer and a skating rink in the winter, it transforms for use throughout the seasons.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert
148 Tremont St., tel. 888-733-2678
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Massachusetts State House—the very name exudes class and elegance. The house is home to the Massachusetts General Court and the offices of the Governor of the state. It is built on 6.7 acres of land. The highlight of the State house is the gilded dome which shines and gives out a warmth of its own. The pinnacle of the dome is a pine cone, a reminder of both the importance of Boston's lumber industry of the colonial period and the state of Maine, which was a district of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The rich embedded past of Massachusetts State House makes it necessary to visit this place atleast once.

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The best way to see Boston. Starting at the Boston Common, this three mile path can easily be picked up at any point along the way. The Freedom Trail offers historical insight into the city and its surroundings. Easy to hop on and off, the Freedom Trail weaves throughout the city and highlights some of Boston's most special places. Enjoy all or part of this "map". Guided tours are available for a fee.

-Jessica Polizzotti, Boston Local Expert
15 State Street, tel. 617-242-5642
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This old neighborhood is the site of the Old North Church and the Paul Revere House. Located along the Boston waterfront, it was the first stop for several waves of immigrants. Italians made it their home in the 1870s. Italian restaurants and pastry shops are crammed into narrow streets, where the smell of garlic and sounds of happy diners fill the air. Hanover and Salem are the two main streets and are often packed with tourists and locals.

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Regina's looks almost like a movie set, but look a little closer -- this local legend is the place the movie sets are trying to re-create. It's been in business since 1926, and the only thing that's changed recently is the end of the cash-only policy in 2008. As it has for decades, the line stretches up the street on busy nights, but even at off hours, business is seldom slow. Locals often call for take-out; if you borrow that tactic, though, you'll miss the full experience. Busy waitresses who might call you "dear" weave through the boisterous dining room, shouting orders and questions as they deliver peerless pizza steaming hot from the brick oven. (You can also drop in for a slice, weekdays at lunch only.) Let it cool a little before you dig in. Nouveau ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes appear on the list of toppings, but that's not authentic. House-made sausage, maybe some pepperoni, and a couple of beers -- now, that's authentic.

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Mike's pastry is where everyone flocks for a perfectly baked bite of Italy. From their filled to order cannoli, to their baked in house biscotti, there is a baked good that is sure to make you smile. The rainbow colored selection of Italian cookies are the perfect treat to bring you back to childhood (especially if you had an Italian Grandma). Mike's seems to always be packed, with lines often extending out the door. The few tables within are typically filled and the freshly baked bread goes fast. Still Mike's remains a must on every visit to Boston's North End.

-Jessica Polizzotti
300 Hanover St., tel. 617-742-3050
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Description:

Faneuil Hall is of a greater historical interest than any other building in the United States. In September 1742, Peter Faneuil, a French merchant, decided to build it for the people of the town. Many famous orators of the country's history have addressed the public here. This area is a true reflection of the culture, history, and local ambience. Every year, performers audition to perform during tourist season but not many win a gig as a juggler, musician or artist. You can shop in the underground or get souvenirs like rare photo prints. Faneuil Hall is staffed by National Park Service Rangers from 9a-5p, except when used for public functions. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Park Rangers offer historical talks about Faneuil Hall every half hour on the second floor.

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This landmark eatery near Faneuil Hall was established in 1826 and is the oldest continually operating restaurant in the United States. Usually crowded, the restaurant is frequented by locals and tourists. The late President John F. Kennedy's favorite booth is identified by a plaque, and Daniel Webster was a fan of the oysters. While the menu includes chicken, steak and pork, seafood is its forte. The raw bar serves a variety of shellfish. Try the lobster, which is served boiled or broiled. The restaurant has a full service bar.

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Housed inside the Boston Center for the Arts, Beehive (The) restaurant is almost like an opera house in itself with live jazz, cabaret and a lot more action. There are fine satin drapes and exquisite artifacts adorning the eatery. A popular hangout with night birds, the bar and lounge scene here is also upbeat and lively. The food is a regular mix of the grilled and Mediterranean variety, with lamb ribs ruling the roost. Sausages, pasta and risottos also sit happily together on the menu. The rates are on the higher side but you pay for more than just the food here. The wine sure flows freely on all days and everything about the place has an arty feel to it. Definitely a place to get together with pals on a weekend.

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Smoots Bridge/MIT Bridge is a nickname for the Harvard Bridge, which leads to MIT in Cambridge. Smoot is unit of length named after Oliver R. Smoot, class of 1962 at MIT. One Smoot is equal to five feet and seven inches. Every year the fraternity of Lambda Chi Alpha paint the smoots on the bridge, you can see them at every 10 smoots. Oliver Smoot later became the Chairman of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and President of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Read the interesting tale behind the smoots pasted all over, on the web. This bridge also has many serious and comical art strewn all over it.