Getting Around in your Town.

[Pints]

Hey all, not trying to troll here so please bear with me. Myself and a friend will be making the drive up from Baltimore to catch the double header this weekend. We would like to hook up with you guys at the Alehouse, but since we are arriving much earlier than the reast of the supporters club from DC, we want to head down into Boston for the latter part of the afternoon. So my questions are: Riverside is the stop closest to our hotel in Newton. (Green Line?) what stop should we use to get into downtown? What are some of the better bars etc. to stop in at (old style pubs preferrably) Also, coming out from downtown what shoud we take to get to the Alehouse? And finally, what time does the subway system stop running?

Cheers, hope to meet some of you on Saturday, we will be coming to the tailgate with drink and grillables in tow.

[Jeremy Goodwin]

Hey all, not trying to troll here so please bear with me. Myself and a friend will be making the drive up from Baltimore to catch the double header this weekend. We would like to hook up with you guys at the Alehouse, but since we are arriving much earlier than the reast of the supporters club from DC, we want to head down into Boston for the latter part of the afternoon. So my questions are: Riverside is the stop closest to our hotel in Newton. (Green Line?) what stop should we use to get into downtown? What are some of the better bars etc. to stop in at (old style pubs preferrably) Also, coming out from downtown what shoud we take to get to the Alehouse? And finally, what time does the subway system stop running?

Cheers, hope to meet some of you on Saturday, we will be coming to the tailgate with drink and grillables in tow.
Comprehensive and current T advice is available on the MBTA's official site here: http://www.mbta.com/

If you want to go to the North End, North Station or Haymarket are both within walking distance. If you're headed to the Esplanade or the DCR Hatch, try Charles/MGH. Harvard Square is at Harvard on the Red Line. The Middle East and other nearby Cambridge destinations are at Kendal/MIT. The aquarium is at Aquarium (imagine that). Just generally downtown you might try Downtown Crossing or Government Center.

Copley Center with a mall and such is at either Copley or Back Bay.

[Ultra Peanut]

Comprehensive and current T advice is available on the MBTA's official site here: http://www.mbta.com/

Of particular relevance is the transit updates page (http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/transitupdates.asp), where you'll learn in the T's continuing commitment to annoy the pants off those of us who live in mid/east Cambridge, they're shutting down Charles/MGH station this weekend and running shuttles between Park and Kendall.

If you want a fairly easy intro to the city--something semi-touristy you can do with only an afternoon to kill--take the green line from your hotel all the way into Park Street, then get off, walk across the Common, through the Public Garden, and just wander around that section of town (Boylston, Newbury, and Charles Streets are particularly recommended). Following Newbury or Boylston from Arlington Street up through Hynes station or Charles from Beacon to Charles/MGH station is an excellent afternoon walk. The bars in this area are generally not, I'd imagine, what you have in mind as "authentic"--and we only send people to Cheers if we're pulling their legs.

Slightly expensive but an amusing way of killing time: take a duck tour. (http://www.bostonducktours.com/)

I'm not entirely sure the Alehouse (http://www.irishalehouse.com/directions.html) is convenient to public transit, or at least not the trains; you may want to ask either for a ride, drive in yourselves, or have to hop a bus.

[Pints]

Thanks for the info guys. I don't think we would want to go to Cheers unless we walked right into it. I mean, I would drink anywhere but prefer something a bit no.... alot less touristy. Not interested in tourism this weekend, just drinkning and looking about. I'd love to catch a show at the Middle East guess I will see who's playing. Anymore insight would be grand.
Thanks

[Ultra Peanut]

Thanks for the info guys. I don't think we would want to go to Cheers unless we walked right into it. I mean, I would drink anywhere but prefer something a bit no.... alot less touristy. Not interested in tourism this weekend, just drinkning and looking about. I'd love to catch a show at the Middle East guess I will see who's playing. Anymore insight would be grand.
Thanks

Globe visitor's guide: http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/?p1=InTravel_BostonVisitorsGuide

And while I said it was semi-touristy, walking around Back Bay or Beacon Hill is also not bad for "just looking about," as you put it. Likewise the North End and the South End, both of which are home to many great places to eat. You can't go wrong, for example, with a meal in the North End followed by some extended time hanging out at one of the cafes on Hanover Street. Harvard Square is okay, but not as interesting as it used to be, or else I'm just getting old, probably a little of both. Davis Square, further up the red line, has some decent places to eat and drink, as does my neighborhood of Inman Square, but Inman's only accessible via bus, foot, or car. Central Square in Cambridge is home not only to the Middle East and TT's, but also the Phoenix Landing, where I'd most heartily recommend you go if this were not an off weekend for Euro soccer.

For who's playing where in town: http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/listings/index.asp .

[The Magpie]

Pints,

If you and the rest of the Screaming Eagles/United supporters are staying at the Holiday Inn Boston – Newton, then you’re only a short walk downhill to the Riverside MBTA station.

To get into Boston, you’ll want to get a “Government Center” or “North Station” (Green Line) train on the “inbound” platform. The fare from this station is $3.00 per person, and there are change machines just outside the turnstiles. You’ll pay your fare on the trolley. Travel time to downtown Boston (Park Street or Government Center stations) can be anywhere from 30 – 45 minutes. The last train from Boston back to Riverside is 12:45AM, with the fare back to Riverside being only $1.25 per person.

If you’re looking to see a bit of and kill a few hours in Boston, managing to make a stop or two at some better, older style pubs, then Park Street station is probably your best place to get off, as there are many, many pubs within a ten minute walk from there. Park Street will also let you out right on the edge of Boston common.

Some recommendations:

21st Amendment
150 Bowdoin Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 227-7100
http://www.barshots.com/picturesofbars/boston_ma/21stamendment.JPG

Located on Beacon Hill just across the street from the State House.

The Littlest Bar
47 Province Street
Boston, MA 02108-4105
Phone: (617) 523-9766
Web site: http://www.celticweb.com/littlestbar/
http://www.barshots.com/picturesofbars/boston_ma/littlestbar.JPG

It’s barely a five-minute, easy walk from Park Street station, and is unique both for its size, good Guinness,

The Sevens Ale House
77 Charles Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 523-9074

Only beer and wine, and cash only, but a great little spot on Charles Street with good bar-staff and beer selection. Has darts, jukebox, and serves pretty decent pub food. Nice place to people-watch as well.

To get back to Riverside, you could go back to Park Street and get on the Outbound platform, boarding a “D” Green Line train to Riverside. You could also do the same in getting on at Arlington Station, that a short walk through the Public Garden. Unfortunately the Alehouse is not close to public transportation, so you’d likely have to drive or bum a ride from the hotel there. Shouldn’t be that long a drive since the hotel is just off I-95.

Bear in mind that the Red Sox are playing at home on Friday evening to Texas, so the T is likely to start getting busy by later afternoon – you won’t be able to miss all the fans team gear on the subway, so you might want to leave yourself a bit more time getting back to Riverside, a little less than one hour from Park Street at that time of day.

So, just some suggestions and personal recommendations.

The Magpie

[ProfZodiac]

Thanks for the info guys. I don't think we would want to go to Cheers unless we walked right into it. I mean, I would drink anywhere but prefer something a bit no.... alot less touristy. Not interested in tourism this weekend, just drinkning and looking about. I'd love to catch a show at the Middle East guess I will see who's playing. Anymore insight would be grand.
Thanks
Fenway Park tours run about ten bucks a person and are worth it.

Green line from Riverside to Kenmore, hang a left outside the station. Walk over the Mass Pike bridge and the Park's right in front of you.

[Pints]

Thank you all very much this helps tremendously. As I said we will be in town earlier than the rest so we will do our best to get to the Irish Ale Hosue later that night and see you, if not we will run into you at the tailgate. The Screaming Eagles group should be going to the Irish Ale house but not until later that night.
Cheers to you all and again thanks.

[The Magpie]

"Fenway Park tours run about ten bucks a person and are worth it..."

Absolutely. You should be able to get a Boston map or an MBTA map from the concierge or front desk at the hotel. If not, there might be some inside the small bus terminal that's also part of the MBTA station at Riverside.

[Jeremy Goodwin]

The Sox are in town the rest of this week and the weekend too (Angels at midweek, Rangers starting Friday).

Limited numbers of tickets do appear to be available on line through the standard ticketing methods, but if they run out, you can probably still get tickets via Replay (resells unused season tickets through official channels).

[Ultra Peanut]

Fenway Park tours run about ten bucks a person and are worth it.

Plus you're also right by Beer Works, which is not at all a bad thing.

Warning: in addition to the Sox games this weekend, it is also move-in weekend for BU, so that part of town will be completely nuts.

Also, the best view of the city skyline? Don't bother with the Skywalk at the Pru (in fact, don't bother with the Pru period; it's just a mall). Instead, walk down Mass Ave until you get about halfway across the bridge. That's the best (well, my favorite, anyway) view of town. Looks especially great at sunrise and at night when there's a ballgame and the town's all lit up. Should be gorgeous weather (http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/local/02139) all weekend, too.

[ProfZodiac]

And Northeastern. Which is in the Fenway area to begin with, so don't venture south of the Park much this weekend.

I think Emerson's move in (Boylston St.) is also later this weekend.

[NER_MCFC]

The Middle East and other nearby Cambridge destinations are at Kendal/MIT.
Actually, the Middle East is considerably closer to Central Square, along with TT the Bear's (another high quality, low capacity rock club) and Phoenix Landing (soccer bar some of the time and Irish bar all of the time).

[Jeremy Goodwin]

Actually, the Middle East is considerably closer to Central Square, along with TT the Bear's (another high quality, low capacity rock club) and Phoenix Landing (soccer bar some of the time and Irish bar all of the time).Oh come on, I slip in one inaccurate direction and no one lets me have a little fun :D

I didn't know we had to be 100% helpful in this thread!

[NER_MCFC]

Oh come on, I slip in one inaccurate direction and no one lets me have a little fun :D
If he'd been a Metros fan, I might have let it pass. :D

[Ultra Peanut]

Actually, the Middle East is considerably closer to Central Square, along with TT the Bear's (another high quality, low capacity rock club) and Phoenix Landing (soccer bar some of the time and Irish bar all of the time).

Well, if you want to be really anal about it, the intersection at which you can find those establishments is officially designated Mark Sandman Square. Across Brookline Avenue from the clubs is Otro Lado, the shop at which my husband purchases his matchday luchador masks.

(For the Boston impaired, this is because every intersection in the entire 617 area code is somebody or other square. Usually someone who died in a war, but not always, as in the case above).

[Pints]

Thanks Guys! I think my buddy and I will hop onto the train to Park Street Station and then get lost for a couple of hours and see what kind of trouble we can get into. I would like to try and hit the Irish Ale House back out in Dedham so I may need to keep it a bit relaxed but we will see. I appreciate all the help. And by the way if I WAS a Metros fan I would gladly take any and all abuse that was due because well Metro fans simply deserve nothing less.
Cheers

[DoctorD]

Is the Plough and Stars still open between Central Square and Harvard Square, or am I dating myself?

If it's open - great rugby atmosphere. Guinness on tap, etc.

[NER_MCFC]

Is the Plough and Stars still open between Central Square and Harvard Square, or am I dating myself?
Yep, it's still there.

[Ann]

If you're getting off at Park Street, you should hit the Beantown Pub. It's the only bar where you can drink a Sam Adams while looking at Sam Adams' grave. And they have kick-ass cheese fries.

Thanks Guys! I think my buddy and I will hop onto the train to Park Street Station and then get lost for a couple of hours and see what kind of trouble we can get into. I would like to try and hit the Irish Ale House back out in Dedham so I may need to keep it a bit relaxed but we will see. I appreciate all the help. And by the way if I WAS a Metros fan I would gladly take any and all abuse that was due because well Metro fans simply deserve nothing less.
Cheers