June 17th, 2009 by
judy c
Farmer’s Market Poster Image ; Taken by Flickr user
Cambridge folks know that summer is officially on the horizon when the Farmers’ Markets in Harvard Square finally open for the season. So with the 2009 grand opening of the first market having occurred just yesterday, residents are now ready to indulge in all the local food, music, and fun that they can while it lasts!
is located right next to the Harvard Science Center at Oxford and Kirkland Streets, about 100 yards away from the and . It’s open every Tuesday until the end of October from 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm and features regional farmers and vendors – in fact, none are from more than 50 miles away from Harvard Yard! There is so much variety that there is literally something for every palette. Vendors hock everything from standard organic produce, to exotic cuts of meat like lamb and goat. There are also seasonal florals, locally grown herbs, fresh baked bread, and tasty jams. By public transportation, take the Red Line to the Harvard Square stop.
If you aren’t a local but want to partake in this local tradition, consider stopping by the Harvard Museum of Natural History to purchase a reusable souvenir bag. Then head over to the Market to fill it up with fresh local snap peas and strawberries. Trust me, the strawberries are to die for!
And here’s a fun idea: While you’re at the , check out their famous “” exhibit if you have never seen it before. These extraordinary glass models of flowering and fruiting plants (including cacao, coffee plants, cashew nuts, pineapple, mango, and blueberries) were created in the late 19th Century by father/son glass artists in Germany to teach botany before the days of photography. They are quite a sight to behold and it’s the perfect prelude to get your taste buds watering for the Market. Bon appetit!
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June 10th, 2009 by
judy c
Draper Simulator Image; Courtesy of MIT Museum
Starting tomorrow and running until Sunday, June 14th, the will host a five-day celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing. Included are two special displays, and hands-on demonstrations (for middle school ages and up) by current students from the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro).
The MIT Museum event is part of the public outreach associated with , a major symposium at MIT that honors those who made the Apollo program a success and looks to the future of space research. Admission to is included with the .
Exhibition – MIT Goes to the Moon
See rare Apollo-era artifacts that tell the story of the major contributions made by MIT to the American space program. The display features an extremely rare simulator of the Apollo Guidance, Navigation and Control system lent by Draper Laboratory for its first ever public showing. On display from June 10–September 2009
Temporary Exhibition -Taking the Next Giant Leaps
Stop by to see the opening display of a special traveling exhibition about the excitement of current research in air and space. A series of “Facebook” like panels introduce middle and high school-aged students to students and young faculty who are pursuing their dreams - from winning a national airplane design competition to sending humans to Mars! On display from June 10-14 only
Hands-on Demonstrations -Meet AeroAstro Students
Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14; 1:00 -4:00 p.m.
Explore the latest advancements in aeronautics and space research. Examples include:
- The TALARIS Project - a prototype robotic lunar lander, which is helping MIT’s efforts to win a $20 million race to the Moon (part of the Google Lunar X-Prize)
- SPHERES micro-satellites - vehicles the size of volleyballs used in automated docking and formation flight experiments on the International Space Station
- Quadrotor UAVs - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles programmed to fly surveillance missions and cooperate with each other in swarms
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June 3rd, 2009 by
judy c
Happy Hour; Photo taken by Flickr user
Everyone is looking to save a buck these days (or several bucks in my case), but why compromise your social life and sense of fun in order to do so? We can still plan a vacation and dine out with friends and family, we just have to be super savvy about how we do it. In that spirit, I’ve pinpointed a few of the hottest happy hour spots in Boston so that your appetite doesn’t feel the pinch of your purse strings! And if that’s not enough, I’ve also identified some nearby attractions, which are all included for free with the .
Area: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Boston
Top Spot: – This popular eatery among tourists offers one of the best happy hour menus in the city. They have two happy hours – one from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm and the other from 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm. With each plate costing less than $5 a pop, you can choose from such items as a chicken sandwich and fries, grilled shrimp, fish tacos, and more. Beware of the cocktail prices though. Beer and wine are relatively inexpensive for the area, but martinis can end up costing upwards of $12 each.
Nearby attractions: , , and
Area: Back Bay, Boston
Top Spot: – Okay, okay. I know it’s a chain, but give this one a shot. Not only is the bar located in a completely separate area from the restaurant (making you feel like you are in an actual downtown bar), but the happy hour menu is the best for bar food. We’re talking cheese sticks, quesadillas, mini sliders and more. And you can’t beat the $2.95 beer special! Happy hour runs from 4 pm - 7 pm and 10 pm- close everyday except Saturday.
Nearby attractions: ,, and
Area: Harvard Square, Cambridge
Top Spot: – This is a favorite among locals because of the laid back attitude. You come in, seat yourself, and call the place home. Plus, EVERYTHING on the menu is half-price from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm every evening and from 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm Sunday – Thursday! Keep in mind that they can get very busy toward the end of the half price hours, so plan to arrive early.
Nearby attractions: and
None of these suggestions working for you? The Boston Globe has a great guide to . Do you think that anything was missed?
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May 20th, 2009 by
admin
Driving; Image taken by Flickr user
There are many components to a successful visit to Boston. Where to stay, what to see, how to get around. We’ve always been of some help on where to stay and the Go Boston Card has what to see nicely covered. But on how to get around, we traditionally haven’t offered as much.
So here’s a tip for a handy way to get a good deal on car rentals when visiting Boston. Its called Vroom Vroom Vroom, and they have a dedicated Boston page on their site that will let you shop across all the top car rental companies.
While new to the U.S., Vroom Vroom Vroom has been around since 2002, when they were founded in Australia. They are the top online site for car rentals there, and in addition to their expansion into the U.S. in 2008, they also cover Canada, the U.K. and New Zealand.
They also have embraced the Green movement by paying more than just lip service to a concern over Global Warming. The company offers its customers free carbon offsets for car rentals booked on the site. Combine that with their low price guarantee and you can be green while saving green. Not bad!
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May 7th, 2009 by
admin
Companies typically think highly of their own products. If it were left to them, most companies would give all their products a five star review all the time. That’s why most people thinking about buying something tend to trust what customers say about a product. Increasingly, companies are following suit.
Last Summer, Smart Destinations hired KRC Research to interview over 1,300 people who had bought and used Go Cards and Explorer Passes. The customers were asked a variety of questions about their experiences with the cards and what they thoughts about the product.
The results that came back were overwhelmingly positive. 94% of the customers said they were either “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with the product (with most selecting “extremely satisfied”).
Perhaps even more impressively, Smart Destinations “Net Promoter Score” came in at 8 given that 91% of the people surveyed said they would recommend the product to someone else (many thanks to a reader for pointing out an earlier error in the calculation). Studies have show that the willingness to recommend a product shows a much stronger level of satisfaction than any other measure.
So if you are thinking about buying a Go Boston Card or one of the other destinations that are covered by Smart Destinations’ cards, it is reassuring to know that previous customers have been happy with their purchase and are willing to tell others that they should buy the product. You can read more about using the Go Boston Card on About.comwhere a reviewer has written about one family’s experience using the card.
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April 21st, 2009 by
admin
The Go Boston Card web site has a completely new look. The old site has been replaced with a new site that offers a number of improvements for customers.
First, the site has been folded in under a new top navigation bar that allows customers see all of the Go Cards and Explorer Passes offered by Smart Destinations. Previously, each Card had its own separate site which meant most customers were not even aware they could get Cards in other destinations.
Second, more information has been placed at customers’ finger tips. They can learn how the card works, where it is accepted, read reviews by other customers, and see all the VIP extras on the same page.
Images and descriptions have been upgraded, navigation streamlined and improved, and other changes have also been made to the site to help customers plan their trip and get the right Card.
Smart Destinations reports that demand for the company’s attraction passes has not only been strong, but actually accelerating in 2009 as more and more people are looking to travel smarter. The fact that Go Cards and Explorer Passes let people into the top museums, tours, and attractions for a single money saving price makes sense in any economy. The expectation is the new site will further contribute to strong growth.
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February 10th, 2009 by
admin
Shepard Fairey, “Obama Hope,” 2008
Shepard Fairey, the street artist who sprang on the national consciousness as the creator of the Barack Obama “Hope” poster, is having his first solo museum exhibit. Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art is hosting ”Shepard Fairey: Supply and Demand” from February 6th to August 16th.
The exhibition will cover all aspects of Fairey’s career and the different mediums he has used for his art. Fans of his art — as well as fans of pop-art and political art in general – will be sure to enjoy this first of its kind exhibit.
The ICA, in its stunning new building on the Boston waterfront, is an included attraction for the Go Boston Card, so be sure to use your card for free admission!
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December 8th, 2008 by
will n
No trip to Boston is complete without a visit to the . This past Summer I took some time out to pay the aquarium a visit. It has been much too long since my last visit, so I was really excited to relive some of my childhood memories.
The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about the aquarium is the . This exhibit is open all year round regardless of the weather and is always a welcoming site for aquarium visitors.
Once inside the floor level is still as exciting as it was when I was 10. I’m amazed how quickly these birds move through the water. The friendly games of chase amongst the penguins can keep me entertained for hours.
As you move through the aquarium each exhibit brings back great memories. The petting tank, the top level of the ocean tank, the piranhas and electric eels all are as exciting now as they were when I was a child. Actually, it is more exciting now as I like to learn more about each animal.
I just love how the aquarium organizes so that even a short visit allows you to take in all the sites and shows.
If you are here at the right time of year, don’t forget to take advantage of the wonderful whale watching cruise and theater just outside of the aquarium.
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December 8th, 2008 by
will n
This past Summer, I had the opportunity to visit the . Sadly, my appreciation of art didn’t mature until I was in my late 20’s, but I’m glad good friends opened my eyes to the art world.
I didn’t realize how fantastic the MFA was until I visited a few months ago. The museum houses work from all the great arts from Monet to Renoir. Additionally, the museum carries special exhibits from all over the world and from various times in history.
The wonderful thing about living in a city with a huge student population is that places like museums practically offer free admission for students. Luckily the MFA offers free admissions for students with the proper ID. However, special exhibits like the Treasures from Assyria in the British Museum exhibit (on display until January 4, 2009) costs an additional charge, but with a student ID it cuts the costs from $17 to $15 on weekdays.
One of my favorite exhibits is the recently added Red Sox exhibit by Norman Rockwell. Not only does it offer pieces from Red Sox history, but also pieces from the 2007 season.
The MFA makes the visiting experience extremely enjoyable. Amenities like a coat check service and a restaurant assures that every minute is spent enjoying art. The museum is easily accessible by public transportation via the Green Line and has plenty of onsite parking.
So don’t wait until you’re in your late 20’s before indulging in the great offerings of the MFA.
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December 4th, 2008 by
admin
Once again the Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has rallied a wide variety of the best of Boston to insure locals and visitors alike have plenty of reasons to spend time in Boston this Holiday Season. The Go Boston Card is pleased to once again support this program by providing access to all of Boston’s best attractions for a single price.
To see all of the participating attractions, see the Go Boston Card attractions page. And be sure to check out the Mayor’s site to see additional savings on shows, hotels, and restaurants.
Special thanks to the Holiday Special’s generous media partners, the Metro
and Magic 106.7FM, for their in-kind contributions!
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