Boston family activities
November 20th, 2009 by judy c

Image courtesy of
The turkey’s barely been stuffed and the table not even set, but we’re already scouring the newspapers looking for those wonderful Black Friday circulars! A $50 GPS so your husband doesn’t take that “shortcut”…again; $10 DVDs to keep the kids occupied; $300 for a High-Def television to better see McDreamy (oh, if only you could find a way to squeeze that TV into your holiday budget!). It’s almost too good to be true and we’re willing to wait out all night in the frigid temps just to take advantage of the bountiful bargains!
True, there’s more to the holidays than just the great deals. There’s the twinkling decorations, the Christmas tree lightings, the wonderful shows, the fat-inducing food! The list goes on and on…
That’s why if you’re in the New England area this holiday season, you’re in luck! is the City of Boston’s one-stop, central holiday-planning website. For every taste and every budget, you’ll find a Boston holiday experience to cherish for a lifetime.
Enjoy …holiday …a festive …a stroll through the …skating on …discounts on attraction tickets like the and the … even an . Whether you live in Boston or are planning a visit, is your ticket to great ideas, DEALS and DISCOUNTS, plus information to help you enjoy Boston’s many free and low-cost traditions.
There are over 8,000 half-price tickets to holiday theatre, music and dance. Not to mention special offers on dining, shopping, hotels, and even ! Plus, with all the money that you save this holiday season and how happy you’ve made the family, you don’t have to feel guilty for snagging that High-Def TV after all!
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September 23rd, 2009 by judy c
“The Bersha Procession”
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
So you’ve wanted to experience Egypt for a while now, but you haven’t won Powerball (yet) and your MasterCard has been maxed out since Spring Break. But wait…there’s hope! You can visit the and if you squint your eyes tight and layer on enough coconut oil, you can just about imagine your beautiful bronze self in the Sahara. Only thing is, the year is 2,000 BC. (Hey - everyone has it rough right now and beggars can’t be choosers!)
All kidding aside though, beginning October 18th the MFA will feature a fantastic new exhibit that’s worth checking out. It’s known as “” and the is impossible to ignore. Why?
Well in a 1915 excavation, the MFA found the largest burial assemblage of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom ever discovered. The tomb was filled with the funerary equipment of a local governor and his wife, among which was the famous “Bersha coffin,” arguably the finest painted coffin Egypt produced. Envision the afterlife as imagined by ancient Egyptians through Tomb 10A’s contents: jewelry, walking sticks, canopic jars, and miniature models depicting everyday life - shown together for the FIRST time in 4,000 years!
Admission to the Museum includes the cost of the exhibit, so there are no hidden up-charges. Check it out while you can since it’s only on display until May 2010.
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Boston?
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July 22nd, 2009 by judy c

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets image; Taken by Flickr user
Hitching their broomstick to the publicity-wagon surrounding the sixth Harry Potter film, the announced today that they will be the next stop for “” this fall. This traveling exhibit is currently on display at and showcases over 200 costumes, props, and set features from the record-setting wizard films - including the Great Hall, elaborate outfits from the Yule Ball, and the Gryffindor common room.
The Museum of Science will be the only New England venue to host the highly-anticipated exhibit, and although it is not set to debut in Beantown until October 25th, tickets are already on sale. You can purchase tickets online or by calling 617-723-2500. Be sure to have a credit card handy because they don’t accept golden galleons.
(Retail rates are $26 for adults and $23 for children.)
SPECIAL OFFER FOR GO BOSTON CARD & BOSTON EXPLORER PASS HOLDERS:
If you are or customer, you are entitled to special pricing! Show your card at the box office to upgrade to the discounted rate of $16 for adults and $13 for children.
Note: Tickets are only available at the box office (not by phone or online) and are subject to availability. Admission to the exhibit must be done on a day that your card is active.
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Boston?
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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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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.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
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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!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
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April 25th, 2008 by susan j

Boston Common photo uploaded by
With the spring tourism season in full swing, is ready for action. They’ve announced a revamped Movie Tour highlighting the new films being filmed in the Boston area. The tour departs from Boston Common and covers movie trivia, local movie landmarks, and more.
Currently Filming or Filming Soon in Boston:
• Ashecliffe: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Ben Kingsley; Directed by Martin Scorcese
• Bride Wars: Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway
• Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner
• Mall Cop: Kevin James; Produced by Adam Sandler
• The Proposal: Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock
• The Surrogates: Bruce Willis
Post Production and Releasing Soon:
• The Box: Cameron Diaz
• My Best Friend’s Girl: Dane Cook and Kate Hudson
• The Lonely Maiden: Morgan Freeman, William H. Macy and Christopher Walken
• On Broadway: Joseph McIntyre, Eliza Dushku and Will Arnett
• Pink Panther 2: Steve Martin and Andy Garcia
• Real Men Cry: Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke, Amanda Peet and Donnie Wahlberg
• The Women: Annette Bening, Meg Ryan and Eva Mendes
The Movie Mile Walking Tour and the Theater-on-Wheels Movie Tour are both included with the Go Boston Card.
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Boston?
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April 23rd, 2008 by susan j

MIT Museum photo uploaded by
For nine days in April and May, Cambridge will come alive with exhibits, lectures, and interactive presentations designed to spark public interest in science and technology. The Cambridge Science Festival is presented by the MIT Museum and features over 200 activities for budding scientists of all ages. Most of the activities and events are free.
Here’s a glimpse at this year’s festival:
Saturday, April 26, 10 am - 5 pm
Environmental Health Science: A Closer Look at Environmental Exposures
This free lecture at the MIT Museum explores how exposures impact your lung and airway health. You’ll experiment with LEGO DNA models and learn how to protect your skin from DNA damage.
Sunday, April 27, noon - 1 pm (weather permitting)
Solar Lunch
Grab lunch in front of the Museum of Science and observe the sun and possibly sunspots and solar flares through the Museum’s safe solar telescope.
View the .
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April 21st, 2008 by susan j
Girl playing with DNA at the Museum of Science Photo uploaded by
Most little girls will tell you they want to be a ballerina, a teacher, or perhaps a nurse when they grow up. But for curious, analytical young minds, science might be an even more intriguing career path.
To stimulate curiosity about opportunities in the sciences, the Museum of Science is hosting a weekend of interactive events. Running Thursday, May 1-Saturday, May 3, Inspiring Minds: Meet Women in Science features presentations by female scientists who love their work. Hear from Ellen Berkland, a city archaeologist in Boston; Mish Michaels, a WBZ TV meteorologist; and Dr. Rebecca Hill, a doctor at HarvardVanguard, just to name a few. Visitors can also try out activities at the Museum’s “Technology Tables,” examining creatures used for biological research, testing weather forecasting instruments, and more.
Read more about .
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April 7th, 2008 by jamie a
Peacock at the Franklin Park Zoo Photo uploaded by
Take the kids and celebrate Earth Day in Boston at the on April 20 from 11 am to 3 pm!
Featuring Jeff Corwin (producer for Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel) as the keynote speaker, it’s a great opportunity to learn about raising awareness for conservation. There will be crafts, activities, interactive fun with the animals of the zoo, and environmentally-friendly exhibits for all to enjoy.
If you’re been to the zoo before, head back for this great event and get to know the amazing animals that live here in Boston!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
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