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! MayorsHolidaySpecial.com 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.
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 parking! 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!
__
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
Farmer’s Market Poster Image ; Taken by Flickr user frankh
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!
The Market is located right next to the Harvard Science Center at Oxford and Kirkland Streets, about 100 yards away from the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum of Archaeology. 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 Museum, check out their famous “Glass Flowers” 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!
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
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 Go Boston Card.
Area: Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, Boston Top Spot:McCormick and Schmick’s – 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:New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, and Boston Duck Tours
Area: Back Bay, Boston Top Spot:Uno Chicago Bar and Grill, Copley Square – 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: Prudential Center Shopping, The Swan Boats, and Fenway Park
Area: Harvard Square, Cambridge Top Spot:Grendel’s Den and Restaurant – 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: The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and The Harvard Museum of Natural History
None of these suggestions working for you?The Boston Globe has a great guide to wallet-friendly food. Do you think that anything was missed?
_
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
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!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
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!
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
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?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
We have a new video up starring the Beantown Trolley Tour. You can pick up tickets for the bus right next to the Boston Common. It was an amazing way to get around the downtown and Cambridge area. Instead of paying for public transportation with the T, why not take the trolley, take in the sites, and listen to a funny guide tell you interesting tidbits and stories about the city? It works just like public transportation too, since you can get on and off at any stop you want, at any time during the day. If you’re visiting Boston, and you’re a multitasker, this is a great way to get the sightseeing out of the way while you’re headed somewhere.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
Hey everyone, I’m beginning to upload videos all over the internet about the Go Card. You can find them on Youtube, Flickr, and other popular sites. We’re not going to make you scour the web, though. I’ll post them right here! Check out this video about the Boston Duck Tours.
Those satisfied Go Card customers visited Boston all the way from Utah. They found the card online and saved a bunch of money. By the way, another hint if you want to ride on the Boston Duck Tours for free, but don’t have a Go Boston Card: bring a giant camera and tell them you’re filming for Go Boston Card. It worked for me! If you liked the video, leave a comment, or check out other Go Card videos using the video player.
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
I recently took a trip overseas and came across some interesting concerns. First off I had a 5:00am flight out of Logan, which I was informed I had to be at the airport no later than 3:00am. Do we still need to be at the airport that early? Has Logan had any efficiency improvements?
Early Arrival - Arriving at 3:00am I was one of the first people in line to check in. This may be worth getting in early for as you will have first dibs for seat changes or any potential free upgrades. Keep in mind that airlines are barely making any money nowadays and will do anything to make sure that every flight taking off is at capacity. Thus, it is common for flights to be overbooked, so the last person checking in has a high chance of being bumped.
Carry on Luggage- If possible, avoid having any carry on luggage. I know this may be tough for the ladies, but it will surely speed up the security process. This was extremely helpful when making a closely scheduled connecting flight.
Gate Numbers - You may also want to figure out the gate numbers before arriving at the airport. This can easily be found on the Logan or airline website. It surely made my trip easier as I didn’t have to search or ask for directions. (more…)
Planning a trip to
Boston?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Boston Card.
