YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Boston info?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Boston info? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:08:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1464539 Sun, 29 Mar 2015 02:14:37 +0000 Dee 1464539@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Arrived with no problems! This afternoon was supposed to be for sightseeing but didn't make it very far due to the weather. Hopefully the next few days are nicer. Diana on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1464351 Sat, 28 Mar 2015 14:37:28 +0000 Diana 1464351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's snowing today here.  I'm so sorry.  Shouldn't stick, but it's supposed to go all day.  Hope your flights/travel are OK! Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1463699 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 02:50:51 +0000 Dee 1463699@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Chadya, I'll look it up! And Naz, I've never done the hop on/hop off tours anywhere! It's a great idea for seeing the whole city though. In terms of cities, I love visiting NYC but I'm not sure I'd want to live there. DC is about the right speed for me. But hopefully Boston will be great too!  citygirldc on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1463418 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:21:10 +0000 citygirldc 1463418@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If you have time, I always suggest taking the double decker  hop on/hop off bus so you can see the whole city. It gives you the layout of the city and a great perspective of the town. You'll realize that Boston is much smaller than DC.  (It's a nice town to visit since my sister lives there but I prefer the vibrancy of NYC better. That's just me though). Enjoy your trip. chadya on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1463415 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:15:45 +0000 chadya 1463415@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I used to hang out at Cafe Algiers way, way back in the day, Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462688 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 23:22:09 +0000 Dee 1462688@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Diana, wow! Thank you SO much for all the suggestions. I never have enough time at conferences but I like to try and see one or two local sights when possible. I'd never heard of the Mapparium but it looks neat! And the Gardner museum sounds fun too. I wasn't sure whether outdoor things like boston common and gardens are worth doing in this weather - guess I'll see when I get there.  I am bookmarking and will look at all the restaurants later. Cheap hole-in-the-wall is never a bad option, and is the kind of thing you rarely find online. Diana on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462651 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 22:20:53 +0000 Diana 1462651@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, remembered one other thing about the T.  Government Center station is completely closed - I mention this because it's a main transfer point and when the YLFers were here last spring they had some issues with it.  I don't think it'll be a huge issue for you, and google maps will definitely alert you to that.  Also, I think there may be some shuttle bus replacement on the red line over the weekend (but I think it's only in the farther part of Cambridge, so unless you're going past Harvard Square, it shouldn't affect you.)  So, things to do.  There are tons, but just for starters some things near where you will be staying: -lots of historical sites, obviously.  Freedom trail, etc. -museums.  The Boston MFA and the Isabella Stuart Gardner are both quite close to where you will be staying.  The Gardner is fun and quite quirky - part of her will stipulated that things had to be kept how she had arranged them, so it's kind of like going to (a crazy rich) old art collector's home.  They still display the empty frames where the paintings were cut out during the famous heist.  -Boston public garden and common.  Probably not much in the way of flowers, etc, yet though.  It's a nice walk. -Another cool and interesting place to go is the Mapparium at the Christian Science church (also very close to Copley).  It's basically a huge stained glass globe that you stand in the center of.  <a href="http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium" rel="nofollow">http://www.marybakereddylibrar...../mapparium</a> -shopping: you'll be very close to Newbury street, which is the main shopping street, with both boutiques and chains.  There's also the Copley/Prudential mall (which is attached to several of the hotels in the are too) with mostly higher end chains and department stores.  A little further afield, there is Cambridge across the river (where I live), home to Harvard and MIT (both campuses are interesting to walk around), and a lot of good restaurants/food in general.  And since you mentioned Southeast asian and middle eastern food in particular: Vietnamese: there's lots of pho shops, many quite good.  The one I go to the most is Le's in Harvard Square (because I live there), but Xinh Xinh in Chinatown is also good.  There is also a Vietnamese food truck called Bon Me that I think is often near Copley (locations on their site): <a href="http://www.bonmetruck.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.bonmetruck.com/</a> Thai:  I'm a big fan of cheap hole-in-the-wall thai places, of which there are several good ones in Boston.  I like Rod Dee (several locations in and around the city) and Pad Thai Cafe (which is near Copley).  Those are both cafeteria-style where you order at a counter.   I honestly think the food at these places is better than most of the fancier places around boston.  Middle Eastern:  There's a lot of small falafel/schwarma places around.  Most are decent.  There are some interesting fancier options too, but these are not near where you will be staying: Oleana, in Cambridge (maybe more Mediterranean); The Helmand, in East Cambridge - you have to go all the way out on the green line, so maybe not too convenient, but this is an Afghani restaurant, which I haven't seen many of anywhere; Cafe Algiers in Harvard square (not the best food, but I love the atmosphere). OK, this post is getting really long so I'll stop here. Definitely PM me!  I would definitely be able to grab lunch or something most weekdays, as I work a few T stops away from where you will be.  Not sure what my weekend plans are like yet.  Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462616 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 21:18:13 +0000 Dee 1462616@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Diana, I was hoping you would chime in! I will definitely be careful of potential ice. Sounds like boots of some sort still the way to go, then. Thanks for the advice about the Charlie card. Last time I was there (a few years ago now) I had a paper card but I can add the RFID one to my collection of random transit cards. :) For food I am open to most things but I'm not a big seafood fan. I really love middle eastern and southeast asian. Mostly I try not to eat at chain places when I travel. And it would be awesome to grab coffee/lunch one day! I think they have some decent lunch breaks scheduled. I'll PM you later tonight or tomorrow. Diana on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462416 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:56:40 +0000 Diana 1462416@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm here! Will write more later as I'm on my phone, but will comment about weather and transit now. As Vivian mentioned, it's still been pretty cold in boston. I would expect it to be 30s to 40s, maybe a couple of days in the 50s if you're lucky. At night it will prob be below freezing and the wind can get really cold. There is rain forecast for th-fri, but otherwise should be nice. I don't think you'd need snow boots but I would bring some shoes with a little traction in case of ice. Black ice can be lethal on boston cobblestones. As for transit, at the moment the T is running ok. You will be pretty centrally located so you should be able to get around easily. Make sure you pick up a Charlie Card (the RFID card for the T) when you get here. I'm sure tourist info at airport will have it, as will most station attendants as well as the vendors in the train stations. It's free and gets you a discount on the individual T tickets, plus it's just easier to use than the paper tickets. Will write more later about things to do/eat. What type of food do you like? Also, feel free to pm me if you have any questions or want to get lunch or coffee while you are here or anything. Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462410 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:46:54 +0000 Dee 1462410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for the info Vivian. I've phased out my puffer coat diwn in DC but it sounds like it might be worth packing if it's still that cold/windy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for no precipitation - nothing worse than trying to look professional in snowboots. viva on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462355 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 12:39:39 +0000 viva 1462355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Dee, I live about an hour+ north of Boston. Weather has been very spring like -- that is to say, changeable. Lately we are running in the 30s - 40s with heavy winds that can make it feel colder, so I would prepare for that. This weekend's forecast looks like more of the same and no chance for precipitation, so that is good. Sunday will be the better day, more sun and slightly warmer. I hope Isabel and Diana will chime in with more local help on food, shopping, and how the T is running. I'll check back to see. Vivian Dee on "Boston info?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/boston-info#post-1462196 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 03:13:53 +0000 Dee 1462196@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm heading up to Boston this weekend for 5 days for a conference, but of all the major cities on the east coast, it's probably the one I am least familiar with. So, Bostonians and/or frequent visitors, does anyone have advice about the current weather in terms of what I should (or shouldn't) pack? Is transit up and running again? And assuming it is, suggestions for places to see, eat or shop would be greatly appreciated! I'm staying near Copley Place, if that helps. Thanks!