F u n A r o u n d b o s t o n
Fun in Boston and Beyond
If you are visiting us from elsewhere, besides visiting us here in the store, there is much to explore and experience in Boston and beyond. For fun, we've listed some of our favorite diversions and pleasures. Some are arts-related; others not. We also welcome suggestions that you might like to share with others!
Boston Symphony Orchestra. Whether you're interested in the regular BSO season, the Boston Pops, or Tanglewood (the BSO's summer home) there are numerous world class concerts to choose from! BSO.org or you can reach them at 617-266-1492.
Jordan Hall. Just one block from Symphony Hall is another world class concert hall with great acoustics! Located inside the New England Conservatory this is a beautiful hall that has been beautifully renovated.
Sanders Theater. Owned by Harvard University, Sanders Theater is located in Cambridge which is on the other side of the Charles River from Boston. Another wonderful hall blessed with great acoustics. Offers a mix of great concerts throughout the season.
Boston Celebrity Series. Offers a mix of world class concerts and dance performances. Info at 617-482-2595.
Boston Early Music Festival. They feature both concerts and baroque opera—as well as holding their annual summer festival. A must for early music aficionados! Info at 617-661-1812.
Antique Period Musical Instruments. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has a small collection of very interesting musical instruments. Once a week (or so) they actually play several of the period keyboard instruments: harpsichords, clavichords, and pianofortes. It a lot of fun. And of course, you can enjoy the rest of the museum too. Call 617-267-9300 for times and more info.
CONCERTS Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm the museum hosts concerts in the Tapestry Room. The fare is usually classical chamber and keyboard music, with occasional jazz. Housed in a reproduction 15th century Venetian palace, the museum has a beautiful courtyard, a nice cafe, and an interesting history. Plus the museum just added a new wing which opened in January 2012! The collection itself is an eclectic mix of mostly pre-20th century paintings, decorative arts, sculpture, and architectural pieces. For general information call 617-566-1401; for concert information call 617-734-1359.
The Handel and Haydn Society. These are world class concerts typically on period instruments and often featuring choral music. Call 617-366-3605 for tickets and schedules.
Jazz in Boston: Scullers Jazz Club. Lots of great jazz here! Located on the Boston side of the Charles river in the Doubletree Suites it is also only one-half mile from Harvard Square, Cambridge. For information and reservations: 617-562-4111
Jazz in Cambridge: The Regatta Bar in the Charles Hotel is famous for excellent Jazz in a classy setting. Call 617-876-7777 for tickets and info.
Folk and New Acoustic Music (and More) in Cambridge. Club Passim, the current incarnation of the famous folk music club, offers intimate concerts with light middle-eastern food available. Fun and comfortable. You may ask to be put on their mailing list so that you'll know what's playing. Parking in Harvard Square is easy if you use the lots and ramps (and just about impossible if you don't). Call 617-492-7679 for info and reservations.
Contemporary Museum and Sculpture Park. The Decordova Museum in Lincoln, MA features outdoor contemporary sculpture, indoor galleries, classes, and occasional concerts. Located by Sandy Pond, it is a beautiful setting for a picnic. Pictured at the right is the work Musical Fence, an interactive sculpture. This piece is particularly wonderful when a musically inclined visitor "plays" it. Call 781-259-8355 for info and current exhibitions.
Peabody Essex Museum. The museum is approximately 16 miles north of Boston, at 161 Essex St. in historic Salem, Massachusetts (corner of Essex and New Liberty Streets). For recorded directions, call 978-745-9500, ext. 4145.
More Arts Links can be found on the website of WGBH, Boston's PBS TV and radio station. (First click on the link and then click "Event" on the left navigation menu.) Conservation LandFounded in 1891 by a protégé of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, The Trustee of Reservations is a non-profit organization that preserves open spaces in Massachusetts. For example, World's End (left) is a beautiful seacoast open area with trails and informal spots for picnics.
Historic New England ArchitectureThe Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) manages and operates a number of historic buildings in New England. Many, such as the Gropius House in Lincoln (right), are open for tours and others many even be rented for functions. They also offer historic research services such as a paint color history for your home. Call 617-227-3956 for more info.
Gordon's Wine Store. Directly across the street from us on Main Street in Waltham is Gordon's Wine store. This low key and yet knowledgeable wine shop attracts people even from surrounding towns. Some of our clients combine a trip across the street for some wine shopping along with their audio and home theater fun. Recommended!
Boston Symphony Orchestra. Whether you're interested in the regular BSO season, the Boston Pops, or Tanglewood (the BSO's summer home) there are numerous world class concerts to choose from! BSO.org or you can reach them at 617-266-1492.
Jordan Hall. Just one block from Symphony Hall is another world class concert hall with great acoustics! Located inside the New England Conservatory this is a beautiful hall that has been beautifully renovated.
Sanders Theater. Owned by Harvard University, Sanders Theater is located in Cambridge which is on the other side of the Charles River from Boston. Another wonderful hall blessed with great acoustics. Offers a mix of great concerts throughout the season.
Boston Celebrity Series. Offers a mix of world class concerts and dance performances. Info at 617-482-2595.
Boston Early Music Festival. They feature both concerts and baroque opera—as well as holding their annual summer festival. A must for early music aficionados! Info at 617-661-1812.
Antique Period Musical Instruments. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has a small collection of very interesting musical instruments. Once a week (or so) they actually play several of the period keyboard instruments: harpsichords, clavichords, and pianofortes. It a lot of fun. And of course, you can enjoy the rest of the museum too. Call 617-267-9300 for times and more info.
CONCERTS Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm the museum hosts concerts in the Tapestry Room. The fare is usually classical chamber and keyboard music, with occasional jazz. Housed in a reproduction 15th century Venetian palace, the museum has a beautiful courtyard, a nice cafe, and an interesting history. Plus the museum just added a new wing which opened in January 2012! The collection itself is an eclectic mix of mostly pre-20th century paintings, decorative arts, sculpture, and architectural pieces. For general information call 617-566-1401; for concert information call 617-734-1359.
The Handel and Haydn Society. These are world class concerts typically on period instruments and often featuring choral music. Call 617-366-3605 for tickets and schedules.
Jazz in Boston: Scullers Jazz Club. Lots of great jazz here! Located on the Boston side of the Charles river in the Doubletree Suites it is also only one-half mile from Harvard Square, Cambridge. For information and reservations: 617-562-4111
Jazz in Cambridge: The Regatta Bar in the Charles Hotel is famous for excellent Jazz in a classy setting. Call 617-876-7777 for tickets and info.
Folk and New Acoustic Music (and More) in Cambridge. Club Passim, the current incarnation of the famous folk music club, offers intimate concerts with light middle-eastern food available. Fun and comfortable. You may ask to be put on their mailing list so that you'll know what's playing. Parking in Harvard Square is easy if you use the lots and ramps (and just about impossible if you don't). Call 617-492-7679 for info and reservations.
Contemporary Museum and Sculpture Park. The Decordova Museum in Lincoln, MA features outdoor contemporary sculpture, indoor galleries, classes, and occasional concerts. Located by Sandy Pond, it is a beautiful setting for a picnic. Pictured at the right is the work Musical Fence, an interactive sculpture. This piece is particularly wonderful when a musically inclined visitor "plays" it. Call 781-259-8355 for info and current exhibitions.
Peabody Essex Museum. The museum is approximately 16 miles north of Boston, at 161 Essex St. in historic Salem, Massachusetts (corner of Essex and New Liberty Streets). For recorded directions, call 978-745-9500, ext. 4145.
More Arts Links can be found on the website of WGBH, Boston's PBS TV and radio station. (First click on the link and then click "Event" on the left navigation menu.) Conservation LandFounded in 1891 by a protégé of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, The Trustee of Reservations is a non-profit organization that preserves open spaces in Massachusetts. For example, World's End (left) is a beautiful seacoast open area with trails and informal spots for picnics.
Historic New England ArchitectureThe Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA) manages and operates a number of historic buildings in New England. Many, such as the Gropius House in Lincoln (right), are open for tours and others many even be rented for functions. They also offer historic research services such as a paint color history for your home. Call 617-227-3956 for more info.
Gordon's Wine Store. Directly across the street from us on Main Street in Waltham is Gordon's Wine store. This low key and yet knowledgeable wine shop attracts people even from surrounding towns. Some of our clients combine a trip across the street for some wine shopping along with their audio and home theater fun. Recommended!
WESTERN MASS
Western Massachusetts is a wonderful area to visit. Whether you'd like to hike up to the top of a Berkshire Mountain peak for great views, stroll around small town centers, or enjoy the art and music performances, there's something for everyone.
Tanglewood Music Center (summer home of the BSO)https://www.bso.org
Shakespeare & Company - Live Plays - Lenoxhttps://www.shakespeare.org
Jacob’s Pillow - Dance Performances - Beckethttps://www.jacobspillow.org
MASS MoCa - an enormous Modern Art Museum - North Adamshttps://massmoca.org
Butler Sculpture Park. Visit one of very few privately owned sculpture parks in the US. Located on a 40 acre hilltop in the bucolic Berkshires Mountains of Massachusetts, this is a wonderful place to wander among outdoor sculpture of all scales. Bring a picnic if you'd like or make it a side trip during a visit to Tanglewood. There is a tiny bit of Butler Sculpture Park info online at the link above. Or call 413-229-8924 for more information.
Shakespeare & Company - Live Plays - Lenoxhttps://www.shakespeare.org
Jacob’s Pillow - Dance Performances - Beckethttps://www.jacobspillow.org
MASS MoCa - an enormous Modern Art Museum - North Adamshttps://massmoca.org
Butler Sculpture Park. Visit one of very few privately owned sculpture parks in the US. Located on a 40 acre hilltop in the bucolic Berkshires Mountains of Massachusetts, this is a wonderful place to wander among outdoor sculpture of all scales. Bring a picnic if you'd like or make it a side trip during a visit to Tanglewood. There is a tiny bit of Butler Sculpture Park info online at the link above. Or call 413-229-8924 for more information.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
White Mountains - Mt Washington & The Presidential Range - hiking
The tallest mountain in the range is Mount Washington, standing at 6,288 feet, named after the first president. With a steep at times trail of 4300 vertical feet from base to summit, this is a serious day of hiking! The second tallest mountain is Mount Adams and is named after the second president. With a summit at 5799 feet, and a vertical ascent of over 4000 feet, this too is a full day's hike. Just be aware that this area is known to have "the worst weather in America" and conditions can change quickly so extra caution is advised. Please be prepared with proper clothing and be ready to turn back if needed.
Among the range's most notable summits (in sequence from southwest to northeast):
https://www.visitwhitemountains.com
The tallest mountain in the range is Mount Washington, standing at 6,288 feet, named after the first president. With a steep at times trail of 4300 vertical feet from base to summit, this is a serious day of hiking! The second tallest mountain is Mount Adams and is named after the second president. With a summit at 5799 feet, and a vertical ascent of over 4000 feet, this too is a full day's hike. Just be aware that this area is known to have "the worst weather in America" and conditions can change quickly so extra caution is advised. Please be prepared with proper clothing and be ready to turn back if needed.
Among the range's most notable summits (in sequence from southwest to northeast):
- Mount Webster — after Daniel Webster
- Mount Jackson* — after Charles Thomas Jackson (19th-century geologist)
- Mount Pierce* — after Franklin Pierce (formerly Mt. Clinton — after DeWitt Clinton)
- Mount Eisenhower* — after Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Mount Franklin — after Benjamin Franklin
- Mount Monroe* — after James Monroe
- Mount Washington* — after George Washington (a general at time of naming, and only later a president)
- Mount Clay — after Henry Clay (State of New Hampshire changed name to Mount Reagan after Ronald Reagan; U.S. government still recognizes Clay name)
- Mount Jefferson* — after Thomas Jefferson
- Mount Sam Adams — after Samuel Adams
- Mount Adams* — after John Adams
- Mount Quincy Adams — after John Quincy Adams
- Mount Madison* — after James Madison
https://www.visitwhitemountains.com
NEW YORK
Lake George, NY
A gorgeous lake ringed by some beautiful Adirondack Mountains, many of which are over 2000', Lake George is known as a great place to sail, camp or hike. The tallest peak on the lake is Black Mountain with an elevation of 2646 feet. With a vertical ascent of 1496 feet this is a nice day hike with great views! Other mountains offering great day hikes and views include Buck Mountain and Pilot Knob. https://www.visitlakegeorge.com
Chautauqua. OK, it's not in Boston, nor even in New England. Located on bucolic Chautauqua Lake in western New York state, Chautauqua Institution is a summer community of cottages, performance venues, studios, and classrooms. Featuring a wonderful open-air natural amphitheater (complete with the worlds largest outdoor pipe organ), Chautauqua hosts classical concerts, lectures, dance, theater, opera and other artistic performances. They offer a world-class music education program for rising students. A typical visitor day might start with a lecture, followed by a pipe organ mini-concert, a bit of lunch, a swim in the lake, an afternoon vocal master class, dinner, and then a symphony in the amphitheater. A cultural oasis. Highly recommended; spend at least a week.
Chautauqua. OK, it's not in Boston, nor even in New England. Located on bucolic Chautauqua Lake in western New York state, Chautauqua Institution is a summer community of cottages, performance venues, studios, and classrooms. Featuring a wonderful open-air natural amphitheater (complete with the worlds largest outdoor pipe organ), Chautauqua hosts classical concerts, lectures, dance, theater, opera and other artistic performances. They offer a world-class music education program for rising students. A typical visitor day might start with a lecture, followed by a pipe organ mini-concert, a bit of lunch, a swim in the lake, an afternoon vocal master class, dinner, and then a symphony in the amphitheater. A cultural oasis. Highly recommended; spend at least a week.