Getting around Boston?

In My Humble Opinion
1

We’re planning a trip to Boston in September and I’m doing some of the preliminary planning at the moment. Our final destination, the reason we’re going, is for a mini-music festival at:

1353 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA

All our money will be going into the round-trip airfare (which we haven’t found/booked yet) so in looking around for a cheap place to stay, we’re not adverse to staying at a hostel. It’s just going to be one, possibly two nights and we’ve stayed in hostels and YMCA’s before and don’t mind it at all.

Just to get an idea, I see that there’s a hostel at 12 Hemenway St. which doesn’t seem all that far from the place we’re going. However, when I put in the two addresses at the MBTA site site, it tells me there’s no station within a mile of where we’re going. I expected it to tell us what busses we could take, the way the RTA site in Chicago does. Either 12 Hemenway St is in the deepest darkest nether regions where no bus would fear to tread, or the MBTA site sucks and I should plug in those addresses into another, traveler-friendly site. What site might that be?

Btw, if anyone has any other suggestions of cheap fares/places to stay, I’d be more than greatful. All we care about is the music, and not our comfort getting and staying there, and getting home. The show is on September 8.

2

There is definitely public transportation that can take you there. I just don’t know what it is specifically. Cambridge has plenty of public transportation. However, you should just be able to walk. It is only about a mile and Boston/Cambridge is very walker friendly. It would probably be faster to walk anyway.

I can’t tell if you were aware of this but the hostel you named is in Boston. It doesn’t make much of a difference because it is still very close but it might have screwed up your search.

Here is the Mapquest route.

http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&rmm=1&1gi=0&un=m&1da=-1.000000&1rc=L1AAA&cl=EN&qq=1ADqpk24ofCXdnZ7kXWM%252bVXBS4jrv%252fnxJMGYByMt1hTuQCz12hCBJP6l%252bXBzK84MBRTokCRhwExzyvDigJOkO5gmpro3UyaUJWAQIivtJCqmDll4fkl2ngUE3Mwp8dRPkHkrT5SI3I%252bRvJJaVZdb%252fSbSHD93ziD%252fo%252bf0uVybfqbvL39mOYD5FDDoIYxPhhvb&ct=NA&r=f&1si=navt&rsres=1&1y=US&1ffi=&1l=O6fgUBQAURkjnQeWMZyAtw%253d%253d&1g=J9AObaxy8perbeY%252bfRfmmw%253d%253d&1pl=&1v=ADDRESS&1n=MIDDLESEX+COUNTY&1pn=&1a=1353+CAMBRIDGE+ST&1c=CAMBRIDGE&1s=MA&1z=02139-1340&2y=US&2ffi=&2l=&2g=&2pl=&2v=&2n=&2pn=&2a=12+HEMENWAY+ST&2c=BOSTON&2s=MA&2z=02115-2908&panelbtn=2

3

I walked that route and then some in humidity & heat while sick a couple of times when I was there in August. Allot a bit of time for the walk, and you’ll be fine.

4

Ah, you’re right! When I actually typed in “Boston” and “Cambridge” it gave me a route with busses. This is what it gave me:

1 Harvard Sta Via Mass Ave
4:28 PM Depart from Massachusetts Ave & Belvidere St
4:39 PM Arrive at Massachusetts Ave & Prospect St

83 Rindge Ave Via Porter Sq
4:50 PM Depart from Magazine St & Green St
4:55 PM Arrive at Hampshire St & Cambridge St

Thanks! Thanks too for the Mapquest link. 2.31 miles probably isn’t very far for most Bostonians, but it is for us (my husband has gout in his feet). We wouldn’t want to want to arrive there huffing and sweaty anyway, assuming it will still be hot in early September.

Troy, did you stay at that hostel? If so, what was it like?

5

No, I stayed in downtown Boston; sorry.

6

Ah, ok. Those are nice pictures!

We thought about flying into New York and renting a car for the weekend, but that seems like too much hassle. I’ve driven in Boston in the past, and I consider it a badge of honor that I’m still alive to tell the tale. :eek:

7

Yeah, definitely forget the car. You’re better off walking. I’ve gone through that area before, and I know there are busses there, but like everyone is saying, you’ll probably just wind up hoofing it. The closest T station looks like it’s Central Square on the Red Line. According to mbta.com, it’s a little over a five minute walk.

Of course, depending on how late the music ends, you might be better off staying out of Central Square . . . Is your budget large enough to cab it back to Boston if you take the T to Cambridge?

8

Its still that way for the most part. We try to minimize the amount of driving out of state friends and family do when they come to visit because it really does traumatize a lot of people. It did for me too when I first moved to the area so I consider that a legitimate concern. Skip the driving if you just want a pleasant trip.

There are plenty of cabs around too that you can hail or call and a couple of miles each way won’t cost that much. The central Boston/Cambridge area is much more compact than Chicago is and there are many ways to get from one place to another.

9

Thanks Linty Fresh and Shagnasty. We’ll have plenty of time before the show so we can bus it, or bus and walk (just not 2.3 miles worth of walking). Since you both say there should be lots of cabs around when the show is over, we could take a cab back. We’ll be tired then.

Unless it gets moved due to high ticket demand, which is unlikely even though there are people coming from all around the country and overseas to see this, the show will be at The Lily Pad in Inman Square. Is anybody familiar with that place and the surrounding area? Such as, a place to eat dinner? I’ve only been to Cambridge once, and I’m not sure where I was within Cambridge.

10

Heeeeey, I will be back in Boston by that time. If my apartment-mate doesn’t mind, you could possibly crash in my place in Brighton for a night. It’s like an hour from Cambridge by T or bus.

I dont know the Lily Pad, but I’m somewhat familiar with Cambridge. There’s a really really good local diner somewhere around there, but the name escapes me. I’ll look it up sometime.

11

Inamn Square is a fine place. I like East Coast Grill, Ryles, Ole, and Dali, thought that last one isn’t really in Inman, it’s closer to Harvard Sq.

What kind of food are you looking for?

12

I read an account by a travel writer who rented a car in Mexico City, then drove west through the Colonial towns. (He loved the trip & wanted to return, so he could spend a longer time in each place.)

He was advised to pick up the car in a Western suburb, on his way out of la Ciudad, to avoid the notoriously murderous traffic. He tried, but got lost & ended up doing considerable city driving before he got un-lost.

He didn’t think the traffic was so bad. He was from Boston.

Edited to add: Boston’s a lovely city. Walk, take public transit, splurge on the occasional cab.

13

Maybe the S & S? They do un-fancy deli/diner style food really well. Don’t know if it is worth a trip from Chicago, but it is yummy and relatively cheap.

Telemark is right, Inman Square is lovely. There are several good eateries in a relatively small area.

14

Nope. The place I’m thinking of has lobsters for like 15$ish, along with awesome cheeseburgers.

15

I just now went searching for this thread and saw this.

What a kind offer! Thank you and I apologise for not seeing it sooner. We have our plans set (pretty much) and I don’t think we’ll be needing to take you up on the generous offer, but it would be great to have a fall back just in case. You’re very very nice to bring it up.

We’re flying in on Saturday the 8th. Our plane arrives at Logan at 2:45. On Saturday night we’ll be staying at the Beacon Hill Friends House, which is a Quaker residence, but with guest rooms. We’re not Quakers, we’re not even religious, but they don’t seem to mind and it looks very nice. Plus it’s cheap compared to a hotel. If we were going to stay in a hostel and share bathrooms, we sure don’t mind staying at a beautiful house in Beacon Hill and share bathrooms. It’s only for one night anyway.

We’ll drop our stuff off there then go directly to the venue. My husband is videotaping the (now sold out) concert so he needs to see what the place is like and do some preliminary set-up.

The show doesn’t start until 7:30 so I am looking for a place nearby where a group of us can meet, eat and talk, say from maybe 5:30 to 6:30-7ish. Cheap, not too quiet because we don’t want to feel like we should whisper, but not loud. There will be people from overseas (Germany and Scotland) and I don’t want to have to make them shout over loud music. The ambience (conversation-friendly, can accomodate a crowd that could range from 5-20…I’ll have a better estimate after I announce it to the fans) is really more important than the type of food. Telemark, any kind of food is good. I’m a meat-eater but there might be vegetarians in the party, so anything that provides for both.

Thanks for the suggestion of the S & S Laughing Lagomorph. It’s at 1334 Cambridge St and the venue is at 1353, so it certainly seems close enough. However, before I write them to inquire about group seating I’d like to get some more suggestions if I could. Autolycus, did you remember the name of the diner you were thinking about?
We’re not leaving until Monday afternoon, but we think we have a place for Sunday night. An old friend of my husband’s lives on the other side of Logan, by the coast, too far from the venue to stay there Saturday night. I’m almost postive we’ll be staying there on Sunday night. The only reason I hedge is that her husband recently had a massive heart attack and if he feels badly, we don’t want to put them out, not to mention if there’s an emergency. That’s what we’ll have to play by ear. We can’t stay at the Quaker place on Sunday, because they only have two guest rooms and they’re booked. We could just stay at the hostel, unless it’s full. There’s also the possibility of a Motel 6 in Braintree, and the Red Line does go down that far. Seems a bit far though. If we did have a situation such as not being able to find anyplace, is the offer still good Autolycus?

Does anyone know of a Cambridge-specific message board? Also, what should I buy to bring back to a very jealous house/catsitter?

16

I’m not sure but Autolycus might be thinking of Bukowski’s, which is at roughly 1270 Cambridge Street, a little ways down from S&S and on the other side of the street, in Cambridge. I don’t recall lobster on the menu but they do have wonderful burgers - try the one with peanut butter. Yes, it’s delicious. Tell them to add bacon.

Be warned, Bukowski’s is cash only. No credit cards, no debit cards, no checks. There’s an ATM inside.

There is also a really good sandwich shop at the corner of Cambridge and Prospect, same block as S&S and Bukowski’s. All kinds of sandwiches and salads, cheap. East Coast Grill is also there, but not cheap.

There’s an ice cream shop there too called Christina’s - you ought to try some of their offbeat flavors. It’s worth the wait in line.

17

I was going to say, it’s good you’ve found cheap lodging. The LilyPad is close to Harvard Square, and according to Harvard’s University Calendar, Freshman are registering on that following Monday. You’re screwed for a hotel room within miles of the place (pretty much every other college will be revving up around the same time).

I don’t know the LilyPad, but the Inman Square area has been dripping with good restaurants for years.

Here’s the Yelp page for a 1 mile radius of your venue. Take your pick.

18

Wow, I never thought of that. I didn’t think Boston was a big college town! (/Spinal Tap) Now I realize just how lucky we were to get that room. We had a choice between an $80 room with twin beds, or a $95.00 room with a double bed. They were both open for that particular night. Amazing.

I take it the Lily Pad used to be called the Zeitgeist Gallery.

Thank you for the review site, and thank you missbunny for the Bukowski’s tip. After looking at the street map via Google Maps Hybrid, I think we’ll try for the S&S, since it seems practically steps away. I’m going to write them and see what their attitude toward a meandering chatty group on an early Saturday evening is.

19

I remember the name of the restaurant I was thinking of. My google-fu is strong today as I typed in ‘Harvard Square burgers and lobsters,’ and it was the first result.

It’s Charlie’s Kitchen. I love the place. Everytime I’ve gone has been a great eating experience. Here’s a link to some user reviews. Here’s a nice quote, courtesy of Jake. M from that link.

Here’s a nice review, and you can even make online reservations from it.

I think it’s clear what my recommendation is. You can trust me, just ask those who went to the last Orlandope ^^. Oh, seating shouldn’t be a problem, but I would call ahead and check just to be sure.

20

As for my offer of shelter, yes of course! As long as you dont mind sleeping on couches and futons as well as having one of you in the living room and the other in my bedroom, then sure. I might be able to fit both of you into my bedroom, but there’s no way both could stay in the living room unless you do a sleeping bag or just crash on the wood floor. I’m making it sound uncomfortable and awkward, but it really wouldn’t be so difficult for me at all.

I’m rambling, but the answer is yes. I hope I’m invited to hang out with y’all on the 8th :cool: