CJ and Roxanne need Boston info...

[CJ]

Hi all,

My SO and I will be driving down to Boston in the first week of September. We'll be spending four or five days there and we're looking for reasonably-priced accommodations. Anyone here know the area well enough to offer suggestions? We've looked at online sites, from hotels to quaint B&Bs, with rates in the $100 to $250/night range. Ideally, we'd be happy with rates around the $120 to $140 range.

Also, if anyone has any ideas about what we should be visiting while in the area, that'd be great, too. We're thinking of taking a drive up around Cape Cod Bay to Provincetown (yeah, I know, a month and a half early for Fantasia Fair, but such is life ).

Thanks for any input.

Love,
CJ

[DonnaT]

You might consider hotwire.com for obtaining better room rates. Works for SL and Virginia when they visit Richmond.

[Lydia]

Whatever else you do, have a lobster dinner at Legal Sea Food. Also their selection of oysters is ...mmmmmm.

Hugs,

Lydia

[ChristineK]

Thats the second time I have heard someone say that. This Legal Seafood must be really good.

Might I suggest Google maps and search the area for hotels. Thats what I do when i have to travel and want to see the location of an hotel to the area I want to be in.

Worked for my vacation to Destin FL next week, beach here I come

[Jeannie]

Hi CJ
I lived in Boston in the early seventies. That's where I met Gary. What great luck!
Mini and I always took the kids for weekends in Boston. The Hotels down town are a bit pricey. My daughter Katie is just looking for rates because she and her boyfriend Kevin are going up for next weekend.
They are going to stay at the Doubletree on Washington street downtown for about 200 bucks. The bad thing CJ is they kill you with add ons. The Boston City room tax,the state room tax and usually another 30 or 35 dollars to park your car overnight.
If you get a place a little outside of Boston you can always take the T.
If you can swing it.. The Long Wharf Mariott is in the perfect location but will run about 300 a night. It's right on the water next to The Boston Aquarium and a new Legal Seafood is right out the front door. It's also 100 yards from Quincy Market and Fanuel Hall and 5 minute walk to the Italian North end. There is Holiday Inn right next to Mass General which is also convienent.
Within a mile walk you have the Fleet Center and if you go over the bridge half way, The Boston Science museum which is killer and they have the biggest IMAX screen I've ever scene. Its's like you're in a globe.
When you come out of the museum take a left towards Cambrige. At the end of the bridge is The Galleria. It's filled with upscale womens stores that I would put my nose up to the window and cry!
I'll leave you with a Boston story of Mr. Gary. One saturday night we're back at the apartment with the 4 other animals. Gary says"Hey. There's a new band playing at a Cambridge bar.Who wants to go!" Basically we were all too stoned and didn't want to ruin the buzz so we declined.
Gary comes back a 2 am and says"You idiots! This band was amazing!"
I said "What was their name?" Get this CJ for a two dollar cover Gary paid. He replied "Bruce Springteen and the E street band." He never let me live that one down CJ. Hugs.

Love
Auntie Jeannie

PS If you really want to be a tourist go on the Duck Boat tours. That's just not right! Bostonians recoil in horror when they pass.
You might also take the T up to Boston College and go to MaryAnns bar in Cleveland circle where I lived on Sutherland road. It's a National Shrine CJ. Poor little innocent 18 year old Jeannie was picked by an older women in MaryAnns and ravished and lost her virginity. Oh the humanity. Excellant! Everytime I go to Boston I think of looking her up but she must be 90 by now. I do have some standards but not many.
I have a great idea CJ. Ask Carol Ann to pay for your trip. She was printer. She probably has millions in cash. I have to run. I'm printing some one dollar bills tonight. Noboby checks. Sweet!

[Jeannie]

Hi CJ
The Christian Science center is quite an impressive building. It's on Bolyston street right up from the Prudential center. The Boston Museum of fine arts is on Mass avenue and is definately a place to check out. It is nice to go to the top of the Hancock building and see Boston from 60 stories up.
The Boston commons if also a nice place and you could walk the freedom trail which starts at the old North Church. The bar that was the featured in the TV series Cheers is on the north side of the commons.
Newbury street is right off the commons. It's lined with upscale stores and art galleries. If you can get tickets,The Blue Man group has been playing at the Charles Playhouse for years ,74 Warrenton Street just off Charles street that runs through Boston Common and is about 5 blocks from the commons. If you haven't seen the Blueman Group go for it CJ. You won't regret it.
If you like The Rocky Horror Picture show take the T into to 27 Harvard Square (Rocky Horror Theater)
Midnight on Fri and Sat, $6.75. If you get glammed up don't go through south Boston with the rabid Bruins fans. They are definately not tranny friendly.You will love Harvard Square CJ. Great bookstores filled with geeks from MIT which is just down the street on Mass ave. You were born to live in Cambridge Hon! HA!
Inman Square not far from Harvard Square has great clubs and neat little restaurants. We used to go to Ding Ho's. It was a comedy club and in 1972 we saw Jay Leno and Steven Wright doing standup. I think it's gone but it was a great fun place.
Of course there's a small fee for my virtual tour of Boston CJ. I have to eat ya know! Just tally up all the charges you have and add 40% and send it to me. That's a break because I like you. I charged Virginia 60%. Don't say anything but at her age you can talk right in front of her and she doesn't know the difference.Hugs.

Love
Auntie Jeannie

PS. If you really want excitement CJ,just drive to any south Boston neighborhood,get out of the car and yell" The Bruins suck! They're the farm team for the Rangers!" Who needs Dr. Kavorkian?

[Lydia]

Yes Yes on the Duckboat tours. Inexpensive and great fun.

Hugs,

Lydia

[Jeannie]

Oh Lydia!
Don't tell me you went on the Duckboat tour! I always thought highly of you and had great respect for you Sweetness, but to be fair we are all allowed 5 very bad decisions in our lives. Unfortunately for you, going on a Duckboat tour uses up all five. You better think before you act again Hon. Hugs.

Love
Jeannie

[CJ]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies, friends. I'll be continuing to look things up on the net. Somehow, I'm getting the feeling you folks are setting us up with this DuckBoat Tours thingy. What are you? a bunch of quacks? I know Roxanne will definitely want to check out Legal Sea Food (unknown here); she's an unrepentent homarophile. Thanks for the tip, Lydia.

Jeannie,

What would this world be without you? You are the Goddess of Mirth, for sure! Thanks for both the laughs and the info, sis.

Love,
CJ

[Jeannie]

Hi CJ
When I lived in Boston Legal Seafood was a bargain. Now after the tourists caught on it's very pricey. Even the Italian north end is going tourist. On Hanover street, which is the main drag in Ginnyville ,had a little store front place called The Daily catch. It's still a hole in the wall and the kitchen is in the so called dining room but they really bumped up the prices.
About fifty feet down Hanover street from a right from The Daily Catch take a right on the first street for Artu's. It was a place that all the locals ate at and was cheap but now probably went tourist.
If you do go to the north end, you must go to the North Bennet Street School CJ. Go online and get the scoop. We went there when my son was looking at colleges. It's quite different . They teach piano tuning and rebuilding, furniture making, lock smithing and instrument repair. You will see people of all ages and different walks of life who want to do something more than a 9 to 5 job. I know you would love it. Call them and see if you could arrange a tour. You and Roxann would not be disapointed and it's free!
I'll probabley think of more stuff for you to do but at my age maybe not! Boston is fabulous CJ. You can walk to most places downtown and it's not so intimidating as New York City. Have fun when you go there. Maybe you shouldn't take my advice. I came back to Waterbury! What was I thinking!

Love
Auntie Jeannie

PS. Arthur Fielder, the late conductor of the Boston Pops is still hard at work decomposing. I couldn't help myself CJ!

[Virginia]

"And did (she) ever return no she never returned and her fate is still un- learned, poor old CJ, she may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston, she's the "T" that never returned" with most humblist apologes to the Kingston Trio! Maybe a "T" can get Charlie off the MTA!?


There is a "Walking Tour" through downtown that is very interesting and educational as well. It tells where T-girls did this and T-girls did that!!!! Just kidding ---------- it does give you a lot of history about some of our founding fathers, but then again what would a Canadian care about that!?

There really are some marvelous places to eat. Don't know how you plan to get around, cab, subway, drive, but it is a nice town and there are some nice places to eat and to stay on the water front area as well.

Let us know what your plans are!

Love ya,

Virginia

PS: We are just sooooooooooo much help aren't we!?

[CJ]

Hi all,

Again, thanks for the info. This is the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

Here are the plans, Virginia. We'll be driving down to Boston from Montreal and getting around Beantown by car. We'll be getting there on September 1st and be going back home on September 6th. It's about a five or six hour drive each way. We have familial duties on our first day in Boston but are pretty much free to do what we want the rest of our time there. I'll be taking Jeannie up on some of her suggestions, I think. Some of it sounds fascinating.

By the way, Virginia, why wouldn't a Canadian be interested in learning about the Founding Fathers? The Republic these men created influences us up here, and to this day, more than you probably realize. Anyone up for a Tea Party?

Love,
CJ

[SilverLady(SO)]

Anyone up for a Tea Party?

According to some Brits, that tea is just about ready to drink!

Virginia does seriously recommend a trip to Cape Cod . . . there's nothing quite like it, absolutely beautiful and unique!



- SL

[Jeannie]

Hey CJ!
When you get to Boston give me a call. It's only two hours from me. I have no life plus I'll tell Mini I had to go to rehab for the day. My Boss is an idiot so he won't miss me. Dinner will be on me for you and Roxanne. Such a deal! Let me know CJ and I'll work on getting tickets to the Blue man Group.
A game at Fenway would be even better. Mini's brother Joe is a millionaire and retired at 45. His daughter Faith is married to a man who's father is an investment banker in Boston. I'll beg Mini to get some great seats at Fenway. I have no shame CJ. It will only cost me a pound of flesh.
Forget Provincetown. Those Gays look at us and say" We want a man to look like a man! " Hugs.

Love
Auntie Jeannie

[Kay]

According to some Brits, that tea is just about ready to drink!

On behalf of the entire British tea drinking community - Rich Black and Kenyan Coffee for me this old bird from the old Country never could drink tea
Kay