Treats like a visit to a great Irish Pub like Sonny's in Adams Village or the Squealing Pig in Mission Hill are available year round. But it is fun to be reminded of the things you like about a culture with a special holiday or festival.
And, if dressing up is something you love, this weekend is an excuse to do just that. We have a popular post on where to find costumes and accessories for events like this one.
Do you have a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary that you'd like to celebrate at an area restaurant in the next couple of months? Or, do you have family or friends coming to Boston who need hotel and restaurant reservations? Were you hoping to dine out on Easter Sunday or Mother's Day?
If so, put "Make Reservations" at the top of your to-do list this week.
Why?
Because Boston is expecting a lot of visitors between now and mid-June. Here are some of the dates when you will be competing with big crowds here for graduations, conventions, or events.
Graduation Season
Each year, we publish a calendar of the area's major college commencements and graduations. Here's a link to this year's edition.
This list runs from May 4th to June 6th with a blockbuster weekend hosting eleven commencements between May 17-19th. Many visitors are shocked at the price of hotel rooms during our commencement season and are having difficulty reserving tables for family meals during this time.
Events
March 15-17, Saint Patrick's Day Weekend – If the questions over on Trip Advisor are any indication, visitors from the UK come to Boston to join in our festivities. As always, this is on March 17th when a strange holiday called Evacuation Day was created that just happens to coincide with a desired date for celebration. With the 17th on a Monday, plans for a long weekend of green beer are on more than a few calendars. (Plus two conventions noted below.)
April 18-21, Patriots' Day Weekend will host the largest Boston Marathon in years with an official field of 36,000 runners and an estimate of twice the traditional half-million spectators.
This is also a weekend of other BAA races as well as sporting events elsewhere in the city. Some locals look forward to this annual happening, others will leave the city until it's over. Oh, and it's also Easter Sunday this year!
May 11, Mother's Day is always a day with a shortage of reservations since it happens during our graduation season. There are five schools holding commencement that weekend.
May 24-26,Memorial Day Weekend is a traditional time to open summer homes and perhaps enjoy a first summer weekend away. If you want the best choice of hotel, Zipcar, or to be assured of a table at your favorite restaurant in places from Portland, Maine to Provincetown, reserve soon.
Move-Out Season – Many of the two hundred thousand plus students will be moving out of Boston in late May and early June. In some neighborhoods, this is a major event impacting traffic, parking, and trash collection.
Conventions
Spring is also a time for large conventions in Boston. Here are a few dates when 10,000 people or more will be added to the city's population. Fortunately, many of these large events are out in the Seaport District and will not impact most residents. A few are at the Hynes Convention Center in the Back Bay and will be more noticeable.
March 16-18, two conventions in the Seaport District are expecting 26,000 attendees. This is also Saint Patrick's Day Weekend so it will make a difference throughout the city.
March 21-23, the Anime Boston event at the Hynes will have colorful characters roaming the Back Bay and scattered throughout Boston. There is also a a smaller convention in the Seaport District for a total of 25,000 attendees.
April 3-5: 20,000 in the Seaport District
May 1: 16,000 in the Seaport District
May 8-10: 15,000 in the Seaport District
May 18: 11,000 in the Seaport District
June 8: 13,000 in the Seaport District
Then, we switch to summer tourists with the next big convention in October.
Don't Forget
You may need reservations for a pet sitter or childcare so get that underway too.
If you travel on the MBTA, use UBER, or taxis, some of these events will have a big impact on those means of travel with crowded trains and shortages of cars and taxis.
All these visitors will also give you a wonderful opportunity to meet people from around the world. If you see someone who seems to be in need of help or looks lost, be a good host and offer a hand.
When you see a group posing for photos, offer to take one of the entire gang. It only takes a minute, but gives the visitors a great memory of both the photo and the friendly Bostonian.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Do you have a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary that you'd like to celebrate at an area restaurant in the next couple of months? Or, do you have family or friends coming to Boston who need hotel and restaurant reservations? Were you hoping to dine out on Easter Sunday or Mother's Day?
If so, put "Make Reservations" at the top of your to-do list this week.
Why?
Because Boston is expecting a lot of visitors between now and mid-June. Here are some of the dates when you will be competing with big crowds here for graduations, conventions, or events.
Graduation Season
Each year, we publish a calendar of the area's major college commencements and graduations. Here's a link to this year's edition.
This list runs from May 4th to June 6th with a blockbuster weekend hosting eleven commencements between May 17-19th. Many visitors are shocked at the price of hotel rooms during our commencement season and are having difficulty reserving tables for family meals during this time.
Events
March 15-17, Saint Patrick's Day Weekend – If the questions over on Trip Advisor are any indication, visitors from the UK come to Boston to join in our festivities. As always, this is on March 17th when a strange holiday called Evacuation Day was created that just happens to coincide with a desired date for celebration. With the 17th on a Monday, plans for a long weekend of green beer are on more than a few calendars. (Plus two conventions noted below.)
April 18-21, Patriots' Day Weekend will host the largest Boston Marathon in years with an official field of 36,000 runners and an estimate of twice the traditional half-million spectators.
This is also a weekend of other BAA races as well as sporting events elsewhere in the city. Some locals look forward to this annual happening, others will leave the city until it's over. Oh, and it's also Easter Sunday this year!
May 11, Mother's Day is always a day with a shortage of reservations since it happens during our graduation season. There are five schools holding commencement that weekend.
May 24-26,Memorial Day Weekend is a traditional time to open summer homes and perhaps enjoy a first summer weekend away. If you want the best choice of hotel, Zipcar, or to be assured of a table at your favorite restaurant in places from Portland, Maine to Provincetown, reserve soon.
Move-Out Season – Many of the two hundred thousand plus students will be moving out of Boston in late May and early June. In some neighborhoods, this is a major event impacting traffic, parking, and trash collection.
Conventions
Spring is also a time for large conventions in Boston. Here are a few dates when 10,000 people or more will be added to the city's population. Fortunately, many of these large events are out in the Seaport District and will not impact most residents. A few are at the Hynes Convention Center in the Back Bay and will be more noticeable.
March 16-18, two conventions in the Seaport District are expecting 26,000 attendees. This is also Saint Patrick's Day Weekend so it will make a difference throughout the city.
March 21-23, the Anime Boston event at the Hynes will have colorful characters roaming the Back Bay and scattered throughout Boston. There is also a a smaller convention in the Seaport District for a total of 25,000 attendees.
April 3-5: 20,000 in the Seaport District
May 1: 16,000 in the Seaport District
May 8-10: 15,000 in the Seaport District
May 18: 11,000 in the Seaport District
June 8: 13,000 in the Seaport District
Then, we switch to summer tourists with the next big convention in October.
Don't Forget
You may need reservations for a pet sitter or childcare so get that underway too.
If you travel on the MBTA, use UBER, or taxis, some of these events will have a big impact on those means of travel with crowded trains and shortages of cars and taxis.
All these visitors will also give you a wonderful opportunity to meet people from around the world. If you see someone who seems to be in need of help or looks lost, be a good host and offer a hand.
When you see a group posing for photos, offer to take one of the entire gang. It only takes a minute, but gives the visitors a great memory of both the photo and the friendly Bostonian.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Do you have a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary that you'd like to celebrate at an area restaurant in the next couple of months? Or, do you have family or friends coming to Boston who need hotel and restaurant reservations? Were you hoping to dine out on Easter Sunday or Mother's Day?
If so, put "Make Reservations" at the top of your to-do list this week.
Why?
Because Boston is expecting a lot of visitors between now and mid-June. Here are some of the dates when you will be competing with big crowds here for graduations, conventions, or events.
Graduation Season
Each year, we publish a calendar of the area's major college commencements and graduations. Here's a link to this year's edition.
This list runs from May 4th to June 6th with a blockbuster weekend hosting eleven commencements between May 17-19th. Many visitors are shocked at the price of hotel rooms during our commencement season and are having difficulty reserving tables for family meals during this time.
Events
March 15-17, Saint Patrick's Day Weekend – If the questions over on Trip Advisor are any indication, visitors from the UK come to Boston to join in our festivities. As always, this is on March 17th when a strange holiday called Evacuation Day was created that just happens to coincide with a desired date for celebration. With the 17th on a Monday, plans for a long weekend of green beer are on more than a few calendars. (Plus two conventions noted below.)
April 18-21, Patriots' Day Weekend will host the largest Boston Marathon in years with an official field of 36,000 runners and an estimate of twice the traditional half-million spectators.
This is also a weekend of other BAA races as well as sporting events elsewhere in the city. Some locals look forward to this annual happening, others will leave the city until it's over. Oh, and it's also Easter Sunday this year!
May 11, Mother's Day is always a day with a shortage of reservations since it happens during our graduation season. There are five schools holding commencement that weekend.
May 24-26,Memorial Day Weekend is a traditional time to open summer homes and perhaps enjoy a first summer weekend away. If you want the best choice of hotel, Zipcar, or to be assured of a table at your favorite restaurant in places from Portland, Maine to Provincetown, reserve soon.
Move-Out Season – Many of the two hundred thousand plus students will be moving out of Boston in late May and early June. In some neighborhoods, this is a major event impacting traffic, parking, and trash collection.
Conventions
Spring is also a time for large conventions in Boston. Here are a few dates when 10,000 people or more will be added to the city's population. Fortunately, many of these large events are out in the Seaport District and will not impact most residents. A few are at the Hynes Convention Center in the Back Bay and will be more noticeable.
March 16-18, two conventions in the Seaport District are expecting 26,000 attendees. This is also Saint Patrick's Day Weekend so it will make a difference throughout the city.
March 21-23, the Anime Boston event at the Hynes will have colorful characters roaming the Back Bay and scattered throughout Boston. There is also a a smaller convention in the Seaport District for a total of 25,000 attendees.
April 3-5: 20,000 in the Seaport District
May 1: 16,000 in the Seaport District
May 8-10: 15,000 in the Seaport District
May 18: 11,000 in the Seaport District
June 8: 13,000 in the Seaport District
Then, we switch to summer tourists with the next big convention in October.
Don't Forget
You may need reservations for a pet sitter or childcare so get that underway too.
If you travel on the MBTA, use UBER, or taxis, some of these events will have a big impact on those means of travel with crowded trains and shortages of cars and taxis.
All these visitors will also give you a wonderful opportunity to meet people from around the world. If you see someone who seems to be in need of help or looks lost, be a good host and offer a hand.
When you see a group posing for photos, offer to take one of the entire gang. It only takes a minute, but gives the visitors a great memory of both the photo and the friendly Bostonian.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."
Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere
Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.
As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."
Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere
Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.
As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."
Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere
Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.
As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.
Since tomorrow is the actual date of Lincoln's birth, we thought we'd share it with our readers. Perhaps, some of you will stop by and see it to honor the man and the spirit of Black History Month.
It's located in Park Square, but we had never noticed the monument before this research pointed us to it. The memorial is still there today but the view that once existed from the Boston Common and Statehouse is now blocked.
Here's how it looked circa 1930 in this photo from the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.
To orient yourself with the photo above, here's the area (with the Emancipaton Statue as a green triangle just below the words Park Square) from the 1912 Bromley Atlas. (Source: State Library of Massachusetts.)
About the Emancipation Statue
In Boston, this is called the Emancipation Statue. Moses Kimball gave the sculpture to the city in 1874. It's a copy of the original work by Thomas Ball called the Emancipation Memorial in Washington DC.
The Smithsonian American Art Museums descibes the statue in their inventory of outdoor sculputure.
" A portrait of Abraham Lincoln standing by a kneeling male slave, his proper left hand raised as he is about to emancipate the slave. In his proper right hand, which rests on a bronze podium, Lincoln holds an unrolled copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. To the rear of the figures is a whipping post, chains, shackles, and a frayed whip. On each corner of the podium are fasces and around the base of the podium are thirteen stars. A bas-relief of George Washington decorates the angled face of the podium and a Union shield decorates the inner face of the podium."
The artiist, Thomas Ball, was born in Charlestown and is also the sculptor of the Public Garden's iconic statue of George Washington.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino Photography: from the Boston Public Library and State Library of Massachusetts
Since tomorrow is the actual date of Lincoln's birth, we thought we'd share it with our readers. Perhaps, some of you will stop by and see it to honor the man and the spirit of Black History Month.
It's located in Park Square, but we had never noticed the monument before this research pointed us to it. The memorial is still there today but the view that once existed from the Boston Common and Statehouse is now blocked.
Here's how it looked circa 1930 in this photo from the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.
To orient yourself with the photo above, here's the area (with the Emancipaton Statue as a green triangle just below the words Park Square) from the 1912 Bromley Atlas. (Source: State Library of Massachusetts.)
About the Emancipation Statue
In Boston, this is called the Emancipation Statue. Moses Kimball gave the sculpture to the city in 1874. It's a copy of the original work by Thomas Ball called the Emancipation Memorial in Washington DC.
The Smithsonian American Art Museums descibes the statue in their inventory of outdoor sculputure.
" A portrait of Abraham Lincoln standing by a kneeling male slave, his proper left hand raised as he is about to emancipate the slave. In his proper right hand, which rests on a bronze podium, Lincoln holds an unrolled copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. To the rear of the figures is a whipping post, chains, shackles, and a frayed whip. On each corner of the podium are fasces and around the base of the podium are thirteen stars. A bas-relief of George Washington decorates the angled face of the podium and a Union shield decorates the inner face of the podium."
The artiist, Thomas Ball, was born in Charlestown and is also the sculptor of the Public Garden's iconic statue of George Washington.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino Photography: from the Boston Public Library and State Library of Massachusetts
Since tomorrow is the actual date of Lincoln's birth, we thought we'd share it with our readers. Perhaps, some of you will stop by and see it to honor the man and the spirit of Black History Month.
It's located in Park Square, but we had never noticed the monument before this research pointed us to it. The memorial is still there today but the view that once existed from the Boston Common and Statehouse is now blocked.
Here's how it looked circa 1930 in this photo from the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.
To orient yourself with the photo above, here's the area (with the Emancipaton Statue as a green triangle just below the words Park Square) from the 1912 Bromley Atlas. (Source: State Library of Massachusetts.)
About the Emancipation Statue
In Boston, this is called the Emancipation Statue. Moses Kimball gave the sculpture to the city in 1874. It's a copy of the original work by Thomas Ball called the Emancipation Memorial in Washington DC.
The Smithsonian American Art Museums descibes the statue in their inventory of outdoor sculputure.
" A portrait of Abraham Lincoln standing by a kneeling male slave, his proper left hand raised as he is about to emancipate the slave. In his proper right hand, which rests on a bronze podium, Lincoln holds an unrolled copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. To the rear of the figures is a whipping post, chains, shackles, and a frayed whip. On each corner of the podium are fasces and around the base of the podium are thirteen stars. A bas-relief of George Washington decorates the angled face of the podium and a Union shield decorates the inner face of the podium."
The artiist, Thomas Ball, was born in Charlestown and is also the sculptor of the Public Garden's iconic statue of George Washington.
Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino Photography: from the Boston Public Library and State Library of Massachusetts
