<p>Thanks ncmentor.</p>
<p>As for books, we’ve been to Coop near Harvard and fell in love. Any other good bookstores in Boston we should check out?</p>
<p>(Bunsen, I sent you another PM but your box is full.)</p>
<p>Right around the Coop are several vintage book stores that are tucked in between things, but I don’t know the names or hours. Harvard Sq is a great “walk around and discover” area. Also there is a great and unique restaurant called Fire and Ice (right near the Coop) that is reasonably priced and lots of fun ([Fire+Ice](<a href=“http://www.fire-ice.com%5DFire+Ice%5B/url%5D”>http://www.fire-ice.com)</a>). It’s hard to describe - but kind of like a unlimited raw buffet that you choose what you want and the sauce and then they flash grill it for you. You get to experiment and go back and try new combo’s when you find a intriguing taste.</p>
<p>Another vote for the DUCK TOUR! If you can, do that early in your stay - it’s a great way to get oriented to Boston and see where you want to spend more time.</p>
<p>Since the Fogg is closed, you might consider the Peabody Museum if you head to the Harvard Square area.</p>
<p>They have a glass flower exhibit which is justifiable famous.</p>
<p>If you like theater, you might try the American Repertory Theatre which is in Harvard Square. It is small so every seat has a good view. The productions tend to be on the, what shall we say, unusual side. Here is the description of what is currently playing:
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<p>The Gardner is the jewel in my estimation…you can enjoy it in a reasonable amount of time and emerge without feeling exhausted by the beauty of its holdings.</p>
<p>If possible, find seats if the Symphony is playing. It really is unlike other halls in America.</p>
<p>Eat in Little Italy!</p>
<p>Wear layers and comfy shoes…we froze there one Easter week in drenching cold spring rain.</p>
<p>Wow, so many great suggestions! Thanks, everyone… I’m really getting excited for the trip.</p>
<p>Leaf season is not yet at peak in Boston but we’ve had a lot of rain & wind this weekend. I can tell you the immediate area is not yet peak color.</p>
<p>Try chowhound.com’s Boston board for food suggestions. There are many and most are not what tourists would find.</p>
<p>As for to do’s, any guidebook will note the museums. If you want to get outside the box, consider some of the house museums, like Nichols House, Gibson House, Otis House. I don’t recommend Paul Revere’s house because it’s so small<em>. If you’re into JFK, the house he was born in - all of them but Teddy, who was born in a hospital - is a park service site in Brookline, a short walk from the T in a nice neighborhood.</em>*</p>
<p><em>The story of how it was preserved is neat. Decades ago, one of the newspapers ran a photo of a police raid on a flop house. A historian said, “Hey, that looks like a 17th C house.” It was.
*</em>The house they moved to, which is much nicer and larger, is up the street a block and is privately owned.</p>
<p>IT IS SNOWING RIGHT NOW IN EASTERN MASS. If you are reading this a couple hours/days from now, look up photos/video from the Patriots/Titans game in Foxboro. The field is white.</p>
<p>Just thought I’d share that…</p>
<p>I still think there will be some leaves left next weekend. 
</p>
<p>A couple of ideas. If you like contemporary art, check out the new Institute of Contemporary Art. It is a short walk form South Station. If you are going to the North End I highly recommend a restaurant called Dolce Vida on Hanover Street. A bit pricey but…wow. The Gnocchi with rose sauce is heavenly.</p>
<p>It may be snowing now, but it could well be sunny and in the mid-60s next weekend - you never know in New England what the weather will be!</p>
<p>Chowder at Durgin Park. Definitely more of an old style New England feel than Legal Seafood. Legal always feels lilke an upperclass Red Lobster to me.</p>
<p>Well you said you already have a standing appt/group event at Legals (and I have to admit, I love Legal) but a really cool place to go is Union Oyster House, next to Fanuel Hall. An authentic old restaurant/bar that has been around since Revolutionary War days and they serve great clam chowder! Daniel Webster used to hang out there.</p>
<p>We were in Boston today and there were big, heavy flakes. It was too warm for accumulation though. We’re definitely past peak in Southern NH and the local hotel with their price displayed on the highway has dropped their weekend prices to normal.</p>
<p>One thing about taking the Duckboat Tour is that it originates from the Museum of Science - you can buy tickets all over the place in Boston but you have to get to the Museum of Science to actually take the tour. It’s near the Science Park T station.</p>
<p>How could I forget lunch at Durgin Park. By tradition the waitresses are kind of rude by design in a sort of “What Ya Want” way. I like it for a weekday lunch because everyone is treated the same (and often seated at the same table) Jeans and Thousand Dollar Suits.</p>
<p>If you can get a ride to Jamaica Plane “Doyle’s” has The Best Sunday Brunch, Bloody Mary’s highly recommended. (It IS Old Boston)…</p>
<p>Now I’m getting Hungry… Really, it’s not so much about the food as sitting back, relaxing, and listening to people laughing and talking.</p>
<p>Yeah Durgin, unkempt table, sitting there with a bunch of other people…waitresses whaddya want? gotta love it. I’m not saying the food is great, it is a lot like the stuff my Grandmother used to make…the beans are identical to her Saturday night franks and beans I grew up with. And the brown bread made in the can. Weekday lunch for sure particularly if you aren’t from New England.</p>
<p>IMO seafood/New England fare restaurants like No Name, Legal Seafood, and Durgin Park are fun for the atmosphere, but if you like really good food–check out the Southend for great restaurants. B&G Oysters, Sibling Rivalry, Masa, and Hammersley’s are places where you’ll get a wonderful meal. In Cambridge–try Oleana, Sandrine’s, Harvest, or East Coast Grill. No one’s mentioned the Museum of Fine Arts, which has an excellent collection; the ICA building is really cool, but it’s a small collection. I’d second the recommendation for the Gardner Museum. Best galleries on Newbury Street–Pucker, Martin Lawerence, and the Vose Gallery. The glass flower collection at Harvard University’s Museum of Natural History is pretty amazing too. Have fun! If you have an inclination to go beyond Boston–head out to Lexington and Concord for lots of historic sights.</p>
<p>Bookstores: Besides the Harvard Coop, there’s Harvard Bookstore and Grolier (for poetry) all in Harvard Square. Also Schoenhof’s if you want foreign books (it’s on Mt Auburn Street). In Boston, check out Brattle Bookstore.</p>
<p>Restaurants: A number have already been mentioned. Posters are right about Legal Seafoods, but I still love its clam chowder best. If you are not wedded to seafood, in Central Square, try Rendez Vous (on Mass Ave) or Craigie on Main (on Main Street) or Salts (also on Main). Or you could eat Afghan food at Helmand’s near MIT (it’s owned by a Karzai relative). In Boston, Lala Rokh does Persian food.</p>
<p>Not many people I know would eat anything at Union Oyster, though they would consider sitting at the oyster bar (and they’d watch to see they were being served freshly shucked ones). Durgin-Park is now over-priced for dinner but it’s fine for lunch. If someone wants an olde Boston experience, Locke-Ober is better - again, much less pricey for lunch. Again, check Chowhound’s Boston board because there are many good places at all sorts of prices and with a wide variety of cuisines.</p>
<p>Okay. Probably stupidest question ever, but I’m headed up for business next week and have never been before. The place I really want to see is. . . um. . . Cheers. Where is it? Is it still called “Cheers”? I think I’m staying at the Marriott Copley.</p>
<p>I’d be willing to entertain any other must-sees within walking distance, but often use the down time at business trips to nap/watch TV/order room service. (Yes–I’m assuming this will change when all the kids are out of the house.)</p>
<p>Here’s the web site:</p>
<p>[Cheers</a> | Where Everybody Knows Your Name](<a href=“http://www.cheersboston.com/pub/main_home.html]Cheers”>http://www.cheersboston.com/pub/main_home.html)</p>
<p>I thought the Cheers bar had a different name (and I couldn’t recall what it was), but apparently not.</p>
<p>The one on Beacon Street is one used to show the exterior of the bar on the show, and apparently they have created an exact replica of the interior at Faneuil Hall.</p>
<p>The one on Beacon Street faces the Common (not far from the duckling statues) and is just around the corner from Charles Street (which is very picturesque and good for strolling).</p>
<p>I’m sure the people at your hotel will be able to give you directions. The Common is probably a 15-20 minute walk (through a shopping district) from the Marriott Copley. For Faneuil Hall, you’ll probably want to take the subway (T) - it is about three stops away, take Copley or Arlington to Government Center - these stops are all on the green line so you won’t have to change.</p>
<p>Also be prepared to stand elbow to elbow with many people who are not from Boston…</p>