<p>We did the Duck Tour. It was fun, but the quality of the tour–like the Manhattan double-decker buses–depends on your driver, which is just luck of the draw (you are told what duck tour bus to get on). Ours was goodnotgreat. He was…well, shall we say weight-challenged–and all he talked about was food (and it didn’t sound like gourmet food) in Boston. Others I heard got great historical details. So just do it, but with measured expectations.</p>
<p>Sophomores in S’s House were treated to the Duck Tour. S’s friends reported it was a blast (S had gone before). Highly recommended. Another recommendation: MIT museum (Harvard has lots, but this is pure fun).</p>
<p>Great idea, Marite. Thanks.
I certainly don’t want to go to one more panel discussion!</p>
<p>Twinmom:</p>
<p>Things I recommend for Parents Weekend</p>
<ol>
<li>The concert of student a capella groups in Sanders Theater. The kids sing amazingly well.</li>
<li> The glass flower collection in the Harvard museum of natural history.</li>
<li> The Mimbres Indian pottery collection, especially if it comes with a lecture by the prof as it did when I was there - also located in the H museums.</li>
</ol>
<p>We will also be in Boston for Parent’s Weekend October 20-22. Do ALL the colleges in Boston have parents on the same weekend??? I imagine it is a mad-house! We will be at Tufts but look forward to hopping on the T and seeing the sights. Thanks for all the suggestions.</p>
<p>Your posts made my mouth water and my heart ache–we moved away from a Boston bedroom community two years ago…still missing our little town and going into Boston (but not the cold).</p>
<p>Isn’t the weekend of 10/20-22 also the Head of the Charles Regatta?
If so, Boston will be crazy—I also don’t know if the Duck tour would splash into the Charles with the regatta going on</p>
<p>Yes, it will be Head of the Charles, and yes, it will be crazy. Good idea to check on the Duck Tour trips and definitely check on hotel availability! And restaurants in the area will also probably be mobbed!</p>
<p>Aaiiyyee - that’s the weekend I’ll be in Boston!!! Are you certain Marite? I don’t know why I’m questioning, you of all people ought to know :o. I made my hotel reservations so long ago that it was not a problem, but I made dinner reservations for D’s birthday dinner just this past Fri, and didn’t have trouble getting the restaurant and time I wanted.</p>
<p>I used <a href=“http://www.opentable.com%5B/url%5D”>www.opentable.com</a> for my “special” dinner reservations, it worked well. Is the regatta Sat and Sun only?</p>
<p>The duck tour is a hoot, although it is driver dependent. John Lennon was our driver, and his composure actually cracked when a kid almost sailed her little Sunfish into the duck boat - it was scary, because it happened during the “let the little kid come up and pretend to steer the duck boat” segment, and he didn’t want to scare either of the children involved - so he scared those of us who were close enough to the front, and knew enough about sailing to see what was happening.</p>
<p>I suggest Italian food in the North end. If you can get it, reserve the window table on the second floor of Mamma Marias. But hurry. The view alone is worth the price of the meal, <a href=“http://www.mammamaria.com/[/url]”>http://www.mammamaria.com/</a> . After dinner head over to Hanover Street, and have desert and Cappucino at Cafe Vittoria. <a href=“http://www.vittoriacaffe.com/[/url]”>http://www.vittoriacaffe.com/</a> .</p>
<p>If you’re going to Tufts, you’d probably like Antonia’s in Davis Sq. Very quaint little place but still classy, and great eats.</p>
<p>Yup, It’s OCtober 21-22. The bridges are already festooned with banners.
Here’s the site for the Head of the Charles Regatta:</p>
<p>National Team Alumni Reception at HOCR - October 21, 2006
<a href=“http://www.row2k.com/hotc/[/url]”>http://www.row2k.com/hotc/</a></p>
<p>In Davis Square, Out of the Blue is owned by veterans of the Daily Catch in the North End. There’s also a 1950s-style diner, and Johnny D’s, a good place to listen to jazz (so I’m told).</p>
<p>I’m so cross about Elsie’s I always meant to get their recipe for chicken salad. I’ve never had one anywhere else that was as good.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how far up the river the duck tours go, but Head of the Charles doesn’t let people go downstream of the Mass Ave Bridge (between the bridge and the locks). The few times I’ve seen duck tours have been in that area of the river near the Science Museum, so maybe they’re unhindered by the regatta.</p>
<p>If you’ll be in town and haven’t been the Head of the Charles, I’d highly recommend it. I raced in it last year, and it’s a truly amazing experience. It’s one of the largest regattas in the world, and you’ll see competitors ranging from the national team (and other countries’ national teams) to high schools. There’s a heated tent by the finish line with vendors selling rowing stuff and all kinds of warm fall food. It’s really wonderful.</p>
<p>Black Rose</p>
<p>636</p>
<p>The north end is great but so crowded on weekend. If you go, we love Daily Catch on Hanover Street for great italian seafood. No reservations. Also we like the Modern for pastry, across the street from the bigger Mike’s pastry.</p>
<p>Up for something different? Try O’Cantinho, a Portuguese restaurant on Cambridge Street in Cambridge. Its small but super and very reasonable. good meat and seafood, and the service is so friendly.</p>
<p>Also Le’s in the Square; used to be Pho Pasteur, for super vietrnamese food. Try the special pho. Hard to beat.</p>
<p>Here’s another sad guy who also remembers elsies.</p>
<p>Well, the Elsie’s-in-mourning group can head on over to Sinners Alley. We’ve rounded up the old waitresses (do you call them that when they’re just behind the counter?) , some knockwurst… We can all stand in a scrum and wait for our orders just like old times. And I think one of them is ready to spill the beans on the chicken salad, mathmom.</p>
<p>Nope, Harvard Parents’ Weekend isn’t until Nov 3. Guess we’ll miss some of the crowds!</p>
<p>Twinmom:</p>
<p>I do believe that Harvard takes into account the Head of the Charles when scheduling Parents’ Weekend, unlike Tufts. In years past, it’s been before the HOCR, but this year it seem unusually late. Lots of alumni turn out to attend HOCR every year. Things should be quieter by Nov. 3 and you will be able to go to restaurants in relative peace.</p>
<p>Well at least I hear that the fall foliage should be peaking right around Oct 20-22! As a So. Californian, the crowds and traffic will be all too familiar, but the fall colors will be a welcomed treat. Guess I better make a dinner reservation if I plan to eat any where other than the dining halls or Friday night dinner at Hillel!</p>