Friday, September 23, 2011
A Great Escape is to the Top of the Hub
Sometimes even a noted tourist spot in Boston is a Great Escape. When I go to New Orleans I make sure to go to the revolving night club 360 for a cocktail and get a bird’s eyeview of the Big Easy. You can do that in Boston at the Prudential's The Top of the Hub. My husband, David, and I enjoyed a walk through the Boston Public Garden and took the elevator up to the 52nd floor and had a lovely lunch on our wedding anniversary. It was far less touristy than you would imagine; the food was fantastic and the atmosphere was quite festive. There are Jazz nights in the lounge with a lounge menu, and there are three-course prix-fixe menus in the restaurant ($55 or $75 with a wine pairing). I have to say I felt like I was on the top of the …
42.3495
-71.07948
Boylston St & Exeter St, Boston, MA
/articles/escape-to-the-top-of-the-hub
/locations/5427827
Friday, September 9, 2011
Take some time away from the kids and enjoy a night of jazz in Boston.
We live in a hub of activity and we may not have the late night zaniness of New York City but we have some serious talent here in Boston. If you have a hankering for some jazz, we have several hip joints that will fit the bill. Grab your honey and your beret or porkpie hat (the one you just bought at Salmagundi’s) and beat it over to the South End to Wally’s Jazz Café or The Beehive. Both spots serve up some serious local jazz. You may have some budding musicians from the local schools or some old school cat dishing out his wares. There’s also Slades Bar and Grill, which offers up some R&B as well. If you have a day of it, there’s the upcoming: Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival, Saturday, Sept. 24 from 12-6pm, on Columbus Ave starting at …
Friday, September 2, 2011
The kids go there on field trips, so check out the MFA on your own, or on date night.
When’s the last time you headed over to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? I bet you only escape there with out-of-town relatives, friends or the kids. Shed the extra baggage and go with your special someone and escape into the creative world of art. If you haven’t been to the MFA in a long time you’ll be wowed by the recent renovations and additions of the fabulous: “Art of the Americas Wing.” Having spent hours in the galleries as a guard in the late 80s I was blown over by the architectural drama of the wing as well as the four floors of american art - from early American to contemporary art. It is no longer just a spot for the stuffy Boston Brahmin; the MFA has updated itself and its image to include the cool breeze of the …
42.33851
-71.09385
465 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts
/articles/a-great-escape-art-at-the-mfa
/locations/5247051
Friday, August 26, 2011
Escape to some of the most pristine nature in Boston at this National Historic Site.
Part of a real escape is finding a quiet place to walk and talk or just enjoy nature while still living in a very busy Boston neighborhood. Escaping for a few hours can create just the right amount of time to rejuvenate your soul. In the 1840’s a group of Transcendentalists decided to make the greatest escape of their lives and created a commune right here in West Roxbury. Located off Baker Street in West Roxbury are 179 acres that include: rolling hills, wetlands and woods, known as: The Brook Farm Historic Site. It is one of the first sites in Massachusetts to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a National Historic Site. In 1977, the Boston Landmarks Commission designated Brook Farm a Landmark, …
42.291845
-71.174652
Brook Farm Historic Site
670 Baker St, West Roxbury, MA
/articles/a-great-escape-brook-farm-historic-site
1285817
/locations/5193675
Friday, August 19, 2011
Each week we offer an idea for parents' time away from the kids.
‘Tis the season to take whatever time you have left and make it summerlicious and what better a way to Escape, just the two of you, then to spend the day in Provincetown. A quintessentially quaint and hip Cape Cod town with good sightseeing and people watching: Galleries, shops, restaurants, outdoor cafés, cobblestones, wooden piers, cocktails, and beaches - what more could you ask for in a summer great escape? The high-speed Provincetown ferry is set to leave everyday at 8:30 a.m. and will return at 4 p.m. from Provincetown in time for you to be home for dinner. If you choose Thursday through Sunday you have more time in Ptown before the last ferry. Either way, escaping to Provincetown will give you a true sense that you really went on …
Friday, August 12, 2011
Clambake sunset cruises to Spectacle Island are a romantic getaway from the normalities of life.
New England summers aren’t complete without a clambake; and you don’t have to organize one or wait for an invite. Jasper White’s Summer Shack has partnered with the Harbor Islands to provide a perfect sunset cruise to Spectacle Island for a clambake and a view of Boston’s beautiful skyline. Thursday Sunset Clambake on Spectacle Island has two more Thursday dates and a special full moon cruise this Friday, August 12. The cruise starts at 6:15 p.m. and leaves from Long Wharf. Click on the link and make your reservation. The Summer Shack's Clambake Dinner includes: creamy clam chowder, a steamed lobster, mussels, steamers, corn on the cob, new potatoes, chorizo and a dessert (chef's choice!), plus beer or wine and the cruise for $75 per …
Friday, July 29, 2011
Parents: Escape from the kids for a night and learn to make something new in the kitchen.
Tired of Taco Tuesday or Meatloaf Monday? It’s time to expand your meal options at home by taking a class together. Expand your options for meals at home by taking a class. If you love food and wine, here’s an escape that will leave you knowing a little bit more. The Boston Center for Adult Education has a load of one-time evening classes that last about 3 hours that produce a meal and teach you something about the cuisine. You could learn about: Spanish Paella and Sangria on Tuesday, Aug. 3 or “Join Chef Diane Manteca and Formaggio Kitchen wine and cheese guru Adam Centamore for a hands-on night of tasting, cooking and creating light summer fare paired with beautiful warm weather wine” on Aug. 4. What a great way to learn how to make a …
42.349231
-71.06957
122 Arlington St, Boston, MA
/articles/the-great-escape-learn-to-cook-with-your-partner-2
/locations/4960075
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Hatch Shell has a running series of free outdoor concerts.
Escape outdoors again and enjoy some free concerts. I’ve sent you outdoors a lot lately, but why not? We only get about three solid months of good outdoor weather. Despite the heat, by evening we usually have a decent breeze and it cools off a bit making evenings delightful. So, take advantage of the situation and find things to do outdoors. Grab your lawn chair, your picnic basket and go hear some live music. There is music of all genres and every day of the week. We have the trusted Hatch Shell location by the Charles River, which is easily accessible by the T and there is a series of live concerts in various genres, with Eddie Money, playing on Saturday night. Also look for the Landmark concert series for classical music on …
Friday, July 15, 2011
Comedy clubs and humor for the heart are a great way to escape from the pressures of parenting.
Each Friday, Mary Hannon's "Great Escape" column offers parents one idea to give you a much deserved break from the kids. Sure, you probably laugh a lot watching the crazy antics of your own children, but getting out and hearing a good comedian can be a great night out. Did you know that there are huge benefits to laughter? That’s right, not only improving your physical health, but laughter may be the best escape you can find, from your daily grind, to bring you closer to the one you love. And we have world class comedians right here in Boston: Jay Leno and Dane Cook, to name a couple of comedians who launched themselves from Beantown. Who will be the next great comedian to make it on the national scene? Go hear a few and decide for …
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Great Escape, a rooftop pool, a fun date in Boston.
You spent last weekend dragging the kids to the beach, forcing sun screen on them and telling them, “yes, we’re almost there” while you sat in traffic on the way. When you were at the beach, you broke up the fights with the toys and worried about the kids drowning in the rolling waves. How relaxing. Now it’s your time away. Although a trip to the beach without the kids is fun, spending two hours in the car is a drag. Perhaps you’d like to just sit by a pool and take an occasional dip and sip a cocktail or an ice cold beer. The hippest spot, right nearby, is the Colonnade roof top pool. With a pool bar and Brasserie Jo’s (delicious French bistro) right there you can have your cocktails and drink them, too. The roof top pool of the …
42.34569
-71.08145
120 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
/articles/get-away-with-a-trendy-and-hip-spot-for-adult-swim
/locations/4789874
