Everything you’ve heard is true: from electrifying games to creaky seats, rowdy fans to the formidable Green Monster, Fenway provides a memorable place to take in a game. Yeah, so it’s not as big or modern as other cities’ stadiums. Ticket prices are expensive, and most games are sold out. And good luck finding a place to park. But combine the crowds, the history, and a sometimes-loveable, sometimes-infuriating home team and you’ll see why a game at Fenway is irresistible.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Visitors can enjoy a little bit of Venice in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Constructed like an Italian villa, the museum and its exhibits have been virtually unchanged, per Gardner’s wishes, since her death in 1924. (You have to admire Gardner’s chutzpah in establishing such a permanent legacy.) The courtyard is stunning, particularly on a cold winter’s day, when the lush greenery and plentiful light provides a soothing respite from the harsh elements outside. And let’s not forget about the art. Here, you’ll see works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Raphael, and more, plus stunning tapestries. Like the Mapparium, the Gardner may be considered one of the world’s most intriguing—and unusual—time capsules.
North End
I’ve raved about the North End before, both for its rich Italian heritage and new trendy flair. The winding cobblestone streets, historic Old North Church, and endless dining options are just scratching the surface of what this neighborhood has to offer. From the Old World feasts in summer, its mix of Mom-and-Pop Italian eateries and trendy trattorias, and comingling of travelers with lifelong locals, the North End is Europe and America, old and new, authentic and touristy, all in one. And I dare you to find better pizza or espresso in the city—and maybe the rest of New England.
Aunt Sadie’s Candlestix, South End
Tucked in among elegant brownstones on gorgeous Union Park Street in the South End, Aunt Sadie’s Candlestix offers much more than its famous scented candles. I like to come here for one-of-a-kind gifts, and usually walk out with a present for myself as well, be it a sumptuous new lotion, a cool jazz CD, or a have-to-have-it Christmas ornament. Part of the staff’s genius is enabling its customers to flip the seasons: there’s no better antidote to winter doldrums than Sadie’s sweet, sandy beach candle, or the pitch-perfect woodsy aroma of the balsam or “Tree in a Can” candle to invoke the holiday spirit in spring or summer.
