Hotel room view.
Prayer flags for victims of the Boston bombing.
Well, okay, that last one gave it away. I have never been to Boston before, but L is presenting at a conference here, so I tagged along. We got in on Sunday evening, which gives me three and a half days in the city, more or less on my own.
Yesterday I wandered around Beacon Hill, sat happily and knit in the Common, got lost in Chinatown, went to Fenway and then strolled along Newbury St. Today my plan is to walk the Freedom Trail, and then I have no idea. Any suggestions? I want to go to the aquarium (apparently there is a newborn seal pup, as if I needed any convincing) and the inflight Porter magazine was all about Fort Point, but what else should I see? Are there shops and/or cafes/restaurants/bars I should see (besides Cheers, which of course)? And, not that I need any yarn, but is there a knitting shop somewhere in this city? I tried Googling it yesterday and all the much-loved ones seem to have closed… Any tips?
Pans & Needles 
I heartily recommend buying a ticket on the orange trolley – it is good for two days, unlimited off/on, and will take you all around, tell you talks, etc. It will get you to the aquarium, Cheers, etc. We used it as a personal taxi service when we were there in April.
Quincy Market is interesting to see, but Faneuil Hall is really something – birthplace of liberty (one of them – I think there as many of them as beds Geo. Washington slept in!)
As for LYS – the only one I ever knew of was on Newbury Street, and as you noted, it seems closed. I bet you could check on Ravelry, though, to learn if there are more.
Don’t skip the art museums…
I wish I had tips for you. I’ve never been there. Hope you have a great trip and find a ton of delicious yarn!
I agree with Salpal and don’t forget the North End with its fantastic Italian food. A must see is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (not far from Fenway Park!). Amazing collection. We lived in Cambridge for 6 years while T went to MIT and I worked at MIT & went to Simmons College for my MLS, so we spent a lot of time exploring the area and most of New England–so much to see! But for staying in the Boston/Cambridge area, you must get to Harvard and MIT. Harvard Yard is very beautiful in a traditional New England way and has wonderful museums. Harvard Square is fun to explore with all its funky tiny restaurants and galleries, many many buskers, and bookstores that stay open till all hours! Lots of energy and fun. Just down Mass Ave is MIT, a bit quirkier than Harvard and not as immediately appealing, but so much history and character! Walk down the Great Hall in 77 Mass. Ave and please pay a visit to the MIT Chapel, designed by Eero Saarinen; it is breathtaking and one of the most peaceful buildings I have ever been in. Enjoy your stay, take lots of pix, and I look forward to reading a post about it when you return!
I second the recommendation for the Isabel Stewart Gardner Museum — it’s amazing. So many great places to eat in the city but I’ll tell you some of my faces:
The butternut squash ravioli at Giacomo’s (Columbus and Braddock in South end) is to die for.
The veggie burger at 5 Napkins (prudential center) is the best veggie burger in the world
The gingerbread icecream at Toscanini’s in Cambridge — sooo, delicious.
There’s a great Sunday brunch at the B & B on Charles street (Beacon Hill)
Tour the Boston Public Library — enter off of Dartmouth and you’ll be in the old section of the library — walk up the marble stairs and look up — the paintings on the wall/ceilings are amazing — be sure you go all the way up to the top floor — well worth the climb and check out the courtyard between old and new buildings.
Right across the street are 2 amazing churches to see — Old South Church on Boylston and Trinity church in copley square (off Dartmouth) — you need to pay for a tour of the latter but well worth the $5.00
You might also want to tour the Church of Christ Science next to the prudential center — tours are free and it’s quite something.
There used to be some WONDERFUL yarn stores in Boston but they have all been going out of business which is so sad. If you had a car, it’s an hour up to Northhampton where the famous “Webs yarn store” lives — it’s a day trip worth taking. Locally there is a shop in Dorchester (Stitches I want to say?) and one in Jamaica plain that I think are still operating. Both were new so I don’t know them as well. So sad that Windsor Buttons is gone — it was a wonder.
IF you are over in the North end, “The North Street Grill” is a fabulous restaurant not yet overcome by tourists — food is awesome.
For an overview of the city, take the elevator up to the top of the Prudential center to the restaurant/bar — for the price of a drink you can view the city but beware there’s a dress code — no athletic wear/shorts/flip flops etc.
Well, as you can see, there’s no end of great places to go, things to do/see etc. I do miss my old home but we are now living in SF and getting to know this great city too. Enjoy and give my love to Boston!!
It’s a bit of a trek, but if you have access to a car and feel like a road trip you can drive out to Northampton, which is a really funky college town about 2hrs west of Boston. I highly recommend the Tibetan restaurant – Lhasa Cafe – it’s delish. Northampton is also the home of WEBS – the warehouse. Not that you need yarn, as you say, but you know, just to look đŸ™‚
Like the shot of the prayer flags. Pretty but sad.