Boston – A Feast for the Senses

 

by William Anthony

 

Boston, one of America’s oldest cities is also a city of “firsts” ... Harvard, the country’s first university (1636); Harvard Stadium, the oldest stadium in the nation; first public library; first massive reinforced concrete structure in the world; the nation’s first botanical garden; and Boston Common — the first public park.  The historic list goes on and on and on.  Boston is a city you will fully enjoy, and you will want to come back.  There is more history than you can  see, study, touch, and taste in a one-week trip; that is why you, like me, will return.

 

The best way to see Boston is to first experience the “Duck Tour,” and then take the entire trolley tour without departing the trolley until you complete the entire loop. 

 

This trolley tour loop will give you the opportunity to note those sites where you wish to visit and spend more time.  The city of Boston has made seeing history very easy —  with a historical walking tour.  How, you ask?  Well, the city has painted a 2.5-mile red line from historical site to historical site.  Yes, a 2.5-mile red line.  Most tour guides and local people claim that it could take as many as  three days to complete the 2.5 miles if one is to visit and tour each site

 

You’ve never toured Boston in anything that comes close to Boston Duck Tours.  The fun begins as soon as you board your “Duck,” an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle.  First, you’ll be greeted by one of the legendary tour “ConDucktors,” who’ll be narrating  your tour.  Then you’re off on a journey like you’ve never had before.  You’ll cruise by all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts, from the golden-domed State House to Bunker Hill and the Fleet Center — Boston Common and Copley Square to the Big Dig — Government Center to fashionable Newbury Street — Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower, and more.  And, as the best of Boston unfolds before your eyes, your ConDucktor will be giving you lots of little known facts and interesting insights about this unique and wonderful city. 

 

And just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s more. It’s time for “Splashdown” as your ConDucktor splashes your Duck right into the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, the kind of view you just won’t get anywhere else.

 

Town Trolley Tours of Boston

 

Boston’s best tour conductors combine colorful anecdotes,  humorous stories and well-researched historical information into a fast-moving 110-minute narrative that’s both  entertaining and educational.  They turn back the pages of history and relive the bustling seaport days of colonial  Boston.  Boston’s largest fleet of sightseeing vehicles operate year-round with the most frequent departures.   Stops have been carefully selected for your convenience and  pleasure.  Best of all, you can tour at your own pace.  Get off at any designated stop, then reboard another trolley for the completion of your tour, making one full loop.

 

General Information:

 

Most all major airlines fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Boston, and a few fly from Long Beach to Boston.  Best to shop all, as many times during the year some airlines offer a great sale.  Recently “JetBlue” offered a $79 special each way on a round-trip booking…..great price!

Where to Eat

 

Boston offers great food and, of course, exceptional seafood, along with attentive service, knowledgeable servers, and  very affordable prices. The following restaurants  should not be missed.  I, along with my wife, felt that  these were among the very best (although there are many  other great places, we feel these are the best of the best):

Brasserie Jo, 120 Huntington Avenue, phone 617-425-3240.

 

A French, relaxed and casual bistro style restaurant located  in the Colonade Hotel.  The hotel is a favorite of Larry  Bird, and this restaurant is almost his very own kitchen  away from home.  The only complaint is that all the wines are French.  One hundred and twelve French wines on the list, with 15 by the glass ($5.75 to $10.00). Their New England clam chowder, onion tart and paté Maison were just a few of the menu items that were outstanding.

 

Sandrines, 8 Holyoke St., Cambridge, phone 617-497-5300. 

 

No trip to Boston is complete without a visit to Harvard and MIT, and, of course, to Harvard Square.  Sandrines is probably the best little French restaurant in Cambridge,  and is the restaurant of choice for special events, such as  the Harvard Foundation.  Menu items, which will delight,

are mushrooms with smoked bacon, caramelized onions and  Parisian mushrooms; prosciutto with caramelized onions and  crumbled bleu cheese; spicy harissa lamb sausage with  caramelized onions; and Macintosh apple and Maytag bleu  cheese salad with honey-spiced almonds and aged Port  dressing.  A superb wine list ... multinational and many from  California. 

Julien Restaurant, 250 Franklin Street, phone 617-451-1900. 

 

The Julien was named in honor of Boston’s first French  restaurant (Julien’s Restorato), which opened in 1794.  Considered Boston’s most beautiful dining room, the Julien  features vaulted gold leaf-edged ceilings, wingback chairs,  and five magnificent chandeliers.  Careful arrangement of  the Julien’s 92 seats has made the space, which once served  as the Federal Reserve Bank’s “Member Court,” into a dining  room of unparalleled elegance and intimacy.

 

Julien features award-winning classic French cuisine and has been hailed as a “Boston Classic” by Bon Appetit. Travel & Leisure stated that Julien offers “perfect-pitch  French.”  The Zagat Survey Guide noted, “Diners savor  perfection in every bite … it is an awesome place for a quiet  celebration.”  Julien has been consistently awarded the AAA  Four Diamond Award.  The Julien Bar once served as the  reception room for the governors of the Federal Reserve  Bank.  The room’s magnificent detail — carved doorways,  gilded coffered ceilings, and motifs of corncob and  cornucopias — serve as elaborate reminders of the grand Renaissance Revival period.

 

A good writer can, with words, paint a picture for the reader.  This restaurant, Julien, its menu, food, chef, food presentation, flavor and taste is so unique (four diamond rated) that you, the reader, must go to Julien in Boston and experience the treat yourself; because I do not have the ability or talent to paint this beautiful picture.

Seasons

 

Serves bold “New American” cuisine in a most romantic setting overlooking Faneuil Hall Marketplace and showcasing Boston’s breathtaking skyline.  Seasons (named one of the top 50 restaurants in all of America by Condé Nast) is also the recipient of the Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Award of Excellence” for its wine book … good value and literally hundreds of choices.  The dinner menu  changes often, and is very, very affordable.  I will offer two examples of the prix fixe menu offered by executive chef Brian Houlihan ... a three-course experience at $39: First Course:  Maple Scented Lobster and Acorn Squash Bisque or Asian Style Tuna Tartare, Crisp Won Tons.  Entrée: Slow Braised Veal Cheeks, Root Vegetable Purée, Marinated Artichokes or Pan Roasted Atlantic Salmon, Lobster Risotto, Wilted Spinach.  Dessert:  New England  Farmhouse Cheese Plate or Pumpkin Crème Brulée. Phone 800-343-0922 for reservations.

Where to Stay

 

There are many fine hotels in Boston, and most of the best  of the best hotel chains have a major presence in this exciting city.  The original “Boston Cream Pie” and the  first “Parker House Roll” both originated at Boston hotels many, many years ago.  We researched a dozen hotels before selecting two for our city review.  The reasons will become  obvious as you continue to read this review.

The Millennium Bostonian Hotel

 

Only two miles from Logan International Airport – overlooking Faneuil Hall is voted  “One of the World’s Best Places to Stay” by Conde Nast.  This hotel is a five-minute walk to the Italian north end home of many great Italian restaurants, as well as the Paul Revere House.  The hotel is two blocks from the city’s government center and business financial district.  Most every service and amenity is offered — fitness suite, health club (both complimentary), free morning car service  and world-class cuisine (see the Seasons restaurant review  in the column entitled, “Where to Eat”).  The Millennium  Bostonian Hotel phone number is 800-343-0922. 

Le Meridien Boston

 

Located in a former Federal Reserve Bank, which is a national  architectural landmark.  The Renaissance-Revival granite and  limestone building, built in 1922, was modeled after the Palazzo  della Cancellaria in Rome.  The hotel is both a four-star and four-diamond landmark.  While much of the hotel’s public space is  historic, the newly renovated guest rooms are contemporary  in both design and furnishings.  The original six-story  building was extended to nine floors with the addition of a  glass Mansard roof – one of the few conspicuous changes to  the building’s exterior.  As a result, nearly one-third of

the 326 rooms feature sloping glass windows that provide  dramatic views of downtown Boston and the scenic park at  Post Office Square.  Read the review of the Julien  Restaurant in the column entitled, “Where to Eat.”  Le

Meridien Boston’s phone number is 617-451-1900.