ROOT FOR THE (OTHER) HOME TEAMS
Thanks to the Hub’s rabid baseball fans, most Red Sox
games sell out months in advance. Still, there’s plenty of great
hardball options for your viewing pleasure. For less than $10,
you can watch former Red Sox pitcher Oil Can Boyd make his
comeback with the independent Brockton Rox, or cheer on
Lynn’s North Shore Spirit at Fraser Field, a charming,
old-school style stadium that includes a kid’s fun area and
picnic grounds.
EAT A
LOBSTER ROLL
Beach-lovers flock to Revere Beach (the
nation’s oldest public beach) to bask in the afternoon sun and
have a lobster roll at Kelly’s Roast Beef (410 Revere
Beach Blvd., Revere, 781-284-9129). Kelly’s, a Revere Beach
landmark since founders Frank McCarthy and Raymond Carey opened
its doors in 1951, is best known for its world-famous roast beef
sandwiches. Come summer, however, Kelly’s Brian McCarthy jokes,
“we probably sell more lobster rolls than anyone else in the
U.S.”
TAKE IT
TO THE STREETS
No summer trip to Boston is complete without seeing a
blindfolded man juggle a rubber chicken. Or so you’ll believe
once you’ve witnessed the eclectic mix of street performers
outside Faneuil Hall Marketplace. From juggling comedians
to experts in the arts of yo-yo trickery, street artists have
long been enticing visitors to linger in the market long after
their shopping is done.
SHOP FOR
CHEAP
To find a bargain in
Boston, you’ll need to go where the locals go. On Sundays this
summer, share in their latest find—two open-air markets that sell
everything from farm produce to vintage clothing. The brand-new
Jamaica Plain Antiques & Flea Market (3694 Washington St.,
Jamaica Plain, 617-522-3460, $1) is bound to be a hot commodity
following in the footsteps of the two-year-old South End Open
Market (540 Harrison Ave., 617-481-2257, free).
ENJOY
MUSIC IN THE AIR
It won’t cost you a dime to hear quality music in
Boston, as the city grooves all summer long to free concerts. Sit
beneath the stars and check out the Harvard University Band
(August 7) and the North Shore Philharmonic (August
10) at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade or the
Boston Landmarks Orchestra on Boston Common on August
13. Also, doo-wop pioneers The Platters perform at
City Hall Plaza on August 3, and world, jazz and blues
acts perform every Wednesday at City Hall as part of Boston’s
375th anniversary.
GO
BEYOND THE FREEDOM TRAIL
History can be found everywhere in Boston, and
sometimes the lesser-known sites offer enriching and affordable
experiences. The Boston Fire Museum (344 Congress St.,
617-482-1344), located in a historic firehouse, preserves vintage
fire-fighting artifacts from Boston’s earliest days, including
two of the city’s first fire trucks. Housing the Massachusetts
Archives, the Commonwealth Museum is a treasure trove for
any history fan. And see fine art for free at the McMullen
Museum of Art, where visitors can find stunning collections
of American, Italian and Flemish paintings and sculpture.
WATCH
BLOCKBUSTER HITS UNDER THE STARS
Going to the movies can be pricey, but here in the Hub
there are cheaper (and more picturesque) ways to enjoy a film.
Grab a blanket and a friend and enjoy a night under the stars
watching Free Friday Flicks at sundown at the Hatch Shell.
Bring the little ones to the Boston Children’s Museum for free
short Movies at the Milk Bottle each Friday at dusk. Or
have a meal at the Boston Harbor Hotel’s Intrigue Cafe on Rowes
Wharf and enjoy Movies by Moonlight—August 5
features The Postman Always Rings Twice, while An
American in Paris screens August 12.
GET ETHNIC
ALL OVER THE CITY
Throughout August,
Boston celebrates its ethnic diversity with fun, free festivals.
The Dominican Festival (August 12–14) in Franklin
Park kicks off with a parade, followed by lively music and dance,
while India Day (August 14) at the Hatch Shell
highlights India’s culture with “Bollywood” dances, folk music
and Indian cuisine. Eastern culture remains at the forefront at
the Chinatown Festival (August 7), which boasts
martial arts displays, Japanese drumming and Burmese dancing. The
Bayside Expo Center hosts a Brazilian Carnival on
August 7, and if you still have the energy to keep partying,
North End Italian Pride Week (August 2–7) promises
further merriment, delicious Italian food, music and crafts as
the red, white and green flags fly proudly.
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