There’s nothing like a classic New York versus Boston sports game: There’s the always-dueling Red Sox and Yankees; the formidable Celtics and decent (?) New York Knicks; and of course, the new rivalry of the New England Patriots and New York Giants. This year’s Super Bowl also marks a rematch of 2008′s Big Game . But if you couldn’t afford to jet out to Indianapolis to catch your favorite football team in play (and who could, with hotel rates in the city hovering around $450/night), hole up a hotel bar local to your team. Not only will you have the camaraderie of fellow fans, but you’ll also be able to watch in style, too. Bonus? If you get too drunk, you can stay in one of the hotel’s available rooms. Just saying.
The Bar: Champions
Champions Bar at the Boston Marriott Copley Place; Boston, MA
With 44 HD TVs strategically positioned throughout the bar, a 12’X24’ viewing screen, 36 beers on tap (we recommend one of the Dogfish brews) and a long list of cocktails, the Champions Sports Bar at the Marriott is one of the best places to catch the game. Whether you sit at the bar over a drink and a small bite, or at one of the tables enjoying a full meal — order the Boston Lobster sliders — you’re sure to get a good view of the screens. Plus, you’re within a stone’s throw of Fenway Park and the TD Garden — two venues that’ll make any sports afficionado feel right at home. (At least a Boston fan.)
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by Jane on January 9, 2012
OK, so even though Oyster.com is a travel website and our main goal is to deliver the truth about hotels, we also secretly moonlight as a life coach. That’s right, we can dole out advice on waaaay more than just hotels; don’t forget — we helped you get over your ex, offered Lindsay Lohan some sound legal advice, and dissected the key moments in Kris and Kim’s “marriage” (if you can call it that) that lead to the split. So yeah, we’re basically the new-and-improved Dr. Phil with a ton of travel tips to boot. To help transform your lifestyle, we scoured the globe and found the destinations best suited for changing your life for the better. (We guess some people can handle the total transformation at home but a vacation is always nice, right?) So grab a friend who’s also in need of a little improvement and head to Oyster’s top five picks for transforming your life! Check ‘em out below or on Shape.com.
Sunday Farmers' Market; Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Ranked by PETA as one of the most veg (and vegan)-friendly cities in the country, Washington, D.C. is the perfect spot to transform your diet. Going vegetarian is all the rage (Meatless Monday, anyone?) — it’s been proven to be good for your heart, your skin, and your immune system – and D.C. has tons of vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants. But even if you’re just looking to increase your veggie intake without completely swearing off meat (I mean, have vegetarians never had a hamburger before? Hard to give up, don’t you think?), D.C. is a good place to be. With the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” nutrition initiative, the capital is all about you getting your three to four servings of fruits and veggies (each!) every day. Read More »
Most of us spent last weekend popping bottles of (cheap) champagne, passing cheese platters, or ordering in MSG-loaded Chinese food. Regardless of which indulgence you chose, there’s definitely at least a tinge of holiday hangover – alcoholic or otherwise. Start the year off right by heading to one of these super-sleek spas in a city near you.
The spa bathroom at the Beverly Wilshire; Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES: The Spa at the Beverly Hills Wilshire
The Detox Treatment: The Detox Massage ($180 for 60 minutes)
The Deal: As if complimentary use of the 8,000-square foot spa’s saunas, steam rooms, and experience showers (which feature the likes of colored lighting and variable pressure) wasn’t rejuvenating enough, every treatment here is top-notch, which is why we’d head straight for a Detox Massage. Therapists at the Rodeo Spa use specific massage techniques to flush out kidney, liver and other bodily toxins that will relax your mind, too.
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The Frog Pond in Boston Common becomes the city's most popular ice skating rink in the winter.
While the winter weather in Boston does limit the amount of outdoor activities you can partake in, there’s one outdoor activity that’s best enjoyed in winter: ice skating. Boston offers a variety of ice skating rinks — all with their own charm and characteristics. Below, take a look at my three favorites.
- The Frog Pond in Boston Common is the most famous and popular of the Boston ice skating rinks, for good reason. It’s in the center of the city, and offers ice skating lessons, skate rentals, public skate/freestyle sessions, and a snack bar. Consider staying in the center of the city, right at the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common or the Nine Zero Hotel Boston. Get to the rink early, as lines on sunny days can be long. Read More »
by Allie on January 19, 2011
What adjective would you use to describe your perfect weekend getaway? Literary? Refreshing? How about groovy? Try out these cool historical trips for an out-of-the ordinary vacation.
San Francisco:
If you were part of the counter culture during the Summer of Love, then you undoubtedly feel the calling to visit Haight-Ashbury. Even if you weren’t a flower child, there is so much to do and see near the intersection of these famous streets.
View of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, one sight to see on your groovy vacay
Do: Embrace your inner Flower Child and tour The Haight
Take the Flower Power Walking Tour or be your own guide. Be sure to see the residences of The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin. Stroll the side streets of Haight Ashbury and Cole Valley where Victorian homes are plentiful. The Haight has a wide variety of cafes and restaurants—why not end the day with Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia? Read More »
Duck prepared by chef Lydia Shire, who helms Towne Stove and spirits along with chef Jasper White
In the past two years, exceptional venues have cropped up all over Boston’s neighborhoods and gayborhoods, making the city almost as famous for its eateries as its renowned landmarks. Bostonians have commenced a raging cocktail and foodie revolution, throwing a Red Sox’s curve ball into the city’s resto/lounge scene. Read about two of the most notable new additions below.
Towne Stove and Spirits – 900 Boylston Street, (617) 247-0400
The foodie marriage between two of Boston’s most famous chefs, Jasper White and Lydia Shire, has spawned yet another beautiful offspring – this time an elegant, high-energy mega restaurant dedicated to comfort seafood and over-the-top worldly eats in the heart of Back Bay. Combining Lydia’s love for butter, lobster, global ingredients, and originality with Jasper’s love for New England seafood and a renowned equilibrium between home style cooking and haute cuisine, Towne Stove and Spirits boasts a menu as fun and busy as the crowds waiting on long waitlists to sample the latest White-Shire conception. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the 50-plus, family-style, savory creations; however, the “wood grilled lobster & corn pizza with honeyed ricotta,” the seasonal “razor clams a la plancha in baqsque alioli,” the “twice fried green beans with white soy and ginger juice,” and the “peking chicken and pot pie” should not be missed under any circumstances! Spread between a bustling bar in the front serving the best in mixology, a contemporary frenetic dining room downstairs, and a quieter, sparkling upstairs, this gastronomic trendsetter is currently one of the hottest seats in town! Towne is steps away from the Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Read More »
Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
Adult-type museums can often seem off-limits to those with children, but if you are visiting the Boston area with your little ones, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in the Seaport District has you covered. Not only do they offer free admission to all children under the age of 17, they also offer a special family “Play Date” on the last Saturday of every month.
The Family Play Date at the ICA offers special activities especially for families, and adults can get in free with a child (who are also free). Each Play Date is different, but expect to see a range of activities that families can do together, such as movies, special performances, art activities, and tours of the galleries. You don’t have to register in advance for the Family Play Dates. The ICA also offers baby changing stations, allows the use of strollers throughout the museum, and has children’s food available at its cafe.
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Alibi at the Liberty Hotel
Boston’s famous jail re-invention, the Liberty Hotel, takes no prisoners at its numerous food and drink outlets!
Just past the contemporary mosaics that rise in tandem with dueling escalators, the hotel’s signature restaurant, CLINK., gives new meaning to prison eats. The vestiges of original cells set the backdrop for modern American cuisine, heavily focused on local and sustainable products. The half-dozen artisan cheeses are pure dairy utopia, merging the savory fruits of New England’s finest utters with sweet home-made preserves. The raw bar presents top regional catch on the half shell, including Thatch Island Oysters from Barnstable, MA and Littleneck Clams from Cape Cod. The hearty mains satisfy carnivorous cravings with such dishes as the Natural Venison Loin (with sweetbreads, pistachio puree, braised endives and raisin jus) and the Red Wine Braised Shortribs (with potato puree, maitake mushrooms and horseradish gremolata). Read More »
by Angie on August 9, 2010
Exterior of Taj Boston
Saying good-bye to your college-bound child can be difficult — and finding a hotel for move-in day in Boston ain’t easy, either. Luckily for you, we’ve done the leg work and found some hotels in Boston that still have rooms available for the city’s busiest time of year. And while we can’t help you cope with the idea of an empty nest, we certainly hope that deciding on a place to stay for move-in day will make the transition a little easier. Read More »
