Here's a guest post from Tara, our marketing and design wiz extraodinaire at Charlesgate Realty Group.  I asked her to put together a list of top things to do in Boston in the spring, and what better way to do it on 23 Neighborhoods than to list the top 23!  Here goes:

 

I took a poll in the office, asked around, snooped, threatened, and cajoled, and here are the results I got. We could all break out into a Julie Andrews song, twirling and dancing, because spring is right around the corner, or we could just check out some of the top things we LOVE to do in Boston during the Spring...

23. What better way to get reacquainted with Boston, after sitting in-doors all winter, than following that 2.5 mile red brick walking trail known as The Freedom Trail.

22. If you are a little out of it from this long and snow filled winter and you're sick of walking you can always enjoy the city on Main Street Pedicabs. Maybe it's just me, but it makes me feel kinda important having other people pedal me around! :-) 

21. If it's still a little chilly for you, head over the Samuel Adams Brewery to find out what's new and brewing.  

20. The SoWa Open Market offers a shopping experience like no other in Boston. With an ever-changing group of artisans, a hip location and the chance to feel the sun on your face while you browse, it's a trip worth making. The market offers the opportunity to meet the artists, vendors and farmers behind the work. Every week offers shoppers something different and unique. Opening weekend is May 16 & 17th.

19.  Clear out the winter cobwebs!  For some this doesn't sound like fun, but it really can be: Spring Cleaning. I have to admit, I've already started spring cleaning, and have sold a few things on Craigslist, puts a little extra cash in your hands. 

18.  Art in Bloom. Celebrate spring at this annual festival of fine art and fresh flowers! See the MFA's galleries transformed by fifty extraordinary arrangements inspired by magnificent works of art--from Asian sculptures to world-renowned European paintings. Don't Touch ANYTHING! Happens April 25-27th at the MFA.

17. What about taking a fine afternoon stroll along the Charles? (Or exercising!) You can run, walk, roller blade, crawl, skip...take a break from the activity and watch the rowers...the options are unlimited.

16. Get your fork out, in case you carry your own....The South End is one of Boston's main restaurant districts offering a diverse mix of cuisines. Tremont Street is called "Restaurant Row" for a reason!  The South End's range of restaurants include American southern "Low Country", French, Ethiopian, Brazilian, Indian, Italian, Korean, Greek, Middle Eastern, Cuban, Thai, and Japanese among others.

15. The spectacular Big Apple Circus is back in town for its 31st season with Play On at the City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA. Grab some popcorn and be awed by the wonders of the circus!

14. As a welcome sign of Spring, the Swan Boats are a great way of officially knowing that Spring is here, and Summer is on it's way. They've been bringing in Spring for 130 years for crying out loud. I think they know what they are doing...

13. The Scooper Bowl.  We LOVE ice cream! What it's all about: the nation's largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival, which supports cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. So that ice cream headache is all for a GREAT cause!

12. Grab one of those excellent shakes (you know the ones were you go cross-eyed from sucking on the straw but hardly get anything) from Sullivan's in South Boston then head to Castle Island to take a pleasant walk, watch the ships come in, or be amazed by the planes flying in and out of the airport.

11. Walking to Mike's Pastries and getting one of their amazing cannoli's with some great coffee,  then sight-seeing through the North End. If you go towards the water, there is always a few bocce ball tournaments going on in that general area, which, for some odd reason, are always entertaining.

10. Is it okay to say..."Get your drink on?"  The tasting event of the season is the Beer Summit Boston. Over 60 best brewers in the world will be showing off their best work. (From what we hear, it's over 200 beers! A tribute to Homer J. Simpson..mmmmm Beeeer.) This 10th Annual Event is taking place April 17 & 18th. For more info check out: The Beer Summit Website.

9. Are flowers your thing in the spring? (I'm a poet and don't even know it!) If you can't wait for Springs blooming glory then the next best thing would be New England's Spring Flower Show. Although, we don't suggest dressing up in that bee costume you've been dying to wear.

8. Spring also marks the beginning of a new season for another Boston institution - the Boston Pops. Although classical music may not be everyone's cup of tea, this world-class orchestra opens in Symphony hall in early May and plays music that captures and delights any audience. Whether John Williams is guest conducting his movie scores,  (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, JAWS, which they usually show movie clips throughout) or the symphony is accompanying a pop or rock idol, the show is guaranteed to be a hit. Always fun.

7. Surprisingly....Duck Tours - Trust me, its cool. Some Bostonians are skeptical at first till they actually sit on a WWII amphibious craft. You spend about a half hour touring and then head over to the water and literally drive into the river. Pretty reasonable at something like $8 a person plus the kids will have a ball.

6. Quincy Market - Stroll down to this wonderful spot and grab some lunch and enjoy the atmosphere. The crowds are always out for this public gathering venue. There is everything from great food vendors, magician's shops to some really fun street performers. Make sure you grab some Boston peanuts while your there, fresh roasted!

5. Two words: Newbury Street. Spring time on Newbury means more people milling around, shopping, enjoying the sun. Grab a seat at one of the outdoor restaurants, grab a drink and some food, and enjoy the art of people watching. We guarantee you will be entertained 100%!

4. A handful of our colleagues emailed me back saying they LOVED eating lunch in the Commons on a park bench on a decently warm day in the spring. (Can't argue with that!)

3. Check out art house films at the Independent Film Festival Boston - now in its seventh year showcasing some of the best independent and cutting edge films.  This stuff can't be seen elsewhere! 

2. Coming in close to our number one, is of course Patriots Day, also known in Boston as The Race of all Races: The Boston Marathon. (We will be hosting a little shin-dig here at the office, which is literally a block away from the finish line. Come up and say hi!!)

1.  Most of us concurred that the best thing to do was go to a Red Sox's game.  As one of our colleagues put it: "Go to a Red Sox game. Or if you can't get tickets because you don't know God Himself, drink beer at a bar that has open windows with the game on." Boston Red Sox website

Enjoy!

 

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