Every year, it’s the same story. One day, seemingly out of nowhere, you go outside and the air is so numbing, the wind so piercingly cold that you can hardly breathe. You’re forced to pull out the the mittens, hat, scarf, heavy-duty winter coat and hiking boots. That’s right – another snowy, gray Boston winter is upon us. As the semester begins, your helpful Life ‘ Leisure editor has tracked down some of the hottest winter spots that every BU student should experience. These may just warm up your otherwise frosty, lifeless afternoons.
Tealuxe 108 Newbury St. T-Stop: Copley
Tired of warming up with the same old cup of coffee? Tealuxe, a tea bar on Newbury Street, will warm the heart of any frozen Bostonian. Whether you’re looking to warm up with one of their hundreds of varieties of teas or sit down to a light lunch, Tealuxe is the perfect pit stop for frozen shoppers. An adorable cafÈ area downstairs offers salads, sandwiches and, of course, more tea choices than China. And we’re not just talking chamomiles and Earl Greys: Tealuxe’s tea selection includes several chais and many expensive and exotic imported teas. Each tea is hand mixed and brewed in its own tiny pot; you’ll never see a Lipton tea bag in this joint. Tealuxe is the Starbucks of the tea world, without the obnoxious commercialization, and anyone who is sick of caramel macchiatos and coffee breath should check out what’s brewing on Newbury Street.
TONIC 1316 Commonwealth Ave. T-stop: Harvard Ave.
For an upscale good time, head over to Tonic, a new bar in Brighton that seems directly transplanted from New York City. The first floor bar is a trés chic open seating area that’s a popular after-work hang out. Another bar, located downstairs, is the perfect alternative to the slightly less sophisticated, typical student bar. The menu is upscale and the drinks are pricey, but the house and R’B DJ’s and the two projection screens and six flat screen TVs upstairs make the experience worth the steep prices. Tonic is a great spot for a night out with friends on a cold Boston night – just make sure you save some money for cab fare.
The Rack 24 Clinton St. T-stop: Haymarket
If you love to people-watch, The Rack is the nightspot for you. A popular hangout for Red Sox and Patriots players alike, The Rack’s two bars and pool tables offer a relaxed atmosphere for people from all walks of life, from high-visibility celebs to the average Joe Schmoe who’s looking for a hot new hangout. Though the bar does offer food, the main attraction at The Rack is the live music seven nights a week. This trendy bar is so chic that they strictly enforce a dress code (no T-shirts, baseball caps or jeans on Saturdays, please!). Isn’t it all worth it, though, for a chance to rub elbows with Tom Brady and Nomar?
Frog Pond Boston Common T-Stop: Arlington
What could be more picturesque than ice skating in the middle of Boston Common? You can’t live in Boston without taking a trip to the Frog Pond and skating in dizzying circles for awhile – it’s the quintessential winter activity. Admission is only $3 and you can rent skates for $5, so bring a pal and make it a date. Go skating with a group of friends and see who will lose feeling in their toes first – always a fun, albeit painful, game. Skating at the Frog Pond is an ideal alternative to doing homework on a weekend afternoon as well as a great way to work off all those excess holiday pounds. Its fun, its cheap, and gets you out of Warren Towers. What more could you ask for?
Blue Cat Cafe 94 Massachusetts Ave T-stop: Hynes Convention Center
The Blue Cat Cafe is must for Bostonians who need to see and be seen. With its swanky decor and signature drink specials, the Blue Cat is the perfect place to start the weekend. You can sit in a booth and enjoy standard bar and grill food, a Blue Cat cosmo and acid lounge music spun by a DJ in the bar area Tuesday through Saturday. Go for dinner with a group of your nearest and dearest to catch up on gossip or just to catch a drink with that special someone. If you’re looking to kick back and relax in a plush place with a laid back atmosphere, the Blue Cat Cafe is definitely worth checking out.
Brattle Book Shop 9 West St. T-stop: Downtown Crossing/Park St.
The next time you’re at Downtown Crossing, take time between DSW and H’M to expand your horizons at the Brattle Book Shop. The Brattle offers books on tons of subjects and specializes in those hard-to-find, out-of-print books that you dream of unearthing. A trip to this bookstore is truly an adventure, with rows and rows of more than 250,000 rare finds, back issues of various magazines and other treats like autographed manuscripts, maps, and prints that will brighten any dorm room wall. And if you can’t find anything to fit your fancy in the three stories of printed material, you can also browse through bargain book bins in the front of the store. Whether you’re looking to pick up a cheap read or find the first edition of your favorite novel, the Brattle Book Shop is a Boston gem that demands repeat visits.