The City of Boston continues to invest in women’s sports. Para Maria, a restaurant at the Envoy Hotel in Boston’s Seaport district, opened a pop-up sports bar dedicated to women’s sports on March 17.
The seasonal bar, called “261,” is named after the bib number worn by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon back in 1967.
Guests can experience original women’s-sports-inspired food and drinks while watching Boston’s biggest women’s sports teams, including the Boston Legacy FC of the National Women’s Soccer League and the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
In Boston, where sports are integral to the city’s culture, there is a surprising lack of dedicated women’s sports venues.
“We said, ‘Why don’t we try to become that place,’” said Chris DeMilia, general manager of the Envoy Hotel. “The response has been impressive, to say the least.”
But the bar didn’t stop at Boston women’s sports. 261 also broadcasted the Women’s March Madness Tournament, and Bostonians showed out.
“[We] had about 45 reservations on the books just to watch the UConn Huskies, the women’s game,” DeMilia said.
Fans even showed up on Easter Sunday to watch the Women’s March Madness final between UCLA and South Carolina.
“What better way to watch this epic finals game than at this bar?” said Ashley Aruda, who was in attendance to watch the March Madness final. “I’m celebrating with my wife and a good friend from college, so there’s a lot of girl power here today.”
The opening of this pop-up bar came at perhaps the best possible time for women’s sports’ growth in Boston. The Legacy kicked off their inaugural season on March 14 at Gillette Stadium, and the Fleet sold out the first-ever PWHL game at TD Garden, set for April 11.
“[Women in sports are] working just as hard, if not way harder, than men in sports,” said Kelsey Gall, Aruda’s wife.. “I think it’s absolutely time that they get their flowers and they get their checks.”
The theme of women’s sports goes beyond the television screens at 261. Chef Tatiana Rosana, a two-time “Chopped” winner, created a menu inspired by women’s teams and athletes. Guests can enjoy original cocktails, “Switzer’s Sliders” and “Fleet Flatbread.”
The bar’s walls are decorated with photos of famous female athletes.
“Here’s Ali Raisman. Here’s Aaliyah Boston, it’s so good,” said Rene Reyes, a Boston Legacy FC and Boston Fleet fan, pointing to photos on the wall. “Thank God that [women’s sports are] getting the spotlight and the attention they deserve.”
261 and Para Maria are working with Dream Big!, a nonprofit organization that helps underserved young women acquire sports equipment, leadership training and scholarships. The bar will donate $1 from each sale of its original cocktails, the “Kathrine Spritzer” and the “Green Legacy.”
The seasonal bar is currently set to operate through April 30, though management may have other plans in mind as a result of the success the bar has seen in the past few weeks.
“We still want to be the place for folks to come out and watch women’s sports, so we’ll probably extend this for the WNBA season,” DeMilia said. “I think that’d be a good move.”
Regardless of 261’s future, it’s clear Bostonians are ready to show up for women’s sports.
Rene Reyes is a former contributor to The Daily Free Press