1. Where My Dogs At?
One of the hardest things about college is having to live without dogs. Even if your dorm or apartment has a strict no-pets policy, you can still spend a little quality time with an adorable dog. Just head to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Headquarters, 350 South Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain, and volunteer to take a dog out to play. After you fill out a release form, you can take a very cute and attention-starved dog to run around the Arboretum. Isn’t it time you gave back to the dog community? MSPCA Headquarters: (617) 522-5055.
2. Get Fresh
On Friday and Saturday mornings, the North End turns into a huge farmers market full of shouting vendors selling fresh, locally grown foods. It’s a bit of a trip (the Haymarket stop on the Orange Line or Government Center stop on the Green Line), but shopping outdoors at Haymarket is much more fun than a trip to your fluorescent-lit, anaesthetized supermarket. It’s also cheaper. You can score fresh mescalun greens and many other vegetables for a $1 a pound. You’re eating healthy and saving money. Aww, Mom would be so proud.
3. Outdoor Adventure… in the City?
Once upon the time, the water in the Charles was truly dirty threatening tetanus with every ripple. Nowadays, it is somewhat cleaner (phew!). Try renting a two-person kayak from Charles River Canoe and Kayak, just past the Eliot Bridge on the Boston side shore in Allston, for only $15 an hour. It can be a strenuous workout or a leisurely paddle on the usually calm waters rentals are not available on rainy days. The green-roofed rental kiosk will operate until Oct. 13th.
4. Hip B-B-Books
Brookline Booksmith, located in the oh-so-cool Coolidge Corner, is by far our pick for best bookstore. You can spend a whole day in the cozy shelves without ever being noticed. The ‘Smith always has an eclectic collection of rare books, not to mention a unique section of homemade greeting cards and kitschy gifts. Plus, it attracts an interesting literary crowd with its almost weekly author interactions Chuck Palahniuk stopped by just a few days ago for what we imagine was a unique book signing.
5. Make Like a Tree…
Perhaps one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating sites in the Boston area is Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum, in Jamaica Plain. Established in 1872, the 256-acre living laboratory is home to thousands of tree and flower species some imported, others native there is a focus on North American, as well as on eastern-Asian wooded species. That said, it is extremely fun to frolic in the freshly cut grass and read the interesting tags attached to each tree that reveal origins and vital statistics. Entry and parking are free. The website (www.arboretum.harvard.edu) is very informative check it for maps, as well as for September’s featured species.
6. Ice, Ice Baby
Even the frigid Boston winter is no excuse to stay inside and do nothing. After temperatures drop, head over to the Boston Common to skate on the Frog Pond located in the center of the park. This scenic spot is surrounded by trees and historic architecture, and ice skating there would make a cute maybe even nauseatingly cute date.
7. What Atkins Diet?
Admit it. You want sugar. Mike’s Pastries (at 300 Hanover St. in the North End) is by far the best place to get it. Their cannoli, cheesecake and countless other confections are delicious and reasonably priced. So reasonably priced that you might end up eating, say, five slices of cake and two creampuffs in one sitting. A friend of mine swears he saw Britney Spears there on Saturday, forgetting her troubles with a big bowl of strawberry gelato.
8. Be all Artsy and Stuff
Admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art (955 Boylston St.; take the Green Line inbound to Hynes Convention Center) is free on Thursdays after 5 p.m. Besides their excellent exhibitions (currently showing: Splat Boom Pow! The Influence of Cartoons on Contemporary Art), this small but worthwile museum has a theater and very cool book shop.
9. Covering all bases… no, not Fenway
The all-inclusive City Pass is available in several major American cities, including San Francisco, New York and Chicago, and is a perfect for seeing all the big sites. Recently introduced to Boston, City Pass costs only $34 for $66 worth of attractions. The six-place pass must be used within nine days and grants entry to the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium, the Harvard Museum of Natural Science and the John F. Kennedy Library. You can purchase your booklet at any of the participating attractions or online at www.citypass.net. It seems almost too easy happy browsing!
10. Turning Japanese
For a cultural education in Boston’s backyard, try Porter’s Exchange, 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Nestled between city stalwarts The Gap, City Sports and Barnes ‘ Noble in the spacious Art Deco building until the mid-1980s, it housed a Sears store there are a sprinkling of Japanese shops, markets and restaurants, making for an interesting juxtaposition. I recommend the lunch specials at Café Mami, or the cheap, oh-so-fresh sushi at Kotobukiya, both in the Exchange’s Common Market Row.