A local Brighton/Allston dancing academy where you can learn Salsa and Bachata with people from all…read moreages. You can do drop ins so it works with your schedule (I recommend buying the 10-class card if you expect to do at least 10 classes, which most newbies would need).

I just took my first salsa lesson at Salsa Y Control last night, and I was very impressed! When I…read moresaw how many students were in the class, I was a little worried, but they have got this down to a science. While we were learning basic steps, standing in lines, they had us rotate so that everyone got a chance to be in front. They also had us rotate when we were partner dancing. I liked getting to dance with lots of different people, and it was nice not to have to worry about being a wallflower! The teachers are great, too. Very upbeat and good at explaining things. Yay! I would actually like to come back for more classes, but I do find the website a little confusing. I found it hard to tell exactly how to pay and when the classes started. I could be just being thick.

" Hours Wednesday- Sunday 11:am -4pm it's FREE"…read more "Waterworks Museum". Wow I live right near here and I didn't know this place existed . The y have a small parking lot . If this doesn't work out , they have street metered parking . It's very interesting. My husband and I had a great time . We learned something new , it was free . We even found non metered parking . So the parking was free .

Hidden gem in plain sight striking a gorgeous pose on the reservoir near BC, this museum is a work…read moreof art and function. You can see everything in under an hour - 15-30 mins if u just pop through and marvel at the architecture. Informative 30 min tours also offered, moves fairly quickly and is good for kids as well. There is a small exhibit and kidspace upstairs that also gives you a higher vantage point over the machinery. About 30 or so Free Parking spaces. Free admission. Drop dead fab architecture inside and out. Don't miss the basement restroom-level displays of yesteryear commodes. A fantastic and impressively aesthetic tribute to pioneering waterworks and engineering wonders.

This was a great day spent viewing the collection of Isabella Stewart Gardner. So many great pieces…read moreall over the museum, floor to ceiling, and the most beautiful courtyard that I couldn't stop taking pictures of. There were 13 pieces of art that were stolen back in 1990 and still haven't been recovered. As you're walking around, you'll notice that some places have empty frames where the works are art were displayed before they were stolen. The museum is housed over 3 floors of the "palace", the newest wing on the ground level has the gift shop, a cafe, a coat check, and the living room with comfy seats if your dogs are barking. Well worth the visit if you're in Boston!

I liked the museum, but I wish there had been a clearer overall explanation of what was going on. I…read morealso would have appreciated more info about each art piece, even though it did feel more authentic having everything displayed across the walls. The space itself is a beautiful building to walk through, but I did feel a bit lost at times even with a map, since I wasn't totally sure what I was looking at or the full context behind it. They also offer a temporary exhibit but it was completely different than the rest and was a photography exhibit that was not appealing to me. They also have a small gift shop that is very expensive. Still a really interesting and unique visit overall.

What a treat it was to be able to see this in my lifetime and to spend some time on the grounds of…read moreHarvard University. So much in this museum I don't think you could possible see the whole place in one day. We spent 4-5 hours here and may have seen 50%. I so wish I lived closer so I could take it all in over several visits. The mineral and rocks area especially drew lots of my attention and I spent way too much time there and slowed us down a good bit. It's was so freaking cool though! Giant wads of gold and precious metals everywhere. Things I have never seen. Wonderful things! Also.... They have dinosaurs and so many cool things. Glass flowers, ancient artifacts, rare finds from around the world all housed in the historic University of Harvard campus. Check out my pics. I even have one where I am the last link in the evolutionary chain, LOL. Totally worth a trip here if you can. So many wonderful things to see!! '26 - 29

I came for the glass flowers and they did not disappoint! It turns out that access to the glass…read moreflower exhibit also permits you to access the Peabody museum, the taxidermy exhibits, and the glass sea animals. I was most impressed by the glass exhibits and the entomology collection. I only wish they had a little more information on how the glass flowers were maintained and created, I learned a lot from asking a docent but I'd love to see more info! The taxidermy smelled a bit strongly but was very interesting! The Peabody exhibits were interesting... I was most amused by the Fiji mermaid and the "stickball" exhibit (wtf)!

Came here for kayaking. Brought own kayak. There are several places to launch kayaks…read more Also you can rent kayak or canoe here. Plenty of benches and parking. Con: lots of poops from dogs and/or birds on the grass. Don't want to lay down there.

Continuing along the Esplanade to Allston/Brighton you'll come to this sweet green whose gorgeous…read moregrounds offer playgrounds, boating, a public theater and even community gardens! I'm sure the path is scenic and pleasant from downtown, but I wouldn't know because let's be honest, the loop is 18 miles. Think I've ever bladed it all? Right. So while it's a ways out and not super easy to reach by public transit, the parking lot is huge and attractions abundant.

One of my coworkers invited me and my boyfriend to see a play that her friend is directing and…read moreproducing. I enjoyed the play very much. It reminds me of families in the south and just a great story line. I wish a lot of people knew about this play and came to see it. I have not been in Hibernian hall in a long time maybe over 10 years but it was good to come back and see that it is still being used in the community.

Amazing customer service. Amazing accommodations. Definitely goes above and beyond to make magic…read morehappen with special affects for events. The planning and logistics were well strategized and executed from A-Z. If you rent the space ask for Asad Hardwick. Really coordinated everything for my event tailored to our needs.

This studio has been wonderful! I host a freestyle dance group every Sunday evening. Working with…read moreMelissa (the manager) is an absolute pleasure! She is very flexible and loves to have new renters rent her space. I came to her at the end of August and by mid October I was using the studio space and working very closely with her! The space is beautiful, and very chill and relaxed. There are such a variety of classes at this studio. Because of Melissa's trust and good faith, as well as the studio's atmosphere of friendliness, I would recommend this to anyone!

It is rare to find an angel on earth but believe me when I say there are a few angels at BAD and…read moreleading them all is Ms. Melissa. In the field of dance where everyone strives for the perfect figure and a perfect routine, Ms. Melissa teaches work and a lot of it, she never gives up and will never let you either. She loves to dance and teaches the kids just that. With her kind heart and words she pushes every single girl to do her best while always respecting and encouraging. The girls don't work towards a recital, they learn technique and will run through many different dances until together they decide what will be their final performance piece. BAD will put on a beautiful yearly recital, in an amazing theater with costumes and lighting and great music. Every year at the end of the recital someone will come up to me and say; "in our old studio the recital was much nicer... the level was higher...". Could be... I can't compare, but, Ms. Melissa isn't about the show. Ms. Melissa is about opportunities and making sure every single girl get her moment center stage. She's about improvement, making sure every girl dances better by the end of the year, and most of all she's about confidence every girl believes in her heart she is the best dancer that she could be.

East Coast Soul (The Stax) absolutely CRUSHED it on the stage on 12/12 and they were the highlight…read moreof our wedding night. We had so many people come up to us after the wedding to tell us how awesome the band was and how much fun they had dancing and singing their hearts out. I also wanted to call out the uplighting ECS provided and how fantastic it looked in the ballroom. East Coast Soul absolutely nailed it, the uplighting changed colors throughout the night and put out the best vibe for our reception. I would 100% recommend this group for any big event. They brought the energy and fun. THANK YOU ECS!

East Coast Soul is the absolute best, I can not recommend enough!! I had countless guests coming up…read moreto me throughout the night asking me where we found this group, saying this is the best wedding band they've ever heard. This is such a talented group of individuals, and you can tell they love what they do--you can feel their heart and soul in every song. I greatly appreciate that they were willing to learn a few songs specific for our wedding to help me surprise my groom, that was really special. Look no further, go with ECS.

This is my favorite place to bring friends from out-of-town as the Mapparium never fails to leave…read morepeople with an "OMG that is cool" reaction. Don't have anyone visiting but still want to see something one-of-a-kind and celebrating it's 90th anniversary this year? Then go to the Mapparium!!!! Years ago it was easy to just walk in, but I recommend booking online if it's a busy weekend (holiday) or Saturday. We went at noon on a rainy Sunday, it was still busy but Barbara at the desk got us checked-in and ready quickly.

They recently renovated this spot and opened back up not too long ago, which is when I initially…read moreintended on going. But, better late than never. They have different prices for different age groups and students. The lady up front was very kind and helpful - we even bonded on being alumni of the same high school and she gave a brief overview of the experience. They did have a complimentary coat/bag check which we took full advantage of. I am not sure how spaced apart the sessions are but we waited only about 10 minutes to go on the next one. We walked into the room with the glass globe, where we were advised to stay quiet since conversations travel very easily. A sound track was playing in the background while interacting with the map. We stayed in there for about 15 minutes. I was caught taking a video, but people were taking pictures / using their phone after the show, so I am unsure if videos are prohibited or I just took it out too soon. After exiting the room, they have a couple stands with information, as well as a wall where you can take a card and write an answer to the question. My question was, " what do you have hope for" or something along those lines. It's a very cool experience, but it did feel quick.

I gave 2 starts because I believe in their mission but found the staff to be disorganized and…read moreunprofessional if not downright rude. I offered my time and services as a volunteer. I came to the center and interviewed with the volunteer manager. After the interview she left me with another volunteer so that I could tour the facility. And when I say she left me, I mean she LEFT me. Like didn't shake my hand (Actually, she never gave me a handshake at all which, again, I find unprofessional), offer any explanation as to what the next steps would be, walk me out, etc. I don't think she even said goodbye. She handed me off to the other volunteer, walked away, and that was the last I ever saw or heard from her again. After the tour both myself and the other volunteer were confused as to what to do next. I just stood there while the other volunteer went to the manager's office. She knocked twice but there was no response so, totally confused, I just left. Never heard back from the manager despite her initially telling me they needed consistent reliable volunteers. At the end of the interview I asked for reasonable accommodation for a disability and I wonder if that has something to do with her ghosting me. Either way I think it's an incredibly unprofessional way to represent the organization and a rude way to behave towards ANYONE who is offering to volunteer their time and energy. While I understand they are understaffed, there is no excuse to ignore basic protocol of professionalism. Ultimately I decided to volunteer elsewhere.

The Women's Center in Cambridge has lots of interesting free groups to attend. I have gone most…read morerecently to the Spanish/English conversation group and the singing class, and to a few others over the years. There is also yoga, sewing, beading, songwriting, healing through arts, discussion for survivors of child sexual abuse, women's narcotics anonymous, feminist book club, and lots more. Any woman can propose to set up and facilitate a group. The house, on Pleasant Street, indeed is a pleasant place to hang out, use the computer lab (there are plenty of computers) or the library, or prepare yourself a snack. You can meet other women from all walks of life. There is a small restful patio in back with a garden. And, what I particularly like, everything there is free! This is partly because most of the staff are volunteers. And it's only a few blocks from the Central Square MBTA station.