On Boylston st. Just south where the Boston Public garden & Boston Common meet you can find the…read moreEdgar Allan Poe statue. Another cool statue that you can stumble upon just walking through Boston. During the Boston marathon weekend this one of the statues the city put a participant bib on. The only one statue I saw with a bib was the Democratic Donkey by old city hall. Makes me wonder how many statues in the city does Boston put bibs on during marathon weekend.

I've been a huge fan of Edgar Allan Poe's writings since middle school. Re-reading his stories is…read moresomething I never get bored doing. For that reason, this statue holds a special place in my heart (as I'm sure it is for thousands more like me who love his literature). It's a beautifully designed bronze sculpture created by Stefanie Rocknak in 2014. It is located at the Edgar Allan Poe Square. As he was originally from Boston, it seems a fitting tribute to his memory.

I was in Boston for a conference this week, and it's always a shame to not do or see anything in…read morethe city where you've been for work. I knew I wouldn't have much free time and needed to get some work done between the end of the conference and leaving for the airport. When I discovered the Athenaeum, I thought - perfect! So what is the Boston Athenaeum? It's a "unique combination of library, museum, and cultural center in a magnificent landmark building . . . One of the country's oldest and most distinguished independent libraries..." It's a great place to work, study, and socialize. The first floor of the Athenaeum (where they have several galleries, including one for temporary exhibits) is open to the public. The rest of the floors are open to members only. Annual membership is currently $506/year or $338 for people 40 and under. However, they offer a day pass ($40), which is how I took advantage of the Athenaeum for a day. There are desks, chairs, patios, tables - tons of places to work and study and read. There are incredible views. The collection of art on the main level was worth seeing, and I also enjoyed their temporary exhibit: "Allan Rohan Crite: Griot of Boston." I wish they had provided a map, because - as a first time visitor - I got very confused by the floorplan. I couldn't find stairs so used the elevator, but one elevator only went to the second of five floors, so ... I wandered, found a place on the fourth floor to work from, and explored. It's really beautiful and it was a great place to get some work done while learning a little about Boston. $40 was a little steep, but it allowed me to get a little bit of a museum visit in while also allowing me the opportunity to work in a more beautiful place for a few hours. I'd happily check it out again. If I lived in Boston, I'd definitely consider becoming a member.

We've gone to so many incredible talks at the Athenaeum. In addition to it being a beautiful…read morelibrary, the author talks and events really make this place special. Most recently, we went to a talk on George Washington's private library collection.

We had a wonderful First Friday evening in the SoWa district and I wish that we had more time as…read morestores & studios wrapped up fairly early in my opinion. It was so nice to spend time in our son's friends studio and see how the artist created his works, displayed them and greeted all of the visitors. Each studio was unique and impressive. This visit was 10/3, but I am eager to return again in the early spring to explore further. I will say, while most artists and shop people were friendly, a few were a bit standoffish. Maybe it is exhausting hosting so many people who are flowing through all day & evening. I loved the whole concept !

I came here for an evening and was blown away by the amount of raw talent in our city. I checked…read moreout 2 full floors but was unable to see everything because there were so many studios to see. This is a really special piece of Boston, and it almost feels magical to witness so many creative minds in the same building. It's worth your time to check it out. Apparently they also have a parking lot filled with food trucks so it's a perfect date, romantic or with friends.

What a beautiful building ever bibliophile should check out. It's the one of the largest libraries…read morein the US, but even for a non-local, it's worth checking out the space, even if it's just to get out of the weather for a bit. There are tours on occasion (not enough) but there's also an audio tour you can do from your phone, or you can just wander around. There's also a half that's more modern, but I was there for the historic part, which was amazing. Make sure to check out the murals by John Singer Sargent. Don't miss out on their temporary exhibits. The one on the Declaration of Independence had some original texts on display, which was great to see. There's also a couple of cafes on site. Plenty of space to read or research. The inner courtyard feels like something out of Italy if you just want to enjoy the outdoors while in the shade. It's worth the visit just to wander around inside and look at the art and architecture.

The Boston Public Library is right by Copley Square and very close to Newbury Street, making it a…read moregreat morning stop before the shops open The historic McKim Building is gorgeous, especially Bates Hall with its massive arched ceiling, huge windows, and iconic green reading lamps. The architecture, murals, staircases, and courtyards make it feel more like a historic European building than a regular public library Founded in 1848, the Boston Public Library was the first large free municipal library in the United States. The historic building is also a great spot for photography Free admission, beautiful architecture, and usually much more relaxed than Boston's major tourist attractions. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area

We decided to walk around MIT while we were in Boston. The campus itself is gorgeous and some of…read morethe building seem like a work of art themselves. There are art statues scattered all over campus and it is almost like a scavenger hunt trying to find them all. My favorite was right across from the one of their main building son Mass Ave. it is a sculpture of an outline of a man sitting and he is made of letters and numbers.

It exists within the MIT campus with little pretense; the Public Art Collection is full of…read moresurprises.

I don't usually review landmarks, but if frickin' santacon gets a local flavor listing, then the…read moreDorchester giant copper pear should too. This square has a bunch of random bits of art strewn about, including the notorious giant pear. It's kind of upsetting with this pock-marked wrinkly skin and weirdly long stem. But somehow all its weirdness just makes it that much more endearing. Kind of like Dorchester. I wouldn't say come here for the pear, but in the middle of eating at all the awesome little places around here, wouldn't stop to admire this, well, whatever it is.

Long before traffic circles existed, this park was laid out in 1851 by the city to entice…read moredevelopment. The stately Victorian bowfronts lining the Square were completed by 1870 as single family homes. After a significant period of urban decline, a renaissance began over 40 years ago saving the area from the wrecking ball. Today, these homes have been divided into multi-family dwellings representing a diverse cross-section of age, race, and socio-economic status. The Square still functions as a PUBLIC, ornamental space which is open to ALL for concerts, movies, and seasonal celebrations. The residents in conjunction with the Boston Parks Department continue to maintain the beauty of the Square. Unlike Gramercy Park in NYC or the much closer Louisburg Square, residents do not have exclusive rights to the Square. When the Square is open, it is open to all. https://www.facebook.com/WorcesterSquare

I'm sure that the homes along this street date back to the 18th century and they're quite lovely…read more You'd never see this if you didn't step off the busy Washington Street and here, where the street splits into one-way and goes around this small park in the middle. The park has a beautiful fountain and the most amazing sculpture at the center. The figures look quite Rodin to me. The caption says "The central fountain/artwork was designed and fabricated by artist Gene Cauthen. Worcester Square is part of the South End Landmark District. This Square is maintained by the Worcester Square Neighborhood Association in partnership with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. 1990."

Everything about this museum screams as a must-see when in Boston! The collection varies in era…read morebased on sections of the home. Like most museums but I feel for this one especially, it's important to wear comfy shoes. I had seen amazing photos and videos with the courtyard collection as Isabella Stewart Gardner had a beautiful garden at the center of the building in such a unique way. It's a lovely view from the ground and even from above. It's important to make a reservation ahead of time and pick a window that has decent natural light in my opinion which makes the museum even better of a sight!!

I got so many recommendations to visit this museum, and I can definitely see why. This is a gem of…read morea building, and one of the most interesting collections of art and antiques you are likely to view. When you get here, it is worth reading over some of the history of Isabella Gardner, and how she came to organize and curate the museum. This is maybe one of the best examples of seeing a collection based on one person's tastes and interpretations, as the items are not broken out by time period, art style, or medium type, except in very broad strokes. Rather, they are assembled in the way that Ms. Gardner felt worked the best, and you are left to wander, gander, and enjoy the exhibits however you like. This is one of the best things about the musem, as the building is GORGEOUS, with a stunningly beautiful atrium garden, and the exhibit halls wrapped around it. The only dings I had on this visit were that one big room is currently under renovation, so unfortunately got to miss one exhibit hall. Also, I felt there were a lack of places to sit to either rest your feet or take a longer look at the art, so be aware of that if you need to find a bench or something. On the whole, however, I am wholly won over, and will say if you want to do an attraction in Boston that is a little unorthodox, this is it. Definitely should be on top of everyone's list of places to see if they come to visit, especially as something to get you out of the central core of downtown. Well worth the visit.

During a recent weekend trip to Boston, I reserved an entire day for the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA)…read moreand it was the best decision I could have made. If I lived in Boston, I would become a member so that I could visit at will, even if only for few hours at a time. I am particularly interested in the impressionists, and John Singer Sargent, so I kept mostly to the 2nd floor. The museum is well organized, and there are staff floating around to answer any questions (one staffer even offered some tips to reduce the glare when taking a photo of a certain painting). I had checked out of my hotel so I had baggage with me (don't we all)...MFA has a convenient bag check. I also purchased a sizeable book from the bookshop and the staff put it in a box for me to keep it from being damaged during travel. I saw one temporary exhibit that was a nicely curated mix of multimedia art, and I also enjoyed seeing some of the rooms presented in a gallery style so that I could truly appreciate modern display methods. Six hours here went by in a flash, and I will definitely be back to see more of the MFA's vast collection. p.s. The equestrian sport of polo came from Persia?? Loved this fact! I also really enjoyed the time put into the object labels and the stories they told. "The most outrageous series of ferocious daubs that any slanderer of Venice could possibly imagine," a quote from a critic describing Renoir's Grand Canal, Venice, made me snort laugh out loud!

On a weekend Sunday morning, we went to Museum of Fine Arts with some family visiting…read more We went to the European painting, American Art, and Egyptian section. The entrance was a very smooth process. If you are a member, you can purchase discounted guest passes for your visitors The main staircase reminds me of the Met Museum in New York City the grandeur. I look forward to future exhibits and checking out their special exhibits.