Finally Discovering Boston

Like many of my classmates, the tipping point for why Harvard was the school for me was its proximity to Boston. As a New York City girl, a metropolis was a must, and although Boston, I was told, was a far inferior city to New York, it was still a city.

However, no one told me that I would spend the next two years of my life cooped up on Harvard’s campus, occasionally making it to the stores in the Square or the even rarer journey to Central or Porter Square.

And that is why it is worth spending a summer in the Square—because summertime is when you can finally afford to enjoy all the things people love about Boston and its neighboring areas.

Let’s start nearby. There’s no question that Harvard Square is not what it used to be—we have four different banks in Harvard Square—but there are still a few independent, must-see establishments left. The Brattle Theatre, one of Cambridge’s independent theaters, has eclectic offerings, from a documentary on the Tibetan people to foreign films to movies from the 1970s and 1980s. The regular prices are $10 or less, but the student discounts make tickets even cheaper. The Harvard Book Store is another gem, with its ever-friendly staff and helpful suggestions on the next book to read. Veggie Planet, aside from having fantastic pizza, also has live band performances.

Aside from the Indy scene, Cambridge also has world-class performances, at student rates. The American Repertory Theare, one of the most illustrious theatre companies in the country, has student rush tickets for $12. The Regattabar at the Charles Hotel and Scullers Jazz Club at the Doubletree Hotel bring in world-renowned jazz performers. The Huntington Theater Company, located across from Symphony Hall, has student rush tickets for $14. If you want to catch Broadway shows for reduced prices, check out the Bostix kiosks in Copley Square and Faneuil Hall Market Place.

Boston in the summer is also full of free shows. There is the annual Shakespeare in the Park, presenting Hamlet this year, which is performed in Boston Common from July 16 until August 7. The Hatch Memorial Shell has free movies and concerts throughout the week, during the summer.

One weekend, I went sailing for free at the Boston Sailing Center. The Boston Harbor Hotel has free swing nights, and if swing isn't your thing, they have free concerts and other events. Boston’s Chinatown also gets active over the summer, with the Chinatown Festival on Aug. 1 and the August Moon Festival on Aug. 14. If you feel up for taking a trip to Jamaica Plains, you can visit the Samuel Adams Brewery to learn about the complete brewery process, and even get to taste, if you are of age, that is. They have tours on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and suggested donation is $2.

The summer events are wonderful, but not to be done in place of the old classics. I went to Copley Square and discovered the beautiful main branch of the Boston Public Library. I entered on the side facing Copley Square, which is the impressive, older entrance, and much more aesthetically pleasing than the new entrance. The Boston Public Library features an outdoor courtyard within the library complex, as well as famous artwork on public display, including the John Singer Sergent murals, as well as artwork by Picasso, Rembrandt, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Winslow Homer.

After two weeks living at Harvard for the summer, I have been unexpectedly blown away by the richness of the vivacious Boston summer. So much, in fact, that I am starting to wonder whether maybe Boston can rival New York City as a great city. One thing’s still certain though, I won’t be rooting for the Red Sox this summer.

Jenny Tsai ’07, a social studies concentrator in Leverett House, is an editorial editor of The Crimson. She will be taking commissions on her advice and will be opening a travel agency in the fall.