26.2 Miles to Boston

In no particular order...here are some things to see and do in Boston:

Boston Marathon

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information.aspx

Chinatown

Discover a bakery offering the best Chinese sweets, and learn the origin of Chinese Moon Cakes. Visit a Barbecue Shop and savor the tastes and smells of traditional Cantonese roasted meats. Slip into an authentic Chinese Herbal Pharmacy, and explore the concept of Yin and Yang. Experience the phenomenon known as “Bubble Tea.” Tour a market with exotic produce, fabulous seafood, and an endless array of spices. Complete your stroll with a delicious Dim Sum Luncheon.

More Info: http://wikitravel.org/en/Boston/Chinatown

North End

One of Boston's most culturally rich neighborhoods, it is often referred to as Boston's "Little Italy." This one-square-mile waterfront community is known for its fine dining, amazing cafes, delicious gelato, and colorful personalities. Here, the streets are narrow and compact, and there is history – Old North Church, Paul Revere’s house, burial grounds – seemingly around every corner. The neighborhood is packed with restaurants, virtually all of them Italian, and the locals carefully maintain their deeply-rooted ties to Italian culture. More Info: http://northendboston.com/

Mike's Pastry

This is a very well known neighborhood pastry shop in Little Italy ever since the Clintons dined here and put this place on the map! http://www.mikespastry.com/specialties.html

Modern Pastry

Modern Pastry Shop is an award winning, family owned Italian Bakery. Modern Pastry was created by my family, over 70 years ago, on Hanover Street in Boston's North End. The world may have changed since the 1930's, but our original recipes and time honored traditions for creating our confections have not, since our family brought them over from Italy so many years ago. Three generations of innovative master chefs and over 150 years of authentic old world methods and experience, make our product stand out among the best. Our products will always be hand crafted, using the finest ingredients. http://www.modernpastry.com/

Boston Harborwalk / Waterfront

Boston's HarborWalk is an inviting public walkway along the waterfront, with parks, public art, seating areas, cafes, exhibit areas, interpretive signage, water transportation facilities, and a wide range of other amenities.
Enjoy the Harborwalk like never before - free of charge. Download the MP3 audio walking tour to your personal MP3 player, start the tour at Christopher Columbus Park, and listen to local characters guide you along the wharves of Boston Harbor. Learn about everything from shipwrecks to lobster rolls -all from the comfort of your own MP3 player! Click Here to download the tour. More Info: http://www.bostonharborwalk.com

USS Constitution and Charlestown Navy Yard
USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was first launched in 1797. Constitution is one of six ships ordered for construction by George Washington to protect America's growing maritime interests. The ships greatest glory came during the war of 1812 when she defeated four British frigates which earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides," because cannon balls glanced off her thick hull.
http://www.history.navy.mil/USSconstitution

Picnic Locations

http://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/a-walk-in-the-park/web_wayfinding.gif

Piers Park, East Boston

This waterfront park is on the city's Harborwalk, and includes an amphitheater and a large playground. We go there simply to daydream in the grass and admire the view of the city skyline.
http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=4&sid=24

Possible place for a picnic?

Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park

Christopher Columbus Park, the City of Boston's first waterfront park, was opened for Boston’s Bicentennial in 1976. Its original design provided a framework for future waterfront park projects throughout the city.
http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=3&sid=18

Possible place for a picnic?

Public Gardens

The Public Garden was created in 1837 and is home to colorful flowerbeds, statues, fountains and the legendary Swan Boats in the first botanical garden in America. The Public Garden's meandering pathways leads us to Acorn Street and Louisburg Square in Beacon Hill where more photo opportunities are waiting to be discovered. More Info: http://www.cityofboston.gov/parks/emerald/public_garden.asp

Swan Boats

The Swan Boats created and operated for over 100 years by the Paget family.

http://www.swanboats.com

Freedom Trail

http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. There are 16 “official” sites of the Freedom Trail:

Copley Square

A public square located in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, named for the donor of the land on which it was developed. The square is named for John Singleton Copley, a famous portait painter of the late 18th century and native of Boston. A bronze statue of Copley, by sculptor Lewis Cohen, is located on the northern side of the square. The name Copley Square is frequently applied to the larger area extending approximately two blocks east and west along Boylston Street, Huntington Avenue, and St. James Avenue. The square is adjacent to the finish line of the Boston Marathon, which is commemorated by a monument in the park. More Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copley_Square

Commonwealth Avenue

The upscale French-inspired neighborhood along Commonwealth Avenue is a beautiful wide expanse with benches and historical sculptures lining the path where you'll see couples and maybe a few dogs enjoying the quiteness. There is a great statue dedicated to Alexander Hamilton in the middle of the wonderful greenery. Also along Commonwealth Avenue you'll find some great shops and many restaurants. More Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Avenue,_Boston

Trinity Church

The first monumental building on the square was the 'Museum of Fine Arts building. Begun in 1870, it opened in 1876, with a large portion of its collection taken from the Boston Athenaeum Art Gallery. Its red Gothic Revival style building was torn down and rebuilt as the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel (1912) which still exists today. Trinity Church (1872–77), designed by Henry Hobson Richardson, called "deservedly regarded as one of the finest buildings in America" by Baedeker's United States in 1893. More Info: http://www.trinitychurchboston.org/

The Boston Public Library (1888–92)

Designed by McKim, Mead, and White, is a leading example of Beaux-Arts architecture in the US. Sited across Copley Square from Trinity Church, it was intended to be "a palace for the people." Baedeker's 1893 guide terms it "dignified and imposing, simple and scholarly," and "a worthy mate... to Trinity Church." At that time, its 600,000 volumes made it the largest free public library in the world. More Info: http://www.bpl.org/

The Old South Church

Also called the New Old South Church (645 Boylston Street on Copley Square), 1872–75, is located across the street from the Boston Public Library. It was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Cummings and Sears in the Venetian Gothic style. The style follows the precepts of the British cultural theorist and architectural critic John Ruskin (1819–1900) as outlined in his treatise The Stones of Venice. Old South Church remains a significant example of Ruskin's influence on architecture in the US. Charles Amos Cummings and Willard T. Sears also designed the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. More Info: http://www.oldsouth.org/about/history

The Prudential Tower

Also known as the Prudential Building or, colloquially, The Pru, is a skyscraper in Boston, Massachusetts. The building, a part of the Prudential Center complex, currently stands as the 2nd-tallest building in Boston, behind the John Hancock Tower. The Prudential Tower was designed by Charles Luckman and Associates for Prudential Insurance. Completed in 1964, the building is 749 feet (228 m) tall, with 52 floors. It contains 1.2 million square feet (111,484 m²) of commercial and retail space. Including its radio mast, the tower stands as the tallest building in Boston and the 26th-tallest in the United States, rising to 907 feet (276 m) in height. A 50th-floor observation deck, called the "Prudential Skywalk", is currently the highest observation deck in New England that is open to the public. http://www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop_detail.php?id=64

Beacon Hill
Boston's charming 19th century neighborhood rich in history and architecture. Its picturesque streets, brick sidewalks, antique gas lamps, interesting doors, door-knockers, and window boxes impress locals and visitors alike. It is located just north of Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden and is bounded generally by Beacon Street on the south, Somerset Street on the east, Cambridge Street to the north and Storrow Drive along the riverfront of the Charles River Esplanade to the west. The level section of the neighborhood west of Charles Street is known locally as the "Flat of the Hill." Map: http://www.beaconhillonline.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?cid=6&sid=1#1

Harvard Square

During a walk around the area, you'll see historic buildings and sights, interesting museums, and notable architecture on and off the university's main campus. Walking Tour information:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/boston/0004020034.html

Finale Desserterie

http://www.finaledesserts.com/locations-cambridge.php#hours

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant

http://www.bertuccis.com/index.php

Harvard's New England Lacrosse Day
Saturday, Apr 16 1:00p at Harvard University: Harvard Stadium, Boston, MA
Join the Harvard Men’s Lacrosse team as they take on Penn at Harvard Stadium. All youth 12 and under wearing their lacrosse jerseys enter free. Take the entire team out to experience a premier lacrosse game. In addition, the first 100 kids will receive free Harvard silly bands. Also stick around for a post game autograph session with the Harvard team for your chance to meet the players.
Tickets: http://www.gocrimson.com/information/tickets/sportpages/mlax

This morning's run can be summarized with a big 'UF-DA'. That was probably one of the worst runs I've had in a long time. Temperatures were in the low 30s. The wind was out of the west at 15 mph with higher gusts, which made it feel more like 20 degrees. I really don't like running in windy conditions, so it's a good thing the wind was at my back.

The first 6 miles were a breezy, pun intended, at sub 8 min/miles. But, things started to turn ugly about half way through the Arboretum. I started getting a sharp pain in my stomach, my chest was tight, and my heart-rate monitor felt like it was crushing my rib cage. I know I'm being overly dramatic, but it took all the mental strength I had to push through it.

As I came out of the Arboretum, I turned left to loop back around Lake Wingra. That meant I was going west - into the wind. The wind gusts pretty much sucked any and all speed and endurance that I had left. Did I mention I hate running in the wind? My pace reduced to nearly 9 min/mi and my breathing felt labored. I had 4 miles and some pretty big hills yet to go.

It was a struggle and I couldn't have been happier when I arrived at Espresso Royale to meet up with Mattie. Thank goodness that was over. Now, on to the Farmer's Market for second breakfast to fuel up for some peaceful protesting at the capitol. Overall, it wasn't a bad route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4342985

Here's a link to my Garmin stats:

26.2 Miles to Boston

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Lovin' the Weather

Monday, March 14, 2011

Not So Frightful

Sunday, March 13, 2011

5 Weeks To Go

Fun Touristy Stuff

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Wicked Winds

Friday, March 11, 2011

A Typical Week

Monday, March 7, 2011

Change It Up