A Night to Remember

I still remember it to this day. I was in fourth grade, and our teacher was telling us, her students, how all of the Olympic competitors of the past year would be coming to a nearby city to be skate.

Champions on Ice she called it, and it was music to my ears. By far, my favorite event in the Olympics was figure skating. I just loved the costumes and the music and choreography. How I wished i could spakle while performing a triple toe loop, or whatever you called it.

That day I went home full of jealously towards my teacher who had told us about her tickets to the show. After the usual complaint session to my dad, it was followed by a not-so-usual turn of events. My dad had already gotten me tickets to Champions on Ice! I coulnd't believe it! I don't know if he was already planning on telling me that day or keeping it a surprise, but I was ecstatic.

The night was memorable, and I got to see Oksana and Elivs and the girl who was the first to do a backflip on the ice. Needless to say, my dad was a hero that night and continues to this day to be. Because of this, I am telling you about Champions on Ice coming to the TD Banknorth Garden coming this Sunday, April 22nd.

Tickets start at $27, not bad for a lifetime of memories. And even know I am not as familiar with these year's skaters, just know that as long as you are a fan, it will be a night not forgotten.

A Monday to Enjoy

Finally, the day has come. Happy Marathon Monday everyone!

Go to Boston.com's Marathon Central to find out the latest race highlights including current locations, times, and winners. Let the games begin!

I Think I'll Go to Boston

The Boston Celtics have struggled this season as far as ticket sales. At this point, they are the second-worst ranked team in the East, and they can only hope to be THE worst to get the best pick in next year's draft.

Essentially, what all this means is that this year they have practically giving away the tickets, whether it be through promotions or inexpensive ticket packages. Tickets start at the nice student price of $10, which makes going to games easier than ever. And this Wednesday the Celts are playing Detroit. But what's almost more exiciting than the game itself is the group Augustana is performing right after the game. Augstana is one of three post-game concerts this year, and is known especially in our city for it's hit song "Boston," which has become super popular(but I'm not sure if that's just a Beantown thing!). Either way, I'm always game for a 2-fer!

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Worth Reading

I don't have a new event to share with you, but instead a great article in The New York Times about the Boston marathon. It is written by a runner who competed in the 1967 Boston marathon, and was pushed by an official who couldn't believe a woman was running in the race. The story is a great one for women to see how far we have come in the forty years since her incident. It's always so astounding to me to see this kind of ignorance against all types of minorities, especially against women just a few decades ago! Please read it, it's really inspriring and a great representation of women's roles in sports today.

Where's the Sun?

Oh no! Looks like this crummy weather is forcing Boston to cancel some of the Patriot's Day events. Check out what's on and what's not, and keep on the lookout for a possibe change in the Marathon time, which was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Photo Finish

The Boston Globe has an interesting Calendar event scheduled for today. The installation of the Boston Marathon finish line is happening today, being installed by Accurate Graphics of Lynn.

Hey, if the idea of running over 26 miles for "fun" is as crazy an idea to you as it is to me, this might be the only chance we actually get to see this side of the finish line.

One of a Kind Bags

This one's for the girls (or the thoughtful guys shopping for us).

I wrote an article about 1154 Lill Studio in The Northeastern News back in 2005, but I want to also mention it here. The shop is located on Newbury Street, and lets you create and design your own bag. The process begins with choosing the style of your bag, which can be anything from a clutch to a tote or even a bag for your laptop. Next, you choose from the multitude of fabrics that may catch your eye, and choose what you want to go where. It's a totally hands-on process and so much fun to do, and the staff are more than helpful to help you in the overwhelming process.

Bags take a few weeks to make, and I have not stopped receiving compliments on mine that I made two years ago. People cannot believe I made it myself, which makes wearing the bags that much more special. Lill Studio is great for yourself or for your fashion forward friends, and even lets you hold bridal showers there if you'd like.

I don't know how many times I've gone shopping in the mood to buy a new bag, and none of them have everything I want. Either they are too cheesy or I find one, but my friend already has it. But when you become your own designer, you can rest assured it is one of a kind!

Mmm Beer

Sam Adams is everyone's friend is Boston, and I can see why. The Sam Adams Brewery offers free tours every Wednesday through Saturday. If you're looking for some free fun tomorrow, try any one of their half-hour to forty-five minute tours that run about every half hour from noon until 2 pm. It's just a quick trip on the Orange Line where you get off on the Stony Brook stop.

People of all ages can visit, but in order to get the free pitchers of beer at the end, you need to be at least 21. The tour starts with a lecture and a brief history before you are led into the best part of the trip- the brewery itself. Whenever I walk into the heart of a brewery, it reminds me of entering Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and this one is no different. Who knew drinking beer could also be educartional?

Visit the official Sam Adam's site for more info.

Born to Run

In preparation of the Boston Marathon less than five days away, I found an informative and educational event on the sport of running at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Tonight at 6 o'clock, Daniel E. Liberman will discuss, "Why Humans Run: the Biology and Evolution of Marathon Running." The professor of Anthropolgy at Harvard will discuss the human ability to run and the remarkable endurance that it takes to run a marathon.

It would be interesting to ask Professor Lieberman what it takes to be a marathon runner. Is it hereditary? Is anyone able to do it with the right amount of training? And is one person born with more of a tendency to run than the next? Tickets are FREE and open to everyone.

Crash! Bam! &%#@!

I am going to be looking more into this, but according to the FreeComicDay web site, particpating stores will be offering free comic books to anyone interested in comic books. Participating Boston-area stores that will be taking part of event includes all the Newbury Comics stores. The event is scheduled for May 5.

I remember when I was young and my brother had an entire room filled with comic books. I think it is definitely a lost art, and instead of seeing people reading comic books these days, we are seeing them more and more on the big screen- which isn't a bad thing, but I would like to see a new generation of comic books come around. I think the idea of giving both children and adults the opportunity to get them for free may spark a new interest in the younger generation-always a good thing!

French Fare for a Fraction

Brasserie Jo, located on Huntington Avenue is a go-to spot for Symphony and Theater-goes both pre-and post showtime. I have never been there because it is a little pricy, although I heard the French Onion soup and have been tempted to treat myself. The Boston Globe just published a blurb on what the restaurant calls their "French Kiss Friday & Free Pizza." Each Friday, the French bistro will serve a food special at a fraction of the normal price. Supposedly, they are also going to offer free "Alsace-style pizza" to all customers. I'll have to check my food dictionary for what that is exactly, but I'm not picky...

Student Discounts!

I just came across the Office for the Arts at Harvard's web site. It's a great little page which it lists all the cultural places in the city and the discounts they offer for college students. Places range from the ART to Blue Man Group to the Isabelle Stewart Gardener Museum. Like I always say, it's so hard sometimes to act like a tourist in your own city, but if you're a student, the time is now! Check them all out for yourself.

The other Kennedy

From my blog on my spring break, you know I love JFK and anything relating to him, the Kennedys, or his wife. I'm not sure if it's because I am from Massachusetts or because the Kennedys are such a rich part of our country's history, but I feel so lucky to have the JFK library right in Boston (Dorchester, technically).

Starting this Thursday the 12th, an all new exhibit hits the library, called "Jaqueline Kennedy Entertains: The Art of the White House Dinner." If you knew me, you would know I loved watching HGTV and looking into homes as I drive by them at night, because I love seeing how other people live. In other words, I am really looking forward to this.

Tickets for students are only $8, and the library is open seven days a week. Their web site says, "the exhibit portrays Jacqueline Kennedy's distinctive and innovative approach to entertaining in the White House using the collections of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum." To me, Jackie O was the essence of class, beauty and strength, and I can't wait to see what her slice of the White House looked like. After all, it's really the women that run the house, the men just live in it :)

In keeping with my ice cream theme...

I can't believe I almost went through today without telling you about another free ice cream opportunity!!

Today, in honor of it being the Sox home opener, JP Licks is offering a free scoop of ice cream! So it's completely free if you're not feeling too hungry, or less expensive if you want more than one scoop. It's available at all locations, so stop by before the day is over!

Sailor for a Day

I need to live by the water. I have already decided that when I am a "real" adult my house will have to be within hearing distance of the sounds of the crashing waves. And being in a boat comes in a close second. My dad has a canoe, and growing up and going to summer camp I loved being in a row-boat, canoe, kayak or sailboat- it didn't matter.

So that's why I think it is so cool that the Boston Sailing Center is making sailing a possibility here in our own Charles River. I had never even thought to do something like this here in Boston, assuming it must be expensive and you probably had to be a member of a club first. But on April 21 from 1-6pm, sailing trips are completely free and given by experienced sailors. This year will be the 31st year of the Free-Sailing weekend, and will feature boats ranging in length from 23 up to 40 feet. It's a nice altnernative to just going for a run alongside the Charles or a Duck Tour for sure, so take advantage!

Music to My Ears

I'm surprised I haven't written about this before, since I have worked at Boston Symphony for awhile now! But I wanted to let you know there are some great deals out there for last minute ticket buyers. The symphony season only has a month left before the Boston Pops performances start in May, but until then, if you're interested you should definitely look into buying rush tickets for the symphony.

Rush tickets are available every Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm for an 8pm concert, and 10am for all Friday afternoon concerts at 1:30pm. The tickets only cost $8 each, but you must have cash and have one person available to buy for each ticket. It's a great deal, and chances are you end up with a great seat while saving lots of money!

My only warning is to make sure you arrive before 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as only the first 100 people are able to get tickets. Upcoming concerts include Mozart and Brahms, which are sure to be hits so get in line early!

Japanese for Dummies

Ever since I read "Memoirs of a Geisha" a few years back, my eyes have been opened and inspired by Japanese culture. Now, thanks to the newest addition to the Boston family, Red Sox star pitcher Dice K has brought Japanese culture back into focus.

The first of two Japanese-inspired exhibits going on around Boston right now is located at the Keiko Gallery on Charles St. The exhibit features miniature sculptures from Japanese artist Tanaka Kazuhiko, and is completely free of charge. The second is called "Beyond Basketry: Japanese Bamboo Art" going on right now at the MFA. These and many other events of Japaenese origin were featured in a story yesterday in the Boston Globe calld "Japanese 101." Read on for more details about these events and many more.

Gotta Have It!

So I told you about the Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's. In keeping with the free ice cream theme, Marathon Monday (otherwise known as April 16) has another opportunity for brain freeze!

Most of the Cold stone Creamery's in Boston, including the ones on Beacon Hill and at the Landmark Center, are offering a free Grab n' Go quart after you buy an adult sized ice cream. You might not be running in the race, but you can still treat yourself! Gotta like it!(or love it, or gotta have it-it's up to you!)

If it's free it's for me!

The Boston Conservatory is home to some of the brightest music, theater and dance students the country has to offer. I found four different performances featuring each of the genres going on today that are absolutely free if you have some time.

The world must be round...

As you know the purpose of this blog is to find some fun stuff to do around the city on a budget.. this can often be difficult, as not everything that is great in Boston is free. But I found a place which is a definite Boston treasure that I believe is often overlooked.

What I'm talking about is the Mapparium, part of the Christian Science Church located on Mass Ave/Huntington Ave. Built four years after the church opened in 1930, the mapporium is a three-story globe shaped room that allows you to view a map of the world from its core and made entirely from glass.

According to the Mary Baker Eddy Library site, visitors most often notice the following about the world from this unique perspecive:
-A vast portion of the world is covered by water
-New York City, Madrid, Naples, and Beijing all share the same latitude
-Most of the world's land masses are north of the equator
-There are two different islands named 'Cocos' at exactly opposite positions on the globe
-The Magnetic North Pole is quite far from the actual North Pole
-Hawaii (not yet a state in 1935) looks somewhat lonely in the Pacific


Although the Mapparium is spherical in shape, it holds a 30-foot long glass bridge, which allows you to view the colors and beauty of the world from different angles. The colors of the class showing both land in water will leave you in awe and takes looking at the world through maps to a whole new level. But the thing that makes this place one of my favorites the visit are the unsual acoustics. You can be standing on opposite sides of the bridge or right next to your friend, and either way you will hear them as though they were right next to you, even by whispering! It's a truly beautiful building both inside and out, and the Mapparium is like nothing else I've seen anywhere in the world- and it's free!