The Boston Traveler

May 16th, 2008

New Kids on the Block Make the Old Kids on ‘Today’ Swoon

It looks like it was raining fairly hard this morning in New York, but that didn’t stop women around my age from showing up to drool and reminisce over the reunited New Kids on the Block when they appeared at Rockefeller Plaza. Since I was never into boy bands, I can’t say I share their enthusiasm. Still, who can grumble about so many having such a good time because of one music group? I’m happy for ‘em!

As promised, check out high-quality videos of the New Kids’ performance on NBC’s Today earlier today. Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, and brothers Jonathan Knight and Jordan Knight sang and danced through a medley of their older hits, as well as the 1990 throwback “Tonight,” and they sang one new tune, a very mellow track called “Summertime.” The last is available for purchase on iTunes right now.

Up first, the old-school medley, followed by “Tonight” (preceded by a little chit chat with show hosts Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, who I bet were screaming somewhere offstage, too — Ha ha!) and the new single “Summertime” after the jump.

The extravaganza ends with yet another video of the group dishing with Lauer and Vieira about their forthcoming tour. There may be more footage later because MSNBC added videos as I was writing this post. I’ll check the site again later today for additional clips to publish.

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May 15th, 2008

Today Is Free Food and Drink Day

This post is primarily for the many, many people out there who love a bargain, including the numerous renters paying three times too much money for a roof overhead and the starving college students in town year-round. And we all know a bargain doesn’t get any better than free.

Dunkin Donuts — Free Iced Coffee

Quincy-born, Canton-based Dunkin’ Donuts is doing it again today, May 15, with Free Iced Coffee Day, serving up 16-ounce iced coffees free of charge to anyone and everyone. And unlike at most rival java shops, flavors can be added for no additional charge (I’m a Toasted Almond girl, hot or cold).

Although the ubiquitous coffee-donut chain (or perhaps it just seems that way to me since I live in native territory) is a Massachusetts success story, the company holds this special event all over. So, have a treat on Dunkin’ Donuts from 10am to 10pm, wherever you are, after checking the company’s website to find a participating location near you. Days like this is why it’s great to live a short walk from three separate Dunkin’ Donuts.

McDonald’s — Free Southern-Style Chicken

Thanks to McDonald’s burning need to compete with Chick-fil-A in some areas, the fast food joint famous for its golden arches is giving out its latest deep-fried chicken creations free today … with the purchase of a medium or large drink. The Southern Style Chicken Biscuit will be available from 7am–10:30am during breakfast and the Southern Style Chicken Sandwich from 10:30am–7pm for lunch and dinner. Or, as I see it, you can have the sandwich for breakfast after 10:30am (who eats lunch that early?!).

I was just in Mickey D’s yesterday to pick up one of those new 32-ounce, $1 vats of tea, unsweetened. The beverage is surprisingly good, especially considering the price in an age when many coffee shops charge almost that much for ice alone. My dining buddy tried out the Southern Style sandwich and gave it a thumbs-up. Even if you don’t believe the McD’s version rivals Chick-fil-A (how could it?), decent-tasting free food is still free food.

Skip the fries and other no-nos, and the calorie, cholesterol, fat, and sodium levels won’t even kill you right away, provided that the biscuit or sandwich is just a one-off, sample meal. According to McDonald’s nutrition data, both have 420 calories, 35–50 milligrams of cholesterol, about 20 grams of total fat, and 1090-1200 milligrams of sodium, all going for an unbeatable $0 today.

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May 14th, 2008

It’s Ripe! Back Bay Apple Store Grand Opening

Yes! The time has finally arrived for the general public to rush the brand-new Boylston Street Apple Store (815 Boylston Street, Back Bay, Boston) situated across the street from the Prudential Shopping Center.

Billed as Boston’s flagship branch — not to mention Apple’s largest store in the US of A — the shiny shop will offer visitors tons of technological amenities, such as “64 iPod music and video players, 104 Mac laptops and computers, and a third floor dedicated entirely to service that can accommodate 100 customers receiving one-on-one training at the same time,” according to a recent article in the Boston Globe.

The doors to the long and eagerly anticipated retail location will open at 6pm EST on Thursday, May 15, just in time to give the 9-to-5 crowd a few moments to catch its collective breath after the mad dash from offices all around the city. Closing is five hours later, at 11pm.

If you need a little incentive to put some pep in your step when you head over, how about the fact that Apple plans to hand out free limited edition T-shirts to the first 1,500 lucky souls to drop by? I bet they’ll be gone fast enough to make heads spin. Better still, the celebration will continue into and over the weekend, with free workshops and other special events.

Regular hours for the Back Bay Apple Store are Monday-Saturday, 8am to 11pm, and Sunday, 9am to 7pm. Expect large crowds and insanely happy faces, at least during the first few days.

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May 13th, 2008

Kiehl’s Sets Up Second New England Shop

Everybody’s going green, including the revered, New York-based skincare and haircare company Kiehl’s Since 1851.

Saturday marked the opening of Massachusetts’ newest branch, located at the Burlington Mall (75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-221-0161), which is the second Kiehl’s retail store in the state and the 28th free-standing Kiehl’s all together. The first local store began business on Boston’s Newbury Street (112 Newbury Street, Boston, 617-247-1777) six years ago.

A major highlight of the 585-square-foot Burlington branch is the interior decor based on Kiehl’s environmentally friendly approach to store presentation. As a result, shoppers get a unique retail experience while surrounded by sustainable materials that are also natural and energy-efficient light fixtures.

If you appreciate proven beauty products tested and vouched for by thousands of proponents for well over a century, consider visiting either of the Massachusetts locations to take advantage of the company’s commitment to quality. A big bonus at Kiehl’s, especially for thrifty people (like me), is the availability of generous, diverse product samples, as well as a 100% money back guarantee on purchases. It’s almost impossible to go wrong there.

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May 12th, 2008

Sleep Cheap(er) in Boston During Your Visit

If you’ve ever traveled to Boston from out of town and lacked the ability to stay with friends or family, then you probably already know — Boston is just one of those places where a good, safe night’s sleep costs a pretty penny … or much more.

What can you do, then, when you don’t have a lot of money to spend on hotel accommodations? One option that travelers to the city have been taking advantage of for ages is a reservation at a local hostel.

Although most commonly identified with young people wandering from place to place on extended group vacations, hostels are actually for adults — and sometimes children accompanied by adult guardians — of any age.

Two excellent hostel options for the budget conscious right here in Boston are managed by the well-known non-profit organization Hostelling International (HI). Travelers can select from either the Back Bay or the Fenway location, both of which offer private rooms, in addition to the traditional shared rooms, at a higher but still bargain price.

As of this writing, members of HI who stay at the Back Bay hostel can reserve a single bed in a six-bed room for $27.99–$44.99 per night, while HI members who choose the Fenway hostel can reserve a single bed in a three-bed room for $36–$45 per night.

For those who can’t tolerate or don’t want communal sleeping arrangements, private rooms are available for HI members at a cost of $69.99–$99.99 per night at the Back Bay location and for $96–$119 per night at Fenway. Non-HI members pay just $3 more per night for both types of accommodations if they prefer not to join the organization for a very reasonable and nominal fee.

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May 11th, 2008

To All the Lovely Mothers

Whether you’re a Boston resident, a Boston traveler, or a citizen of the world, you know who you are and your efforts are appreciated.

Here’s wishing all of the mothers out there in cyberspace and beyond a fantastic, unforgettable Mother’s Day!

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May 10th, 2008

Bay State Bike Week Nears

In fact, Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s seven-day Bay State Bike Week, a companion to May’s nationwide Bike Month, will be here on Monday, May 12, and will stick around until Sunday, May 18.

The main focus of the weeklong event is the 50,000-Mile Commuter Challenge. Daunting as the name is, it’s a bit misleading, too, because the challenge is more of a call for collaboration than an actual invitation to compete.

How it works is simple. Participants each pledge to bike the number of miles they prefer, with the overall goal being to collectively cycle 50,000 miles instead of driving the same distance in a car. Hence, Bay State Bike Week’s motto Kick Gas! is both a play on words and a literal entreaty to help improve the environment.

As the website points out, the Commuter Challenge isn’t just a local project either. Those who decide to take part will join thousands of green-minded bike riders in Massachusetts and other communities across the United States.

To enliven the group event and make it worth riders’ time, organizers and sponsors also have plenty of relevant attractions planned, such as a Bike Buddy program, Breakfast Pit Stops, Goodie Zones, Safe-Rider Convoys, and easy alternatives for interested people who need to rent a bike to contribute.

Learn all you need to know about Bay State Bike Week at the official website, including how to register if the event sounds like something you’d enjoy experiencing.

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May 9th, 2008

Weekend Highlight: MayFair 2008 (Instant Replay)

That’s right — I dare to bring you the same Weekend Highlight this week as I did last week, and for good reason. Thanks to generally lousy weather and unforeseen exploding manholes, May 4th’s scheduled MayFair celebration was canceled.

Those excited to attend need not worry about having to wait another entire year for the event to roll around again, however. It’s back on the Harvard Square roster this Sunday, May 11th — or at least it is as I write. So, before you throw the kids in the car or on the bus/train and head all the way over to Cambridge, take a moment or two to verify MayFair 2008 is indeed still in the works at the official website. If it is, then…

Gather the family, dress warm and casual, and head over to Harvard Square in Cambridge for its 25th Annual MayFair festival. From 12pm-6pm, attendees will enjoy a diverse selection of activities, entertainment, shopping opportunities, and foodstuff, all for the admission price of $0. According to organizers, this year’s MayFair features “six stages of LIVE entertainment, 30+ Restaurant Vendors, hundreds of Street Vendors selling artwork, jewelry, vintage clothing, neighborhood sidewalk sales.”

Harvard Square is a hop, skip, and jump from the Charles River, as well, providing easy access to an invigorating, nature-filled walk if the fair gets overbearing. That’s not uncommon when there are huge crowds, almost a given at peak times during any outdoor event in the thriving Harvard area.

Visit HarvardSquare.com for detailed information about the community, in addition to a complete list of all that’s in store on Sunday.

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May 8th, 2008

Cab Alert: Beware Logan Fees for East Boston Trips

Local NBC affiliate WHDH had an interesting report on the 11pm news broadcast last night. It was an undercover investigation that confirmed what many taxi-loving commuters probably already knew — some cab drivers like to make more money than they’re due by scamming what they hope are unsuspecting riders.

I personally prefer sticking with mass public transportation rather than cabs for this very reason. It’s appalling what too many cab drivers do just to get a few extra dollars, such as the ever-popular scam of deliberately making unnecessary detours to prolong the ride or avoiding shortcuts on side streets in order to wait longer at the more numerous red lights on major streets.

The WHDH report focuses on a practice I knew nothing about since I don’t frequent the relevant section of town, East Boston. When taking passengers to Logan Airport in East Boston from Downtown Boston, cab drivers are allowed to charge a legitimate so-called Logan Fee of $2.75 in order to recoup half the expense of the large toll they must pay when they return downtown.

Some slick drivers have repurposed the Logan Fee, however, also charging it when customers request a drop-off anywhere in East Boston. As the WHDH report demonstrates, the more blatant offenders even do it when their cab has signage clearly stating that assessing the fee on a trip to any East Boston destination other than Logan Airport is *not* allowed.

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May 7th, 2008

The Big Bad Monster Is Coming…

Lots of people in the Hub are excited about one major thing these days — the gigantic, allegedly 21,350-square-foot flagship Apple Store currently under construction at 815 Boylston Street in the historic Back Bay area of Boston.

A February 2007 Boston Globe article speculated the massive retail location will give eager Apple connoisseurs, fanboys, and fangirls three or more floors (the company is super secretive about forthcoming branches, so reported numbers differ) of opportunities to browse, sample, and hang out, all in a relaxing, glass-motif retail environment that encourages loitering, er, lingering.

Although no definite opening date has been released as of this writing — or at least not one that I know of — the picture above leaves no doubt that Apple fanatics will be able to get their hip Back Bay fix very, very soon. Since the store’s opening has already been delayed several times in the past, for the sake of the hordes of devout Apple worshippers, I hope that means in 2008.

Folks are already loving the temporary Fenway Park Green Monster façade. Check out a couple of additional photos after the jump, as well as even more construction-phase images at The Unofficial Apple Weblog.

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