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East 2014 Magical Mystery Tour (Wed&Thu adventuring)
PAX East 2014 Magical Mystery Tour of Boston!
Twitter: PAX_MMT Follow this to keep track of where we are in real time. Very useful if you want to join up midway through!
Who: You! And me. And other PAX peeps. AKA your future friends.
What: Visit interesting places in and around Boston.
Where: Schedule TBD.
When: The two days before PAX: Wed 4/9 and Thurs 4/10. Traditionally runs from 9am to 5pm but you don't have to do the whole thing.
Why: See something of Boston other than the convention center and your hotel. And do it with cool people!
How: Boston's public transit. We'll be using the T (subway and buses) to get around. You can by a pass for $18 that will get you unlimited rides for a week. (Better than paying $2 per ride!) When we leave the morning meetups, I'll be making sure everyone has a pass.
Schedule:
Wednesday 4/9
8:30 meetup at Boston Common [Park St: red/green line]
9:00 travel time
9:30 Fenway (prepay required!) [Kenmore]
10:30 travel time
11:30 lunch - Sunset Grill and Tap [Packard's Corner: green B line]
12:45 travel time
2:00 Taza chocolate (prepay required!) [69 bus]
3:00 travel time
4:00 Harpoon (prepay required!) [northern@harbor: silver line]
Thursday 4/10
8:00 meetup [World Trade Center: silver line]
8:30 breakfast - Friendly Toast [Kendall/MIT: red line]
10:00 travel time
11:00 Sam Adams [Stony Brook: orange line]
12:00 travel time
1:00 lunch @ Faneuil hall/ Quincy market [Haymarket: orange/green line]
2:00 walk over to pastries
3:00 travel time
3:30 New England Aquarium [Aquarium: blue line]
Voting:
Is all done. Thanks for your opinions.
Potential Destinations:
Now hidden behind this spoiler so I have the info next year.
Interested parties:
-Punzie (your leader)
-FahterVenom (her assistant)
-aBByNormaL +1
-Decius
-fullofgrace +1
-GhostDan
-gonexall
-macrogeek +2
-MagnusCarter
-Melzway
-PhoBaoBoa
-Ricin
-Tehol
-UnnDunn
-zelale
Twitter: PAX_MMT Follow this to keep track of where we are in real time. Very useful if you want to join up midway through!
Who: You! And me. And other PAX peeps. AKA your future friends.
What: Visit interesting places in and around Boston.
Where: Schedule TBD.
When: The two days before PAX: Wed 4/9 and Thurs 4/10. Traditionally runs from 9am to 5pm but you don't have to do the whole thing.
Why: See something of Boston other than the convention center and your hotel. And do it with cool people!
How: Boston's public transit. We'll be using the T (subway and buses) to get around. You can by a pass for $18 that will get you unlimited rides for a week. (Better than paying $2 per ride!) When we leave the morning meetups, I'll be making sure everyone has a pass.
Schedule:
Wednesday 4/9
8:30 meetup at Boston Common [Park St: red/green line]
9:00 travel time
9:30 Fenway (prepay required!) [Kenmore]
10:30 travel time
11:30 lunch - Sunset Grill and Tap [Packard's Corner: green B line]
12:45 travel time
2:00 Taza chocolate (prepay required!) [69 bus]
3:00 travel time
4:00 Harpoon (prepay required!) [northern@harbor: silver line]
Thursday 4/10
8:00 meetup [World Trade Center: silver line]
8:30 breakfast - Friendly Toast [Kendall/MIT: red line]
10:00 travel time
11:00 Sam Adams [Stony Brook: orange line]
12:00 travel time
1:00 lunch @ Faneuil hall/ Quincy market [Haymarket: orange/green line]
2:00 walk over to pastries
3:00 travel time
3:30 New England Aquarium [Aquarium: blue line]
Voting:
Is all done. Thanks for your opinions.
Potential Destinations:
Now hidden behind this spoiler so I have the info next year.
Items in bold are places we went last year.
Prices listed are per each adult (and may be inaccurate until I recheck them all). Discounts are often given for children, seniors, students, and sometimes military.
Any notes about reservations are for my benefit.
Prices listed are per each adult (and may be inaccurate until I recheck them all). Discounts are often given for children, seniors, students, and sometimes military.
Any notes about reservations are for my benefit.
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
What it is: 1 hour tour of tea ships and historic items related to the Boston Tea Party. Throw tea in the ocean just like Ye Olde Ancestors!
Price: $25 (or $22.50cheaper if purchased online in advance)
Hours: 10am - 4 pm
Website: http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/
Additional Notes: Group rates for 25+
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Price: $25 (or $22.50cheaper if purchased online in advance)
Hours: 10am - 4 pm
Website: http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/
Additional Notes: Group rates for 25+
What it is: 1-1.5 hour guided tour of Symphony Hall.
Price: $10
Hours: Wed, 4pm
Website: www.bso.org
Additional Info: A reservation for a group tour will need to be made 3 weeks in advance.
Commonwealth Museum
Price: $10
Hours: Wed, 4pm
Website: www.bso.org
Additional Info: A reservation for a group tour will need to be made 3 weeks in advance.
What it is: A museum specializing on Massachusetts history.
Price: Free! (I suspect donations are encouraged.)
Hours: 9am - 4:45pm
Website: www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/museum/index.htm
Duck Tour
Price: Free! (I suspect donations are encouraged.)
Hours: 9am - 4:45pm
Website: www.sec.state.ma.us/mus/museum/index.htm
What it is: 80 minute land and water tour in a repurposed WWII vehicle
Price: $34.99
Hours: ? tours don't start until 3/17
Website: http://www.bostonducktours.com/
Additional Notes: group rates for 20+
F1 Boston
Price: $34.99
Hours: ? tours don't start until 3/17
Website: http://www.bostonducktours.com/
Additional Notes: group rates for 20+
What it is: Kart Racing (no blue shells)
Price: $10 for an F1 license and $28 to actually drive on the track
Hours: 9am - 11pm
Website: www.f1boston.com/
Additional Notes: Reservations suggested. It's a bit out of the way since it's in Braintree and using public transit will take us about an hour to get there by bus. Must be 18+ with valid driver's license. There are also a bunch of other rules you might want to read.
Fenway Park
Price: $10 for an F1 license and $28 to actually drive on the track
Hours: 9am - 11pm
Website: www.f1boston.com/
Additional Notes: Reservations suggested. It's a bit out of the way since it's in Braintree and using public transit will take us about an hour to get there by bus. Must be 18+ with valid driver's license. There are also a bunch of other rules you might want to read.
What it is: The Green Monstah! 50 minute tour of the Red Sox's home field
Price: $16
Hours: 11am - 5pm at each hour (maybe longer, as it will only tell me the winter hours now)
Website: mlb.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp
Fort Independence
Price: $16
Hours: 11am - 5pm at each hour (maybe longer, as it will only tell me the winter hours now)
Website: mlb.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp
What it is: Fort built in 1851 on the oldest continuously fortified site in British North America
Price: free!
Hours: always
Website: http://www.bostonfortindependence.com/
Additional Notes: You can always walk around the outside of the fort. Public tours of the inside don't start until May, but I'm asking if we can get a private tour earlier than that (which may cost money?)
Franklin Zoo
Price: free!
Hours: always
Website: http://www.bostonfortindependence.com/
Additional Notes: You can always walk around the outside of the fort. Public tours of the inside don't start until May, but I'm asking if we can get a private tour earlier than that (which may cost money?)
What it is: A zoo. Look at the animals.
Price: $17.95
Hours: 10am-5pm
Website: www.zoonewengland.org/page.aspx?pid=219
Additional Notes: Animal exhibits include Tropical Forrest, Giraffe Savannah, Kalahari Kingdom, Serengeti Crossing, Tiger Tales, Franklin Farm, and Outback Trail. Read more here.
Freedom Trail
Price: $17.95
Hours: 10am-5pm
Website: www.zoonewengland.org/page.aspx?pid=219
Additional Notes: Animal exhibits include Tropical Forrest, Giraffe Savannah, Kalahari Kingdom, Serengeti Crossing, Tiger Tales, Franklin Farm, and Outback Trail. Read more here.
What it is: A walking tour of historic Boston sites. Roughly 2.5 miles in 90 minutes
Price: $13 for guided tour
Hours: 11am & 12pm
Website: www.thefreedomtrail.org/
Additional Notes: We can do a self-guided tour to avoid the ticket price, but it's less fun.
Spots on the Trail:
Gibson House Museum
Price: $13 for guided tour
Hours: 11am & 12pm
Website: www.thefreedomtrail.org/
Additional Notes: We can do a self-guided tour to avoid the ticket price, but it's less fun.
Spots on the Trail:
Boston Common
State House
Park Street Church
Granary Burying Ground
King’s Chapel
King’s Chapel Burying Ground
Benjamin Franklin Statue/Boston Latin School (Oldest Public School)
Old Corner Book Store
Old South Meeting House ($6)
Old State House ($7.50)
Site of Boston Massacre
Faneuil Hall
Paul Revere House ($3.50)
Old North Church
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Bunker Hill Monument
USS Constitution
Additional Notes: We can take the Boston Town Crier tour instead. It seems nearly identical on paper.State House
Park Street Church
Granary Burying Ground
King’s Chapel
King’s Chapel Burying Ground
Benjamin Franklin Statue/Boston Latin School (Oldest Public School)
Old Corner Book Store
Old South Meeting House ($6)
Old State House ($7.50)
Site of Boston Massacre
Faneuil Hall
Paul Revere House ($3.50)
Old North Church
Copp’s Hill Burying Ground
Bunker Hill Monument
USS Constitution
THEIR WEBSITE ISN'T WORKING RIGHT NOW!
What it is: Museum of a late 1800's row house
Price: $9 guided tour
Hours: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Website: www.thegibsonhouse.org/
Additional Notes: Museum is 4 floors and has no elevator. Cash or check ONLY, no cards accepted! Group of 12+ needs an advance reservation.
Harpoon Brewery
What it is: Museum of a late 1800's row house
Price: $9 guided tour
Hours: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Website: www.thegibsonhouse.org/
Additional Notes: Museum is 4 floors and has no elevator. Cash or check ONLY, no cards accepted! Group of 12+ needs an advance reservation.
What it is: hour-long brewery tour with tasting
Price: $5
Hours: 12pm - 5pm, starting every hour
Website: www.harpoonbrewery.com/
Additional Notes: 21+ unless accompanied by parent
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Price: $5
Hours: 12pm - 5pm, starting every hour
Website: www.harpoonbrewery.com/
Additional Notes: 21+ unless accompanied by parent
What it is: Natural history museum. Exhibits on dinosaurs, fossils, evolution, minerals, and the glass flowers.
Price: $12 (includes admission to Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology)
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Website: www.hmnh.harvard.edu/
Institute of Contemporary Art
Price: $12 (includes admission to Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology)
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Website: www.hmnh.harvard.edu/
What is it: An art museum. They claim even the architecture of the building is interesting and noteworthy.
Price: $15
Hours: Wed 10am - 5pm, Thu 10am - 9pm
Website: www.icaboston.org/
Isabella Sewart Gardner Museum
Price: $15
Hours: Wed 10am - 5pm, Thu 10am - 9pm
Website: www.icaboston.org/
What it is: Art in a 3 story “Venetian-style palace” with courtyard
Price: $15
Hours: 11am - 5pm (open until 9pm on Thursday)
Website: www.gardnermuseum.org/
Additional Notes: $2 discount if you visit here and the Museum of Fine Arts within 2 days. Bonus: the website says if your name is Isabella, you get in free :P
JFK Presidential Library & Museum
Price: $15
Hours: 11am - 5pm (open until 9pm on Thursday)
Website: www.gardnermuseum.org/
Additional Notes: $2 discount if you visit here and the Museum of Fine Arts within 2 days. Bonus: the website says if your name is Isabella, you get in free :P
What it is: Museum dedicated to JFK
Price: $14
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Website: www.jfklibrary.org/
Additional Notes: group rates for 12+ with reservations
Mary Baker Eddy Library
Price: $14
Hours: 9am - 5pm
Website: www.jfklibrary.org/
Additional Notes: group rates for 12+ with reservations
What it is: Library/museum centered around a female writer in the late 1800’s
Price: $6 each
Hours: 10am - 4pm
Website: www.marybakereddylibrary.org/
Additional Notes: Home to the Mapparium! A 3 story painted glass globe. (Viewable only by tour. Tours are every 20 minutes, starting at 10:20am.) Might be closed for renovations...
45-60 minute guided tours available, but only listed on the group rate page. I may have to reserve it (if we have a group of 15+).
Modern Pastry
Price: $6 each
Hours: 10am - 4pm
Website: www.marybakereddylibrary.org/
Additional Notes: Home to the Mapparium! A 3 story painted glass globe. (Viewable only by tour. Tours are every 20 minutes, starting at 10:20am.) Might be closed for renovations...
45-60 minute guided tours available, but only listed on the group rate page. I may have to reserve it (if we have a group of 15+).
What it is: Pastry shop in the North End.
Price: depends on what you buy
Hours: 8am - 10:00pm
Website: www.modernpastry.com/
Additional Notes: People said Mike's Pastry was too tourist-y so this is the chosen alternative.
MIT
Price: depends on what you buy
Hours: 8am - 10:00pm
Website: www.modernpastry.com/
Additional Notes: People said Mike's Pastry was too tourist-y so this is the chosen alternative.
What it is: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Campus tours, public art collection, museum (with exhibits on robots, stop-motion photography, and other cool stuff), and more
Price: many things are free. $10 for the museum
Times: varies depending on what we do. Campus tours are 11am and 3pm. Museum hours are 10am - 5pm. Art tours must be scheduled in advance.
Website: http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/visitor/
Additional Notes: They periodically have some very cool-sounding events. Check out what will be happening when we're in town.
Museum of African American History
Price: many things are free. $10 for the museum
Times: varies depending on what we do. Campus tours are 11am and 3pm. Museum hours are 10am - 5pm. Art tours must be scheduled in advance.
Website: http://web.mit.edu/institute-events/visitor/
Additional Notes: They periodically have some very cool-sounding events. Check out what will be happening when we're in town.
What it is: Abiel Smith School (first public school specifically for African American children), African Meeting House (the center of Boston's African American community in the 1800's), and an optional 1.6 mile walking tour
Price: $5
Hours: 10am - 4pm
Website: www.afroammuseum.org/
Museum of Fine Arts
Price: $5
Hours: 10am - 4pm
Website: www.afroammuseum.org/
What it is: Museum of Fine Arts. Can't say it any plainer than that.
Price: $25
Hours: 10am – 9:45 pm
Website: www.mfa.org/
Additional Notes: Check the current and upcoming exhibits to see what will be showing while we're in town.
Museum of Science
Price: $25
Hours: 10am – 9:45 pm
Website: www.mfa.org/
Additional Notes: Check the current and upcoming exhibits to see what will be showing while we're in town.
What it is: Science!
Price: $23
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Website: www.mos.org/
Additional Notes: The temporary exhibit when we'll be there is about food. You can also visit the planetarium for an additional $5.
New England Aquarium
Price: $23
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Website: www.mos.org/
Additional Notes: The temporary exhibit when we'll be there is about food. You can also visit the planetarium for an additional $5.
What it is: An aquarium. Look at the otters, turtles, penguins, octopi, etc.
Price: $24.95
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Website: www.neaq.org/
Additional Notes: They recently finished a remodel. Read about what's new here. Group rates available for 10+. They have an IMAX theater but we probably won't be there long enough to see anything (and it costs another $9.95).
Sam Adams Brewery
Price: $24.95
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Website: www.neaq.org/
Additional Notes: They recently finished a remodel. Read about what's new here. Group rates available for 10+. They have an IMAX theater but we probably won't be there long enough to see anything (and it costs another $9.95).
What it is: 1 hour brewery tour with samplings
Price: Free! (suggested donation: $2)
Hours: 10am – 3pm
Website: www.samueladams.com/
Additional Notes: All ages allowed, but if you want to sample the beers, you must be 21+ and have a valid ID. International people, have your passport with you!
Skywalk Observatory
Price: Free! (suggested donation: $2)
Hours: 10am – 3pm
Website: www.samueladams.com/
Additional Notes: All ages allowed, but if you want to sample the beers, you must be 21+ and have a valid ID. International people, have your passport with you!
What it is: In the Prudential building, 50 stories up, 360 view of city. Audio tours available.
Price: $15
Hours: 10am – 10pm
Website: www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop_detail.php?id=64
Sky Zone
Price: $15
Hours: 10am – 10pm
Website: www.prudentialcenter.com/shop/shop_detail.php?id=64
What it is: Indoor trampoline park
Price: $9 for 30min or $13 for 60min. +$2 for "sky socks"
Hours: 3pm-8pm
Website: http://www.skyzone.com/Boston#1385350-welcome
Sports Museum (TD Bank Garden)
Stone Zoo
Price: $9 for 30min or $13 for 60min. +$2 for "sky socks"
Hours: 3pm-8pm
Website: http://www.skyzone.com/Boston#1385350-welcome
What it is: A zoo. Look at the animals.
Price: $8.95
Hours: 10am-5pm
Website: www.zoonewengland.org/page.aspx?pid=220
Additional Notes: Animal exhibits include Yukon Creek, Windows to the Wild (small birds, mammals, and primates), Treasures of the Sierra Madre, Barnyard, Himalayan Highlands, and the Gibbon exhibit. Read more here.
Taza Chocolate Factory Tour
Price: $8.95
Hours: 10am-5pm
Website: www.zoonewengland.org/page.aspx?pid=220
Additional Notes: Animal exhibits include Yukon Creek, Windows to the Wild (small birds, mammals, and primates), Treasures of the Sierra Madre, Barnyard, Himalayan Highlands, and the Gibbon exhibit. Read more here.
What it is: 45 minute tour of a chocolate factory
Price: $5
Hours: 11am-6pm
Website: http://www.tazachocolate.com/
Additional Notes: Must wear closed-toe shoes, no jewelry or perfume, hair/beard net provided. Reservation required.
USS Constitution
Price: $5
Hours: 11am-6pm
Website: http://www.tazachocolate.com/
Additional Notes: Must wear closed-toe shoes, no jewelry or perfume, hair/beard net provided. Reservation required.
What it is: guided tour of the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat
Price: Free!
Hours: 10am - 4pm (Thurs-Sun only)
Website: http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/
Additional Notes: All bags subject to visual search. Valid government-issued ID required to board the ship if you're 18+ (you can still explore the shipyard without showing ID).
Price: Free!
Hours: 10am - 4pm (Thurs-Sun only)
Website: http://www.history.navy.mil/ussconstitution/
Additional Notes: All bags subject to visual search. Valid government-issued ID required to board the ship if you're 18+ (you can still explore the shipyard without showing ID).
Interested parties:
-Punzie (your leader)
-FahterVenom (her assistant)
-aBByNormaL +1
-Decius
-fullofgrace +1
-GhostDan
-gonexall
-macrogeek +2
-MagnusCarter
-Melzway
-PhoBaoBoa
-Ricin
-Tehol
-UnnDunn
-zelale
punzie on
+2
Posts
PAX East Pics: 2010-2015 & Vids: 2012-2015
And lunch
Really beer is an integral part of the entire MMT schedule.
I never finish anyth
Getting in on Monday so I will once more be around for the MMT!
New this year: I get a little tired of visiting the same places every year, so this year I'm pulling Organizer's Choice. I will add in one stop of my choosing, regardless of how the voting turns out. Right now I'm thinking it might be the MFA because of the quilt exhibit.
@aBByNormaL - Yes, once the stops are decided on by voting, @punzie will put together a schedule (including transit times, etc.), so that people can join/drop whenever they feel like it. It's a very free-form exercise in group tourism, and a lot of fun.
Yes, the "TBD" under the schedule heading in the OP will be replaced with an actual schedule that you can look at for planning purposes and the twitter account will be updated both days so you can follow where we actually are if we deviate for any reason.
Added Fort Independence to our list of potential stops. The other thing I was going to add (Body Works) closes April 6th, so boo.
I honestly think it's unlikely we'll do it at all. I agree, it'd be tons of fun, but it never gets many votes. I think price+travel time+rules= meh for most people. But maybe I'm totally wrong and this will be the year!
Working on voting form now.
Ok I'll have to get some travel health insurance...
I never finish anyth
Food you? I want to food you? When am I going to learn to proofread? Le sigh..
But more importantly *trumpets trumpeting* voting is live! I'll leave it open for... let's say 2 weeks? Ish.
I never finish anyth
Yes, bad design. It should be fixed now, methinks.
Edit: I completely forgot to vote for the tramp place. Know how I can edit my vote?
I never finish anyth
As you seem to have figured out, you can vote multiple times. I'll probably ignore it if anyone votes for the same thing multiple times tho.
Yeah I kinda remembered how terrible Google is at vetting forms, so I just re-submitted. Delete away.
I never finish anyth
Unsurprisingly, Harpoon Brewery and Taza chocolate factory are in the lead. Second place is a multi-way tie of Fenway, Sam Adams, Modern Pastry, and the aquarium.
At the moment these places are close but not quite making the cut (read: 1 vote away) : Sky Zone, Duck Tour, USS Constitution, Museum of Science, Boston Tea Party Museum, Freedom Trail.
I also just ordered some buttons. I got 50 so that should be plenty for everyone who comes to play with us.
twitter.com/Menolly07
Doesn't we mean we have to learn from our mistakes.
I never finish anyth