Fenway Park Bar Guide

Fenway Park – Transportation – Food – Bars – Hotels

Game On! - 4 Yawkey Way ( Fenway)

Game On! perpetually wins all the best sports bar awards in Boston. Plus the location of this bar can’t be topped as it’s located inside a corner of Fenway Park. This bar has two levels. The Top floor has more of a lounge feel to it. While the downstairs level is a sports bar on Steroids. There are more plasma screens that you could possibly watch. The drinks here aren’t exactly what we call cheap, but the location to Fenway and the atmosphere more than makes up for that.

Cask ‘n Flagon – 62 Brookline Ave ( Fenway)

This bar is a Red Sox pre and post game tradition. It has recently been remodeled and now houses a ridicules collection of plasma screen TVs. You will find College Students, locals and Tourists all here at this bar. But on game days it is Red Sox nation that show up at this bar. It was recently ranked the #2nd best baseball bar in the country.

Bukowski Tavern - 50 Dalton St ( Back Bay)

This is a hole in the wall in every sense of the word, except this bar pours some of the finest brews in town. Here at this bar you will encounter intellectuals, hipsters and Red Sox fans. Bukowski Tavern is located underneath a parking garage and over looks the Mass Pike. It is probably one of the smallest bars in town and it’s cash only. The this all adds somehow to the charm of this joint.

Cornwall’s - 654 Beacon St ( Kenmore Sq)

This Kenmore Sq Tavern is modeled after classic English style pub. It Prides itself with its English style draughs on tap. Located across the square from a majority of the Fenway crowd, this bar is an excellent place to grab a pint before or after the game because you don’t have to fight to get a drink.

Jillian’s – 145 Ipswich St (Fenway)

If you have someone in your group who isn’t 21 yet, this might be your best bet (it’s 18+ till 8:00 M-R). 70,000 square feet of fun. This mega Complex has everything ranging from pool tables to the upstairs Lucky Strike Bowling Alley. Upstairs also has a nice Vegas Style Video Board if you want to check some of the other games. In the Basement you will find Tequilla Rain, a place that advertises spring break 52 weeks a year.

McGreevy’s – 911 Bolston St ( Back Bay)

Touted as America’s First Sports bar, McGreevy’s dates back to 1894. After taking a long hiatus, it made it’s return in 2008 and now located in the Back Bay. McGreevy’s has an affiliation with the local band, The Drop Kick Murphy’s and is both an Irish bar and a Baseball tavern with lots of memorabilia of Boston.

The Lower Depths - 476 Commonwealth Ave (Kenmore Sq)

This newcomer to Kenmore Sq is best known for their beer selection and fair prices. The Patio is an excellent place to relax and watch the Red Sox crowd start to swell. This also serves up some excellent bar food that pairs well with your beers. The bar area is small and does get rather crowded after the game lets out.

TC’s Lounge - 1 Haviland St (East Fenway)

This might not seem like the sort of place that you want to walk into, but the interior might surprise you. This place is laced with all sorts of old time Boston sports trinkets and yellowed newspaper clippings. This joint also houses a great juke box and Big Buck Hunter. The drinks are well priced and the Staff keeps it professional with a quick pour. Along with Red Sox fans this is a favorite hang out for those who are too cool for school and the clueless.

The Baseball Tavern 1270 Boylston St (Fenway)

If you want to get geared up for the game, this is the place to come. Skip the first two levels and head right for the top, up to the roof deck. Here you will find a mock Fenway Park, complete with a Green Monster and foul poles. Look beyond the bar and you will see the the real deal not to far away. From up here you can hear the Fenway PA announcer, and if you hear the national anthem you’ll know that it’s time to finish up your beer and head on into the game.

Fenway Bars Map

Fenway Park – Transportation – Food – Bars – Hotels

Ten annoying things about Boston

Ten annoying things about Boston…

I love living in Boston but there are everyday things that just annoy the hell out of me. Despite all of the quirks and annoying features below, it really is a gem among cities, so don’t get me wrong. But if you are considering moving here, this is a list of things the real estate agent or your friends might not tell you.

The Save the Children People:

Walk around town during the warmer months and you’ll see them… everywhere. People wanting you to sign petitions that will save the kids, or elect Obama or support the ACLU. I honestly don’t care how good the cause is, you are annoying. Especially to those who live here and have to walk by you every single day. You are one of the main contributing factors why people in Boston never, ever talk to strangers… People who come up to you on the streets in this town always want something, be it money or a signature, and its a shame that us Bostonians always have to have our guard up.

T Construction:

It takes forever and nothing ever seems to be done. I saw a sign back in 2006 that promised an elevator and two refurbished stairways by 2009. Seriously, 3 years for that? Nothing was accomplished over 2-1/2 years, just a bunch of wood paneling and do not enter signs. When work finally did start, it only took 3 months to finish. The MBTA is big government bureaucracy at its worst and makes City Hall look like a well oiled machine.

No Happy Hour Specials:

Going into a  bar recently I saw a weekly line up of their house specials: “Monday: Play Big Buck Hunter!….. Tuesday: $6.25 Drafts (fine print: available every day) ….etc”. This is pathetic and I can’t blame the bar. The state decided back in the day to ban happy hours, thus making Massachusetts one of the worst places in the country to actually have fun at a bar. Great law…

Roads:

My vote for ugliest stretch of urban highway would be Comm Ave in Allston. There are weeds growing between the trolley tracks, trash blowing around the street and pavement that is modeled after the surface of the moon. This road is a beast and has needed an upgrade for probably 10 years. I bet in another 10 years it still is a mess.

Bikers:

I just love how no bikers obey traffic laws… Stop lights? What stop lights? One way streets? Who cares. More than half of them don’t wear helmets and fly through intersections. The city is facing all sorts of budget cuts… how about fining some of the crazy bike riders? There are so many of them that this alone might fix the city’s financial situation.

Pedestrians downtown at 5:00 pm:

It might resemble the last day of school more than quitting time. There must be a huge population of Bostonians who hate their jobs because come 5:00, people are everywhere, running across busy streets, ignoring Don’t Walk signs, knocking old ladies out of their way. The madness continues once they reach the suburbs… watch the fools pour off the commuter rail then sprint to their cars. It’s insanity.

24-Hour joints:

Lets just say Bostonians think they are too sophisticated to be out past 2:15 in the morning on a Saturday. There are about 4 places total in the city where the kitchen is open 24-hours a day- an amazing feat being that this is the largest college town in the country.

Fake Homeless:

For every real honest homeless person there seems to be a fake one lurking around the corner. Who, by the way, have nicer sneakers than I do, chat on their cell phones, and wear gold chains. I have seen these “homeless people” at Red Sox games (inside Fenway) and walking into apartment complexes far nicer than my own. Homelessness is a serious issue in our society and these people are taking advantage.

The Seaport District:

It sucks… as a city we had a chance to develop a cool new neighborhood and whiffed, bad. Lots of money has been poured into it (Mass pike ext, Silver line, Convention Center) yet the only thing that really seems to flourish is parking lots and cold corporate buildings. It is completely unfriendly to pedestrians, not to mention windy and desolate at night.

Downtown Crossing:

An eyesore of epic proportions. The hole that was formally known as Filene‘s Basement hasn’t seen construction in over a year. The Mayor has tried to put some lipstick on this pig by adding an arts festival and some street entertainment.  Amazingly in a city overflowing with pubs, the main streets of Washington and Winter are completely bar-free. Once night falls on Downtown Crossing… the weirdoes come out and it’s time to get out of there.

The Pru is Blue

Fenway 101

Located in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, Fenway Park was built in 1912 with a capacity of around 37,500 that changes yearly. Currently the Red Sox are riding a 460+ 500+ home sell-out streak in which they broke the record held by the Cleveland Indians last season. When people think of Fenway they think of the Red Sox and the 37′ 2″ wall in left field, dubbed the Green Monster. The Green Monster is home to a manual scoreboard and baseball’s most unique seats on the top. The Green Monster seats give you a great panoramic view of Fenway and the surrounding cityscape. If you want to sit here, plan things out early and prepare to shell out some coin. For those you who like to score higher society tickets, the third level outside EMC Club has Red Sox Hall of Fame plaques along with replicas of the Cy Young Award and Gold Gloves. The bleacher seats in the outfield are home to the rowdiest and most knowledgeable fans so bring your drinking shoes. With Fenway’s charm comes it’s quirks, there are a decent amount of obstructed view seats (it will say obstructed view on the ticket) and seats that look off into centerfield instead of towards the pitchers mound. Fenway was built for the comfort of the 1912 sized man in mind… not the 2009 version. The Red Sox have taken steps to replace many of the aging seats, making things a bit more comfortable. If seating comfort is your priority, opt for the Pavilion seats. The Budweiser right field roof deck is another addition to Fenway that offers a very unique view of the game.

Boston is known for having some of the most confusing streets in the United States and there is a reason they call this America’s walking city. Unless you can’t avoid it, it is highly suggested you don’t drive to the game, parking garages are scarce and charge out the wazoo (think $50). Boston has a relatively efficient network of Subways that locals call the T, and taking the green line to Kenmore Square will only run you about $2. From there, follow the crowds to the game. There is also a large contingency of people who park in the Back Bay section of the city and walk to the game. The Back Bay offers fans more upscale restaurants, hotels, parking garages and is a great place to stay if you are spending the night in Boston.

Once inside the park there is an increasingly large amount of food options. Legal Seafood’s clam chowder is a great local dish and goes great with night games in the early spring or late fall. Dunkin Do’nuts are huge in Boston and Fenway caters to the locals with two DD’s. Fenway has two distinct area’s where concessions are bountiful. The relatively new Big Concourse under the right field bleachers is perfect for getting a Fenway Frank, while Yawkey Way outside is a real city street that shuts down for game day. Here you will find Mexican, BBQ, plenty of beer options and even a local bar (Who’s on First). A staple of Fenway Park is also the Italian sausage with peppers and onions. You can find numerous independent street vendors lined up around the park’s gates serving up this heavenly tube shaped pieces of meat. Bostonians love their Sam Adams and Guinness as both are readily available inside.

Getting tickets to a game at Fenway Park is not easy, nor is it inexpensive. Most games are sold out well in advance and ticket scalpers run rampant. One the best tips for getting tickets is to head over to the Ted Williams Statue and put your name at the Scalp Free Area. There is no guarantee here, but if it works you’ll get in the game at a fraction of the price.

Marty Rey (Red Sox Media Relations) states that Fenway is unrolling a Family Hour which gives fans 50% of popular concessions for the first hour after the gates open. Marty also encourages fans to come early, gates open 2 hours before the first pitch. This is a great chance for fans to check out all the nooks and crannies around this ancient park, see batting practice and snap some great pictures.

Fenway Park is situated in one of the best baseball neighborhoods in the country. Beyond the Green Monster there is Lansdown Street, with it’s packed bars, clubs and nightlife. On the other side of the Mass Turnpike sits Kenmore Square and the less crammed restaurants, bars and T stop. Along the developing Boylston Ave there are even more bars and restaurants.

Fenway Park is truly an American icon. Saying that there is no place in the world quite like it is an understatement. How can a ball park that is 3 years shy of a century still churn out sell outs night after night? Much like the band U2, there is little doubt that Fenway Park is still in its prime.

Restaurants: Canestaro’s 16 Peterborough St; Boston Beer Works 61 Brookline Ave; Cambridge 1 1381 Boylston St; Eastern Standard 528 Commonwealth Ave

Bars: Bleacher Bar 82 Lansdowne Street; The Lansdowne 9 Lansdowne Street; Cornwall’s 654 Beacon St; The Lower Depth’s476 Commonwealth Ave

Hotels: Hotel Commonwealth 500 Commonwealth Ave ; The Colonnade Hotel 120 Huntington Ave ; Boston Marriott Coplet Place 110 Huntington Ave ; Hostelling International12 Hemenway St
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Boston on the Cheap: Secrets Embedded within the City

Whether it’s the recession or the fact you just love to scout out a good deal. Many people view Boston as one of America’s most pricy destinations and in many regards, it is. But don’t be discouraged, it still can be manageable. As a businessman who walks the streets of Boston on a daily basis, I have composed a list of my favorite secrets.

Here are my favorite insider tips to do Boston on the Cheap.

• East Boston: It’s only a short subway ride from the Aquarium Station to Maverick, but the landscape changes drastically. Over here you will find breathtaking views of Boston and one of the nicest parks in America (Pier Park.) In Maverick Square you will find an array of food options, from countless South American favorites to Dough (20 Maverick St.), a cozy pizza joint. Santrapio’sCafe 303 (303 Sumner St) is an artist’s haven.
• Boston Burrito Wars: If you haven’t noticed, Boston is blessed with some awesome burritos. Some swear the best places to go are in East Boston or Somerville but lets focus in on what is going on closer into town.
• Places such as Anna’s Taqueria (242 Cambridge St) and Villa Mexico (296 Cambridge St) in Beacon Hill, Herrera’s (11 Temple Pl) in Downtown Crossing and El Triunfo (147 East Berkeley St) in the South End all deliver superior quality & prices better that Q’doba.
• Cheap Eats near Faneuil Hall: There aren’t many options here, but I’ll do my best. First on Fridays and Saturdays you can find excellent deals on produce at Haymarket (pretty much wholesale vendors unloading product). You can grab a slice of pizza for cheap at two places: Haymarket Pizza (106 Blackstone St) is a no frills joint where a slice will cost you a $1.25, and Galleria Umberto (289 Hanover St) on Hannover Street with the square slices will remind you of your days waiting in line at the school cafeteria- and fortunately their pizza is way better than your school’s.
• Free Obsevation Deck: Be prepared to soar a whole 14 floors above the earth’s crust. While it isn’t the best view of Boston, you will see the Greenway on one side and the Harbor on the other side. What do you
• expect for free? Head to Independence Wharf (470 Atlantic Ave).
• Free Art: The new ICA (Institute of Contempory Art) runs a free open house on Thursday Nights. Want more? The public Libary in Copley Square will often showcase various collections for free. Just exploring the
• architecture in the Public Library is worth the trip.
• Take it down to Chinatown: Everything seems to cost less here. From the grocery stores, the $4 vietnamese subs, and even the beer here seems to run about a $1 less than the rest of the city. Have a dollar thats burning a hole in
• your pocket? Hit up Eldo Cake House (36 Harrison Ave) for a tasty treat.
• Free Friday Flicks: Almost a Boston icon. This year’s Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell along the Charles river is celebrating its 24-year anniversary of showing popular movies at dusk. All you need to do is bring some lawn chairs, snacks, and perhaps some bug spray.
• Cruise the Harbor on the T: Hankering for a boat ride in the Harbor? Don’t want to spend $35 on a whale watch? Hit up on the of T boats. My personal favorite is the water shuttle that runs from Long Wharf to the Navy Pier
  in Charlestown, it will set you back a mere $1.70.

(111 Chelsea St) is an East Boston institution while

Back Bay (quick breakdown)

While the Back Bay is quintessentially Boston, it so is one of the most unique neighborhoods in town. Here is a quick run down of the main Streets in the Back Bay.

Boylston Street is the main artery in the Back Bay. Here you will find skyscrapers, shopping malls and flagship stores. You will also find a wide array of restaurants and a few bars towards the western part of the street. Many of the cities best hotels are located near or on Boylston St as well as the Hynes Convention Center. The epicenter of Boylston Street is Copley Sq, home to the Boston Public Library and the finish line to the Boston Marathon.

Newbury Street perhaps is Bostons most famous street. There is something for everyone of this great strip ranging from high society towards the Boston Common to the gritty block as you approach Mass Ave. Here you will find unique restaurants prefect for people watching during the warmer months. Shopping is excellent as unique boutique stores sit next to art galleries and salons. Newbury Street is no secret as everyone comes here to show off their latest treads and hot cars.

Commonwealth Ave is the perfect place to stroll. The mall down the center is a great place to meet with Bostonians as many of the locals walk there dogs here. Look to the left and right and you will see some of Bostons best architectural gems. The houses here aren’t just homes, they are urban mansions.

Marlborough Street is a quiet residential street and is the only street in the Back Bay with authentic gas lamps. It is tree lined and one of the quaintest streets in Boston.

Beacon Street is a wide boulvard home to even more beautful Boston residences (think Tom Brady). It buts up against the Charles River espliade, a park that is a joggers haven. Here you can see Cambridge across the river and sail boats on the water.

Welcome to Boston

Looking for someone to show you around Boston? I am giving personal tours of this great American city tailored to your specific needs. Interested in History? Interested in finding good places to shop, or need tips on Nightlife or a good restaurant?

Wither you are a tourist or someone new to town, I can help you get the most out of Boston.

Just email me what you are looking to do while you are in town and I will tailor a tour for you. I charge $25 per hour.

I have lived in the heart of the Back Bay and have lived in the Boston area for 15 years. I would consider myself a Boston expert as I write for numerous publications about the city and a Sports Travel Blog.

The Crosshair Guide – Set your sights on the Town!

Contact @ thecrosshairguide@gmail.com