Meg and I are going on a New England trip next week.
We’re flying into Providence, RI and spending the night staying 3 nights, and taking the the train to Boston Wednesday and Thursday and staying two nights so that Meg can attend a conference.
Renting a car and driving down to Norwalk, CT to stay with Meg’s godmother.
Taking the commuter train into New York City to visit.
I’m totally new to this part of the country (except for NYC), so, as always, I’m looking for:
- great places to eat (particularly seafood)
- art museums/galleries
- awesome bookstores and comic shops
- generally rad things to see / do / eat.
Your suggestions, please!
For Providence, you can pretty much focus on the East Side if you are short on time. That is the oldest part of the city, where the original town hall is, Brown University and RISD and the most beautiful old buildings and streets in the state. It has an amazing gothic feeling for a colonial area. Edgar Allen Poe is said to haunt the steps of the Providence Atheaneum and H.P. Lovecraft also lived in this area.
For little shops, cafes and bookstores etc. you want to head to Thayer St., Wickendon St., and Wayland Square. The one “view” you cannot miss if you have the time to go there is Prospect Park Terrace, at the literal top of “college hill” – go at sunset or at night. It’s wonderful.
I almost don’t even want to give you specific places, because it’s so much more fun to explore. (and by the way, a fun area to hang around and draw. I kill lots of time sitting and sketching the buildings and streets while my girlfriend is in class at RISD).
Favorite coffeehouse is the Coffee Exchange on Wickendon St. Followed by Cafe Zog (which is only a few doors down from the Coffee Exchange).
Favorite food in the area is 3 Steeple St. (with the best macaroni and cheese possibly in the world, but also plenty of good seafood). It’s little bit fancy/pricey but not pretentious. It’s one of our “special occasion” places. Also – Local 121 on Washington (Downcity) is also a great, great restaurant using all local/fresh/whole food sources. Amazing food, but on the pricey side. For a more chill place, we like Julian’s over on Broadway (on the west side) They have an impressive collection of Star Wars figurines in their bathroom. For that, they are near and dear to my heart.
Other than that, there are just lots of little cheapie but good places scattered on the east side, East Side Pockets on Thayer for good sandwiches, Tortilla Flats on Hope for good margaritas, but not great mexican food if you live in Texas :). Curry n’ Kabob on Thayer has good Indian. Lots of little places that are easy to stop in for a bite to eat.
And I’ve heard there is an amazing artisanal cheese place and attached restaurant in Wayland Square, but I haven’t made it there yet.
For Art – The RISD museum is worth checking out. They just opened a new center and I haven’t been up there yet, but it looks amazing. There is a David Maucaulay exhibit going on that includes many of his studies and sketchbooks, that I have been dying to go see.
Also, in the downcity area (just down town really, but they call it Down City here, I don’t know why) I really LOVE aS220. You can go to the website and read about the organization or see what events are happening at their space while you are here. It’s a great place to go for a concert, poetry slam, art opening or to their Taqueria Pacifica for a drink. But they also have artist housing and programs and a print shop. It is a very, very cool place/organization.
Everything I mentioned has a website or is easily google-searchable. But please let me know if you would like any addresses or specific directions and I’d be happy to help.
-Bonnie
Comic Stores: Million Year Picnic (Boston/Cambridge). Rocketship (Brooklyn). Picturebox (Brooklyn). Desert Island (Brooklyn). (I haven’t been to the latter 2 but I’m sure they are worth visiting.
The MoMA in NYC is always worth a visit. The Morandi show up at the Met is amazing.
Eat somewhere in the old city Italian section of Boston (northeast area of the city). Lot’s of great little restaurants there.
Official JKB/Gran Bel Fisher endorced joints:
NYC: There’s a tiny little bar (The Main Bar…i think) a block or so west of the Mercury Lounge. That’s where the venue workers sent us after load-in…neighborhood joint, very cool.
NYC: Parnell’s Irish Pub: 350 E 53rd St(between 1st Ave & 2nd Ave)…will go down in JKB history as one of the greatest all day hangouts of all time. Sure, our circumstances were unique…but this is a great joint. Great food. Great drinks. Tell Noah he’s a great man, and The Josh Krajcik Band says hi.
Boston: Paradice Lounge…cool enough venue, but nothing special. Hard Rock Cafe: Boston was real nice(that was an open-bar VIP after party though) We also hit an Irish Pub near the hotel in Boston (there’s a theme here)…but I cant remember the name (comes with the territory, I guess).
That’s all I got. I’ll let you know if anything else emerges from the fog.
Corey
If you’re in New York, let’s grab a coffee, would love to talk to you about your newspaper blackout poems and poegles.com.
Bonnie, Derik and Corey: thanks, y’all!!!
Here are some other recs that have come through the tubes:
From Tim:
From Jason:
From the father-in-law:
so much culture & visuals to avail yourself of–you’ll have a lot to choose from in the NE!
In Providence the new Chace Center in the RISD museum has a surprisingly delightful Dale Chihuly show up now. The RISD museum itself is good; it has an eclectic & interesting collection.
In Harvard Square, Cambridge, there’s the Grolier Poetry Bookshop on Plympton St across from Harvard and right around the corner is Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage with yummy hamburgers. New England Comics & Million Year Picnic are 2 nearby comics stores. Down Mass. Ave is the Middle East if you want to listen to music.
In Boston the Gardner Museum is a jewel and the MFA is nearby, but if you go to both you’d have a bad case of museum head. There’s a cafeteria in the bottom floor of the MFA that’s pleasant & not as pricey as the upstairs cafe & restaurant.
Boston’s a good walking city. There are still some interesting galleries on Newbury St, though lots have moved to lower rent SoWa /Harrison Ave. Strolling through Back Bay, by the Boston Public Library, the South End, the Public Garden, or along the Charles River is always nice.
Filene’s & Jordan’s in Downtown Crossing are, alas, no more, having been swallowed up by Macy’s & a big hole in the ground aka a luxury condo development now stalled because of tight credit.
North End food–lots to choose from & fun to walk around & let serendipity guide you. A few standards: Daily Catch for calamari, Artu for easy Italian, Carmen(a tiny spot) for a special meal.
Most of the seafood restaurants have good fresh seafood–Atlantic Fish, Legal Seafood, Skipjacks–if not super ambiance or charm. Sel de Terre is good. B&G Oysters and Neptune Oyster I’ve heard are good if $$$$$.
Hope you have a grand time! Bring your jacket–it’s getting nippy up here.
I enjoy your posts a lot–hope we can return the favor by showing you a good time in the NE!
All best,
Jencie
Jencie: thanks so much for all the great info!
Boston hotels were totally booked and expensive, so we’re staying in Providence for 3 nights now…
Hey Austin,
I just found your blog and the posting in Nov 2008 cause I’m going to Providence this November. Did you end up going? Was it cold? I’m from Houston, Southwest Airlines was having a sale a last week and we just picked Providence because it seemed centrally located. I appreciate any info you can give.
Thank you