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Photo: Digfarenough, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
One of "The Big Five", an evening at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (or BSO) will be a treasured memory for any visitor. Attending one of these highly acclaimed, if somewhat formal performances, is a must for any lover of the finer things in life. If you think you might prefer something lighter, however, try the Boston Pops. Comprised of BSO musicians (but usually not their first-chair players), The Pops plays more familiar classical and popular music. The building, Symphony Hall, was constructed in 1900 and is considered to have the finest acoustics of any concert hall in the United States. In 2006 the BSO renovated the building and was worried about preserving the quality of the sound. They decided to spare no expense, using only craftsman capable of building with the same methods and materials as the original construction.
Symphony Hall is a concert hall that is home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra, located at 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BSO founder Henry Lee Higginson commissioned architectural firm McKim, Mead and White to create a new, permanent home for the orchestra. Symphony Hall can accommodate an audience of 2,625. The hall was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1999 and is a pending Boston Landmark. It was then noted that "Symphony Hall remains, acoustically, among the top three concert halls in the world, and is considered the finest in the United States." Symphony Hall, located one block from Berklee College of Music to the north and one block from the New England Conservatory to the south, also serves as home to the Boston Pops as well as the site of many concerts of the Handel and Haydn Society.
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Jordan Hall
Catch a performance at the oldest independent school of music in the United States. The New England Conservatory of Music is renowned for its instruction in string, woodwind, and brass instruments. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994, Jordan Hall—along with Symphony Hall—are considered two of America's most acoustically perfect performance spaces. Often used as a concert hall for NEC students and faculty, the BSO will perform in this space as well.
Shattuck Visitor Center
Offering walking and cycling tours throughout The Fens, the Muddy River, and other points of interest along this section of the Emerald necklace. See the calendar of events for specifics.
MHS
Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society is the nation's oldest historical society. The collections of the MHS bring alive the stories of America's past through a series of changing exhibitions and public programs that are free and open to the public. Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence is a particularly significant piece in their collection. Many famous people sit on the board of directors, including professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, and director Ken Burns.
MFA
As the fourth largest museum in the US, the Museum of Fine Art is known for its impressive assortment of French Impressionist paintings as well as its extraordinary collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The MFA also has one of the largest collections of Japanese art outside of Japan. A new modernist Art of the Americas Wing was completed in 2010, architected by Norman Foster. A visitor could simply rush through the highlights in a few hours, or linger all day and take it all in properly. The museum also has a great collection of early American art, including the portrait of George Washington used on the dollar bills you might find in your wallet right now.
Jillian’s
Not into classical music, and the finer "intangibles" a bowstring might provide? No problem. Head here for an evening of bowling, billiards, and ping-pong. An attached dance club bills itself as "52 weeks of spring break", if you're up for that. The entertainment is spread out over several floors so you may find something to your liking. All areas serve alcohol and are 21+.
See all types of live concerts and special events at this popular entertainment chain. The first HoB opened in Harvard Square in the early 90s, but moved to this much larger location in 2009. They play host to bigger name national performers like The Flaming Lips and Run the Jewels. They also serve several southern inspired dishes, if you feel compelled to eat here.