Ah Boston. It’s pretty great living here, right? You don’t need a car to survive and there’s always something to do. It doesn’t come without a price though, and that price is pricey. It’s expensive to live here, people, that’s what I’m trying to say. Here are some of my favorite things to do and places to eat that will make you and what money you actually have happy.
Happy Hour at Redbones
Every weekday from 4-6pm appetizers are half price. If you like hanging out at the downstairs bar better, don’t go until 5. My favorite apps are the nachos, the corn fritters and buffalo shrimp. Sadly, the giant sized cocktails that matched the giant sized portions at Redbones seem to be a thing of the past, so I’d recommend sticking to their beer list for drinks.
55 Chester St in Somerville
Free Thursdays at the ICA
I’ve certainly seen some interesting work at the ICA, but I think my favorite part of visiting is the building itself. And every Thursday from 5-9pm you can go for free. If you want to double your thriftiness you could pick up a delicious $5 sandwich from the Clover truck at Summer and Atlantic outside of South Station and eat it on the steps of the museum. Nice!
100 Northern Ave in Boston
Clover
Clover Speaking of which, Clover is delicious and cheap. In addition to their fleet of food trucks throughout Boston and Cambridge, they have two brick and mortar locations-one in Harvard Sq and one outside of Inman. It’s true that the Harvard Sq restaurant has kind of a weird atmosphere-sort of like eating in a cafeteria crossed with a stock room crossed with a hospital, but after a couple of bites of your chickpea fritter, you won’t really care.
Cheap Date Night at Myers and Chang
Myers and Chang is one of my favorite places to eat in Boston. The staff is friendly and laid back, the food is amazingly flavorful, the drinks are potent and tasty and they have cheap date night! Every Monday and Tuesday, two people can eat well for $40. Everything I’ve ever had here has been delicious. Try the pork belly buns, the dan dan noodles, any of the vegetables, the mussels and the tiger’s tears.
1145 Washington Street in Boston
Pizza and PBR at the Newtowne Grille
The sign outside of the Newtowne in Porter Sq advertises a large cheese pizza and a pitcher of Bud for $13.95, but that’s just silly. What you really want is a pitcher of PBR and a large cheese pizza, which only runs you $11.95. Most importantly, THE PIZZA IS GOOD. I mean like, surprisingly good. The deal is any large cheese pizza is $4 when you get a pitcher. Even if you’re feeling fancy and get Allagash, you’re still able to do a tasty meal for less than $20.
1945 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge
Free Wednesday Nights at the MFA
Every Wednesday after 4pm admission to the MFA is by voluntary donation. On their website, the suggested donation is $22, which I like to translate into $1. You know, per person I’m going with. I’m not a total jerk. I love the Art of the Americas wing and I love going to the Squealing Pig for a drink afterwards. The prosciutto, fig jam and gorgonzola toastie is pretty great and I like their non mayo-y potato salad. Note that trivia night starts at 8pm, which to me says "get out before 8" but to you might say "stay and play trivia."
465 Huntington Ave in Boston
Beer Punch at Cambridge Common
A thirst quenching blend of lemonade, Sam Summer, and vodka, the Beer Punch at CambridgeCommon is both tasty and a bargain. Two people can get about 4 drinks a piece and spend around $25. You will be happy because you won’t have blown ALL of your money on booze. You will also be happy because you will be drunk. Unless of course you’re an angry or weepy drunk in which case a giant kool-aid shaped pitcher of devil juice is probably not the best choice for you anyway. My bad.
1667 Mass Ave in Cambridge
Free Sunday Mornings at the Harvard Museum of Natural History
If you’ve got a Massachusetts drivers license you can visit the Natural History museum for free every Sunday from 9am ‘til noon. Wednesday afternoons from 3-5pm are also free from September through May. Certain rooms can feel pretty claustrophobic here and I’ve freaked myself out by turning a dark corner and bumping into a case filled with terrifying taxidermied monkeys on more than one occasion. And yet, I keep going back. Museum highlights include: the rocks and minerals hall, live poison dart frogs, the New England Forests room, and the Harvard Mastodon.
26 Oxford St in Cambridge
