In and Around Boston: For Free
Ashwini Bapat, M’12
Star Gazing at the Colt Observatory:
Location: Colt Observatory, Boston University, 725 Commonwealth Ave
Time: Wednesday Nights at 7:30 pm
Ever mistaken an airplane’s landing lights for the twinkle of a star? Well, it may be time to head over to The Colt Observatory at Boston University which offers a night of star gazing for the layman. Every Wednesday night, at 7:30 (in the Fall and Winter), the public has access to telescopes and binoculars to aid in the discovery of constellations and planets which are otherwise outshined by the city lights. Star gazing is of course dependent on weather and therefore these sessions will be suspended on cloudy, rainy, hazy days. For more information visit the observatory's website
Boston Sports Trail
Location: Around Boston
Do you think you could pull off a whole outfit consisting solely of Boston sports paraphernalia? If so, as a Boston Sports fanatic, the Boston Sports Trail may be a worthy jaunt. The adventure commences at the TD Banknorth Garden Sports Museum housing wooden sculptures of Boston sports icons, continues on to Red Auerbach’s stogie clutching statue at Quincy Market. A couple stops later, the running shoes of two time Boston Marathon winner Johnny Kelley can be viewed at the at the headquarters of Boston Athletic Association. The trail then proceeds to pay its respects to South End Ground, the home of the Braves, Cy Young, and Matthews Arena, which hosted the inaugural games of the Bruins and the Celtics. And of course, the Boston Sports Trail would not be complete without a visit to Fenway Park’s Bleacher Bar, offering up close and personal views of these hallowed grounds. For more information visit www.bostonsportstrail.com
Institute of Contemporary Art
Location: 100 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02210
Time: Thursdays 5pm-9pm
Interested in cultivating highbrow refined tastes without doling out the cash? The Institute of Contemporary Art on Thursday nights offers free admission from 5pm-9pm. The Institute houses contemporary works in media, visual art, music, film, video, performance, and other unconventional exhibits. The exhibits will encourage the viewer to contemplate the meaning behind intentional splashes of paint on canvas, copper tiles on the floor, and a warped piece of plywood. For more information visit www.icaboston.org
Tufts Granoff Music Center
Location: Distler Performance Hall, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford, MA, 02144
The Granoff Music Center provides numerous opportunities to experience everything from a cello’s bewitching appeals to the hip shaking beats of the tablah. Most concerts are free for Tufts students and the general public. For more, see their events calendar.