Browsing Tag

Back Bay

BOSTON, EVENTS, FASHION

Thursday, March 4: Madewell Offers Jean Discounts at Denim After Dark

Looking for new jeans? Consider this event a shopportunity.  Pop into the Madewell store on Newbury Street on Thursday, March 4 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. for 20% off all jeans. Other event perks include tips from in-house styling experts, free denim hemming and sweet nibbles.

Madewell is located at 329 Newbury Street in the Back Bay. For more information, please check out their Facebook listing by clicking here.

BOSTON, NIGHTLIFE, RECIPES

Guilty Pleasure: Free Late-Night Hot Dogs/Hamburgers at The Pour House

Hot Dog! by dadadreams from Flickr

My friend is going to kill me for sharing her best-kept Boston secret – free late-night food at the Pour House!  At 1:00 a.m. on Saturday nights, the Pour House in Boston’s Back Bay gives away free hot dogs or hamburgers to hungry patrons.  This is an insider tip, because more often than not you have to go to the top floor bar near the kitchen area and ask for them.

Be sure to check your expectations at the door – the dogs and burgers are basic and far from gourmet.  They are, however, free!

The Pour House is located at 907 Boylston Street between Gloucester & Hereford.  For more information about the Pour House, please visit: http://www.pourhouseboston.com/

BOSTON, EVENTS, FASHION

Denim After Dark Event at Madewell on Newbury Street This Thursday

Looking for a discount on cute jeans? Madewell on Newbury Street is hosting a 20% off event this Thursday night (January 7) from 7-10 p.m.  In addition to the discount, denim experts will be onsite to help you pick out the perfect pair while groovin’ to a live DJ.  Free hemming and custom embroidery will also be available.

For more information, please call Madewell at (617) 424-0904, or pop into their store at 329 Newbury Street.

BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE

Still Looking For a Boston Bar on New Year’s Eve? Here Are a Few Back Bay Ideas

McGreevy's Bar by anhatesmarcia from Flickr

With New Year’s Eve on Thursday, there’s only a few more days left to decide where to spend your last few hours of 2009.  To help narrow the field, here are a few recommendations in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.

To read more about New Year’s events at Saint, Whiskey Park, McGreevy’s, Lir, and Kings, please read my full Examiner.com article here.

BOSTON

So Many Boston Sports Clubs, So Little Time!

I recently upgraded my Boston Sports Club (BSC) membership so I can go and try many of the different locations. I’m enjoying the opportunity to try so many new clubs, and wanted to share some feedback with my fellow Bostonians:

Dumbells by Rainer Brockerhoff from Flickr

Allston, MA

The Allston BSC is a decent-sized club. It uses the basketball court as a group fitness studio (which means they can accommodate a lot of people in a class), has squash courts, a spinning room and express line. The club has a small ab machine room off of the weight lifting area, which is great. I haven’t been to this club much after work, because I thought that they charged for valet parking.  I just went the other night and realized that it is free! Wahoo!  Despite having a weeknight valet attendant, I’ve had a few frustrating encounters when on-street, parking lot and valet garage spots were all filled. I’ve found that if you go around 7:00pm on a weeknight the gym is not crowded. A colleague keeps raving about their classes, so I plan on testing them out in the near future. This is also a great gym to go to on the weekends because they do not charge for parking and it’s never crowded.

Copley Square, Boston, MA

The Copley Square BSC is a basement-level club on Boylston Street. For its location, I was very impressed with the amount of space this club has. It has an indoor pool, express line and a group fitness studio. I went at 9pm after a business meeting and it wasn’t crowded at all. I’ve also had similar luck on the weekends. I haven’t had an opportunity to try it after work yet.

Downtown Crossing, Boston, MA

The Downtown Crossing BSC is an upper-level club with big windows and views of downtown crossing. It has a fitness room, pilates/yoga room, spinning studio and express line. I used to go after work and never had a problem finding a machine. I love this club’s close proximity to the Boston Common and Charles River running/walking path. I’ve tried the club strength and club abs classes and enjoyed them. The only drawback to this club is that the elevators are very slow and kind of ancient!

Newton, MA

The Newton BSC is a tinier club with a unique layout. It has an indoor pool, group fitness studio, four indoor tennis courts, spinning room, pilates/yoga studio, express line and an indoor running track. I recently played on their tennis courts and had a wonderful experience, although they do charge more for court fees than the Lexington BSC. I’ve also tried the indoor running track, which is one level above the gym floor. It’s less than 1/8 a mile, but I loved the opportunity to run indoors during the winter. I’ve only been to this club on the weekends and have never had a problem finding a machine or space on the track. Tennis court time is a bit harder to secure, so book in advance.

South Station

The South Station BSC is a tiny club, but is much newer than some of the other clubs. It has an indoor pool, group fitness studio, spinning room and express line. I love swimming at this club on the weekends because it is not crowded, does not have little kid birthday pool parties and street parking is ample. I used to go after work and found it hard to get a cardio machine at times, but enjoyed their club abs and club strength classes. There are also three small stretching areas sprinkled throughout, which is helpful.

Watertown, MA

The Watertown BSC is a large, airy club tucked inside the Arsenal building. It has a group fitness studio, pilates studio, basketball court, spinning room, express line and indoor pool. I’ve tried the club strength and club abs classes and enjoyed both of them. The gym is very clean and there is ample free parking. It’s extremely busy after work because it is located inside an office park, but I can usually find a cardio machine. If you’re very picky about the type of cardio machine, you may find yourself frustrated at times here. It’s a great club to go to on the weekends because it’s quiet and not crowded! Staff is friendly and helpful. They also have a small concession stand for protein shakes, water and snacks.

For more of my fitness content from around Boston and beyond, click here!