I'm in Boston for SD Expo this week and just got in a few hours ago.
I took the T–the local word for subway–in from the airport for $1.25, what a deal! Isn't it interesting how only New Yorkers call it a the Subway? In Paris it's the M`tro, in London the Tube, Atlanta it's MARTA and in St. Louis the MetroLink.
I'm staying at the Westin Copley Place which is in Back Bay.
I just wandered around to find dinner and noticed:
- a lot of the same chains that are in St. Louis like McDonalds, Wendy's, Boston Market (I wonder if that is to Bostonites as St. Louis Bread Company is to St. Louisans or if it seems like a lame marketing gimmick), California Pizza Kitchen, The Cheesecake Factory
- some east-coast chains like Au Bon Pain
- The Church of Christ, Scientist, a big cathedral down the street from the hotel
- there are lots of gay couples in this city
- several independent restaurants like The Wrap and Bukowski's Tavern.
I ate at Bukowski's Tavern because I think I saw it on an episode of Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and the menu looked good (burgers and lots of beer). I had the barbeque bacon burger and a wheat beer that the bar tender found "least disgusting" of all their wheat beer offerings. The burger was good and the fries were awesome!
There's a shaw's across the street from the hotel so I bought some bottled water and a muffin for breakfast in case they don't have breakfast at the conference tomorrow.
My first impression of the city is it's like Manhattan but with a different attitude but otherwise Back Bay reminds me of NYC's Upper West Side.