Rewind Activity Time: Museum of Fine Arts

Earlier in the summer, I was able to check a key activity off of my Boston to-do list: visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). Especially on some of the hottest days around the City, it seemed like a logical activity. Beat the heat and take in some art. Overall, the experience ended up being only so-so. Here’s why.

MFA

1.  The line on the weekends is insane.

I waited outside in the heat for an hour an a half just to get into the actual ticket line. Granted, I probably could have been a jerk and just jumped into the inside line by faking my membership status. However, I don’t approved of that. So I waited.

2.  The air conditioning inside the museum was not on full blast.

I guess it was just an assumption on my part to think that the MFA would have the air on the coolest setting. It wasn’t hot but it wasn’t cold. Some of that may have had to do with the crowds. I’m sure that part of that was just my previous experience in museums in Texas, where the air has to be on high.

Part of the Chihuly Exhibit

3.  The special exhibit was a zoo.

The biggest selling point for a visit to the MFA on the weekend was the special Chihuly exhibit. I had heard great things, and the exhibit was about to end. Now, this particular exhibit was so popular that the guests were given times to enter it, to reduce crowds. Managing the crowds is especially important for an exhibit that is all handblown glass sculptures. Unfortunately, people did not move the through the exhibit as expected – and bottlenecks in the exhibit area were incredibly uncomfortable. I would love to see this exhibit again if it’s at another museum. Maybe I’ll have more time to take it in because what I saw was incredible.

Overall, I thought it was an interesting museum and I didn’t get through even half of the exhibits. Although my best advice after this experience is to either get a membership OR visit on a weekday and get there when the museum opens. I’ll be sure to note how my next visit goes….

Say Hello to Your Mother’s…Day

If you’ve read this blog, you’re probably aware that most of my family is in Texas and Minnesota. While I personally am not able to take my mother out today, I hear Boston is a wonderful place to celebrate all the mama’s out there. Even though Mother’s Day is basically over, here are a few fun events or restaurants that I would recommend keeping in mind for next year, or investigate for other upcoming holidays (Father’s Day isn’t that far away).

Top of the Hub

This restaurant at the top of the Prudential Building is renowned for its few of downtown Boston. I’ve not been there yet, and I’ve heard mixed reviews about the food but its the view that makes this location unique. What I did notice is that they were hosting a special Mother’s Day menu today that looks especially delicious: http://www.topofthehub.net/restaurant_one_event.php?event_id=621. Just be sure to make a reservation!

Stir Boston

Instead of going out to eat, why not take a cooking class? Stir describes itself as a “demonstration kitchen and cookbook library” in Boston lead by Chef Barbara Lynch and Wine Director Cat Silirie. Classes range in topic from basic stills to food flavors to themed events. It’s a really fantastic concept, and I’ve heard only incredible things. For more info, check out Stir Boston: http://stirboston.com/.

Winedays at the MFA

It might not be on Mother’s Day but Winedays is a wine tasting event at the Museum of Fine Arts held on the last Wednesday of every month. It’s a chance to try wineries in the area and $25 gets you wine tastings and hor d’oeurves. Plus, you learn about every wine – which includes the flavors, notes and suggested food pairings. If you like wine or want to know more about wine, this is a fun way to sample new flavors and take in some art. More details can be found on the MFA’s site: http://www.mfa.org/programs/special-event/winesdays.

The Great Urban Race

Want to spend some quality time with mom or just have a blast deciphering clues around the city? Check out the Great Urban Race Boston. This Amazing Race style event sends teams around greater Boston, solving clues and tackling challenges. While the Boston event just finished this weekend, the race is hosted in big cities all around the U.S. Mark your calendar now so you remember to check this out for next year: http://greaturbanrace.com/index.php.

With so many great restaurants and exciting events, it can be hard to keep up with Boston – especially when planning celebratory activities for someone as special as Mom. There is no way I’ll be able to do the city justice in one post, but I will leave you with my favorite new character on SNL who has his own suggestions for Mother’s Day activities:

Happy Mother’s Day!!