The Unofficial Guide and Boston Apparel Co. Present:

Thing #4 To Do in Boston: Head of the Charles

Let’s face it: unless you yourself row crew, there’s a good chance you didn’t even know what it was until you came to college. And then, suddenly, you’re a freshman, and every single person you know rows crew, and you find yourself telling the five-year-old you babysit not to worry about his height (or lack thereof) because he’ll make a great coxswain. Now despite your newfound knowledge of the existence of crew, there’s a good chance you have never actually been to a regatta. Never fear, the Head of the Charles Regatta is every October. Okay, so Head of the Charles isn’t just a boat race. In fact, unless you actually enjoy watching crew, there’s a good chance you won’t notice the race at all. However, it's not a bad call to look the part. Don your M.I.T/Harvard gear, some boat shoes, and your best pair of shades.

Head of the Charles is really all about four things:

First, the FREE SAMPLES. Skip the cafeteria and head over to the Charles early (read: before 3pm) on Saturday to be sure you get all of the samples before they run out. Pro-tip: make a few laps around the free sample booths and you’ll save yourself a late-night CVS snack run. Also, make sure to cast menacing glances at all of the vendors that try to sell you food

After you’re full on free food, head to REUNION VILLAGE. Reunion Village is located on the Boston side of the river, between Weeks and Anderson bridges. It’s easy to spot, as it’s the only location on the river where people actually look like they’re having fun. It costs $5 to get in, and it fills up quickly, but if you can get in, it’s well worth it. The atmosphere is unbeatable.

The third most important part of HOCR weekend is INSTAGRAMMING PICTURES OF THE REGATTA. This is a subtle way to remind people that you do pretentious things like attending regattas.Lastly and most importantly, HOCR is about fiending after all of the ridiculously HOT ROWERS. Bonus points for actually hooking up with one. Triple bonus points if he or she is on a British team. How does one accomplish such a feat? Try jumping into the river just as a British boat is approaching. Then, pretend you can’t swim. Hopefully, a nice, strong Brit will help pull you out of the water. Please note that this strategy has not been tested and that we are not liable for any bodily injury/fines/embarrassment that may result. 

The Unofficial Guide and Boston Apparel Co. 

PRESENT: The #1 Thing to Do in Boston

RED SOX GAME AT FENWAY

If there’s one thing every Bostonian loves, it’s the Red Sox. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or you just picked up a Red Sox cap to represent that GPA, you won’t be accepted as a Bostonian until you go to Fenway.

Scoring tickets to a Red Sox game isn’t always easy. Fenway Park sells out more often than college seniors looking at consulting groups. So during regular baseball season—usually late March to late September—check for tickets and schedules on the Red Sox website. They can range anywhere from $12 for bleachers to $130+ for field box seats. And make sure to pick up some gear beforehand, because prices at the stadium can be outrageous!

To physically get to Fenway, opt for the poor man’s limo: the MBTA. Take any Green Line to Kenmore. If you get the D line, you can ride it all the way down to the Fenway stop. Then just follow the swarming crowds and you’ve made it: Welcome to Fenway Park. 

The Unofficial Guide and Boston Apparel Co. Present:

Thing #96 To Do in Boston: Take A Day-Trip

What is this “day trip” thing, you ask? It’s a glorious couple of hours in which we can take a step back from the pressures of work/school and realize there are sites to see in New England beyond your office or library's dreary ceiling. Put on your ball cap, don your lucky shirt, and get out there! 

PLIMOTH PLANTATION: No, that’s not a typo. The plantation is part of the area that encompasses Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. Bring Cardullo’s turkey, stuffing, and cranberry spread sandwiches and rejoice that you are not starving, like the original Pilgrims were. 

CONCORD AND WALDEN POND: For all those nature-lovers and transcendentalists out there who can’t wait to live like a hippie intellectual until there’s no tomorrow! Hiking, swimming, fishing…walk amongst the shadows of Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, and Hawthorne, all while appreciating the historical significance of a town from Revolutionary days. 

PROVINCETOWN: A bohemian mix of beaches, fishing, and art at the tip of Cape Cod. Easily accessible by a seasonal ferry from the South Boston waterfront. Go here if you want real beaches and check out the Pilgrim Monument for gorgeous views. And it can get chilly by the water, so pack a cozy sweatshirt!

RHODE ISLAND: The New Englander life epitomized. Head to Providence (only about an hour away by Amtrak) to stroll along its bonfire-dotted waterfront and admire Monets and Renoirs at the Rhode Island School of Design. Go to Newport instead if you’re feeling Gatsby-ish and get a glimpse of the summer playground of America’s rich and famous. Check out the Cliff Walk, see the Astor mansion, see the Vanderbilt mansion, see some more mansions, see St. Mary’s where JFK and Jackie tied the knot, and wish you had a mansion.