I love field trips, always have. So when the opportunity to chaperone a trip up to Boston with the school's jazz ensembles and jazz choir for the Berklee Jazz Festival, I said heck yeah! True that I'm not a huge fan of Boston (it's cold and I've had a crummy time every visit I've made,) but there are a few things native to the New England area that I am a huge fan of. Plus, by chaperoning an overnight trip, I got to stay in my very own hotel room and I lovelovelove hotels! It was so cosy and New England-y with all the down pillows and comforters and a stunning view of the Boston skyline - well as stunning as it can be when all I can do is compare it to the NYC skyline that I can see from my rooftop in Brooklyn. Even despite the lacking skyline, the hotel room was the perfect place to crash after a long, noisy bus ride with forty high school musicians. But not without a nice bite with the grownups before bedchecks. So off we headed to the hotel restaurant where I indulged in a bowl of New England clam chowder that was so chock full of buttery little shellfish and cream that completely beats out my Manhattan variety. Let's face it, nothing beats a creamy soup, even if it does have a NYC namesake. I was the perfect beginning to my plateful of baked, crispy cod with roasted vegetables. Mmmm Boston knows how to do seafood, that's for sure!
After wandering around the convention center the next day, attempting to keep track of my 35 kids, getting them dressed and to rehearsals and performances on time, and enjoying some out of this world jazz music from young geniuses I got to wander around on my own. But I stuck around to hear a few more great performances because despite the fact that I don't know my ass from my elbow when it comes to music (I still blame this on my mom not letting my take up the drums in fourth grade,) I do know that I love jazz. A lot. After my fill of music, I decided to wander around the Berklee area of Boston, beautiful, clean, snowy, kind of fancy pants posh. It reminded me a bit of Princeton or certain areas of Baltimore with the boutique shops and historic architecture. Unfortunately, Boston is not Princeton or Baltimore so I still wasn't able to fall in love with the city. I think the next time I head up there, I'll definitely need to go with someone who knows their way around and can show me all the worthwhile stuff to do and see. The lobster rolls and clam chowder bread bowls I devoured at some dive bar for supper after a long day of chaperoning and exploring came pretty close to converting me into a lover of Boston, but not quite. So who's up for the challenge? Who wants to take me on a grand tour of Beantown? You just have to promise that we get a few more of these -
I love field trips, always have. So when the opportunity to chaperone a trip up to Boston with the school's jazz ensembles and jazz choir for the Berklee Jazz Festival, I said heck yeah! True that I'm not a huge fan of Boston (it's cold and I've had a crummy time every visit I've made,) but there are a few things native to the New England area that I am a huge fan of. Plus, by chaperoning an overnight trip, I got to stay in my very own hotel room and I lovelovelove hotels! It was so cosy and New England-y with all the down pillows and comforters and a stunning view of the Boston skyline - well as stunning as it can be when all I can do is compare it to the NYC skyline that I can see from my rooftop in Brooklyn. Even despite the lacking skyline, the hotel room was the perfect place to crash after a long, noisy bus ride with forty high school musicians. But not without a nice bite with the grownups before bedchecks. So off we headed to the hotel restaurant where I indulged in a bowl of New England clam chowder that was so chock full of buttery little shellfish and cream that completely beats out my Manhattan variety. Let's face it, nothing beats a creamy soup, even if it does have a NYC namesake. I was the perfect beginning to my plateful of baked, crispy cod with roasted vegetables. Mmmm Boston knows how to do seafood, that's for sure!
After wandering around the convention center the next day, attempting to keep track of my 35 kids, getting them dressed and to rehearsals and performances on time, and enjoying some out of this world jazz music from young geniuses I got to wander around on my own. But I stuck around to hear a few more great performances because despite the fact that I don't know my ass from my elbow when it comes to music (I still blame this on my mom not letting my take up the drums in fourth grade,) I do know that I love jazz. A lot. After my fill of music, I decided to wander around the Berklee area of Boston, beautiful, clean, snowy, kind of fancy pants posh. It reminded me a bit of Princeton or certain areas of Baltimore with the boutique shops and historic architecture. Unfortunately, Boston is not Princeton or Baltimore so I still wasn't able to fall in love with the city. I think the next time I head up there, I'll definitely need to go with someone who knows their way around and can show me all the worthwhile stuff to do and see. The lobster rolls and clam chowder bread bowls I devoured at some dive bar for supper after a long day of chaperoning and exploring came pretty close to converting me into a lover of Boston, but not quite. So who's up for the challenge? Who wants to take me on a grand tour of Beantown? You just have to promise that we get a few more of these -
Are you kidding me?? will I never live down the no drums?
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