Saturday, April 19, 2014

A Walk Around Boston Public Gardens and Beacon Hill

Looking over the shoulder of Trinity Church
Boston is a wonderful walking city. one of the very nice walks is from Copley Square, through The Boston Public Gardens and on into Beacon Hill. (see map)

Copley Square is a public space that may be best know as the finish line of the Boston Marathon. On its South side sits the Boston Public Library - designed by architects McKim, Mead and White. On the north side Trinity Church. Built in 1877 by Henry Hobson Richardson. It has beautiful masonry work:

North side of Trinity Church

North side of Trinity Church and tower













The church also has a lovely wooden interior, but I didn't get to see it because of all of the business going on in preparation for this years Marathon.









On the east side of Copley Square sits The Fairmont Copley Plaza. Built in 1912 the Copley Plaza is the Grand Dame of Boston Hotels. It still maintains the luxury and opulence it has always shown:
The Amazing Ms D. in the Copley Plaza entrance hallway 

The Copley Plaza main lobby
Walk three block north up Boyleston Street and you get to the Boston Public Gardens. Built in 1860, the park holds some iconic Boston Sights.
Arlington Street Church



 The Arlington Street Church is a Universalist Unitarian church and has a long history of abolitionism, fighting for women's rights and as a home for the peace movement during the Vietnam war.
The worlds smallest suspension bridge

Notice that the willows have started to grow their leaves

Me on the bridge
 The Boston Public Gardens is home to the worlds smallest suspension bridge, and the famous Swan Boats. Contrary to what many people think, these are not individual boats. You ride on benches in front of the swans.
It was a cold day, but spring has sprung

The willow has started to weep

The Amazing Ms D. on the bridge in the Boston Public Garden




















































Make way for ducklings!


The Boston Public Garden is also home to one of my favorite stories growing up - Make Way for Ducklings written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey.










Momma duck and the ducklings are wearing blue and yellow in honor of "Boston Strong" in preparation for this years marathon.


















If you the Public Gardens through the North east corner and continue up Charles Street you will enter Beacon Hill. This is "Old Money Boston." The Upper East Side, Knob Hill all with a Bahstan accent.


Beacon Street across from the Public Gardens
 Beacon hill is typified by Boston Row house. These are 3-4 story brick houses.












Charles St
This beautiful house didn't quite fit in













At the corner of Mt. Vernon and River Streets sits this Asian style gem. It doesn't exactly fit in with Beacon Hill tradition, but it is a really lovely house.









This view down river Street
 is a typical and wonderful sight. The trees are just starting to show their colors.










Pinkney Street

The houses on Pinkney Street all sport 2nd floor bay windows, another Beacon Hill feature.










We had lunch at Figs by Todd English. Chef English has over where Wolfgang Puck left off. His squared off pizzas are made with fresh ingredients, and with special mixtures. We split our pizza between the Prosciutto and Fig and Portobello and cheese. This gave us a great mix of sweet and salty on one half, and the umamy taste of mushrooms and cheese on the other. With an appetizer of fried asparagus and a spinach with Gorgonzola and warm bacon this was really enough for 3 or 4 people.




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