PlanetEye

On a side street near the Christian Science Plaza, students wander about trying to find "Bodega." Bodega is on Clearway Street, but it has no sign, so you definitely need to know what you are looking for.

A bodega is a small Latino convenience store that sells things like candy, cigarettes, and milk. The small rundown storefront that is Bodega is just that- a front.  The Bodega experience is behind the Snapple vending machine which slides open to reveal a high-end streetwear boutique.  

Bodega sells trendy clothing, accessories, and some vintage stuff, but the store is really mostly about sneakers.  Limited edition Nikes and Pumas and dual label exclusives with Reebok and Adidas are all part of the mix. The merchandise is pricey, the selection definitely skews towards the guys, and the staff is actually quite nice. And yes, you can buy the sundries from the front of the store too.

Since its much anticipated grand opening in May, the Apple Boston flagship store has become as much a tourist attraction as any site on the Freedom Trail.

You will feel hip just coming inside. Located on Boylston Street in the heart of the sedate Back Bay, the four-story glass and steel cube structure is quite the contrast to the brick buildings of its neighbors.  Inside, the textured glass and steel spiral staircase leads to three floors of all the latest Apple products.

The third floor is dedicated to Apple service and tech support- this is where you will find Apple's famous Genius Bar. Don't forget to look out too- from the third floor windows there is a terrific view of busy Boylston Street below .The second floor has  I-phones and I-pods as well as every Apple accessory known to man. The first floor is everything Mac-there are dozens of computers and laptops waiting for you to test drive. Apple enthusiasts will especially appreciate that the Boylston Apple store is open late (for Boston!) until 11 PM Monday through Saturday and until 7 PM on Sunday. 

Get off The Freedom Trail! Located on Beacon Hill and overlooking Boston Common, on land that was once John Hancock's cow pasture, the Massachusetts State House is an exceptionally beautiful building. Its gold-gilt dome is easily one of the city's most prominent landmarks.

The Massachusetts State House is no ordinary state capitol building. Completed in 1798, the Massachusetts State House is one of the oldest state capitols in the country. The original building was designed by "America's first architect" Charles Bulfinch and is a great example of the Federal style. Today, the State House is a working office building and the seat of government for Massachusetts, but it has also played an important role in the history of the country.

Tours of the State House cover both the building's architecture and its impressive Memorial collection.  As you would expect in Boston, there is "founding father" art galore here; including a life-size painting of Lincoln, a statue of George Washington,   and a mural of Paul Revere's midnight ride.

The tours last 30-40 minutes and are free of charge. In the summer, the State House trains a corps of young, enthusiastic local high school students to lead the tours- very likely future lawyers and legislators!

Tours are offered Monday-Friday from 10 AM- 3:30 PM. It is recommended that you call ahead (617-727-3676) and make a reservation for a tour time, but walk-in visitors can usually be accommodated . 

Twentieth century posters have come into their own as art- and are definitely something you will be proud to hang on your living room wall.

International Poster Gallery  is quite the find. The store features original vintage posters from around the world- with particularly strong French, Italian, Swiss and Soviet examples.  There really is something for everyone here- the  posters are of every era from the late 1800's to the present and of every  theme- advertising, travel, sport and health.

Fashionable types may be interested in the series of prints from "Gazette Du Bonton" a French fashion magazine from the 1920's  featuring the best Art Deco illustrators of the day.  There are vintage magazine covers from the Saturday Evening Post, Ladies Home Journal and Country Home.   Illustrated in-store displays from French department stores-often with the paper punch -size holes for hanging on store shelves would make quite the conversation piece.  And a framed French or Italian wine, champagne, and aperitif beverage label - could be the perfect addition to that new kitchen reno.  

The helpful and knowledgeable staff will walk you through the gallery and talk you through what you like -and what you think you like. Best of all the store stocks art at a wide range of price points- and there are many attractive pieces for less than $100.

For an older American city, Boston has a beautifully uncluttered skyline.  And the sights from the Prudential Tower's 50th floor Skywalk Observatory, the highest public observation deck in New England, are nothing short of amazing.
 
Built in 1965, the Pru -as it is known to locals- was the tallest building in Boston until the completion of the nearby John Hancock Tower in 1976. (The John Hancock building comes in at 788 feet, the Pru is just a touch shorter at 759 feet.)

The Skywalk's dedicated elevator will whoosh you directly to the Observatory.  Here, there are exhibits on Boston's history and a multi-media movie presentation about the Boston immigrant experience. But the high point of your visit will be the 360-degree view of the Boston skyline. Admission to the Skywalk includes an audio wand that describes the city's historic sites from the perspective of a Boston "native".  Young visitors will enjoy the children's version of the tour.

From the Skywalk's floor to ceiling windows look east- you can easily see the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House, the Zakim Bridge, and across the harbor, Logan Airport. Look carefully and you can even make out the spire of Old North Church and the obelisk that is the Bunker Hill Monument. The view from the south -facing windows is totally different. Here you will see row upon row of townhouses neatly arranged around gated- park ovals. Boston's South End is the largest intact Victorian row -house neighborhood in the United States. Looking to the west, visitors have a bird's eye view of Fenway Park. It is easy to see why John Updike once referred to Fenway Park as "a little lyrical bandbox of a ballpark."  The most prominent feature from the north windows has got to be MIT's Great Dome - (the site of many infamous MIT hacks) just across the Charles River in Cambridge.
 
A visit to the Prudential Tower Skywalk Observatory during one of your first days in Boston is a great way to get an overview of the city. The Skywalk Observatory is open 7 days a week; summer hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m., but is occasionally closed for private events, so it is always best to call ahead.