Seaport (Boston, Harvard: neighborhood, college, live in)

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

Don't feel bad. I've only been here a few years, and if a visitor were to ask me to recommend a neighborhood to go kill a few hours strolling, I'd send them to Newbury St, the North End, or Harvard Sq. The Seaport wouldn't even pop into my head.

I would almost certainly point a visitor elsewhere. There's too much else that's a lot more uniquely Boston to see without setting foot in the Seaport. That said, you can have a uniquely Boston experience there. The Harbor Walk through the Seaport offers some excellent skyline and harbor views. The ICA is absolutely worth a visit (take the complimentary water shuttle to the ICA Watershed in Eastie too). Trillium is one of the best MA breweries and their location on the Ft. Point/Seaport line (they originated over there) is worth a visit if you want to try one of Boston's best beers. Martin's Park is great if you have kids and look into the backstory of the park. Barking Crab is tacky (and overpriced), but it's a Boston staple. Some of the rooftop bars have incredible views (Lookout and Deck 12 in particular) of the city. And while most of the restaurants are generic chains, there are some pretty unique spots. Nautilus Pier 4 is one of my favorite special occasion spots in the city now. And they've done a really good job of activating the public spaces. There's typically always something good going on at Seaport Common (The Current pop-up shopping village is awesome and changes constantly), lots of public art displays, etc.

But overall, it's not going to beat Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, South End, etc. in terms of character, history, and unique local flavor. Definitely not.

[id77]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

I like how its giving Boston a more robust cosmopolitan feel in addition to its historical neighborhoods.

Now, like irfox said, I hate how its pulling away from the other neighborhoods. Very frustrating we can't have both.

It also gives me West Village/Hudson Yards vibes in regards to the people. White washed, bland and cringey.

I'm not convinced it's pulling away from DTX and Back Bay, but rather those areas have other unique challenges that are closing shops. All 3 areas seem geared toward specific spenders.

DTX is doing the worst of the 3 by far because there's nothing really worth going there for besides Roche Bros (itself really only useful for the small number of local residents) or the Diamond District (which is an infrequent and limited need for most people).

Newbury has the best dining and shopping options of the 3, but leases are expensive and the average tourist coming in can't afford half of the stuff sold there. Only businesses with high volume and/or deep pockets can stay for long.

Seaport is for salesbros and corporate holiday parties.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by lrfox

I would almost certainly point a visitor elsewhere. There's too much else that's a lot more uniquely Boston to see without setting foot in the Seaport. That said, you can have a uniquely Boston experience there. The Harbor Walk through the Seaport offers some excellent skyline and harbor views. The ICA is absolutely worth a visit (take the complimentary water shuttle to the ICA Watershed in Eastie too). Trillium is one of the best MA breweries and their location on the Ft. Point/Seaport line (they originated over there) is worth a visit if you want to try one of Boston's best beers. Martin's Park is great if you have kids and look into the backstory of the park. Barking Crab is tacky (and overpriced), but it's a Boston staple. Some of the rooftop bars have incredible views (Lookout and Deck 12 in particular) of the city. And while most of the restaurants are generic chains, there are some pretty unique spots. Nautilus Pier 4 is one of my favorite special occasion spots in the city now. And they've done a really good job of activating the public spaces. There's typically always something good going on at Seaport Common (The Current pop-up shopping village is awesome and changes constantly), lots of public art displays, etc.

Is the Barking Crab even considered Seaport? Guess I never really associated it with that, since it was there all along.



Personally I'd rather take somebody for a walk in the Blue Hills and then head to the Canton Trillium, and save Boston for "Boston" stuff.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Is the Barking Crab even considered Seaport? Guess I never really associated it with that, since it was there all along.



Personally I'd rather take somebody for a walk in the Blue Hills and then head to the Canton Trillium, and save Boston for "Boston" stuff.

I think it is. The older industrial blocks south of Seaport BLVD are definitely Fort Point, but even that line has been blurred with lots of new development happening there. I'm not sure what neighborhood Barking Crab was in before the Seaport existed, but it seems like it's comfortably the Seaport now.

We do the Blue Hills to Trillium (or Widowmaker) walk quite a bit. It's a good way to spend an afternoon.

I forgot to mention in the previous post, but the Commonwealth Pier renovation is an exciting addition. Work looks (to my eyes) like it's getting close to done.

[msRB311]

I worked in the seaport for a few months not long ago. As someone from the area I guess I didn't find the seaport to be that exciting. If you came from somewhere else maybe you'd find it amazing. I feel like people are expected to love something that is new and expensive and if they don't they're negative. I would walk around the seaport every day and it just had a weird vibe to me. It will always feel new to me.

[GeePee]

eh. It's like a huge shopping mall for generic people. A lot of Instagramable stuff. very little substance.

[edwardsyzzurphands]

My office is down there, so I am there semi often. I don't mind the area and it sure does beat a bunch of surface lots. Yes the architecture is uniform and glass and boring, but overall it is a successful neighborhood which is getting better.

I do like the out reach lately to attract a more diverse audience. I had a great time at Grace by Nia (https://www.gracebynia.com/) the other night. A friend of mine who owns another Caribbean restaurant in Boston is also opening up a cocktail bar and I look forward to that.

It is also the location of Zaz Fest, which will be back again in August. They had a great lineup of Soca and Reggae artists last year and its going to be even better this year. (https://www.zazfest.com/lineup-1)

Otherwise we have organized some team building events at places like Puttshack and Flight Club. Its not something I could do every weekend, but for a one off here and there, no complaints and had a good time.

Like any other new neighborhood it needs time to age and mold itself into something that is appealing to a wide audience. Give it time and it hopefully will have something for everyone eventually.

[Boston Shudra]

Snowport was nice when I stopped by this winter. Like Irfox said, it's the closest thing to a real holiday market that Boston's ever had. The ones on City Hall Plaza were awful.

However, as with everything else in the Seaport, food/drink were way overpriced. It was like $15 for a cup of mulled wine, which is criminal by European Xmas Market standards.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by msRB311

I worked in the seaport for a few months not long ago. As someone from the area I guess I didn't find the seaport to be that exciting. If you came from somewhere else maybe you'd find it amazing. I feel like people are expected to love something that is new and expensive and if they don't they're negative. I would walk around the seaport every day and it just had a weird vibe to me. It will always feel new to me.

Originally Posted by GeePee

eh. It's like a huge shopping mall for generic people. A lot of Instagramable stuff. very little substance.

That's the initial impression I've got passing through. Just kind of "cold" and uninviting (in a gawk at but don't take off your shoes and settle in kind of way).

[msRB311]

Yes it definitely had an outdoor shopping mall vibe scattered with corporate offices and places to dine al fresco (when it's warm). It has a Sephora and many other stores that would appear in a mall. It didn't feel unique not that it needs to...but not sure why everyone should feel like it's such a great addition to Boston. It's unaffordable for most people to live there. Great if you get a job working there and can shop and try some of the eateries.