It's the middle of the winter in the Northeastern United States!
Many of our students in Boston and New York have asked us when winter will start to fade and when the spring air will come.
With four months of cold temperatures behind us and still about a month of winter left, this time of year can start to feel drab and dull.
Maybe you are tired of your winter coat, your wool sweater, and the icy sidewalks.
Well, there isn't much we can do about the weather, but you certainly don't need to sit in your apartment on the weekend watching movies!
Today's post is designed to get you out of your tiny urban apartment and into your city. If you are living in Boston or New York, you are incredibly lucky because these are two of the coolest cities in the U.S.! Check out today's post for some things you can do this weekend.
3 Things to Do in Boston
1) Combine bowling and flatbread pizza at Sacco's
Who doesn't like good pizza and bowling? Grab a crowd of friends on a Saturday evening and show up early for dinner.
Saaco's is located in Davis Square in Somerville, which is on the Red Line. It is known as a great place to spend a winter evening out with friends and the place is always packed so you know it's great!
Put your name in for bowling and enjoy some of their awesome flatbread pizza and beer while you wait for your turn on the lanes.
This place is old fashioned and you have to keep score by hand, but you will have a blast!
2) Take a winter hike around Jamaica Pond
After a huge snowstorm dumped 25+ inches of snow on Boston last week, now is the time get out and admire nature's beauty in winter before it all melts away in the coming weeks.
Jamaica Pond is one of the most beautiful places to go at any time of year if you want to be in nature.
Put on some hiking boots, bundle up in a jacket and a few extra layers of clothing, grab a friend or your family, jump on the Orange Line T and head out to Jamaica Pond. Learn more about it here.
3) Check out the St. Patrick's Day Parade
With a huge Irish community in Boston, the St. Patrick's Day Parade is always an event not to be missed.
The parade will be happening on March 17th in South Boston. Put on something green and come out for some fun.
If you enjoy rowdy crowds once in a while, this will be a day to remember!
Learn more about the parade here.
3 Things to Do in New York
1) Get same-day Broadway tickets
Hey! You are a local in one of the greatest cities in the world! Don't wait to see a show until all of the tourists attack the city with their maps and running shoes this summer. This is a great time of year to see a Broadway show for a low price.
Here's the trick: Go to the theatre of the play that you want to see for a matinee (afternoon) show on a Saturday or a Sunday and ask for the same-day discount (Rush tickets). You should be able to get tickets for some shows for $20. Your friends who visit you in Mid-July and want to see a Broadway show on a Saturday evening will never get this price. You can also get Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets for a low price in some cases. Check this page for more information and directions on how to do this.
2) Spend a Thursday evening sipping wine with artists
One of the coolest things about New York City is the art scene! There are so many up-and-coming artists in the city and you get to be one of the first to see their work!
Figure out which galleries you want to visit, grab a few friends, and walk right in! Don't be intimidated. These gallery openings attract all sorts of people. There is usually free wine and snacks being served. It is not just a chance to see great art, but also to meet people who are interested in the art scene.
You will be able to practice your English with artists who may be famous one day. This is the kind of thing that you must try at least once while you are living in New York and you may even want to make it a weekly event. What's on your calender this Thursday? Why not try this. Click here for a map of the Chelsea art galleries and opening schedule.
3) Try a famous deli sandwhich
Instead of going to your usually cafe or diner for a Sunday afternoon lunch or brunch, why not try this famous institution called Katz's Deli?
A deli (delicatessen) is a sandwich shop that usually specializes in selling meats and cheeses. Get a downtown or "Brooklyn-bound" subway to the Lower East Side and stop in for a sandwich.
Katz's Deli has been in New York since 1888 so you know they have something good going on.
In the Northeast, the winter can feel really long at this time of year, but there are still many exciting and wonderful things to do! Get out of your apartment and get busy! You will improve your English, learn about the local people, and have fun!
If you are living in Boston and you would like more information and advice about daily life, learning English, and communicating with local people, download our e-book below.
Photo credit: essygie, Heisenberg Media, RuffRYD, JoePhoto, Grant Wickes, Art Comments, HealthGauge,
