what to do • where to go • what to see October 6–19, 2008 The OOfficialfficial Guide to BBOSTON OSTON HARVARD SQUARE guide PLUS: 44th Head Ringling Bros. The Fenway’s of the Charles and Barnum & Opening Our Regatta Bailey Circus Doors Day panoramamagazine.com now iPhone and Windows® smartphone compatible! contents Get VIP treatment COVER STORY at Macy’s… including 12 Hip to Be Square A guide to dining, shopping exclusive savings! and having fun the Harvard No trip to Boston is complete without Square way SHOP LIKE A STUDENT: visiting The World’s Most Famous Store! The Harvard Coop, a Cambridge institution since 1882, offers a Put Macy’s on your must-see list and fine selection of Harvard University gear for students and discover the season’s hottest styles for non-students alike. Refer to you and your home, plus surprises and story, page 12. DEPARTMENTS PHOTOBY excitement everywhere you look! Bring E THAN B.B ACKER this ad to the Gift Wrap Department 6 around the hub at Macy's Downtown Crossing or the 6 NEWS & NOTES Executive Offices at Macy’s CambridgeSide 10 NIGHTLIFE Galleria to request your reserved-for- 11 ON STAGE visitors-only Macy’s Savings Pass, and 19 the hub directory use it as often as you want to save 11%* 20 CURRENT EVENTS throughout either store. 26 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES Macy’s Downtown Crossing 30 SIGHTSEEING 450 Washington Street 34 EXCURSIONS Boston, Ma. 37 MAPS 617-357-3000 43 FREEDOM TRAIL 45 SHOPPING Macy’s CambridgeSide Galleria 51 RESTAURANTS 100 CambridgeSide Place 64 CLUBS & BARS Cambridge, Ma. 65 NEIGHBORHOODS 617-621-3800 *Restrictions apply. Valid I.D. required. Details in store. on the cover: The distinctive architecture of Harvard University is a prominent feature of Harvard Square. Photo: Ethan B. Backer ___ OCTOBER 6–19, 2008 3 The Official Guide to BOSTON www.panoramamagazine.com October 6–19, 2008 Volume 58 • Number 10 Jerome Rosenfeld • CHAIRMAN Tim Montgomery • PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Josh B. Wardrop • EDITOR Scott Roberto • ART DIRECTOR Sharon Hudak Miller • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Ethan B. Backer, Della Huff • CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nicole McGovern, Joseph Normandin • EDITORIAL INTERNS Jacolyn Ann Firestone • VICE PRESIDENT, ADVERTISING Nancy O’Rourke • ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Rita A. Fucillo • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Shane Solar-Doherty • SALES AND MARKETING INTERN Paul Hurst • NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES HURST & ASSOCIATES, INC. 800-397-8908 • [email protected] Peter Ng • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Melissa J. O’Reilly • BUSINESS MANAGER Tyler J. Montgomery • OPERATIONS MANAGER George Ghareeb • TECHNICAL CONSULTANT PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by Jerome Press Publications Inc. Editorial and advertising offices at 332 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Telephone (617) 423- 3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced with- out written permission of the publisher. PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League, the South End Business Alliance, the North End Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Crossing Association. PANORAMA is audited by BPA Worldwide, an independent audit bureau recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. a magazine affiliate ___ ___ 4 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM OCTOBER 6–19, 2008 5 aroundthehubby Josh B. Wardrop NEWS&NOTES 4HE SHOPPING 4HE DINING 4HE BEST OF IT ALL Hello, Bello t’s once again time to send in the clowns at TD Banknorth Garden, as the 137th edition Iof the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus takes over the arena October 8–13. This year’s larger-than-life show, Bellobration, centers on a larger-than-life entertainer— legendary comic daredevil Bello Nock (pictured above), who balances on a seven-story- tall sway pole and tempts fate aboard the “Wheel of Steel.” Kids of all ages can also expect to be thrilled by gravity-defying acrobats, amazing trained elephants and tigers and, of course, those hilarious clowns. Arrive an hour before showtime and you can even join the All-Access Preshow, where you can meet performers right on the arena floor. It’s your chance to run away and join the circus, at least for a day. Refer to listing, page 24. "EGIN YOUR "OSTON EXPERIENCE AT .EW %NGLANDS NUMBER ONE SHOPPING AND DINING DESTINATION RHYME TIME IN LOWELL 3TOP BY THE #USTOMER 3ERVICE $ESK TO RECEIVE YOUR If the extent of your knowledge of poetry is confined to a Robert Frost poem you were &2%% 3HOPPING 0ASS GOOD FOR DISCOUNTS AT OVER forced to learn in high school and a dirty limerick or two, then head to the northern SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS INCLUDING A FREE CUP OF Massachusetts city of Lowell October 10–12. That’s where the first-ever Massachusetts AWARD WINNING .EW %NGLAND CLAM CHOWDER AND Poetry Festival unites well-known contemporary poets like Robert Pinsky, Andre Dubus DISCOUNTED ADMISSION TO "OSTONS ONLY SKY HIGH III, Martin Espada and many more for a weekend of readings, workshops for aspiring bards, children’s programs and other events celebrating the power of the written word. OBSERVATION DECK Visit www.masspoetry.org/festival for more information. DESTINATION EXTRAORDINARY cont. on page 8 >> "ACK"AY\3(/0025\WWWPRUDENTIALCENTERCOM n e w s & n o t e s 6 • n i g h t l i f e 1 0 • o n s t a g e 1 1 ___ 3AKS &IFTH !VENUE \ 3KYWALK \ 0 & #HANGS #HINA "ISTRO \ "OSTON $UCK 4OURS \ ,EGAL 3EA &OODS 6 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM aroundthehub:NEWS&NOTES calendar of events << cont. from page 6 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 Tony Award-winning actor Ken Howard (pictured) proves that all politics are local as he reprises his acclaimed per- formance of former Speaker of the House and Cambridge native Thomas “Tip” O’Neill in According to Tip at the AN OPEN DOOR Stuart Street Playhouse. Refer to listing, POLICY page 24. The Fenway neighborhood takes a brief break from Red FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10– Sox playoff fever to show off MONDAY, OCTOBER 13 its top-notch cultural attrac- J.R.R. Tolkien’s immortal fantasy series tions on October 13. That’s returns to the big screen this weekend. the day that the Fenway See Frodo, Aragorn (played by Viggo Alliance—a coalition of arts, Mortensen, pictured) and the rest of the cultural and academic insti- gang from The Lord of the Rings trilo- tutions located throughout gy at The Brattle Theatre on Harvard the neighborhood—hosts its Square. Refer to listing, page 21. seventh annual Opening Our Doors! Event. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 Lovers of fine arts have ISHBEIN Grammy Award-nominated author and F the opportunity to enjoy free humorist David Sedaris brings his admission to top museums NNE A unique style of autobiographical come- located in the Fenway— dy to Symphony Hall for a night of liter- including the Museum of ary laughs. Refer to listing, page 23. Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart PHOTOBY Gardner Museum (pictured FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 above) and university gal- Fleetwood Mac’s lead guitarist, vocalist leries at Simmons and and songwriting genius Lindsey Wheelock colleges. Buckingham hits Boston to perform a Meanwhile, Fenway-based solo show at Berklee Performance arts organizations such as Center, featuring songs from his the Boston Symphony acclaimed new disc, Gift of Screws. Orchestra,The Boston Refer to listing, page 22. Conservatory and many oth- ers offer performances and SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 interactive creative and cul- With its jaw-dropping acrobatics and tural activities for all ages. breathtaking theatrics, Cirque du Soleil It’s a chance to experience all has mesmerized audiences all over the the great art, music and cul- globe for nearly 25 years. Its latest ture that one of Boston’s show, Kooza, ends a six-week run at most vibrant neighborhoods the Bayside Expo Center today—so has to offer. For a complete don’t miss your chance to see what schedule of events, visit all the fuss is about. Refer to listing, www.fenwayculture.org, or page 24. refer to listing, page 24. ___ 8 PANORAMAMAGAZINE.COM aroundthehub:NIGHTLIFE aroundthehub:ON STAGE Still Nifty A Big The at 50 Out Night Princess (Leia) Diaries WISHFUL DRINKING Huntington Theatre Company Beginning October 10 or someone who tangled More, More Moroccan Fwith Darth Vader and ike an oasis in the desert, Moroccan Jabba the Hutt, you’d think TANGIERINO a career in Hollywood 83 Main St., Lrestaurant/nightspot Tangierino has Charlestown long stood out as an exotic jewel on would have been a piece of 617-242-6009 Main Street in Charlestown. Now, cake. But in actress/author Tangierino is providing even more Moroccan and rollin’ Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking—her autobiographical good times than ever, thanks to a recent $1.6 million expan- one-woman show about life in Tinseltown—the erstwhile sion which has tripled its size by adding a new two-story Princess Leia airs out her dirty laundry, hilariously space called Koullshi. Cocktail lovers can enjoy the jewel- recounting her experiences in and out of the limelight. toned Moulay Bar, fashioned into a tent made of mahogany, Highlighting everything from putting up with Elizabeth or sip champagne, smoke hookah pipes and watch belly OUT ON THE EDGE FESTIVAL Taylor as a stepmother, to struggling as a single mother dancers sway in the palatial Moushrabia Room. Meanwhile, The Theater Offensive battling addiction and depression, to her tumultuous Boston Center for the Arts romantic relationships, Wishful Drinking is a razor-sharp in the original Tangierino building, customers can dine in Beginning October 18 luxurious tapestry-laden environs like the intimate Sultan’s MADONNA and uncompromising account of Fisher’s life among the TD Banknorth Garden Fans of unconventional, diverse stars—both “in a galaxy far, far away” and in the often Tents and the Marrakech Salon (pictured).