Basking In A Boston Summer

Codzilla Cruise

Boston Harbor Cruises offers several different boat options for its customers, but its most thrilling cruise is Codzilla. The Codzilla cruise zips across the Boston Harbor faster than any other of its kind as its passengers are watered down by the oncoming waves. It is highly recommended to make reservations on a high-temperature summer afternoon for this cruise experience, which includes a comedic show for the boat’s passengers and nonstop feel-good music. This 40 mile-per-hour entertaining ride through Boston is an experience on the water that should be on all adventurists’ summer agenda.

Food Truck Festival

This has been a victorious year for mobile food stations, especially since the Cleveland Circle food truck stop has expanded its volume and Boston College students can get an even greater variety of deliciousness. The only thing better than your food coming to you, though, is having all of these food trucks parked in one location and being allowed to get anything you want from them. On Sunday, June 10, a General Admission ticket to the event (located at UMass Boston) for $30 will get you an item from every single food truck at the event, the list for which is over 30 trucks long, and includes sweets like C-Cups Cupcakes, The Whoo(pie) Wagon, and Cool Cow Ice Cream, and savory treats like Firefly’s BBQ, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, and Beantown Franks ‘n Spuds, as well as cultural fare like Paris Creperie, Mijos Tacos, and Bon Me. Staff Meal, one of the only food trucks to ever be reviewed in comparison to brick-and-mortar restaurants, will also be there with their high-end dishes.

Bank of America Pavilion

What is a summer without outdoor concerts? Not a very good one, but luckily for Bostonians, the Bank of America Paviion is one of the most energized outdoor arenas. The list of artists coming to the Pavilion speaks for itself and has something for every taste: Passion Pit, Childish Gambino, Foster the People, Two Door Cinema Club, The Beach Boys, Stevie Nicks, O.A.R., and Santana, to name a few. Ticket prices at the Pavilion are higher than other venues in the city (averaging $30 to $40), but the experience more than makes it worthwhile.

Egyptian Exhibit

Beginning May 27 at Boston’s Museum of Science, an exhibit titled “Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science” will be open for the public. The artifacts on loan from the Brooklyn Museum and the Academy of Natural Sciences provide further insight into the builders of the world’s first skyscrapers and how archaeologists go about uncovering such hidden secrets. The interactive exhibit highlights the research of Egyptology researchers and includes a real human mummy, animal mummies, and arts and artifacts from the Egyptian funeral culture. Unique to this exhibit are the life-size prototypes that display the mummy in various stages of unwrapping—a highly regarded educational and cultural experience.

Restaurant Week

Boston’s Restaurant Week makes a return this summer from Aug. 19 to 24 and from Aug. 26 to 31. Some of the most popular and well-regarded area restaurants design special three-course prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner at incredibly affordable prices—a three-course lunch clocks in at $20.12. Restaurant Week covers over 200 eateries across Cambridge, Boston, and beyond. The event offers food lovers a wallet-friendly opportunity to explore cuisines they have never sampled, as well as return to some of their favorite restaurants. While no tickets are required, it is highly recommended to make reservations in advance due to the massive popularity of the semi-annual event.

Beauty and the Beast

In the past few years, Broadway Across America has put on a number of astounding performances at the strikingly renovated Boston Opera House. This summer season, the childhood classic Beauty and the Beast will be the first show, coming to town from May 29 to June 3. Everyone cannot help but love this Disney classic, especially when it is brought to life with the vibrancy and color of a Broadway musical. Plus, any BC students still in the area this summer can relive their childhood favorite on a budget since the Opera House offers day-of, student rush tickets that are usually half-price and begin selling one hour before doors open (call the box office to ensure that tickets are available—for Les Miserables the expected popularity caused the pre-emptive decision to not offer student tickets). If Chip and Belle are not your cup of tea, Mamma Mia and Billy Elliot will also be coming to Boston.

Fisherman’s Feast

The 102nd North End Italian Fisherman’s Feast will be held from Aug. 9 to Aug. 12. This traditional feast has its roots in Sicily and is based on the fishermen’s devotion to Our Lady of Help. Decorative lights cover the North End during this time of year and the smell of fresh Italian food is further accentuated. The feast is organized by the ancestors of the original fishermen immigrants, and still includes a procession of the Madonna throughout the North End. With a DJ, live band, and fantastic Italian cuisines, this four-day festival allows all its attendees to have an enjoyable cultural experience.