Shakespeare in the Park

We are in Boston for 6 days late July. In my itinerary I had placed Shakespeare in the Park for the Friday Evening during our trip, we could just as easily go on the Tuesday. Has anyone got any experience and would recommend a weekday over weekend being less crowded?

Also I think that we should take a picnic. We are staying in Back Bay. Any suggestions as to where we can go to get takeout food?

Thanks.

Shakespeare in the Park

I was wondering the same thing. Is there a place close by to get food? Also do people bring folding chairs or is this more of a blanket type of event. I don%26#39;t want to be on a blanket behind a lot of people in chairs! Thanks.

Shakespeare in the Park

Hey there.

Shakespeare in the Park, on Boston Common , is a really lovely, popular event. Bring blankets. Or you can bring--they do not rent out--your own folding chairs. Come early to get a spot. It really fills up fast.

The performances are on the Tremont side of the Common.

I suggest taking a look at a map of the Common so you might better understand the directions I am about to give you.

There are several places, somewhat close by, to get food.

If you are staying in the Back Bay, stop by the Shaws in the Prudential Center the day . That will be easy enough to find.

Just ask your concierge for directions. It%26#39;s close.

But pretty much, everything is within close walking distance in the city, unless it%26#39;s March and freezing.

If you want to walk to the Common and pick up your food on the way, go through the Public Garden to Charles Street and instead of crossing over to the Common, cross over Beacon and continue on Charles, past the Starbuck, to an old Beacon Hill staple, Savenors. There you will find bread and cheese and deli stuff and there is even a very nice wine cellar.

You can then cross back over Beacon Street into the Common and continue up the park to the Tremont side and your Shakespeare.

Hope this helps!

KateOK/Boston

OMG, I was wrong on the name!

It%26#39;s Deluca%26#39;s on the Beacon Street side of Beacon Hill.

Not Savenor%26#39;s.

Savenor%26#39;s is on the other end of Charles, on the Cambridge Street side.

So sorry!

KateOK/Boston

Thanks Kate, I will follow your instructions. I also keep forgetting the concierge in the hotel as a source of information. New concept to me, a European.

Any comments on going Tuesday or Friday - in terms of it being less busy on Tuesday so we enjoy it more.

Also - a bit of a stupid question here, but....how early is ';early'; ???

I suggest Tuesdays, of course, and not Fridays.

Whether you are fro Gibralter or US, Friday is Friday.

I suggest coming to the Park a good 30 minutes before the show. So, I would begin my trip about an hour before curtain time , walk to Deluca%26#39;s from the Back Bay, shop and carry your picnic into the park.

Blankets are good, as I said, unless you have trouble with that type of sitting. There are many who do bring low portable chairs. If you are staying in a hotel, ask the conceirge if they might find you lawn chairs----we actually, for all our failings, like those from abroad.

Take out food? For when and what?

What kind? I mean, do you want to get take out food for this play?

Shaws and WHole Foods do amazing prepared foods for a take out/picnic experience.

Let me know if you are looking for take out for the play or for later on during your stay here.

cheers,

KateO/boston

I wouldn%26#39;t worry so much about the crowds. There%26#39;s always room for more! The only suggestion I would have is make sure you bring bug spray. Last time I attended it was the one item I sorely needed.

In the past years, there were small intimate crowds. I would not worry about arriving too-too early even for an upfront area. The only problems would be the weather and your present plans. Nice weather better night, but a few more people. Most people stop watch for a while then head where ever they are going. So, if you do not like your spot, chances are you will be able to chose another later in the performance. Shakespeare in the Park does not bring in huge crowds like the 4th of July Esplanade events. I think the idea of bug spray is a good idea along with a sweater. We have a public drinking open container law in our state, which prohibits possessing and/or consuming an open container of alcohol in public . Usually wine at a low key event is acceptable, even though technically it is against the law. If you do bring wine, be discreet. But please don%26#39;t allow your teen-age daughters to drink anywhere in public that law is strickly enforced.

Great advice from you all.

I am listening about the weather, which encourages me to go on the Friday. I would be disappointed to leave it until Tuesday and finding poor weather would spoil it.

We won%26#39;t drink. 17 yr old is legal to drink here (I%26#39;m not too happy about that !), but she is aware of US laws and will not try.

We will ask concierge about chairs. I expect you to just adore us Europeans, we are so cute - I love to see Americans in Gibraltar when they come in on cruises.

Takeout - I was referring to food for the Shakespeare.

Getting more excited by the day (and not so many left)

Dear Gibraltarr,

For take out food for the Shakespeare in the Park. I am going to assume you want picnic fare.

1. Again, ask your concierge the day before if they can put a picnic together for you. Sometimes, depending on the hotel, they actually will do this--of course, for a price.

2. Whole Foods, which is a little bit out of the way, but you can get there, if you want.

Whole Foods, on Cambridge Street, off Beacon HIll, has a very large prepared foods department. You can get containers of everything you can think of: salads, meats, veggies, even wraps and sushi. And they have a wonderful selection of breads and olives and cheeses.

They have a prepared cut-up fruit section too.

You can even buy one of their cloth bags and take the ';whole'; picnic with you, using the bag later for other things.

Although they can be a bit pricey, Whole Foods would probably not be as expensive as getting take out from a restaurant.

My advice would be to take a taxi from where ever you are staying in the Back Bay and have it drive you to Whole Foods.

The drive, with tip, might cost you $7.00.

Get your picnic and then walk to your performance.

How?

Walk across to the other side of Cambridge Street, walk up Joy Street, cross over Myrtle, Mt. Vernon and Beacon Street.

There you are! On the steps leading down to Boston Common.

The walk from Whole Foods into the Common is no more than 15 minutes, just up and over part of Beacon HIll.

Walk into the park and , you can almost see the stage from this approach.

hope this helps.

kateok/boston

PLenty of restaurants in the area where you can take out food as well if you are interested.