Local Gems: Fort Point, Boston
I'm thrilled to return to the Local Gems series with a roundup of 19 awesome recommendations from Rachel Borgatti, Executive Director of the Friends of Fort Point Channel. When Rachel isn't working to make Fort Point a great place to live, work, and play (you may bump into her distributing free maps of the area!), she's taking her two little kids gallery hopping where they fill up on crackers and complain that their favorite art pieces changed from last time. Thanks for sharing these amazing recommendations, Rachel!
From Rachel:
1. Made in Fort Point. Run by the nonprofit Fort Point Arts Community and hidden away on the ground floor of 315 on A, this store offers arts and crafts made only by artists that live or work in Fort Point. They have gallery openings and arts programming for adults and children, so you can learn how to make a lovely little something for yourself.
2. The Barking Crab. Kid and adult friendly and situated right on the Fort Point Channel, during the summer, The Barking Crab offers wonderful outdoor seating on the patio and under their tent. During the winter, their indoor dining room has a wood burning stove that warms the soul.
3. Boston Children’s Museum. This well-known establishment needs no introduction, but did you know that the Boston Children's Museum hosts special days for kids with sensory issues? Or that they have a whole slew of activities planned for outside this summer and fall? Or they have a great store for getting a birthday gift?
4. Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Relive the single most important event that kicked off the American Revolution, including storming the ships and throwing the tea into the Channel! Also, if you don’t have time for a tour, you are welcome to snack on scones and chowder at Abigail’s Tea Room, with a view on three sides of the Fort Point Channel. With the Old South Meeting house, they have a yearly reenactment of the Boston Tea Party with a parade of a thousand or so people march down the streets of Boston to watch a professional lights and sound performance.
5. Boston Fire Museum. The Boston Fire Museum is only open on Saturdays but check out the lovely 1891 building and fire apparatus, excellent for birthday parties!
6. Atlantic Wharf/Seaport Square. This office building is open to the public and has hidden gems such as kids shows, theater performances, pop up shops, free fitness classes, and a fantastic art gallery! Be sure and check out the Boston Society of Architecture's BSA Space while you are there, they have amazing interactive exhibits and design classes for kids and adults. Atlantic Wharf also has $12 parking on evenings and weekends, just across the Channel…with the closest parking spots reserved for hybrid drivers!
7. Bee's Knees Supply Company. If it’s a nice day, stock up on picnic supplies at Bee’s Knees; they've got everything from PB & J for the kids, coffee and small bottles of wine for the grown ups, fine cheeses, and much more!
8. Pastoral. Look no further for delicious grown up pizza! And Improper Boston just named Pastoral best restaurant in Fort Point!
9. Flour Bakery. This beloved purveyor of pastry perfection needs no introduction for much of Boston, but the Fort Point location is special in that it offers classes so you can learn how to make pastries from the professionals.
10. Tavern Road. If you don't have time or money for a full dinner at delicious Tavern Road, try TR Street Foods for lunch. Pick up your lunch at the counter then take it into the Tavern Road dining room to enjoy. For lunch, I highly recommend the fried chickpea wrap with tomato jam, sumac onions, and pinenuts. I eat it at least once a week for lunch and never get tired of it!
11. Row34. Date night demands perfection, so check out Row34. Great oysters, super-fresh seafood, and amazing service all in a very stylish brick and wood building.
12. TRADE. Another wonderful spot for a night out on the town, TRADE offers giant windows and great outdoor sidewalk seating, which is excellent for checking out the new Janet Echleman aerial sculpture on the Fort Point Channel parks of the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
13. Internal Matter. Currently the newest restaurant in Fort Point, Internal Matter is open early in the morning to late at night; it's a community oriented place that has crayons and games for the kids, but wine and late night films for the grown ups. Internal Matter is located right down the street from a fantastic playground and park, not to mention several art galleries and the illuminated Channel Center garage, so could be the start or end of an arty exploratory day.
14. Independence Wharf. If you're looking for one of the best views of Fort Point and the Boston Harbor, show your ID at Independence Wharf and enjoy the view from the 14th floor of 470 Atlantic Ave.
15. UUA Bookstore. One of the true hidden gems of Fort Point that many residents don't even know about is the bookstore at the national headquarters of the Unitarian Universalists at 24 Farnsworth. Not only are there great books for adults and children, but they have fun fair trade gifts like chocolates and jewelry.
16 - 18. Menton - Sportello - Drink. Another great date night is to make a mini bar hop to check out all the Barbara Lynch Gruppo bars and restaurants in Fort Point. Start with a drink at Menton's Gold Bar, which just opened in July! Follow it up with a delicious trattoria-inspired Italian dinner at Sportello then head downstairs to finish your night at Drink, where they will mix up the perfect cocktail, just for you.
19. Boston Rowing Center. During July and August, take a rowboat on the Fort Point Channel for a spin around the Harbor. Rowboats accommodate up to four people and rental rates are just $15 per hour. Rowing instruction is provided for those who need it and life jackets are available for all ages.
Thanks for sharing these amazing recommendations, Rachel (note to self: book several date night reservations IMMEDIATELY)! If you have other Fort Point favorites, feel free to share in the comments below. If you'd like to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.
Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages.