Brief Trip to Boston Massachusetts

Hotel - Hotel 140 is a boutique hotel at 140 Clarendon Street in central Boston, located in the historic YWCA building (the first YWCA ever anywhere). I asked the hotel clerk "When will the YWCA signs come down?" "Never... it is a historic landmark, so the signs stay." That answer was later expanded by a kind note from the YWCA that it is a mixed use building with the Hotel 140, the Lyric Stage theater, apartment units, Viga café, and the YWCA Boston offices. She goes on to say "Today we are known as the YW and have a modern mission of empowering women and eliminating racism in the Boston area. We are celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2016, and are quite active in the city to this day." Now the wise guy in me has to ask, if they are now the "YW" when will the "CA" part of the sign come down? (Don't write to me about that - it was a joke)

Unfortunately the rooms are as small as the typical YWCA dorm. Our double room didn't have a king or queen size bed - we are not even sure it was a full size double bed, and one side had to be against the wall to be able to get to the other side. The shower was so small it was a challenge for a tall guy to bend over to wash his feet. But other than size, the facility was excellent - modern TV, small refrigerator, etc. And the staff was among the best of any hotel anywhere. The bargain cost wasn't much of a bargain - comparable to what we paid for a boutique hotel on the Left Bank of Paris, similar to what we paid for a spacious room near Times Square New York a few weeks ago. So how do you prioritize space against convenient location, outstanding staff, and reasonable (but not great) price?

We spent the afternoon savoring the beautiful spring weather, walking the Boston Common and Public Garden and surrounding area; we were only briefly tempted by the Freedom Trail (marked by a path of red bricks in the sidewalks) that guides you through Beacon Hill, the North End, and Charleston historic sites. We have previously done the walk (and parts of it multiple times) but if you haven't already walked the Freedom Trail, it is a "must do.

If ever there was an argument for membership in your local museum, this is it. We are members ("partners") of the Dallas Museum of Art, which offers reciprocal privileges at many other museums. The line to buy admission tickets ($25 each) was as long as an airport security line, but with our reciprocal card we went to the member line (no waiting) and were given free tickets.

When we were leaving, note the line to buy tickets extended outside the museum... down the entry steps. Not only was the savings in time great, but it only takes a few of these reciprocal visits to pay for our entire museum membership in Dallas.

The feature exhibit was Japanese prints by Hokusai, famous for the "Great Wave" over a small boat, dwarfing Mt. Fuji in the background. The collection was extensive and impressive. This picture (or another from the series) can be seen on the banner in the front of the museum.

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I didn't realize how special this exhibit should have been until after we were home. We have one of his prints in our home.

Certainly not from the Edo period (mid 1800s), this humorous bench carries on the theme, made from plywood, cut and painted to look wave torn.

Jenny also enjoyed this picture of people putting on a roof; throwing bundles of shingles up, as we have done too often, but without Mt. Fuji in the background.

There is a wonderful sense of humor in this museum. Like this picture of a little girl intimidated by a large sculpture.

But the painting above is hanging in the gallery with the sculptures that appeared in the painting. The lady in black in the painting would have been looking in the direction where this painting is hanging.

As part of an exhibit on signs, this neon sign expresses the rules of the museum - for example okay to use cameras but not flash. I did not dance or sing.

Some of their visitor benches were classic, such as this bench by Sam Maloof, available for use.

Or this pair of chairs by Nakashima, the other is currently in use.

Or this less comfortable but more characteristic bench by Nakashima. Are they really for sitting?

A few of the benches were.... well... don't surprise me with one for Christmas!

Their furniture exhibit was a pleasure to a woodworker like me. Rather than boring everyone, if you are interested in more furniture, there is a separate page with about a dozen more pictures.

Not far from the museum is this colorful building, the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, or as it is commonly known, "Mass Art." Thanks to my friends at the YW for helping identify it.

Between the museum and the hotel is the "Mother Church of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston." With the help of Google, I hope I got the name right. Rather than saying the church is surrounded by a moat, they call it a reflecting pool.