While you are in Boston - A Note from the Host Committee

by Warren Bobrow

After enjoying the programs and sessions at IPMAAC, the host committee has organized several events so you can get to know the old and new Boston. Here's what we have in store:

Monday - A tour of the Boston Computer Museum. An evening of fun at Boston's renowned Computer Museum. There will be a special scavenger hunt which will have you hunting through hi-tech exhibits and a 2 story PC. Dinner will be provided as will transportation to the museum.

Tuesday - Guided Tour of the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is one of Boston's best know attractions. Our guides will make American history come alive by taking us to (and through) important sites of the revolution. These include Fanuil Hall, Paul Revere's House and the Old North Church. Besides being interesting in its own right, the tour is also a great way to get to know the Boston of today. Also, since the tour will take us through the North End, famous for its fabulous Italian restaurants, you can scout out a terrific place to eat dinner!

Wednesday - Red Sox Baseball Game. IPMAAC has secured tickets to see the Boston Red Sox play the defending American League champions the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. For baseball fans, enough has been said. For nonbaseball fans, Fenway Park is one of the most storied stadiums in baseball. Some of the greatest (or, if you are a Red Sox fan, most tragic) moments in baseball history have occurred there. For those who have been to games in HUGE concrete stadiums, Fenway will be a treat. It is among the smallest and most intimate stadiums, so you are really on top of the action. If you have never been to a baseball game, this is a great opportunity.

Of course, for those who prefer less structured evening activities, the host committee will provide plenty of information about what to do and see and where to eat in Beantown. Of course, this information will be handy for travel companions as well.

The conference hotel is The 57 Park Plaza Hotel located at 200 Stuart Street in Boston. The phone number is (617) 482-1800. As a reminder DON'T RENT A CAR when you come to Boston. Even the locals find that driving is a nightmare and parking is expensive. Fortunately, Boston has a very good subway system known as the "T". The "T" can take you everywhere you need to go in the city at $.85 a ride. The host committee will have discount "T" passes available.

Below you will find directions for getting to the hotel on the "T" and by car (for those of you who must rent a car or who will be driving to the conference).

Taking the T from the Airport:

From your terminal, take either the #11 or #22 bus. Both of these buses go from the terminals to the T (subway) station. At the subway station, take the Blue Line (the only line that runs from this station) in-bound (towards Bowdoin). You will need to purchase a T token for $.85 before you get on the subway. Take the Blue Line to the Government Center stop (the third stop). Follow the signs to the outbound Green Line. There are 4 different Green Lines (B, C, D & E). It does NOT matter which one you take, just be sure that it is outbound (towards either Boston College, Cleveland Circle, Riverside or Arborway). Get off the Green Line at the Boylston stop (the second stop). Exit the station and make a right, then a left on the first street. You will see the hotel is on your right.

Driving From Logan Airport:

You have to go through the tolls into the Callahan Tunnel. Take 93 South into Sumner Tunnel. Take Chinatown exit up to a set of lights. Take a right onto Kneeland St.--follow that to its conclusion (the hotel will be on your left, but you must go around the block to enter the building). At the lights take a right then a left and bear left. You will be on Stuart St. -- the Hotel & Garage are on the right.

From 93 South:

Take the Kneeland St. Chinatown exit and take a left onto Kneeland St. Follow that to its conclusion (the hotel will be on your left, but you must go around the block to enter the building). At the lights, take a right then a left and bear left. You will be on Stuart St.--the Hotel and Garage are on the right.

From 93 North:

Take the Kneeland St. Chinatown exit and take a left onto Kneeland St. Follow that to its conclusion (the hotel will be on your left, but you must go around the block to enter the building). At the lights, take a right then a left and bear left. You will be on Stuart St.--the Hotel and Garage are on the right.

From Mass. Pike:

Take exit #22, Copley Square and Prudential Center. Stay on right of ramp because you will bear right toward the Copley Exit 9. Continue straight until the 57 Park Plaza Hotel is on the right.

From 95 South:

If you are coming down on 95 South, it becomes Route 1 over the Tobin Bridge and thin will merge with 93. As you merge, bear right to take Exit 26, which is Storrow Drive, off Storrow Drive take the Copley Square/Back Bay Exit. You will come to a set of traffic lights, take a left there and then a quick right. This will put you onto Arlington Street drive for about six blocks and take left onto Stuart Street. After a block or so it will bring you right to the hotel.

From 95 North:

Take 95 North to 128 South. Take 128 South to 93 North. Take the downtown/Kneeland Street Exit--bear to the left (Chinatown, Kneeland Street) and take a left at the lights--you are now on Kneeland Street. Go straight until you can not go any further, take a right, then you first left. Take the next left and you will be on Stuart Street. The hotel will be on your left.

Finally, if you are interested in being on the host committee, please contact me. (Remember you don't have to live in the Boston area to work with the host committee. You just need to be coming to the conference and willing to help,)

See you in Boston!