What to Do at Harvard Until the Year 2000

If you haven't started already, you will likely spend the next four years telling people you go to school in "Boston," thus avoiding the conversation-stopping word--"Harvard."

In spite of the fact that we all claim to go to school in Boston, very few of us head across the Charles River and actually go to the city. And no, a trip to the airport to escape this God-forsaken area of the country in the middle of winter doesn't count.

Contrary to your parents' opinion, you will not spend all your waking hours at the College studying. And perhaps even contrary to your own opinion, you will not spend all your waking hours drinking--or at least you don't have to.

You'll likely be in class less than a dozen hours a week. With sports and extracurriculars, most of us were in high school a dozen hours a day.

So unless you choose to wed yourself to an extracurricular organization (by the way, The Crimson's open house is on Friday, Sept. 20), you're going to have a lot of free time.

I'd recommend coming up with something interesting to do with it.

Now, there is of course lots to do in the Square. But there's much more to do in Boston (and I'm told that nobody who lives there calls it Beantown--so I wouldn't recommend that you do either).

And for a limited time only, you can have this free, exclusive guide to Boston just for paying your tuition bill and showing up for registration. Here are my top picks for spending a lazy afternoon or evening:

* The Top of the Hub Restaurant: I'll admit that the food is probably not worth the price you pay, but the view from the top of the Prudential Center certainly is. The newly-renovated restaurant has two rows of tables up against floor-to-ceiling windows, affording each patron a fabulous view of the city.

Particularly prominent from the restaurant are MIT and Fenway Park. It makes a great dinner spot before a formal, especially if you're feeling romantic. And if you're not willing to fork over the big bucks for dinner, the Prudential also features a nearly 360-degree observation tower. They will still charge you, though.

* The John F. Kennedy Library: The Kennedys are certainly Massachusetts' royal family, and you are now attending their traditional alma mater. (Even the handsome and still eligible John-John, though not a grad, has been known to stop by from time to time.) And the library, accessible via a convenient and complimentary shuttle bus from South Station, is the perfect place to feed a Kennedy obsession. The museum, which details JFK's life from his entrance into politics through his assassination is well done, and the library is extensive.

As a bonus, the grounds offer a spectacular view of the airport and Boston Harbor.

* The Theater: Boston's elegant old theaters feature some of Broadway's biggest shows. I've seen "Les Miserables" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," among other performances. And since you're now the proud owner of a Harvard ID card, you're eligible for student rush tickets. Just before the show, most of the theaters sell their left over seats deeply discounted. But call ahead to find out what time student rush goes on sale and show up early, because the lines do get long.

* The North End: Boston's Italian neighborhood features many hole-in-the-wall restaurants with great pasta and good wine. I won't recommend any one in particular; just start walking through the area and pick one. You probably won't go wrong. Pick a second restaurant for dessert, and continue to explore the neighborhood, genuine gelato in hand. While you're in the North End, visit the sites of your high school U.S. history class: Paul Revere's home and Old North Church (home of "One if by land, two if by sea." And if anyone asks, it was two and by sea.)

* The Boston Ballet: The company is based in the historic Wang Center, a facility grand enough to have hosted the infamous Quad-wide formal several years ago. It's worth going to the Wang just to see the building. Sometimes they also show old movies on a giant screen. But the Boston Ballet is also quite good. In addition to their traditional Christmas performance of "The Nutcracker" (which was completely overhauled last winter), they do innovative works. Last year they performed Shakespeare's comedy "Taming of the Shrew."

* Fenway Park: This is a must-see for baseball fans, fans of "Field of Dreams" and those who, like me, grew up believing that baseball must be played in concrete monstrosities which seat 60,000 people. The Green Monster isn't quite as big as it looks on TV, but the small stadium makes this feel like old-time baseball. And since the Red Sox keep threatening to build a new, bigger stadium, check out this piece of Americana while you can.

* The Celtics: The local basketball team did abandon its historic home last year. So going to see a game isn't quite as neat as it was when the Celtics played on the parquet floor at the Boston Garden. But if you're a sports fan, your four-year tenure in the Boston area won't be complete without a trip to see Larry Bird's team.

Museums: Name your favorite subject and the city's got a top-notch museum about it. The Boston Museum of Science has hands-on exhibits, a planetarium with laser light shows and an Imax theater. The Computer Museum showcases the latest in technology, also mostly hands-on. And for the kid in you, check out the Children's Museum, site of some amusing house formal dances.

There are also several more traditional art museums, like the Museum of Fine Arts.

* A Touch of Elegance: Start at Copley Square, site of some of the city's most elegant buildings and the intersection of history and modernity--old churches and a new mall. Then explore the tony Back Bay section of Boston. Go window shopping on Newbury Street (on a student's budget, it would be difficult actually to shop in this area). And dine at one of the many restaurants; some are even affordably priced. These neighborhoods are a perfect destination on a warm spring or fall evening.

* The Hokey Factor: Any high school history teacher will tell you that Boston is laden with history. If you're unfamiliar with the city and are feeling goofy, take the Olde Town Trolley tour. The guides are funny, and the tour takes you to all the important sites. Like Cheers. Afterwards, board the Boston Tea Party ship in Boston Harbor and throw tea over-board (it's all environmentally correct; they haul it in again). In the spring, be sure to take a swan boat ride in the Public Garden--you read about them in Make Way for Ducklings. On both boats, you'll be about twice as tall and three times as old as everyone else, but that's part of the fun.

To top it off, all of these stops are accessible by Metro for the cost of a pack of chewing gum. There are of course diversions closer to home. And you're undoubtedly being inundated with information about how to spend your free time (did I mention The Crimson's open house?). But be brave; strike out on your own. Some Saturday afternoon when you're tired of Ultimate Frisbee, think about exploring the city you'll spend the next four years pretending you live in. If nothing else, it'll make it easier to fake it. And you, yes you a Harvard student, might even have fun.

Elizabeth T. Bangs '97, The Crimson's comp director, spends all her waking hours shamelessly recruiting new reporters.