By Barry Zeger
I needed to be in Boston, MA on business through the Memorial Day weekend. Rather than stay at a regular hotel in a typical part of town (Financial District, Seaport District, Back Bay, South End), I wanted to do something a bit more imaginative, inventive, and fun. I reviewed a bunch of bed and breakfasts, but they were too quaint. "Hip" hostels were an option, but the guest reviews were all horrific. A furnished corporate apartment seemed like a cool move, so I looked into the available options.
The furnished apartments of Oakwood Furnished Quarters, Churchill Corporate Housing, and Northeast Suites were acceptable, but on the non descript side. Since I'd be staying in the apartment for a span of days, I preferred something with character that was located in a happening area. I then came across the web site of the Compass Furnished Apartments at Hamilton Crossing, in the Downtown Crossing section of Boston. I clicked around the site, liked what I saw, and booked a room (details about the apartment below).
Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing is a small part of Boston that's on the rise, both literally and figuratively. It's situated east of Boston Common and west of the Financial District. Way back in the day (between 1895 and 1917), Downtown Crossing was an upscale residential area as well the central focal point of department store shopping, where folks from all over eastern Massachusetts would visit such retail behemoths as Filene's, Jordan's, Kresge's, and R.H. White's. With suburbanization and competition from big box retailers, retail business in the area decreased significantly. Buildings went vacant, rents plummeted, red light businesses moved in, and by the 1960s, Downtown Crossing had morphed into the notorious "Combat Zone".
But over the past 30 years, tremendous financial backing has been made in Downtown Crossing, and thrilling stuff is going on. Prominent stores are coming back. Luxury apartments and condominiums are being built. Upscale restaurants are opening up. It's where the gorgeous Paramount Theater and The Boston Opera House have relocated to. Shoppers and visitors fill the streets (many of which are closed to motor traffic) and there's tremendous energy and activity through the daytime hours and into the night. It seemed like quite the scene, and I was eager to check it out.
The Ride to Boston
Since I was planning to stay in an interesting Boston locale and live at a novel lodging alternative, I decided that my selection of transportation to and from the city should also be out of the ordinary. While searching for an option to the train and crowded discount bus services, I stumbled upon LimoLiner, and it was an excellent solution.
LimoLiner is a luxury service with many daily departures between New York City to Boston. The LimoLiner bus has only 28 seats, and they're all plush, first-class airline style, and extremely cozy. LimoLiner offers free Wi-Fi, free beverages, a free sandwich and snacks, power outlets, satellite radio choices, and free earbuds for each passenger. There's also clear cell phone reception with no dead spots, news on Direct TV, and a DVD movie feature. The bathroom is clean, the service is attentive, and the vehicle is in great shape. Best of all, the ride took a little over four hours, which was approximately how long the train would have taken - but the roundtrip cost of the LimoLiner is a fraction of the one-way train fare, with a lot less hassle. LimoLiner is the most convenient and smartest way to travel between New York, NY and Boston, and I kind of hope it doesn't get too popular - otherwise, it'll be really tough to reserve a seat the next time I need to make the trip.
Compass Furnished Apartments at Hamilton Crossing
Planning the details of my trip to Hamilton Crossing was simple: my queries were responded to quickly by the folks at Compass Furnished Apartments (they own Hamilton Crossing) and my special requests were taken care of without a hitch. I was assured that the company's meticulous attention to customer service would result in a terrific stay for me at their property.
The apartment building is located on Winter Street near the heart of the bustle of Downtown Crossing. It's right next door to a Starbucks, directly across the street from a well-stocked CVS, and a one-minute walk from the MBTA subway. The building is secure, modern, and pristine, and my spacious, energy-efficient furnished apartment's numerous impressive features included:
- An office nook with high-speed Internet, desk, chair, lamp, ethernet cord, surge protector, free WiFi, and free unlimited local/long distance phone service
- 32" Vizio LCD HD televisions with HD cable
- Fully-equipped kitchen, including glassware, cookware, dishes, utensils, appliances, supplies, and an assortment of Jim's Organic Coffees and Bigelow Organic Tea
- Central air conditioning and heat
- 24-hour access to a washer & dryer (available on each floor)
- Bamboo hardwood floors & floor-to-ceiling windows with views
- Gorgeous and comfortable living room and bedroom
- Sleek and sizable bathroom
- Housekeeping
The apartment couldn't have been any hipper, and living there - albeit briefly - made me feel more like a resident than a visitor. There's also no way that I could have felt the same sensation of being in the center of the vigorous Downtown Crossing action if I had chosen to stay in a hotel. Compass Furnished Apartments at Hamilton Crossing was the ideal headquarters for my Boston excursion.
Stuff to Do, Places to Eat, Etc.
Boston BID: Boston BID (Business Improvement District) is the ideal resource for discovering what to do, where to go, and what's happening in Downtown Crossing. Their helpful "ambassadors" are available by phone and they also patrol the neighborhood, providing tips and guidance on how to get the most out of your downtown Boston journey. BID's colorful website offers helpful facts, recommendations, and inside info. I was lucky enough to connect with Marsha, a superb ambassador who guided me to all of the destinations that I eventually visited during my trip. If you're travelling around by foot (which I recommend), BID's maps of downtown Boston are all over the place, and they've very easy to figure out and navigate.
South Street Diner (7 minute walk from Hamilton Crossing): Built in 1947, South Street Diner is "the place to grab something to eat, hang out with friends, celebrity watch, and keep the party going". It's Boston's only 24-hour restaurant and attracts hipsters, workers (blue and white collar), and students from the area.
On a Saturday morning, I saw a counter full of sweaty CrossFit bros and helmeted construction guys, tables of webbys and disheveled young moms n' dads with their children, and booths filled with families of graduates and chatty tourists - all absorbing the genuine atmosphere and diving into their chow. Three cooks (flat top, grill, fry station) worked in cooperative, non-stop motion, and meals were prepared and delivered fast.
I tried the Diner Special (three eggs, two flapjacks or French toast, home fries, and toast, with choice of bacon, corn beef hash, ham, or sausage) and the Chocolate Fantasy French Toast (double-thick slices of bread stuffed with chocolate chips, dipped in egg, and fried on the flat top). The steaming mini-mountains of food could have fed 3 people, and the Chocolate Fantasy French toast was messy, creative, and insanely indulgent. If you pull into Boston after hours and are hungry for a a solid meal, South Street Diner is most definitely the spot. The crowd will be entertaining, the price will be affordable, and the food will be fantastic.
Boston Sports Club (four minute walk): Boston Sports Club is 30,000 square feet of fitness awesomeness. Check out the statistics:
- 10 different classes per day (Power Pilates, cycling, outdoor workouts, strength, ABS, kick boxing, yoga, UXF circuit training, and more)
- 3 fitness and exercise studios
- 125 bicycles and cardio machines
- Extensive free weights and strength machines
- Individualized personal workouts, small group training, and sports massage
BSC is big, bright, and immaculate. The staff is friendly and helpful. The Club's facilities smack the crap out of the miniscule sweat closets - I mean, fitness centers - of most hotels, even top tier ones. On any given day, there are deals, discounts, and specials that are affordable and attractive (as well as contests and games with fitness-related prizes). For an efficient and wide range of challenging workout alternatives that's close to Hamilton Crossing, BSC is your #1 choice.
Boston Common Coffee (three minute walk): If you require a fix of corporate coffee, Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts are everywhere. No really, they're everywhere. Ev-ree-where. But for a truly artisan and authentically local caffeine experience, you must try Boston Common Coffee.
BCC roasts their own coffee locally, their pastries are created in small batches and delivered to their stores throughout Boston each day, and their cafe menu items are prepared - fresh and from scratch - in-store. To savor a quality, hand-crafted cup o' joe, BCC is an excellent place to eat, sip, and cool out.
The Merchant Kitchen & Drinks (6 minute walk): When I asked Marsha from BID for a recommendation of a great eatery in Downtown Crossing, she said "you MUST go to The Merchant! It's new and it's so hot right now!"
The Merchant is housed in the former London Harness Company, which opened in 1776 as a saddlemaker (Benjamin Franklin was a client), and is believed to be the oldest continually operating retail store in the U.S. (it's now located in Wellesley, MA). The Merchant took over the space and opened in early '14. The owners' ambitious vision was to offer high quality food and beverages with an emphasis on warmth, approachability, and integrity. The space is immense and long, with nosebleed high ceilings and a wide open interior. The original columns and deep brown wooden floors remain, with many charming architectural flourishes and a dignified, upscale ambiance. But while the surroundings may seem grand, the atmosphere is anything but. It's loose, friendly, and unpretentious.
From speaking with Josh (the manager), Shane (a co-owner), and Nick (my most righteous server, who steered me to some amazing dishes), I learned that The Merchant seeks a very high standard of quality for each component of their meals. For instance, all produce is purchased from local farmers when available. Fish and seafood are caught wild and purchased that day (aka "day boat"). Their meats are all-natural and hormone-free, and their bacon and smoked meats are cured on premises. Their Sunday brunch bagels are baked fresh and in-house. (BTW, their beer selection - for which they're gaining a loyal following and respected reputation - is also quite impressive: 36 are on tap, and twenty-eight more are available in bottles and cans.)
My meal consisted of:
- Mixed salad with fried onions
- A South Bay oyster and a Powder Point oyster
- Pan-seared day boat scallops with grapefruit and spinach
- Almond brown butter cake with mescat sorbet
- A glass of Gazzera pinot grigio
- A Southern Cooler cocktail, which was an artful blend of crushed watermelon, brandy, fresh peaches, Dolin Blanc vermouth, lime juice, and orange bitters
Each dish was gloriously plated and served, and the taste of everything was superb and memorable. It was one of the tastiest meals I've ever had the privilege to experience. A supper (or brunch or lunch or drinks) at The Merchant is highly recommended, whether you're staying in Downtown Crossing or elsewhere in the Boston area.
***
There are so many places to see, delicacies to taste, and discoveries to make in Downtown Crossing and the nearby region. It's a lively neighborhood for extended stay visitors (business or pleasure), and Compass Furnished Apartments at Hamilton Crossing is a sleek, fashionable, and indulgent home base for your Boston expedition.
About the Author:
Barry Zeger is a travel writer who visited Boston's Downtown Crossing and was a guest at Compass Furnished Apartment's
Hamilton Crossing property.
