If you are waitlisted or otherwise unable to register, but are planning to come to Boston anyway, we’d love to see you at the evening dances! There’s lots to do in Boston and Waltham. And our October weather is usually lovely!

We’ll elaborate on these and add more as we think of them…

Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation, the coolest thing to do in Waltham!  Housed in a former mill building on the Charles River, this museum has artifacts from Waltham’s long and storied history as a center of manufacturing and technical innovation. There’s a massive display concerning the Waltham Watch Company, plus some working examples of the drive trains that connected the machinery to river power, and lots of other cool stuff.

Waltham Watch Factory is still standing, a huge and beautiful mill building that once cranked out the finest timepieces available on this side of the Atlantic.  Now converted to condos, it does have another small exhibit on Watch Factory history in its entry vestibule, as well as a lovely river-walk behind the building just at the river’s edge.  There are usually ducks and geese and swans here!  The river-walk connects to longer trails that run many miles along the river for runners, walkers, and cyclists.

Drink and Backbar, world-class cocktail spots. More fantastic cocktail spots pop up every year: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/restaurants/2018/01/30/top-bars-boston/

Freedom Trail, duck tours – for the history buffs. Duck tours are absurdly fun – even Bostonians go on them.

Bobby from Boston – possibly the best menswear vintage shop in the known universe, also offering a small selection of excellent womenswear. Note that the South End retail shop has closed, and only the vast warehouse in Lynn remains, open by appointment only. More Info

Harpoon Brewery tour – yummy beer. hot pretzels. you’re welcome.

Newbury Street/Commonwealth Avenue – beautiful architecture, good people-watching, fancy boutiques.

Harbor cruise, harbor islands/Castle Island – get out on the water, walk on a beach, see the sights.

Rent a car to go leaf-peeping – the leaves should be gorgeous in early October.

Boston Common/Public Gardens – the swan boats are closed in October, but you can visit the Make Way for Ducklings statue.

Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – tons of awesome art here. The Gardner is particularly special, as it contains all Mrs. Gardner’s furnishings as well as her art collection, just as she had it arranged during her life.

Glass Flowers – a little known museum at Harvard, with extremely detailed flowers made of glass.

Museum of Science – the field trip every kid in Massachusetts likes the best.