Gillette Stadium Pilgrimage Article on ESPN.com

I'm excited to have my first feature article for ESPN.com go live. It's on Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place for the Travel section of ESPN.com. Right now it's the lead story on that section of the web site. Click here to read the article.

Biggest Parking Gouge in Boston?

It's not exactly a newsflash that parking in Boston costs a pretty penny. (What, next you're going to tell me that rush-hour traffic stinks, too? Stop the presses.) So you know a parking lot is charging pretty exorbitant fees to be considered a "gouge" in this town. 

Last week, I went to a basketball game over at Northeastern's Matthews Arena, and the Gainsborough Garage the next block over was charging $19 for "Event Parking." Price of the event ticket? $10. Geez, makes the $40 parking fee for the $117 average ticket price at Gillette Stadium seem reasonable. 

There are limited metered spots around the arena on St. Botolph Street, Gainsborough Street, and Huntington Avenue, so you can take a shot at those. Not sure how much it costs over at the Renaissance Parking Garage on Columbus Avenue, which wouldn't be a far walk but can't imagine it to be as bad. Taking Green Line is definitely the most cost-effective way to get to the game.

And, guys, just go ahead and charge $20. Believe me, it's not going to psychologically seem like a bigger rip-off. 

Boston Tea Party re-enactment

If you're a history buff, this Sunday you may want to skip the football Patriots (or at least fire up the DVR) for some old-fashioned, colonial Patriots. The Old South Meetinghouse is hosting its annual reenactment of the Boston Tea Party on December 14 at 5:30 PM. Audience members can take on the role of a Patriot or Loyalist and participate in a spirited, interactive town meeting debating the tea tax. Old Souths Tea Party Players will portray the big "stars" such as Sam Adams and Paul Revere. Then, the audience will witness the destruction of the tea in a theatrical storytelling piece that will take them back 235 years to the night of December 16, 1773. And there's a pretty creative free gift for those who buy six tickets or more: a box of Salada tea. Click here for tickets.

Seafarers' Island Holiday cruise

Now that December is upon us, it's not too soon to start thinking about plans for New Year's. Of course, one of the more notable Boston traditions on the first day of the year is the plunge of the L Street Brownies into the icy waters of Boston Harbor. If the sight of people taking a polar dip (and showing off some pasty skin) sends a chill up your spine, you might want to consider another annual tradition on Boston Harbor: the Seafarers' Island Holiday cruise sponsored by the Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands.  Boston.com included the cruise on its list of 25 things to do in Boston under $25. 

This year's cruise goes to Spectacle Island, the new jewel in the Boston Harbor Islands national park area. Two boats depart Rowes Wharf at 11 AM and noon and return at 3 PM and 4 PM. It's a rare opportunity to explore the island in winter and take in one of the best views of Boston from atop the island's 157-foot-high north drumlin. The visitor center will be open so you can warm up and get a hot beverage. (And as a little plug, I'll be signing copies of Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands.) Tickets are $25, $22 for FBHI members and seniors. Children of FBHI members pay $15. Click here for more information.