Boston on the Holy Day of St. Practice

As you may recall, we found ourselves having the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day completely free of obligations. Last week we talked about the plan we hatched to drive the snakes out of South Boston (otherwise known as drinking a lot of beer at Irish Pubs.) This week we will explore the fun that can be had when you’re in Boston on the Holy Day of St. Practice.

But first, a little run

Since we were up unreasonably early, we decided to kick our day off with some exercise. The mister headed down to the treadmill, while did a little solo urban exploration. I’m not much of a runner these days so I LOVE to take advantage of the dopamine I get from exploring a new place. Also, exercising first thing in the morning makes justifying the afternoon adult beverages a little easier. (On that note, did I ever mention that I have a black belt in justification?)

Check out these amazing views of Boston Harbor!

Next…A Stroll Through South Boston

Having done my three miles, while Stephen did his like 33+, we were both feeling ready for some sustenance. We walked from the Cambria Hotel to see what the neighborhood was like. The St. Practice day humor along the sidewalk did not disappoint.

Brunch at Stats

While the streets seemed quiet, Stats Bar and Grille was NOT. A college basketball game between Universities of Massachusetts and Vermont was on the television. The place was packed and the crowd was cheering for…wait for it…VERMONT!??!! Maybe someone from Boston can clue me in how that works.

Since we had no skin in that game, we happily cheered along with the crowd while enjoying brunch and beverages.

Feeling a Little TOO Cool

Though it was nearly spring and too warm for snow, the day was blustery and we found ourselves feeling a bit too cool on our walk back to the Cambria. Lucky for us we came upon this Caffe’ Nero. Though it’s a chain coffee shop, each one is very unique. This one was full of books and quite cozy. Also, they had a deal that day which gave you a free pastry and coffee when signing up for their app. I mean, I “ran” that morning, so I really COULDN’T pass that up.

Taking the Edge Off – My Nails

On our way back, we passed a salon that wasn’t too busy for a walk-in with some raggedy nails. I don’t know how they managed to make my broken, stubby nails look good but I’m SO glad we stopped. Since the mister was waiting, he decided to get a mani as well. His color was, of course, green in honor of St. Patrick.

Wandering through Quincy Market

Too cold to really enjoy the outdoors, we thought we’d try our luck strolling through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Unfortunately a lot of other humans had that same idea. However, we managed to find a little table at Ned Devine’s, where we could listen to live music and have a pint. The crowd sang loudly when the band played “Take Me Home, Country Roads” . This was the second time that weekend we heard that song played to great acclaim. So is this like a thing now? I am apparently out of the loop.

Granary Tavern for a Little Chowda

We thought we’d try to grab a drink at one of the older bars in the North End but it turns out St. Practice Day might actually be a more popular bar day than St. Patrick’s. Deciding we were far too old to stand in line outside bar in March, we chose to visit the Granary Tavern instead. They had a great selection of craft beer and their lobster roll and chowder were outstanding!

Walk Back to South Boston

Although it was chilly, I convinced Stephen that we should walk back to the hotel. I figured, that if our eyes didn’t actually freeze, we would see some GREAT sights. And boy, did we!

Up Next

So though it wasn’t wild, St. Practice Day in Boston was a lot of fun! Join us next week for a peek at the St. Patrick’s Day parade and jamming with the Dropkick Murphys at the MGM Music Hall. And if you don’t want to miss it, be sure to subscribe for free!