Society for the Study of Social Problems

Welcome to Boston, home of the 58th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems.  The SSSP annual meeting brings the social science community together and offers an exiting opportunity for intellectual stimulation and the exploration of new research and ideas.  Located in major cities throughout the US and Canada the annual meeting also allows us the opportunity to explore places.  So as the meeting bustles with presentations and other events, I hope that you will also find time to experience this wonderful city and all that it has to offer.

Living in Boston for almost 10 years now I have come to value what Boston has to offer both intellectually and culturally, and I hope that I can share with you some ideas about what you can do in the city if you have some free time.  Whether you want to explore the rich social and cultural history of Boston neighborhoods and sites, get something to eat or drink, or simply walk the streets, Boston will satisfy your needs.  In fact, many of these activities are interrelated.  For example, you might find yourself eating dinner or having a drink in a tavern which predates the American Revolution.

Contrary to popular belief, Boston is relatively easy to navigate.  The summer months in particular offer a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that are easy to locate and often free.  The central, downtown location of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers makes local travel easy for those staying at the hotel.  Many destinations are within walking distance from the hotel.  Alternatively, Boston has an underground subway system called the T, which is easy to navigate [See http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/ for a City T map.] The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is just two Blocks from the Arlington , Green Line T stop where connections can be made to most points in the city.

Just blocks from the hotel lies the Boston Public Gardens, and Boston Common.  Together they comprise Boston’s Central park.  No visit to Boston is complete without a walk through the garden.  It’s beautiful in the summer time.  Walkers and those with a love for the outdoors might also enjoy the many free walking city trails/tours Boston offers.  These are essentially self-guided walking tours of varying themes and historical topics. 

The most popular walking tour is the Freedom Trail, [http://www.thefreedomtrail.org].  The Freedom Trail runs 2.5 miles through the city sidewalks of Boston, passing numerous historic sites.  The trail runs from Boston Common to the Charlestown and is easy to pick up and follow from any point.  I suggest beginning at Boston Common and following the Freedom trail to Faneuil Hall.  This stop along the trail offers a variety of lunch, dinner, and shopping options, and is an interactive and enjoyable place for sociologists to spend some time and look around. A variety of outdoor and open-window cafés and taverns line the streets surrounding the Faneuil Hall Market place.  These are great places to sit and relax.

A short walk through the Faneuil Hall Marketplace will bring you to Boston’s waterfront where you can hook up with the Boston HarborWalk http://www.bostonharborwalk.com, another self guided walking tour which carries you along Boston’s historic harbor, maritime industry, and adjacent neighborhoods. The views are stunning.

Also at Boston Common you can link up with the Black Heritage Trail http://www.afroammuseum.org/trail.htm.  Another free-self guided walking tour, the Black Heritage Trail takes you on a tour of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, focusing on the role of African Americans before, during and after the American Revolution.

Other destinations close to the hotel include Copley Square, and, next to it, the Boston Public Library.  If you have some time, take a stroll through the library and the many reading rooms and historical exhibits on display http://www.bpl.org/guides/walkmckim.htm.  The library courtyard in the afternoon is great place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee.  There is a café inside the library.

Boston has a variety of museums.  The new Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) http://www.icaboston.org is located on Northern Avenue in South Boston , but is accessible via the HarborWalk, south. The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) http://www.mfa.org houses Boston ’s largest selection of classical art and is easily accessible via the Green line, E train.  Another classical art museum is the Elizabeth Stewart Gardner Museum http://www.gardnermuseum.org, located next to MFA.  This is another beautiful place to visit.

Where ever you go you are sure to find a location rich in history.  This is an old city and as a result there seems to be something of interest or of historical significance around every corner no matter where you turn.  I hope that my suggestions have been helpful to get your started.  Enjoy the conference and the city.