An Unforgettable Hotel Before Surgery

I was able to sleep late in the morning because my surgery wasn’t until the afternoon. It was the first time I had been told before surgery that I could even drink clear liquids until a few hours before I went in. I was in the right place for the best coffee, and to spend a free morning.

Have you ever walked into a hotel and just said out loud, “I love this place?” That was the reaction the first time I walked into The Verb. I booked it because it looked unusual and accessible, but it certainly went beyond expectations. I have never been in a place quite like it and I doubt I ever will.

 

The Verb is all about the music, mainly Rock. It’s about the feeling of relaxation through the music and how music and life intertwine. You’ll see it everywhere: in the lobby which looks like you remember the 70s, with colorful couches and tables; on the walls full of pictures from concerts and moments of the stars you’ll never forget.

The check-in area looks more like a bar top. You can take music with you in the form of albums available you can borrow to listen to on your room’s record player. Instruments are also located throughout the place.

 
Photos, concert posters, autographs, and murals are everywhere. I spotted Alice Cooper, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, The Beatles, and Tina Turner, within just the first few minutes. Over my bed was a magazine cover about Pearl Jam & Eddie Vedder.

Beyond the music is the vibe. Steam comes from the outdoor heated pool you can see in the center courtyard, which my room overlooked. Ramps took me around the whole property and the pool. Although there was an area in my accessible room that was tight to get around, when I mentioned it to the manager, she said she would look into re-arranging it.

 

It’s a good place to enjoy a coffee setup you’ve never quite seen in a hotel. You’ll have your choice of (complimentary) cold brew, nitro, flavored, or regular, always available in the lobby of The Verb. In the next room is a rock and roll tavern, with a twist that Hojoko serves sushi, sake, and Japanese small plates.

I was able to have some of the hazelnut cold brew in the morning. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have anything from one of the best complimentary buffets I’ve ever seen. There were eggs and yogurts, bagels and breads, and a ton of fresh pastries that looked like they just came out of a bakery oven.

 
I took one of the muffins for later, because I know how long it can be before hospital trays arrive in your room. In the meantime, I mellowed in coffee and music before my Lyft WAV arrived.

Surgery on my upper arm to remove a nerve stuck in a muscle (from the fall that broke my humerus eight months earlier, went well. I stayed overnight in the hospital. My trip home wasn’t quite so good thanks to a blizzard.

 
It took two days to get home from Boston. Traveling alone after surgery is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I was tired and in pain and am incredibly grateful to the Boston Logan Admirals Club staff for helping me get comfortable.

While I wasn’t anxious to come back for a post op check-up in two weeks and additional surgery in six months, I was excited about seeing more of Boston.

 

 

 

 

Boston Trip 2: Busy Day Back in Boston

 

My second trip to Boston in the 21st Century was for surgery. I wasn’t going to waste a trip to a city I Ioved, so I arrived two days early, and filled the schedule with as much as I could. It was a cross between being dedicated to seeing more of Boston and trying not to worry too much about my upcoming surgery.

It was just before the holidays, and the downtown hotels were pretty expensive. I found a deal at a hotel in the Fenway Park area that looked interesting. It turned out to be directly in front of Fenway Park and interesting was an understatement.

 

I had arranged an accessible ride with Go Airport Shuttle. The driver was waiting for me at Logan Airport when we arrived and took me to The Verb. An attendant greeted us. There were no steps to get in, and I wheeled right into the lobby.

Soon after I checked in, I went out to explore. I couldn’t be this close to the iconic Fenway Park and not check it out. I was told the tour was not accessible—but you can get accessible seating during the season. I still walked around the outside and could see just how special this place was.

I hadn’t eaten since my early morning flight and grabbed a Mediterranean bowl at Cava. The Fenway area is much different than downtown Boston. The cobblestones were missing and there was a more modern feel.

 I  took a short nap after my exploration and decided to forego the Lyft WAV and wheel the mile to The Prudential Center, where I was meeting my friend, Amanda. It was an unusually warm day for December, and it looked to be a scenic ride.

I went through the Fenway Victory Gardens and through the Back Bay Fens. Like just about everything else in Boston, there was history all around me. I passed a statue of “Poet Patriot” John Boyle O’Reilly, and the location of the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

I hit those famous cobblestones and got bounced around a bit, but I saw The Prudential Center in front of me and knew it would be better in there.

The Prudential Center is a modern mall, with wide and smooth walkways that are perfect for wheelchairs. They even had a huge accessible bathroom. I love a bathroom I can easily turn my wheelchair around in, then be able to get myself up holding on to properly placed rails. 

I knew we were having dinner, and I didn’t want to fill up, but I was early and decided to stop at Eataly for a latte and a cannoli. They make them fresh and they are delicious.

I met up with Amanda about an hour later in front of the entrance to The View Boston. I expected to just go up to the top floor for view of the city, but it was so much more. We found multiple floors with displays, history, and videos about Boston. There were also 360-degree views and miniature maps explaining everything you are seeing.

The Stratus, Boston’s highest bar, was decorated as a winter wonderland. We were tempted to stay for a drink, but it was crowded and we had reservations for dinner at the restaurant. Stratus has a patio too. We went outside to catch the view, but it was too cold to stay there.

The Beacon had a creative cocktail menu that included Spirit Free and Zero Proof drinks. Amanda had a Boston Garden Fizz, with vodka, strawberry-basil shrub, and soda water. I did the Southside, with zero-proof gin, mint, and soda. With all the botanicals in the gin, I couldn’t even tell that it was alcohol-free. After all, I was having surgery the next day.

The food at The Beacon was as good as the menu made it sound. We started with sharing the wings and meatballs with ricotta. They were both flavorful, but not too spicy. I had the sausage and cavatelli with burrata for a main course.

 

We enjoyed our meal before it was time to go. I was surprised to find out when we got downstairs that it was raining hard. I didn’t want to get soaked so I called a Lyft WAV to take me back to The Verb.

I had thought I’d eat something again and stay up late because I couldn’t eat in the morning and surgery wasn’t until the afternoon. I was just too tired and drifty off to sleep quickly.

 

It’s Not Boston Without Cheers

 

It was my third day in Boston and the most important one, my doctor’s appointment, but that didn’t change my interest in seeing more of this historic city.

I started the day at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza with breakfast at Off the Common restaurant. I had the Cinnamon French Toast the previous day, and as good as it was, I was pressed on time. The buffet breakfast looked really good, and I picked a piece of quiche, a muffin, and fruit to have with my latte.

 

It was impossible to go anywhere in Boston without walking through history (or wheeling, in my case). I took advantage of a beautiful day and went through the Boston Public Garden on my way to the doctor's office.

Boston Public Garden was the first public botanical garden opened in the United States. It’s just on the side of Boston Common and was scenic and quiet in the morning, with just a few joggers cutting through (like I was) on their way to work.

 

My appointment at Tufts went well. I decided that, since I wasn’t in a rush and it was a fall like day without a chance of rain, I’d ride my power chair through the park and street rather than take an Uber. It took a bit longer, and I dealt with one hill, but I made it to my next stop without issue.

I was a fan of the show Cheers, and my heart was set on visiting the location of the show. It is currently a museum, shop, and restaurant. I hadn’t even thought about accessibility until I arrived and found out that the only way to it was stairs.

 

Just when I was getting ready to turn around, an employee from the building came out and asked if I was trying to get into Cheers. Dinora told me to wait and returned a few minutes later with a long ramp she placed on the stairs! She held on to my chair, guiding it, as I rode up to the top.

Once inside, I was given a tour and the chance to pose with Cheers sets and cutouts of the actors. Then, another staff member led me into an employee elevator and down to the restaurant.

 

The restaurant has the same décor as the show and was very crowded. I had a root beer and Sam’s Turkey Sandwich (turkey, cheddar, tomato, and cranberry mayonnaise), which was quite good. I was given an escort again up on the elevator and down the ramp to the sidewalk. Before I left, I purchased a Cheers ornament.

It was too far to wheel to my next stop, and I had a long wait for an accessible Uber. I was late for the Museum of Fine Arts. By that time, it was raining, and I was happy to be indoors for a while.

 

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is magnificent. I was impressed with every exhibit. I was lucky enough to see two great ones I really enjoyed: Georgia O’Keefe and Henry Moore, and Power of the People: Arts and Democracy. The latter was timely and interesting, focusing on voting rights and protests.

I wondered around and was fascinated with the Chihuly statue in the library. I had discovered the artist on my trip to Seattle and loved his work. The museum is a must-do in Boston. It has a mix of modern and ancient, antique and contemporary.

 

I also had a long Uber Wave wait from the museum. I had a latte and cookie at the museum’s café while I waited. By the time I got back for to the Hilton, I was exhausted and wet from the rain. I took a shower and went to bed early for my flight home the next day.

Between my activities during the day, I had heard from the doctor’s office that my first surgery was scheduled for two weeks later. I’d be back soon to discover more Boston, with more trips to follow.

A full Day in Boston

After a late start on day one, I packed my second day in Boston, Massachusetts, to get in as much as possible and I saw—and ate—quite a bit.

I started with breakfast downstairs at Common in the Hilton Downtown. I went for the Cinnamon French Toast, and it was delicious and filling. I then took the short ride on my wheelchair to back to the stop of the Old Towne Trolley.

I was heading to the New England Aquarium first. I love aquariums and didn’t have enough time the previous day. It is a large building that starts with the biggest penguin exhibit I’ve seen. I sat and watched the little black and white birds frolicking for a while.

The aquarium has a lot on protecting the planet for the marine life and I read through all of valuable information posted. I also spent time at the Marine Mammal Center with the seals and sea lions.

 

The aquariums were filled with colorful fish and coral, as well as jellyfish. I was impressed with the accessibility too, with plenty of ramps and automatic doors.

I headed out of the aquarium to pick up the Old Towne Trolley for my next stop. My driver, Gonzo, was helpful giving me advice on what to do next. I was heading to the Boston National Historical Park at Charlestown Navy Yard.

It was not a stop I expected to make, but I’m really glad I did as I was quite impressed with everything. The complex includes USS Constitution Ship (which is not accessible, so I only saw it from the outside), the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitors Center, and the USS Constitution Museum.

I learned a lot about the U.S. Navy and this famous ship’s history. The cobblestones, which are in a lot of places in this historic city, were difficult to navigate outside, but the insides of the buildings were easily accessible.

 

I was getting hungry and decided to take Gonzo’s advice and take the trolley downtown to the Omni Parker House Hotel. There I got a croissant sandwich and my main reason for going there: the original Boston Cream Pie. 

It’s a dessert I love and don’t get often, so I had to have it here. I was incredibly surprised to find out I didn’t like it! Compared to the newer versions, it had less custard and less chocolate frosting. It also had an almond coating.

I decided not to get back on the trolley and instead explore while making my way back to the hotel. I went down Tremont Street wheeled through to Boston Commons Park. It was a beautiful day, and it was a scenic ride.

The historical park was founded in 1634 and is the oldest city park in the United States. It has walking paths, an ice-skating rink, tennis courts, ballfields, and a playground.

I took a nap before heading to Davios Northern Italian Steakhouse down the block from the hotel. I had heard good things about it, and I was not disappointed.

I sat next to the open-air kitchen and the smells were amazing. I started with a glass of pinot grigio and the restaurant’s signature popovers. I love popovers, going back to the days when I waitressed in a high school that served them. These were fresh out of the oven.

I knew I wanted pasta (made from scratch here) so I picked a light beet salad first. It took a long time for me to settle on my main course because everything sounded so wonderful. I went for the Tagliatelle Bolognese, and it was an excellent choice.

It’s a rare moment for me, who always has a sweet tooth, but I was ready to skip dessert. Then the waiter came over with a magnificent dessert cart and all my willpower went out the window.                                                                                                      

 I chose an unusual take on cannoli, thinner than what I was used to and surrounded by fruit. I was glad to have this lighter version after such a filling meal.

I was back in my room at the Hilton Downtown Boston soon after. Before bed, I decided to plan out my next day for after my doctor’s appointment. I wanted to see a lot more before my plane back home.

Revisiting Boston After Many Years

One good thing came out of my fall last year. It certainly wasn’t the broken (in two places) humerus or the nerve damage in my arm. It was finding a wonderful surgeon at Tufts University and giving me lots of opportunities to explore Boston.

I had spent a lot of time in Boston as a child. It wasn’t far from my New York home and my parents loved showing us the history of the city. I went a few more times in adulthood but had not been in many years. I decided to take advantage of my trips to the Massachusetts city by revisiting the city I had seen in the past and learning about what was new.

What was definitely new about going to Boston this time around is that I am now in a wheelchair. I would be looking at everything from a different position and my arrangements needed to be much more carefully planned.

I asked for help from the Meet Boston tourism board, and they were extremely helpful in planning what would be the first of many trips to the city, each focusing on a different area.

My first appointment with Dr. Charles Cassidy was on a Monday and I decided to fly into Boston early Saturday, so I’d have plenty of time to see the city.

Travel did not go as I would have liked, with delays in planes and longer waits than expected to get my wheelchair at the airports. Fortunately, the transportation to the hotel went well. Meet Boston had arranged for an accessible van with RMA Transportation and my driver was waiting to take me to the Hilton Downtown.

I had made arrangements with Old Towne Trolley in Boston to do their hop on, hop off tour around downtown for two days. They have buses with ramps so it would be good transportation for me between attractions. The delays had me at the starting point (by the Paul Revere statue) later than expected and I had to wait a while for an accessible bus to come.

The trolley was finishing for the day in less than two hours. I decided to go down to the harbor. My original plan was to start with the New England Aquarium, but I realized I didn’t really have enough time to do that.

I wheeled around the harbor for a while and then crossed the street and went to the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The dedication to the Kennedy matriarch is a beautifully manicured park with fountains, a carousel, and special events.

I realized I had been going all day without any food beyond the Biscoff Cookies and pretzels on the plane. I headed toward Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market to have dinner. I was thinking about a noodle bowl at Wagamama when I looked down at my power chair.

After the long day of delays, my wheelchair was running out of power. I called for an Uber WAV and there was a long wait. I was afraid to use up my power getting something to eat and knew I would have the chair charging when I get back. This is not unusual in the life of a wheelchair user.

I used the time I was waiting for my ride to peruse Grubhub. I wanted local food to have waiting for me when I returned to the hotel. Based on the reviews and menu, I went for Sal’s Pizza. I was very hungry at this point and ordered an eggplant parmesan hero and French fries. It was all good and I finished every bit.

I took a shower and unpacked and was soon out for the night. I was going to have a full day around Boston, and I needed my rest.

CI Living January 16 - Endless Activities in Downtown Boston

I grew up in New York and Boston was a frequent vacation destination. I continued to go occasionally. It had been about 20 years since I had been there when I was recently given an opportunity to go back.

Boston has too much for me to cover it all in one story. I will have more at a later date on some other areas to explore. You’ll find more than enough below to start planning a spring break or summer vacation through the cobblestone streets, famous architecture, and many sites in this city.

 Must-See Sites Downtown

It’s not often a baseball stadium is considered a historical site, but Fenway Park is in that category. You can see a lot of it from the outside. There is a tour to take you through off season or wait for a game to get the best good look.

 

Take a walk-through scenic Boston Common, the oldest park in the United States, or Boston Public Garden, which has been around since 1837. One of the things about Boston I enjoyed is the historic statues throughout the city and its parks. Among them, I was partial to the one dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe, a native of the city.

 

The Museum of Fine Arts is deserving of hours, if not a full day, of your time. The collections encompass all types of art from around the world. I found the jewelry especially interesting. Their special exhibits are not to be missed. I saw “Power of the People: Art and Democracy” and “Georgia O’Keefe and Henry Moore.” There is a Van Gogh exhibition coming this spring through summer.

 

You can’t go to Boston without stopping by the Cheers Bar, which looks like it did when it inspired the long running television show. Although the bar is not operational, there is a restaurant where you can get drinks (in Cheers mugs) among the memorabilia, and eat from the large menu. There’s also a gift shop to visit on the way out.

 

The Prudential Center is filled with stores and restaurants, but you really need to head to the View. It has three floors filled with spectacular views of Boston. There is also a lot of displays and videos about the history of the city and facts about its importance now. The Stratus Bar, which has indoor and outdoor seating, is on the 51^st floor.

On the 50^th floor, you’ll find The Beacon Restaurant. The menu includes everything from sandwiches and salads to creative entrees. You can purchase a ticket that includes the meal with the View.

 

More Restaurants to Try

Treat yourself to a fine dining experience at Davio’s Italian Steakhouse. Watch the freshly made pasta and other specialties being cooked in the open kitchen and feast on such unique items such as roasted beets with yogurt, pistachio brittle, ricotta, and balsamic. You’ll also find a selection of seafood you’d expect in this city surrounded by water. Be sure to save room for dessert as the selection is beyond belief.

 

Tattes Bakery & Café is a Boston stable with more than a dozen locations. It’s a must visit for an unusual menu of coffees, teas, snacks, and meals. I had a Prosciutto & Fig Panini (with pear and fig jam) with a Pistachio Latte, and a Halva Brownie. It was all as good as it sounds.

 

For quick meals, Sal’s of Boston has pizza and subs. Stop by the Omni Parker House and order a Boston Cream Pie. It’s where the original came from, and you’ll be surprised at how different it tastes from what we have now.

 

Where to Stay

The Verb is directly in front of Fenway Park. Music is the theme here and it’s everywhere, even in the record player in every room, which you can choose albums for. This hotel has a pool in the courtyard heated all year round.

The Verb Hotelalso has one of the best complimentary breakfasts I’ve ever seen. It includes waffles, an assortment of fresh Danishes and muffins, fresh fruit smoothies, yogurts, and more. There is hot coffee, and always free cold brew—including a latte option—in the lobby.

The Hyatt Regecy Downtown has everything you need in a perfect location downtown near the Theater District and Chinatown. It’s walkable to just about everything and is directly connected to a train station. I had a junior suite which was extremely accessible, down to the pocket doors and bathroom mirror that moves for wheelchair viewing. The Hyatt also is very family-friendly, with connecting rooms,  and welcomes pets.

 

Making Your Way Around

Boston has a particularly good public train system. There are also taxis, Ubers, and Lyft, all of which have WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicles). For more personalized service, I tried Go Airport Shuttle. You can arrange it in advanced, for a group ride or to have a dedicated driver to pick you up, help you with your luggage, and take you where you need to go.

I highly recommend Old Town Trolley for getting around to the sites. I used it quite a bit and got to see a lot more than I would have on my own. The drivers are truly knowledgeable and filled with information and anecdotes on all spots Boston. You can even take the 13-mile tour around for two hours to get better acquainted with the city before hopping on and off one of the 18 stops.

 

I received some complimentary accommodation, activities,  and meals in Boston, but opinions are my own.