FPA Boston 2008 Closing Night Celebration

Jillian's of Boston

Monday, October 6
6:30–11 p.m.
Cost: Free to conference registrants; $185/extra person. Tickets are required.
This year's closing night celebration will be an unforgettable night, celebrated at Jillian's of Boston. Located across from historic Fenway Park on Lansdowne Street, the festivities at Jillian's will include food, fun and variety: Dance in the Tequila Rain Cantina, shoot pool in the upscale billiards lounge and bowl at Lucky Strike Lanes. Nobody will be bored at this year's celebration — you'll just be sorry the night will end!

Golf

Due to the cost for private golf events in Boston, FPA has not organized a golf outing for FPA Boston 2008. Individuals interested in reserving their own tee time should contact one of the following courses in the area. Courses that offer tee times to the public are:

• Bradford Country Club: 978.372.8587 
• Shaker Hills Golf Club: 978.722.2227
• Waverly Oaks: 508.224.6700
• Granite Links: 617.689.1900

Companion Programs

Saturday, October 4

On the Trail Through Cambridge

9:15 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cost: $80/person
Take a ride to Cambridge and be escorted onto charming river boats for a fascinating one-hour sightseeing tour. Your guide will point out various points of interest and historical markers along the riverside. Head to Harvard Square, where your guide will accompany you through the historical backroads of Cambridge.

Take a walk down Tory Row past George Washington's former home, the Old Blacksmith's Shop and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's former home. Next up, your guide will take you on a stroll to the Harvard University campus, one of the greatest academic and research facilities in the world. The group will be led through Civil War Memorial Hall and Sander's Theater, as well as various other points of interest.

In addition to architectural and historical perspectives, you will also be treated to a series of long-lived campus stories, popular since the Institution's founding in 1636. Guests may visit the University's Natural History Botanical Museum, home of 3,000 glass model flowers created by naturalists and consummate glass artisans Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka. The life-size models include 847 species with remarkably accurate anatomical sections and enlarged flower parts.

Tour includes transportation, professional guide, boxed lunch and tour.

Itinerary

Boston by Bike

9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: $90/person
Pedal down the length of the Back Bay, observe the transformation of architectural styles, admire and learn the merits of the people honored in our statues and recount the history that made this neighborhood one of the most prestigious in Boston. Next on to the Back Bay Fens which features the Victory Garden allotments, the Keller Rose Garden, the Museum of Fine Arts and the unique Isabella Stewart Gardener museum.

Boston University and Fenway Park, the oldest ballpark in major league baseball and home of the Boston Red Sox, are seen along the way to the Charles River Esplanade. The Dr. Paul Dudley White bicycle path along the Charles River is used on this portion of the ride. We cross the river for a peek at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and enjoy the panoramic views of Boston. We will stop and recount the activities of July 4, 1776, and visit the Hatch Memorial Shell concert pavilion where the Boston Pops Orchestral traditionally plays on this holiday. Next on to the quaint, quiet, historical neighborhood of Beacon Hill. From the antique shops on Charles Street to the cobblestones of Acorn Street, Beacon Hill is loaded with charm and character.

Tour includes transportation, professional guide, bike rental, boxed lunch and tour.

Itinerary

Sunday, October 5

Bewitching Seaports: Salem and Marblehead

9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Cost: $125/person
"Witch" way to Salem? Salem and witches, two words synonymous with New England — where witchcraft hysteria defined this seaside mecca's place in history and even today. Heading north to Salem reveals that much more went into the formation of this picturesque enclave. Upon arrival, the group will head to "The House of Seven Gables," the inspiration for Nathaniel Hawthorne's great classic. Winding past the Hawthorne Inn and Pickering Wharf, the macabre of the "witchery" draws the group into a fascinating glimpse of 17th century mob hysteria.

Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant. After the highlights of maritime history of the Salem Wharves, visit the Peabody Essex Museum and connect the maritime trade in Salem to the birth of the nation. Travel on to Marblehead with breathtaking views of one of the nation's most protected and picturesque coves in the world. Home to a sleek fleet of prestigious yacht clubs, Marblehead is a charming town still dependent on its own fishing industry. Embark down the streets of Old Town up to Abbot Hall where town meetings are still regularly held. In Abbot Hall you will view the famous painting "Spirit of 76," a true period masterpiece.

Tour includes transportation, professional guide, lunch at FINZ and tour.

Itinerary

Monday, October 6

"La Dolce Vita" North End Culinary Tour

10 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
Cost: $105/person
A docent-guided tour will provide guests with insight on the infamous "Little Italy" of Boston: the North End. This borough attracts visitors and Bostonians alike with its intimate and familial setting. One of the oldest neighborhoods in America, the North End is made up of quaint and narrow cobblestone streets. Participants will stroll while listening to a brief history of the area. As the group ambles along, stops are made at various shops which may include a pastry shop, a confection store, a coffee/spice store, a greengrocer, a salumeria (deli) and a liquor store.

The guide will divulge secrets on how to spot authentic ingredients, where to buy them and how to prepare them. Participants will be encouraged to get involved by sampling and asking questions throughout the tour. As an added benefit, insights on different restaurants in the area will be shared. Handouts describing the different stores stopped at along the way will also be distributed to participants.

Tour includes transportation, professional guide and tour.

Itinerary