Want some Chaada?

Yesterday, I returned from a three day trip to visit Suba (LSE friend) in Boston, where she's studying for her Masters in Public Policy at Harvard. Aside from the usual sightseeing activities, I was smuggled into one of her classes on ethics - Utilitarianism to be precise. The class was an interesting mix of those who understood how philosophy works, and those who just have strong opinions. As far as comparing it to my own experience of University teaching goes, I was told that it wasn't the standard, which was a relief, but it was a little eye-opener into just how mythical the gap is between the UK's top postgraduate programmes and those of the big brand name US ones. Very reassurring and some points in the pro column of a potential Harvard Business School MBA in a couple of years.

Boston is what you'd call a nice town, its rich in American history and culture, and has a central place in the country's story of independence. This results in a mix of architecture that spans colonial through to recent times - although in keeping with its small town mindset, the John Hancock Tower at 200 Clarendon Street, named after the first person to sign the United States Declaration of Independence, is perhaps the town's only true skyscraper.

Boston is also home to the well known Museum of Fine Arts, which - when we visited - has the added bonus of an evening reception for members/friends/interested folk on the first Friday of each month. This included access to a part of the museum that is usually closed at that time as well as a free cocktail, compliments of the lovely people at Bombay Sapphire. The MFA obviously relies on the bulk of the attendees being well to do and upstanding arts fans, muddling sinus-cleansing martinis with priceless European renaissance paintings without too much concern for potential damages.

On the eating and drinking front, I tried my first ever Clam Chowder (pronounced something like "Chaada" in Beantown) and was pretty pleased with it, and a lobsterburger - not so good.

Newbury Street is the central shopping, eating and hanging out area, and although it doesn't take any more than an hour to wander down it, there are a couple of gems including a perfectly decked out Ralph Lauren "Rugby" store and a Puma shop, where you can design your own shoe by scanning individual pieces of material to designate certain parts of the trainer. An online version is available here although its more bulky and less impressive than the real thing.