The AM Forum

I will be in and around Boston (Brookline) starting Wednesday the 4th.  Are there any radio/electronics stores in the area worth going to?

Would like to know of any museums with early american theme, apart from the
ones on the tourist routes.

Any input or info would be appreciated.

thanks,  Ed WA4NJY

Not sure if there's anything radio-related around Boston/Brookline Ed, but up the road a half hour or so in Salem NH is the HRO outlet. Once upon a time they had a sometimes-interesting used gear area but the last few times I was there they had nothing but their new stuff. Just north of Salem in Manchester is a good electronics surplus place called EEG. Mainly newer test gear and parts, though they had a big box of tubes back in the 90s.

Check Google for museums. A stroll through Boston proper is almost like a trip to a museum with the old buildings and historic places like the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall, etc. The Union Oyster House is worth a visit, you might even get to sit in the booth JFK used upstairs. It's the oldest restaurant in continuous operation in the U.S.

Now, if you're looking for some good Irish pubs, I can point you to a few....  ;D

Go to a Sox game and wear a Yankees hat.

 ;D ;D ;D      Yankee fans are people too.... :'(

That's be ESS, Electronic Surplus Services

http://esssurplus.com/

Peter who runs the store is a piece of work  ;D It's sort of second stop after Near-Fester

No tubes any more but good collection of ss stuff along with the junque

A few suggestions:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/ (http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/)

http://www.mfa.org/ (http://www.mfa.org/)

http://www.mos.org/ (http://www.mos.org/)

http://www.icaboston.org/ (http://www.icaboston.org/)

http://www.neaq.org/index.php (http://www.neaq.org/index.php)

All reachable by walking or "Charlie's" MTA.

Have fun.

Don't say that to a Sox fan!

Ah, good catch Al. Brainfart on my part, looks like some neurons from the days of EGE down that way got involved. EGE was a HRO/Rivendell type retailer down there back in the early-mid 80s.

Last time I was at ESS they were in one of the big mill buildings along the river. I seem to recall a section of roof caved in and caused a mess, but they made it through.

There was also another guy down near HRO, straight at the intersection instead of turning left. The place always looked like a hurricane had just passed through but he had a lot of stuff. Also one in Hudson, much smaller. I remember having to walk past office workers at their desks to get to the surplus room.

Wonder where they all went to?

I liked

http://web.mit.edu/museum/

Used to be a rather nice computer history museum there but it pulled up stakes and moved west.  ( http://www.computerhistory.org/ )

The Science & Tech museum seemed like a kid.s place.  At least it was overrun by youngsters last time I was there.

Eat sea food.  If tired, take a tour.  I did that last year even though I've been to Boston more times than I can count.  I enjoyed the tour nonetheless.

Go hang out at Cheers on Beacon Street. Mention you are a Yankee fan.  ;D

Have some Cream Pie,  kick a Boston Bull dog on a sidewalk... *shrug*  ;)

(just kidding, but not about the pie).

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr,

Avast ... It'd be down to the docks with you Matey an let us know what be tied up down thar...

An yaas could be taken some pictures we hear about what's moored an up into the halyards with
ya an see some real rigging on that camera of yours.

We be Obliged in yer Debt Sir.

1.) pay a lot of money for everything.

2.) go in a diner and notice how small the breakfasts are.
2a.) get dirty looks because you had to order two to make one decent breakfast.

3.) get honked at in traffic by fast talking yankees.

4.) see if you can find some Boston Baked Beans

5.) attend a random wedding and see if there is anything unusual about it.

6.) find out how much air conditioning they don't use up there.

I can say all of these things because I am from there. And I have been back, once. Both times I left as soon as I could.

I just got back from two weeks in the Beverly area, just north of Boston. Lots of good eating up there. The roads are something else. I spent 6 weeks once in Catania Sicily, and the drivers, and roads are very similar to the Boston area. I think both areas laid out the roads for Roman Chariots.

Bring a GPS, and be prepared for it to be wrong at least 30% of the time. Without it you'll be wrong a lot more. I really like highway 128 entrance and exit ramps where you must go from 70-5, or 5-70 in about 30 feet at most. To make it even more fun, those 30' are often part of a dead mans curve. Also there are portions of highway 1 (or is it 1A?) where the turnarounds occur about once every 30 miles. if you miss one, better fill up the gas tank. Going to be a while!

Boston drivers have absolutely no patients for someone who is undecided, or driving a little slow.  :D

Edit: I did enjoy the Red Sox series with the Texas Rangers. Now if only the Rangers could defeat the Yankees..

Jim
WD5JKO

go down to Rhode Island to the Steam & Wireless museum. I lived near there for almost eight years and I regret that I didn't go there. :'( :'( :'(

http://www.newsm.org/ (http://www.newsm.org/)

Gentlemen,
 
Thank you all for the great information and the entertaining banter.  The main reason for going is my wife and I are going to take care of two grandsons.  Our daughter-in-law gets to take a well deserved 8 day trip to Italy to see parents.

Our son works at Harvard Medical.  We get to kick around there also.

Thanks again, Ed

I second the recommendation of the Union Oyster House. I eat there often and it is good, also it is located in the Faneuil Hall area which is loaded with early American architecture and historic places. It is also near the North End (Italian neighborhood) where there are many Italian restaurants that are excellent. Paul Revere's house is in the North End.
I am biased since I was sworn into the Navy onboard the USS Constitution but a visit to this ship, which is the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy, is worth the effort. It is at the old Charlestown Navy Yard just across the bridge from the North End. Everything is so close, even the State House on Beacon hill is close.

Regards
Q, W1QWT

The USS Constitution is a must see (and the price is right). My kids love the place. The USS CASSIN YOUNG is on the other side of the pier. You can peek into her radio room for a quick BA fix. Drop by Mike's Pastries on Hanover St for a world class canolli. Have fun!

You-Do-It Electronics in Needham. Good store.
40 Franklin St. Needham, MA 02494
http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/directions.html

All kinds of general electronics.   
http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/index.html

I have heard that the drivers in Boston are absolute maniacs, more agressive than in most other big cities. Is that urban legend or true?

Lunch at Legal's Seafood

New York City cab drivers would be considered tame as compared to drivers in Boston. But, after a short period of driving in Boston, you will become one of them, or you'll just park the car and take the "T" everywhere you can. I always found it fun to drive in Boston. Lots of interesting traffic rules, strange roads and signs, and mind-boggling traffic lights. If you try to use a GPS in the Boston area, most likely you will get lost. Even flying into Boston, can be a fun experience.

No worse than some other big US cities and mild compared to big cities overseas.

Tnx, Steve.

One of these days the XYL and I are going to visit her sister and husband in Orono, ME. They suggested that we fly to Boston, rent a car and cruise through New England on the way up there. They've been here several times, but it's a 4-day minimum drive for them. They shortcut across Canada. I've never been much east of the Ohio River, so it would be quite the experience. That would require a full two weeks off the job for me, and I would enjoy an eyeball with the Tron once I get there.

They really have lobsters walking around the kitchen floor? I've got T-Bones wandering around in the pasture. LOL

Orono Bill?

Don't miss Gary WZ1M right there, also W1UJR and NE1S.
It would Nancy's and I pleasure to buy dinner, a lobster dinner if you wish.
Just stop by the "Prettiest Village In Maine".

Thank you very much, Bruce. We'll see next year, God willing.

Look forward to it Bill!

Went to Quincy area last August to visit a vendor for work.  Was driving a tad slow for the locals as I was unfamiliar to the area.  Was promptly showed the middle finger and honked at a few times.   ;D  Defintely concur with Pete's assesment above.  Driving in Boston can be a "interesting".  There is always the T.  Years ago some friends and I took the T all over the city and did a brewpub crawl.  Twas a treat. 
 :P

I stayed in the Brookline area overnight a month ago.  I was at the Coolidge Corner area which is Beacon St. and Harvard St.  There are a lot of ethnic restaurants in that area, take your pick.  The area is crawling with co-eds too.

Ed, there are three things you must know about Boston before you arrive:

• Route 128 is not always the same as Interstate 95
• The best view of the city is not from the top of the Hancock tower or the Prudential tower. It's at the Customhouse.
• The girls you see walking on Harrison Ave after dark are not girls!

I hope this helps. If you have time, take the commuter rail to Sharon and I'll treat you to dinner.

73,

Bill, W1AC

 Better for bait. ;D  Go to the new House Of Blues on Lansdown St next to Fenway Park and watch great bands and get loaded.

Since when? ::)

Agree, Old Ironsides is a must visit and also see if any tall masted training ships are in port. A walk thru the Harvard facility is always interesting, from historic and eye candy reasons plus all the weirdos.

Boston is easy driving, I was trained by my uncle, a NYC cabbie. I commuted to downtown for almost 3 years and lived to tell it. Boston is just bad for a short time of the day and for a pretty short distance. Outside of commuting hours I can be downtown in 35-40 minutes from NH. In the greater NYC area its like gridlock a full day in all directions for 30-50 miles ;D ::)

ESS is a strange place and you never know whats going to be there. Thats where I picked up that new 3CW20000A7 for $90. Complete with socket, filament blower and ductwork and filament transformer all mounted on a sub assembly. The tube still had its foam shipping collar. I showed pix on here when I got it. They have a huge variety of wire and cable (Peter will deal on a reel size load as in for radials), shrink tubing, AC plugs (120 and 240V), Variacs, some interesting test equipment (thats where my TEK curve tracer came from). I wander in about weekly as Im usually heading to Manchester for something. Sometimes I just exchange insults with Peter. ;)

Carl