MAP out the semester, explore beyond city limits

Simona Sudit

Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Campus Life

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Media Credit: Photo Courtesy/Morgan First

During Welcome Week madness, it is easy to find plenty to do on campus. With social activities giving out free T-shirts and free food, students are left with few reasons to stray from campus. But once the chaos dies down, how many students will take the time to explore Boston beyond the "E" line?

Few students attempt to venture far from the familiar - be it because of comfort zones or time restrictions. Whatever the case, the second edition of Motion Affair Planner (MAP) Boston was recently released, filled with things to do.

MAP Boston is part weekly planner, part Boston guide for students looking to explore the city outside traditional tourist spots.

"My goal with the planner was really just to help orient people in Boston," said Morgan First, creator of the planner and recent Emerson graduate. "We realized there were so many people that moved to Boston and became really busy in their work or school schedule and never really got a full grasp on the city. MAP is there to help people get a better idea of Boston while going on cool adventures throughout the city."

A key to this year's MAP Boston is that "all the locations are new. So anyone who picked up [a planner] last year can still get this year's version and find all sorts of cool new places," First said.

One of September's recommended locales is The OtherSide Café. Though it's located near Newbury Street, many people seem to miss it.

"Until I got the planner, I must have passed by The OtherSide Café a million times, which is so weird considering it's so close," said sophomore physical therapy major Anna Danilenko. "I won't be passing it by anymore though, they make an awesome brunch and I'm definitely coming back."

Aside from a vegan-friendly menu, the restaurant also offers films on Tuesday nights, live music almost daily and affordable prices.

Though winter is months away, Chinatown's Pho Pasteur is one of December's picks for a bowl of soup to thaw the cold.

"We picked Pho because it's cheap, the portions are huge, and the food is good," said Julia Kaganskiy, MAP Boston staff member and senior at Emerson College. "For anyone that works in and around Chinatown, it's usually a staple. That's another thing that makes a MAP location - being a neighborhood favorite."

While most students seem to know about the Boston Common, few seem to know about the Esplanade, a three-mile stretch of paths and greenery that runs along the Charles River.

Continued...

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