Photo of the Coolidge Corner Theatre by Bill Damon (CC BY 2.0)
Boston is among the oldest and largest cities in the country. As a result, there are endless of things to do for fun. But how do you pick what to check out and what to skip? If you’re interested in checking out some unique, unheard of and off the beaten path attractions in Boston, this list is for you. Here are five underrated things you should check out in Boston.
1. The Moba
Boston is home to a ton of great museums, but most museums share one thing in common. They often take themselves too seriously. This one, however, is the exception. The Moba (Museum of Bad Art) is a Boston institution that celebrates and collects bad art in a number of different forms. The museum has a collection of about 500 pieces and has about 25-35 on display at any time. This museum was founded in 1994 after Scott Wilson showed his friends a painting he found in the trash. He began to start a collection and the rest is history. All the art in the museum must have serious intentions by the artist, but also have some significant flaws. This is a unique concept for a museum and has evolved from one man’s basement to numerous different locations.
2. Coolidge Corner Theatre
This theatre is one of the most successful independent theaters in the United States. The cinema specializes in a number of different types of film like documentaries, international films, independent films, etc.The building it resides in was initially built as a church back in 1906. However, in 1933, it became a theatre and has been open to the public ever since. In 1989, the theatre has also operated as a non-profit foundation. This theatre was the first in Brookline and has a very important role in the development of the community as a whole. If you want to get a taste of history and watch a film at the same time, you must pay this theatre a visit.
3. Boda Borg
Experienced-based entertainment is all the rage now and you can thank Boda Borg for that. The concept of “reality-gaming” was conceptualized in Sweden in the 1990s, and is now getting legs in the USA in recent years. The idea was that in an era of video games and action films, people would flock to an idea that would let them experience this fun actively, not passively. As a result, Boda Borg was born. Boda Borg allows groups to climb, crawl, jump and think their way through a number of different challenges and quests. These will test you both physically and mentally. Each quest features different challenges and there are a number of quests you can take. The cost of this is less than $20 for 2 hours of fun and for $30 per person; you can do these quests and challenges for as long as you want. If you and your friends are looking for something different and exciting to try in Boston, this is definitely for you.
4. The Mapparium
The Mapparium is a three-story globe made of stained glass. Not only that, but you can actually go inside of it and get a 3-D perspective of the world on a 30 foot bridge. The Mapparium is an exhibit at the Mary Baker Eddy Library and has been since it was created in 1935. This exhibit is also home to an original presentation called “A World of Ideas”. This presentation uses lights, sounds, commentary and music to show how different ideas traveled around the world throughout the years, and it is stunning. The architecture of this globe allows for a completely unique acoustic experience as well. In fact, it has been reported that even whispers on one side of the bridge can be heard from the other.
5. Bodega
This is one of the best kept secrets in all of Boston and only those in the know even know it exists. Located in the Back Bay neighborhood, Bodega is a high end shoe and fashion retailer, but that is not what makes it special. From the street, you would never expect this building to house one of the best shoe retailers in the city. This is because Bodega is actually situated behind a secret door in a dingy old convenience store. That’s right, when you walk into this regular old convenience store, walk to the Snapple machine, trigger a tile on the floor, the machine will slide away to reveal a sleek and wooded store. Even if you aren’t that into sneakers and street wear, there are few experiences like walking through a secret door in a convenience store into a high end boutique.
