Get to Know Your College City

Leaving home and going away to college for the first time can be scary for anyone, and even scarier if you're moving to a big city you don't know all that well. But don't worry, Boston frosh, you are nowhere near alone. With 50 colleges in 50 square miles, Boston has the highest student population in the world.
AJ Moran, a student in his Master's year at Wentworth Institute of Technology, has embraced Boston and has some advice to help you do the same. “The best thing really is to just explore and learn the city,” he said.
Here are some of the best ways to get started:
Have Fun With Your Roomies at Collegefest Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 Collegefest will be celebrating its 25th year at the Hynes Convention Center located at 900 Boylston St. For just $10 (cash and all major credit cards accepted), you can hear great live entertainment and snag armloads of freebies from over 100 sponsors. Chiddy Bang, a hip hop due from hiladelphia will be headlining, along with Asher Roth, the suburban rapper best known for loving college.
“It's a great event to go to with your new roommates or dorm buddies,” Moran said.
For more information, including a full lineup of performers and directions to the convention center, visit www. collegefest.com
See the Green Monster in Person Whether you're a die hard Red Sox fan, a New Yorker whose blood boils just thinking about the Sox, or you're indifferent to baseball altogether, you can't be a true Boston resident without seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway Park. The ballpark, first opened in 1912, is the oldest in the country and the oldest venue used by a pro team in the country period.
“The atmosphere surrounding every game— they'll always fill the seats—is friendly and fun,” Moran said. “Plus, there are a ton of great bars, restaurants and shopping destinations right in the area.”
Embrace the Tourist Within Taking a guided tour is a stressfree way to see any new city. You'll have plenty of time to do everything Lonely Planet and Frommer's told you to in your four years here, so put on that visor, strap a fanny pack around your waist, and be a tourist for the day.
“Doing it on your own is fun, but organized tours lend a bit more information that isn't always found in the text books,” Moran said.
The famous and popular Boston Duck Tours show you the sights by land and by water. Old Town Trolley Tours allow you to hop on and off all day, so you can get around easily while hearing interesting tidbits along the way.
Lounge in Boston Common New York City's Central Park gets all the notoriety, but did you know your city has its own central park? Boston Common, often referred to just as “the Common” has a swimming pool, fountains, swan boats, and a variety of vendors, not to mention a rich history. The almost 50-acre park is where British troops camped prior to the American Revolution. Until 1817, public hangings took place there, and until 1830, cattle grazed the park. Bring a book and enjoy the mild fall weather while it's still here. Shop and Eat Like the Crimsons Harvard Square in Cambridge is only a short trip on the T to unforgettable bars, restaurants and shops in the center of the town the Harvard University Crimsons call home.
“It's a beautiful center of commerce in the heart of arguably the world's best university,” Moran said.
He recommends John Harvard's Brew House, Mr. Bartley's Gourmet Burgers, Tommy Doyle's Irish Pub, Pinocchio's Pizza and Lizzie's Ice Cream.
There is a plethora of places and things to explore in Boston and these are just the very beginnings. Take advantage of your new freedom and new surroundings, your sure to fit right in. Welcome to Boston and remember to keep reading Dirty Water News!! DWN