Seeing Seaport

by Jazzy Gray

photo by Carina Lee

If you’re looking to take a break from studying this finals season, you need not look further than Boston’s Seaport neighborhood.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, better known as the ICA, may be Seaport’s most renowned attraction. And with good reason! Just a short walk from the Red Line, the ICA harbors some of Boston’s most controversial, progressive, and intimate pieces of art. It’s also known for its art exhibitions that extend across all mediums.

Its current ticketed exhibit, “Love is Calling” by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, uses fantastical artwork to address mental illness. The exhibit is sold out now through the end of the year, but you can reserve your tickets for future visits.

The ICA also offers a variety of other exhibits, all of which are free with a valid BU ID. And if you’re looking for something to do with visiting family, friends, or acquaintances without a BU ID, the ICA also offers “Free Thursday Nights” — a time where admission to all exhibits is free for all attendees.

Seaport’s museum offerings are vast. In Seaport, a visitor can also view the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, or the Boston Children’s Museum.

Seaport is also the perfect place to finish all of your holiday shopping. Many know of Seaport’s recent collaboration with Glossier, however few know of the shops that replaced it. Glossier may be gone, but a new coat of paint brings multiple new pop-ups to The Current, home to a rotation of pop-ups.

The Current rotation includes popular pop-ups Sh*t That I Knit, Beauty Counter, and Booty by Brabants. Pop-in to the new stores before they’re gone and support small businesses while stocking up on those stocking stuffers.

After you’re done shopping, tour the foods only available in Seaport. In April 2019, Boston welcomed the “home of the legendary fish shaped cone.” Yes, the internationally recognized Taiyaki ice cream is now available in Seaport. Student Mia Diep (CAS ‘23) suggested trying out the matcha, eating some soufflé pancakes, and taking great Instagram photos! Seaport boasts a diverse selection of dining options. You can fine dine at Menton, eat the “best” burritos in Boston at El Pelon Taqueria, or try an almond croissant at Flour Bakery and Cafe. The choices are limitless.

And if you’re still looking for something to do, here’s a calendar for all events happening in Seaport this month.

Seaport has become a hub for modernization, a relatively new look for the district. Only a few short years ago, Seaport was little more than a parking space for the commuters to the Financial district. But new skyscrapers, hotels, and high-end shopping centers, have revamped the neighborhood’s former spirit.

The neighborhood is now an ever-evolving zeitgeist, capturing the essence of the modern times and spirit of the community within. Because, as Diep said, “Seaport is just a fun, quirky, modern part of Boston.” This finals season take the T to downtown crossing and start exploring, photographing, and eating.