By Patti Cassidy
Boston has traditionally been a city of strong minded women. Especially after the Civil War, women carved out their own niche and took over the town, especially artistically. So for a woman on her own today, this beautiful, historic small city can be not only welcoming, but a real sanctuary to try out her wings!
The town is full of quiet hidden places to go in EXile. From the Public Garden to the Arboretum, green spaces call out to soothe and comfort you. For a real day out, EXile yourself to walk the upper Emerald Necklace. This long healing walk begins in the Public Garden at Charles and Beacon Sts., continues down the Commonwealth Avenue Mall with its historic sculptures (including the Boston Women's Memorial), then through the Fens with its riverside pathway, and past the Museum of Fine Arts. End up at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum,(280 The Fenway, (617 566-1401)). Built by a legendary woman art collector around the turn of the 20th century, the museum is a 15th century Venetian-style palace with a most hauntingly beautiful three-storey courtyard. Wandering through it is like exploring a (very wealthy) grandmother's attic! The tea room serves delicious dainties to end the day's adventures. (The MBTA green line subway is only a few blocks away if you're too tired to walk back.)
With its huge numbers of Museums and over 50 colleges in the city, Boston has plenty of opportunities to EXpress yourself. But an amazing resource is the little known Kaji Aso Studio(40 St. Stephen St.,(617) 247-1719). On a side street near Symphony Hall, this home of Japanese art and philosophy sponsors a variety of classes from calligraphy to Japanese Interior Design, hosts a weekly philosophy discussion group as well as frequent exhibits, tea ceremonies, haiku readings and workshops. They facilitate the collaboration of professionals and beginning students in various fields.
The meandering Charles River separates Boston from Cambridge and is a great place to EXhale. For only $190 a year, members of the city's Community Boating, Inc. have unlimited use of boats, kayaks, windsurfing equipment as well as instructions for sailing and boating! There's even a special $80 rate for a one month learn to sail program. The Club organizes a number of events that are great fun and rewarding to join, like informal races and group trips on the river. Check out their website at http://www.community-boating.org.
If it's time to break out and be with other people just to hoot and holler and have a good time Boston-style, catch a Duck Boat tour and EXplore the city. Even if you live there, it's fun to be with the various tour guides who make each foot of this amphibious tour an adventure. (Catch the tours at either the Prudential Center or the Museum of Science(617) 267-DUCK)
