Fun Non-Tourist Activities to do in Boston this March

Planning your Boston itinerary during a pandemic may seem daunting, so we rounded up 5 activities that can be done in the comfort of your own apartment or at a safe social distance. There is nothing touristy about these activities and local Bostonians should be privy to them as well!

1. Mei Mei Virtual Dumpling Making Class

Learn how to hand make dumplings from the restaurant voted best dumplings by Boston Magazine twice. Mei Mei is a family owned restaurant that offers locally sourced and farm focused Chinese-American cuisine with creative twists. The class is an hour and a half and features live instructor-led demonstrations on how to roll wrappers and five different ways to fold dumplings. Participants have the option to purchase the required ingredients in advance themselves or order Mei Mei’s dumpling making kit. Since Mei Mei provides the ingredient list online, participants don't just need to live in Boston! The bulk of the ingredients are for the dumpling fillings, many of which you probably already have at home or can grab right nearby at Foodies Market. Our fully furnished apartments have the pan skillet that you will need to cook the dumplings. If you are visiting South End residents, this could be a really fun evening activity and your South Enders will be impressed that you found it. If you love this class, Mei Mei offers several other ones that you can take even after you leave Boston. The classes sell out fast so be sure to book in advance.

March 28th, Sun 10:30 - 12:00pm

Price: $33 (not inclusive of kit)

2. Two Day Texas Brisket Class at The Smoke Shop

Step up your barbecue game this summer by learning how to make brisket by Pitmaster Andy Husbands. The class is in person and you’ll be able to learn, eat, and drink. What could be better? No steps will be skipped here and since brisket takes time to cook, the class spans two days. The Smoke Shop’s itinerary below:

Day 1: Friday, March 19th 6:30-9:00pm

• Learn straight from Pitmaster and BBQ champion Andy Husbands how to butcher, trim, and inject your own brisket.

• Learn how to make a number of different style BBQ rubs and create your own signature BBQ rub to test on your brisket.

• Watch a cocktail demo and create your own bourbon-inspired cocktail.

• Feast on a fried chicken dinner.

Day 2: Saturday, March 20th 12:00-2:00pm

• Start the day with a blind taste test of each attendee’s brisket and vote for your favorite.

• Next, we’ll take you through how to slice your brisket like a professional.

• The day ends with lunch where all guests will enjoy their own brisket with all the fixin’s from the Smoke Shop kitchen.

• Plus, you’ll take the rest of your brisket (and some war stories from the Pit) home!

Your ticket includes a whole brisket, cocktail demo, and fried chicken dinner as well as tax and gratuity.

Price: $250

3. Third Piece Learn to Knit: Beginner Level

Third Piece is a knitwear company that not only designs one-of-a-kind knitwear but is also devoted to teaching the craft of knitting. They used to have a location in the South End neighborhood but now their offerings are solely online. Every month they offer a variety of online classes for all different skill levels at different timeframes. Start with the Learn to Knit: Beginner Level class and learn to make a headband or mug cozy. Participants have the option to purchase materials with the class including a yarn color of your choice and needles so no need to pack in your suitcase. This is a great activity for the winter months of Boston and you will gain a sovereign and a new hobby.

4. Explore Bow Market in Somerville

We recently discovered Bow Market and it is our new favorite place. If you are staying at The Upton for an extended stay, Bow Market is a great easy activity to add to your Boston itinerary. Since there is so much to see within walking distance of our apartments, we recommend doing that first and saving Bow Market until after you have experienced the South End. Bow Market is located in Somerville, a lovely area known for creative businesses, delicious foods, and a plentiful Farmer’s Market in the summer. Bow Market is a collection of local small businesses and restaurants all located in one market that used to be a vacant storage building. There are over 30+ small businesses that exude personality and are anything but typical. The businesses range from home goods, to antiques, to natural wines, to Japanese ceramics. There are two levels of stores and so much to discover! One of the stores that we visited was Crane & Turtle and fell in love with their confetti colored cups and ceramic plate ware. Bow Market’s outdoor dining is one of the best we have seen in Boston and offers fire pits. Tip: The fire pits can be reserved online in advance. The atmosphere is buzzing and you are sure to leave with one of a kind pieces. Bow Market is a quick 20 minute drive from The Upton and open Monday through Sunday. Bow Market is most happening on the weekend and you can anticipate very little crowds during week days. Even on the weekends, there is still plenty of space to safely shop.

5. Eataly Boston Virtual Classes

Eataly is an Italian market place comprised of restaurants, groceries, and wine offerings. Eataly’s Boston location is on Newbury Street, a quick twenty minute walk from The Upton. They are offering a variety of virtual classes this month, including cheese and wine pairings, pizza making, and their first ever Terra style dinner for two. Participants are delivered a kit of ingredients prior to class with everything required. For the cheese and wine class, this means four different cheeses curated by Eataly Boston’s head cheese monger, and two bottles of Italian wines selected by their sommelier. They also offer different classes based on your wine taste preferences, and even have one class for natural wines. Eataly is also open for in-person shopping and is a great place to explore while filing up your kitchen with specialty goods.

Multiple dates and rates ranging from $55 to $110