As a shiny new Tufts student with just a day on The Hill under your belt, your overachieving tendencies may already have you looking towards Boston, an important step in avoiding Medforditis, a serious, but treatable condition caused by a seemingly long walk to Davis Square and too many department open houses.
But never fear: There's no better cure for this dreaded illness than a quick trip down the Red Line. To make your first foray into the big city what it should be, consider this your guide to the perfect, art-smart first Saturday.
No day begins without breakfast; to kick off your day of exploration, a hearty bakery will provide goodies to satisfy. Take the 87 bus to Petsi's Pies, a little tucked-away bakery near Porter Square.
Picture soft, buttery crusts filled with mountains of fruit. Yeah, it's pretty damn good. In addition to the pies, Petsi's has an ample selection of scones and muffins, not to mention mouth-watering quiches and tarts. One warning: it's impossible to buy just one pie after seeing how delicious they look.
Now stuffed with pie, venture into nearby Harvard Square. Harvard has a great array of museums often overshadowed by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum.
The Museum of Natural History is unique, featuring an internationally acclaimed collection of glass flowers whose delicate beauty are sure to impress. Their collections and the geological exhibit are both extensive and unusual, creating a nice alternative to the typical art museum.
Meander over to Harvard's Fogg Museum, which has Boston's best collection of Picassos. The current exhibition, "Under Cover: Artists' Sketchbooks," offers a glimpse into the often abstruse artistic mind.
If standing before a finished work of art inspires awe for the artist, standing before these quick sketches inspires respect for the artistic process. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the day's activity and art, the Fogg's Italian Renaissance-style courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy a cappuccino and rest.
Or, go on to a late lunch. Check out Caf?© Polonia, a delightful, Polish hole-in-the-wall in the South End. Their borscht is, frankly, sublime. Skip the entr?©e and order a variety of appetizers; it allows a little taste of everything, which is what today is all about.
The pierogie are light and fluffy, but sometimes their potato pancakes are a bit greasy. Beware of the bread bowl: That's not butter that it comes with - it's pork fat. A long list of traditional Polish beers compliments the menu, but with their higher-than-average alcohol content and plus-sized bottles, be sure to pace yourself, all you 21-year-old freshmen.
After that feast, get your exercise with a stroll down Newbury Street. Even though fall approaches, Boston stays haute with these eight blocks of pure, high-class consumerism. Between the expensive shops, art galleries and quirky boutiques, there is plenty of window shopping to keep broke college students busy.
While you're there, take note of Scoozi, a trendy bistro with an equally trendy clientele and wait staff. Despite that ambiance, the food is cheap and good, especially in comparison with the other choices on Newbury. Ask for a seat on the outdoor patio and don't miss out on their thin-crust pizzas or creative salads.
Boston's theater scene offers an array of shows each weekend. There's nothing more fitting for the uninitiated, would-be Bostonian and theater aficionado than "1776," at the Lyric Stage Theater on Clarendon Street. This Tony-award winning musical chronicling the birth of the nation runs through October 14, and student rush tickets are only $10 and available half an hour before the show. The Lyric's productions can be hit-or-miss, but they admirably take a lot of risks.
So you've made it through the day. Make this a habit, and - despite un-air conditioned dorms and eventual blizzards - you'll always remember why you chose to go to school in Boston.
