Usually around this time of the semester, recreational activities start to fall into a routine: Wii and hookah for a couple hours after class, paninis and cereal at Dewick for dinner, maybe a jug of Carlo Rossi and a free movie in Barnum, perhaps pitchers at Powderhouse Pub if it's Tuesday - followed by wandering campus hopeless in search of what Tufts standards define as a "party."
This cycle of blissful, indolent glory is what I will look back upon with tearful fondness as my Tufts experience. But even this perfected Tufts system of chilling needs some digression from time to time. Abandoning the security of the Tufts routine doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the tenets of college recreation (free and free).
Now that it's getting warmer, you can enjoy the full cultural experience that is Boston - the birthplace of America. Although it might seem (and maybe it is) really lame, you shouldn't leave Tufts without immersing yourself in the local heritage. A trip to Plymouth Rock might be a little far, but a leisurely walk on the Freedom Trail is in order. Plus, because it's Boston and much of the city has been shaped by its Irish heritage, you could easily spice this tour up by making it a pub crawl.
Although I haven't been there since I was a kid, in a picture taken circa 1995 on the deck of the U.S.S. Constitution I am giving a big thumbs-up. The U.S.S. Constitution is billed as the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world and gives tours every 30 minutes at Pier One in Boston Harbor starting April 1.
My other favorite site for a free history lesson is the Boston Public Library. The actual collection is housed in the library's modernist addition, the Johnson Building, but the original library is great place in which to get lost before finding your way to the ominous Bates Hall to settle down with some good historical fiction.
If a historical tour of Boston is a bit too dry for you, you can "quench your thirst" by visiting one of Sam Adams' or Harpoon Brewery's tasting tours. For only a small charitable donation, the folks at Sam Adams will show you around the brewery, explaining the entire process from hop to pint. The Harpoon Brewery is a bit smaller, and you don't get as detailed a tour of the beer production process, but some might argue they serve up better brew.
If your freeloading style is a bit more refined, you should head to the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art on Thursday nights. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., admission to the museum is free. The museum's permanent collection is small yet diverse, but the special exhibits are worth planning your trip around. Last year, I went more than once to the contemporary American design collection, "Design Life Now." This spring's exhibit of street artist Shepard Fairey looks just as revisit-worthy.
Free after-dark entertainment can get a little bit tricky. In order to see all of Boston's nightlife, you should start thinking more literally. Head to Boston University's Coit Observatory on Wednesday night for a free hour-long presentation on stargazing in the New England sky. You could also bring binoculars and scope out people in the neighboring brownstones - or just relax and enjoy the Boston skyline.
Even on a post-spring break budget, Jumbos can enjoy some of Boston's finer cultural offerings. But if you still prefer to stick to watching "American Idol" and "Rock of Love" as you play basement Beirut, I certainly won't judge.
Robin Alberts-Marigza is a senior majoring in psychology. She can be reached at Robin.Alberts_Marigza@tufts.edu.
