This post originated from an RSS feed registered with .NET Buzz by Brendan Tompkins. Original Post: My Locals Guide to Boston's TechEd Week 2006 Feed Title: Brendan Tompkins Feed URL: /error.htm?aspxerrorpath=/blogs/brendan.tompkins/Rss.aspx Feed Description: Blog First. Ask Questions Later. Latest .NET Buzz Posts Latest .NET Buzz Posts by Brendan Tompkins Latest Posts From Brendan Tompkins

You could fill your entire week at the conference, going to the scheduled MSFT events and parties, eating lots of chips, stuffing your backpack with free Schwag, and riding escalators around the conference.  There’s never a shortage of things to do at TechEd.  Personally, I can only stand so much pre-arranged fun so I usually take conferences as an opportunity to explore the city it’s hosted in.  If you’re like me, you will want to venture out on your own and experience the underbelly of Boston during your TechEd week. 

Well, I spent a good number of my formative years freezing my ass off in Boston and I spent much of my time there going to shows and seeking out the best food in the area.  I’ve come up with a very short list of the best Boston has to offer that week. – So if you get sick of banquet food and aren’t into this year’s party band, here’s a handful of things to eat and do in this great city – my local’s guide to Boston’s underbelly for the week of June 11th.

Food

Rami’s

Rami makes perhaps the best Falafel I’ve ever tasted.  The Schwarma is incredible too.  Can’t go wrong if you’re into middle-eastern food.  Take the green “C” line to Coolidge Corner, and walk two blocks up Harvard st.

Boca Grande

I literally ate lunch here every day for a year.  Best tacos around, and they also have a great “Al Pastor” taco that will make you feel like you’re in Ensenada.

Matt Murphy’s

Forget all that Irish Crap in downtown Boston, and definitely skip the fake “Cheers” bar near the Commons.  If a beer drinker you are, head straight to Matt Murphy’s in Brookline and order a Murphy’s (pronounced MAIR-FEES).  Their food is great too, and you may catch a traditional Irish Sessiun band in the corner. 

Mary Chung

Probably the only restaurant menu hosted at MIT, and that should tell you something.   Heck Dave Winer even has pictures on Scripting News of the food!  This place should be required eating for any software professional visiting Boston.  Packed with hackers from MIT, this is undoubtedly the best Chinese food in the area and probably the entire east coast, NYC’s Chinatown included.  You’d be crazy not to eat there at least once during your trip.  Order the Dun Dun Noodles, and the Pan Fried Peking Ravioli.

Music

Arctic Monkeys / We Are Scientists â€“ This could be the best show of the year, and it’s happening the week of TechEd!   Thursday, June 15th. Get your tickets before they sell out. 

If you can’t go see them, the Eels may do nicely too, they’re playing the same night at the Somerville (Pronounced SUM-AH-VUL-DUDE) theatre.

Have Fun!

-Brendan