New bus to Boston expands options for students

Sick of the frats and broken up house parties? The new bus to Boston, organized by the TCU Senate, can provide an alternative source of entertainment.

But once you hop off the bus, where do you go? And will the Boston shuttle last? It depends on how much students plan to take advantage of this new opportunity.

The two designated bus stops, at the Boylston and Kenmore T stations, are in key locations for living it up on the weekends. Both stops are located in popular areas of the city, with an abundance of stores and restaurants on every block. But since the bus runs from 9 PM to 3 AM on Friday and Saturday nights, the nightlife in the area is clearly the main attraction.

The Boylston T station is located next to the Boston Common on the corner of Boylston and Tremont Streets. It is a central location, as both the theatre district and Chinatown are within walking distance.

Theatres in the area include the Wang Centre for the Performing Arts and the Charles Playhouse, where Blue Man Group performs. For those looking for something on the lighter side, Nick's Comedy Stop is also within walking distance of the station.

Almost directly across the street from the Boylston stop is the Loews Theatres Boston Common. The Cineplex houses 20 screens and discounted Loews passes can be purchased at the Info Booth in the campus center.

Of course there is no shortage of bars and clubs near the Common. Boylston place, a side street off Boylston commonly referred to as "The Alley," houses a number of bars and clubs including The Big Easy and Bishop's Pub. Also nearby are posh Pravda 116, Roxy, and Aria.

The Kenmore T stop is the second stop on the bus route, and it is located between Fenway Park and Boston University. With this location, it's no surprise that there are many bars and clubs for students and post-game partiers alike.

If the shuttle is still in service come April, baseball fans can use the bus to come home from evening Red Sox games, or they can stay after the game for some post-game revelry.

Many well-known clubs are located along nearby Lansdowne Street, including Axis, Avalon, Embassy, and Karma, which runs alongside Fenway Park.

Bars in the neighborhood include Bill's Bar, Jillian's, and An Tua Nua, an Irish pub and dance club rolled into one. Lava Bar is located on the top floor of the Howard Johnson's.

Many students are excited about this new low-cost alternative for their weekends. Sophomore Katie Semine said she will definitely use the bus for going into Boston. "It'll save people a lot of money because the T is getting expensive and parking is so expensive," she said.

Sophomore Julia Verplank also appreciated the idea of a free ride. "A lot of the time, you walk out of the bars with not a lot of money left in your purse," she said. "I would definitely take it on the way home to save money because the cabs are so expensive."

Verplank had only one complaint. "[The bus] should stop at Faneuil Hall where a lot of people go to bars."

Faneuil Hall is not within close walking distance of either stop, but Verplank does acknowledge that a cab ride to Boylston would be much cheaper than a ride all the way to the Tufts campus.

Many students are already taking advantage of this new opportunity. Sohpomore Alex Kramer took the bus to go into Chinatown last weekend. Although she had a good experience overall, Kramer found the bus to be very full. "The only problem is you really have to plan out your evening," she said. "If you don't, you will have to wait a really long time for the next shuttle to come, which is what happened to us."

Attractions and locations compiled from Time Out Boston