By Steven Craft, Amanda Flicop, Steven Johnson and Tim Carr

Tour leaves from Stop #1

Sample Introduction
(All of this should be mentioned, but can be reworded to fit your particular personality)

Play “Preshow” track, Track #1 30 minutes prior to tour launch

Welcome to Boston and welcome onboard Old Town Trolley’s Summer Nights Tour! My name is ________ and I’ll be your driver and guide for the next 90 minutes. Above all, I invite you to take the next hour and a half to just let yourself relax! Because that is what this tour is about. After a busy day of travel and exploration, you get to sit back, breathe, and take in the sights and sounds of our beautiful city as the sun goes down.
           
Which actually brings us to our first sight of the tour: the sunset! The sunset is one of nature’s most profound beauties. Witnessing it can fill you to the brim with a sense of calm and serenity. Countless poets and authors have written about the sunset’s beauty and used it for its symbolism. Boston’s own Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote “every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn” and influential French composer, Claude Debussy, wrote “There is nothing more musical than a sunset.”
           
We'll be leaving in just a few minutes. Along the way, I’ll show you some of the bigger attractions, historical sites, picturesque views, and local nightlife our fine city has to offer. Finally, in the ongoing effort to help you relax, I am going to occasionally… Stop talking! I’ll play some music and let you be. Amazing I know! Who knew a tour guide was capable of such a thing? Before we head out, there are just a few safety announcements…

At this point, the following stories will be told from stop #1 through the Sunset Transition as you pass into Cambridge. These stories should have gaps in between them to allow for relaxation and taking in the city. Do not just talk the whole time.

Section #1 Stories are as follows (Please see the daytime tour script if you're unfamiliar with the details)

 

Stop #1 through Cambridge
Leave Stop #1 towards Stop #2
Play Track #2 – Narrate over track

Christopher Columbus Park

• As we begin, we’re passing by Christopher Columbus Park, established in 1976.
• The picturesque & romantic vine covered trellis and archways here are probably why it’s been voted one of the top 10 most kissable places in Boston.

The North End

• We are now driving into the North End, Boston’s oldest residential neighborhood.
• It was 90% Italian by the early 20th century. Today it remains 30% Italian and it still has 100% Italian feel with feasts & festivals every weekend during the good weather months and hundreds of great Italian restaurants, cafes, bistros, bakeries and pastry shops year round
•  Do yourselves a favor and get a meal in the North End during your stay…at the very least a cup of coffee and a cannoli! (North End cannolis can’t be beat)

Paul Revere/PR House

In right lane of Commercial St. put on your hazards and slow to allow guests to see Old North

• Here we can see the Old North Church.
• This is where North End resident, Paul Revere, asked his friend, Robert Newman, to hang the two lanterns in its steeple. These lanterns alerted the Charlestown Militia that the British Regulars were on the move. Of course the two lanterns meant they would be on the move by sea. After all, one if by land, two if by sea.
• Now, the British military were many things, but dumb was not one of them. They decided to take the sea route because even back then, Boston traffic was BRUTAL!

 

After Old North, get into the left lane.

USS Constitution/BHM

• The USS Constitution is the oldest continuously commissioned warship in the world.
• She is undefeated in battle, earning her the nickname “Old Ironsides”
• I call her the Tom Brady (or the G.O.A.T.) of warships.

Bunker Hill Monument

• There you can see the Bunker Hill Monument. It is 221’ high with 294 steps to the top.
• It stands proud, marking the spot of the 1st battle of the revolution.
• The monument was completed in 1842, more than 40 years before its look-a-like, the Washington Monument!

The Freedom Trail (on your left)

• We are now rolling past the Freedom Trail.
• This 2.5 mile walking trail through 16 historic sites starts at Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument.

Brinks Job or Molasses Flood? 

• IF traffic is quite bad, and you have already had a significant stretch of no narration. (For super bad RLT/garden event)

Continue straight through intersection to Causeway

LPZBHBridge/TD Garden

•  The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge is the widest cable stay bridge in the world. It is as wide as 10 lanes across at one point!
• At the dedication in Fall of 2002, Bruce Springsteen played Thunder Road.
• When it originally opened (before the Sox went on to win 3 World Series), many hardcore and still bitter Red Sox fans called it the Bill Buckner Bridge, because the traffic goes right through it’s legs.
• The “new” Garden opened in 1995 just 9” away from the original Boston Garden.
• It is home to both the Bruins and the Celtics.
• *Current events at the Garden this week*
• [Starting up around Bobby Orr statue] This is a great area to visit regardless of the events at the Garden. If you’re looking for a classic Boston sports bar, try Sullivan’s Tap right here on Canal Street. Up on the left a little ways, a Causeway institution for over 30 years, is the Harp. They have live music every Friday and Saturday (and great food and atmosphere all 7 days a week). Or, if you’re looking for more of a trendy, dance spot, try the Greatest Bar on Friend Street. They’ll cover your sports needs on the 1st floor but have 3 more floors of DJ’s, dancing, VIP lounges, etc.

 

Left onto Staniford St.

Staniford St [Passing Hurley Bldg]

• We’re now in the West End of Boston. The West End is one of a handful of neighborhoods that make up Boston Proper (W End, N End, Beacon Hill, Back Bay and Downtown).
• Many people ask what the population of Boston is, and for Boston Proper, it’s about 700K (685K to be more precise). But Metro Boston is much bigger with a population of close to 8.5 million!

IF Washington St. Bridge/TD Garden event traffic dictates, instead of continuing over to Causeway, code white:

LEFT onto North Washington St.
RIGHT onto New Chardon St,
RIGHT onto Cambridge St.

Code White

TD Garden:

• The “new” Garden opened in 1995 just 9” away from the original Boston Garden.
• It is home to both the Bruins and the Celtics.
• *Current events at the Garden this week*

City Winery:

• Local Music and Social venue
• “Performing this week”

Edward Brooke’s Courthouse:

• Brooke was 1st African American Attorney General of ANT State
• Won State Senate seat in 1966
• Co-Wrote Civil Rights Act of 1968

Right onto Cambridge St.

 

 

Cambridge Street

• We’re now driving down Cambridge Street and on our left the entire way is the Beacon Hill neighborhood. It’s a very old, old money neighborhood here. This is where the crème de la crème lived, and still do, as it’s still a very pricey part of town.
• For a real treat, go find Acorn Street in Beacon Hill (closer to the Boston Common side). It’s like stepping out of a time machine into 1860’s, Victorian era Boston with the gaslit street lamps, cobblestone street and brownstone houses. They call it the most photographed street in Boston, and indeed it is the front of many Boston postcards.

Mass General Hospital

• On our right is Mass General Hospital, a world-renowned health care facility. Interestingly enough, MGH is the largest employer in the state, 70,000 people work for them as healthcare is the number 1 industry in Massachusetts. Education is number 2… and winning championships is #3!

If Needed (Due to Traffic)
The Liberty Hotel

• On our right is the Liberty Hotel. Notice the windows here on the left side and how they have bars on them. That’s because the Liberty Hotel was once...the Charles Street Jail! Just a wee bit of irony there, huh? Naming the former prison, The Liberty?
• For even more irony, try dinner at the Clink and drinks at the Alibi

Prep the bridges BEFORE you begin to cross them.  Refrain from talking while crossing the bridges.  It’s about the views, “silence is golden”.

 

Longfellow Bridge

• Time to get the cameras or cell phones ready as we’re now approaching the Longfellow Bridge which will take us into Cambridge. You’re in for a real treat as the scenery on both sides of the trolley will be fantastic.
• The bridge was of course named after the famous poet. (He got extremely tired of swimming back and forth between Cambridge and Boston so the city built a bridge for him)
• Alright, I think it’s definitely time for our first song of the evening. Let me play this while you sit back and take in the scenery going over the bridge, enjoy!

Play Track #3 - No Narration

Continue over the Longfellow Bridge
Continue on Main St.
Continue onto Broadway

Cambridge
Once completely over the bridge – play Track #4 - Narrate over track

• Welcome to Cambridge! Cambridge was founded in 1630 right along with Boston and Charlestown. However, it was originally called New Towne and was in fact named the capital. Neither lasted all that long, however, and by 1634 it was named Cambridge and Boston became the capital city.
• Today, Cambridge is a progressive, culturally diverse city sometimes referred to as “the city of squares.”  The squares in question are different, unique neighborhoods that are definitely worth exploring. Of course, some are a bit more prominent than others. For instance, I'm sure many of you have heard of Harvard Sq. But there's also Central Sq, Davis Sq, or where we are now here in Kendall Sq. Each offers all sorts of great, eclectic live music, theater, and dining options. If it is something you're interested in doing, please feel free to hit me up after the tour and I can at least point you in the right direction and/or offer some advice on specific places you might want to check out.

 

Left onto Galileo Galilei Way
Crossover Main St.
Continue onto Vassar St.

MIT

• We’re now entering the MIT campus as we turn up Vassar Street and there’s some very cool buildings to look at here, especially on the left.
• MIT was founded back in 1860 but enrollment didn’t begin until 1865 due to the Civil War. Originally, it was located back on the other side of the bridge in Boston, over in the Back Bay neighborhood, near Copley Sq.
• Most academic depts are ranked among the top 5 in country 
• The full list of patents, inventions, awards, accomplishments and companies started by MIT students, alumni, and professors would take a whole tour in and of itself. But, to name a few you might’ve heard of: GPS and the internet. Not just the internet, mind you, but Email as well! Of course, my 2 favorites coming from the minds of MIT? The disposable razor and condensed soup! You laugh but, where would your casserole recipe be without it?
• There’s a student organization here called, The Hacks, who have been notorious over the years for pulling off some legendary pranks on campus, in the city, and around the country even. Perhaps their best-known stunt was taking an MIT police car apart and re-assembling it on top of the famous MIT dome which we are about to pass here on our left.

Left onto Mass Ave.

Prep the bridges BEFORE you begin to cross them.  Refrain from talking while crossing the bridges.  It’s about the views, “silence is golden”.

Mass Ave Bridge

• And it looks like it’s about music time again, as we head towards the Harvard or Mass Ave bridge. Get those cameras and phones ready to take in the Boston skyline! Some things to look for: on the left you will get the 3 tallest buildings in Boston, The John Hancock Tower, the Prudential Building, and the Four Seasons. On the right? Well, the historic landmark CITGO sign that sits right across from and is synonymous with Fenway Park.

SONG BREAK Track #5 – No Narration

 

Sunset Transition
After you cross the Mass Ave. Bridge completely.

Play Track #6 – Narrate over track

Well, here we are back in Boston and heading towards night time.  As we all know, once the sun goes down it is time for great music, comedy, theater, and entertainment! And a large part of this leg of the tour will be spent driving through areas of the city where you can find just that. We will see Boylston Street with its great restaurants, the theater district with all of its wonderful and historic venues, and lastly, the Seaport district, designed with a great mix of it all! And as for live music…

 

 

 

Berklee

• Some of the live music you’ll be listening to tomorrow is right here right now. If you are wondering how or why, it is because we are now passing the Berklee College of Music.
• The school was founded by Lawrence Berk in 1945. The Alumni here are quite impressive and, collectively, have produced 8 Tony's, more than 25 Emmy's, and over 300 Grammy's!

Left onto Boylston St.

Boylston Street

• And here we are on Boylston St. The Prudential tower (3rd tallest) is on our right which leads into the Prudential Center with over 70 shops and restaurants. You can pretty much buy anything in there up to and including a new Tesla! Yeah, there’s a dealership right in the mall here. Hope your credit cards are ready!
• Get ready to raise your arms in the air! Cuz we’re about to cross the finish line for the Boston Marathon! It’s painted here year-round for the oldest marathon in the world. Not the oldest footrace, however, that belongs to a Turkey Trot up in Buffalo.

Copley Square

• So, we’re coming into Copley Sq, and we have some beautiful buildings to look at here. On the left is the New Old South Church and, on our right, is the Boston Public Library, the oldest, free-lending library in the country. On the Front-right of the trolley is the Trinity church, routinely voted one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Not just churches, but buildings. To the right of that we have the tallest building in Boston, the John Hancock Tower and to the right of that, the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. Now, I know that quick, but don’t worry, we’re going to take a nice slow lap around Copley Sq. Here you can take all these in and view them from different angles. In fact, I think this would be another great time for a song.....

Play Track #7 for the duration of looping around Copley Sq. – No Narration

Right onto Clarendon
Right onto St. James
Right ono Boylston St.

 

Play Track #8 – Narrate over track

Back Bay of Boston

• Alright, so, we are in the Back Bay of Boston, named the Back Bay because it was once, in fact, a bay. And is considered one of the finest preserved examples of 19th century urban design in the U.S. If you like architecture, this is a wonderful place to come and spend some time, as we just saw with those lovely examples in Copley Sq. And for another example, the Arlington Street Church here on our left. Look at the gorgeous stained-glass windows here. They were designed by none other than Louis Tiffany. Yup, that Tiffany of Tiffany & Co fame.

Stay in the middle lane of Boylston St.

Public Garden

• As we go through the light here (Arlington and Boylston) on the left is Boston Public Garden. Please do yourselves a favor and come back down for a stroll through the garden during your stay. It is absolutely beautiful here! This is where you could take our famous swan boat rides that people have been enjoying since 1877.
• With the plants, flowers, trees and foot bridges, it’s no wonder on weekends, you might run into no small number of wedding parties getting their pictures done here.
• There’s also a bench in there that was the site of a famous conversation between Robin Williams and Matt Damon. Anyone know the movie? (Good Will Hunting)

Continue on Boylston St over Charles St.

Boston Common

• Staying on the left, across the street from the Public Garden is the Boston Common, the oldest public park in the country. It was established in 1634 by the Puritans who settled Boston. This part of the common we’re passing on the left is called the Central Burying Ground. Buried here are many soldiers, both British and American, from the Battle of Bunker Hill. There are also a few notable individuals buried her, like Gilbert Stuart, an artist famous for a portrait we all carry everywhere… George Washington on the $1 bill! 
• The Common is also the site of the first subway system in North America and the 5th oldest subway in the world.

Right onto Tremont St.

Emerson College

• On our right, we have the main campus buildings for Emerson College and this is really the beginning of our Theater District, which we’ll get a great look at as I take the right at this light. We’ll pass by and see just a few of the great theater options available to you while you’re in town.
• Some of the options available to you this week are...

Right onto Stuart St.
Right onto Charles St. South
Crossover Boylston St.

Beacon Hill (Part 2)

• (Halfway between Common/Garden) Ok, so we have the Common on our right and Public Garden on our left, very pretty. As I approach this light up here, you might be interested in checking out Cheers during your stay. Located just a half a block down to the left. And Charles Street is straight ahead, AKA Antique Row. It earned this nickname from all the antique stores that line the very quaint, Victorian-era street.

Right onto Beacon St

• As I turn up Beacon Street here, the Beacon Hill neighborhood will be on our left. Like I mentioned earlier, this neighborhood has historically been one of the most expensive in Boston.
• It has also been home to many literary giants back in the day. Emerson, Dickens, Thoreau, Longfellow, Whitman, and Louisa May Alcott all called Beacon Hill home at one point.
• Coming up on the left, we can see the 24k gold-leaf dome of the New State House. Remember though, this is Boston so by new, I mean, 1797. Sam Adams and Paul Revere laid the cornerstone down for the New State House that was built in true, Boston fashion, 5 times over-budget! And that didn’t even include the gilded dome because originally, it was simply a wooden dome.
• That original dome didn’t last too long, though, as it leaked and by 1802 it was sheathed in copper by Paul Revere’s copper company. It was gilded with gold leaf for the first time in 1874.
• If you like a good Irish bar, we’re passing Emmet’s here on the left. Great food and atmosphere and live Irish music every Sunday for brunch.

 

 

Crossover Tremont St.
Continue onto School St.

Kings Chapel and G&G

• Now, front left of the trolley is King’s Chapel and to the left of that, King’s Chapel Burying Ground, the oldest burying ground in the city. Now, if you want a real, up-close and personal look in there, may I recommend our Ghosts & Gravestones tour? That’s our nighttime, part trolley, part walking tour that takes you around the city, giving you much different, darker, and spookier stories from the city but then takes you in 2 of the 3 oldest graveyards. We are the only tour company in the city with keys to the graveyards at night. It really is a very fun, immersive experience and of course, you save a few bucks with your Summer Nights ticket.

Left onto Washington St.
Right onto Water St.
Right onto Congress St.

Water Street and Post Office Square

• We are now in our financial district here, and entering what is known as Post Office Sq. Which is pretty interesting because as you’ll notice, there is no post office, and it’s not shaped like a square.
• Our modern-day financial district can definitely be said to have been built out of the ashes. All this to our right, for blocks and blocks and blocks, 65 acres, in fact, was the site of the great fire of 1872. 775 buildings were destroyed and it’s said they could see the smoke as far away as Canada. It remains today as one of the nation’s most costly, fire-related property losses causing a staggering 74 million dollars in damage. And that’s 1872 dollars. Today, that’s almost 1.5 BILLION!

Boston Tea Party

• Now, I would be remiss if I did not point out the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum up on the front left of the trolley after the light. Get down and visit the museum during your stay, it’s really a wonderful experience. They have a 90 minute, very interactive tour. You can even throw some tea in the harbor! And, you can also save money there with your Summer Nights ticket so check it out!

Right onto Dorchester Ave.

 

 

South Station

• Over to our right is South Station. The center of ground transport for Boston with bus, train and subway lines. South Station opened 1898 and was the largest and busiest train station in country/world for first quarter of the 20th century

Left onto Summer St.

Seaport District

• (Prior to BCEC). We're now officially in our seaport district. To say the Seaport has gone through a facelift in the last 20 years or so would be a massive understatement. It all started with this, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, or BCEC. It boasts over 500K square feet of continuous, column-free exhibition space. They say they can fit 16-17 football fields inside the BCEC. Also, here on the right and worth mentioning, the Westin hotel with Laugh Boston, a great comedy club you might want to look into. (Playing here this week is________________________________) Anyways, the BCEC was really first down here in the Seaport District and as the saying goes: “build it and they will come.” That doesn’t just apply to baseball fields built in the middle of a corn field, because come they did!

Left onto Dry Dock Ave.
Left onto Harbor St.

• Today, the seaport district boasts meeting, conference and exhibition centers, 4 museums (BTPSM, ICA, Bos Children’s and Fire Museums), cruise ship terminals and a wonderful array of restaurants, hotels, bars, and retail shopping. And they keep coming too! There are no signs of slowing down, it seems like every 6 months they’re changing the skyline yet again with another new hotel or office building. And I didn’t know this until recently but apparently, you cannot have enough luxury condos, they just keep building them! In short, what once was a veritable wasteland has become a very young, hip, trendy place to live and work these days and it’s certainly a great place to explore!

 

Left onto Northern Ave

Harpoon Brewery

• Straight ahead of us now and going down to the right is the Harpoon Brewery. Interestingly, the Harpoon Brewery is employee-owned and received the very first brewing permit in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. And, for you trivia geeks, trivia night is every Wednesday!

Cross through the rotary onto Seaport Blvd.

Seaport (Part #2)

• Coming up on the right, Leader Bank Pavilion. Ok, the name leaves a little to be desired but it’s truly a great venue to take in a show. Its top-of-the-line sound system, spectacular lighting capabilities, and cool harbor breezes make for a truly unforgettable experience! Jackson Browne, Nora Jones, and Blondie are just some of the bigger names to be playing here this Summer!
• We have some fantastic restaurants coming up here. The tequila cantina here on the right has over 100 brands and flavors of tequila. Please don’t try them all in one night! And there’s a great sports bar right around the corner, Tony C’s named after the former Red Sox Right-fielder.
• Anthony “Tony C '' Conigliaro first rose to prominence on the 1965 Red Sox as the youngest home run champion in American League history. Then, in 1967, disaster struck after Tony was hit by a pitch in the eye, causing him to miss over a year of action. Counted out by many, Tony made a miraculous return to the field in 1969, thereby cementing himself forever in Red Sox lore, and as a Boston symbol of perseverance, grit, and greatness.
• Friends, I think it’s time for one more song, how about you? We’re going to be driving up Seaport Blvd and the buildings and lights alongside the harbor here make for some great viewing.

Play Track #9 – No Narration

Play Track #10 – Narrate over Track

James Hook

• Look at that great shot of the financial district up in front of us, huh? We are coming to our final stretch here. Hey, if you’re looking for a great “lobstah” roll while in town, try James Hook here on the right. BEST in the city! Of course, if you want to enjoy a fresh lobster when you get back home, no problem, they ship anywhere in the continental U.S. within 24 hours!

Right onto Atlantic Ave

Once on Atlantic Ave, let remaining tracks play – Narrate over tracks

 

Atlantic Ave

• We’re on Atlantic Ave now and it’s absolutely worth exploring during the day and evening. On our left is the Rose Kennedy Greenway, A 1.5 mile stretch right through the heart of the city here with every block offering you something different. Like this here, an open beer garden. But there’s spray parks, fountain pads and carousels for the kiddos, light illuminations, open-air markets and small concerts going on here all summer! On our right, Boston Harbor hotel. Be sure to check out their summer music series.
• Speaking of which, we are closing in towards the end of the tour here and let me tell you about some of the great live events you’ll find within walking distance when we pull in. You have the Black Rose, right up State St with live Irish music 7 nights a week. The City Winery, over on Beverly Street near the Haymarket Station. Playing this week is______________________________ OR, if comedy is your thing, please check out the Improv Asylum in our North End, right on Hanover Street. Tell you what, we even have a little partnership with them and we can save you over 30% on admission for what’s always a super-fun time and never-the-same-show-twice!

Right onto Milk St.
Continue onto Old Atlantic Ave
Into Spot #7 or #8

General Conclusion

And now we arrive right back where we began. I hope you have enjoyed your time on board, relaxed, and found some new things to add to your “Must See” list. So now, as the city settles into darkness, go! Do! Enjoy the Summer Nights of Boston and, well… have a wonderful night!