A Night at the Athenaeum. Boston, MA

If you are like me, you've been intrigued by this exclusive library behind the Fox 25 studios and next to the State House.  As the Boston Athenaeum Library's website states:

"The Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest and most distinguished independent libraries and cultural institutions in the United States. It was founded in 1807. It grew out of a slightly earlier organization known as the Anthology Society which had been formed in 1805 by a group of Bostonians with the primary purpose of producing a magazine that they called The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review. In now creating the Boston Athenæum, their purpose was to form "an establishment similar to that of the Athenæum and Lyceum of Liverpool in Great Britain...The new Athenaeum flourished in culture-starved Boston and, as it voraciously acquired books, art, and artifacts, it grew rapidly...For nearly half a century the Athenæum was the unchallenged center of intellectual life in Boston, and by 1851 had become one of the largest libraries in the United States."

This past Friday, thanks to Suffolk University's Dean Reception, I got to spend some time on the first floor of the library.  After talking briefly to Paula, the director of the library, I found out that you do not need to be a part of a special group to join...you just have to pay a $150 yearly fee.  If I was residing in Boston, and frequented the library, and who are we kidding, had money, I think I would actually consider joining.

The first floor was a perfect location for a gathering like ours.  There was a wonderful feeling of being in an old mansion or in the foyer of somebody's home.  There were magnificent statues and books along the walls.  While everyone else mingled I decided to walk around and check out the rooms.  There were some great photographs in one room and a painting of John Singleton Copley in another.

By around 7pm I found a book about Latvia and tourism and decided to sit in one of the red leather chairs and get swept up into feeling like I was back home.

So...let's review..
1. If you are interested in at least taking a walk through the library, you can take a tour the first Monday of every month from 6pm-7pm.  There is no fee and you should register a week before.
2. If you are simply looking for a unique experience, you can also register for afternoon tea, twice a month on Wednesdays. It does seem like you do need to know a member in order to participate in this activity however.
3. On to a new topic...next time I plan on reviewing the lululemon store in Copley...they are holding free yoga sessions every Sunday this November.

Until the next review...