Boston Area Information

Climate

Boston's weather can be cool in November. Be prepared for rain and temperatures in the 40s-50s (5-12 C) during the day, 30s-40s (0-7 C) at night.

Events that may require advance reservations

Boston Symphony Orchestra (www.bso.org):

Nov. 16 Cellist Yo-Yo Ma

Nov. 20-23, Mahler songs

Omni Max, Museum of Science, +1-617-723-2500 (www.mos.org)

Professional sports games:

Celtics Basketball: Nov. 20, Detroit and Nov. 22, Seattle, 7:00

Bruins Hockey: Nov. 18, San Jose and Nov. 21, Montreal, 7:30

Patriots Football: Nov. 17, Denver and Nov. 24, Indianapolis, 1:00

Currency Exchange

Bank exchange at Logan Airport:

Baybanks Currency Exchange, +1-617-567-2313

Terminal E - M-F am-9:30 pm, S-S 11:30-9:30 pm

Terminal C - M-F am-7:00 pm, S-S 11:30-7:00 pm

Credit cards accepted (though not AMEX)

Commission: 1%, minimum $2.50 per exchange

American Express, Harvard Square

39 J.F. Kennedy Street, +1-617-868-2600

Mon - Fri 8:30 am - 7:30 pm, Sat 9 - 5:30, Sun Noon - 5:00

The Hyatt front desk does exchange currency.

Getting information about Boston

Hyatt Regency	+1-617-492-1234, ask for Guest Services
Howard Johnson Hotel	+1-617-492-7777
Airport information	+1-800-23-LOGAN
Cambridge information	+1-617-441-2884
Public transit	+1-617-722-320
Boston information	+1-800-374-7400 or +1-617-536-4100

Information from the Web

• www.acm.org/sigchi/cscw96, conference site
  
• www.boston.com, general information site
  
• www.ci.cambridge.ma.us, for Cambridge information
• www.boston.com/globe, the Globe is the major paper
  
• www.bostonphoenix.com, for the alternative paper
  
• www.hotwired.com/rough/usa/new.england/ma/city
  
• www.pressxpress.com/boston
  
• www.city.net/countries/united_states/massachusetts
  
• www.mapquest.com, for maps
  
• www.quickaid.com/airports/bos, for Logan Airport
  
• www.mbta.com, for public transportation
  

Getting Around

Public transportation makes the local area accessible without a car, though the Hyatt is not near a stop. The Hyatt has a complimentary shuttle service to points of interest in Boston and Cambridge, including the subway.

Visitor passes for public transportation (the T) are unlikely to be economical for conference attendees.

Getting from Logan Airport to the Hyatt Regency Cambridge or Howard Johnson Hotel in Cambridge

Taxi
$16-26 plus tip, for a party of 4	A half hour or more	Easy	Directions: Go to the Taxi stop outside of the terminal and the dispatcher will help you.
Shuttle service
$8.00 per person	About an hour	Medium	A good choice if time permits or cost is a concern.
Directions: U.S. Shuttle has offered CSCW attendees a flat rate of $8. They operate 24 hours a day (call ahead if arriving after 11 pm). Major credit cards are accepted. Call +1-617-894-3100 to request a shuttle to the hotel, once you've gotten your bags. Wait at the yellow "Limousine" stops outside the baggage areas, and tell the driver you're with CSCW 96.
Public transportation
85 cents	About an hour	Difficult	Good for adventurous travelers who can easily carry their luggage while walking. Involves changes on the subway and walking a considerable distance on a busy bridge. Not for nighttime arrivals.
Directions: Take the complimentary airport shuttle bus to the Airport T stop. Take the T (the subway) Blue Line Inbound, towards Boston. Get off at the Government Center station, and transfer to the Green Line Outbound. Take the B-Boston College branch of the Green Line to the Boston University (BU) Central stop (the middle of 3 BU stops). Walk over the river on the BU bridge. Turn right for the Hyatt, left for the Howard Johnson. Both are visible from the bridge.
Car
Rental. To park: $7/day Hyatt, free at HJ	A half hour or so	Can be difficult	Driving in Boston is challenging and street parking can be a problem. You'll want a car to head outside of Boston or Cambridge. Be sure to get a map.
Directions from Logan International Airport: Follow signs to the Sumner Tunnel. Once through the Tunnel, stay on the left and follow signs to I-93 North. Stay on 93 North for a short time, then take Exit 26, Storrow Drive/Back Bay. Stay in the left lane and take the first exit on the left, Government Center/Kendall Square. Turn right at the stop sign and cross over the Longfellow Bridge. Take the first right after the bridge onto Memorial Drive/Route 3 West. The Hyatt is about 1 mile up on the right hand side; turn onto Amesbury. The Howard Johnson is another .5 mile up. From the west: Take the Mass Pike (I-90) to Exit 18, Allston/Cambridge, from the left lane. Follow signs for Cambridge, crossing over the River Street Bridge. Turn right onto Memorial Drive. The Howard Johnson is just on your left. The Hyatt is .5 mile up Memorial Drive, on the left hand side. From the north or south: Get on I-93 and proceed as from Logan.