Allston gets a bad rep due to the thriving rat population and rambunctious frat houses of Boston University undergrads, but as any former terrier would tell you, Allston is a hidden gem in Boston, filled with great budget eats, lively entertainment, and an energetic mix of students and locals. Below you’ll find 5 of our favorite things to do, eat, and see in Allston Massachusetts:
1. Make a hand-tufted rug from scratch at Tutuland
A hidden gem of a good time, Tutuland is a DIY haven located on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. You can make your dream rug by hand in any color, shape, or size at Tutuland. After a quick tutorial on using the tufting machines, you’ll be off to the drawing boards!
Tufting a rug takes anywhere from 1 to 5 hours depending on the complexity of your design. It’s a great indoor activity in Boston reserved for rainy days. If you’re looking for a faster DIY option, Tutuland also offers DIY phone cases, hair accessories, and acrylic pour art.
Find Tutuland at 115 Brighton Avenue, Allston MA 02134
2. Grab some deliciously chewy mochi donuts
Allston is home to several of Boston’s best mochi donut shops. Just down the street from Tutuland is our personal favorite, Pon de Joy. Pon de Joy serves classic mochi donuts in unconventional flavors like Yuzu, Matcha, Strawberry Cheesecake and Ube.
Find our list of mochi donut locations3. Attend a BU Hockey game at Agganis Arena
Terrier or not, there’s no denying the contagious thrill of attending the Division 1 hockey games at Agganis Arena. Many Boston University terriers go on to become pro hockey players, such as Jack Eichel and Drew Commesso so you can catch them in their rookie years. After the game, stop by Raising Cane’s for some delicious Texas fried chicken. We recommend the fried chicken, Cane’s sauce, and Texas toast.
Find Agganis Arena at 925 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
4. Jam out to your favorite artists at Boston’s biggest music festival
Harvard stadiums are actually located in Allston and not Cambridge with the rest of the university. Throughout the academic year, you can go Crimson and attend a Harvard University football game! In the off-season, the stadium hosts dozens of fun events, most notably Boston’s loudest music festival, Boston Calling.
This year Boston Calling lineups include the Foo Fighters, Paramore, Hozier and almost 50 other artists. It’s an epic time and local vendors help you refuel all the calories you burned dancing the night away!
Find Boston Calling music festival at Harvard Athletic Complex, 65 N Harvard St, Boston, MA 02163
5. Grab a bite of mozzarella stick pizza from T. Anthony’s
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, but in the case of mozzarella stick pizza, you 100% should! T. Anthony’s, established in 1976 has been serving hungry Bostonians for nearly 4 decades! It’s just across the street from Boston University’s west campus, so many sports fans and athletes stop by after the aforementioned BU hockey games!
You’ll find autographed photos lining the walls and students filling the booths on Thursday nights. The pizza here is perfectly cheesy and though the mozzarella stick topping might sound unconventional, it’s eccentric and delicious just like the quirky character of Allston.
1016 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215