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Omg. Raffi is coming to Boston !? 🥳🤩 thank you for this info!

As a mom with a young one also, I’d leave my car at the hotel and walk the few blocks with kiddo in a stroller. You’ll be fine walking wherever you stay, Boston is generally more safe than not

Yes, as soon as we saw that news we had to get tickets! He doesn't do many live shows anymore, I think he has 8 dates on 2023 or something. The 2pm show is nearly sold out, 7pm still had plenty as of last night.

And thank you for the advice! That was my initial inclination, but wanted to get the local knowledge.

Safety wise you should be fine.

Also the Orpheum right near Park St. station so you could take the train in. I wouldn't drive into that part of the city for any reason.

if you're with a stroller don't stay along the green line while it's allowed and possible it's not a great experience. The much maligned red line would be better.

7pm seems crazy late for a kids concert

Thank you, solid advice. I think if we did drive in, it would just be to the hotel and walk/train from there.

Given her normal bedtime is 7pm, yep. We're chalking it up to the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Maybe the 7pm show will be full of nostalgic adults?

2pm- naptime. 7pm- bedtime. Damn, we need an 8am option over here!

Stuck between “$150/ticket is too much for a 16 month old”, and “this may literally be a once in a lifetime concert” lol

Is it safe to walk around Boston with a 3-year old at 8pm? Other than the fact that they should be in bed by that hour…sure. Go wherever you’d like.

And have you previously taken your 3-year old to loud packed venues past their bedtime to see if your kid even likes that type of stuff?

Your kid might not have the stamina and interest that you are projecting on them, especially at that hour.

I took it as a given that we’d be leaving Sox games by the 2nd or 3rd inning when I went with any of my kids who were under age 6 at the time.

Kids can get bored very quickly.

For you…this might be a once in a lifetime event, but keep in mind your child will have ZERO memory of this by the time they are 8 years old.

All that said, have fun. Raffi is great.

Boston is safe. Worst that will happen is you’ll probably walk through a few clouds of weed and cigarette smoke, see some litter, a random piss puddle near the T, and maybe some rats. You might overhear a few townies yelling “fuck, fuckin, motherfucker” every other word when they talk overly loud on their cell phones. Don’t worry. Your kid won’t remember any of that either.

Have you checked down by the bay?

Or asked that baby Beluga over in the deep blue sea?

You could stay at lots of different places since the Orpheum is close to stops on several different T lines (Green, Orange, Blue, Red). However, considering the variability of a three-year-old, stay at the Omni Parker House right down the street. It's not the best hotel, but it's historic and cheaper than some of the other options nearby that night.

What a shitty, judgemental reply.

Sounds like someone needs a nap.

Bringing children under age 6 to a baseball game is more along the lines of “projecting interest and stamina” on them, compared to bringing them to a (check’s notes) children’s concert aimed at engaging the audience with age appropriate song and laughter.

One night past bedtime won’t kill a 3 year old, which you should be well aware of since you have children. Unless you NEVER put a kid to sleep late? In which case you should write a book about that!

I heard there’s a great hotel where the watermelons grow

Make sure to get a hotel with a bananaphone so the front desk can ring ring ring ring ring ring ring you for a wake up call.

Why wouldn’t you drive into that part of the city?

8pm should be fine. Park st (at the common) does tend to attract a certain group of people that hang in the area, but they don’t really bother anyone.

Omni Parker house is very close to the Orpheum, if you want a place that’s quick to get to. The Godfrey as well. XV beacon is just a little bit further of a walk, but close.

The area is pretty saturated with hotels, it depends on how far you’re willing to walk. If you want to walk the least then omni or Godfrey would be the best options

Streets are too crowded nobody drives there anymore

say good night, gracie

Meh. If we are talking about shitty judgemental comments, OP is the one who does stuff like say “what a hideous baby”

I’m just saying Boston is very safe, and a 3-year isn’t going to remember this event.

I drove in there a few weeks ago.

It was fine.

Haha just bought my mom 4 tickets to the night show, she always used to play me Raffi songs as a kid, there’ll definitely be some of that.

tbf you somehow dug up a comment from a decade ago and that is indeed a hideous baby

It was 30 comments ago for OP. Didn’t have to dig deep to see the type of stuff that brings OP out of the woodwork. To each his own I suppose.

I think it's far more egregious that they post in r/discgolf

Nobody drives there anymore, there’s too much traffic

Right? 2pm and 7pm - know your audience! A toddler is not going to survive either of those times in a crowd, in an unfamiliar place, with loud music, without getting disregulated. And…they won’t remember the concert. I think this is more for the parents.

TIL Raffi is still alive and kicking.

Well, at least it isn't r/discgolfcirclejerk? lol

parking is too expensive, street parking is difficult to find at times. I don't like driving in general and I don't mind taking the red line (I don't have a daily commute anymore).

and if I'm going to have any beer I'm not going to drive.

This is raffi not a pub crawl.

If you don’t like driving in general that’s a pretty biased opinion. I drove in a few weeks ago for a show.

It was busy but it was fine. Garage parking was $22.

I wouldn’t want to be dragging a 3 year old onto the T past bedtime if they’re not accustomed to riding public transit.

Yeah that’s a safe area, but I wouldn’t walk IN the common after dark. Around it on the sidewalks is fine.

I don’t really have any advice but I’m tickled that Raffi is still performing! I grew up with his music and I’m in my 30s!

If you’re staying in Boston overnight anyway, probably best to stay downtown, the price for parking nearby or an Uber to and from is going to be high enough that it will offset the value of staying further out. Plus, you can show your kid the city a little before or after. Omni parker house is right there.

It’s safe if you need to walk a bit further though, and there are plenty of reputable places in walking distance, just stay at any chain hotel and it’s going to be sol8d.

Sounds like an awesome trip with the little one

Raffi?

Seriously! Raffi was my first concert in, like, 1994.

In 2019 he came to Worcester. My (then) 2 year old twin niblings LOVED it- I hope your family does as well :)

Having lived right by there and having to walk through those area all the time. I say take Omni hotel and walk away from park street T stop and downtown crossing T stop. The one street connecting the two (Summer st?) is where a lot of transients hangout. 8pm is fine. But always be cautious and walk in well lit and populated area.

I used to walk home at 11pm after work and it’s really about being smart on where you walk.

Also yes I agree don’t drive there. It’s crazy traffic in that area and parking at hotels can go upwards of $40-70/night. On-par with Nyc

Edit: spelling

That's not true, tons of people drive in the area, all day and night.

The Godfrey Hotel on Washington is an easy walk, 2-3 blocks. Has a nice coffee shop in the lobby and great breakfast place around the corner.

Yeah that’s why nobody drives there anymore