The Fenway Fridays: Activating Boston’s Beloved Neighborhood

Posted by Jayda Leder-Luis, guest blogger of Denterlein

Friday is probably everyone’s favorite day of the week. And if you’re looking for a fun and unique way to kick off your weekend head over to the Fenway, one of Boston’s best neighborhoods for food, drink, entertainment, and retail. Welcome to The Fenway Fridays, a weekly block party spearheaded by Samuels & Associates.
Driven by the belief that people should be able to live, work, shop and play in dynamic communities, local real estate developer Samuels & Associates has worked closely with the community over the past decade in developing The Fenway, Boston’s cultural and creative hub. The Fenway Fridays series showcases the neighborhood’s unique 24/7 vibe that’s been defined by its award-winning restaurants, diverse retail, and cultural institutions.

The Fenway Fridays celebrates all that the community has to offer with specials, discounts, entertainment, and more, all day long. Here’s a rundown:

• FOOD AND RETAIL: 30 participating retailers and restaurants are providing discounts, giving away free products, and offering Fenway-only specials and treats.
• DRINK: On August 24, August 31 and September 21, Tasty Burger’s outdoor lot is transformed into a backyard hang out, complete with music, live art, and cornhole: The Fenway Fridays Brew Deck is also one of the only places to find the latest Lord Hobo Brewing Co. beer, a hoppy pilsner.
• MUSIC: The Verb, Boston’s only rock & roll hotel, will host local musicians for free concerts on the roof, by the pool, and in parking lot beginning at 5pm every Friday.
• GIVEAWAYS:Followers of @TheFenway on Instagram will receive special clues to track down hidden cash and gift cards to neighborhood businesses. At the end of the summer, one lucky person will win the ultimate Staycation package: a night at The Verb Hotel, amazing Red Sox tickets, and local swag. To enter the grand prize giveaway, visit: thefenway.com/sign-up.

The Eclectic Mix of The Fenway
The Fenway is an eclectic mix of local businesses and individuals working together to enliven this classic yet vibrant Boston neighborhood. The Fenway’s concentration of colleges and universities is world-renowned. Home to more than 80,000 students, the neighborhood’s main shopping district is just steps from the Colleges of the Fenway, Northeastern, Boston University, Harvard Medical School, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and others.
But it’s not just an academic hub. More than 110,000 people work in the healthcare institutions of Longwood Medical Area, arguably the global epicenter for healthcare and medical innovation in New England. Thousands of patients and visitors coming through the Fenway every day, accessing the neighborhood by bus, train, commuter rail, bicycle, or on foot.

With cultural attractions like the House of Blues, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Emerald Necklace’s open green space, new sights, sounds, and experiences are just steps away.
What’s Next for The Fenway
15 years ago, the Fenway’s main thoroughfare (Boylston Street) was dotted with parking lots, single-story buildings and auto-focused uses. The neighborhood was known as home to famous landmarks like Fenway Park, The Citgo Sign, and the Landmark Center. Through years of strategic development, the Fenway has evolved beyond its reputation as a game-day destination. It has become a hive of interest and industry, alive with world-class events, dining, art, shops, and groundbreaking innovation.

Landmark Center is currently under redevelopment, a process that is embracing the building’s historic nature as a Sears distribution center. Renamed 401 Park, in Spring 2019 the first two floors of the architectural gem will be transformed into Time Out Market, an original concept that creates food and cultural experiences based on editorial curation. Much like its original site in Lisbon’s Mercado da Ribeira, Time Out Market will be a culinary haven and draw visitors across the region to experience the booming Fenway restaurant scene.
Just outside of the new food hall, 401 Park is converting a surface parking lot into a 1.1 acre public plaza and park space which will include walking paths, greenery and outdoor seating on Park Drive.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, there’s something new to explore in The Fenway, a neighborhood that’s truly setting the beat of Boston.