2013 Thread - Guide to Big East Cities...

[billyjack]

HOPEFULLY THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF BIG EAST CITIES VACATION GUIDES:
This is for our three new member schools' fans, but also for all our Big East compatriots... these are my personal observations and recommendations, and I definitely want others to correct me where I may have my items wrong...! Would love to get the low down on other Big East cities, especially our new compadres.

Spending time in Providence to watch a Big East game at the Dunk?:

TRANSPORTATION:

Providence by car:
Interstate 95 from north or south leads into the heart of downtown. The Dunk is next to I-95.
1 hour from Boston.
3 hours to New York City.

Providence by train:
Amtrak from north or south, and the MBTA (commuter rail) from Boston leads into the heart of downtown, with the Providence Train Station just south of the capitol building. The train station is a short, easy 10 minute walk to the Dunk, and three nice nearby hotels and a major shopping mall (the "Providence Place Mall") are all basically along that walk.

Providence by air:
Small, easily-accessible airport that all Rhode Islanders and many Bostonians and Connecticut residents use because of its convenience:
Rhode Island's airport is T.F. Green Airport ("Green Airport"), in the city of Warwick on Route 1 (Post Road), two cities south of Providence. The airport in Warwick is an easy 15 minute drive (except during rush hour) on I-95 north to downtown Providence. The city of Cranston is between Warwick and Providence.

HOTELS:

Warwick, near the airport, has a ton of rental cars, major hotels and local and chain restaurants right next to it on Route 1.

Providence around the Dunk has three major hotels.
- The Hilton Providence is next to the Dunk to the south.
- The Westin Providence is a 3 minute walk to the north of the Dunk. The Westin is connected to the Dunk via interior corridors by cutting through the Convention Center (access varies thru here). The Westin itself is connected by interior walkways and bridges to the Providence Place Mall to the north.
- The Biltmore Providence (maybe built in the 20's?) is a 7 minute walk to the northeast of the Dunk.

I think (this might have changed) that the Biltmore is the most expensive, then the Westin (built late 90's), then the Hilton (renovated, but originally a Holiday Inn built in the 70's).

Other hotels are in the area (for example, a Radisson is on India Point south of Brown), but you'd need a car, and they'd be less convenient and not within walking distance of anything really, and isolated and pinned in by I-195 and the harbor... so you'd be better off just staying near the airport.

RESTAURANTS:
Warwick has basically every chain restaurant imaginable, either near the airport or on Route 2 (Bald Hill Road), about a 5 minute drive from the airport.

Providence has fantastic restaurants, with a good range of prices and styles.

Providence --> Italian --> Federal Hill -->
if you exit the Dunk to the south, and walk past the Hilton, and cross over the I-95 overpass (a 2 minute walk heading west), you will enter the Federal Hill neighborhood (passing under a pineapple-topped arch on Atwells Avenue). There are a ton of restaurants and bakeries up and down the street within a 5 to 10 minute walk. My family always tries to go to Angelo's Civita Farnese, an inexpensive, non-fancy, excellent Italian food restaurant. (Try to sit in the dining room to the far right when you enter, because it was the original restaurant, and still has the porcelain tables and the menu on the wall. I think it closes by 8pm, so you'd have to go before the game.) Other notable places on Federal Hill are Schialo's bakery (maybe go there in the morning for Italian pastry); Caserta Pizza (pizza); Bob and Timmy's (nice meals); Cafe La Dolce Vita (dessert); Basically, have fun exploring, there are a ton of restaurants up and down the street and on side streets and plazas, so I can't possibly name them all. Federal Hill is a working class neighborhood, with a great atmosphere.

Providence --> Brew Pubs -->
I've heard Trinity Brewhouse is great, across from the Dunk to the east. There are a ton of clubs, etc, all around the area... I'm a little older with kids so I haven't kept up with the current ones...!

Providence --> Seafood -->
on the other side of the river, at the base of College Hill (location of RISD and Brown), is Hemenway's (on South Main Street). You can walk during the day (about a 15 minute walk from the Dunk), but at night I'd recommend driving over.

THE ARTS:

Providence --> Plays, Concerts, Performing Arts -->
- Trinity Playhouse is two blocks from the Dunk to the east.
- PPAC (Providence Performing Arts Center) is several blocks farther (recommend driving) to the east.
- Leeds Theater is on College Hill, at Brown University (20 minute walk, much of it uphill, so I recommend driving).

Providence --> Art Museums -->
- Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum, a 15 minute walk from the Dunk, is a block up from the base of College Hill on Benefit Street. Usually open daily, closed evenings, has art from every era and type... Egyptian, Roman, Chinese, Medieval, Renaissance, Dutch Masters, French Impressionists. An amazing collection is a small museum. Definitely recommended.

Providence --> Gentlemen's Clubs -->
Ok, I'm listing this under "The Arts". )
Regarded as best collection of clubs in New England, so much so that Big Papi spends a lot of time down here, plus many Patriots too. About a half dozen places.

OTHER SPORTS BESIDES BIG EAST BASKETBALL:
Ice Hockey and Hoops -->
- Providence Friars hockey is on campus, a 7 minute drive from the Dunk to the north. The rink has just been renovated this year. Our conference is excellent, so any game will be worth watching.
- Brown University basketball and hockey. Brown hoops and hockey, when home, both usually play Friday-Saturday. The court and rink are next door to each other, a 5 minute drive from the Dunk. Very casual at Brown, but some good teams visit, like hockey national champ Yale, and Frozen Four finalist Quinnipiac. Hoops of course has the Ivy schedule.
- URI basketball is around a 40 minute drive south to Kingston. Excellent arena, the Ryan Center. URI plays usually on Saturdays, typically at the same time as Friar games, but sometimes the Rams play Sunday games. A Sunday game might work if you're visiting Newport too.

SHOPPING:
Providence Place Mall is connected to the Westin. Has Nordstrom, etc, plus IMAX and all the typical mall stuff.

BEACHES, NEWPORT, OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
- Newport is about a 45 minute drive south, using the Jamestown and Newport Bridges to get there (recommended). Excellent restaurants, excellent seafood, very historic. Too many restaurants and bars to name. The Newport Marriott is right in town and provides walking access to everything you need. Tennis Hall of Fame is awesome. Gilded Age Newport Mansions have daily tours. Naval War College Museum is great (weekdays only). Off season is nicer because you'll be the only tourists.

- Beaches in the winter are pretty cool because you have the whole place to yourself and the nearby towns on the coast are authentic and cool, like Jamestown or Galilee or Wickford. Not a heck of a lot to do, but nice places to escape for an afternoon. Definitely clean salt air and the seafood is amazing.

- Woonsocket area (downtown a little rough)... (20 minute drive north) only mentioning working class Woonsocket because of three local restaurants that only locals would know that at some point you should try... (Woonsocket was a French-Canadian immigrant city years ago)
--> "Wright's Chicken Farm Restaurant" --> 6 minute drive west of Woonsocket, all you can eat chicken, fries, macaroni and salad... eat like a pig if you want, excellent food, great atmosphere because you'll be around real northern Rhode Islanders with our accents and all. When the Patriots trained at Bryant College 10+ years ago, they often go here.
--> "The Beef Barn" --> 3 minute drive from downtown Woonsocket, sandwiches, milkshakes, been there forever, very working class and tiny place.
--> "Ye Olde English Fish n Chips" --> in downtown Woonsocket, the most authentic English style crunchy fish n chips, the last of its kind around here. Excellent food. Sit in dining rooms. Recommend going on a Friday during Lent when the line is out the door.

HELPFUL PRONUNCIATION OF LOCAL PLACES:
Warwick --> "WAR-ick".
Pawtucket --> "puh-TUCK-it" (do NOT pronounce the "W"...!).
Woonasquatucket River --> "wuh-NAHS-quah-TUCK-it".
Quonochotaug --> "QUO-no-kah-tog".
Matunuck --> "mah-TOO-nick".
Narragansett --> "nar-rah-GANN-set"
quahog (large local clam) --> "KAW-hog".
Martha's Vineyard --> "the VIN-yid".

CHOWDER TYPES:
Clear broth is Rhode Island chowder.
White broth is New England chowder.
Red broth is Manhattan chowder (unpopular).

CONCLUSION:
Anyway, enjoy your stay. Rick Pitino will miss it...! Jim Boeheim will miss it...! Providence is an easy city to enjoy. Not too big. Everything close. Providence is basically a flat city downtown, with College Hill across the river to the east.

For a Saturday night game vs the Friars:
I recommend this basic framework:
- flying into Warwick on Friday,
- renting a car,
- staying at the Westin in Providence,
- walking to early dinner on Federal Hill,
- driving to a PC hockey game Friday nite,
- going for drinks in downtown Providence after hockey game,

- getting breakfast on Federal Hill Saturday morning,
- walking to the RISD art museum Saturday noon,
- walking to Hemenway's for late lunch on Saturday,
- watching your team lose to the Friars on Saturday nite,
- get something to eat and drink downtown on after loss,

- getting breakfast on Federal Hill Sunday morning,
- take a walk around the Providence Place Mall and State House to burn all the calories you've been taking in at all the restaurants,
- see what's playing at Trinity,
- drive to Newport check out the city,
- eat seafood in Newport,
- stay at Newport Marriott Sunday night,
- Monday in Newport check out Tennis Hall of Fame, etc,
- get healthy breathing in ocean air,
- fly back to Omaha/ Indianapolis/ Cincinnati/ etc.

[whiteandblue77]

Thanks Billy! We're looking forward to making a stop in Beantown for our Providence trip, as we've never been there... as far as Providence, what was the name of the bar in Something About Mary that was on a river?

As far as the "Big O," the thing everyone is going to love is how friggin close and easy and accommodating it will be from Eppley Airfield... Old Market Hotel, walk to the game, back to the Old Market, 7 minute drive or shuttle back to the airport... actually, just stay at a hotel with an airport shuttle near the Century Link center and you can keep drinking the whole trip (they sell beer at the Clink!)

Picture says a thousand words:

http://www.omahacivic.com/Libraries/Map ... .sflb.ashx

[Noonzy]

Billy-did you know tht the red "manhatten" chowder actually was developed by the Portugues people on the east bay side. My understanding of it is that the Portugues families grew so many tomatoes that they eventually tried them in their chowder recpies-have no idea how it ended up as Manhatten chowder.

[billyjack]

Billy-did you know tht the red "manhatten" chowder actually was developed by the Portugues people on the east bay side. My understanding of it is that the Portugues families grew so many tomatoes that they eventually tried them in their chowder recpies-have no idea how it ended up as Manhatten chowder.

Cool, I never knew that! I figured it was some old NY City type. Hey, that's another thing about Providence... small city but just about every ethnic community is here. And Noonzy -- add in anything else about Providence that I missed. Like I only know general things about the PC campus because I'm not an alum.

[billyjack]

Thanks Billy! We're looking forward to making a stop in Beantown for our Providence trip, as we've never been there... as far as Providence, what was the name of the bar in Something About Mary that was on a river?

As far as the "Big O," the thing everyone is going to love is how friggin close and easy and accommodating it will be from Eppley Airfield... Old Market Hotel, walk to the game, back to the Old Market, 7 minute drive or shuttle back to the airport... actually, just stay at a hotel with an airport shuttle near the Century Link center and you can keep drinking the whole trip (they sell beer at the Clink!)

Picture says a thousand words:

http://www.omahacivic.com/Libraries/Map ... .sflb.ashx

Omaha looks like a great city. Definitely I will keep the map for when I get out there. Thanks brother.

[JohnT]

I'd like to make it to one of the new Big East venues this year too. Hopefully we can get a conference schedule sometime soon to start planning.

[marquette]

Milwaukee/Marquette
The Bradley Center, where Marquette plays, is located downtown. It is bordered on the north by Highland Ave and on the south by State Street. It is between 4th street and 6th street.

TRANSPORTATION:

-Milwaukee's Mitchell airport is a little outside the city, so you will likely want to take a bus to the Badger Bus stop downtown (there is also a car rental place there if you choose to take that route). A taxi from the airport to downtown will run you about $30.
-Milwaukee is located on Interstates 94 and 43. If you take the I 43 Kilbourn exit you will come out one block south of the Bradley Center (also called the BMO, these days).
-We don't have much for rail, but there is supposed to be a new streetcar system installed for 2016 if you don't plan on coming in the next year or two.

HOTELS:

-The closest hotel to the BMO is the Hyatt, which is one block south on Kilbourn and 4th.
-Also within walking distance is the Hilton (3 blocks) on Wisconsin Avenue, the Doubletree (3 blocks) on WIsconsin and 6th, the Courtyard (4.5 blocks) on Michigan st., Hampton Inn (6 blocks) on Wisconsin and 2nd, and Residence Inn (7 blocks) on Plankinton.
Full disclosure: I have never stayed in a hotel in Milwaukee.

RESTAURANTS/PUBS:

-If you are going to a Marquette game, you have to stop at Major Goolsby's (4th and Kilbourn, 1 block south of BMO). It's a sports bar/restaurant/Milwaukee tradition. Just pencil it in.
-The Safe House is a local spy themed restaurant located basically in an alley across the river (technically Front Street). You will need the password to get in if you arrive after 8. If you don't have the password and arrive after 8 you will be asked to do something ridiculous to gain entry.
-Milwaukee is known for our German heritage. Mader's is a great German restaurant on Old World 3rd Street (1 block). Great German food, decent wine selection. If you want a less expensive German option the Old German Beer Hall, also on 3rd, has decent food (definitely check the online menu first though, to make sure it's in your comfort zone).
-I highly recommend anything on the Riverwalk (2 blocks from the BMO) just for the ambiance. If you happened to stop by the Rock Bottom, that's my personal favorite.
-Molly Cool's is a pretty good seafood place that's conveniently located on the Riverwalk (2 blocks East).
-The Milwaukee Cheese Mart on 3rd has a great local cheese and beer selection (it's mostly a bar, though).
-AJ Bombers (4 blocks east, 2 blocks north) has some of the best burgers in Milwaukee, cool atmosphere too. (Sobelman's is also a contender for best burger in Milwaukee, but they don't really have a location close enough to the BMO for walking. If you have a car I recommend googling directions to one).
-The King and Thai and the Thai Palace (guess what kind of food they have) are on 3rd street (1 block over, 2 down).
-Benihana (2 blocks) on Kilbourn and Plankinton is decent Japanese, as is Kiku (3 blocks down, 2 over).
-The local diner chain, George Webb, is 2 blocks down on 3rd. Nothing special, but is open 24 hours.

THE ARTS:
-The Milwaukee Art Museum has a pretty good selection and their own parking (you will have to drive to the lakefront).
-The Haggerty Museum of Art is located on the Marquette campus if you want to visit.
-We also have the St. Joan of Arc chapel, which is an intact Medieval church transported here from France. Lots of original Medieval pieces that you can actually handle too.
-Villa Terrace is a cool Museum, Mediterranean themed. They have art pieces, but the best part is the garden (IMO) which it will likely be too cold to explore in season.
-The Pabst Mansion is really cool, as is the Pabst Theater.
-The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (3 blocks from BMO across the river) is home to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Ballet, and the Florentine Opera.

SHOPPING:
-The Grand Avenue Mall is on Wisconsin (3 blocks down, 2 over). Not anything special, it's a mall.
-There are lots of small shops and other things in the 3rd ward, but you will have to drive there unless you want to walk 20-25 min.

BEACHES, OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
-Bradford is a decent beach. It is definitely a drive away (North on Lincoln Memorial), and by the time you get here it will most likely be closed for the winter. We have other beaches, but same rules apply.
-Miller Brewery does free tours with free beer at the end.
-The Bucks will probably be in season if you are staying a few days, and don't mind some sub-par pro basketball.
-We also have the Brewers (who will be out of season)
-The Admirals (AHL hockey team) are usually pretty good.
-The Wave are professional an indoor soccer team, which is kind of similar to watching a hockey game. They are usually near the top of the league in the MSL (highest level of professional indoor soccer).
-UW-Milwaukee also has a D1 basketball team (sort of) if you're the kind of person who likes to watch a train wreck.
All of these sports teams (except the Brewers) play at either the BMO or US Cellular arena (across the street from the BMO).
-River cruises during the warmer months are fun and (relatively) cheap. They can range from dinner cruises to late night party cruises.

Conclusion
I have tried to keep this list to things near the Bradley Center (BMO), and have generally given approximate distances. There is much more to see in Milwaukee including the Milwaukee County Zoo, Fairgrounds, the National Olympic Training Center (ice rink), and the Potawatomi Casino. All are definitely worth a visit if you have the time and feel comfortable leaving the area immediately around the Bradley Center. Any other Marquette fans feel free to add. Y'all have fun now, and don't forget to hit me up if you are going drinking on 3rd or Water.

[QueRico]

Billy-did you know tht the red "manhatten" chowder actually was developed by the Portugues people on the east bay side. My understanding of it is that the Portugues families grew so many tomatoes that they eventually tried them in their chowder recpies-have no idea how it ended up as Manhatten chowder.

You are absolutely correct in the Portuguese origins of red chowder.
Calling it "Manhattan" is based on the long standing tradition of New Englanders blaming everything they don't like on New York... or so the culinary historians would have you believe. Sounds @ least as good as any other specious origin story out there.

[dmac80]

Great writeup, those visiting must get a meal in Federal Hill, amazing Italian................Marquette you should post a 'visiting MArquette thread' so that writeup doesn't get lost, or maybe the OP could re-label this thread to something about visiting guide for any of the BE cities and others can add their's.

[Bluejay]

I wish the frickin conference schedule would get done! I'd love to book a trip to Chicago for the Depaul game before Southwest cancels their fare discount...

I've also considered a trip to Milwaukee. Do Marquette games sell out or will there be plenty of seats available?