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Student Guide to the Boston Conference

The CAA Student and Emerging Professionals Committee (SEPC) hopes to make it easier for all student members to attend the 2006 Annual Conference in Boston. Thus, we have compiled this guide, which provides useful information about the city as well as suggestions to minimize your expenses.

The listings included in this guide are in not exhaustive. Moreover, inclusion in the guide does not signify CAA’s endorsement. We cannot guarantee the quality of services, prices, or availability at any of the establishments listed in the guide.

Quick Links

• How Will I Pay for It?
• How Do I Get There?
• Where Will I Stay?
• What Will I Eat?
• How Will I Meet Up with Other Students?
• How Do I Get Around?
• What Should I See in Boston?
• How Can I Become a CAA Member?
• People with Disabilities

How Will I Pay for It?

Some colleges and universities offer support to students who attend conferences like CAA’s. Contact your undergraduate or graduate student senate or your student government to find out if they offer travel grants for attending conferences. You may not get a full ride, but every bit counts! Also, your art or art-history department may award travel money; you can even add a travel grant to your c.v. If your school does not have an established program, write a letter to your school’s officials explaining how travel grants would benefit students at your school.

CAA also offers assistance to students attending the conference. Travel grants are offered each fall; instructions appear in the September CAA News. Projection and room monitors are needed every year, and participants receive complimentary conference registration and an hourly rate. Again, opportunities for these positions appear in the September and November CAA News.

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How Do I Get There?

Visa Tips for International Attendees

International conference participants should apply for visas at least three months ahead of their departure date. For the official word, visit the U.S. Department of State website, www.unitedstatesvisas.gov.

Air Travel

Annual Conference attendees can receive savings on air travel by purchasing tickets through our travel partner, American Airlines. American offers special rates to those traveling to the conference from the continental United States, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and other selected points in North America. Travelers can receive a 5 percent discount off American’s published round-trip fares, subject to applicable restrictions.

For savings on midweek travel to the conference, special round-trip Zone Fares are available to all cities served by American in the continental United States, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and other selected points in North America. A two-day minimum stay is necessary; no Saturday night stay is required. To take advantage of these discounts or to get complete information about schedules and fares, call American Airlines Reservations at 800-433-1790, 5:00 a.m.–12 midnight (CST). Refer to File Number A0126AK.

Ground transportation from Logan Airport, two miles outside Boston’s city center, to the Hynes Convention Center takes less than fifteen minutes. Travelers can ride the MBTA Blue Line T from Airport Station, connected to all terminals via free Logan shuttle buses. Taxis are readily available within the city and at the airport.

Rail Travel

Conference attendees can take advantage of a 10 percent discount off the lowest available Amtrak train fare for travel to and from Boston between February 19 and February 28, 2006. (This offer is not valid on Auto Train and does not apply to accommodation charges.) To book your trip, call Amtrak at 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245) or visit www.amtrak.com. Refer to Convention Fare Number X25I-949 when making your reservations.

Amtrak serves Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., with nationwide connections. Boston’s Back Bay Station, 145 Dartmouth Street, is the closest stop to the hotels and the Hynes Convention Center.

Amtrak Downeaster trains to New Hampshire and Maine arrive and depart from Boston’s North Station. All other Amtrak services in Boston arrive and depart from Back Bay Station.

Car Rental

Avis is a CAA business partner and the official rent-a-car provider for the CAA Annual Conference. Special rates are available to attendees for rentals made between February 15 and March 5, 2006. Renters must meet Avis’s age, driver, and credit requirements; other restrictions may apply. For more information or to make a rental-car reservation, visit www.avis.com. Refer to CAA’s Avis Meeting Discount Number D002166 when making reservations online. Reservations may also be made by calling Avis’s toll-free number, 800-331-1600.

Subway: The T

Most rides are $1.25. There are some exceptions on the Red Line’s Braintree branch and the Green Line’s D branch, and boarding Outbound on a Green Line surface stop west of Kenmore and Symphony is free. For information and maps, visit www.mbta.com.

Subway stations have turnstiles that require $1.25 MBTA tokens. Tokens are sold in booths or vending machines at these stations. To avoid waiting in line, buy several tokens at once to use for other trips. Surface routes and certain stations on the Green Line collect fares on the vehicle as you board, and the Mattapan Trolley collects fare on the vehicle as you leave. Fare boxes accept coins or tokens; exact change is required.

Bus

Pay the full fare for your trip when boarding the bus, except when heading Outbound on routes 71, 72, and 73. For these routes, pay when exiting the vehicle. Bus fare boxes accept cash or tokens. Please avoid using dollar bills as they can be difficult to process, slowing down service for yourself and others.

Taxi

All trips within a twelve-mile radius of downtown Boston are charged a metered rate. Beyond the twelve-mile radius, a flat rate applies. All fares are based on the occupancy of one to four passengers per taxi; additional tolls and fees may apply. Station wagons, accessible taxis for persons with disabilities, and credit-card taxis are available upon request at Logan Airport. See a Massport Ground Transportation agent, located outside each terminal on the arrival level, for assistance. Station wagon and van taxicabs are entitled to an additional $5 fee if a passenger has excessive luggage or boxes. Passengers needing a lift- or ramp-equipped taxi should call a local company directly. These specially equipped taxis are available from most Boston destinations at no additional fee.

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Where Will I Stay?

Make your reservations by calling your preferred hotel directly. To be eligible for these rates, you must state that you are attending the CAA conference. The reservation cut-off date is February 1, 2006. Request a confirmation number or ask for a written confirmation number by mail or fax. Please do not call the CAA office for reservations and hotel information.

Official Conference Hotels

Boston Marriott Copley Place
110 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
Reservations: 1-800-228-9290 or 1-617-236-5800
Co-headquarters hotel (with the Sheraton Boston Hotel), where certain meetings and receptions will be held. Deluxe hotel with many amenities, including health club and pool, and a range of eateries from cafeteria to fine dining. Generous lobby seating for networking. Pedestrian arcades connect this hotel to the Hynes Convention Center through the Prudential Center, a five-minute walk. The Prudential Center contains many shops and restaurants, including a complete food court.
Single/Double: $173
Triple: $193
Quad: $213
Suites: $550–$1800
Click here for special rates.

Sheraton Boston Hotel
36 Dalton Street
Boston, Ma 02199
Reservations: 1-800-325-3535 or 1-617-236-2000
Co-headquarters hotel (with the Boston Marriott Copley Place) that directly adjoins the Hynes Convention Center on the indoor level of the Prudential Center. Features a spacious lobby, a bistro, lounge, and full-service Starbucks Coffee, with the food court at the Prudential Center nearby. A health club and fitness center complement Boston’s largest indoor/outdoor pool. Career Fair Orientation, Employment Services, Mentoring Sessions, and some meetings and receptions will take place at this location.
Single/Double: $176
Suites: $400 and up
Additional person: $20
Click here for special rates.

Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers
64 Arlington Street
Boston, Ma 02116
Reservations: 1-800-225-2008 or 1-617-426-2000
Designated as the student hotel, this historic Boston property dates to the late 1920s and provides a spacious lobby, many services, and several dining and drinking establishments. A five-block walk to the Marriott and Hynes Convention Center takes you by two historic landmarks, Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library. Rates are for full-time students. Those requesting a room at the student rate must present a valid student ID at check-in. If a valid ID is not presented, the hotel will charge the rate equivalent to the confirmed Sheraton Boston Hotel rates (see above).
Single: $129
Double/Twin: $149
Suites: $350 and up
Additional person: $20
Click here for special rates.

Hilton Boston Back Bay
40 Dalton Street
Boston, Ma 02115

Sold out

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What Will I Eat?

The Hynes Convention Center hotels offer a variety of food services, including restaurants and coffee bars, but these can be expensive. You may also want to bring a small, nylon cooler bag with nonperishable snacks such as apples, cheese and crackers, granola bars, or dried fruit. You can keep you food cool with ice from the hotel’s ice machine (bring Ziplock bags). You could also mail a “care package” to yourself at your hotel and have it arrive the day you get to Boston.

Find out if your hotel, hostel, or bed and breakfast has kitchen facilities available to guests. If so, you could bring something easy to cook and eat, such as pasta.

Ask your hotel concierge for further options and about specialty restaurants (e.g., Boston is known for its clam chowder and baked beans). Concierges can also provide directions to the establishments listed below.

Restaurants in the Back Bay Area

• $ = cheap
• $$ = moderate
• $$$ = expensive

Jae’s (Asian, Sushi) $$
711 Boylston Street

The Wrap (wraps/burritos/smoothies) $
247 Newbury Street

Legal Sea Foods (seafood) $$$
Prudential Mall

Tapeo Restaurant and Tapas Bar (Spanish/Vegetarian) $$
266 Newbury Street

Globe Bar and Grill $
565 Boylston Street

Cactus Club (Mexican/southwestern) $
939 Boylston Street

Dillon’s (American) $$
955 Boylston Street

Parish Café (American) $$
361 Boylston Street

Tealuxe (tea bar) $
108 Newbury Street

Cheesecake Factory $$
Prudential Mall

California Pizza Kitchen $$
Prudential Mall

Maggiano’s (Italian) $
4 Columbus Avenue

Joe’s American Bar and Grill $$
279 Dartmouth Street

Restaurants a Short Distance from Back Bay

Boston Beer Works (American) $
61 Brookline Avenue (across from Fenway Park)

Bertucci’s (Italian/Pizza) $$
Kenmore Square

Fanuiel Hall Market Place
A great place for shopping, dining, and nightlife!

Vegetarian

Grasshopper Vegetarian Restaurant
1 North Beacon Street
617-254-8883

Buddha’s Delight
3 Beach Street
617-451-2395

Cafe Mosheh
499 B Washington Street
617-288-8813

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How Will I Meet Up with Other Students?

Visit the Student Lounge, located in the Hampton Room on the 3rd floor of the Sheraton Boston Hotel. Use the Student Lounge during quiet times to unwind from the hubbub of the Career Fair or to collect your thoughts before the next session or interview. Sponsored by CAA’s Student and Emerging Professionals Committee, the Student Lounge is open to all conference attendees.

Attend the Student Member Reception, sponsored by the SEPC, on Thursday, February 23, 7:00–8:00 p.m. The reception is a great chance to exchange thoughts and observations about our fields, programs, careers, and scholarship. Talk informally and socialize with students from a variety of programs. Don’t be shy about introducing yourself to other students—most are eager to talk and share information and experiences.

The SEPC also invites students to its conference session, “What Can CAA Do for You,” to be held Thursday, February 23, 5:30–7:00 p.m. at the Hynes Convention Center, Room 312.

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How Do I Get Around?

Transportation to the Hynes Convention Center

MBTA Subway (The T)
The Hynes Convention Center is located on the Green Line (B, C, or D trains) at the Hynes Convention Center/ICA stop. Subway fare is $1.25. Once you get off the train, choose any exit and follow the signs to the Hynes Convention Center. The entrance is one block east on Boylston Street from the Boylston Street exit or two blocks from the Massachusetts Avenue exit.

If traveling on the Green Line E, the closest stop is Prudential. Here, you can enter the Hynes Convention Center via the Shops at Prudential. Use any entrance and follow the signs to the Hynes Convention Center.

Amtrak/Commuter Rail

If traveling by commuter rail or Amtrak from points west or south of Boston, get off at the Back Bay Station, walk through the Copley Place Mall to the Prudential Center, and follow the signs to the Hynes Convention Center.

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What Should I See in Boston?

Art Museums

Arthur M. Sackler Museum
Harvard University Art Museums
485 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-9400
The collection includes ancient, Asian, Indian, and Near Eastern art.

Fogg Art Museum and Busch-Reisinger Museum
Harvard University Art Museums
32 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-9400
These museums display American and European art.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
280 The Fenway
Boston MA 02115
617-566-1401
The museum contains more than 2,500 works of art, including Italian Renaissance and old-master paintings.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Avenue of the Arts
465 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
617-267-9300
Boston’s largest art museum houses thousands of artworks and artifacts. Especially notable collections include John Singleton Copley portraits, Impressionist paintings, Egyptian mummies, and Japanese Temple Room.

Harrison Gray Otis House
141 Cambridge Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-227-3956
Designed for the third mayor of Boston, this house museum is a must-see for visitors interested in eighteenth-century architecture.

Other Places of Interest

Paul Revere House
19 North Square
Boston, MA 02113
617-523-2338

Dedham Community Theater
580 High Street in Dedham Center
Dedham, MA 02026
781-326-0409

Old North Church
193 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
617-523-6676

New England Aquarium
Central Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
617-973-5200

Trinity Church
206 Claredon Street
Copley Square
Boston, MA 02116
617-536-0944

Old State House
Washington and State Streets
Boston, MA 02109
617-720-3290

Reference Sites

BostonUSA
Boston.com
Explore New England

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How Can I Become a Member of CAA?

Click here for membership information.

If you wish to participate in CAA’s student-member listserv, send an e-mail message to STUDENTMEM-L-SUBSCRIBE-REQUEST@listserv.collegeart.org. Do not type anything in the subject line or message body. This is a “special-action” address that will automatically result in a subscription.

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People with Disabilities

CAA is committed to providing access to all individuals attending the conference. Those needing any special accommodations (e.g., sign-language interpretation, large-type print materials, transportation) should notify Paul Skiff, assistant director of Annual Conference, at least three weeks prior to the conference either in writing by fax at 212-627-2381 or by e-mail at pskiff@collegeart.org. Skiff can also be reached by phone at 212-691-1051, ext. 213.

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