First time going to Fenway - any advice?

lastexitlondon

My partner is Italian... I never knew of cannoli before..
 I do now. And nonnas will feed you so much to the point of diabetes!

Get_Right

I never liked cannolis and we had some good ones where I grew up. Lemon ice hell yes!

Poncier

BF25394 said:

Loujoe said:

If u want to meet ev...(the rest of the band just waved and cruised by) after the show...go have fun...maybe bring person you are with back to hotel...come back to fenway and wait outside with a few others. You'll find them. Last show I went to he came out to say hi at 4am. Scored a couple of picks and didn't feel like sleeping anyway.

My first Pearl Jam show was in Boston in 1994. It was also the only time I've ever met any of the core members of the band, despite having seen them 70 times now. At their hotel after the show (a guy I went to school with was from Seattle and knew where they were staying somehow; he was with me), I met Ed, Jeff and Dave in the lobby. They were all very friendly. Ed chatted with a few of us for several minutes. So did Jeff. I asked Jeff what the new songs they played that night were called, and I learned from him that the titles were "Corduroy" and "Immortality," which was pretty cool.

The Charles Hotel. 
By staying outside, I only managed to meet and chat with Mike. Had met Jeff the night before at the rear alley entry to the Orpheum pre-show.

BF25394

Poncier said:

BF25394 said:

Loujoe said:

If u want to meet ev...(the rest of the band just waved and cruised by) after the show...go have fun...maybe bring person you are with back to hotel...come back to fenway and wait outside with a few others. You'll find them. Last show I went to he came out to say hi at 4am. Scored a couple of picks and didn't feel like sleeping anyway.

My first Pearl Jam show was in Boston in 1994. It was also the only time I've ever met any of the core members of the band, despite having seen them 70 times now. At their hotel after the show (a guy I went to school with was from Seattle and knew where they were staying somehow; he was with me), I met Ed, Jeff and Dave in the lobby. They were all very friendly. Ed chatted with a few of us for several minutes. So did Jeff. I asked Jeff what the new songs they played that night were called, and I learned from him that the titles were "Corduroy" and "Immortality," which was pretty cool.

The Charles Hotel. 
By staying outside, I only managed to meet and chat with Mike. Had met Jeff the night before at the rear alley entry to the Orpheum pre-show.

Yup. See below. (The WAAF sticker is Ed; the lower right is Dave.) And I think the Orpheum was the next night, on the 12th, no?

EDIT: Are people able to see the attachment?

Ew276016

Yes it works. Love the old ticket stubs

Poncier

BF25394 said:

Poncier said:

BF25394 said:

Loujoe said:

If u want to meet ev...(the rest of the band just waved and cruised by) after the show...go have fun...maybe bring person you are with back to hotel...come back to fenway and wait outside with a few others. You'll find them. Last show I went to he came out to say hi at 4am. Scored a couple of picks and didn't feel like sleeping anyway.

My first Pearl Jam show was in Boston in 1994. It was also the only time I've ever met any of the core members of the band, despite having seen them 70 times now. At their hotel after the show (a guy I went to school with was from Seattle and knew where they were staying somehow; he was with me), I met Ed, Jeff and Dave in the lobby. They were all very friendly. Ed chatted with a few of us for several minutes. So did Jeff. I asked Jeff what the new songs they played that night were called, and I learned from him that the titles were "Corduroy" and "Immortality," which was pretty cool.

The Charles Hotel. 
By staying outside, I only managed to meet and chat with Mike. Had met Jeff the night before at the rear alley entry to the Orpheum pre-show.

Yup. See below. (The WAAF sticker is Ed; the lower right is Dave.) And I think the Orpheum was the next night, on the 12th, no?

EDIT: Are people able to see the attachment?

I met Mike the day after the Orpheum show (4/13). Was driving through Harvard Sq area for work, had known they were staying at the Charles (Boston Herald's celebrity gossip column at the time "The Inside track" had mentioned it), so diverted by the hotel and saw the bus out front running/being loaded so stopped, and was standing outside for a few minutes, one other (female) fan was there so we chatted , then all of a sudden Mike walked out and was headed right towards us. We said hello, he stopped to chat for a few minutes (he was mind blown that I had seen all 3 Boston shows, that pales in comparison to what some of the fanbase does nowadays), signed an autograph for each of us, then went off into Harvard Sq. Returned a few minutes later with a box with some coffees and Snapples and such for the guys loading the bus. didn't see any of the other guys and eventually had to move on as I was on the clock. Found out the next day (from the same column in the Herald) that Ed had stayed behind so he could go to the Celtics game even though SNL had required them in NYC for rehearsals.

BF25394

Poncier said:

BF25394 said:

Poncier said:

BF25394 said:

Loujoe said:

If u want to meet ev...(the rest of the band just waved and cruised by) after the show...go have fun...maybe bring person you are with back to hotel...come back to fenway and wait outside with a few others. You'll find them. Last show I went to he came out to say hi at 4am. Scored a couple of picks and didn't feel like sleeping anyway.

My first Pearl Jam show was in Boston in 1994. It was also the only time I've ever met any of the core members of the band, despite having seen them 70 times now. At their hotel after the show (a guy I went to school with was from Seattle and knew where they were staying somehow; he was with me), I met Ed, Jeff and Dave in the lobby. They were all very friendly. Ed chatted with a few of us for several minutes. So did Jeff. I asked Jeff what the new songs they played that night were called, and I learned from him that the titles were "Corduroy" and "Immortality," which was pretty cool.

The Charles Hotel. 
By staying outside, I only managed to meet and chat with Mike. Had met Jeff the night before at the rear alley entry to the Orpheum pre-show.

Yup. See below. (The WAAF sticker is Ed; the lower right is Dave.) And I think the Orpheum was the next night, on the 12th, no?

EDIT: Are people able to see the attachment?

I met Mike the day after the Orpheum show (4/13). Was driving through Harvard Sq area for work, had known they were staying at the Charles (Boston Herald's celebrity gossip column at the time "The Inside track" had mentioned it), so diverted by the hotel and saw the bus out front running/being loaded so stopped, and was standing outside for a few minutes, one other (female) fan was there so we chatted , then all of a sudden Mike walked out and was headed right towards us. We said hello, he stopped to chat for a few minutes (he was mind blown that I had seen all 3 Boston shows, that pales in comparison to what some of the fanbase does nowadays), signed an autograph for each of us, then went off into Harvard Sq. Returned a few minutes later with a box with some coffees and Snapples and such for the guys loading the bus. didn't see any of the other guys and eventually had to move on as I was on the clock. Found out the next day (from the same column in the Herald) that Ed had stayed behind so he could go to the Celtics game even though SNL had required them in NYC for rehearsals.

On the night of the 11th, the van was bringing them back from the Garden in pairs. Dave and Jeff were the first to arrive, and both came through the lobby, then Mike and Ed, but Mike went around the side instead of coming through the lobby. He was probably tired. Anyway, in the conversation with Ed, I asked him where they were headed next, and he said, "We're going to go do that show," in reference to Saturday Night Live. (This was only Monday. Based on your story, they must not have headed to New York until Thursday.) I just thought it was funny that he said it that way.

Poncier

Apparently, they headed out Wednesday for NYC and SNL except for Ed who hung in Boston to take in the Celtics game Wednesday night. Assume he went to NYC on Thursday.

BF25394

Poncier said:

Apparently, they headed out Wednesday for NYC and SNL except for Ed who hung in Boston to take in the Celtics game Wednesday night. Assume he went to NYC on Thursday.

Sorry. You said Ed stayed behind and I misread it as the whole band stayed behind.

PureandEasy

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

Ew276016

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Merkin Baller

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

They'll probably have a popup store on Jersey St as they did the last two times they played here... if so, the store will be open the days of the shows, as well as the off day in between. (I don't know this for a fact, but they love selling their merch, so I can't see why they would change it up now) 

If you're in & out of the Fenway area all three days, you should have a good chance of scoring everything you want. 

mpedone

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

Ew276016

OK cool! Yes, I’ll be in town for a few days so trying to plan what to see and do. Just hope standing in a merch line burn the whole day. 

Merkin Baller

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

Ew276016

LMFAO 🤣 

mpedone

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

mpedone

Ew276016 said:

OK cool! Yes, I’ll be in town for a few days so trying to plan what to see and do. Just hope standing in a merch line burn the whole day. 

We've done 4 different merch lines (Fenway in 2016 and 2018, Hamilton and Toronto in 2022). It's a couple of hours, but never felt like we'd wasted the whole day. Your other option is to make friends with someone from the area who's going to be there anyway and ask them to grab you a couple of things (don't go crazy) so that you can enjoy a city you've never seen before.

Merkin Baller

mpedone said:

Merkin Baller said:

mpedone said:

Ew276016 said:

PureandEasy said:

Went to Fenway show in 2016 and parking was $60 back then, if you can, avoid driving and having to park.  Even if it means paying extra for hotel, trust me, avoiding the traffic and parking nightmare will be worth it.  Get there early as it was a mad house.  And definitely at least do the walk around the underground concourse, a lot of cool Red Sox stuff to see, even if you're not a BoSox fan.  It's history, oldest ballpark park in the country.   Went to my first baseball game there as a young girl, fell in love with the game there.  Holds a very special place in my heart.

I am very much looking forward to seeing and feeling the history of Fenway! So I have a question about 2016 shows. Do you or anyone else remember how early the line ups were for merchandise outside the venue? Also, did they have show specific T shirts for each night? Just curious if there will be for a need to line up for both shows to get a shirt?

Definitely go the day between the shows, especially if your car/hotel isn't nearby. We did this in 2016 and 2018, and it is sooo much less stress. In 2018, the stands opened at 8:00. We got there around 7:00 (maybe a bit earlier) grabbed some coffee with our fellow weirdos, got our merch, then went and had breakfast. I don't think they did unique shirts for each night either time. I know they did for Toronto in 2016 (I am STILL jealous of the hockey jerseys (and Binaural)), but the Fenway shows have been the same merch each night. If they did do day-specific shirts, I wouldn't be surprised if they were both available the day between the shows.

In 2016 & 2018 they did have show specific shirts, posters (obvi), hats, pins, fuggin' socks, pregnancy tests, suppositories, etc etc 

But not for each night. They have multiple posters, but they had both dates. Same with the shirts.

Ah, fair point. You are correct... yes, they were venue specific, but not night specific. 

Ew276016

Perfect, so really only need to do the merch line once. One stop shopping is ideal.