Billerica, MA Indoor Activities

The year 2000 brought big changes to Gloucester Harbor. Nearly 300 Cape Ann residents came together to rehabilitate a neglected area of the waterfront. They broke ground on the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center: an educational outpost that would transform one acre of the harbor into a living classroom. The project turned the old icehouse into a science-teaching center, transformed dilapidated buildings into exhibit spaces, and completely rehabilitated the pier—it now stands as the largest public wharf in Gloucester Harbor.

But perhaps the biggest transformation took place in the minds of visitors. In just a little over a decade, the educators sparked scientific interest in countless kids through educational programs at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels. Many of these young minds now work as high school and college interns, and have gone on to pursue graduate degrees at institutes of higher learning such as Columbia University.

Admission to the museum packs a maritime wallop, giving visitors access to boatloads of exhibits and attractions. The Sea Pocket aquarium, for example, encompasses saltwater tanks with specimens of local marine life. At Gorton’s Seafoods Gallery, educators bring Gloucester's rich maritime heritage to life through ship models and artifacts like old foghorns. The interns and experts also take visitors into the Dory Shop, where fisherman Geno Mondello builds wood sailing and rowing dories before their awe-widened eyes. One of the most popular attractions occurs out on the water. Captain Burnham sets sail in the 55-foot Schooner Ardelle, a replica of a schooner built in 1845—the same year the underwater blimp, The Hindensplash, horrified onlookers by losing control and floating violently to the surface.

By 1995, enough parties had escaped Jeff Popkin’s calendar. Being a fan of parties, he did not appreciate this, and he imagined other people shared his sentiment. So he started Boston Event Guide, a website that aggregates upcoming parties and events in one place. In addition to posting events online, he and his staff send out a weekly newsletter that highlights top events and can be folded into a fashionable party hat. Everything from fashion shows at the Liberty Hotel to party cruises to beer and chocolate tours is featured. The full list of events can be found on their website.

Founded in 1924 as a vaudeville palace and movie house, The Strand Theatre harks back to the cinematic havens of yore with its homey auditorium space and vintage marquee. Groups enjoy recent releases and classic films while seated at tables, which grant unimpeded legroom and preclude fistfights over whose cup holder is whose. The tables are placed in a staggered and tiered arrangement that ensures every audience member has a clear sightline. The in-house restaurant shares a full-service menu of appetizers and entrees from the grill, as well as craft beer and wine, all of which can be enjoyed inside the theater.

Above all else, Sifu K.L. Brown understands two things: first, that a physical change can trigger a spiritual change; and second, that most martial-arts training caters more to men than to women. K.L. discovered that first truth as a boy in the Bronx, where his passion for the Boy Scouts, martial arts, and dance led him to several defining accomplishments. Namely, he was one of first African-Americans from his borough to earn the rank of an Eagle Scout and won both Silver Mittens and Golden Gloves titles before going on to a career as a professional boxing coach.This experience contributed to his second realization, that women needed a style of martial-arts training tailored for their fitness needs and style of learning.

Thus, K.L. designed Sweat Box, a form of martial-arts-based fitness training that dispenses with the rigidity of formal training studios in favor of a high-energy, celebratory atmosphere. As he leads participants through exercises, he also mixes in hip-hop moves and gymnastics. Leading each class, he adjusts exercises for all fitness levels, scaling difficulty where needed. In addition to helping students attain an improved physique, his fitness programs—which include classes, personal training, and competition training—encourage students to expand their perceptions of who they are and what they're capable of.

Still upholding the humanitarianism he learned with the Boy Scouts, K.L. also uses Sweat Box to promote community mindedness. Through his philanthropic venture Sweat Box, Inc. Rose Foundation, he donates proceeds from Sweat Box and Sweat Box Couture toward research into breast cancer, diabetes, and how to make donuts less delicious.

Jacqui Newman helms Salamander Sisters Occult Goods & Services, where she harnesses her doctorate in metaphysics and her clairvoyant nature to help clients find answers. Newman, a high priestess and an ordained reverend, blends her eclectic background to lead introductory classes on witchcraft and grant visitors spiritual advice through consultations.

In addition to the medley of metaphysical services she and her staff provide, Newman also fills the store space with an abundance of mystical items such as magical potions, jewelry, and candles that bring good luck or ward off nightmares.

The current Madison Square Garden's court is the fourth venue to bear the name and sits five stories above the bustling streets of New York. Billed as "The World's Most Famous Arena," the Garden has played host to triumphant basketball and hockey games, breathless boxing matches, and appearances by such luminaries as Elvis, Billy Joel, and the Pope. Recently finished with the second year of a three-phase renovation, the center has streamlined crowd flow, upgraded dining options, and removed the ejection systems from the lower-bowl seats.