We visited our grandson Paxton at Boston College in April. It was our second out of state trip since vaccination, and we were really excited to see him. We all were secretly hoping he would be a little closer to home but Paxton received a coveted 4 year Gabelli Presidential Scholarship. The program challenges the Scholars over four years during the school year and through summer programs focusing on service learning, international experience, and professional internships. Marla and I loved seeing him in his new environment!

Paxton gave us a tour of the campus starting at the old gothic “O’Connell House” on the Upper Campus.

Our immediate observation on campus and Boston in general is EVERYONE is wearing a mask! Marla and Paxton visit the Lower Campus. The campus is in Chestnut Hill about 6 miles west of Boston. The village is beautiful.

The Boston College mascot is the eagle and dates to the 1920’s.

The Gasson Hall Rotunda opened in 1913 and is a gorgeous example of college gothic architecture.

Standing 11′-3″ the imposing marble sculpture of Archangel Michael was originally commissioned for the Boston Merchant, Gardner Brewer, in 1865. Brewer died in 1874 and his estate sold it to a Boston gallery. Eventually, a Boston College Jesuit and admirer of the statue persuaded an unknown donor to purchase it for the new campus.

Paxton wanted us to experience one of his favorite places for lunch, Landwer Cafe. Originally founded in Berlin in 1919, Landwer has 75 locations in Israel and in Boston. I’ve never really had Israeli cuisine before and it was outstanding! I would give it a “double-wow” for taste!

We booked a room for Paxton at our hotel in Boston’s Back Bay area, The Lenox, for three nights so we could really connect and explore the city together. He asked us to bring an extra suitcase which he filled with books and winter clothes for us to take to Denver for him.

We truly immersed ourselves in this absolutely amazing city! We spent two days exploring the incredible Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. I will post separate blogs on these Boston treasures later. We were quite overwhelmed.

Paxton’s Mom and Dad have their favorite restaurants when visiting so we wanted to find something new for him. I made a reservation at Ma Maison in the north Beacon Hill area and about a 30 minute walk from our hotel. Masks everywhere were “de rigueur”! We loved walking through Boston Common! Dating from 1634, it is the oldest city park in the United States. British troops used it during the American Revolution.

This Japanese Lantern dates from 1587 and was gifted to Boston in 1904.

We love traveling with Paxton as he loves exploring and learning about everything.

We head up the street in the tony beacon Hill neighborhood.

I almost fell off my chair when I looked at Beacon Hill real estate. I found one nearby property at $45,000,000, one over $22 million and a number at between $8 and 12 mil. I better start saving!

The area has a beautiful little lanes.

Ma Maison was everything we had hoped for and more. This was one of the best meals we have had in the past five years! Of course I had to start with the esgargots, Marla had the seared foie gras, and Paxton the onion soup.

As it was a Saturday night the plat du jour was Beef Wellington. I had to have it!

Marla and Paxton had their favorite, a veal chop with morel sauce.

He loved his profiterole with hot fudge sauce and I ordered a chocolate souffle. Double yummmm!

Paxton arranged a lunch so we could meet a few of his class of 2024 Presidential scholars. Marla and I loved chatting with them about school, their home, and what they are studying! They are a truly outstanding group!

Newbury Street in Back Bay is a hot neighborhood for dining and shopping. It is full of young students from area schools. I think I was the only person not wearing a Harvard Medical School or Yale Law shirt.

Our last dinner with Paxton was in Boston’s North End. The area is known for great Italian restaurants.

We had such a nice long weekend with our “favorite oldest grandson.” He has always been a special soul and our moments with him are precious! We are in the Lenox lobby waiting for his Uber.

A brief goodbye as he heads back to his dorm on campus.

And…a very sad Mimi! The good news is we will see him soon when he finishes school in late May.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.