Now that St. Patrick’s Day is over, we can concentrate on the second best excuse for throwing a party during the day in Boston – Marathon Monday! Are you cash strapped? Does your company want to party in style at the finish line? We’ve got options for you and everything in-between! 

Free fun! Watch and cheer with the fans along the route.

–  Broke:  You eat Ramen noodles five nights a week and have student loan payments higher than your one-bedroom rent in the North End. Not to worry, watching from the sidelines of the big race can be fun and exciting once you find the right spot. Take your pick of the 26.2 miles, but our recommendation for the best place to watch is Kenmore Square. As the Red Sox game ends at around 1pm, the second wave of runners hit the 1 mile to go mark.  There is extra sidewalk space in this area around Beacon Street, with cheap eats available at UBurger, Scoozi and food trucks on Commonwealth Avenue.

Boston Marathon Party
…Probably none after too many Vita Cocos and Vodka.

–  Friends in High Places:  Maybe you are lucky enough to have a friend live along the Marathon route. If that’s the case, offer to help them throw a party! Incorporate costumes and runners’ gear like shorts, striped socks, headbands and colorful tanks. Head to iParty to get pom poms, whistles and bells for when the runners begin to go by. Make some Marathon mixed drinks with Gatorade and Vita Coco. The food can be simple and race-inspired as well – think bagels, bananas, granola bars and pasta salad.

–  Quiet Comfort:  If crowds aren’t your thing, but you’ve got a budget to work with for yourself, get your friends together and reserve space at Anthem Kitchen + Bar in Faneuil Hall. Relax away from the Marathon route, but feel like you’re in the action while you watch full coverage on TV. Anthem is featuring bottomless pasta for $10 and they are also serving Samuel Adams delicious 26.2 brew on tap.

The Marathon Beer for Runners and Spectators
At least you can carbo-load like a runner.

–  Cover Charged:  Head to any number of Beacon and Boylston bars leading up to the finish line. Some charge a cover, but some are completely free to get in. Check the restaurants’ Facebook pages to see what kind of parties they are hosting and how your group can score a table to eat and drink in between cheering the runners on outside.

Party in Style at the Finish Line
The Action at the Finish Line – View from The Lenox Hotel.

–  Ballin’:  Picture this – 100 of your closest friends or colleagues sipping mimosas at 10am and noshing on crab cake benedict. When you are full and relaxed, take just 10 steps to Boylston Street as the first runners of the day rush past the roaring crowds. Spend all afternoon at your own little party spot at the epicenter of the Marathon. Go all out by hosting a VIP party of your own, or perhaps your company wants to sponsor a day of fun for employees and/or clients. Both City Bar and City Table at The Lenox Hotel are available to rent out for events on Marathon Monday. City Table is available from 10am-4pm for 100-130 people and City Bar is open at 10am for up to 70. 

Rent City Table restaurant for your Marathon Party
Party in style at City Table in the Back Bay.

Now that you have ideas for how to spend the day, you just have to worry about the recovery. Hopefully you won’t have any bruised toes.

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