We’ve previously written about Garage B’s convenience as a Boston events venue. But how familiar are you with our diverse and dynamic neighborhood of Allston-Brighton? Historically, this area of the city was farmland known as “Little Cambridge” and became one of the country’s first residential communities accessible by streetcar in the late 19th century. Today, Allston-Brighton is home to thousands of students, artists, and families as well as impactful businesses and organizations. In this blog, we’ll highlight some points of interest in our distinctive northeastern corner of the city we call home.
Garage B is sited at the Charles River Speedway, a vibrant marketplace and year-round community gathering space. The Speedway is a historic revitalization of the administration buildings that once belonged to the Charles River Reservation and were later converted to a police station and dormitories. The building now known as Garage B was a working garage in the 1940s. Through the interest of the Department of Conservation & Recreation and groups like AHF Boston, the entire campus was given new life in 2021 as the energetic, friendly hub for food and beverage, entertainment, and small business frequented by Bostonians today.
Beyond the Charles River Speedway, there are other Allston-Brighton nightlife spots that can support your wedding or other private event long after the dance floor clears. Popular afterparty locations within walking distance of Garage B include Blondie’s, a hyper-social bar with a private downstairs level, and Irish Village, a cozy and stylish pub with a dedicated lounge.
Weddings in particular also benefit from Mahoney’s Garden Center — a mere five-minute walk from Garage B — as a lush and relaxing setting for formal photography. Look at these stunning images captured by Liesl Clark Photography, who partnered with the team at Mahoney’s when this couple married at Garage B!
Garage B has hosted a number of nearby businesses’ and organizations’ off-site gatherings, marketing activations, fundraising galas, and end-of year parties. New Balance has returned to our venue for an array of event types, including film shoots and a multi-day Global Design Week workshop. BioAgilytix and QuEra, both on Soldiers Field Road, have rented our event space for company-wide sales meetings and corporate summer outings. Boston Volvo Cars, with a showroom on Beacon Street, hosted a launch party introducing new models to customers. The Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to affordable housing initiatives, brings their All Bright Night event to Garage B each October. Garage B and the Charles River Speedway also happily participate in the buzzing local music scene, occasionally hosting live performances and maintaining a working relationship with our friends at Roadrunner.
Educational institutions like Shady Hill School and German International School Boston love that Garage B can host graduation ceremonies, back-to-school training sessions, class reunions, and more. Harvard Business School and Greek life organizations from other universities enjoy celebrating semesterly formals as well as facilitating student networking events in our cool modern-industrial venue.
Garage B and the Charles River Speedway also regularly host pop-up markets and small community festivals. In fact, our friends at Brighton Bazaar opened a brick-and-mortar arts, crafts, vinyl, and vintage shop on Western Avenue at Brighton Emporium. We also welcome the annual grassroots Rat City Arts Festival and put on special site-wide activations during the Head of the Charles regatta. Indeed, Garage B can be rented for team celebrations and themed events during this destination weekend along the Charles River.
Finally, yet importantly, the next-door Charles River Community Health center not only provides top-quality and equitable medical care services but also generously supports Garage B’s weekend events with parking availability upon advance request. If you are looking to book an event at Garage B and have needs for guest parking, please contact our Senior Events Manager for more information.
We hope this has given you a strong sense of place with regard to Garage B’s location in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston. Whether you’re a longtime resident or plan to visit the area soon, consider our unique and fun venue at the Charles River Speedway for your next event!
Photography: Media by Marvin, Kataram Studios, & J-M Leach Photo + Video
Other images courtesy of Blondie’s and Irish Village.