Things To Do in Springfield, MA

Dr. Seuss's Neighborhood

The grandparents of the writer and illustrator who called himself Dr. Seuss lived on Springfield's Mulberry Street, and in 1937, he named the first of his dozens of children's books . . . And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. (The book was rejected by 27 publishers before finding a home at Vanguard Press.) Theodor Seuss Geisel followed up with such classics as The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Over 200 million copies of his books have been sold, and they've been translated into 15 languages.

Geisel spent most of his adult life in California, but much of his inspiration for his children's books can be traced to Springfield. His drawing of Bartholomew Cubbins's castle bears a strong resemblance to the Howard Street Armory, and some of his landscapes look as if they were recalled from his playtime in Forest Park, near his boyhood home at 74 Fairfield St.

Mulberry Street still has some of the charm of its august years, with Victorian manses outnumbering the undistinguished apartment buildings along its length.

Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., at East Columbus Avenue (tel. 413/788-7033; www.symphonyhall.com), is a venue for touring musicals such as Hairspray and Chicago, children's shows, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra's main season runs September through May, and during the summer it performs outdoor concerts locally and in the Berkshires. Its box office is around the corner at 1350 Main St. (tel. 413/733-2291; www.springfieldsymphony.org).

An ever-changing collection of beer-and-pool joints, music bars, and eateries lies along downtown Worthington and Bridge streets near our two recommended hotels. Among the possibilities are Theodore's Booze, Blues & BBQ, 201 Worthington St. (tel. 413/736-6000; www.theobbq.com), showcasing blues bands on Friday and Saturday; and the Fat Cat Bar & Grill, across the street at 232 Worthington St. (tel. 413/734-0554), with live music and other entertainment.