Head to the Head of the Charles

For those of you who enjoy a good rowing race later than 5 a.m., couldn't get to the Olympics to see it in person, or just want to see the entire J. Crew fall line in person, head over to the Charles River this weekend for the 41st Head of the Charles Regatta. Billed as the world's largest two-day rowing event, the Regatta could not personify Boston any more; perhaps it's the fall foliage, the groups of alumni coming to cheer on their university's team, or the hot cocoa/beers that are a flowin', but this weekend always makes Bostonist happy to be in Boston. Although the only thing we've ever rowed is a rowboat on a pond, one has to admire the more than 7,000 athletes out there on the Charles competing in one of the 24 races over the two-day event. Last year more than 300,000 spectators came, which sounds overwhelming, but since the race course spans 3 miles, there is plenty of room for all. The races all start at the B.U. Boathouse and then head upstream to the finish line, which is past the Eliot Bridge.

Bostonist always watches it on the Cambridge-side of the river because that's where one finds the best people watching. We'd also like to point out that that area is where this year's "Row-a-Palooza" (we couldn't make this up if we tried) is located, with bands playing both days at the Weeks Footbridge. (We'd also like to note that it looks like Wilma will be coming into town on Sunday, so Saturday might be the better Regatta day.)