If you haven't started already, you will likely spend the next four years telling people you go to school in "Boston," thus avoiding the conversation-stopping word--"Harvard."

In spite of the fact that we all claim to go to school in Boston, very few of us head across the Charles River and actually go to the city. And no, a trip to the airport to escape this God-forsaken area of the country in the middle of winter doesn't count.

Contrary to your parents' opinion, you will not spend all your waking hours at the College studying. And perhaps even contrary to your own opinion, you will not spend all your waking hours drinking--or at least you don't have to.

You'll likely be in class less than a dozen hours a week. With sports and extracurriculars, most of us were in high school a dozen hours a day.

So unless you choose to wed yourself to an extracurricular organization (by the way, The Crimson's open house is on Friday, Sept. 20), you're going to have a lot of free time.

I'd recommend coming up with something interesting to do with it.

Now, there is of course lots to do in the Square. But there's much more to do in Boston (and I'm told that nobody who lives there calls it Beantown--so I wouldn't recommend that you do either).

And for a limited time only, you can have this free, exclusive guide to Boston just for paying your tuition bill and showing up for registration. Here are my top picks for spending a lazy afternoon or evening:

* The Top of the Hub Restaurant: I'll admit that the food is probably not worth the price you pay, but the view from the top of the Prudential Center certainly is. The newly-renovated restaurant has two rows of tables up against floor-to-ceiling windows, affording each patron a fabulous view of the city.

Particularly prominent from the restaurant are MIT and Fenway Park. It makes a great dinner spot before a formal, especially if you're feeling romantic. And if you're not willing to fork over the big bucks for dinner, the Prudential also features a nearly 360-degree observation tower. They will still charge you, though.

* The John F. Kennedy Library: The Kennedys are certainly Massachusetts' royal family, and you are now attending their traditional alma mater. (Even the handsome and still eligible John-John, though not a grad, has been known to stop by from time to time.) And the library, accessible via a convenient and complimentary shuttle bus from South Station, is the perfect place to feed a Kennedy obsession. The museum, which details JFK's life from his entrance into politics through his assassination is well done, and the library is extensive.

As a bonus, the grounds offer a spectacular view of the airport and Boston Harbor.

* The Theater: Boston's elegant old theaters feature some of Broadway's biggest shows. I've seen "Les Miserables" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," among other performances. And since you're now the proud owner of a Harvard ID card, you're eligible for student rush tickets. Just before the show, most of the theaters sell their left over seats deeply discounted. But call ahead to find out what time student rush goes on sale and show up early, because the lines do get long.

* The North End: Boston's Italian neighborhood features many hole-in-the-wall restaurants with great pasta and good wine. I won't recommend any one in particular; just start walking through the area and pick one. You probably won't go wrong. Pick a second restaurant for dessert, and continue to explore the neighborhood, genuine gelato in hand. While you're in the North End, visit the sites of your high school U.S. history class: Paul Revere's home and Old North Church (home of "One if by land, two if by sea." And if anyone asks, it was two and by sea.)

* The Boston Ballet: The company is based in the historic Wang Center, a facility grand enough to have hosted the infamous Quad-wide formal several years ago. It's worth going to the Wang just to see the building. Sometimes they also show old movies on a giant screen. But the Boston Ballet is also quite good. In addition to their traditional Christmas performance of "The Nutcracker" (which was completely overhauled last winter), they do innovative works. Last year they performed Shakespeare's comedy "Taming of the Shrew."