261 at Para Maria: A Boston Pop-Up Celebrating Women’s Sports

Boston is experiencing a surge in enthusiasm for women’s sports, marked by the arrival of new professional teams and growing fan interest. To celebrate this momentum, The Envoy Hotel has launched 261 at Para Maria, a pop-up bar dedicated to women’s athletics, open from March 19 through April 30.

Honoring a Trailblazer

The pop-up’s name, 261, pays tribute to Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, who wore bib number 261. The concept aims to honor the legacy of pioneering athletes and the LGBTQ+ community’s contributions to women’s sports, even as also celebrating the current growth of women’s athletics in Boston.

A Hub for Women’s Sports Fans

Located at The Envoy Hotel’s ground-floor restaurant in the Seaport, 261 at Para Maria is designed as a dedicated space for watching events like the Boston Legacy, the Boston Fleet, and the NCAA Women’s March Madness Final Four. The space will host sporting event watch parties and themed discussions.

Menu and Exhibits

The pop-up features a menu created by two-time Chopped winner, Tatiana Rosana, with items like “Switzer’s Sliders” (mini Nashville hot honey chicken sandwiches) and the “Kathrine Spritzer” cocktail. A photo exhibit showcasing moments in women’s sports history, curated from The Boston Globe’s archives, lines the walls, featuring Switzer alongside other athletes with ties to Boston and New England, including Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman and rowers from Connecticut College.

Supporting the Next Generation

261 at Para Maria is partnering with Dream Big!, a Boston-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping girls and young women from low-income backgrounds participate in sports. A dollar from each of the two specialty cocktails sold will be donated to the organization.

Boston’s Growing Women’s Sports Scene

The launch of 261 at Para Maria coincides with a period of expansion for women’s sports in Boston. The city is now home to the Boston Fleet, a professional women’s hockey team that began play in 2024, and Boston Legacy FC, a National Women’s Soccer League expansion club that debuted this month. A women’s MLB team is also expected to launch later this year.

Para Maria is located at 70 Sleeper St., Boston and is open from 7 a.m. To 11 p.m. Daily.