rooftop magic.

rooftop magic // dearfriendblog.comrooftop magic // dearfriendblog.comrooftop magic // dearfriendblog.comrooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //rooftop magic //

A picnic on the roof last night enjoying the sunset overlooking the city.

I don’t know if a better evening exists.

It was the perfect temperature, warm, but breezy, filled with delicious food and drinks, and friends that always make me smile.

I had a really long day yesterday. Doing this and doing that, driving here and driving there. Traffic e v e r y w h e r e. The one upside to being busy is when the day is through and all the doing is done you really feel like something spectacular. And last night was SPECTACULAR. Natalie and I headed over to Rachael’s for a little summer soiree on the roof. We climbed through her office window and made our way up the slanted shingles until we arrived at the tip top– a wide open space with the most amazing views of the city. I brought a blanket and some pastries, Natalie brought some wine and cheese. Rachael supplied the crackers and the view. And Joe! Dear Joe kept us cozy with sweaters and candles and drinks– the tastiest I’ve had in awhile.

Last night was the perfect way to end a day. Real rooftop magic — the sweet summer kind. 

spring!

SPRING // dear friend blog

Spring! It’s really here at last! For awhile there I didn’t dare say the word– you know, lest winter decided to show it’s face again– and I just didn’t feel it was fair to toy with my emotions like that. But this week! Well this week I have certainly been dancing to the sweet songs of spring.

I hope you’re enjoying my west coast posts as much I am enjoying putting them together. It’s fun to be reliving our days out there, and it’s also fun to be blogging so much again, too. It’s been pretty good since we got back into town. At school, our big “Second Grade Day” came and went without a hitch. The parents came and the kids showed off their hard work and projects and everything was grand. I have really loved this year. It has been challenging and it has been GOOD. As the year comes to a close I find myself wanting to hold on just a little bit longer to this group of kids. This always happens– May comes and then June, and I get all clingy and nostalgic. Every time without fail. I think it’s because we always get into the best groove right towards the end and I love that SO SO much. 6 weeks left and it’s going to fly right by.

The weekends lately have been for enjoying springtime in the city. Last Saturday I ventured to the South End and yesterday I spent the afternoon in Fort Point. Both are areas of the city that I LOVE. It’s been such nice weather {even despite the rain} that I feel this energy and love towards Boston. THIS always happens each year as well. Spring marches in and I get passion eyes for this city all over again. Cheers to you, Boston, and your places and your people. Spring really suits you.

spring // dear friend blogspring // dear friend blog spring // dear friend blog

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HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all you mothers out there,
and your mothers and grandmothers,
And loving women everywhere!

I love you, MOM!!!! XO

neptune oyster

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On the night of his 30th birthday {back in December}, I took Zan out to Neptune Oyster in the North End. I’d walked by it many times, the bold lettering and rows and bunches of the yellowest lemons always standing out to me. This night we took our first steps inside, into the coziest little Oyster Bar this city ever did see. We loved that night in the North End. We put our names in {the wait is never not a long one} headed down the street for some pre-dinner drinks and hurried back when they called us just under an hour later. We sat at the bar and had a feast for a king— oysters, and johnny cakes, and hot lobster rolls for the win. We left so full and so satisfied. The flavors were rich, and decadent, and delicious.

4 months later and I’m still thinking about the magic.

Neptune Oyster
63 Salem Street
North End, Boston

{I’ve also put it back on my “To Do in Boston” list, simply so I can visit again!}

when your friends come to town…

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Oh, my friends! They came and they stayed and they played. And just as I suspected it would be {the best}, it was.

Two weeks ago tonight my high school friends flew, and drove, and bussed it up to Boston. We did all the best things, of course, filling our days with good food and good conversation. We walked along the Charles River for views of the Boston skyline and drank wine in my living room well into the night. On the third day we walked through the city, filling our hearts with hometown Basketball and our bodies with pretzels and Harpoon Beer. I loved this weekend with all my might, and if I had my way, I’d choose this all the months of the year. It sucks sometimes being so far from your friends, but it always makes the visits that much better. You savor, you know? We most certainly did.

Here’s a few of the details from our weekend in the Bean:

EAT // Border Cafe + Flour Bakery + Duozo Sushi + The South End Buttery

STAY // We stayed at the Westin one night because FANCY! {It was wonderful.}

PLAY // Boston Public Library + Harpoon Beer Hall + MY LIVING ROOM <—– the best spot of all.

We ate at all my go-to places, and since the BPL was so close to the hotel, I brought the girls in for the views {they are the most glorious in the city}. The Harpoon Beer Hall was one of my favorite spots of the weekend— I’d been wanting to go for just about forever and what a perfect chance to visit with friends. The space is AMAZING, the beer, of course, fantastic, and! Pretzels of every kind! I chose the cinnamon and sugar and MMMMMM MMMMM GOOD.

When I really think about it, the best of all we did was the time we spent in my house. We were cozy and comfortable, exactly the way it should be. Most of all, I want to remember the music we played, the dinner we made, the time we spent talking together. And that warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing you belong.

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I loved this weekend and I love these friends. Forever and ever AMEN.