boston

a fancy night out at the BPL + a boston restaurant list.

November 16, 2012

First and foremost, let’s talk about how amazing the Boston Public Library is.

It is nothing short of an absolute dream and the closest to heaven that I think I’ve ever been.

You too?

Good. Glad we got that off our chest.

But really, this is not a post about the Boston Public Library. Not today anyways.

This post is about bottomless glasses of prosecco.

And fancy finger foods.

And the 30 best up-and-coming foodies in Boston.

Perfect.

Tuesday night Rachael and I gathered for a night of fun at Zagat’s 30 Under 30 Party at the BPL. When R emailed me about the event I was instantly sold.

A night at the library in “cocktail party fancy attire?” HELLO. YES.

Celebrating delicious food and beverages? Take. me. there.

Plus, I just really like spending time with Rachael.

So Tuesday we celebrated the latest and greatest up-and-coming culinary geniuses in the Boston area. The night was meant to celebrate the 30 young (under 30) entrepreneurs, chefs, mixologists, and culinary artists, and they absolutely deserved to be recognized (meet the food stars here), but I’ve decided to share the places where you can get a taste of their work– their businesses! Restaurants, bars, food markets, and even a grilled cheese shop on wheels.

Here’s a list of the honoree’s businesses categorized by city and neighborhood:

Boston

Back Bay-

Grill 23 & Bar

Post 390

Deuxave

Towne Stove & Spirits

South End-

Stir

Toro*

Kenmore Square-

Island Creek Oyster Bar*

Fenway-

Jamaica Plain-

Fort Point-

Downtown Crossing-

Cambridge

Formaggio Kitchen* (also in the South End)

Harvard Square-

Kendall Square-

Somerville

Inman Square

Trina’s Starlite Lounge and Parlor Spirits

Union Squre

Davis Square-

Watertown

Newton

All About Town

Roxy’s Grilled Cheese*

Cow and Crumb Baking Company

Backlash Beer Company

WOW. What a list, right?

Kind of makes me giddy.

The links marked with an asterisk* are the ones that I myself have been to (and I can speak highly of all of them), but as you can see I have a lot of dining to do. Attending this event has got me all excited about the great food industry in Boston. My wallet might start to suffer soon, but my taste buds sure won’t.

Tell me, have you been to any of these places?

And if you’re not living in or around Boston, then what on earth are you waiting for? COME VISIT US!

Once again I am incredibly proud and inspired by this city. This night was just one of those nights where I fell more in love than ever.

Thanks for being awesome, Boston. You’re the best.

And thanks for inviting me, Rachael! Seriously, so fun– I had such a nice time! ♥

11 Comments · Filed Under: boston, food ·

good thoughts for a friday in november.

November 9, 2012

Friends! HEY!

I feel like it’s been awhile since we’ve seen each other. Seen? Heard? Read? Hmmm….

I’m going to have to sit on that one for a bit. This whole blogging thing totally boggles my mind sometimes. AND I LOVE IT.

So… what have I been up to this week…good thoughts, good thoughts. Let’s see…

Last weekend I spent another weekend in Boston (evidence above!). I met up with Clair and Mackenzie for coffee, which is my favorite, and strolled Newbury Street and the Public Garden with my holiday spirit in full force. This coming weekend will bring yet another Saturday and Sunday at home. There is sleeping in to do! And crafts to be done! And Netflix to watch! It’s all so exciting. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever spend another weekend away again or if I will just be in Boston FOREVER. Just kidding! I know I will travel again! But this might be the longest streak ever in the state of Massachusetts, or so it feels. And it feels pretty good.

On Monday and Wednesday I participated in the most incredible workshop at school, Family Stories in Picture and Writing. I worked on collage art and spent my time writing down and telling my dad’s story. It was such a wonderful experience and incredibly important for me to record and write down. The artwork aspect of the story telling is amazing, and I’m considering sharing some of the artwork I did here on this ‘ol blog. I think you guys will be impressed! It’s also amazing and wonderful to me how everyone can be successful while doing this artwork and writing– and I’m so excited to try this literature project with my own first graders.

On Tuesday morning we exercised our right to vote, and on Tuesday night we cheered and cheered and danced along to Stevie Wonder’s soul single with a smile in our eyes and pride our hearts. You go, Mr. President, YOU GO!

I’ve been making handmade decorations for the holidays and even had to break out my hat and gloves on Thursday morning because of the SNOW! I don’t like cold, but I’m having a hard time doing too much complaining with this stuff in my kitchen. Y.U.M. With enough hot chocolate and six full seasons of Dawson’s Creek to dig into on Netflix, I think I’m officially all set for winter. BRING IT.

Other things I’m loving?

This Hip Handmade Holiday E-book. So fun!

This dry shampoo. I wash my hair twice a week now! Not even kidding!

This She & Him Christmas record. Our turn table always gets the most use around the holidays.

These killer leopard print boots. Target! $14.50 on sale! Gleee!

This best-selling book. Wow. I finished it last week and I cannot stop thinking about it. It’s truly an incredible story.

And, last but not least, the new instagram profile pages and pinterest secret boards! I, for one, think they’re both pretty rad.

Any good thoughts you want to tell about?

♥

Happy Friday, friends! And, as always, HAPPY WEEKEND!

16 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, fall, gifts, handmade, holiday, life ·

let’s go to harvard square.

October 31, 2012

Yesterday was our second day off because of Superstorm Sandy.

The first day I was bored out of my mind, and the second, which we spent in Harvard Square, was much MUCH better. I don’t know if you can tell this about me or not through this place that is the internets, but I am one of those people who cannot sit still. I am a mover and a shaker. So Monday, I almost didn’t make it through due to restlessness.

BUT I did. AND I’m here. And all is well.

In all seriousness, though, that storm was pretty terrible. PEOPLE OF NY! I’ve been thinking about you tons! And I love you all! Especially, ESPECIALLY you who are my friends. Thoughts and prayers, everyone. So many thoughts and prayers.

We were lucky through the storm and only had minor house shakes (due to wind) and only just the slightest flicker of power loss. Really, it was nothing much at all. We stayed inside all day Monday with our candles ready and our sugar supply high and by the end of the night the only thing dwindling was the mega bag of pumpkin reese’s I bought for the trick-or-treaters (whoops).

The pictures in this post are all from our Tuesday frolic in Harvard Square. Harvard Square is super close to where we live so we decided to head over there for the afternoon to spend a little time in Cambridge. We got burgers at Flat Patties, shopped at Black Ink and Anthropologie, treated ourselves to some Burdick’s, and even went (finally!) to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. It was incredibly impressive and is now added to my “Best of Boston” list (which I’ve never written down, but definitely carry around in my head). After our trip to the museum we ended up at… big surprise… Border Cafe. What can I say. Except it’s just OUR FAVORITE.

Were you affected at all by the storm? If so, I sincerely hope everything’s alright and that you’re safe. If you were in the path of Sandy did you have a “hurricane day”, too? How did you spend your days off?

(Fingers crossed you drank hot chocolate and ate Mexican.)

Also, what are your favorite spots in Harvard Square? Tell me your secrets!

Wishing you all well. Xo.

19 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, food, life ·

tea time!

October 29, 2012

This past Saturday I had the loveliest blogger adventure of all time. Or, at least, the loveliest adventure in my blogger existence. Natalie, Rachael and I finally went for afternoon tea at the Taj. I say finally because it’s been on the calendar since the beginning of September– and in the works since as far back as August!

The experience was really all around wonderful. It was such a special thing to do and I’m glad I had a chance to do it with such terrific women.

Here they are, my pretty blogger friends…

Having High Tea made me feel very fancy. Kind of like a grown-up Eloise.

Tea at the Taj takes place in the The French Room (so elegant!) overlooking Newbury Street. You can choose from just tea and pastries, or tea, pastries, and finger sandwiches, too. We went with the latter, because, well, why ever not? It’s not every day you have afternoon tea at the Taj. We all agreed that once in awhile it’s important to live a little.

The pastries were delicious! As was the tea (we chose vanilla earl grey). I ate and drank so much that I thought I might burst, but it was all absolutely worth it.

So much about this adventure was worth telling about.

There was the tea.

And the food.

And the violin player.

And the atmosphere and decor.

But my favorite was the company and the conversation. I love when I can find friends that I’m comfortable with, friends who I find interesting and who take an interest in me, and friends who share commonalities. That’s what starts a friendship though, isn’t it? We are all book (and blog) lovers, keepers of childhood memories, and Boston enthusiasts. We are all appreciators of the details and I’m so happy for our time spent together.

Doesn’t it look magical?

IT IS. I promise!

Have you ever been to High Tea at the Taj?

Do you have a birthday, or a special occasion? Want an excuse to get together with friends? Or just feel like being fancy? Whether you live in Boston or are just visiting, you should put this on your must-do list.

I’m SO glad I did.

11 Comments · Filed Under: boston, friends, life ·

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