Over the past few weeks I've definitely had Olympic Fever. I love the Olympics... not just for the sports but for the great stories. I'm a big believer in the power of sports, and the importance of sports in culture. I think back to 9/11 and how sports offered a chance to escape the reality of the world for a few hours. I love how the Olympics can unite an entire country... how many of us are watching the gold medal hockey game right now?
As a tribute to the Olympics here are my top ten moments from the 2010 games!
10) Not a sports moment...but still very memorable... Steve Nash's look of sheer panic when the Olympic torch didn't rise out of the stadium floor quite as planned.
9) Kim Yu-Na's long program skate in ladies figure skating. Four minutes of flawless and flowing skating. A performance for the ages.
8) Lindsay Vonn and Bode Miller win golds in skiing!
7) The Chinese pair of Shen Xue Zhao Hungbo come out of retirement to win the one event that had alluded them during their amazing career. They were supposed to win 4 years ago but an Achilles heel injury left them with the bronze. Last year they started training and now they are Olympic champs!
6) Evan Lysacek wins gold in men's figure skating. I've followed his career over the past few years and I didn't think he keep his nerves under control. What a great performance and so happy for his coach Frank Caroll who finally has his Olympic Champion.
5) Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir winning the ice dancing gold for the host country. They were magical on the ice.
4) Anna Friesinger-Postma falling during the end of speed skating race but still managing to throw her body across the finish line to win the race.
3) Petra Madjik (sp?) wins a bronze medal in cross country skiing despite falling off the course into a ravine during the morning practice lap.
2) Shaun White's "victory" lap in the half-pipe competition. Having already secured the gold, he put down a run that not only earned more points than his first but also featured the 1260 McTwist.
1) Johannie Rochette's short program skate. The Canadian figure skater competed just days after her mother's sudden death.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Switching it Up
On Friday night we headed up to Portsmouth, NH to visit a few good friends. Cambridge and Boston have so much to offer, but it's always nice to venture out and visit another city.
I think of Portsmouth as an over-sized Harvard Square. It's filled with tons of great restaurants, shops, and boutiques. As an added bonus, the beach is just down the street. The only major difference is the lack of a local college. The local colleges in Cambridge and Boston definitely give the area a certain type of energy you don't find in Portsmouth. Not that that is a bad thing... it's just a different feeling.
We hit up Ri Ra Irish Pub for dinner where we had the most attentive waitress I have ever met. I especially enjoyed when my friend dropped her fork on the ground and the waitress swooped in out of no where with a new set of silverware... before my friend had even gotten up from trying to pick up the fork. After dinner we went to Cava. What a great place... I loved the downstairs bar. It had some really beautiful stonework and the selection was quite extensive.
The rest of the weekend flew by as usual. At least we're one week closer to April vacation... and March Madness is just around the corner!!!
I think of Portsmouth as an over-sized Harvard Square. It's filled with tons of great restaurants, shops, and boutiques. As an added bonus, the beach is just down the street. The only major difference is the lack of a local college. The local colleges in Cambridge and Boston definitely give the area a certain type of energy you don't find in Portsmouth. Not that that is a bad thing... it's just a different feeling.
We hit up Ri Ra Irish Pub for dinner where we had the most attentive waitress I have ever met. I especially enjoyed when my friend dropped her fork on the ground and the waitress swooped in out of no where with a new set of silverware... before my friend had even gotten up from trying to pick up the fork. After dinner we went to Cava. What a great place... I loved the downstairs bar. It had some really beautiful stonework and the selection was quite extensive.
The rest of the weekend flew by as usual. At least we're one week closer to April vacation... and March Madness is just around the corner!!!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Because Shaun White Rocks!
...and I still have that Olympic crush!
A Lesson In Higher Education
As his rivals unleashed ever more difficult—and dangerous—double corks, high-flying Shaun White simply did everything better, winning gold again and extending U.S. dominance of the halfpipe
Sunday, February 21, 2010
A Perfect Saturday
With temperatures soaring into the 40s it felt like a great night to spend in Boston. No hats for us!
Seeing as the ten day forecast calls for 8 days of a wintry mix it was apparently one of our last chances to be outside in the city :-)
We decided to go to the North End with our friends. We had dinner at Massimino's Cucina Italiana. This is a favorite restaurant of mine but their ability to hold a reservation is horrible. Despite that the food is delicious, the portions large, and the price is right! We had a really lovely dinner with great conversation. It's so nice to have friends that understand and respect your life choices.
After dinner we decided to continue to take advantage of the "balmy" weather by stopping at the Omni Parker House Hotel Boston for a drink before heading home.
Truly a perfect Saturday night in the city!
Seeing as the ten day forecast calls for 8 days of a wintry mix it was apparently one of our last chances to be outside in the city :-)
We decided to go to the North End with our friends. We had dinner at Massimino's Cucina Italiana. This is a favorite restaurant of mine but their ability to hold a reservation is horrible. Despite that the food is delicious, the portions large, and the price is right! We had a really lovely dinner with great conversation. It's so nice to have friends that understand and respect your life choices.
After dinner we decided to continue to take advantage of the "balmy" weather by stopping at the Omni Parker House Hotel Boston for a drink before heading home.
Truly a perfect Saturday night in the city!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Take That Winter!!!
What a great week! From UConn, to cross country skiing, to the beach I had such an awesome vacation.
I also developed an Olympic sized crush on Shaun White, two time Olympic gold medal winner, and his amazing hair. In case your curious like me, here's the answer to: How Shaun White Keeps His Hair Looking Lush.
I mean seriously, his hair is perfect. Julia Roberts would be jealous of his red locks. But enough about the "Flying Tomato." I still have a few more hours of vacation to enjoy.
Monday, February 15, 2010
A Much Needed Break!
Friday marked the start of winter break... and not a moment too soon. This past week was one of the craziest I have ever experienced. Here's a few links in case you're curious. Of course I can't comment on any of this but it did make for a crazy week.
Waltham parents grill administrators over bullying (with video)
Assistant principal in charge at Waltham's Plympton Elementary
Waltham parents demand answers on bullying
Needless to say I couldn't wait for Saturday to roll around. We headed out on a Connecticut adventure. Our first stop was the Jonathan Edwards Winery. Although the wines weren't as good as the last time we were there, it was a lovely way to spend a winter day. We were able to get chairs in front of the fireplace and just relax, something I don't remember doing in a long time. Leaving the winery with no wine meant that I had a little extra spending money to use at the Co-Op at UConn!
I picked up this super cute hoodie that I can't wait to wear.
We managed to get into to Gampel just in time to see Tina Charles inducted into the Huskies of Honor. This is definitely something she deserves and it was exciting to see her number up there. She is definitely the epitome of why Geno is such a great coach.
The game was rather disappointing. We did win, and kept the 10+ winning margin streak alive, but the refs made the game so choppy. There was no flow at all. It didn't help that the woman sitting next to me asked me to refrain from cheering because she had a bad ear infection. Ughhh!
Sunday we hit up one of my favorite restaurants in Harvard Square. Small Plates Restaurant Tapas is full of charm. It's located in what looks like a country cottage. In the summer they have an adorable outdoor patio decorated in white Christmas lights. It's nearly impossible to get a seat outside but we've had good luck in the past and it's definitely a great way to spend a beautiful summer night. I've never eaten inside but was definitely thrilled with the quiet atmosphere inside.
We started with the fall/winter partagar plate which was a sampler of hummus, Thai marinara sauce, brie, fruits, sausage, leeks, and grilled vegetables. I love the spring/summer version of this plate, but the winter one held its own. We also tried the grilled lamb chops and espresso bistro steak. Both of these dishes are out of this world... and the root vegetable mash served with the steak is amazing!
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to have lunch or dinner in Harvard Square. Also, check out the "Tapas Hour" deals for $5 tapas and wine specials. The wine selection is also really good!
After dinner we headed over to The Brattle Theatre - Harvard Square. This theater is a gem of Harvard Square. They have an annual Valentine's Day showing of Casablanca and this year marked our 4th year going. The movie is perfection...every scene is impeccable. One of the newer features of The Brattle is the beer and wine selection at the concession stand. Valentine's Day, Casablanca, and wine...the perfect combination. After the movie it was still pretty early so we decided to grab dessert at The Grafton before walking home. I think it was a perfect Cambridge day and it makes me dream of summer nights in the square...Legal Seafood's outdoor bar, Charlie's Kitchen, Dadelous, etc.
As a result, I am currently keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be any snow tomorrow...it was too nice out today!!!
Waltham parents grill administrators over bullying (with video)
Assistant principal in charge at Waltham's Plympton Elementary
Waltham parents demand answers on bullying
Needless to say I couldn't wait for Saturday to roll around. We headed out on a Connecticut adventure. Our first stop was the Jonathan Edwards Winery. Although the wines weren't as good as the last time we were there, it was a lovely way to spend a winter day. We were able to get chairs in front of the fireplace and just relax, something I don't remember doing in a long time. Leaving the winery with no wine meant that I had a little extra spending money to use at the Co-Op at UConn!
I picked up this super cute hoodie that I can't wait to wear.
We managed to get into to Gampel just in time to see Tina Charles inducted into the Huskies of Honor. This is definitely something she deserves and it was exciting to see her number up there. She is definitely the epitome of why Geno is such a great coach.
The game was rather disappointing. We did win, and kept the 10+ winning margin streak alive, but the refs made the game so choppy. There was no flow at all. It didn't help that the woman sitting next to me asked me to refrain from cheering because she had a bad ear infection. Ughhh!
Sunday we hit up one of my favorite restaurants in Harvard Square. Small Plates Restaurant Tapas is full of charm. It's located in what looks like a country cottage. In the summer they have an adorable outdoor patio decorated in white Christmas lights. It's nearly impossible to get a seat outside but we've had good luck in the past and it's definitely a great way to spend a beautiful summer night. I've never eaten inside but was definitely thrilled with the quiet atmosphere inside.
We started with the fall/winter partagar plate which was a sampler of hummus, Thai marinara sauce, brie, fruits, sausage, leeks, and grilled vegetables. I love the spring/summer version of this plate, but the winter one held its own. We also tried the grilled lamb chops and espresso bistro steak. Both of these dishes are out of this world... and the root vegetable mash served with the steak is amazing!
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to have lunch or dinner in Harvard Square. Also, check out the "Tapas Hour" deals for $5 tapas and wine specials. The wine selection is also really good!
After dinner we headed over to The Brattle Theatre - Harvard Square. This theater is a gem of Harvard Square. They have an annual Valentine's Day showing of Casablanca and this year marked our 4th year going. The movie is perfection...every scene is impeccable. One of the newer features of The Brattle is the beer and wine selection at the concession stand. Valentine's Day, Casablanca, and wine...the perfect combination. After the movie it was still pretty early so we decided to grab dessert at The Grafton before walking home. I think it was a perfect Cambridge day and it makes me dream of summer nights in the square...Legal Seafood's outdoor bar, Charlie's Kitchen, Dadelous, etc.
As a result, I am currently keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be any snow tomorrow...it was too nice out today!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Trata, Unity Games, and Adventures in Twirling
Yet another super busy, stressful week down. With the 100th day of school fast approaching I can't tell you how much I wish I was getting ready for summer vacation instead of February vacation.
When I got home on Friday all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and watch House Hunters...but I knew I would regret it. So instead I put on my puffy jacket and we headed off to Harvard Square. I really wanted to try some place new so we went to Trata Kitchen & Bar. Trata is located right next door to my favorite Harvard Square restaurant Daedalus Resturaunt. Daedalus was quite tempting but we stuck to our "try something new" plan and went to Trata.
Perhaps it's because it's right next door to Daedalus, or the fact that the menu doesn't match the decor, that I've written this place off countless times. JO and I did go here for drinks back in December, and I did enjoy my Preseco, but I did not enjoy sitting in front of the brick oven in one of my heaviest sweaters. Needless to say I didn't have high expectations for Trata.
I'm not above admitting I was wrong, and I was definitely wrong about Trata. The atmosphere was great, the menu choices mouthwatering, and food delicious. They offer a great drink menu, some really unique pizzas and sandwiches, and great entree choices. I had such a great time and I can't wait to go back. Of course, I'm still partial to Daedalus but Trata will certainly get put in the restaurant rotation.
After dinner I was craving a creme brulee. I've been on this mission in Harvard Square before, with disastrous results, but I decided to give it a shot again. As usual, just when I was about to give up JO saved the day by suggesting GRAFTON STREET. The Grafton is also a favorite of mine. Lucky for us they had creme brulee and an available table in the bar...despite people standing ten deep.
On Saturday JO and I wen to Unity Games-XVI. We got to play a lot of new European board games. My particular favorite was Small World | Board Game | BoardGameGeek. The game's slogan is, "It's a Slaughter World After All." The game is not at all as violent as it sounds...in fact my people were Flying Giants and Wealthy Skeletons.
Today I went to my favorite twirling contest of the year...Miss Majorette and State Championships of New Hampshire. As usual, it was a great day and I even made it back with two minutes to spare before the Super Bowl.
This great weekend is sure to help me deal with the week ahead...of course I'm already looking forward to next weekend. UConn, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Small Plates, and Casablanca at the Brattle....
And Vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I got home on Friday all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and watch House Hunters...but I knew I would regret it. So instead I put on my puffy jacket and we headed off to Harvard Square. I really wanted to try some place new so we went to Trata Kitchen & Bar. Trata is located right next door to my favorite Harvard Square restaurant Daedalus Resturaunt. Daedalus was quite tempting but we stuck to our "try something new" plan and went to Trata.
Perhaps it's because it's right next door to Daedalus, or the fact that the menu doesn't match the decor, that I've written this place off countless times. JO and I did go here for drinks back in December, and I did enjoy my Preseco, but I did not enjoy sitting in front of the brick oven in one of my heaviest sweaters. Needless to say I didn't have high expectations for Trata.
I'm not above admitting I was wrong, and I was definitely wrong about Trata. The atmosphere was great, the menu choices mouthwatering, and food delicious. They offer a great drink menu, some really unique pizzas and sandwiches, and great entree choices. I had such a great time and I can't wait to go back. Of course, I'm still partial to Daedalus but Trata will certainly get put in the restaurant rotation.
After dinner I was craving a creme brulee. I've been on this mission in Harvard Square before, with disastrous results, but I decided to give it a shot again. As usual, just when I was about to give up JO saved the day by suggesting GRAFTON STREET. The Grafton is also a favorite of mine. Lucky for us they had creme brulee and an available table in the bar...despite people standing ten deep.
On Saturday JO and I wen to Unity Games-XVI. We got to play a lot of new European board games. My particular favorite was Small World | Board Game | BoardGameGeek. The game's slogan is, "It's a Slaughter World After All." The game is not at all as violent as it sounds...in fact my people were Flying Giants and Wealthy Skeletons.
Today I went to my favorite twirling contest of the year...Miss Majorette and State Championships of New Hampshire. As usual, it was a great day and I even made it back with two minutes to spare before the Super Bowl.
This great weekend is sure to help me deal with the week ahead...of course I'm already looking forward to next weekend. UConn, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Small Plates, and Casablanca at the Brattle....
And Vacation!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Cheese Fest!
We have Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving, Meat Fest, and now we have Cheese Fest! What a great night... the cheeses were so delicious, but more importantly the company was fantastic. I'm pretty sure Cheese Fest will become a regular part of the event rotation.
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