One of my good friends is moving to Portland, Oregon at the end of the week so when she suggested L'Espalier as a spot to meet up for a farewell lunch I couldn't say no. I've walked past this restaurant often and always dreamed of going in.
Eating at L'Espalier is about so much more than just the food, although the food is incredible. L'Espalier is all about the experience. Upon entering, you are directed upstairs, via the elevator. When you get off the elevator the host is waiting for you and directs you to your table. We were lucky to get a big, round table with couch like seating. We got this table because we had some bags with us and they didn't want them to be in our way. The host even asked us if we needed extra pillows.
The lunch menu is actually pretty reasonable, for a restaurant of this caliber. I went with the lobster risotto and my friend got the chicken. We were served a "chef's tasting" to start which included baked gouda and an arugula emulsion mound. I'm not sure how to describe it. It was kind of like arugula foam and was actually sweet, and not at all bitter.
My lobster risotto was served with a brown butter emulsion, green beans, and micro-greens. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the risotto was perfectly creamy. My friend got the chicken which was served with a "creamed" corn powder and burnt eggplant cream. This is the kind of place where you are just in awe of what is being served to you. After lunch we enjoyed the chocolate soufflé dessert and reminisced about the last eight years in city. Boston certainly won't be the same without this friend but I have so many great memories in the city because of her.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Inman Forever
Last week JO and I celebrated the fact that our apartment keys turned into our condo keys. Back in December it looked like we might have to leave our beloved apartment but things worked out and we get to stay. I am so relieved that this all worked out!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
A Harvard Square Night
Last night JO and I decided to go to one of our favorite places, Nubar at the Sheraton Commander Hotel. We got married at this hotel two and half years ago and it certainly holds a special place in our hearts.
It was another beautiful summer night so we decided to eat on the patio, by the entrance to the hotel. I love, love, love what they have done by adding patio seating. You are sitting right in the middle of the old world charm and sophistication of the hotel. We will definitely be visiting this patio again before the end of outdoor dining season.
The food is always delicious here and last night's meals were epic. I mean, this clam chowder
was amazing! Those clams were so flavorful. JO is convinced they injected clam juice into the bellies of the clams :-) I tried the chicken, gnocchi, and chantrelle mushroom dish and it was phenomenal. Nubar has seasonal menus, and of all the chicken dishes they have had this was the best! I think they actually sautéed the gnocchi, which added even more flavor.
After a delicious dinner we headed over to the Legal's Patio Bar. It's like a little slice of Cape Cod in Harvard Square. The patio was rocking last night and it definitely reminded me of one of the classic Cape Cod beach bars. It was a perfect night for being outside!
It was another beautiful summer night so we decided to eat on the patio, by the entrance to the hotel. I love, love, love what they have done by adding patio seating. You are sitting right in the middle of the old world charm and sophistication of the hotel. We will definitely be visiting this patio again before the end of outdoor dining season.
The food is always delicious here and last night's meals were epic. I mean, this clam chowder
was amazing! Those clams were so flavorful. JO is convinced they injected clam juice into the bellies of the clams :-) I tried the chicken, gnocchi, and chantrelle mushroom dish and it was phenomenal. Nubar has seasonal menus, and of all the chicken dishes they have had this was the best! I think they actually sautéed the gnocchi, which added even more flavor.
After a delicious dinner we headed over to the Legal's Patio Bar. It's like a little slice of Cape Cod in Harvard Square. The patio was rocking last night and it definitely reminded me of one of the classic Cape Cod beach bars. It was a perfect night for being outside!
Aeronaut Brewery
A new microbrewery opened up in Union Square, conveniently right next door to Brooklyn Boulders. The other day JO and I were leaving the rock gym when the brewery caught our eye. More specifically, we were taken with the fun, festive "party" happening outside the brewery's open doors. We decided to check it out.
We liked what we saw! The taproom has a really cool feel, with an L shaped bar and several tables with plenty of seating. Outdoor seating, while minimal, is available. We decided to taste a few varieties and we were really impressed.
We liked what we saw! The taproom has a really cool feel, with an L shaped bar and several tables with plenty of seating. Outdoor seating, while minimal, is available. We decided to taste a few varieties and we were really impressed.
Out and About
We've been doing a lot of walking lately. It's one of the things I love about living in the city. Plus, on a city walk you never know what you will see!
Technically, these first two aren't really from a walk, unless you count walking downstairs to catch some ugly clouds.
There was an accident in our neighborhood that took at street signs, and apparently leaked some sort of liquid. I loved this commentary on the situation.
Surely you've heard of Keytar Bear. Well we spotted him at the Workbar last night!
Technically, these first two aren't really from a walk, unless you count walking downstairs to catch some ugly clouds.
There was an accident in our neighborhood that took at street signs, and apparently leaked some sort of liquid. I loved this commentary on the situation.
Surely you've heard of Keytar Bear. Well we spotted him at the Workbar last night!
I was in desperate need of new sneakers, so after rock climbing in Union Square we walked over to Porter Square. After securing new sneakers we grabbed dinner at the one and only Sugar and Spice. We used to have a Spice and Rice, a sister restaurant, in Inman but it closed last year. It was such a treat to enjoy the gyoza and chicken cashew nut while dining on their super cute patio.
Seaport to Kendall- an Epic Saturday in the City
JO and I spent the night of July 4th playing video games and surfing the web. As if reading each other's minds, we turned to each other in disgust and proclaimed that we needed a plan. So we decided that we would explore Castle Island, the ICA, and the Seaport District the next day.
The weather on Saturday was absolutely splendid. The sun was shining but it couldn't have been more than 78 degrees, and there was a lovely breeze to keep things cool. We drove over to Castle Island, rented some Hubways, and proceeded to bike around Castle Island. Everything was going splendidly...
...until we were informed that you can't actually ride your bike around Castle Island. I'm still dumbfounded about this. Wasn't Boston recently recognized as the biking capital of the world? Had JO and I really stumbled upon the only place in the city you can't bike ride? Isn't Castle Island, with it's loop around the Causeway, the perfect place for bike riding? Completely confused we returned our bikes and headed back to our cars.
We headed towards the ICA, and found metered parking, easily. JO decided we needed a bit of a pick me up after the biking debacle so he steered us towards the Atlantic Beer Garden where we stopped to grab lunch. The weather was perfect for sitting on their dock, with views of the World Trade Center and boat docks. We also had a first hand look at the jelly fish invasion, which I surmised must have been caused by the hurricane.
As we ate our lunch, which was surprisingly good, we watched a bride and groom do their first look pictures on one of the boats docked across the way. We also spotted our Justice of the Peace presiding over the ceremony. That was pretty fun!
After lunch we made our way to the ICA. I do love this museum but I have to say, some of the write ups that they hang next to the art are just hysterical. I tried not to laugh out loud as black and white striped canvases and trees in cement buckets were described "as life changing" pieces of art.
We made our way to the Jim Hodges exhibit, which I must say was fantastic. My favorite was this blue door:
After the ICA we walked along the harbor walk for a ways. Again, we both agreed that we don't do this walk enough. We joked that we could've ridden our bikes here.
On our walk we had spotted a new restaurant called Gather. There was something inviting about their patio, with stellar views of the harbor, so we made our way over. We both really liked this place, and when the table behind us ordered the steamers, we agreed we would come back because they smelled so good. Our good friend ended up joining us and we spent the afternoon enjoying the view and good company. I have to say I really enjoyed Gather, and was pleasantly pleased when a few days later it received a Best of award from Improper Bostonian.
We headed back to our apartment for some Mario Kart before hitting up Tommy Doyle's for dinner. Our other friends ended up meeting us at State Park for drinks. We sat outside, at one of their picnic tables, and just enjoyed the beautiful city evening. This is truly what city living is all about!
The weather on Saturday was absolutely splendid. The sun was shining but it couldn't have been more than 78 degrees, and there was a lovely breeze to keep things cool. We drove over to Castle Island, rented some Hubways, and proceeded to bike around Castle Island. Everything was going splendidly...
...until we were informed that you can't actually ride your bike around Castle Island. I'm still dumbfounded about this. Wasn't Boston recently recognized as the biking capital of the world? Had JO and I really stumbled upon the only place in the city you can't bike ride? Isn't Castle Island, with it's loop around the Causeway, the perfect place for bike riding? Completely confused we returned our bikes and headed back to our cars.
We headed towards the ICA, and found metered parking, easily. JO decided we needed a bit of a pick me up after the biking debacle so he steered us towards the Atlantic Beer Garden where we stopped to grab lunch. The weather was perfect for sitting on their dock, with views of the World Trade Center and boat docks. We also had a first hand look at the jelly fish invasion, which I surmised must have been caused by the hurricane.
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| This picture does not do the jelly fish invasion justice. |
After lunch we made our way to the ICA. I do love this museum but I have to say, some of the write ups that they hang next to the art are just hysterical. I tried not to laugh out loud as black and white striped canvases and trees in cement buckets were described "as life changing" pieces of art.
We made our way to the Jim Hodges exhibit, which I must say was fantastic. My favorite was this blue door:
After the ICA we walked along the harbor walk for a ways. Again, we both agreed that we don't do this walk enough. We joked that we could've ridden our bikes here.
On our walk we had spotted a new restaurant called Gather. There was something inviting about their patio, with stellar views of the harbor, so we made our way over. We both really liked this place, and when the table behind us ordered the steamers, we agreed we would come back because they smelled so good. Our good friend ended up joining us and we spent the afternoon enjoying the view and good company. I have to say I really enjoyed Gather, and was pleasantly pleased when a few days later it received a Best of award from Improper Bostonian.
We headed back to our apartment for some Mario Kart before hitting up Tommy Doyle's for dinner. Our other friends ended up meeting us at State Park for drinks. We sat outside, at one of their picnic tables, and just enjoyed the beautiful city evening. This is truly what city living is all about!
Happy July 3rd?
July weather seems to be just as unpredictable as winter weather here in New England. Like a hurricane on July 4th unpredictable. Due to the inclement weather, the city of Boston decided to move the 4th of July fireworks to July 3rd.
The date switch put a snag in our plans to watch the fireworks with friends. Instead, JO and I had dinner at Atwoods Tavern (note to self- do not go here on hot days, the ac is not good!) before heading down to the Charles River, at Kendall Square, to watch the fireworks.
As we made our way to a good viewing spot we took note of the gloomy sky off to the right, and the wind that was picking up. We checked the radar on our phones (because we are those people) and it appeared that a big storm was headed our way at about just the time the fireworks would be starting. We started to wonder if the producers would make any changes to the program as we settled in for the pre-fireworks concert and we were a bit annoyed when the announcers mentioned the perfect weather, since anyone looking at the radar knew there was a situation brewing. That aside, we had a lovely Boston skyline view, and we both agreed we needed to go for walks along this stretch of the river more often.
Sure enough, just as it became "1812 Overture" time, a rather big tradition here in Boston during the fireworks, the announcers told the crowds that the decision had been made to skip the overture and begin the fireworks. There were lots of groans from the crowd but they were drowned out by the booms of the fireworks. As usual, the fireworks were beautiful.
Once the fireworks ended we hightailed it home. The wind was blowing, the temps were dropping, and it was clear a storm was about to explode. One of the things I love most about the fireworks is the fact that we can walk home. No need to worry about parking, traffic, or getting on the T with thousands of other people. As we headed home we saw lots of flashing lights in the distance. The flashes were so bright we figured they were fireworks. As we turned onto Hampshire Street we realized those flashes were actually rather vivid bursts of lightning. I for one, am not ok with being out in lightning storms, as evidenced by my reaction a few years ago when there was a storm during the fireworks. JO was trying to convince me to keep going, that we would be home soon, and it would be fine. Just as I was getting ready to put my foot down, Mother Nature intervened.
I have never, ever seen it go from no rain to horrific downpour so fast as it did this time. I went into full emergency mode. Since we were mere steps to West Bridge I made the executive decision to run inside. About twenty other people decided to do the same thing. The poor hostess seemed a bit overwhelmed. By now the rain was just coming down in sheets and the lightning was looking pretty horrific. I figured we could grab a drink and wait out the storm, but much to my dismay, we were informed they had already called last call. We could have made a run for it across the way to Tommy Doyle's, all of twenty feet, but seriously that was not an option in this storm.
After a few minutes, the bartenders decided to open back up. We grabbed two seats at the bar, had a drink, and laughed about the adventure.
I had been feeling a bit annoyed over the past few days because we had had to cancel some city plans. A spontaneous, city adventure that I will look back on for many years, was just what I needed to shake that annoyance!
The date switch put a snag in our plans to watch the fireworks with friends. Instead, JO and I had dinner at Atwoods Tavern (note to self- do not go here on hot days, the ac is not good!) before heading down to the Charles River, at Kendall Square, to watch the fireworks.
As we made our way to a good viewing spot we took note of the gloomy sky off to the right, and the wind that was picking up. We checked the radar on our phones (because we are those people) and it appeared that a big storm was headed our way at about just the time the fireworks would be starting. We started to wonder if the producers would make any changes to the program as we settled in for the pre-fireworks concert and we were a bit annoyed when the announcers mentioned the perfect weather, since anyone looking at the radar knew there was a situation brewing. That aside, we had a lovely Boston skyline view, and we both agreed we needed to go for walks along this stretch of the river more often.
Sure enough, just as it became "1812 Overture" time, a rather big tradition here in Boston during the fireworks, the announcers told the crowds that the decision had been made to skip the overture and begin the fireworks. There were lots of groans from the crowd but they were drowned out by the booms of the fireworks. As usual, the fireworks were beautiful.
Once the fireworks ended we hightailed it home. The wind was blowing, the temps were dropping, and it was clear a storm was about to explode. One of the things I love most about the fireworks is the fact that we can walk home. No need to worry about parking, traffic, or getting on the T with thousands of other people. As we headed home we saw lots of flashing lights in the distance. The flashes were so bright we figured they were fireworks. As we turned onto Hampshire Street we realized those flashes were actually rather vivid bursts of lightning. I for one, am not ok with being out in lightning storms, as evidenced by my reaction a few years ago when there was a storm during the fireworks. JO was trying to convince me to keep going, that we would be home soon, and it would be fine. Just as I was getting ready to put my foot down, Mother Nature intervened.
I have never, ever seen it go from no rain to horrific downpour so fast as it did this time. I went into full emergency mode. Since we were mere steps to West Bridge I made the executive decision to run inside. About twenty other people decided to do the same thing. The poor hostess seemed a bit overwhelmed. By now the rain was just coming down in sheets and the lightning was looking pretty horrific. I figured we could grab a drink and wait out the storm, but much to my dismay, we were informed they had already called last call. We could have made a run for it across the way to Tommy Doyle's, all of twenty feet, but seriously that was not an option in this storm.
After a few minutes, the bartenders decided to open back up. We grabbed two seats at the bar, had a drink, and laughed about the adventure.
I had been feeling a bit annoyed over the past few days because we had had to cancel some city plans. A spontaneous, city adventure that I will look back on for many years, was just what I needed to shake that annoyance!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Brooklyn Boulders
JO and I enjoy rock climbing. It was his hobby when we met and he introduced me to the sport. We used to go climbing pretty consistently twice a week for several years until the traffic to Metro Rock became too much. We found lots of "excuses" for not going but it really boiled down to the traffic. Going through Everett and Somerville at 6:30 is not for the faint of heart.
The space was designed really well. If you climb high enough you reach the huge windows at the top of the gym that have views of the Boston skyline. The wall of windows at the back, that overlook the train tracks, bring in a lot of light to the space, and make for a fun experience when the train goes by. Plus they did a super job with the artwork...you kind of can't help but feel happy there.
When we heard rumors of a rock gym opening in Union Square we were intrigued. The rumors were indeed true, and back in the fall Brooklyn Boulders opened just outside Union Square. Brooklyn Boulders has a lot going for- huge space, really high walls, yoga and pilates classes, fitness equipment, two lounges, and a shared workspace (a bit trendy but I can envision myself correcting papers there.)
The space was designed really well. If you climb high enough you reach the huge windows at the top of the gym that have views of the Boston skyline. The wall of windows at the back, that overlook the train tracks, bring in a lot of light to the space, and make for a fun experience when the train goes by. Plus they did a super job with the artwork...you kind of can't help but feel happy there.
And of course, the fact that we can walk here is pretty awesome! The walk home goes past a Thai restaurant and the Whole Foods so dinner options are really easy and the whole trip to the rock gym is a lot quicker. I think this will help me keep climbing during the school year.
I had waited to get a membership because it is a lot pricier than Metro Rock, but I lucked out and got an epic deal during their Summer Solstice sale. I was really excited to get back into climbing and yoga. I used to take yoga classes at the Lilypad in Inman but they stopped offering classes two years ago and I've definitely been missing yoga.
Since joining, I've had a chance to check out the yoga class and the fitness equipment. The yoga room is a bit brighter than most yoga studios I've been in but that's minor. The space has lots of room and the instructor was good. I've also had a chance to use the fitness equipment and I'm impressed. I really love that the treadmills have video monitors and they let you "run" in National Parks. I haven't had to wait for a machine and I love the disinfecting wipes that they have to wipe down machines, no spray bottle needed.
And of course, we've gone climbing a few times and it's been nice getting back into the swing of things. The major downside to Brooklyn Boulders is the fact that walls are wooden. Metro Rock definitely has better walls that mimic outdoor climbing a lot better. You can't use the wooden walls for any traction or footing which is disappointing but overall I'm really happy with the switch.
Sandrine's Bistro
One of the perks of summer vacation is getting to go out to lunch. Lunch is a great way to enjoy some pricier restaurants. Plus lunch out definitely reminds you that you aren't working!
Last Friday the weather was beautiful and my friend suggested we meet up for lunch in Harvard Square. After much discussion, we settled on Sandrine's Bistro. I love this restaurant, but it is a bit pricey, so we don't go here often. Although, whenever we go we say we need to come back more often.
Sandrine's is a French restaurant nestled on a side street in the Square. They have floor to ceiling windows that they open on nice days and recently added a few more seats at their bar which I mentally filed away for the next time we are looking for a place to grab a drink. The atmosphere is really great- not too fancy, not too casual and the lunch menu is full of very reasonably priced options. We were given a table in the back, which was perfect since we had a lot of catching up to do.
I got the croque-monsieur and my friend got the scallop salad. Both were delicious and I love that there is the option to get a mixed green salad instead of fries. This is a perfect restaurant for lunch in the Square, when you want it to be a bit fancier than Tasty Burger, not that there's anything wrong with Tasty Burger!
Last Friday the weather was beautiful and my friend suggested we meet up for lunch in Harvard Square. After much discussion, we settled on Sandrine's Bistro. I love this restaurant, but it is a bit pricey, so we don't go here often. Although, whenever we go we say we need to come back more often.
Sandrine's is a French restaurant nestled on a side street in the Square. They have floor to ceiling windows that they open on nice days and recently added a few more seats at their bar which I mentally filed away for the next time we are looking for a place to grab a drink. The atmosphere is really great- not too fancy, not too casual and the lunch menu is full of very reasonably priced options. We were given a table in the back, which was perfect since we had a lot of catching up to do.
I got the croque-monsieur and my friend got the scallop salad. Both were delicious and I love that there is the option to get a mixed green salad instead of fries. This is a perfect restaurant for lunch in the Square, when you want it to be a bit fancier than Tasty Burger, not that there's anything wrong with Tasty Burger!
Cambridge Dance Party
Each year the city of Cambridge throws a dance party! I love that my city does this for it's residents. They put a lot of effort into shutting down a big section of Mass Ave, rerouting buses, setting up sound systems and lighting systems, and keeping us safe. This year's dj could have been a bit better but it was a blast nonetheless.
Sweet Summer Vacation
The clock struck 3:15 on June 23rd and I was officially on summer vacation! I couldn't wait to do my favorite summer thing- mornings in Harvard Square.
When I first moved to Watertown I spent weekend mornings wandering around the Square, drinking coffee. I reveled in the fact that I could get into Harvard Square so easily and I loved window shopping and learning the ins and outs of the Square. As the years passed I went from window shopping, to bringing a book with me and reading while I had my coffee. I somehow stumbled on the tables and chairs in Harvard Yard and it's been perfection ever since!
I love how peaceful the yard is in the mornings. Last year they put up some cool tarps that block the sun, so even on a hot day it's still reasonable in the morning. This year I had to find a new place to get coffee as my go to Dunkin Donuts closed...but have no fear, there are three more in the Square.
I've only been able to go in three times since vacation started, due to this hot, sticky weather, but I've loved every moment I've been able to spend my mornings this way.
When I first moved to Watertown I spent weekend mornings wandering around the Square, drinking coffee. I reveled in the fact that I could get into Harvard Square so easily and I loved window shopping and learning the ins and outs of the Square. As the years passed I went from window shopping, to bringing a book with me and reading while I had my coffee. I somehow stumbled on the tables and chairs in Harvard Yard and it's been perfection ever since!
I love how peaceful the yard is in the mornings. Last year they put up some cool tarps that block the sun, so even on a hot day it's still reasonable in the morning. This year I had to find a new place to get coffee as my go to Dunkin Donuts closed...but have no fear, there are three more in the Square.
I've only been able to go in three times since vacation started, due to this hot, sticky weather, but I've loved every moment I've been able to spend my mornings this way.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Brass Union
We used to really love The Precinct, in Union Square, but once they switched chefs it all went downhill. Their food used to be consistently good and it was a great place to grab dinner outside. When they got the new chef we gave it a few more tries before pulling the plug for good. Apparently we weren't the only ones that were turned off, as the restaurant closed a few months ago and reopened recently as Brass Union.
We were looking for a place to watch the USA/Portugal game. We headed over to Hit Wickett, which is always empty. We headed over there 45 minutes before the match was set to start. I thought that was a bit excessive for Hit Wickett, but to our surprise it was jam packed. We were at a loss, since the only place with seating in our neighborhood was Bukowski's, but it's not our favorite. That's when I remembered that Brass Union had just opened and had posted on Facebook that they were showing the game.
We headed over there and easily got a big, round booth directly in front of one of the tvs. I love, love, love what they have done with the decor. The front room features lots of dark wood work, the white and black hexagon floor tile that's timeless, and the gargoyles from Capital Grille's original location on Newbury Street. The back room is more casual, with couches, red velvet drapes, board games, and shuffleboard (shuffleboard is apparently a trend now, by the way.) I loved their flooring so much that I've been dreaming of it and wondering if it would work in our bathrooms, or kitchen, if we ever remodel.
The menu is rather eclectic, and it reminds me of Trina's. The food is a bit overpriced, but the drinks are very reasonable, so I feel like it's a nice balance. Everything we got was delicious. The southern fried chicken wings were crispy and delicious, served with a buttermilk ranch dressing and some kind of fancy red pepper sauce. We tried the cauliflower and cheese- delicious! They have a Portuguese hot dog which was also top notch. We also tried the grilled corn which had lovely, just the right spice, sauce on it and the french fries which were served with a boursoin sauce. I really want to go back to try the steak frites and lobster pasta.
They finally opened up a patio this past weekend and I hear they have cornhole in the lower patio. I think this is a great addition to Union Square and I will definitely make it a point to come back.
We were looking for a place to watch the USA/Portugal game. We headed over to Hit Wickett, which is always empty. We headed over there 45 minutes before the match was set to start. I thought that was a bit excessive for Hit Wickett, but to our surprise it was jam packed. We were at a loss, since the only place with seating in our neighborhood was Bukowski's, but it's not our favorite. That's when I remembered that Brass Union had just opened and had posted on Facebook that they were showing the game.
We headed over there and easily got a big, round booth directly in front of one of the tvs. I love, love, love what they have done with the decor. The front room features lots of dark wood work, the white and black hexagon floor tile that's timeless, and the gargoyles from Capital Grille's original location on Newbury Street. The back room is more casual, with couches, red velvet drapes, board games, and shuffleboard (shuffleboard is apparently a trend now, by the way.) I loved their flooring so much that I've been dreaming of it and wondering if it would work in our bathrooms, or kitchen, if we ever remodel.
The menu is rather eclectic, and it reminds me of Trina's. The food is a bit overpriced, but the drinks are very reasonable, so I feel like it's a nice balance. Everything we got was delicious. The southern fried chicken wings were crispy and delicious, served with a buttermilk ranch dressing and some kind of fancy red pepper sauce. We tried the cauliflower and cheese- delicious! They have a Portuguese hot dog which was also top notch. We also tried the grilled corn which had lovely, just the right spice, sauce on it and the french fries which were served with a boursoin sauce. I really want to go back to try the steak frites and lobster pasta.
They finally opened up a patio this past weekend and I hear they have cornhole in the lower patio. I think this is a great addition to Union Square and I will definitely make it a point to come back.
Kendall Square for the Night
Due to all those snow days, my vacation didn't get to start until a Monday. I stayed at school really late on Friday and on the drive home I started craving a night in Kendall Square. Lucky for me, JO was thinking the same thing.
After dinner at Tommy Doyle's, we hung out at the West Bridge patio until it got a bit too chilly. We decided go to State Park, which is a newer bar that we discovered a few months ago. We spent the night playing shuffleboard with a group of German students we met. Apparently I'm pretty good at shuffleboard.
In between rounds, I may or may not have dumped most of my quarters into the pinball machines. I can't say it enough- they really nailed the decor in this place. You definitely feel transported to some bar in the middle of Montana and you feel like it's been around for a long time. In fact, JO was recently there last week with some friends and one of them was stunned when he said the place was just a few months old.
It was the perfect way to kick off summer vacation, even though I still had one more day of work to deal with.
After dinner at Tommy Doyle's, we hung out at the West Bridge patio until it got a bit too chilly. We decided go to State Park, which is a newer bar that we discovered a few months ago. We spent the night playing shuffleboard with a group of German students we met. Apparently I'm pretty good at shuffleboard.
In between rounds, I may or may not have dumped most of my quarters into the pinball machines. I can't say it enough- they really nailed the decor in this place. You definitely feel transported to some bar in the middle of Montana and you feel like it's been around for a long time. In fact, JO was recently there last week with some friends and one of them was stunned when he said the place was just a few months old.
It was the perfect way to kick off summer vacation, even though I still had one more day of work to deal with.
World Cup Fever
I love all kinds of global sporting events. I love the way sports can bring all types of people together. I especially loved seeing my students so excited. I work in a very diverse school system and the World Cup gave my kids from soccer loving nations a chance to be in the spotlight. It was so fun to see them show up to school in their country's jerseys, with face paint on game day. I loved the way they beamed when they talked about their favorite players and the look in their faces when they came in the day after a game and shared the highlights with me in the hallway.
Not only was the World Cup a big hit at school, it's a big hit here in Inman Square! Anchored by Midwest Grill, the Brazilian steakhouse in our neighborhood, all of the restaurants have flags and decorations for the World Cup. I love seeing all the excitement and pride in our neighborhood. I love seeing people walking around in their jerseys, talking shop.
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| Hit Wickett was ready for the tournament |
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| Midwest Grill |
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| Love that Midwest Grill had all three neighborhood flags flying! Class act! |
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| Bom Cafe getting into the action |
The Portuguese Parade was held on the same day as the USA vs. Portugal game. I loved that the World Cup float featured the USA soccer crest. The spirit was undeniable in our neighborhood and I'm actually kind of glad the game ended in a tie, for the sake of the neighborhood.
Also, the World Cup gives us another reason to go to Parlor Sports to catch the games. We went during the first weekend of the tournament. In true Parlor Sports fashion they had some special touches for the World Cup- beers from around the world and the national cocktail of Brazil, a caipirinha (which is my new favorite summer drink btw.) We were sandwiched between the Argentinean crowd and the Bosnia Herzegovina fans, which was a lot of fun.
The Red House
June is a special kind of "fun" for elementary teachers. There are report cards to complete, end of year tests to score, bubbles to color in, children to keep in control, you get the picture! With less than ten days to go I was in need of a night in Harvard Square.
We tried to go to Daedalus but it was a long wait to get on the roof deck, and the June tiredness was sitting in, so we made a bee line for The Red House. I love this place!!! The patio is beautiful. If you don't believe me, click on the link for a beautiful pic of the patio. The white lights and red siding on the building are the perfect setting for a dinner outside.
I love the patio so much that I often forget how good the food is. The restaurant does a lot of "farm to table" dishes. We decided to get the scallop appetizer. I'm not a scallop fan but I would order these again. They were thin, seared perfectly, and on a delicious bed of fresh veggie cream sauce. Also, the bread is pretty epic...we may have asked for seconds. I got the tomato and artichoke pasta dish. Most of the pastas are made in house and you can really taste the difference.
We had a great night and all I could think about was summer vacation!
We tried to go to Daedalus but it was a long wait to get on the roof deck, and the June tiredness was sitting in, so we made a bee line for The Red House. I love this place!!! The patio is beautiful. If you don't believe me, click on the link for a beautiful pic of the patio. The white lights and red siding on the building are the perfect setting for a dinner outside.
I love the patio so much that I often forget how good the food is. The restaurant does a lot of "farm to table" dishes. We decided to get the scallop appetizer. I'm not a scallop fan but I would order these again. They were thin, seared perfectly, and on a delicious bed of fresh veggie cream sauce. Also, the bread is pretty epic...we may have asked for seconds. I got the tomato and artichoke pasta dish. Most of the pastas are made in house and you can really taste the difference.
We had a great night and all I could think about was summer vacation!
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