Oktoberfest in Harvard Square

After several rainy, gray days, the sun finally came out in a big way.  It was one of those perfect fall days which was great because it was Harvard Square's Oktoberfest. 

I walked into the square and noticed a free table at The Grafton.  Of course I couldn't resist a patio lunch on such a nice day.

After lunch I spent a lot of time wandering around the square enjoying the music and festivities of Oktoberfest.  It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday!

Article 24

We met up with some friends last night at Article 24 in Brighton.  We've been here a few times before and really enjoyed it.  Our friends were coming from Framingham so this location was convenient for them. 

Article 24 is a great place to hang out.  There menu has a little bit of everything~ traditional bar food, Mexican, ramen and noodles, and flatbreads.  We all enjoyed our food and agreed that we should check out their downstairs tequila bar.  The downstairs bar is small, but can probably fit about 35 people comfortably.  The bar specializes in tequila, but also has other options if that's not your thing, and also serves several Mexican dishes.  Last night they were doing custom margaritas with fresh fruit like blackberries, strawberries, and watermelon.  I got the watermelon margarita and it was delightful.  If you like margaritas definitely check this place out.  We all enjoyed the comfy, rolling, arm chairs.  It was so nice to finally be able to catch up with our friends. 

Inman Night of Fun

It was a long week.  There was the strep throat, subtraction with regrouping, tons of school work, etc., etc.  When I got home on Friday I pretty much was done.  I was excited for the long weekend but also overwhelmed with everything that had to get done.  JO realized that the best thing we could do was to go out and enjoy the neighborhood.

First stop~ Casa Portugal!  It had been quite a while since we had been in.  I love that everyone greeted us and asked us how we had been.  As usual, the food was delicious.

Second stop~ Richards!  Richards just opened in the space previously occupied by Tupelo's.  We were excited to check out this new restaurant.  We grabbed two seats and enjoyed some bubbles at the bar.  I really love the music and my bubbles were excellent.  The food menu is a little pricey but everything we saw coming out of the kitchen looked really good.  I like what they've done with the space.  It's nothing fancy but it looks cozy.  The bar is a little bland, just a finished light tan wood, but again, it's cozy.  We'll definitely be back to check out the food.

Hot Tubs and Sunsets

Well, October has been better than September, but it hasn't been without issues.  I came down with strep throat (ughhhhhhh) and my neck and shoulders are "in spasm" according to my doctor.  It did give me a good excuse to go to Inman Oasis for a soak in the hot tub.

And then there was this gorgeous sunset so it's all good!

Anniversary Fun

I love that our anniversary is forever planned for us.  Each year we have drinks at the Kendall Hotel (where we got engaged and stayed for our wedding) and dinner at NuBar at the Sheraton Commander (where we got married.)  It's so easy and so perfect!  You know what else is perfect~ when you each by the same card for the other!

I didn't get any pictures, but NuBar was recently renovated.  They did a phenomenal job.  They got rid of the drab brown colors and replaced them with grays and blues that are beautiful.  

Boston Fun Day

By late September, it seemed like we were back on track.  I had the last day of September off from school and it happened to be a spectacular fall day.  JO also had the day off since he has been "in between jobs" since early September.  It's rare that I get to hang out with JO on my days off so we took advantage with a Boston Day of Fun!

We started with coffee outside at Tatte before heading into the city.  Our first stop was Piattini Wine Bar on Newbury.  This is my go to for patio dining in Boston.  I've never had a problem getting a table here.  Plus, the prices are excellent and the food is yummy. 

After lunch we stopped in the Boston Public Library because JO had never been.

Then we decided to finish the day with drinks at the Oak Long Bar at the Fairmont Hotel.  I had been here with a friend in August and had been wanting to make a return visit ever since. 

It was a lovely day to be out and about in the city!

Think Like a Magician~ Radcliffe Lecture Series

I've mentioned the free lecture series at Radcliffe College before.  Radcliffe hosts several free lectures throughout the year.  The topics range from current events, to politics, to feminist issues, to creative thinking.  I always love going to these lectures.

With life getting back on track, I was excited to attend "Thinking Like a Magician" featuring magician Joshua Jay.  I loved everything about this presentation.  Joshua presented his lecture just like you would think a magician would, part magic show, part philisophical musings.  (In other news~ I never knew I like watching magic tricks so much.)  Joshua was simply captivating.  I loved the tricks but I also really liked the points he made about delivering lessons to students.  You have to reel them in immediately, right off the bat.  Then, every six or seven minutes there needs to be some kind of "pay out."  I left the lecture feeling inspired.

For future events, check out Radcliffe's website.

Perfect Cure for September~ Colette

In and amongst the chaos that was our September we did find a few moments to enjoy the city.  We were lucky to be able to enjoy a beautiful fall evening with good friends on the patio at Colette. 

I can't say enough good things about Colette.  The food, wine, and ambiance are all stellar.  I love the small round bistro tables that you would see at a Paris street cafe.  If you go, definitely order the fried cauliflower.  It's cooked perfectly and has a delicious dipping sauce on the side.  I also love that the sparkling rose is served in these beautiful glasses.

It was so nice to be able to take a night just to enjoy ourselves after all of the craziness of the few weeks before.

Well, Hello Again

September was insane.  I'd love to say I didn't keep up with my blog because of school work.  Instead, September pretty much ran us over like a Mack truck. 

We dealt with a pretty serious family emergency (thankfully, everything seems to be better now) but I found myself channeling my inner Buffy wisdom.


Then, I sprained my ankle...

and got an infection in my foot a week later...

and then got a strep a few weeks after that!

So now I'm playing catch up in all facets of my life and hoping 2019 comes to an uneventful end over the next few months.