And this barber shop dolls out wisdom with their haircuts!
And for a pretty margarita~ go to Ole!
Thursday, June 28, 2018
You Never Know What You'll See
It must have been "Take Your Action Figures to Work Day" at this local business.
And this barber shop dolls out wisdom with their haircuts!
And this barber shop dolls out wisdom with their haircuts!
Free Shows at Club Passim
The Small World show featured a trio who learns songs shared to them by immigrants and an string ensemble who played some really great fusion pieces.
The Johnny Irion show was really good. He has a really interesting back story. He's married to Arlo Guthrie's daughter and sang "Old Man Trump" at a campaign rally for Bernie Sanders. The Woody Guthrie archive had asked him to take the Old Man Trump song and rework it for modern times. His songs were really heartfelt and the lyrics were lovely. He opened with a beautiful and timely song about the importance of not closing off borders which pretty much made the audience cry.
Club Passim is such a special place and whenever I see a show there I feel really lucky.
Longfellow's Coffee
I decided that this summer, even if it is raining or really hot out, I'm going to make a real effort to go out for coffee in the morning. On the first rainy day of summer I headed over to Longfellow's. Longfellow's shares the same space as Lamplighter Brewery (a concept I think is great- coffee by day, brewery by night, no wasted time.) Longfellow's is super cute, with solid coffee, and a great deal on unlimited refills of house hot coffee. I keep forgetting about how they have Union Square Donuts. One of these days I will remember to not eat breakfast before going there! I'm hoping to explore a few other coffee spots during mornings where Mother Nature prevents me from going to Harvard Square so I don't feel like I'm missing out (and yes, I have FOMOOSM~ Fear of Missing Out on Summer Mornings.)
Boston Day of Fun
When Mother Nature gives you a perfect weather day you need to take advantage! That's exactly what I did on Tuesday. With the sun shining and temps in the low 70s I had the perfect plan!
First, (I bet you can't guess this), coffee in the Square. I stayed an extra long time because a heatwave is coming next week and also I witnessed a field trip gone awry and I couldn't tear myself away. (It's so weird to be on the other side. I wan't to go over and hug the teachers and point them in the direction of the nearest bar, but obviously I didn't.)
Next I headed in to Newbury Street to get a table at Piattini Wine Cafe. This place is really great. I have never once not been able to get a patio seat, the food is delicious, and the prices are great. It's also a perfect place for a solo lunch. The tables are small and lots of tourists and business people dine here so you don't feel strange eating alone. As I was leaving, a waitress brought out several pasta dishes and I immediately sent JO a text letting him know we had to come back soon! Seriously, the pasta smelled delicious!
After lunch I stopped in to some of my favorite stores for some window shopping as I made my way along Newbury Street. This is such a great place for people watching and it really is one of the prettiest areas of the city. The sidewalks are wide, brick buildings line the street, the trees are really well manicured and covered in white lights, and the storefronts oscillate between street level and garden level in this really lovely way. It's a really relaxing part of the city with a good mix of expensive and affordable shopping options.
I'm not quite sure when I can have another city day like this because look at this horrible forecast! (FYI- I hate heat waves!)
First, (I bet you can't guess this), coffee in the Square. I stayed an extra long time because a heatwave is coming next week and also I witnessed a field trip gone awry and I couldn't tear myself away. (It's so weird to be on the other side. I wan't to go over and hug the teachers and point them in the direction of the nearest bar, but obviously I didn't.)
Next I headed in to Newbury Street to get a table at Piattini Wine Cafe. This place is really great. I have never once not been able to get a patio seat, the food is delicious, and the prices are great. It's also a perfect place for a solo lunch. The tables are small and lots of tourists and business people dine here so you don't feel strange eating alone. As I was leaving, a waitress brought out several pasta dishes and I immediately sent JO a text letting him know we had to come back soon! Seriously, the pasta smelled delicious!
After lunch I stopped in to some of my favorite stores for some window shopping as I made my way along Newbury Street. This is such a great place for people watching and it really is one of the prettiest areas of the city. The sidewalks are wide, brick buildings line the street, the trees are really well manicured and covered in white lights, and the storefronts oscillate between street level and garden level in this really lovely way. It's a really relaxing part of the city with a good mix of expensive and affordable shopping options.
I'm not quite sure when I can have another city day like this because look at this horrible forecast! (FYI- I hate heat waves!)
Friday Fun
Whereas Thursday was spent mostly napping, Friday was filled with lots of various summer activities.
Of course, the day started with coffee in the Square. It was a gorgeous morning with a beautiful breeze flowing through the Yard.
Next up was a 5K through East Cambridge!
I couldn't pass up a patio lunch at Amelia's!
Some quality time with the kittens!
And then, Friday night we headed into Allston for a night of fun across the river. After a "garlicky" Uber ride,
We had dinner at Article 24, a fun bar near Zone 3 in Allston. We've been here a few times and it's pretty solid. I mean, I'm not going to go out of my way to go to this place but if I'm in the area then count me in. The food, prices, and service are all pretty solid.
After dinner we headed over to Aeronaut Allston. Ali McGuirk was playing the late set and I didn't want to miss it! (Ali McGuirk is awesome and you should Google, Spotify, or Itunes her right now.) Aeronaut Allston is a great idea. Aeronaut Brewery hosts a beer garden with live music on Wednesdays and Fridays at Zone 3 (a community arts space created by Harvard.) We went last year and it was great. Not to crowded, good beer, and a really fun time.
Well, fast forward a year and apparently everyone knows about Aeronaut Allston. We jumped in the line at the entrance, that was now extending over a block. It seemed to be moving but taking a look inside it looked pretty crowded. I didn't care thought because I wanted to see Ali McGuirk (seriously, listen to her album now!) Unfortunately, while we were in line we found out the Ali was sick and wouldn't be able to play the set.
I didn't really want to deal with the crowds so we decided to head over to Our Fathers, a new restaurant and gin bar everyone seems to be raving about. It showed up on Boston Eater's cocktail map a while back and I immediately made plans to go with a friend of mine who also loves gin. It's also shown up in Boston Magazine's patio edition and Improper Boston. I figured I would scout it out for my friend since we were going the next weekend.
Ummm, I'm in love! First, I can't say enough about the awesome made for Palm Springs mid-century modern decor. Seriously, this place could get transported to the strip in Palm Springs and fit right in. The bar is rather big and covered in this recycled glass material with pops of green. The back wall is painted a really beautiful team and there are touches of mid-century wood throughout. The bar is really neat because the wall is actually a window that can open allowing for a wrap around section outside. I'm not explaining this really well but look at this picture and you'll see what I mean.
Second, the cocktails and glassware! Wow, so many gin options. And their wine list is fantastic. JO
got the watermelon gin drink and I got the Southside (minus the bubbles from the Hawthorne, but I didn't really miss them.) I have a thing for awesome glasses and I think the glass my cocktail came in was delightful and matched the vibe of this place perfectly.
Later on, when I ordered my sparkling rose (yes, this is a thing and it is delicious) I told the bartender I loved the glass and shared my disdain for stemless sparkling wine glasses and he concurred. Bubbles belong in proper glasses and this place totally gets it. This glass was perfection!
After drinks we decided to walk home since the weather was so lovely. Along the way we saw some fun sights!
When we arrived home, my watch told me I had racked up 10+ miles which means I had a fabulous summer day!
Of course, the day started with coffee in the Square. It was a gorgeous morning with a beautiful breeze flowing through the Yard.
Next up was a 5K through East Cambridge!
I couldn't pass up a patio lunch at Amelia's!
Some quality time with the kittens!
Look at the toe point and tail curl!
And then, Friday night we headed into Allston for a night of fun across the river. After a "garlicky" Uber ride,
 |
| I really don't understand this, but we definitely were going to be safe from vampires! |
After dinner we headed over to Aeronaut Allston. Ali McGuirk was playing the late set and I didn't want to miss it! (Ali McGuirk is awesome and you should Google, Spotify, or Itunes her right now.) Aeronaut Allston is a great idea. Aeronaut Brewery hosts a beer garden with live music on Wednesdays and Fridays at Zone 3 (a community arts space created by Harvard.) We went last year and it was great. Not to crowded, good beer, and a really fun time.
Well, fast forward a year and apparently everyone knows about Aeronaut Allston. We jumped in the line at the entrance, that was now extending over a block. It seemed to be moving but taking a look inside it looked pretty crowded. I didn't care thought because I wanted to see Ali McGuirk (seriously, listen to her album now!) Unfortunately, while we were in line we found out the Ali was sick and wouldn't be able to play the set.
I didn't really want to deal with the crowds so we decided to head over to Our Fathers, a new restaurant and gin bar everyone seems to be raving about. It showed up on Boston Eater's cocktail map a while back and I immediately made plans to go with a friend of mine who also loves gin. It's also shown up in Boston Magazine's patio edition and Improper Boston. I figured I would scout it out for my friend since we were going the next weekend.
Ummm, I'm in love! First, I can't say enough about the awesome made for Palm Springs mid-century modern decor. Seriously, this place could get transported to the strip in Palm Springs and fit right in. The bar is rather big and covered in this recycled glass material with pops of green. The back wall is painted a really beautiful team and there are touches of mid-century wood throughout. The bar is really neat because the wall is actually a window that can open allowing for a wrap around section outside. I'm not explaining this really well but look at this picture and you'll see what I mean.
 |
| That's the outside world behind the glasses |
Second, the cocktails and glassware! Wow, so many gin options. And their wine list is fantastic. JO got the watermelon gin drink and I got the Southside (minus the bubbles from the Hawthorne, but I didn't really miss them.) I have a thing for awesome glasses and I think the glass my cocktail came in was delightful and matched the vibe of this place perfectly.
Later on, when I ordered my sparkling rose (yes, this is a thing and it is delicious) I told the bartender I loved the glass and shared my disdain for stemless sparkling wine glasses and he concurred. Bubbles belong in proper glasses and this place totally gets it. This glass was perfection!
After drinks we decided to walk home since the weather was so lovely. Along the way we saw some fun sights!
When we arrived home, my watch told me I had racked up 10+ miles which means I had a fabulous summer day!
Harvard Square Mornings for Real!
Of course the first thing I did on my first day off was go to Harvard Square, get coffee, and read a book! And of course I thought to myself, "I live here! I am so incredibly lucky to live here!"
Day of Freedom!
There is nothing sweeter than the sound of the bell at 3:00 on the last day of school! It was extra sweet this year. As those millennials like to say, the struggle was real this year. I felt like I was behind from the beginning of the year, and I never really caught up. I missed both the fall and spring hiking seasons because of the immense amount of school work I had to do and I had to deal with a sprained ankle, sleep problems, and a month of unexplained muscle aches and pains. I really needed summer vacation and I think I have really earned it this year. So when that bell rang, I zipped right out of school and was home in record time.
I had some time to kill before JO got home so I headed over to Tatte in Kendall for a coffee and some reading. It's amazing how the school stress just kind of rapidly exits your body! Within an hour I felt completed settled into vacation mode.
When JO got home we headed out for a celebration night out! In planning the evening we went through a huge list of restaurants we could go to (patio dining was a must) but finally settled on a new place near the Prudential. I don't know what kind of rock I've been living under that I haven't heard of Porto before now. With a great location adjacent to the Pru, food my Jody Adams, a big patio and outdoor bar, and expansive dining room and lounge space inside (I love the inside- modern Mediterranean), it's pretty much perfect. They scored major bonus points because they let us reserve a table on the patio (which would not have been available otherwise.)
The elevated patio is great. It's got Edison bulbs strung about and views of the Copley Square sign. Ring Road is relatively quiet which makes for a peaceful evening. Sometimes those patios on Boylston Street can get really loud. I love that there is a bar on the patio (perfect for when you just want to drink a glass of wine outside but don't necessarily want to order food.)
We ordered our wines (a prosecco for me and a pinot noir for JO.) Both were delicious but JO's was especially delicious.
Porto's menu is all about small plates, although they also serve some main dishes and half and full portions of pasta. We opted for the small plates. We sampled the street corn, burrata, lobster lettuce wraps, and the grilled lamb chops. Delicious, delicious, and more delicious. The service was also great. Our waiter was friendly, informative, and had no problem letting us take our time with the menus and ordering. The prices were really reasonable and having learned more about the restuarnt since our visit, they also offer drink specials on their patio. Porto is definitely going to be taking a place in our restaurant rotation.
After dinner we tried to get on the roof deck of Earl's at the Pru. This ended up being a horrible experience and I have no desire to ever go back. This was a bit of a setback because we were looking for a place to get another drink outside (which is actually a bit challenging in this part of the city.) It was a beautiful night out so we decided to walk over to the Fenway area to go to The Hawthorne. Unexplainably, the patio was empty so we grabbed two seats and continued the city fun!
This place never disappoints. They have excellent customer service and great drinks. I asked for something with mint, gin, and bubbles and they made me a South Side. It's a delicious concoction and was the perfect drink to toast summer vacation!
I had some time to kill before JO got home so I headed over to Tatte in Kendall for a coffee and some reading. It's amazing how the school stress just kind of rapidly exits your body! Within an hour I felt completed settled into vacation mode.
When JO got home we headed out for a celebration night out! In planning the evening we went through a huge list of restaurants we could go to (patio dining was a must) but finally settled on a new place near the Prudential. I don't know what kind of rock I've been living under that I haven't heard of Porto before now. With a great location adjacent to the Pru, food my Jody Adams, a big patio and outdoor bar, and expansive dining room and lounge space inside (I love the inside- modern Mediterranean), it's pretty much perfect. They scored major bonus points because they let us reserve a table on the patio (which would not have been available otherwise.)
The elevated patio is great. It's got Edison bulbs strung about and views of the Copley Square sign. Ring Road is relatively quiet which makes for a peaceful evening. Sometimes those patios on Boylston Street can get really loud. I love that there is a bar on the patio (perfect for when you just want to drink a glass of wine outside but don't necessarily want to order food.) We ordered our wines (a prosecco for me and a pinot noir for JO.) Both were delicious but JO's was especially delicious.
Porto's menu is all about small plates, although they also serve some main dishes and half and full portions of pasta. We opted for the small plates. We sampled the street corn, burrata, lobster lettuce wraps, and the grilled lamb chops. Delicious, delicious, and more delicious. The service was also great. Our waiter was friendly, informative, and had no problem letting us take our time with the menus and ordering. The prices were really reasonable and having learned more about the restuarnt since our visit, they also offer drink specials on their patio. Porto is definitely going to be taking a place in our restaurant rotation.
After dinner we tried to get on the roof deck of Earl's at the Pru. This ended up being a horrible experience and I have no desire to ever go back. This was a bit of a setback because we were looking for a place to get another drink outside (which is actually a bit challenging in this part of the city.) It was a beautiful night out so we decided to walk over to the Fenway area to go to The Hawthorne. Unexplainably, the patio was empty so we grabbed two seats and continued the city fun!
This place never disappoints. They have excellent customer service and great drinks. I asked for something with mint, gin, and bubbles and they made me a South Side. It's a delicious concoction and was the perfect drink to toast summer vacation!
Summer Day Trip~ Ogunquit, ME
JO's parents are living their best retired lives! Sometimes they invite us to tag along. For Father's Day, they booked a resort in Ogunquit by the water and invited us up for a day of relaxing. I love this part of Maine (disclaimer, I really haven't explored too many parts of Maine). The coastline is beautiful and there are lots of shops and restaurants to enjoy. I definitely prefer coastal Maine to the Cape. I really hope we make it back up here sometime before next year.
Anyways, we lucked out with the weather. It was a gorgeous day with temps in the mid 70s. The sky was filled with wispy clouds and there was lots of sunshine.
We spent some time on the patio (I love that JO's mom had some prosecco for me)
Walked along the Marginal Way (note to self- we need to come back and walk the entire thing)
Ate steamers and lobster
And watched the sun set!
It was a perfect New England day!
Anyways, we lucked out with the weather. It was a gorgeous day with temps in the mid 70s. The sky was filled with wispy clouds and there was lots of sunshine.
We spent some time on the patio (I love that JO's mom had some prosecco for me)
Walked along the Marginal Way (note to self- we need to come back and walk the entire thing)
Ate steamers and lobster
And watched the sun set!
It was a perfect New England day!
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