New Camera and Casa de Portugal

I just got a new camera in anticipation of our amazing road trip through the National Parks of Utah and Colorado. I tested out the camera on my morning walk to Harvard Square. So far summer vacation has included a lot of Harvard Square, watching soccer, going to the gym, and relaxing!
I couldn't help but take a picture of these. Blue is my favorite color!


This was my old reading spot. I'm really hoping the chairs and tables come back!

My current reading spot. A bit to loud for my liking but it will have to do.
I might try this spot tomorrow...but I don't love it being on the grass.... to much potential for bugs :-)


I spent some quality time at The Coop today trying to figure out what I should put on my summer reading list!

Earlier this week JO and I tried Restaurant Casa Portugal, a neighborhood restaurant here in Inman. I've walked by this place a hundred times and I can't believe we just now tried it out. The best word to describe the food was clean, crisp flavors. I got the shrimp in butter and garlic and it was served with homemade potato chips and a rice pilaf. JO got a chicken and vegetables dish that was also quite scrumptious. Everything was very simple but beautifully cooked. I will definitely be headed back there. The atmosphere reminded me of a small restaurant in the North End and would be a perfect place for a celebratory dinner or night out with good friends. I'm definitely excited to add this place to our restaurant repertoire!

Summer Vacation Resolutions

Ahhh....Sweet Summer Vacation is finally here! With summer vacation comes lots and lots of free time. I resolve to do the following:

• Spending most mornings in Harvard Square
• Once a week I plan on doing some Urban Hiking from the Public Gardens, down Newbury Street, and back home
• We have to eat at East Coast Grill and Tupelo because we've lived in Inman for a year and half and I'm embarrassed to say we haven't eaten at either of these neighborhood favorites
• Spending some lovely days at the rooftop pool at The Colonnade Hotel
• Mega road trip to Utah and Colorado
• Spending quality time at Daedalus, Small Plates, and my other favorite Harvard Square restaurants
• A boat trip to the Boston Harbor Islands
• A day trip to Martha's Vinyard
• And most importantly.... relaxing, relaxing, relaxing!
  

Harvard Square in the Morning

After celebrating a great friend's birthday at The Precinct Bar last night I was looking forward to an early morning coffee in Harvard Square.

This is something I started doing a few summers ago when I was living in Watertown. Harvard Square was a quick 10 minute bike ride from my house and when I was on summer vacation I started going into the Square every morning for coffee. Back then I used to grab my coffee and head over to Winthrop Park, the small "park" area in front of Upstairs on the Square, or JFK Park behind the Charles Hotel. I would enjoy my coffee and do some summer reading. These spots were fine but one day I happened to walk through Harvard Yard and found the perfect place to spend my mornings. Outside the large library is a small courtyard with wrought iron tables and chairs. Ever since I have spent most of my summer vacation mornings, and many fall weekend mornings, there. I relish the calm and tranquility.

There used to be a time when spending any time in Harvard Square meant a 20 minute car ride, a 30 minute train ride, and $8.50 in parking and fees. Having the ability to spend so many mornings, and afternoons and evenings, in Harvard Square is something I treasure and not something I want to ever waste.

Here's to a summer filled with Harvard Square memories!

Just What the Doctor Ordered

After a long and stressful week that ended with more waiting I was really in need of a great city night!

On Thursday night JO and I decided that we should plan an evening out for Friday night. I've been waiting to hear about something at work and I was either going to have something to celebrate or need some cheering up. I wanted to make sure the evening was great so that either way I would have fun. I started to panic about finding a restaurant to go to. I really wanted to go into Boston and I was having "Restaurant Block." Everything I thought off just didn't seem like the right place to ensure success and I was really getting frustrated.

That's when JO had a great idea... Marliave. The Marliave is the sister restaurant to one of my favorite Boston restaurants Grotto. I've written before of my love for the Grotto. We had been to the Marliave for lunch back in November and had really enjoyed the experience. I also loved the fact that the Marliave is really close to The Last Hurrah at the Omni Parker House Hotel, a great bar with great drinks. Our plans got even better when our good friends were able to join us for a night out.

Unfortunately there wasn't a decision after all, so I really needed the night out to unwind. We headed into Boston around 7:30 and I was slightly worried that we wouldn't get a table. We were in luck! We got a great table in the upstairs dining room. The decor is simple but very elegant. The upstairs is split into two large dining rooms separated by an exposed white brick wall. Normally I don't like painted brick but it works in this case. One whole wall of one of the rooms is floor to ceiling windows which overlook the outskirts of Downtown Crossing. The vibe is casual sophistication.

The Marliave's concept is a French inspired speak-easy. The drink menu is really vast and the menu has way too many choices so we will definitely have to go back soon! Each us got a different meal and we each raved about how delicious they were. I love how they draw on the flavors from the Grotto but with unique, French twists. The macaroni and cheese appetizer is reminiscent of the garlic soup, the Yankee pot roast has those delicious short ribs, and the pan roasted chicken with risotto mirrors the sirloin dish. It was so nice to be out in the city with good friends and forget about being stressed!

We were having such a good time that we stopped over at the Last Hurrah for drinks. I love that they have a variety of champagne cocktails! I really enjoy the bar for it's relaxed atmosphere. It's in a really sophisticated, fancy hotel but it just feels so relaxing and I love the views of Tremont Street. We had fun talking about the summer and living in the city.

We ended up taking a cab back to Inman and for some reason I mentioned the name of the small town I grew up in on the South Shore. Apparently our taxi driver was from the same town and I loved what he said, "There's nothing to do there." He's definitely right! I'm glad I don't have that problem anymore :-)

A Rare Miss

Last night was the first time I can remember that a Harvard Square restaurant disappointed me. The next few weeks are super busy so JO and I decided to head into the Square last night for a dinner.

Since we had recently been to our go to restaurant Daedalus we decided to go to the Russell House Tavern. We had been there once before, during opening weekend, and it had been enjoyable. We weren't able to get a table outside but they did have seats downstairs in the dining room.

That was strike one. We followed the hostess downstairs and she sat us at a high-top table for two even though there were lots of empty tables. There was even a table for two in the corner. I'm not a huge fan of high-top tables and I especially don't like them when I'm trying to relax on a Friday night. This table was removed from any of the funky lighting they have down there so we were also in the dark. What really got to me was that a few minutes after we sat down they sat a party of two at a big four person table.

We had a very strange waiter, at one point he referred to JO as a "puppy" because he thought he looked so young. He even acted surprised when we said we had been to the restaurant before responding, "And you came back?" Most of the complaints on yelp are about the service. This guy wasn't bad but he wasn't good either.

We decided to order the "wine on tap" just because we couldn't pass up the chance to say we had tried wine on tap. We didn't have very high expectations for it but it was really horrible. It was like drinking a wine cooler. It really shouldn't be on the menu but I can't blame our bad wine on the restaurant... we knew better than to order wine on tap.

I really like the idea behind this restaurant, fresh local ingredients and all domestic drinks. I can really appreciate that, but it seems like most of the dishes sound delicious except for the one "strange" ingredient like sumac honey. I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to eating out but this place pushes my limits. I ordered a burger and JO got some sort of yogurt chicken and cucumber sandwich. We got a short-rib wellington appetizer.

The appetizer was cooked very nicely, the meat was super tender. That being said I had to give the place a second strike for the amount of salt they used in the dish. Unfortunately, the rest of the food was also overly salty. I could feel my insides puckering up. Even my pickle was extra salty and super spicy.

Third strike came when my burger arrived. It was also rather pink but the strange lighting made it hard to tell for sure. I loaded up on fries and ate the bits of the burger I felt were safe. When we got outside with the leftovers we realized just how pink it really was.

I don't remember the last time I left the Square disappointed in an evening. I might go back to this place in the winter to enjoy the bar, but I don't think I'll be eating there much.

The 47 Bus

I had to take a trip to Boston University today to clear up a mistake with a tuition bill I received. I had absolutely no interest in driving there at 3:30 in the afternoon, and it was way to gross out to urban hike over there, so I took the 47 bus from Central Square.

As I was riding on the bus I got this strange feeling. It took me a while to place it but I finally realized that this was the bus I took to school everyday when I was little. My mom and I would walk to the corner of our street, hop on the bus, and get off at the Morse School. I remember being super scared that I would need to take the bus by myself, but that never happened :-) I called my mom to confirm, and indeed I was right.

It was a fun little trip down Memory Lane and made the annoying trip over to BU somewhat more tolerable.

Cape Escape

Typically I like to take advantage of the city on long weekends, but this Memorial Day weekend we rented a house on the Cape with our good friends. I'm so glad we did. It was a weekend filled with flip flops, the beach, and lots and lots of relaxing! I haven't been so excited for a get away in a long time.