Somerville Winter Farmer's Market

The cafe lights are strung with care and roots vegetables fill wooden boxes.  If you don't get there late, like me, you might be able to pick up some fresh squid ink pasta.  In any case there's probably bread and cheese to go around.  And some fancy chocolate for dessert.

There's still one weekend left to enjoy the Somerville Winter Farmer's Market. Tomorrow from 9:30-2:00 at the Armory - I promise it will be much more pleasant than a Saturday morning at Market Basket. 

Three Little Figs

If you're looking for the most heavenly spinach pie this side of the Charles, look no further.  Three Little Figs is one of those lovely little ventures born out of the recession.  No traditional job?  Let's make something fabulous.  And fabulous it is. 

This tiny Somerville shop only has a few tables so get there early.  Or stop by to pick up some baked goods to go, like the zucchini cake or the goat cheese stuffed muffins.  It isn't just your standard bakery fare. 

Journeyman - A Bit of New York in Somerville's Union Square

You know the highest compliment any restaurant could receive is that it's "as good as something in New York."  At least in my humble opinion. 

Journeyman is a true diamond in the rough.  Not only is it located off the beaten path in Somerville's Union Square, it's not even visible from the street.  Tucked away, you'll find an industrial space and an ultra-modern tasting menu ($75 for dinner or $40 for a late supper on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday).  It's the perfect place to celebrate the New Year or go to warm up on a cold night.  In addition to their unique fare, they are masters of the craft cocktail. 

They say you eat first with your eyes and these plates are true works of art. So feast your eyes on these delicious offerings and then make your reservation right away!

Bundling Up in Boston

It's the first genuinely freezing work day here in Boston.  I bundled up in my warmest coat and scarf to brave the weather on my way to work today.  And I wasn't the only one!

The ducklings donned red fleece scarves

Ice hemmed ducks into a small swimming hole

An Ode to Boston as the Red Sox Travel Home for Game 6

When I started this blog over two years ago I was just leaving New York and embarking on a new chapter in Boston.  I was overwhelmingly negative about my new city.  In fact, "Where are the bagels?" was really a catch-all phrase that meant, "Why aren't things here like they were in New York?"  I even had a post dedicated to comparing the two cities.  Spoiler alert: New York came out on top.

And while I'll never get over delivery fees and an arterial subway system, a little space in my heart has opened up for Boston.  And I can't deny how that little space grew after April 15, 2013. 

In New York I got off the subway right in the shadow of the new Freedom Tower.  I watched the shiny glass move farther up the building every week.  Even though I didn't live in New York in 2011 (I was 14), the history of 9/11 loomed above me - both figuratively and literally.  For millennials like me, it shaped the way we view the world.  When I moved to New York, the original impression the event had made became even more indelible.

The fear of terrorism, like subway rats, was something I thought I was leaving behind when I said goodbye to New York.  Now both the offices where I've worked are around the corner from sites of terrorism.  It was in fact, the great familiarity of the location that shocked me the most when viewing video of the marathon bombings on television.

Local businesses, closed in the aftermath of the bombings, shared their support

Burger King offered free coffee when it reopened its doors to the Copley Square community

Tragedy, and shared experience, have a way of bringing folks together (and sometimes, I know, tearing us apart).

The ubiquitous "Boston Strong" alternated with route information on city buses

It took me a while to process my new feelings after the event.  The word "bomb" itself felt so big and round as to be impossible to wrap my mouth or mind around.  The T passed through the Copley station like a moment of silence.  I finally walked down Boylston with an awkward balance of trepidation, respect, and normality.  But it was while riding the 1 bus from Harvard to the South End one night several weeks later that I looked out and realized, I love this city.  It doesn't diminish my love for New York, my first love, but I did and I do.

Sidewalks in Boston Common were covered with chalk messages

Now it's October and the Red Sox are in the World Series.  I've never cared so much about baseball in my life.  It feels fitting; like the city needs this.

Boston's famous Make Way for Ducklings donned uniforms and this season's signature beard

As a New England native, I've always been a Boston sports fan, not a New York one, but this year in particular I just want the Red Sox to win, so badly.  There's something about their persistent underdog status (yea, yea I've heard all about their payroll - I will not be convinced), about Boston's down to earth, hardworking, revolutionary heritage that has had me up late for the last two weeks watching a sport that, quite frankly, I find boring.  But when they make the movie, I'll watch it.  From my couch in Manhattan. 

An Autumn Walk in Cambridge

The mornings are getting chillier and the days are getting shorter.  I think how you feel about fall says a lot about you.  Do you see it only as a sign of impending winter, or do you enjoy it for its colorful foliage and pumpkin spiced everything? 

I'm not always great at living in the moment, but the other day on my walk home from work I couldn't help but simply marvel at what a beautiful fall evening it was.  I stopped and took in the fading light, the golden topped trees, and a full rainbow. 

I hope you have a moment to enjoy fall, and that it's that much sweeter knowing there's nothing we can do to stop winter from coming. 

Remarkable Creatures - Novel and Field Trip

Some of you may know I have a childlike obsession with dinosaurs.  When I picked up Tracy Chevalier's Remarkable Creatures, I was totally engrossed by her two main characters - Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, lady fossil hunters.  That's right, dinosaurs meets feminism!  It was only when I finished the book that I realized it was historical fiction.

Yea that's right, Mary Anning was a totally real, totally badass lady fossil hunter.  She and her brother found the first correctly identified Ichthyosaur when she was just twelve years old.  She's credited with a whole host of scientific discoveries and she's the inspiration for the "she sells seashells" tongue twister. 

So you can imagine my excitement when browsing in the Harvard Museum of Natural History I saw this:

History is so cool!  Dinosaurs are so cool!  Are you imagining all the jumping up and down and excited museum whispers that were going on?  It was kind of epic. 

The book is fantastic and the Harvard Museum of Natural History has a great collection (with free admission if you can find a Harvard student to take you as a guest).  I highly recommend both. 

Harvard Presents: Outdoor Furniture Options for Those with Money to Burn

Every day on my way to work, I walk through Harvard's undergraduate campus.  In 2012, Harvard topped the IRS's list of richest non-profit charities at a whopping $43.9 billion.  So if the soon-to-be-former Mayor Bloomberg is thinking about getting a house in the suburbs for his retirement, Harvard has a few suggestions for his backyard patio. 

I can't tell you how many of these colorful chairs adorn the famous Harvard Yard, but this shot only captures a fraction of them.

I assume these oversize bean bags are meant to act as seating although I've never seen anyone actually sitting in one.  Could also be repurposed for the the cornhole tournament at the world's strongest man competition.

These long benches are illuminated at night and the silver chairs are shaded from the sun by freestanding umbrellas.

Enjoy your picnic under a canopy

These playful sculptural benches combine art and function.

This piece offers you both an outdoor gym (with instructions for various exercises along the bottom) and a place to rest after your workout.

While not technically furniture, this oversize chess board certainly makes a statement.

Cafe Fleuri - Brunch Heaven

Brunch in Bean Town is about as beloved as baseball.  People have been known to wait hours, yes I said hours, at peak times at popular cafes that don't offer reservations.  I love a good omelet as much as the next gal (or french toast, I can never decide if I want to go savory or sweet) but brunch is supposed to be civilized.  All that goes out the door once you've been sweating and salivating on the sidewalk for two hours.

But if you're looking for civilized brunch, look no further.  It comes at a price ($60), but Cafe Fleuri is brunch heaven.  With no lines and plenty of shrimp cocktail. 

Located in the Langham hotel, this all you can eat brunch offers a sushi station, carving station, omelet station, and a chocolate bar. The savory or sweet dilemma is solved when you can have it all!  You can get oysters, calamari, artisanal cheese, roasted vegetables, and warm pastries.  And you can get as much of it as you please!

The Search for Bagels Continues at Kupel's Bakery

I've been on and Odyssean journey to find good bagels outside of New York City.  So I was extremely excited when a friend recommended Kupel's Bakery.  I figured, if I'm going to find good bagels in Boston, I'm going to find them in Brookline.  So I headed out on the 66 bus hungry and eager. 

I ordered a sesame bagel, my favorite.  It looked perfect - golden brown, lots of sesame seeds, the right amount of cream cheese.  Could this be it, the answer to all my blog's questions?  The end of my search?

Sadly, no.  This bagel is more like a roll with a whole in it.  Bagels need to be chewy and crispy and soft, all at once.  They shouldn't just taste like funny shaped bread.  So alas, the journey continues.  If you know where to get a good bagel in Boston, be a friend and leave your suggestions in the comments!

Make Way For Ducklings

I love Boston's public gardens.  One of the iconic sites in the gardens is the set of Make Way for Ducklings statues.  What I love most is that the ducklings are often decked out in cute garb to celebrate the season.  You may remember this duck from the winter and my post on sparkly things.  

Around the Super Bowl all the ducks were decked out in these tee-shirts that I didn't really understand at first.  Then Paloma told me that it was a reference to Patriots player Rob Gronkowski.  

Recently there was this incarnation in honor of Easter and the beginning of spring, which I think is the most adorable to date.

And then on Marathon Monday the ducks donned these capes and masks.  The capes spelled out 

M-A-K-E    W-A-Y-!

The fact that the costumes stay on the ducks for so long is testament to how much Boston residents respect and enjoy the ducks and I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for me and the ducklings!

Hei La Moon: Dim Sum in Boston

Jake and I wanted to go out for dim sum and I was very skeptical.  The first time he ever took me out for dim sum I was also skeptical.  That time it was because I'd never been and I didn't know if I'd like it; this time it was because I didn't have any confidence that Boston could give us something as delicious as we had in New York.  But, I was happily proven wrong.

Hei La Moon serves up great dim sum.  It's the Chinese version of tapas, and we love us some little plates.  In typical fashion, they have the rolling carts and the bamboo baskets filled with delights like steamed rice and pork, shrimp dumplings, and pork buns.  While the cost is a mystery until you're done (waitresses mark your receipt with stamps based on the number and size of the baskets they give you) you never really have to worry about it.  We feasted for $30.  There is no better deal.

Then we walked around China Town and had delicious fried pastries filled with red bean paste and covered in sesame seeds.  Yum! I can't wait to go back!

Boston's Thinking Cup

Today some of us took a quick trip to Thinking Cup in Boston.  This little coffee shop right on the Commons is adorable inside and boasts a great variety of coffees, teas, hot chocolate and foods.  Like L.A. Burdick, the hot chocolate they serve is of the delicious, melted chocolate variety and their lattes are always served with a gorgeous, milky design on top.

I salivated over the glass cases filled with sandwiches on french bread and tiny, sweet delights.  Especially these individual cheesecakes.  It was only by sheer power of will that I didn't gobble one right up.  Instead, I got a large rooibus tea that was a touch too floral tasting for me, but still good.  So if you're looking for a cup of something hot, or a bite of something tasty, stop by the Thinking Cup!

Rafiki Bistro Can't Match Its Neighbor

Recently, there was a Groupon for Rafiki Bistro, a small restaurant in Cambridge right next door to our new favorite haunt, West Side Lounge.  So I scooped it up and Jake and I went to test it out.  Long story short: it's just like West Side except not quite as good and a bit more expensive.

We had a very delicious crab and avocado crostini appetizer and I absolutely loved my cocktail of gin, grapefruit juice and that now ubiquitous St. Germain.  And I enjoyed my entree of crispy cod, although the sweet potato gratin lacked flavor.  But Jake's steak frites was served medium to medium-well when he ordered it rare.  And we kept shivering every time someone walked through the door.

We're still not sure how these two stay neighbors when Rafiki is clearly losing the game of keeping up with the Joneses, but you'll find us next door at West Side from here on out.

West Side Lounge: Our New Neighborhood Restaurant

Thanks to a solid recommendation from Paloma, Jake and I recently checked out West Side Lounge.  It's a great neighborhood restaurant with good food, creative cocktails and a fun vibe.

They make their own house infused vodkas and one of my favorites is the ginger martini with candied ginger infused vodka.  There's also a French pear martini with St. Germain and a spicy tequila cocktail with cilantro.  

A couple weeks ago Jake and I went all out for dinner and had delicious truffle fries, fish tacos, and burnt sugar bread pudding, among other things.  Then this weekend we went and just sat at the bar and had cocktails and creamy deviled eggs.  Whether you're looking for a great way to end a night out or a great way to start one, this place is a really great choice.  

  

Clay Painting in Boston

I love crafty things and I was so excited when all the NNAF ladies decided to go clay painting one day after work (thanks Lindsey!).

We went to the Clay Room, a great small studio with a nice selection and lots of perks.  Like free pizza on Tuesdays!  Wine and cheese nights on Wednesdays!  Flat studio fees and group discounts!  And BYOB every day!  That last one was my favorite.

After agonizing over what item to choose, the design came to me quickly and I turned it into my own unique Christmas present for Pam.

I can't wait to go back again with a couple girlfriends and a bottle of wine!

I Ate Pig Brains at The Citizen Public House

Let's just say this first - today's specials include fried pickles with bacon mayo.  They had me at hello fried pickles.  But last night I was not there for the pickles, but rather the pig.  I was at The Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar with the Harvard Law Epicurean Society (if you're tempted, as I was, to roll your eyes at how pretentious that sounds just remind yourself: bacon mayo) for their famous whole pig roast.

  

They served us a 35 pound suckling pig, which was brought out to us whole and then carved.  Admittedly, the night seemed more about the spectacle of the pig (and the flights of whiskey) than anything else (the meat was a bit dry and the skin not quite crispy) but it was a good time nonetheless.  The highlights for me were the one bite of pig jowl that I tasted and the salad with truffle vinaigrette. 

Jake ate pig foot, pig tail, pig eyeball and pig brains.  I thought the eyeball was the bravest part of all.  The waiter said it was like an olive, in that it has a soft outside and you have to spit out the inside 'pit,' i.e. the lens.  Jake said it was the same gelatinous texture of the fat in pork belly, but with a more intense pork flavor. 

I was reluctant, but I tried the pig brains too.  Served right out of the skull, I had a bit of brain smeared onto a crostini with lemon and smoked sea salt.  It tasted like...lemon and sea salt, but creamier.  When I was in Namibia I tried a lot of things just to say that I had done them and while some were thrilling, some I never want to do again.  And although pig brains are no caterpillars, I still don't think I'll be ordering it again anytime soon.

Honk! Festival of Activist Street Bands

Honk! is a festival that takes place every year in Davis Square, full of music, activism and general happy weirdness.  Bands from all over the country come to play one hours sets in locations around Davis and then do a march from Davis Square to Harvard Square.  We got a preview when Jake and I stumbled upon one of the bands on a Friday night out (see: A Little Night Music), and we just had to come back for more.  

The people at this festival - families, hippies, musicians, music lovers, old couples, activists, and weirdos of all sorts - had one thing in common: they really knew what was important in life.  There was music and dancing and just a generally joyful atmosphere.  It was a great reminder to live in the moment, have passion for life, and just smile.

Sandrine's Bistro Groupon - Get 'Em While They're Hot

Hey Boston buddies, those in surrounding areas and anyone thinking they might visit and have a bite to eat - you should check out today's Groupon for $40 worth of food at Sandrine's for only $20.

I blogged about them before in "Sandrines: A Gem in Harvard Square and a Throwback to French Class" and I was very impressed with their tasty Alsacian food and wonderful service.  If you're looking for the perfect date, place to take your parents when you know they'll pay, or swanky girls' night out I highly recommend picking up this Groupon because as you all know, if there's two things I love (and can therefore be counted on to give a great recommendation for) it's good food and a good deal.