Eat, Sleep, Breathe Boston

AFSP Overnight Walk

laven16 — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:00:55 +0000

All right as you can see grad school unexpectedly took over my life. Sorry about that…hopefully it wont be as intense here on out. Or the level of intensity will just become my norm. In any case, Boston is still wonderful and there is much to be said, tasted, and explored. I may have to regiment myself to a once a week posting. We’ll see.

The most current event is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Overnight walk through the streets of Boston. It started yesterday at 5pm and is ending right about now at 5am. I had a friend from college stay with me and participate. They had about 5,000 participants. I am so moved by the large response. I guess I really haven’t given much thought to the amount of people affected by suicide. Each participant raised at least $1,000 for depression research and outreach programs. They walk 18 miles throughout Boston and all through the night. I caught myself tearing up as I helped my friend check-in for the evening.

On lighter news, I love showing people around town. It has almost been a year since I’ve moved to Boston and I already feel like a local. Drawing out color-coded personalized maps of things to do in Boston may be one of my favorite things. There really is so much to do and it’s fairly easy to get around once you get oriented to the city. Well maybe that depends on your level of directional challenges. But hosting gives me a chance to visit my favorite places and talk about them or to try new things and go on adventures. I forget that most people are not used to walking 5 miles a day. My friend and I walked all the way up Tremont from Mass Ave to Faneuil Hall stopping only for brunch at Masa.

Boston is one of the most walker friendly cities in America. I seem to lack depth perception, apparently a common trend among locals. “The Beehive is just around the corner…30 minutes of walking later…yeah just a little further…” but none of my guests have complained or gotten hit by any cars. I’ve also become a horrible pedestrian (or maybe a more creative one).

I am so looking forward to being in Boston on the 4th of July. I hear such good things about it. And I guess I’m going to stake out a great spot on the Charles River, Cambridge side at 6am. Can’t wait!

Eat at Mike’s

laven16 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:42:24 +0000

On the corner of Springfield and Washington in the South End, under a large sign with an arrow pointing down you will find Mike’s City Diner (not to be confused with Mike’s Pastry in the North End which is also delicious but in a different way).

When you see the sign, you’ll want to go inside. Once you step in the doors, you’ll want to wait on line (unless it’s a weekday). Once you’re seated, you’ll want to flip over your mug . As you drink your coffee, you’ll want to briefly peruse the menu. Most locals know what they want but we wont judge you for considering the options.

After you order (they’re famous for their corned beef hash), you’ll want to look around the walls at the pictures of various celebrities (Bill Clinton, Guy Fieri) who were probably sitting in your very chair. Don’t break the chair. But be quick because before you know it, a large plate heaped with greasy breakfast diner food will be set before you. Put food on fork. Place food in mouth. Chew. Repeat. Smile and pat your food baby.

Mike’s is a local favorite for their huge portions, reasonable prices, quick service, and motown music. It’s a home comfort all wrapped up in the South End.

I recommend the weekday special: 3 eggs, home fries mmm, bacon/sausage, toast, coffee $5.95 Eat it all, I dare you…

A Californian winter

laven16 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 07:07:08 +0000

I am currently spending three weeks in Southern California for Christmas break. In all honesty, I have no idea why I continue to bash all that is SoCal. It is really quite beautiful and you really cannot beat the forecast. I just checked right now and it really is your stereotypical week of mid 70s and sunny. And while the holiday season does not seem the same compared to the wintery wonderland of the rest of the country, I really haven’t been complaining about my tan and lighter wardrobe. Of course the locals love to pretend that it is winter since things have dropped a full 10-15 degrees here. So you will still see an assortment of Uggs and furry coats contrasted by shorts or a mini skirt of course. I have come to expect nothing less.

Yet why, in this paradise, do I find myself yearning for the icy streets of Boston? This alludes all form of rational thinking. Perhaps sunshine is not always happiness (similar effects can be seen from sunlamps). Perhaps a grounded, vibrant culture is more my scene. And perhaps I’ve adjusted to the freedom of life without a car…try parking in Los Angeles and then come back and tell me you don’t agree with me.

The grass is always greener except when it’s dead, brown, and covered in a layer of snow. As my readers as my witness, I am foresaking the sunny shores of California for the subzero wind chills of the northeast but I also will never go hungry again…the point being Boston has quickly found its way into my heart and soul for better or for worse. And I shall report back shortly after my tush has frozen (they don’t sell warm clothes out here).

Christmas in the City

laven16 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:46:19 +0000

The holiday season in Southern California is less than thrilling, but I did not realize this until I left the sunny coast. I grew up covering my gingerbread houses with powdered sugar and watching snowy shots of the Christmas classics. However, it never really occurred to me that the printed snowflakes on my bedspread were more than just decorative. Snow + cold = real life for the large percentage of the world that actually experiences a winter. 4 years of winter in Spokane, WA showed me what snow was, but this was my first experience of Christmas in the city…

They began stringing the trees with lights as thanksgiving rolled around the corner. Then a series of more than several Christmas tree lightings (and one menorah lighting) took place in each respective neighborhood. Before I even got a chance to complain about the drop in temperature, the city was decked out in her finest: holly and lights and ornaments galore. Nothing quite matches the romantic scene of walking down Newbury St. hand in hand with your sweetie, bundled against the cold, window shopping and breathing in the crisp wintry air. Sigh, so picturesque.

Of course, in my case I just so happened to escape the major snow storms for the next few weeks…I might just be okay with 75 degree sunny weather for a short bout. But I am looking forward to returning to my new favorite city quite tan and ready to face whatever northeastern storm blows my way.

100 days and counting

laven16 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:37:10 +0000

So today marks my 100th day in Boston. Honestly, where has the time gone? Thankfully, I have many more in store, God-willing. So in honor of this occasion, here are the top 10 reasons I love this city (multiply each by ten to get 100…)

10. It is November 29th, 50 degrees and sunny

9. The age demographics create such an energy.

8. The T makes getting around town a breeze, generally

7. It’s the smallest big city and the biggest small city. All the benefits without the hustle and bustle

6. Quaint new england suburbs and beach towns within 30 minutes

5. Park St. Church

4. The destination. 30 min from the airport. 45 min to the beach. 4 hrs from NYC. 5 hrs to DC. 6 hrs to Philly.

3. The food: North End, Chinatown, Restaurant week…

2. The swing and blues dance scene

1. The people. All of my new friends that have shared life with me on this new adventure. I’m so thankful to you all.

South End

laven16 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:14:09 +0000

Fall in Boston is one of the most glorious things ever. The tree color is splendid, small children and well bred dogs come out to play, the weather cools but the sun still shines, and I get to wear my collection of scarves and boots!

When I think of Boston, I think history, cute shops, hole in the wall restaurants, brick row houses, little parks, urban community…I think South End. I am really enjoying living in the South End so far. It is close to the Orange and Silver lines which will take you to the North End or Downtwon. The buses run fairly frequently. The streets are tree-lined, well kept, and absolutely adorable. Community gardens and schools are set amidst quaint bakeries and coffee shops. It has a residential feel with the conveniences of a large city. This also means that generally, this area is a little quieter and more mature than Allston/Brighton which tends to get clogged with undergrads.

However, things do tend to be a bit more pricey in this area. It tends more toward the trendy. A walk down Tremont Street will provide a wide selection of classy bars and sidewalk cafes. But upon deeper exploration, there are more grounded settings like Wallys Jazz Club on Mass Ave. In any case, the South End is definitely worth a visit anywhere from a few days to a few years…Mostly it’s about finding where you belong

Flour Bakery

laven16 — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:16:29 +0000

Apologies for the lack of postings. I’m hoping to do something at least once a week. I’m still sorting out my rhythm. But I have been doing a lot of studying for midterms. And a large portion of this has taken place at the Flour Bakery at 1595 Washington St. in the South End.

Perhaps subconsciously I found an apartment that would place Flour on my daily walk to school…this could be dangerous…

Bobby Flay did an episode of Throwdown at Flour for their sticky buns. He lost of course. Their sticky buns are phenomenal!! Be sure to either call ahead and reserve some or get there early before they run out. If you aren’t getting a coffee with your pastry, you should definitely try their Raspberry Seltzer. Hard to explain how amazing they are.

Mostly, everything at Flour is good. This means you should visit often and try everything. It gets fairly crowded um always. But it’s a coffee shop/cafe/bakery so there’s a high turnover rate of people coming and going. It has a really relaxed atmosphere with a low, comforting hum of conversation and jazz. And you can always just pick up some day old breads/pastries to take with you.

I actually have never ordered real food there but I hear it’s fantastic. I lied, their sandwiches are really good. See a trend? Everything at Flour is amazing. Go and taste for yourself. Oh and most weekday mornings, there’s also a really cute bernard named Flour that sits outside the door. As if you needed more incentive to go…

http://www.flourbakery.com/

North End

laven16 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:20:43 +0000

So a few days ago I finally wandered into the heart of the North End. It’s quite close to me actually, just a short jaunt on the orange line to Haymarket. The North End of course is infamous for their large Italian population. And with that comes great Italian food. There are tons of Italian restaurants and bakeries and grocery stores…mm so good!

Well at a loss for which restaurant to try, I opted to ask for advice from a local fireman. Let me tell you, trust policemen and firemen with their food advice! He directed me to get off Hanover Street which is riddled with more touristy areas (ie more expensive and possibly less authentic). I found myself at La Familia Giorgiano on Salem St. You never would have known this warm, authentic gem existed from the onset. The walls are painted a rich salmon hue providing a glow to match the friendly waitstaff and joyful patrons. There were quite a few large gatherings going on. The menu was extensive with your italian classics as well as some newbies. I have a really hard time imagining anything on the menu would taste bad. I went with a classic lasagna. One bite rendered me into blissful silence. The portions are huge and the price can’t really be beat. Avg pasta dishes are around $12-15. I was too stuffed to venture into a creme brulee but you better believe I’ll be back.

If desserts are more your scene, you may of course have heard of Mike’s Pastry Shop on Hanover St. A group of friends and I got togther to put this pastry legend to a cannoli taste test. We rated plain ricotta cannolis from Maria’s, Modern, and Mike’s based on shell texture, filling richness, taste, appearance, and atmosphere. The results: Mike’s was in a level of its own. This is a definite stop for anyone visiting Boston. The glass display cases are as jam packed as the store itself. Know what you want beforehand and push your way to the front. Please don’t add to the annoying tourists who enter in flocks of 8 and stand around unsure of what to do. Get in, get out, savor and enjoy!

U2 360 @ Gillette Stadium

laven16 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:42:24 +0000

Last Monday I went to the U2/Snow Patrol concert at Gillette Stadium. So awesome!!!!!! The set up was so sweet. The stage was circular. There was the inner part where the band was and an outer ring connected by moving bridges so they could interact with the audience. A huge 6 sided screen was in the middle of some crazy lighted contraption. Basically, any seat in the house was a good one. Although we ended up with a bit of an echo in the upper sections and had to move down lower.

http://www.wired.com/video/u2-360-tour-preview/27992581001

Of course U2 is amazing live. They just have a commanding stage presence that most bands can never obtain. This is concerts at a new level. They played for about 2 hours. It was a good mix of old and new songs with some trippy visuals and global messages of peace.

The only thing that sucked was Foxboro. A 30 min drive from Boston took us 3 1/2 hours both ways! I have a problem with this especially when I miss Snow Patrol. Boo!! I’ve never seen such awful traffic. It took us an hour to get out of the parking lot. Overall, worth it for sure but make sure you get there early and do some tailgating some post concert tailgating.

Boston is a major destination city for bands and shows and whatnot. Tickets can get fairly pricey and tend to sell out quickly depending on the event but there’s always good ol Craigslist. I’ll just have to catch Snow Patrol on a later tour. They’ll most def be heading back this way. ps their new cd A Hundred Million Suns is awesome!

The Beehive

laven16 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:08:45 +0000

Much apologies, my lack of recent postings bears witness to the vast amount of life in Boston. Let’s see now, it took about a week for this city to capture my heart. I’ve found it to be a perfect fit thus far. My only complaint is that the T (public transit) stops running at 1am. Other than that, the city overall is full of character, charm, and an earthy vibrance (ask me to explain later).

Last night I discovered my new favorite place. The Beehive is in the South End at 541 Tremont St. It is a bohemian eatery and bar with live music almost every night. Eclectic art graces the brick walls as a chill crowd unwinds for the evening. There are two bars, one upstairs and one downstairs. The upstairs seating forms a balcony overlooking the stage. It also has a great floor. I happened to stop by to check out The Sweet and Lowdown with Tess (they’re amazing) and to get in my fix of blues dancing with some friends. The Beehive is rated one of the top 100 Jazz Clubs in the World. And if that’s not enough of a reason to check it out, there’s no cover! They also have an outdoor patio area and a weekend jazz brunch 10am-3pm Sat & Sun. Definitely put this one on your list. I’ll most likely be there when you visit.