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Renovated Starbucks
Beacon Hill welcomed us back to Boston with a newly renovated Starbucks! The one on the corner of Charles & Beacon went from a grimy, skivvy, a bit too crowded location to a light-filled room with plenty of bar seating, molded ceilings and chandeliers.
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October Sunday
On Saturday night Joe and I were casually doing research about how to spend our Sunday afternoon when we learned Sunday was the absolute last day we could pick our own apples. Urgent message. As we all know, Midwestern and Easterners agree that if you didn’t pick your own autumn apples you might as well not live here at all. A colonial dame you are not.
On the other hand, as a young couple we have never really partaken in that other autumnal thing: pumpkins.
At the orchard: a chicken royale.
Russell Orchards really knows how to work their barn aesthetic.
Discovered Edible Boston‘s new issue. So pretty. They use matte paper and lots of colors which just feels classy. I would like to write an article for them someday.
What should I make with all these apples? Why does our hunter-gather instinct kick in so much that we have to restrain ourselves from racing to pick dozen of apples when most recipes request around four apples? How about cheddar and apple scones from the smitten kitten? I mean kitchen. Kitchen.
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Louis Boston
The new Louis Boston eatery looks like a lovely place for a summer lunch. Opening mid June, Sam’s will also gives you an excuse to see the store’s new building on Fan Pier (below).
In other Boston food news, we went to Myers + Chang, just across the bridge in the South End, for Joe’s graduation dinner and it was truly delicious. Their theme is asian diner which seems to me the very definition of funky, or at least what I’ve always wanted it to mean. I loved it and can’t wait to go back in the fall. If you need an excuse to go, on Sundays they do $1 oysters with $1 PBRs (tall boys, even).
PS And of course I can NOT wait to try Saus when we get back. Say the words “frites” + “mayonnaise-based sauces” + “open late” and I will nominate you for mayor of Boston.
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Commenced
After all the ceremonies of our youth, graduation still manages to hit you right in the heart with solemnity, joy, tingles of progress and new beginnings.
The yard.
Every school carried something into the ceremony (School of government = globe-balls; business school = flags). The Graduate School of Design (architecture & landscape) took the cake with LEGO plots. {Photo from my friend Birgit.}
Tiered skirt, tiered graduation seating in the GSD building.
One LEGO flower stands tall among the celebratory drinks afterwards.
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Brimfield Wrap
[slideshow]
Our Brimfield affair dawned cloudy and rainy. Nonetheless we pulled it off with a few key purchases (see the pie safe in the slideshow, which, post-cleaning, will be for pastries). I found two lovely wool blankets to sell to beach-goers looking for something cuddly, and two display pieces (we’ll post pictures to the market website once they are in place and not lying on our living room floor). Since photos from our trip are rather dismal and narrowly focused (two food photos??), I’ll point out that A Continuous Lean has lots of great photos, and Design*Sponge posted a curated mix of her favorites.
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Brimfield
We northeasters are excitedly getting ready for the arrival of Brimfield next week: the biggest antique show in New England that happens twice a year. Brimfield attracts sellers and buyers from all over–everyone from the Ralph Lauren’s corporate store decorators to Design*Sponge. Joe & I went last year with friends and left with only a few new things–we were totally overwhelmed! This year we’ve sat down, thought it through, and are going with list in hand: we need new shelving for the market, cool signage of all sorts, anything that can be converted into planters….actually my favorite part is the food because I love fair food, and I love excuses to eat through medleys of flavors.
The lovely image above is of the treasures our friend Birgit found at the fair last year.
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Real Saturday
Hello everyone! What’s happening? How have you been?
Joe and I are having one of those real Saturday mornings, where I make something like sloow cooked scrambled eggs while listening to Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, and patter down the hall in my pajamas to get yesterday’s mail (all boring things from insurance companies), and watch what Mr. Cunningham has to say about life and style on this fine Saturday (you must watch this week’s episode. The man is epic. I think this is one of his longest, right over 7 minutes total. Frankly, I don’t want to run into you in ten years, after he has retired, and have you tell me you didn’t watch On the Street on a weekly basis. It would just be too ridiculous.).
So what else is new? I left my job since we’ve last talked, the one in publishing I’ve mentioned here before, on good terms all around. We are focusing in on moving to the island in about a month, all the while wondering: what are we doing this fall?? Does it seem to you that there is a discrepancy in the world between the Ready and Willing young who are looking for adventures, and the actual adventures to be found? I know they are out there thinking, “Who can we find to sail this little boat from point a to point b?” but there’s no easy way to connect with them (the adventures, that is) until, often, it’s too late.
So go my thoughts this May 1st. Happy spring everyone!
Letterpress print from this compendium of amazing images–R.D. Sheaff. Schedule from interesting British business, The School of Life.
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One Not Fond Memory
This goes under “Good Design” because it is so immediately effective at making me feel like a terrible and chastised citizen when I see it on my windshield.
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Tasting right now:
I think this is my first pinot rosé. It tastes better than the rosés I’ve had before–not as stingily crisp as your typical summer pink. When I was tempted into buying it (they were tasting it with a mint and lemon pea soup), I learned the rosé wines from 2009 are just starting to arrive from France: “They’re on the boat over here right now.” Purchased around the corner at Charles Street Liquors.
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Marliave’s New Salami
Great news Bostonians! I stopped in Marliave (just down the street from Park Street Church) last Thursday for a quick macchiato and several things have developed:
1. Their snug espresso bar–which might comfortably be called the sole espresso bar in the downtown area–is now open after 1pm, and so perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up that we are all going to need to make it through March.
2. They have introduced a cheese, charcuterie, and olive oil tasting menu (see preview below).
3. Whiskey and scotch selections are also casually available at the espresso bar in the afternoon. If necessary.
I recommend adding them to your social-eating-rotation pronto! There is stiff competition in the neighborhood from Starbucks and the mighty Dunkin’ so think carefully (in spite of your probably pre-caffinanated state) the next time you’re contemplating spending your well earned $2.
A brief selection, click for a closeup:
Marliave photo by splityarn. Menu from Marliave’s chef, Scott, who kindly emailed it to me.
