This has been a step I have wanted to make for a long time. My blog has always been something I have done as a hobby and now, finally, I am making the jump to hopefully make it become a little more successful in the internet world. Not only have I changed the name of my blog completely, I have redesigned the layout, come up with an organization and category system that will make navigation more easy, and have completely switched website platforms. Let's just say it was a HUGE move. I'm still working to complete the move, but if I do have any followers of this blog, I kindly ask you to please make the move with me to my brand new endeavor, www.mulberryink.com Thank you for the great few years, Essere Audaci, I'll never stop being bold.
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Learned how to ski this weekend, finally after a long winter with no snow. Now I can say I know how to snowboard, ski, and figure skate!
Moxy is a recently new addition to the Portsmouth restaurant scene. Located in the downtown area near many other popular hang out spots such as Portsmouth Gas Light, Cava Tapas (which I do not recommend, after my visit I became extremely ill), and Portsmouth Brewery, to name a few. Moxy's presence is much more vibrant than many of it's dining competitors and brings a bright new facade to the traditional brick style of Downtown Portsmouth. The restaurant owners define Moxy's attitude as, "The capacity to stand alone in favor of an unpopular opinion or course of action with a casual demeanor." It combines many different styles to create its unique atmosphere. It takes the concept of Spanish tapas and twists its traditional qualities into, "Modern American Tapas", as the restaurant calls itself. The design and aesthetics resemble that of a family town diner with a pop of Andy Warhol inspired decor and bright orange walls. Carnival-like lights line the perimeter of the ceiling and quotes from famous chef's such as, Julia Child, display on the walls. As a designer and lover of interior design, I was happily surprised to have been seated in their upstairs loft section, with warm brick walls and a few windows with views down to the street. Moxy has balanced the element of cozy, with bright design accents and fun unusual restaurant decorations. Now for the important part, how is their food and does it stand strong against the booming downtown needs of local Portsmouthers. So if you didn't catch it before, Moxy is a tapas restaurant, meaning small plates and lots of ordering. Each plate comes with a small portion or two sliders of what is on the menu. It has pros and cons of course, it's great to be able to try many versatile flavors and plates, but often times it adds up in price. Especially when you add alcohol into the equation. Our overall experience was pleasant, with attentive and friendly staff who always made sure our table had a colorful glass bottle full of water. The different dishes varied in quality however. Some were mouthwateringly delicious and I wanted to order maybe 10 more plates of it, while a couple were lackluster at most. Here is the list of what we ordered and a short description: fried pickle chips, raye's honey mustard, spicy ranch moxy mini hot dogs, bacon-fresno marmalade, cheddar, grain mustard mini beef burgers a la' Meat, "moxy-q" sauce, cheddar, bibb lettuce, tomatoes crispy rhode island calamari, radishes, scallion, pepper relish lacquered pork belly bites, pears, roasted pearl onions croquettes of pork deliciousness, star island special sauce portsmouth rarebit, anadama bread, finest kind cheese sauce, caramelized onions, apple, pickled beets mystery pasta dish, honestly can't remember the ingredients, just that it was flawless whoopie pie sliders, chocolate dipping sauce (All dishes ranged between $5.00 and scaled up to $12.00 for specialty meat dishes) We ordered in two different waves. First, a handful of plates to share and then after those were finished we took a second look at the menu and ordered some more. The dishes were brought out gradually and not all at once. It was very different than the customary way to serve food, but it gave us time to talk about each dish and whether or not we liked it. I took some risks when trying their menu. Some dishes in which I thought I would hate, I adored, and the one that I was most excited about was the most disappointing. The pickle chips were a good starter, given with a generous serving of two dips. But we did run out of pickles before we made a dent on the sauces. The mini hot dogs were one of my favorites, and I don't even like hotdogs. I was forced to try it, and thought it was excellent but I still won't touch a regular hot dog – don't try to convince me. The burgers were yummy, but lacked the wow of the hot dogs. We questioned why they were one of the most expensive dishes on the menu. The crispy calamari was flavorful and savory, one of my favorites, in addition to the pork belly bites which basically was a mouth full of bacon with an onion and a pop of sweet, so yea that was amazing. Now, being Cuban and having had croquettes in the past, I was pretty pumped to see these grace Moxy's menu. And I'm not just saying this because I am an experienced croquette eater, but they were awful. The outer coat of fried breadcrumbs was bone try and the filling had no taste. I was embarrassed to have ordered them for the table, after raving about croquettes in general. This was the most disappointing of small plates. Next was the rarebit, which was understated and simple. And then finally the mystery pasta. Can't remember the name or what was in it, but jeez it was good. A shame, I would have loved to try and make it at home myself if I could remember. The hot dogs and the pasta tied for my favorite dishes. However, the dish that took the cake, literally, was the whoopie pies. Oh. My. God. Sometimes whoopie pies don't have the right ratio of cake to creme, but these were the perfect balance, with the right amount of moisture and richness. And to top it off, you could pour warm chocolate sauce on your whoopie pie. If Moxy suddenly became strictly a whoopie pie joint, I would be their biggest customer. These were so good. I couldn't stop talking about them for the rest of the night and I'm not really sure why I didn't get some to go. Overall, Moxy was a fine experience and I would definitely give it another chance to wow my tastebuds again. There were some real gems on their menu, but then again there were also some areas in need of improvement. The whoopie pies do make me forget about the croquette catastrophe but then again how could they do that to such a delicious thing?! Moxy, 106 Penhallow St., Portsmouth, NH 03801 Website: www.moxyrestaurant.com Phone: (603) 319-8178 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★☆ #14/ 170 of Restaurants in Portsmouth. $$ Photo courtesy: Tell New England.
We took refuge from the cold inside the Notre Dame Church on Valentine's Day. It was so frigid and windy that it made us want to stay in the Church all day and never retreat back outside. I found a vacant, quiet pew, where I sat and starred at the beautiful architecture and detailed design of the Church's aesthetics; peacefully watching so many admirers take pictures of every angle and view the Church gave. I noticed couples, individuals, and families sitting and starring in the moment, like I was, with no obscene selfie sticks or distractions. I became infatuated with a couple sitting several rows in front of me, who were also looking up at the religious masterpiece that stood in front of all of us. My trance was broken as I took out my camera and began to capture the scene I was experiencing. You may think it's weird that I creeped on complete strangers for a good 20 minutes playing with my exposure levels and depth of field... but from that creeping I captured an honest, tranquil moment, that I like to think is filled with love and compassion.
-Don’t go on the coldest weekend of the year
Plain and simple. The only reason we absolutely had to go during President’s Day weekend was because we both had a long 3-day weekend, and we really wanted to spend it exploring Montreal. The average temperature was -10 during the day and with wind-chill at night it got to around -37. We couldn’t be outside for more than 15 to 20 minutes, because after we rapidly began to freeze. Even with 2 layers on my legs, 4 layers under my jacket, a hood, a scarf, mittens, and heavy duty North Face winter boots, the weather won every time. This also affected what we were able to accomplish and where we were able to go for lunches/dinners, attractions and sightseeing. After we finished up dinner both nights, we swiftly hurried back to the hotel to thaw out instead of making our way to a Jazz club or bar to enjoy a beer. We didn’t even dare try and go ice-skating at the Old Port, which was extremely disappointing see as that was one of the reasons I wanted to make the trek to Montreal. Overall, I loved Montreal. I just wish it wasn’t so cold so that we were able to do everything on our list and so that I could actually take quality time to appreciate the beauty and history of the architecture, instead of having my face buried in my scarf and my hood covering my eyes. -Canada Goose Jacket If you want to look like a local and are obsessed with fitting in to the culture, the best way and most expensive way to do it, is to invest in a Canada Goose Winter Jacket. As we were bitterly freezing our faces off, the people of Montreal were gleefully bustling around the city in these iconic jackets. We immediately noticed the circular logo patch on countless jackets as they passed by us, and we wondered what we were missing. After a Google search, it was discovered that these were THE jacket to own in Canada, guaranteed warmth with an outrageous price tag between $600-1,000. We resented everyone and anyone who walked past us who was wearing one, as we sped-walked back to warmth, wherever it was. -Solid Green Lights vs. Blinking Green Lights If you are driving in Montreal, you will notice their traffic patterns and signs are a little different than what you are used to seeing. In order to make a left-hand turn in many parts of Canada and in Montreal, drivers must look for blinking green traffic signals instead of a solid green arrow. The blinking green lights are referred to as "Advanced Greens" signaling that a driver has permission to turn left before any on-coming traffic approaches. Also many of the street signs resemble those seen in Europe, so use your best judgement when identifying stop signs, etc. And lastly, there is no such thing as a right on red. You wouldn't even be able to make the turn, because of such high foot traffic in the city. -Streets and Sidewalks They apparently don’t own shovels in Canada, at all. No sidewalks were cleared from the past snowfalls, they were covered white and packed down from people constantly walking on it. You can hear the crunch, crunch as you walked, pushing the snow farther and farther down towards the pavement. Definitely wear some shoes that have a bit of traction or else you will slide all over trying to walk on smoothed solid snow. (Style is not the goal here.) Same thing with their roads too. We crossed the border into Canada and instantly the wind and snow squalls hit us hard. Riding along in the right lane in our Xterra, worried about the wind and road conditions, as these small Canadian hatchback and sedans wizzed by us like no problem at all. Nothing was plowed and when we finally drove through the city, we were hitting globs of old snow slush and messy wet mix. We wondered how so many little cars in the city and country even made it through the mess. Be prepared for poor walking and driving conditions, especially when it’s super cold. -USD vs CAD Going to Canada was great! Why? Because we thought we spent so much more money than we actually did. Discovering the exchange rate was definitely a treat, with the Canadian Dollar equaling .73 cents of an American Dollar. Meaning that I withdrew $60 CAD in cash and it was only $45 USD. So definitely get some cash out at a RBC or HSBC, so that you won't be charged foreign transactions fees on your credit card. -Restaurant Reservations It is extremely popular to make reservations for dining in Montreal. Doesn't matter if it is dinner, lunch, or brunch, most places take reservations. We got away with making them exceptionally last minute, by calling or going online a few hours before. For lunches we didn't know it was essential to make reservations, so both days we just showed up and luckily they had a table waiting for us. I would say if you want to live on the edge, it isn't totally necessary to reserve, especially for lunches. But for dinners, I prefer to be on the safe side. -Dinner and Brunch They love their brunch in Montreal. The city is scattered with charming breakfast places that can get pretty expensive if you are not careful. Most places are not in the Centre Ville or Old Montreal area, but along the outside of the city. If you have car you can easily drive to one of them, the parking is abundant in the city, or you can take the Metro, which we never ended up trying to figure out. For dinner, Montreal eats much later in the evening as compared to the United States. The average busy times in the U.S. are between 5-8pm. Here, dinner doesn't start becoming busy until 8:30pm, with many choosing to grab drinks before dinner and then even after as well. We decided to do like the locals do, and both nights we ventured out into the cold for a late dinner and drinks. -Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal; DON'T GO. We were trying to be open-minded and try a new museum. I really love modern art, but I didn't realize modern art and contemporary art were two different things. The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art was super close to our hotel, which was appealing, but let's just say it was a huge waste of money. It was so so awful, if you like extremely weird contemporary art definitely give it a shot, but otherwise don't waste your time. It was small, only one floor in a huge complex, and the art displays were scarce and frankly disturbing at most. Let’s start with the most important factor to visiting a new city. What kind of food do they have and is it good? Montreal is filled with chic places to eat, perfect for young travelers, with so much cuisine variety and reasonable priced places to eat. From South African food to Thai, to traditional French, you will definitely be able to satisfy all cravings. We went on this Canadian adventure without having researched any places on TripAdvisor or Yelp prior, which is definitely unusual for us. It was Valentine’s Day weekend and many places required a reservation in advance. And in addition the majority of restaurants have expensive fixed menus on holiday weekends, so our goal was to find local places that gave us great variety in the menu while also being affordable. Here are my experiences and recommendations in Montreal!
1. Salumi Vino Located in Old Montreal, we did a quick search in our hotel room and found Salumi Vino. The reason it appealed to us was because of the menu options and because there was no fixed menu price for dinner. We could be free to order what we wanted and how much we wanted. We walked into the chic Italian restaurant, and immediately noticed the intricate interior detail. It was tastefully decorated for Valentine's Day with pops of deep red on the tables, complimenting the already low light color palette. Real stone accent walls made it feel cozy, while the other design elements, such as the use of elegant glass doors made it feel more modern, mixing the two perfectly. The kitchen was exposed right as you walk in and the rustic wine closet was easily admirable behind glass doors, and also easy to read on their menu. The menus were specially printed for Valentine's Day weekend, showing the amount of detail that was tailored into the dining experience. I decided to order a "Le Orme," which is a wine from the Piedmonte area of Italy. I knew I would be ordering a pasta dish with a cream sauce and a Northern Italian wine would go better than a Sicilian wine. The Le Orme was very fruity and light, a very different taste than a Supertuscan or Chianti. To start we tried the Tuna Tartare, with avocado, truffle oil, and spicy mayo (17.00 CAD) served with delectable olive oil and balsamic. And for our meals, we both decided to try the Ravioli di Zucca, which was homemade ravioli stuffed with pumpkin, served in a creamy asparagus sauce and truffle oil (24.00 CAD) It was so flavorful that we ate as slow as possible to savor every bit and scooped up every bit of extra sauce from the bowl. The pumpkin made us feel super warm, especially since it was -20 outside, and the asparagus gave a unique taste to the sauce. We noticed throughout our time in Montreal, they love to top entrées with crushed pepper, in addition to extra grated cheese. So we enjoyed the added flavor of pepper and cheese as well. To finish off the dinner we tasted the Tiramisu, one of my Italian favorites. (8.00 CAD) In honor of Valentine's Day, the Tiramisu mousse was colored pink making it very cute and unique. Overall, the service was wonderful, with the owner coming over numerous times to take our order and check on our experience. Definitely not a place you would find in old Florence, but we loved the rustic modern young feel of Salumi Vino. 358 Rue Notre Dame E., Montreal, Quebec ,Canada Website: http://www.salumivino.com/ Phone: +1 514-759-0505 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★★ #69/4,824 Restaurants in Montreal . $$ (Italian, Wine Bar) 2. Crêperie Chez Suzette I was concerned with our decision to choose Chez Suzette, mainly because it is located on a notoriously touristy street and I did not want to be walking into a trap for expensive and lousy food. It was absolutely freezing outside, so we wanted to get brunch close to the hotel, but also close to where we were spending the day, and this place seemed like the best option of very few. It was exactly the opposite of my expectation. Yes, the inside was mostly filled with English-speakers, who you could tell were American, but the waitstaff were humble and helpful. I didn't care that it maybe was a little touristy, because if the people were nice and the food was good, who really cares? Opening up the menu I didn't know what to get! Crepes, waffles, sandwiches, bagels, fondue, FONDUE! They had a great variety, and I wanted to order it all. I went with a classic bowl of their baked french onion soup (8.99 CAD), which the waiter gave me a nod of proud approval when I ordered it, and a Montreal Bagel with smoked salmon, onions, capers, and creme cheese (13.99 CAD). I had heard Montreal bagels give New York bagels a good challenge, and they aren't wrong. Can't really describe it, but it was damn good. The soup was also out of this world and 1,000 times better than any Panera french onion soup I have ever had, I was also strangely excited to eat it out of a le creuset. Wouldn't expect it, but this place was my favorite in Montreal. It taught me to stop being so obsessed with making sure something is authentic, and trust that if there is delicious food and nice local people working there, it will never be a bad choice. 3 St-Paul E, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1E9, Canada Website: http://chezsuzette.ca/ Phone: +1 514-874-1984 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★ #71/4,824 Restaurants in Montreal . $$ (French, European, Brunch/Lunch) 3. Lola Rosa Café I recently have made the decision to become somewhat of a vegetarian. No more beef, pork, and when I can help it chicken products. (This rule doesn't apply when I go to Italy, but for now the effort is there.) With my new goals in mind, we hunted again for a place to eat dinner and found Lola Rosa, a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the University section of the city. The inside was small but bustling with conversation, couples, groups of friends, and hippie vibes. A Siddhartha was painted on the wall, with vibrant colors and wood textures on the walls and tables making it feel organic and natural. We wasted no time ordering, seeing as we got the last reservation for the night at 9pm. It is very popular in Montreal for people to eat dinner later in the evening, much like Europe. It is not uncommon to walk into a restaurant at 8:15pm and have it be empty and by 8:45pm have it filled with customers. I ordered a Burger Au Chanvre or what we call a Hemp Burger (12.00 CAD) with extra avocado, a mixed green salad, chickpea salad, and a pickle! The Hemp Burger was a mixture of hemp seeds, lentils, chia, grilled tofu, cheese and homemade bbq sauce, topped with a tomato, lettuce, onions, and avocado. The burger tasted different than just a plan veggie burger. I could taste a ton of spices present and a mixture of flavors that was very unique. My experience with eating vegetarian is new, so I can't really say how good it was compared to others. But I did end up eating the whole burger, re-discovered my love for chickpeas, and got some new vegetarian ideas of what to cook for myself! 545 Rue Milton, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Website: http://lola-rosa.ca/site/ Phone: +1 514-287-9337 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★★ #17/4,824 Restaurants in Montreal . $$ (Mexican, Vegetarian, Vegan) 4. Cacao 70 And finally we have reached the last place. If you would like diabetes or really love chocolate, I would put this on your itinerary. A perfect place for a casual brunch or late lunch, Cacao 70 has a fun atmosphere, 4 locations around the city, and everything chocolate. Waffles with ice cream, crepes filled with chocolate, crepes drizzled with chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate pizzas, chocolate fondue, coffees, anything and everything. And if you're not feeling the dessert crepes, you can always go for a omelette, sandwich, bagel, or traditional breakfast food. I started with a hot chocolate, because their coffee machine was unfortunately broken, and was delighted to taste a rich creamy flavor, that didn't resemble anything of a powdery-mix hot chocolate like a Swiss Mix packet. Floating on top were marshmallows that were the perfect amount of gooey to enjoy. After, I indulged in my crepe stuffed with nutella and strawberries, drizzled with my choice of dark chocolate instead of milk, topped with powdered sugar. My companion ordered the black and white waffle, extra crispy, with a scoop of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, drizzled with white and milk chocolate served with more chocolate on the side and chocolate malt balls....ya we were pretty hyper on the walk back. 3485, Avenue du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Website: http://cacao70.ca/ Phone: +1 514-844-4442 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★ #574/4,824 Restaurants in Montreal and #15/106 Coffee & Tea in Montreal. $ (Cafe, Brunch, Crepes) Freezing at the Parc du Mont Royal in Montreal. A beautiful lookout with panoramic views of the city and scenic hiking and winter trails.
So for Christmas, I got a nice new Ryobi Impact Drill and I had been itching to use it. I scrolled through Pinterest looking for something that didn't require a power table saw or too much room for me to screw it up, and found this picture of a shelving unit made from a wooden ladder. I knew that I wasn't going to find a ladder like such, so I thought it can't be that hard to build my own all from scratch. Wrong. Especially because I chose to build my shelf without even having a proper plan. I used the picture as my guide and that was it. Through much frustration, hopelessness, and many texts to my fellow handy friends and family, my shelf was complete. Now here is some advice before you get into building your own DIY ladder shelf or anything else for that matter. My first problem. It's really hard to build something when you don't have the right tools. Pinterest doesn't tell you these things. Pinterest wants to convey they easiest and most simplistic message possible, hence why there are so many epic fails. So first off, if you need wood cut and you don't have a electric saw or the muscle to use a hand saw, it's already going to be a difficult process. For me, I had a hand saw, but with these weak little arms, I didn't get much of anywhere. Usually where you purchase your wood, like Home Depot or Lowes, they will have a power saw for you to utilize and a trained employee can make the necessary cuts. (Note: they won't make any cuts under 10 inches for safety reasons.) So if you are going to have wood cut at the place of purchase, have a plan. Know the measurements you need and know the wood you need, so you don't have to make wasteful trips back and forth. Second problem: Know what to buy. Ya I can't believe I am saying this after a whole summer doing AmeriCorps, but I bought the wrong screws first time around. Didn't know there was a specific screw designed for wood, so I bought construction screws (used for god-knows-what), that had the wrong head on it. So I soon learned when I tried using my phillips-head screw driver bit, ya it didn't work very well. So back to Home Depot I went to get the right screws. Familiarize yourself with what is offered, there are hundreds of screws and if you don't know which to buy, suck it up and ask an associate. Third problem: Know the necessary preparations. Okay so I finally have my wood cut, I have the right screws, what possibly can go wrong? As I attempted to finally start building my ladder, with all my measurements complete and drawn, I began to use my drill. I am using 3 inch wood screws because I need to drill through two pieces of wood. But as I get half-way into the first piece, I run into some problems. My screw head, has stripped. I try it again, and again it stops half way through and strips. After a few desperate calls and texts, I learn that I should have drilled pilot holes prior to trying to assemble my ladder. This will prevent the wood from splitting and my screw head from stripping. Devastated that I have expoentially slowed this whole process with my stupidity, I can only think about how the Property Brothers would have had this built in an hour. So back I go to Lowes, to buy my DeWalt Drill Bit set to drill pilot holes. Success! Finally, after all those issues were addressed and I made multiple trips to and from the hardware store, I was able to assemble my shelves. I don't blame myself for running into these problems, because truthfully the only way you will learn them is by messing up. Now I will never forget to pre-drill holes through thicker pieces of wood or that there are actually a million kinds of screws and buying the wrong one every once and while is expected. It was my first project, and I'm surprised it came out as cool as it did. On to the next!
I consider myself a creative person, which is a curse and blessing much like everything else. I am always looking to see what I can do myself, what can I build, create, try out? I love to dive in to something and learn by trial and error, mess up occasionally, but use those mistakes as knowledge. Since graduating and becoming more in tune with a serious full-time routine, I have been noticing my subconscious inclination to continue constantly learning. It's almost as if my brain was so trained to learn at a certain pace for the past 18 years of my life and when I suddenly left schooling, it needed to fill a void. Many new interests have grabbed my curiosity and I have developed new motivation to better myself and see what my true potential can be.
In college, the odds of you finding me reading or listening to the news was dim. I used my social media platforms to form misguided opinions, gather bleak information about current events, and not once actually went on to credible news sources. (And I was a Communication major.) I was too consumed and immersed in my environment, school work, and extracurriculars to pay attention to the hobbies I once really enjoyed perviously. Charcoal drawing, photography, blogging, cooking, all have trickled back into my line of sight. And as much as ending college sucks, directing my new-found attention and time to my own interests is actually extremely awesome. Now, everyday NPR is my staple. I love having time to listen to "All Things Considered" on my drive home. I feel like I am extending my education beyond my degree and have the ability to constructively argue in political discussions and bring more objectivity into my thought process. I have learned how to knit, with a goal of making 20 scarves for the homeless by Christmas 2016, have self-taught myself the art of calligraphy (still a work in progress, a lot harder than it looks), purchased my very own drill and tool set and am building custom shelving, and have even gone way back in time, because I began to take Ballet classes again at Boston Ballet. Life needs to be filled with things you enjoy doing. Passions are challenging and perfection impossible, but the fear of failure should never prevent you from making the time to do what makes you happy. Having walked past Sonsie on Newbury for four years when I was in college, I never once gave it much thought. I knew it and recognized it as the place with the beautiful open terrace, perfect for people watching on the street. Luckily, the night we chose to try it out was a particularly warm December night and the restaurant had its massive collapsing windows wide open to Newbury. We were sat right in the front, and couldn't have been happier with Sonsie’s accommodating staff after we asked for that specific table. It had been about two weeks since the attacks in Paris. We were very aware and appreciative to be able to enjoy our food and wine, but also to be able to have it on the terrace so similar to the ones Parisians enjoy too. The atmosphere of Sonsie was bubbly and everyone around us seemed to be good-natured, cheerful, and diverse. There were groups of friends enjoying a drink, families sharing dinner, and young couples like us trying out something new. The interior lighting was darkened, but comfortable and created an inclusive atmosphere despite the busy night. We sat down just as the dinner menu was being finalized. From meats and pasta, to salads and small appetizers, Sonsie’s menu was impressive and everything looked mouth-watering. I knew exactly what I was in the mood for that night, so I ordered the pan-seared scallops with pumpkin risotto, topped with baby kale. ($24) Although the plate was a moderate size, every bite was savored. I finished my plate wanting more, not because I wasn’t satisfied, but because it was so delicious and flavorful. The scallops were perfectly buttered, the big chunks of pumpkin were warmly caramelized, and the risotto was a flawless addition to finish off the plate. My dining companion ordered the stuffed gnocchi with duck confit, spinach, treviso and goat cheese fonduta. ($23) And from stealing a few bites of the goat cheese stuffed gnocchi, I can say that it was absolutely delectable and a unique but complimentary combination I had never tasted before. We both ordered the same wine, a French Bordeaux, after being convinced to not get a glass of my go-to staple Chianti or a Super Tuscan blend. The wine was smooth with hints of fruit, tasty enough for me to have another glass. And even though I knew about the rule about red wine and seafood, I was told many times in Italy it doesn’t matter and to drink what makes you happy. I am a repeat offender for drinking red with seafood, but I love it. After we finished up dinner, we relaxed, watched Newbury and didn’t feel rushed out of our table. We loved our experience at Sonsie from the moment we stepped in. The service was personal and attentive with fantastic wait service. I left Sonsie definitely excited to go back to try more of their menu options and maybe even some dessert. If the experience was exceptional in December on a warm night, I'm sure during the summer months Sonsie makes for a great destination for those wanting to grab dinner in the city before a fun-filled night. I also left with hopes that this Newbury Street treasure won’t go unnoticed by its many passerby much longer. Sonsie, 327 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115. Website: sonsieboston.com Phone:(617) 351-2500 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★☆ #190/2,671 of Restaurants in Boston. $$$
Tucked away into the quaint Beacon Hill façade is the little Italian restaurant, Grotto. Grotto, meaning cave, is a perfect name for the eatery, as it is slipped right beneath the sidewalk and can be easily missed to any passerby. The small row of windows on the exterior are decorated with displays of culinary excellence and seasonal décor, while the bright sign catches your interest. The ambiance inside Grotto is dark, dimmed, and very tiny, elements that succeed in resembling a small hidden trattoria in Florence or Trastevere in Roma. The tables are close together, with a few roomier booths scattered along the walls. For a small space, one would expect a noisy experience, but that is thankfully not the case at Grotto. If you’re looking for a typical Italian dining experience like Davio’s, Grotto might not fit in with other options. Here you’ll find a much more sophisticated atmosphere that appeals to foodies willing to try a new environment.
The overall dining experience was positive. The menu is simple and not too complicated, which is great for those who may get overwhelmed by restaurants with page after page of countless menu items. Grotto’s offerings featured choices from primi, to pasta, to carne. My desire to try a little bit of everything coupled with the tasty plates descried on the menu left me with tempting incentives to return, wanting to try items like the crab ravioli primi and fonduta. The wine list on the contrary is extensive and expensive, with the by-the-glass section being a little more modest and smaller… a good option for anyone not wanting to break the bank. I ordered a 10 oz glass of a Sicilian Nero D'Avola ($14) and my guest ordered a 10oz glass of Montepulciano ($14). This was my first time tasting a D'Avola, and I could distinctly smell and taste it's qualities. A strong, bitter, sour taste, and a harsher aroma than the Montepulciano which was creamer, smoother, and more gentle. A sweet hint to the generous serving of table olive oil was certainly a surprise and well-liked component to the dinner. I ordered the Pasta Bolognese ($21) and my guest the Anatra ($26) which was an apple stuffed duck breast and crispy duck leg, wrapped in prosciutto, served with potato gratin and drizzled with black truffle aioli. The Bolognese was made with fresh pasta, making the dish lighter and the sauce was a combination of pork, lamb, and beef making it flavorful with every bite. This Bolognese differed from a traditional recipe; the sauce was creamier, resembling more of a alla vodka sauce. The balance between both sauces made it delectable and will have any pasta-lover licking the bowl. A very classic choice, that was tasty. Our service was mid-range. The staff was attentive in refilling water glasses, but the attention from the wait staff was not as strong. However, much of the service in Florence and Italy is extremely comparable. The level of service expected compared between Italy and the United States is absolutely a cultural difference that one would only understand by spending time eating out in both locations. The mediocre service is a strong reason why I am not jumping for joy and recommending an immediate trip to Grotto. It was a pleasant dinner, good, well-made and presented food, but it was missing a distinctive dining component. Grotto came up short by not offering antipasto platters featuring meats and cheeses, which are one of my favorite components to any Italian meal. Perhaps another reason for my reservation with this restaurant is also that I did order a safe and simple Bolognese, and didn’t risk trying the Ricotta Gnudi instead. In any case, Grotto could have been more memorable. It is worth another go, but not before I try some other gems in the area first. Grotto, 37 Bowdoin St, Boston, MA 02114. Website: grottorestaurant.com Phone: (617) 227-3434 TripAdvisor Rating: ★★★★★ #107/2,671 of Restaurants in Boston. $$$ I did not wake up Sunday morning expecting excitement. It was Sunday, a mediocre day preparing for the worst day of the week. It was going to be a lousy long week, waiting around for Christmas to get here on Friday and New Years the week after. BUT, in fact I woke up and pondered about a fantasy I had been tousling around in my head for two eternal years. What other than Florence? I sat their and stared at Tom with disheveled bed hair and oversized pajamas, and finally said, "andiamo!" We searched one and done, thanks to Kayak ;) and found a round trip flight to the best place on earth for half the average price. "If we passed this up, I might die," I said. We sat more, looking at eachother, are we actually going to do this or are we fooling ourselves? Are we serious or just playing our little Italian heartstrings? He was serious, I guess I was serious, so ya were going to Florence. I think I all but just melted into an espresso out of excitement and pranced around the apartment like a pre-teen girl seeing her famous boy crush for the first time. I know it sounds silly, but Florence was such a dream. A place I am still sure might not be real. I hadn't been back since I left, and I need to go back to validate everything I fell in love with. As Buddy would say, "I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it." See you soon Firenze.
South St. holds many gems to the city of Philadelphia. At the first the street is quaint and littered with cute brick row houses and soon the iconic mosaic art appears sporadically leading up to the Philadelphia Magic Gardens Art Museum. Walk a little further and you'll hit upon the popular trendy smoke shops, boutiques, and of course Jim's Steaks.
Walking along Philly's City Hall just after sunset, with the fall trees and foliage illuminated by christmas lights.
On Thursday, October 15, 2015, members of the Lasell College Community gathered at the Downtown Harvard Club of Boston to celebrate the Leaders Among Us, including faculty, staff, exemplary students and graduates, and TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer. Eight former Lasell College student leaders were honored and admired with a powerful video about their time and experiences at Lasell and how they shaped the future.
If you're going to take risks in life and take advantage of opportunities that many would run from, or take a different path than the norm, there is something you should know first. I have learned through experience what makes life harder after going abroad or having an experience that changed the track you thought was right for you. The aftermath is a feeling of deep emptiness. Dramatic, yes. By giving myself opportunities to expand, such as living abroad, visiting South America, serving with AmeriCorps, I have experienced complete joys and highs of living. They were amazing, numbing I would say to reality, and just plain incredible. But what no one really talks about is when you come back to reality, and everything changes. You have seen all these different things, met new people who live completely different than you, and fallen in love with something other than your reality, making it 10 times harder to adjust back to your once normal state. I'm ecstatic that I have explored as much as I have, and I don't think I would have been happy if I passed them up, but it makes living a submissive life a little harder. I'm still trying to find the right balance between reality and love.
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