derby day!

 A tradition amongst my group of friends, we love dressing up for the Kentucky Derby and going to some day party.  This year was no different, complete with dollar bets on our favorite horses.  Alas, I was not the winner, but we still donned some fabulous hats, drank mint juleps and had a grand time.

boston spot: back bay social club

New to town a year ago, Back Bay Social Club has quickly warmed to me and become my go-to Boston spot.  I had my birthday here and it was fabulous - great space downstairs, fun cocktails, friendly staff.  It's great for anything - dinner when the fam comes to town, happy hour on the patio, brunch with the girls, a night out for trouble.  It's warm, welcoming, the food is ohmygosh and I can't say enough good things about it.

They also have awesome cocktail events and parties all the time.  Up next?  A Guinness beer dinner - 4 courses made from local ingredients and paired with delicious beer.  Get your tickets here. 

tea time

Now that it really feels like fall, my tea consumption is up.  My absolute most favorite tea in the world is Mariage Freres Eros tea.  I hear it's finally available in the US at Dean & Deluca.  I myself was fortunate enough to stock up in Paris at one of their glorious and whimsical tea shops on a trip there this past year.

Enjoy some of my other favorites!

 (Trader Joe's Chai tea bags)

 (PG Tips - a classic breakfast tea some Brits got me into when I was working on a movie)

(Rooibos from Tealuxe for us lucky Bostonians, or for those that want to order online)

perfect end to summer

I love summer.  I love Maine.  These are not shocking statements.

I had a perfect labor day weekend to close out this fantastic summer.  Friday I went to the movies.  Saturday I went for a long run, lazed about, volunteered, went to the Red Sox v. White Sox game and then hit a bar for a drink after (where the bartender comped my 1/2 dozen oysters!).  Sunday, I went THE MAINE.  I met up with my dear friend Lauren, brother Nathan and sister-in-law Shannon.  Lauren's family was hosting us for the weekend and I made it just in time for boating day!

 (the dock - all aboard!)

We hopped aboard "Dee Lite Ful" and started cruising around Casco Bay.  While sitting up top, enjoying sangria, I looked out over the water and was in simple heaven.  It even smelled like Maine.  We caught a mooring just off an island: Chebeague Island.  It's in the lower left hand corner of this map:

 (image courtesy of LLBean, of course)

Then a small boat picked us up to bring us to the dock.  The first thing you see is The Chebeague Island Inn on top of the hill.  It's so pretty and quaint inside.  I saw a couple drinking red wine and playing scrabble by the fire - how cute is that?

 (view from the Inn's deck)

After enjoying a Bar Harbor blueberry beer and an amazing cheeseburger on the Inn's deck over looking the water, we decided to go island exploring.  Some took off on bikes and I went on foot.

(look at Lauren go!)

As I was strolling along, I loved looking at all the island houses (shocker).  They seemed so lovely and full of secrets.  Summer getaways and local homes that have been in the family for years.  How did people come here?  I was instantly brought back to a manuscript my great aunt had written about an island my family used to summer on in Maine.  This was a little more developed, but I started imaging stories about families that lived here and their island lives.

(I noticed these lights in front of several homes - perhaps they used to be street lamps?)

We found a beach and strolled along, looking for sea glass and being silly.  It was beautiful.

We went back to the dock, back to the boat and then back to the house to play some bocce ball and enjoy some great lobster and steamers.

Did I promise you a perfect end to summer or what?  It's been great - already looking forward to next summer.  It's funny to think how much can change in 4 seasons...

summer party

While the Berkeley Penthouse is no place for summer parties in this heat, my friend Richard was nice enough to offer up his place for the 4th.  My roommate and I cohosted quite the soiree at this ideal location (Beacon St., overlooking the river), which was perfect for viewing the fireworks.  Cohosting parties are so much fun because then it ensures that no single person knows everyone there.  But Richard's apartment is fantastic.  It's a wide open space filled with family heirlooms and classic pieces.  It was such a wonderful party.

(the bar, with white sangria and Pimm's cup specialty cocktails)

(There were corona ponies wherever they could fit - what a great idea)

(I love this nook in the corner.  It just feels special.  Look at the beautiful silver)

(a little patriotism)

(an entry way table, complete with floral arrangement, naturally)

(fireworks!)

happy list: morning coffee before work with a good friend

That simple activity makes the rest of the day feel better and complete and like you can do anything.

*Image courtesy of LHDumes

Tuesdays with...a hostess

My dear friend Leighann is what we call "the hostess with the mostess."  As Yelp Boston's Community Manager, she plans huge monthly events from red carpet galas to beautiful brunches, boat cruises to garden parties.  She always makes sure to introduce herself to new members and learn a little about them and will always take a moment to catch up with old friends.   Leighann emails the community weekly with themed emails on what's hot in Boston from where to find the best mac and cheese to spots to eat outside when the weather's warm.  And this gal is all over the city, networking, showing up to unofficial events other yelpers plan when she can, going to restaurant openings, always knows what's happening and where to be and writes reviews the whole way (over 700 reviews and counting!).  You'd be hard pressed to find a Bostonian who doesn't know all about Ms. Leighann. 

But much more than a nice gal who knows how to plan a party, Leighann has STYLE.  She was featured in Boldfacers Stylemakers Pop Up Store because Leighann's style is unique and fresh.  Dressed up or dressed down, she always looks like something out of years passed, but still keeps it funky.  And it suits her perfectly and she wears clothes so well because she's just being herself!  Whether it's vintage or a hot new item, the girl can DRESS.

Here's to you Leighann.  You've got style, beauty, brains and class and you keep Boston fun.  Let's order another round of cocktails.

*Images courtesy of Leighann, Tyler Cheung, Tatsu Ikeda, Todd Lee Photography, Lara Callahan & moi.

new spot: noche

Bostonian foodies rejoiced today as Noche opened up in m'hood at 3 Appleton, the same space where Icarus (may it rest in peace) used to reside.  I glimpsed the menu and am pretty excited to go for cocktails and get an always favorable Moscow Mule or try a Cucumber Gimlet (Hendricks Gin, St. Germain, Lime Juice, Fresh Cucumbers and Orange Bitters - yum!).  Their bar menu has goodies like kobe beef sliders and shrimp cocktails and their full menu (served until midnight) has classic surf or turf or pasta items.  It looks like a solid place to eat and the decor redo is divine:

It's got a loungey Vegas feel while still being modern.  I dig it.  Can't wait to try!

take me away to Cisco Brewery

I hadn't written over the weekend because I went to Cape Cod with some friends for Memorial Day weekend.  Much to my delight, we decided to take a day trip to Nantucket on Saturday.  My roommate always told me I was never allowed to go to Nantucket because I would never come home - boy, was she right!  Cobble stoned streets, quaint sandwich places, blue shutters on faded grey homes, gorgeous sailboats filling the ocean offshore and more Nantucket Red shorts than I could handle had me hooked.  My biggest delight, however was a place called Cisco Brewery.  First of all, it's on a farm.  Hello.  If you know me at all, you know I delight in a good farm.  Not only that, apparently they are one of only a handful of places in the world that is a brewery, distillery and winery - wow!

The atmosphere of this particular day was easy and free.  The ages ranged from infant to eldery, the blueberry vodka lemonade flowed, a bluegrass band played on, tie dye tshirts were created and it seemed as if there were dogs everywhere I looked.  I had such a wonderful time and such fun running into old friends and making new.  I think I could get used to island living...

P.S. Did I mention we hitchhiked (which I've never done before!) to the brewery  and a lovely Beacon Hill family picked us up?  What a friendly place!

(a stolen shot from their website so you can get an idea of the space)

(general Memorial Day Weekend merriment)

(they grow their own hops!)

(cheers to summer, friends)