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Archive for November, 2007

Dining with the Stars

November 30th, 2007 by amy c

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Cameron Diaz
Photo uploaded by sheksays

Los Angeles and New York are not the only cities attracting celebrities, especially since hit movies with big name stars have been filming around Boston lately. Most recently, a movie starring Morgan Freeman, called The Lonely Maiden, is scheduled to be filming in the Allston area this week.

Undoubtedly, stars hit up the trendiest and most delicious restaurants, offering a guide to the places that deliver a little “scene” with their food. You may not see the likes of Matt Damon at a local pub, but you can follow these star tracks and dine like them too. And who knows– you may just get lucky and glimpse a celebrity sighting over a cup of New England Clam Chowder or a Sam Adams beer.

Boston.com and The Beantown Bloggery spotted these hot-spots. Now here is what you can expect from these celebrity-attracting restaurants:

No. 9 Park: It is hard to believe that “Skinny Minny” Cameron Diaz has ever touched pasta but this is probably what she dined on in this elegant townhouse on Beacon Hill. The delicate pastas and combination of fresh Italian and French flavors has made Executive Chef Barbara Lynch and her restaurant famous. Named one of the “Ten Best Chefs in America,” Lynch has brought what she learned from cooking in Italy to the states with tasty success. The delicate and authentic, yet innovative food and timeless elegance of the atmosphere make this restaurant the cutting edge in fine dining in Boston. Old world elegance awaits you in the nearby at the Harrison Gray Otis House, a classic home to the elegant governing class after the American revolution. Known for hosting lavish parties and being the height of comfort and glamor, you catch a glimpse of the celebrities of the past. (more…)

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Boston Events for the Week of 11/29

November 29th, 2007 by jamie a

Friday, November 30 (8 pm)
Join the Boston Conservatory for their Winter Tableau Concert Series at Seully Hall. Juventas will be presenting 8 works by today’s most talented composers under 35 with an eclectic selection of music from various genres.

Saturday, December 1-Sunday, December 2 (10 pm - 10 pm)
The “inmates” at Improv Asylum perform a full 24 hours of comedy as a fundraiser for Globe Santa. One $10 ticket lets you come and go as much as you’d like.

Saturday, December 1 (8:30 am)
Help raise money for the Special Olympics by participating in this year’s Jolly Jaunt 5K in Boston Common. If you’re not running or walking in the race, you can always donate to the participating teams and still help out.

Saturday, December 1 (11 am - 5 pm)
Attending Fenway Open Studios is a wonderful way to support the local artists who work there and pick up some gifts for the holidays. Built in 1905, it’s a national historical landmark and the oldest continuously functioning space built solely for the purpose of being an artist’s workspace.

Saturday, December 1 (11 am - 6 pm)
The third annual Union Square Winter Craft Market is open this Saturday! For gifts you can’t find at any shopping mall, support local artisans and pick up the best in handmade products.

Wednesday, December 5 (8 pm)
Relive the trials and tribulations of adolescence with Mortified! This quarterly series features “real people” reading from their old journals, letters, notes, and more at the Paradise Lounge.

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What’s New at the ICA

November 28th, 2007 by amy c

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The view of Boston Harbor from inside Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art
Photo uploaded by MegElizabeth

Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art has been offering insights into cutting edge art, artists, and the creative process for 70 years. Now in its new state-of-the-art facility on the waterfront, the ICA continues offering a portal into multi-disciplinary arts with its innovative exhibition space, performing arts theater, media center, bookstore, and cafe. Here is an overview of the exciting exhibitions going on at the ICA, as well as upcoming events you won’t want to miss:

Design Life Now (through January 6, 2008): This large scale exhibition presents the best work of the past three years in architecture, design, film, graphics, fashion, science, and new technologies. On display are creations from more than 80 designers and firms.

Bourgeois in Boston (though March 2, 2008): Sculpture, paintings, prints, and drawings have been donated from museums and private collections to offer an array of the emotional and innovative work of one of the most influential living artists, Louise Bourgeois. The highly symbolic art is made from a wide variety of everyday materials and represent the body, family, sexuality, trauma and anxiety.

Momentum 9: Kader Attia (through March 2, 2008): This is the French-Algerian artist’s first solo exhibition in the US. His work evokes abstract themes, such as absence and emptiness through sculptures.

Glimpse a preview of more exhibitions here.

Upcoming Exhibitions:
The World as a Stage- February 2 to April 28, 2008
Momentum 10: Ranjani Shettar- March 19 to July 13, 2008
Street Level March 19 to July 13, 2008

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CSI: The Experience

November 27th, 2007 by jamie a

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CSI Experience Crime Scene
Photo uploaded by Pirate Alice

If you’re a fan of the television series CSI, then don’t miss the CSI Experience exhibit at Boston’s Museum of Science! Take on the role of investigator as you tour the simulated crime scenes and laboratories.

You’ll be completely immersed in forensic science world through this exhibit, even taking on the roles of your favorite characters from the show. Collect evidence, form hypotheses, and then take your findings to the lab to do everything from matching suspect’s DNA to examining fingerprints. If you’re confident in your findings and theories, step in to Grissom’s office and pitch your ideas to the show’s hero.

Check out the official exhibit website for sneak peeks, web adventures, and interactive videos to get yourself excited for the real thing!

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Boston’s Free Wi-Fi Guide

November 26th, 2007 by jamie a

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Photo uploaded by jem

We know you love to stay connected during your travels, so here’s our list of Boston Wi-Fi hotspots to help you out! From hotels to ice cream parlors and Irish pubs, you can surely find a place that suits your surfing style.

To begin your trip, here are some hotels that offer free wi-fi so you won’t have to stray very far at all if you need to be connected. There’s the University Park Hotel at MIT, The Royal Sonesta, the Nine Zero Hotel in the heart of downtown, or the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square.

If you’d like to grab some breakfast or a coffee, all Bruegger’s Bagel locations are wireless, as well as Boston Beanstock Coffee and Cafenation. If you’re a bit outside the metropolitan area, True Grounds in Somerville is a favorite for studying, writing, or catching up on emails.

For lunch, there’s Boloco for delicious fresh burritos and smoothies and B. Good for the tastiest in healthy “fast food.”

To grab a pint of Guinness while you work, there’s The Black Rose which is just around the corner from Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. To satisfy your sweet tooth, check out Emack & Bolio’s or the hip, new Berryline in Harvard Square which serves the most delicious frozen yogurt around.

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Celebrate Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation

November 21st, 2007 by susan j

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Photo courtesy of Plimoth Plantation

Have you ever wondered what life was like before Blackberries and iPods? If so, here’s your chance to step back in time and experience daily life in seventeenth century New England. Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum that recreates a 1627 English village in Plymouth Colony.

Amidst the timber-framed houses and fragrant gardens, you can chat with costumed reenactors and watch skilled crafters as they create historically authentic furniture, baskets, clothing, and more. You can also visit Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the ship that brought many of the first European settlers to the “New World.” In honor of Thanksgiving, the Plantation stays open all day with dining options and special exhibits to commemorate the first harvest celebration of 1621.

Here are some facts about Thanksgiving, courtesy of our partners at Plimoth Plantation: (more…)

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New and Notable Boston Restaurants

November 20th, 2007 by susan j

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Garlic-chili salted edamame and chili beef ramen at Wagamama
Photo uploaded by synaesthesia

Boston may be famous for cream pies and clam chowder, but Beantown has definitely moved beyond the traditional New England fare to more innovative and interesting dining choices. These days you’ll find new restaurants popping up all over the city, giving locals and tourists a taste of sophisticated international cuisine. Here are a few new and notable openings:

As one of the most European cities in the US, it was only fitting that Boston welcomed the first North American location for Wagamama this summer. A favorite among travelers in Europe, Wagamama features a minimalist decor and hearty noodle dishes served in a colorful communal environment. The first location is in Faneuil Hall near the New England Aquarium and second location recently opened in Cambridge near the Harvard Museum.

Another restaurant recently opened in Boston’s Mission Hill. The Savant Project started serving tapas in late September and has already drawn rave reviews from the diners on Yelp.com for its creative cocktail menu and loungy but unpretentious atmosphere. Mid-October brought the addition of Church, a combination restaurant and music venue near Fenway Park. Their “Seven Deadly Sins” cocktail list plays up the church theme.

And lastly, tonight is the grand opening for the newest addition to Boston’s restaurant scene. STIX Restaurant and Lounge in the Back Bay near the Shops at Prudential Center “pairs global cuisine with an awe-inspiring architectural design,” according to their website. Menu items include tuna sashimi, ricotta tortellini, and grilled quail.

If you have a favorite Boston restaurant, leave a comment and let us know about it!

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Fenway Park Gets an Upgrade

November 19th, 2007 by susan j

Though it’s the off-season for the Red Sox, Boston is still buzzing from their baseball team’s World Series victory over the Colorado Rockies. And last Friday, Boston fans got one more reason to celebrate, because their favorite baseball team announced plans to renovate Fenway Park.  The off-season upgrades include adding a new restaurant in center field and new seats in the State Street Pavilion, as well as waterproofing the seating bowl in the bleacher area. Read more on The Boston Globe’s baseball blog, Extra Bases.

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MIT Museum’s Friday After Thanksgiving

November 16th, 2007 by susan j

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Closeup on a kinetic installation by Arthur Ganson
Photo uploaded by jhritz

Next Friday, the MIT Museum offers a low-cal, low-cost alternative to sleeping off a food-induced coma or braving the Black Friday sales. Their 10th anniversary Friday After Thanksgiving (FAT) Chain Reaction at Rockwell Cage Gymnasium in Cambridge gives inventors of all ages the chance to join kinetic sculptor Arthur Ganson in creating a large-scale chain reaction sculpture.

Each link must between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, and teams must register by Saturday, November 17. Click here for more information or to register your team!

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Boston Events for the Week of 11/15

November 15th, 2007 by jamie a

Thursday, November 15 - Sunday, November 18
Words and Music, Cascando, and …but the clouds… by Samuel Beckett will be performed as “Beckett at 100″ at the New College Theater at Harvard University. This is the Boston premiere of the original score written by Martin Perlman of the Boston Baroque.

Saturday, November 17 (12 - 5 pm)
Head on over to Somerville for the Brickbottom District Open Studios 2007 event. Featuring art from both the Brickbottom Artists Association and the Joy Street Artists, there’s everything from sculpture and mixed media to quilts and photography.

Saturday, November 17 (1 pm)
The Moscow Cats Theatre returns to Boston with an all new show! There’s 30 cats, 1 dog, and 5 clowns performing non-stop acrobatic stunts that will have you amazed and laughing in your seats. It’s a perfect event for the whole family.

Saturday, November 17 (8 pm)
Prepare to be dazzled at the Orpheum Theatre this weekend when the Shaolin Warriors come to town. Comprised of 20 Kung Fu masters, they will take your breath away with this theatrical performance of their craft.

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