Let's Review...

New faces and spaces!

2010-02-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

I've decided to move this blog to a new space, wordpress so I can manage it easier and customize it better. Please follow along with me!
Let's Review

Tax Time

2010-02-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time again...

I know that people are encouraged to go to Turbo Tax and do their own taxes but I've been going to my local H&R Block office for about three years now. (That would be in Belmont, MA off Trapelo Road.)

Between always having some sort of confusion with holding more than one job or going to school, or oh I don't know...becoming unemployed I've taken the easy, but costly, way out and had someone deal with my tax issues. Personally, I probably would not have known to put in that I have an EZ Pass transponder, who knew you could potentially get money back for that! I digress, I've been going to the same person for about three years now, James Cassidy. He's always done a great job and made sure I get as much money back as possible.

I know taxes are no fun but I gotta tell ya, getting back anything is pretty fantastic, especially when you are putting all your bets on this in order to pay off your credit cards and student bills! So I have to say, today has been a pretty lucrative day for yours truly!

So...let's review...
1. If you are lazy like me about your taxes then go to H&R Block.
2. If you happen to live in or around Belmont I would highly recommend James Cassidy. I'm sure anyone in the Belmont office is great but I have only interacted with him.
3. Don't forget to mention you have an EZ Pass!

Until the next review!

Outside the Quaker state. Syracuse, NY

2010-02-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

This weekend I found myself on a visit to Syracuse. One of my favorite parts was seeing a lot more snow than here in Mass.

Valentines day happened to fall on the same day as a very important basketball game and hence some sort of festivity had to take place, preferably in a bar, with plenty of chairs and tables and most definitely TV's. Apparently the Quaker Steak and Lube wing restaurant has expanded to the Syracuse region. The name sounded familiar but I couldn't remember why. As we drove off the off ramp I remembered that many years ago during a road trip with a couple of friends we happened to stop at the original Quaker Steak and Lube in Pennsylvania. If you are looking for some hot hot wings then you should google this place and drive on over. Careful, there is a Lube sauce so hot that you need to sign a waiver! The walls and ceiling were adorned with motorcycles, snow mobiles and other "manly" things.

After having the O-Ring Ontenna, an antenna with onion rings and pretzels along with some mozzarella sticks and fried pickles; I ordered The Boneless wing salad to keep things on the light side. It came with some chicken that you could order in any level of hotness, I went with the Cajun and although the rub was spicy I know I could have gone higher on the Scovile Heat Unit scale.

No doubt, you must be looking for beer. NO worries, you can either order a bucket of 5 beers for $10 or a so called "Lube Tube" which gives you about 12-14 beers.

On your way out, don't' forget to take a picture in their "bucket of fun" poster! You'll know what I mean...

So...let's review...
1. Check out the Quaker Steak and Lube website to see if there is one nearby and drop by for some wings and beer.
2. Have enough men with you? Order them the Lube Tube!
3. If you plan on having the Atomic wings, maybe you should order a glass of milk.

Until the next review!

Neiman Marcus' Spring Fling! Boston, MA

2010-02-11T19:32:00.000-08:00

Neiman Marcus pulled it off again, their annual spring fling!
The first Hello Stiletto shoe event I ever went to was Kentucky Derby themed at Neiman Marcus for their spring fling. We sipped on mint juleps and enjoyed all the expensive shoes around us.

This time the theme was Valentines day and everyone was encouraged to wear their finest red heels.

I wished I was in a good enough situation that I could splurge on my very first pair of Louboutin's because they are just so perfect this season. Girl's, the latest trends are: blue shoes are a must and wedge heels are absolutely still in. Got any exotic shoes with leopard skin? Bring those out too!

So, all in all, this event was truly another success and the Neiman Marcus staff was excellent. Vicky and Gordon were running around helping the ladies try on and purchase some new trendy shoes. As per usual, there were some gifts to be given out. Three lucky ladies won Manolo Blahnik shoe paintings, painted by his truly. From what I heard, the Neiman Marcus at Copley has the biggest selection of his shoes. Now, please enjoy some new shoes!

So...let's review...

1. As I've said before, sign up for the shoe club and get out with your girlfriends for fun and exciting events.

2. Make sure to wear your funnest shoes, you never know, you may win a prize as well!

Until the next review!

Sunapee for Me! Newbury, NH

2010-02-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

I hopped in my car and unfortunately timed my departure for the slopes rather poorly, hence hitting the morning rush hour traffic. Once I got on 93, it was smooth sailing. The radio stations got prey sparse up on 89 so country music it was, 93.3 The Wolf!

Even on a Wednesday the front lot at Mount Sunapee was already filled due to the 2-for-1 deal. I geared up headed to the ticketing office. Thank you Suffolk ID for getting me a cheaper rate for the day of skiing ahead of me! I decided to do the green trails first just to warm up. That fist run of the day is like the first warm day of spring for me. You feel so free, the smell of the snow and clean air is all around you, you just can't help but smile.

Two runs in I was ready to head to the blue squared trails. I decided I'd try to do 20 runs that day. Unfortunately the cold got to me and by run 6 I had to head in and warm up. By run 9 I couldn't help but think about how cold my entire body was. By this time I had moved my car to the front lot and was able to quickly add another layer, grab my soup and change into my snowboarding boots.

I headed over to the learning area to get a few practice runs in because I am by no means at all good at this sport. After two runs I couldn't take how slow the Flying Carpet was and decided that I might as well head over to the green runs. If I am meant to fall, I'll fall anyway. Luckily the first run was flawless and I got a little over confident and was brought back to reality when I took a big hit on my second run. It was getting to be 3:30 and and I decided to head on home.

It was very relaxing to think about nothing but making sure I don't fall instead of thinking about how no one was answering my applications.

So...let's review...
1. If you want to ski but don't want to drive for three hours, head to Mount Sunapee. It's only 90 minutes away from Boston!
2. Look for budget friendly tickets. Mount Sunapee has discounts for pretty much every weekday and for every age group.
3. Take a break and really enjoy the winter before it's gone!

Until the next review!

The New Champions. Copley Marriott, MA

2010-01-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about the future champions of the Winter Olympics but instead the swanky new Champions bar and restaurant that is the outcome of the huge remodel project in the Copley Marriott. I actually wasn't even aware that they moved, all I knew was that Starbucks was now in a new spot.

I decided to go into the city today to see if I could pick up a shirt I liked from Arden B and I wanted to meet up with my "brother" Adam for lunch before he leaves for Seattle again. I wasn't too hungry, as per usual, and the food court wasn't really calling our name. Adam suggested going to Champions so we were on our way. I thought we'd have to go back outside into the snowy mess but was pleasantly surprised to see that the bar had moved to the upstairs area of the Marriott. I had never been to the old location but really love the new one.

There are TONS of TV's for the men to watch any and all ESPN channels, there is even a giant screen onto which they project football games. There is also more than enough people watching you can do, I'd suggest sitting in the main bar area.

If you are looking for a wide selection of beer in the middle of the mall, once again, this is the place to be. As for food, they have the regular bar food, such as nacho's pretzels, sliders, onion rings, the list goes on. You can also have a healthy salad or soup if you're still sticking to your new years resolution!

I opted for the award wining clam chowder, which I did enjoy...although I wish it was a little creamier and denser, but the taste was great. Adam ordered some soft pretzels for us to share and chicken fingers for himself. When the meal came out I was very happy I didn't order more food. Each pretzel was larger than our heads, so needless to say, you get a lot of food for your buck.

So...let's review...
1. Is you guy looking to catch up on some sports while you shop? Drop him off at Champions
2. You may also be the designated driver due to the extensive beer list from which your guy may pick from while watching his sports sports sports
3. While you wait for a game to end, grab some grub. You won't pay too much but you'll certainly walk away satisfied and full. Enjoy!

Until the next review

A Spoon Full of Sugar Makes the Medicine Go Down. Sugar Bakery. West Roxbury, MA

2010-01-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

If you haven't come out to West Roxbury, the Sugar Bakery should be reason enough to get in your car and take a little road trip to Centre Street.

My suggestion would be to make this your lunch time plan as the bakery is very conveniently attached to the Real Deal Deli. I've had the Boneless Buffalo Sub which was amazing. There are two sizes, a small and a large. Unless you haven't eaten for several days or plan on having your sub for lunch and dinner I would suggest getting the small. You can also pick from wraps and paninis as well as a bunch of plates that you can get for your super bowl party!
But, back to the bakery. You can get anything from gourmet cupcakes, cakes, cinnamon rolls and cookies to a flat tire which is only $1. You should also keep in mind that breakfast baked goods are half price after 3pm!

Needless to say, there isn't enough I can say about this bakery and I truly look forward to eating my apple and walnut turnover.

So...let's review...
1. Haven't been to West Roxbury yet? I think it's time to get some sugar.
2. Stop at the Real Deal Deli for a snack or a full on lunch.
3. Looking for a bargain on your baked goods? Stop by after 3pm and get the morning's breakfast items for half off at the Sugar Bakery.

Until the next review!

The girl from Ipanema goes walking. Brazil!

2010-01-19T14:12:00.000-08:00

So...is going to Brazil worth your time?
As you know I went away this past week with my MBA program. We visited both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Sao Paulo is home to over 40 million people! when we descended on the city all you see is buildings and high rises. Imagine looking down at New York city and multiply that by 10. Brazil as a country has roughly 180 million people!

That being said Sao Paulo is definitely very business oriented, at least in the area we stayed in. Everyone going about their business and I can't say they were super friendly. I overall just did not feel safe. I've been to big cities and I've seen homeless people but this was a different level. However, if you are in the city you should absolutely get a tour guide to show you around otherwise you'll drive for an hour and will still be inside city limits and will think that there is no history, which is quite untrue. One of the must see sites is the Municipal Market. It is sensory overload. There are so many fruits you simply must try. Did you know that cashews are actually seeds inside of a cashew fruit? If you are looking for a little bit of extravagance you should visit Hotel Unique which is known for its rooftop pool which overlooks the city. This visit is highly recommended at sunset. One note of caution, be prepared to spend quite a bit of money.

Now, about Rio. This is a very different city as compared to Sao Paulo. People are very relaxed and much more welcoming it seems. We happened to stay at Ipanema Plaza which is one block from Ipanema beach. The hotel had a roof top pool which overlooked the beach and looked on to the mountain with Christ the Redeemer on it.

Copacabana beach was not too far away and could be reached by metro or walking. I loved walking around in the evening and did not feel unsafe as I did in Sao Paulo, granted I always made sure to be with at least one other person which is a good rule of thumb. While in Rio, you should take a tour of the city and its surroundings as there are some very wealthy areas and you should certainly go up to take a picture with the redeemer and go up to Sugarloaf which offers a great view of Guanabara Bay and the city.

Take great caution on the beach. If you are traveling in January that is the hottest time of the year and the most critical hours in the sun are between 10am and 3pm. You should absolutely lather up and not spend too much time in the sun. Most hotels by the beach offer a service on the beach where you can get a towel, beach chair and an umbrella, which I would highly recommend. It is also worth mentioning that you should take any valuable to the beach. A great number of vendors are on the beach and there are simply to many people to keep track of so it's not worth getting your wallet or camera stolen. If you are with a group it would be a great idea to have someone stay behind with the belongings while others are taking a swim.

You will see that a section of the beach is denoted as the gay and lesbian section. Keep that in mind if need be. I spent my beach time here two days in a row and had no issues whatsoever.

If you are a person who likes to exercise and are in Rio on a Sunday you should know that the road running along Ipanema beach gets closed all day on Sunday so people can exercise. No matter how hot it got people were out walking, running and biking, it was great to see that so many people enjoyed this type of lifestyle.

So...let's review...
1. Sao Paulo is worth visiting just to get a glimpse of the real Brazil. A day or two would suffice, and a tour is highly recommended.
2. When staying in Sao Paulo you should visit the Municipal Market and Unique Hotel if you are looking for a fancier evening. Otherwise walk down Avenida Paulista and you will find many great shops. Walk down Avenida Augusta and you will run across a great bakery, Bella Paulista.
3. When staying in Rio, bring your sunscreen and take a tour of Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf!

AND the most important point of advice:
Don't wear flashy jewelry or long necklaces which can be yanked off you by someone riding a scooter. This happened to a group member of ours. Just take caution and enjoy!

Until the next review!

Woody's Club. Boston, MA

2010-01-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

I know, I only do one of these a week but since the chances of me blogging while I'm actually away are slim here's another look at some other places in Boston.

I was going to meet my friend Adam in the city for a quick dinner and figured I'd take this chance to take a walk through the Prudential and stop in some stores and eventually stop at Barnes and Noble to see if there were any good books on Brazil. After not having too much luck at Anne Taylor and Anne Taylor Loft I stopped in at Club Monaco. Amazing sale on coats! And when I say amazing I mean coats that cost over $300 cost $69. And did I mention that students get 20% off even the sale items? Who could ask for more? Unfortunately, the coat I liked was slightly too short but I'll know to go in there more from now on!

I took a loop and walked into Barnes and Noble and that's when my friend called me. As I walked out I saw something amazing again. Lauren Conrad signing her L.A. Candy book on the 5th...you know where I'll be!

We walked over to Woody's Grill & Tap on Hemenway. While attending Northeastern I walked by this place quite often and always wondered what it was like inside and if the food was good. If the smell was any inclination at all it must be fantastic. Since graduating I've now been here twice in about 5 months.

The smell as you walk in is even better than from the outside. The brick oven pizza, especially the buffalo, is amazing but you absolutely must try the spinach gnocchi, it is to die for. So after having this deeelicious appetizer we both ended up getting the chicken sandwich and salad instead of the fries. Once again, trying to tell myself that grilled chicken and salad is better than a burger and fries. Gotta stay in shape before I hit the beaches in Brazil!

I have to say that this Wednesday was a pretty good one!

So...let's review...
1. Looking for fashionable steals? Head to Club Monaco and if you're a student, whip out your ID for extra savings!
2. Looking to meet a celebrity in the new year? Get Lauren Conrad's new book signed by her on the 5th of February.
3. If you are at Woody's, please try some gnocchi.

Until the next review!
(Don't forget to follow me on Twitter for other updates, budget friendly activities and event information)

mmm Cheesecakey. Cheesecake Factory. Braintree,MA.

2010-01-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, happy 2010!

I thought it would be appropriate to even out the scales and start this year off with a positive eating experience!

After what seems like a full month of over eating and over drinking my boyfriend and I were finally having a calm Sunday. Since we had to stop by Macy's at the Braintree Mall we decided that we would indulge one more time and go to the Cheesecake Factory. I have only once actually had the cheesecake because I usually just end up over eating and not having room for dessert.

We sat down and ordered some Buffalo Blasts and a white sangria and pomegranate mojito. I could have easily drank a pitcher of the mojito. The Buffalo Blasts were amazing! I would highly recommend them. For the entree I ended up ordering the factory burger and salad...maybe my body would think I was doing it some good by not getting the fries.

On our way in the man noticed a red velvet cheesecake and out waitress highly recommend it and she was right, it was incredibly delicious. Another plus, for every slice 25 cents goes to feed America.

This one last splurge was a very good idea and now I can't wait to get back on the gym wagon.

So...let's review...
1. Order the Pomegranate Mojito
2. As an appetizer get the Buffalo Blasts
3. Help out America and get the incredibly delicious red velvet cheesecake

Until the next review! (I hope you're ready to travel!)

So...let's review...

2009-12-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is coming to an end and so are the first four months of my blog!
Thank you for those who looked at my reviews on my blog and on yelp.com and followed me on twitter.
We've been all over New England and even took a trip over to San Francisco!

I hope the hotel reviews from New Hampshire and Maine will help you in the future, I know that as soon as it gets closer to the date of the Big Lake Half Marathon along Lake Winnie I'll be making my reservation at Sandy Point Beach Resort. And as for Maine and Bar Harbor, don't forget to take a drive over to the Jordan Pond House or some popovers.

As the new year rolls in don't forget that there are a number of budget friendly activities you can par take in. For one, a lot of libraries a low their members to get tickets to museums for a very low price: 5-$8 for the Science Museum and Aquarium admissions! You should also check out the Improper Bostonian and Lola for upcoming events and activities around town, you never know what might catch your eye.
I wish you all a very happy new year!

Until the next review!

PF Yuck Chang's. Dedham, MA

2009-12-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

My first negative review...I guess it was only time until that happened.

I had been to a PF Chang's a few years back in Boston and thought it had been pretty damn good. Then one opened in the new Legacy Place in Dedham. The first time I went the was after a god-bye party with a couple of people from work and my boss. We got there at 8:45 and by 9:45 not even the girl who had ordered soup had eaten. We had seen our waiter maybe two times.

My boss being the man he is decided to complain to the manager who questioned us and asked if we had "really" been waiting that long. A few minutes later our food miraculously appeared and everyone's meals were sub par. The one good thing? We didn't have to wait for our entrees which we waited an hour for.

A few weeks later we went back and this time the service was better but I was the last one to get my food, this time I was the one who had ordered soup. There seems to be something off about that order. Once again, the one god thing? We got some free crab rangoon's which were phenomenal!

So...let's review...
1. Seems to me like the servers keep messing up and then always have to give handout which for someone on unemployment is fantastic.
2. Don't feel bad about complaining, seems like management is not happy about it because a lot of people must do it.
3. Moral of the story: if you are in a rush and are looking for a great meal, don't head to PF Chang's in Dedham.

Until the next review, and enjoy the snow!

Are YOU a Maxxinista? Newton Lower Falls, MA

2009-12-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

For those of us on a budget this Christmas, TJMaxx is a great destination for Christmas gifts, especially if you've stepped foot in the new Newton Lower Falls store. It's right off of Needham Street and across from the Marshalls and Fresh City. I knew it was set to open sometime in November but hadn't had a chance to get over there yet. This past Monday, after sitting at the Panera in Watertown of course, I hopped in my car and headed towards the beacon.

I walked in and fashion was all around me. Now, this isn't my first time at a TJMaxx and I definitelly know by now which store to go to if I'm looking for certain items...Homegoods: head to Bedford, Shoes: go to Marshalls in Lexington, if you are in a mood for scavenger hunting and messy racks: head over to the Dedham store.

This new store did not feel claustrophobic, it was clean, well organized and had all of the key elements. Granted the shoe section could have been bigger but now I know that if one day I find a fancy job or win the lotto, this will be the store I head to for my designer goods.

So...let's review...
1. They're not showing all those "fashionista-maxxinista" ads on tv for nothing, I love this store!
2. If you have $300 burning a hole in your pocket, perhaps you should consider spending it at the Newton Lower Falls TJMaxx.
3. Never doubt a good cup of coffee at Panera.

Until the next review!

Losing Sleep Over Fashion. Liberty Hotel, Boston, MA.

2009-12-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

I had heard about the Fashionably Late Thursdays at the Liberty Hotel but also knew I have class on those days. As I was sitting in Panera this morning, my home away from home, I saw that there was a special style section in the New York Times about Tom Ford. As I was reading about his new endeavors I decided I couldn't miss my chance at seeing a Betsey Johnson fashion show tonight.

I skipped out of class a little early and began circling Charles Street looking for parking, I lucked out and found a spot a block up from the hotel.

I walked in and the hotel was more or less packed, as expected, but thankfully there was no line out the door quite yet. The inside was decorated for the holidays with upside down Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling. I grabbed a drink and found a seat in a great comfy white leather chair. There was another event going on on the top floors but the models were to walk above us and then up the escalator.

The show began a little after 10pm to a Michael Jackson tune. The dresses were fantastic, pink with glitter! What girl wouldn't love a cocktail dress like that?

I watched the models do their thing while everyone else snapped pictures, probably for the local magazines, and then slipped out.

This was a great experience to see the latest dresses from a well known and hip designer. I can't wait for the next fashion show but more importantly for cocktails at Clink tomorrow!

So...let's review...
1. Yes, I might be in love with the Liberty Hotel and their events, but who doesn't like complimentary fashion shows and cocktails during this down market?
2. Keep a look out for other recession proof events through yelp.com, or lola magazine and other free magazines around town.
3. Looking for other great events at the Liberty Hotel? Go to their hotel affairs page.

Until the next review!

(And, you can follow me on twitter for more up to date event details.)

Cakebread Cellars. Napa, CA.

2009-11-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to lovely Napa!
It was Wednesday morning and we were going through a typically hectic morning of planning where to go first and what to do. We knew the vineyards opened around 11am and that we definitely wanted to stop by Mumm and Wm. Harrison vineyards. My boyfriend is in love with Cakebread Chardonnay and since this is his first trip to Napa we decided to go there first.

After about an hour and a half of driving we finally arrived at Cakebread Cellars. We were beginning to get worried as the sign on the front door stated that tastings and tours were by appointment only. Probably due to the fact that it was one day before Thanksgiving there weren't a lot of people at the vineyard and we got to hop on a tour.

We chose to do the select wine tasting. For $10 you get to taste three white and three red wines. If you are a bigger fan of the red the other option is a very exclusive red wine tasting in the front room which is sectioned off.

Grabbing our first glass of wine we ran over and caught up with the tour. Our tour guide, Lia, was very entertaining and informative. For a group of about 10 it felt like we were on a private tour. There was no other tour ahead or behind us so all questions were answered and there was no rush.

After tasting our wines my boyfriend decided he had to get the biggest bottle of Chardonnay they had, the magnum! He was going to bring it back home and wait for a special occasion. You might think it was a stupid idea but Cakebread is not allowed to ship to the state of Massachusetts yet and the last time we were at the NH liquor store they said that it comes in very rarely.

We took our glasses as a memento and decided to drive on to the next vineyard and have a light lunch. The weather could not have been more perfect on this November day!

So...let's review...
1. If you are visiting Northern California, you must go to Napa for a day.
2. If you are planning on visiting Cakebread Cellars, make sure to call ahead, you may not have the luck we had with walking in and going on a tour
3. I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Until the next review!

Cardio Blitzed. Liberty Hotel, Boston, MA

2009-11-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

Let me just start off by saying that I have never sweat this hard and for so long!
I was sitting and looking through the Improper Bostonian magazine as I waited for my Thursday classes to begin. After finding some delicious holiday cookie recipes I looked at the upcoming events and saw that the Liberty Hotel was holding some fall fitness classes taught by Equinox trainers! There was one today, Cardio Blitz, that I decided I had to go to.
I e-mailed my friend Lara and told her we had an event to attend. There are actually a number of complimentary events at the Liberty Hotel that one can attend.

We arrived at the hotel at around 9:30 and were greeted by Chrys, our trainer for the day. The hotel was kind enough to provide everyone with some water and towels.

As more people showed up Chrys told us that we would start off the class with some laps around the top level of the hotel. How exciting!

After about an hour of running, squatting and doing push ups I could not have been more energized for the day. Chrys taught an excellent class and I found myself wishing that my local BSC gym had a similar class. As we walked out we all got a free 3 day trial card to the Equinox gym! So far, the two classes I've taken with the trainers from that gym I've been blown away by their level of expertise.

So...let's review...
1. If you are feeling the recession, look around, there are tons of great free events to par take in
2. If you are not feeling the recession, join the Equinox gym, I am convinced that the classes alone are worth the money.
3. Want to get in on the action? Join me at the lululemon store at the Prudential tomorrow for a sport pilates class tomorrow at 9:30!

Until the next review! (It will be from California!)

A Taste of Italy. G'Vanni's, Boston (North End), MA.

2009-11-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

It's starting to get colder again here in Boston so I decided it was time to put my gift certificate to G'Vanni's to good use.

I took the train in from Northeastern and walked through Government Center towards the North End. There were tour groups enjoying the day and the sellers at Haymarket were setting up for tomorrow's crowds. As soon as I crossed the new Fitzgerald Greenway it felt like the mood changed. There were old men sitting outside restaurants, even on this chilly day, families enjoying a late lunch and the typical construction crews blocking off half of Hanover Street. I walked past Mike's Pastry and realized that this is probably the only time that there aren't crowds all the way out to the street trying to get some fresh canoli's. Maybe I'd have room for one after my lunch...

I took a turn onto Prince Street and saw the maroon awning. The hostess seated me near the window so I could watch the crowds, there were two couples and me and the dining room was dimly lit to give that romantic feel. I was going to get some wine but realized that if the food wasn't going to put me to sleep during class, the wine surely would.

I ordered a chicken parmigiana panini and some Caesar salad. The waitress was nice enough to let me know that she can't give cash back form the gift certificate so I should just order extra food and take it with me, I settled on the Pizza Margarita. As I sat and enjoyed my meal and older man walked in and sat down at the front table. None of the waitresses bothered him and I found myself wondering what his name and story might be when the hostess walked by and said "Hey Tony, what's up?" The man didn't answer her or the other two girls in the restaurant but I knew that nobody took any offense.

I finished my meal that came to roughly $21 dollars and walked out with a pizza in my hand. As I walked back towards America I was glad that I got to spend at least a part of my afternoon in "Italy." Unfortunately there was no room for canoli's this time.

So...let's review...
1. If you are looking for some fresh produce you should stop by Haymarket, which is right next to the Haymarket subway station, on Friday or Saturday between 9 and 5pm. Towards the end of the day the farmers drop their prices.
2. Mike's Pastry is a must if you are in the North End!
3. G'Vanni's is an affordable and very quaint little restaurant off Prince street in the North End. Sit back, relax, enjoy some Italian food and maybe you'll get to meet Tony as well.

Until the next review!

Early Bird Get's to Enjoy a Yoga Class. Lululemon, Boston, MA.

2009-11-08T14:38:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in last weeks review, lululemon at the Prudential Center is holding weekend classes at their wonderful store. The location itself is pretty exquisite, in the new wing of the Prudential, right across from Legal Seafoods, and right above Gucci. Can it get any better?

When I walked in this morning around 9am there were already some people set up with their mats for the Vinyasa yoga class being taught by Sarah Sturges from the Equinox gym. As I walked around, I didn't feel like I was in a typical gym or yoga store. There was a map where people had pinned where they were from, a lovely filtered water fountain for the customers to enjoy and an extremely comfortable leather chair for those who needed to take a little break.

The walls were adorned with mannequins modeling the different work out pants which were organized in an extremely neat manner down below. There was even a big flip book on the wall of nearby yoga studios, restaurants promoting healthy eating as well as some snapshots of celebrities practicing a healthy lifestyle. You could also learn a little bit more about the founders of lululemon and the people working at the Prudential store. There were so many great clothes that I would love to own that I was glad that I had not brought any money with me because the cozy sweat pants for apres ski lounging were really calling my name.

As the store filled up with over 30 early birds ready for the Vinyasa yoga class Sarah explained that while going though the movements we should focus on one thing that we'd like to attain once we leave the class. It did not need to be something with a goal attached to it, just something we can work towards.

As the class began I found myself wondering if yoga was really for me. I couldn't detach myself from my thoughts about several trips I would be taking in the next few weeks, all of the work I had to get done and on it went...I found myself just watching a woman next to me, as I have never been to a yoga class before, and went through the movements. As the time ticked away I did catch myself not really thinking about anything, which is really rather pleasant. We did several vinyasas and as the class came to an end I was still unsure of whether this really is for me... I walked to my car which was parked in front of the Lenox Hotel and found myself really at peace. People were walking through Boston, enjoying some brunch and perhaps one of our last warm weekends.

Yoga may not be something I do on a regular basis but I do think that it would certainly calm anyone after a stressful day or allow you to start your day on a more positive note.

So...let's review...

1. if you are looking for some great yoga apparel lululemon should be on your list of places to check out

2. yoga may not be for everyone but everyone could benefit from some stress release in their lives

3. be sure to check out the lululemon website to see if there are any upcoming classes you would be interested in

And before we end this review, Janice Thompson, the director of institutional advancement at the Athenaeum was kind enough to offer some correction to last weeks review.

I just wanted to clarify a few facts for your readers:

You are absolutely right; you do not need to know anyone within the Library to join. Membership fees are: $115 for an individual under the age of 41, $175 for a family membership for those under the age of 41; $230 for regular individuals and $275 for regular families. If anyone is interested, please contact Karen Beach at 617-720-7641 for more information about membership.

The First Mondays orientations and the biweekly teas -- as well as a whole slate of other programming -- are only available for members of the Library. However, the public may take docent-led art and architecture tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 pm. Call 617-227-0270, extension 279, to register.

Thank you very much, Janice!

Until the next review!

A Night at the Athenaeum. Boston, MA

2009-11-02T05:42:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you've been intrigued by this exclusive library behind the Fox 25 studios and next to the State House. As the Boston Athenaeum Library's website states:

"The Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest and most distinguished independent libraries and cultural institutions in the United States. It was founded in 1807. It grew out of a slightly earlier organization known as the Anthology Society which had been formed in 1805 by a group of Bostonians with the primary purpose of producing a magazine that they called The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review. In now creating the Boston Athenæum, their purpose was to form "an establishment similar to that of the Athenæum and Lyceum of Liverpool in Great Britain...The new Athenaeum flourished in culture-starved Boston and, as it voraciously acquired books, art, and artifacts, it grew rapidly...For nearly half a century the Athenæum was the unchallenged center of intellectual life in Boston, and by 1851 had become one of the largest libraries in the United States."

This past Friday, thanks to Suffolk University's Dean Reception, I got to spend some time on the first floor of the library. After talking briefly to Paula, the director of the library, I found out that you do not need to be a part of a special group to join...you just have to pay a $150 yearly fee. If I was residing in Boston, and frequented the library, and who are we kidding, had money, I think I would actually consider joining.

The first floor was a perfect location for a gathering like ours. There was a wonderful feeling of being in an old mansion or in the foyer of somebody's home. There were magnificent statues and books along the walls. While everyone else mingled I decided to walk around and check out the rooms. There were some great photographs in one room and a painting of John Singleton Copley in another.

By around 7pm I found a book about Latvia and tourism and decided to sit in one of the red leather chairs and get swept up into feeling like I was back home.

So...let's review..
1. If you are interested in at least taking a walk through the library, you can take a tour the first Monday of every month from 6pm-7pm. There is no fee and you should register a week before.
2. If you are simply looking for a unique experience, you can also register for afternoon tea, twice a month on Wednesdays. It does seem like you do need to know a member in order to participate in this activity however.
3. On to a new topic...next time I plan on reviewing the lululemon store in Copley...they are holding free yoga sessions every Sunday this November.

Until the next review...

Hotel Chocolat, another great Hello Stiletto Shoe Club event. Boston, MA

2009-10-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Are you and your girlfriends looking for reasons to dress up? Well, besides going out to dinner, or a show, or clubbing you could just sign up for the Hello Stiletto Shoe Club! My first event was a couple of years back when there was a trunk show at a Neiman Marcus with a Kentucky Derby theme.

And on that note...I signed up for an event at the new Hotel Chocolat on Newbury Street, this past Saturday, this is the chocolate stores first U.S. location. As I walked in, there was a tray of chocolates shaped into ghoulish treats, from sculls to tombstones, and the champagne and wines from Barefoot wines began flowing.

Towards the back, in the tasting room, there were some designer handbags from Genevieve designs which were exclusively made.

As the store filled up with more and more people wearing their finest fall heels, Melissa, the founder of the shoe club, invited everyone who was willing to take part in the pink carpet walk off. Jennifer, the handbag designer, along with Vickie, the CEO of Hotel Chocolat, were the judges. The runners up and winner were presented with different chocolates.

All in all it was a perfect event on a very rainy Saturday night in Boston. I may not have walked away a winner but I walked away being happy that I went out by myself and had a great time sipping champagne and eating fine chocolates.

So...let's review...
1. Please consider signing up for the Hello Stiletto Shoe Club. There are branches in various cities across the country and it is a great way to finally wear those shoes you keep in a box for special occassions
2. If you are in London, St. Lucia, or Boston and are looking for some great chocolate gifts, I would have to say that Hotel Chocolat is the way to go.

Until the next review!

Body Pump, at your local BSC gym.

2009-10-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it certainly feels like winter time again. Who ever expected snowflakes to fall on the 15th of October?!?

Hibernation begins and people are off the streets and back in the gym. Luckily, the BSC is finally providing some new and very effective classes. I have yet to try the Body Combat class but can't wait until Monday, until it actually falls at a time when I am free. I have however gone to two Body Pump classes and am loving the results already. The main difference is that Body Combat involves cardio and Body Pump is weight training...I know that a few months into the winter gym routine, running will get pretty boring and I will be showing up to Body Combat on a weekly basis.

As for Body Pump, if you are looking for someone to kick your butt and get everything from your quads, back, shoulders, biceps and other muscle groups sculpted then this is definitely where you should be spending your time, even the music gets you in the mood to keep going and pushing harder. So if you are looking for a change in your gym routine you should definitely try these new classes out and see the results for yourself!

So...let's review...
1. Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, winter is upon us already...get out your shovels!
2. Thankfully, the gym has become more fun again. For new cardio training check out BSC's Boot Combat class and if you do enough cardio you should certainly also be weight training on the side to build up your strength, so try out Body Pump.
3. If you are in denial and want one more fun fall activity, head over to the 45th Charles River Regatta this weekend!

Until the next review!

The Hatch Awards. Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA

2009-10-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

It's fall and I think it's time to highlight some events!

The 49th Hatch Awards happened on October 6th at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.
I have fallen into quite a fantastic group called the Ad Club, a big thanks to Suffolk University and one of their networking events.

This is the second event I have volunteered at with the Ad Club. Unfortunately at the first I was unable to see the finished product due to other obligations but I was extremely excited to see the Hatch Awards through the end.

I, along with several other volunteers, came by at 10am and began helping out with getting the venue set up for the evening. It of course took a lot of manual labor but I've realized that, if given the chance, event planning and set up is definitely the side of advertising that I would seriously like to explore. We all assisted in getting the goodie bags made and made sure that the winning art work was hung up correctly.

Eventually, my time for the day was up and I rushed home to change and be ready for the evening. When I arrived it looked like more help was needed so I helped out with registration until one of my fellow volunteers came and we then decided to really enjoy the night.

The amount of people that showed up was incredible. The night started off with cocktails and was followed by watching the Boston University drum line kick off the awards show. There were a number of unique categories and student awards to be handed out, Arnold Worldwide and Hill Holiday, were of course among the biggest winners of the night.

The night finished up with more cocktails and "street food" to follow in the urban themed night.

Overall, this was once again a fantastic event and great opportunity.

So...let's review...
1. If you are looking for some great event planning/coordinating experience look into volunteering for the Ad Club or any other organization to get a better feel for the industry
2. There is always time to attend a fantastic event such as the Hatch Awards, so throw on your heels or a nice pair of slacks and put yourself out there!

Until the next review!

Honey Pot Hill Orchard. Stow, MA

2009-10-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

If anyone was to ask me for a place to apple pick, I would without a doubt suggest Honey Pot Hill Orchard.
I have made this a yearly occasion and don't plan to stop any time soon. The orchard is located on a beautiful hill in Stow, Massachusetts. The drive to Honey Pot itself is worth the trip, especially if you come down route 27.

This is a perfect place for people of all ages. There are hay rides, a number of animals to feed, pumpkins to pick, many options for sweet treats and depending on the season, you can also pick pears and blueberries. You should also stop in the store to pick up some fresh apple cider, honey or perhaps some fresh veggies to cook with.

One note of caution is that the orchard does get pretty busy during the weekends, so if you are not keen on large crowds of apple pickers I would suggest you come during the week day when it feels like you have the whole orchard to yourself.

So...let's review...
1. If you are looking for a great apple picking location, I would strongly suggest Honey Pot Hill Orchard
2. Make sure to bring a camera for all of the great pictures you can take of your children on the hay ride or among all of the pumpkins
3. You absolutely have to have a caramel apple and fresh cider donuts!

Until the next review!

Two Cats Restaurant and Inn. Bar Harbor, Maine.

2009-09-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

I think it's time to head up north for this review...
If you are ever in the Bar Harbor area you should:
1. Take a drive through Acadia National Park, if you don't have the time to actually hike
2. Have some popovers on Jordan Pond and most importantly
3. Head over to Two Cats Restaurant and Inn in the center of Bar Harbor.

We did not stay in the inn but I remembered from my trip last year that if you are looking for a fantastic breakfast then this was the place to be. There seems to always be a line but do not get discouraged.

Saturday morning we got seated without a problem, and this was a table for four! We all ordered different omelets that were incredibly delicious, you can even get some with real Maine lobster in them! You should however expect to wait a little while for your food but as it says in the menu, good food takes time, so you should just relax, have some more coffee and whip out your Maine map to get a better idea of the rest of your day.

Our waiter Liam was great. He was always around with more coffee and helped me out when I tried to name the flowers that were on our table but was stumped.

We spent the majority of Saturday hiking the Precipice and Beehive trails and lounging out on the beach at Sand Beach.

Sunday was our last day and although we were willing to try something new for breakfast we knew that we were hungry for some excellent food and nothing was going to beat Two Cats. This time there was a bit of a wait but because people go off for walks your name may be called much sooner, so a word of advice, even if you are told you may have to wait 45 minutes for a table for two, don't get discouraged. Grab some coffee, sit out on the garden and hope that the people ahead of you have decided to go for a little walk. We were seated out on the patio and ordered the same thing as the morning before and were once again greeted by Liam.

The rest of the day was spent driving through Acadia and then unfortunately seeing first hand what can happen when you are too close to the water. Yes, we were in Acadia when Hurricane Bill hit Thunder Hole...

So...let's review...
1. Bar Harbor may be a pretty long drive away but it is certainly worth the visit
2. If you've already made it to Bar Harbor, take a drive through Acadia and have a few popovers
3. You should never forget Two Cats for breakfast!

Until the next review!

Dinner and Dessert: Stephi's on Tremont, Boston (South End) and Vicki Lee's in Belmont

2009-09-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

First of all I would love to thank the people behind the Big Lake 1/2 Marathon for adding my blog to their website!

This past weekend I attended a friend of mine's wedding dinner. A girlfriend of mine and I took a walk through the South End to scope out some good restaurants where we could have the small get together for the dinner. We stumbled upon Stephi's on Tremont, the sister restaurant of Stephanie's on Newbury Street, Stephi's is located where a comfort food restaurant, the Garden of Eden used to be. Stephi's was opened this year and has a very upscale feel but the benefit of not feeling like you've been robbed after having a light lunch.

The day my friend and I walked in to check out the place and sample some of the food we both had the Turkey Reuben Panini, which was fantastic! The bread was toasted to perfection and the turkey twist was a great one in my opinion. We asked about renting out the back room and were told that there was no deposit or payment required, which is very hard to come by these days. We were also told that if there was a cake we'd like to bring in then we could absolutely do that. We booked the room on the spot.

This weekend we waited at the bar for our friends to arrive and watched as the staff diligently rearranged the big table that could fit up to 12 people into one that would fit 8. We all went in and were given complete privacy by shutting the shades so it seemed like we had the whole place to ourselves.

We ordered some great appetizers (prosciutto and parmesan fritters, salty pretzel crusted crab cake and hoisin bbq chicken). The bbq chicken came with some mandarin pancakes that remind you of flour tortilla's so you could make a little wrap. Be cautious though, the carrots are spicy!

The majority of us then went for some savory comfort food. The macaroni and cheese could not have been better and unless you have not eaten in a while you will most certainly have some delicious left overs to take home to enjoy the next day, the same would go for the meatloaf.

We did bring in our own cake from Vicki Lee's in Belmont which was delicious as well. It was a chocolate genoise ganache cake which for the amount of chocolate it had was extremely light and tasty! I highly recommend going in to Vicki Lee's cafe on Trapelo Road in Belmont.

Overall we had a VERY enjoyable time and our waitress Casey couldn't have been more accommodating.

Thank you everyone for a great time and allowing us to have a very pleasant and memorable wedding celebration.

So...let's review...
1. If you are looking for a great and affordable restaurant for a dinner or a bigger gathering I highly recommend Stephi's on Tremont.
2. If you are looking for a delicious cake consider popping in to Vicki Lee's. Even if you don't need cake, Vicki Lee's has great pastries and coffee you can have on a lovely lunch date.

Until next time,
Linda

Sandy Point Beach Resort, Restaurant and training for a half marathon. Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

2009-09-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Please bear with me as there is a story that goes with each review. By not telling the full story I would feel like I wasn't giving you the real me, so here goes...

Each year I go through a lull in my work out routines. I really am a runner at heart, among other sports, but running on that treadmill every single day gets really boring really fast. Come early spring I start looking at some 5K's I can start training for. This year March came around and I went on to www.coolrunning.com and one of the first things that popped up was the Big Lake 1/2 marathon along Lake Winni.

About three years ago I had signed up for the Rock and Roll half maraton in Virginia Beach but never ended up going so I promised myself that sometime in the near future I just had to run the half.

So I started my training in March following Ryan Hall's half marathon training guide. Very quickly I burned out my already somewhat aching knee seeing as instead of taking days off I would just run at least three miles. I ended up having to go see a physical therapist who unfortunately put me out of commission for two weeks due to a wrong stretch move on their part. I then had a massage session with my friend Ginnette Ryan who was studying to become a certified massage therapist. She gave me a new stretch to perform and followed it up by a great massage. Miraculously after doing that one stretch it helped me overcome my knee problem that was actually hindering me from walking down the stairs at this point. I took a few more days off and was back on the tread. By this point I was about two weeks away from the half marathon.

I had booked a beach eficiency room at the Sandy Point Beach Resort right along the route of the half
marathon. I wasn't expecting anything much for $80 a night. We arrived a little late the night before the half marathon but the girl behind the front desk stayed and waited for us. We checked in and the room was pretty much what my boyfriend said he expected "rustic." Meanwhile I was surprised because for $80 you don't really expect a huge room and a full kitchen!

The next morning that we woke up we fell in love with Lake Winni. It turned out that we pretty much had the best room in the whole place, outside our window was a huge deck right overlooking the lake.

I went for my "short morning jog" of 13.1 miles which was also pretty fantastic. The whole course was relatively easy and there were more water stations than I think anyone would know what to do with. The finish line was only a half a mile from the motel which was perfect seeing as driving back along the running route may have been a problem since runners were still coming in pretty strong.

We spent the rest of the day exploring and playing at the arcade on the Weirs Beach boardwalk.
There needed to be some celebrating so we asked the guy at the front desk about the best place to eat out, and quietly joked that he'd probably send us over to the (Sandy Point) Restaurant right next door. Fortunately he did just that. Apparently it had just opened that day and the people were flocking in. There was even a police officer guiding traffic. The prime rib and lobster really did turn out to be fantastic and we deemed this to be the hot spot, Club R.

We got home Sunday afternoon and were incredibly bummed out about not having a lake to walk out onto. This was truly a perfect vacation spot and I have decided that I will most certainly be running the half marathon again next year and we plan on returning to our favorite spot in NH, Sandy Point Beach Resort and Club R.

So...let's review...
1. If you plan on really training for a half marathon for the first time, don't over do it and run 6 days a week.
2. If you plan on taking a short get away to Lake W seriously consider Sandy Point Beach Resort
3. If you have children who need to be entertained outside of doing the usual hiking, which there is a lot of right near the motel, you should definitely take them to Weirs Beach.
4. If you stay at Sandy Point, do not forget to go to Club R!

Look forward to the next review!

Linda

The idea behind Let's Review...

2009-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hello world.

Well, I should start by telling you how I came up with the idea for the blog I suppose.
My name is Linda and I very recently got laid off from my last job as an International Marketing Coordinator. While talking over this type of scenario with my boyfriend he told me that he learned from some business book once that when you think about a situation you should also consider "what is the worst that can happen and what will I do about it?" I then decided that in the case of a lay off I would go to school full time and finish earlier.

Well, clearly the situation did occur and I went into "fix it" mode. I have enrolled at Suffolk University full time so I can finish out my GlobalMBA by May. I also moved into a very quaint and quiet apartment in Newton Corner and had I not had this free time I would still be tripping over boxes and be unhappy that two weeks later it looked like I just moved in.

Today I was sitting out on my "porch" and was reading something for class. As it usually happens, if I am reading about something completely general that I don't see will necessarily benefit me, my mind begins to wander.

As I was reading about the auto industry I somehow wandered upon the idea that I should once again start a blog. I had previously blogged about my year in Spain during my undergrad studies at Northeastern University but this time I knew it had to be something more. Out of nowhere I came up with the title "Let's Review" and decided that I would review the places I visit, eat out at, drive through and frequent on a daily basis.

So, I hope you will enjoy my reviews and I truly look forward to your comments and any suggestions you may have about what I should review next.

Look forward to the first review coming soon!

Linda