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Welcome to 2011!

Before I fully embrace 2011, I couldn’t resist taking one last look at 2010.  The past twelve months marked another great year for The SavvyBostonian.  Site traffic has continued to grow steadily and I’m constantly delighted by the great comments, emails and tweets I see in response to my blog entries.

So, what better way to celebrate the end of 2010 than by shining a spotlight on my top two blog entries of the year?  Almost too appropriate, given that the tagline for my blog is, “Adventures Around Boston and Beyond,” the winners are:

Brownie Mix + Canned Pumpkin= Amazing Brownie Bites
I never thought that my number one blog entry for 2010 would be about food. Well, specifically, my delicious reduced guilt brownie bites that are SO easy to make!  In my quest to be a better home chef and entertainer, expect to see more blog entries on adventures in my tiny Boston kitchen in 2011….

Coppa: Italian Small Plates in Boston’s South End
For Boston, seems that the buzz surrounding Coppa in Boston’s South End lead people to the web – and luckily to the SavvyBostonian.  I really enjoyed my dining experience at Coppa with my favorite food blogger and hope to go back again soon.  Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews in 2011…

Thank you again for stopping by The SavvyBostonian! Without your comments and tips, this ‘lil old blog would not exist – or continue to grow!  So, what do I have in store for 2011?  A lot, actually.  But you’ll just have to stop in every so often to see for yourself!

BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE

Friday, December 3: Social Boston Sports Hosts 3rd Annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Party at Bleacher Bar

SBS Ugly Holiday Sweater Party 2009

On Friday, December 3, embrace the spirit of the season with Social Boston Sports (SBS) as they host their 3rd annual Ugly Holiday Sweater Party at Bleacher Bar.  Kicking off at 9:00 p.m., wearing sweaters adorned with an unnecessary amount of sparkle, puff paint, bells, or bows will make you the star of this soiree.  You may even win a prize for outshining your fellow revelers!

Tickets to the event cost $15, though one third of all party revenues will be donated to several local charities, including Hospitality Homes, Starlight Foundation, and Play Ball!  Tickets can be purchased at www.socialbostonsports.com.

As someone who attended last year (I’m the 2nd from the right in the photo above), I can attest to how fun and festive this party is!  You’ll see ugly sweaters that will boggle your mind – so tacky, yet kind of a work of art in their own right.  Plus, if you don’t have an ugly holiday sweater, fear not – just wear something that showcases your holiday spirit.  Think cheesy, gaudy or sparkly – or a wacky Santa cap, or reindeer antlers!

Adding to the fabulousness of the event will be Smuttynose brews, live music from local cover band Pete From Last Night (PFLN), plus Bleacher Bar’s cool window peeking into Fenway Park.

Bleacher Bar is located at 82A Lansdowne Street alongside Fenway Park.

BOSTON, FASHION

Fashion Update: Fab Finds at H&M

Have you popped into H&M lately?  Is it me, or has the brand really been upping the fashion ante?  While I haven’t seen the highly anticipated new Lanvin for H&M collection in person yet, I’m pretty impressed by the band’s array of tweed blazers, sparkly dresses and open cardigans.  I recently bought the cool army green military inspired cardigan with silver chain detailing pictured above.

Also of note from H&M is a fabulous new fall/winter jacket, which has kind of turned into the new love of my life.  Available in classic navy, this collarless jacket has a modern ruffle detail along the pockets and a cinched waist that creates curves in all the right places. At $99, this coat is perfect for a brisk fall or warmer winter day and looks fantastic when paired with a cute scarf and knee-high boots.  It’s quickly turned into my new favorite ensemble to stroll throughout Boston in. Click here for a photo.

While I usually frequent the Newbury Street H&M, I’d like to give a special shoutout to the Downtown Crossing location.  I recently went on a Saturday around lunchtime and the store was incredibly well organized and not terribly crowded, making for a much more enjoyable shopping experience.  I loathe crowds, so the opportunity to shop undisturbed was a real treat!

H&M in Downtown Crossing is located at 350 Washington Street.  The H&M in the Back Bay is located at 100 Newbury Street.  During your visit, inquire about discounts for checking into Facebook Places on your smartphone to unlock a coupon.

BOSTON

Hey Bostonians – What About Boston Are You Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

I'm Thankful for the Boston Public Garden, One of My Favorite Boston Spots. Photo by mdurwin2 from Flickr

As we all know, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we’re thankful for in life.  Which, got me thinking – as Bostonians, what are we thankful for in this great city that we call home?

So, I decided to do a little crowd-sourcing on Twitter to my @savvybostonian followers, plus I posted messages on my personal Facebook page and emailed a diverse group of Boston area friends so see what they would come up with.

The goal in posing this question was that anything goes. I wanted answers that were all over the board – from simple, to funny, sacrastic, or sentimental.  Lucky for me (and you), that’s exactly what I got.

From sweet to sassy, here is what a sample of your fellow Bostonians are thankful for this year:

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BOSTON, EVENTS

Wednesday, November 24: Free Community Day at the Museum of Fine Arts

MFA's Art of the Americas Wing

Need a little R&R before the Thanksgiving holiday? If you’re lucky enough to have Wednesday, November 24 off from work, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is opening its doors from 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. for a free community day courtesy of State Street.

A must-see at the MFA is the new Art of the Americas Wing, which recently celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, November 20 and has already seen more than 40,000 visitors.  For a very nicely produced video of the opening event, including great music by the Boston’s Hot Tamale Brass Band and the Boston University Pep Band click here.

Can’t make it to the free community day on Wednesday? Kudos to State Street Corporation for sponsoring a Wednesday evening series called Free Nights at the Museum.  Throughout the month of December, entry to the MFA will be free every Wednesday night from 4:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m..  Perfect for busy professionals like moi.

For more information about the Art of the America’s wing at the MFA, click here.