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BOSTON, EVENTS

The Weekend: September 25-26

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival

Now that it’s officially fall, I’m treating every final burst of warm weather as if it could be our last.  With temperatures on Saturday expected in the mid-80s and Sunday near 70, it’s a great weekend to get out and enjoy Boston. This weekend, free fun is the name of the game, especially when it comes to art and music. In addition to free entry at several of the city’s top museums on Saturday, there are a few amazing (and free) concerts to enjoy throughout the weekend.

Here are my top picks for events this Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday, September 25

Free Jazz Fest in the South End
From noon to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, follow the sweet sounds of live jazz to Mass. Ave and Columbus Ave. in the South End for the tenth annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival. Serving as the grand finale to a series of events and performances that have been happening throughout the city since September 15, this all-day, outdoor festival features three stages with great performers, including Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty, the Jonathan Batiste Trio, and more.  For a full schedule of today’s events, please click here.

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BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE

The Work Week in Boston: Monday, September 20 – Thursday, September 23

While walking through the city this weekend, I couldn’t help but notice a great energy in the air.  Whether generated by the crisp fall air, returning college students, or store windows filled with fabulous fall fashions, it made me realize that there’s no time like the present to enjoy Boston.

Boston Wine Week

Luckily, there are a variety of fun events scheduled from Monday through Thursday this week that involve wine, fashion, rubbing elbows and indoor mini golf.  Here are my top picks:

Monday, September 20 – Raise a Glass to Boston Wine Week

From September 20 through September 26, more than twenty participating restaurants in Boston are offering a minimum of six wines at $9 per glass, or $32 per bottle as part of the first annual Boston Wine Week. With the goal of making amazing vino more accessible to the masses, Bostonians can start their week in style by sampling wine and gobbling up complimentary pizzettes with the Second Glass at BiNA Osteria on Monday from 6-7 p.m..  For more information on participating restaurants and events throughout the week, please click here.

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BOSTON, FASHION

Fashion Update: Coat-Obsessed at Zara

High Collar Double Breasted Coat, $169, from Zara

With a highly trafficked store on Newbury Street and suburban stores in Natick, Burlington and Peabody, Zara is slowly making a name for itself in Massachusetts.  While the chain may be newer to the area, my obsession with the brand started during my semester in London around six years ago, when I visited the store’s locations throughout Europe, including Paris, Rome and Barcelona.  At present, Zara sells clothing for men, women and children in Boston, but I’m hopeful that they will eventually bring their supercool Zara Home extension to the U.S. one day!

Since Zara opened in Boston, I’ve found myself gravitating toward their gorgeous blazers and jackets.  Well-tailored and fashion forward, a great jacket or blazer is an easy way to embrace seasonal trends, or extend the wearability of your favorite summer pieces.  This season, my wishlist is focused on classic pieces that I don’t have in my wardrobe yet, including a tan high-collared double-breasted knee-length coat that can play double-duty between the workweek and weekend.  At $169, the wool-angora blend seems reasonable.  To view this coat on Zara.com, please click here.

Gathered Neck Coat With Belt, $129, from Zara

Also on my wishlist is a cozy black and white fall tweed jacket with a gathered neck and belt.  I love jackets with a high neckline and this one checks off all the right boxes with its figure flattering tailoring, hidden buttons and waist cinching belt.  At $129, this wool-polyester blend coat is also affordable.  I can just see it now with black pants and a colorful sweater for work, or skinny jeans during the weekend.  Honestly, anything *but* the ensemble that they have it styled with on their website (re: socks and sandals are not my thing)!  The jacket is gorgeous in person and the Zara.com website photo does not do it justice.  For more information about this jacket on Zara.com, please click here.

Unfortunately, U.S. customers cannot purchase from Zara.com, but a store visit is always worth it.  If visiting the Newbury Street store, I highly recommend going early before it’s jam-packed and not as organized.  I’ve also been to the Natick Collection, which is smaller and much less hectic.  It’s also a great location to hunt down coveted pieces that are already sold out from the Newbury Street store.  Happy Shopping!

BOSTON

Keepin’ It Real (Estate): Three Sites For Virtual Apartment and Condo Hunting in Boston

Beacon Hill by Jessica Gioglio

In a city where it’s common to move annually, hitting the apartment jackpot can require navigating a complicated maze of craigslist postings, followed by numerous site visits to prospective rentals.  While it’s easy to expend a significant amount of time and energy apartment hunting, I’m particularly impressed with the local agents and agencies that are making the process easier by embracing the blogosphere to market themselves to a time-strapped, web-savvy client base.

Featuring snazzy site layouts, engaging copy, plus photos and videos galore, a few sites including The Boston Apartments Blog by Charlesgate Realty, The Boston Condo Loft by Condo Domain and LRG Boston’s Real Estate Blog go above and beyond to offer a Bostonian’s additional insight into the local market.

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BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE

Friday, July 30: MFA Hosts Free Community Day

MFA Boston by Lilbenne from Flickr

On Friday, July 30, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is opening its doors to the general public by hosting a free community day.  From 10:00 a.m. through 9:45 p.m, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a frequent visitor, or haven’t stepped inside the Museum in ages, because general admission is gratis courtesy of the Highland Street Foundation.

With ten exhibitions and seven guided tours available at various times during the day, visitors can decide whether they prefer to wander on their own and play art critic, versus tapping into the wisdom of a Museum-trained guide.  Also not to be missed is the current visiting masterpiece,  Vincent van Gogh’s The Sower.

While there are tons of family-friendly activities during the day, visitors over 21 can also enjoy alfresco cocktails and live music in the Museum’s Calderwood Courtyard from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

For more information about the MFA’s free community day on Friday, July 30, please click here.