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BOSTON, NIGHTLIFE, RESTAURANTS

Outdoor Drinking and Dining: Five Delightful Boston Patios

True Bostonians know that summer in the city means enjoying the outdoors as much as possible.  With so many fantastic street level patios, it’s easy to get a warm weather fix while enjoying a fantastic meal or cocktails.  Here are five restaurant/bar patios in Boston worth checking out this summer:

Eastern Standard Entrance

European Flair at Eastern Standard

Located in the heart of Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard’s patio offers patrons a small slice of Europe in Boston.  Despite it’s location along busy Commonwealth Ave., the popular brasserie has cleverly designed their patio to minimize noise while offering guests chic tables for lounging and dining.  To round out the posh patio experience, enjoy one of the restaurant’s famed classic cocktails and sample fresh seafood from the raw bar.  528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.

Divine Sandwiches at Parish Cafe

Patio or no patio, the mouthwatering sandwiches plucked from Boston’s top chefs are incentive enough to frequent Parish Cafe on Boylston Street in the Back Bay.  In the summer months, their sizeable raised patio becomes a coveted, yet welcoming enclave for Bostonians looking to satisfy their Zuni Roll cravings.  With the kitchen serving until 1:00 a.m. daily, it’s also a great venue for a casual date, or late night eats. 361 Boylston Street, Boston.

SoWa Chic at Stella Restaurant

Guilty about leaving fido home while indulging in delicious Italian food like Parmesan Arancini, Spicy Mussels, or Tagliatelle Bolognese?  Stella’s streetside patio, or “terrazzino,” allows ample seating alongside Washington Street in the fashionable SoWa neighborhood, plus ample water and railing space for your pup.  With the local dog park nearby, guests can venture over after playtime for a relaxing dinner, late night nibbles, or Sunday brunch. 1525 Washington Street, Boston.

Get Out of Jail Free at The Liberty Hotel

Visitors won’t require a “pass” from the famed Monolopy game to enjoy the Liberty Hotel’s happening outdoor patio.  Just off Alibi on the hotel’s ground level, appropriately placed shrubbery separates an outdoor lounge sanctuary filled with cozy couches and tables away from bustling Cambridge Street.  If rubbing elbows with stylish Bostonians is your scene, be sure to arrive early on the weekend, as this see-and-be-seen spot fills up fast and there’s nothing chic about waiting in line.  215 Charles Street, Boston.

Flirty Fun at Tia’s on the Waterfront

Single and ready to mingle?  Make Tia’s on the Waterfront a regular fixture in your Thursday-Saturday evening adventures.  With its proximity to the Financial District, Faneuil Hall and the North End, bumping into attractive locals on the L-shaped patio becomes part of the fun at this hotspot, which attracts area professionals during the work week and a larger sample of Bostonians over the weekend.  200 Atlantic Avenue, Boston.

BOSTON, NIGHTLIFE, RESTAURANTS

On the Town: The Beehive

The Beehive by Amanda K. from Yelp

With its eye-catching entrance reminiscent of a vintage theatre, funky bohemian decor and live jazz, walking into The Beehive instantly transports you into an eclectically hip party. Located inside the historic Cyclorama on Tremont Street in the South End, this multilevel venue caters to the dinner, drinks and weekend brunch crowd.

Unless you have a dinner reservation, try to visit The Beehive before 10:00 p.m. on a weekend evening, or you may find yourself stuck in line outside. Once inside, there is a smaller upper level bar, but I recommend traveling downstairs, a vast former boiler room which has been transformed into a boho chic space.

Beehive Julep by sushiesque from Flickr

Once settled downstairs at the bar, be sure to grab a drink menu before ordering. In addition to its hip atmosphere, The Beehive boasts an innovative drink menu, from six different champagne cocktails, to my personal favorite – The Beehive Julep (all $10.50/ea).

The Beehive is easy to locate at 541 Tremont Street in the South End alongside the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA).  Open seven days per week from 5:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., check The Beehive’s website for special weekend brunch and afternoon hours by clicking here.

BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE, RESTAURANTS

Boston Events During the Week of March 22

Red Wine Red Hearts by hlkljgk from Flickr

While it may be tempting to hibernate in your apartment in protest of the return to ‘normal’ March weather, there are a few fun events in Boston this week worth stepping out for. From sampling excellent cuisine, to wine tasting and a compelling workshop, these events are sure to perk up the work week.

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BOSTON, RESTAURANTS

Boston Cafe Etiquette – Sharing a Table with a Stranger

Breakfast Cafe by su-lin from Flickr

Only in the most dire of circumstances should you ask if you can share a table with a stranger. In other countries, it is completely common for others to take up empty seats at your table (even in a restaurant- it happened to me every day in India), often without even asking. But throughout the U.S., the sense of personal space is very strong and extends in a rather wide bubbble. In Boston, that bubble most certainly consumes any empty seats at their table, and probably any standing room near it too!

If someone is at a table by themselves and there are no other seats available, I would usually say that you are out of luck. If you do decide to be brave and interrupt a single cafe goer immersed in their work/reading/facebooking, don’t commit any of these etiquette faux pas:

•    Obtain the free seat by trickery. The other day a girl asked me if I was using the free seat at my table (which was, at the time, occupied by my coat) or if I was waiting for someone. I dutifully removed my items from the seat and then she sat down. With me. At my table. Without being clear about her purpose. There isn’t even an option to say no in that situation, but you can be pretty sure the other party won’t be very happy about it.

•    Be rude to the person who allowed you to sit at their table. If you have asked someone if you can sit at their table, you are giving them the right to ask you to leave or generally not to do other things that bother them. Don’t talk loudly on your cellphone, work in irritating (there’s that personal space bubble again) proximity to them, or talk back to them if they ask you to stop taking up so much space. The manager will almost positively side with whoever had the table first, particularly if that person is a frequent customer (believe me, I spoke to him when I had my squatter incident the other day).

•    Take up excessive (or really any) space at the table. If someone has agreed to let you use their extra chair, don’t abuse their politeness by getting in their way or practically pushing their things off the table with your laptop, coffee, scone, and four textbooks.

•    Chat up the person. If the person you have sat with is by him or herself, they are probably doing something, and you should not abuse their hospitality by badgering them with pointless small talk or get to know you questions. If they decide to talk to you…well, that is the price you pay for sitting at their table.

Most importantly, thank the person when you leave. I offered a seat at my table to someone else who had been waiting along time when I was lucky enough to snag a table and he was polite throughout and very thankful when he left. It *almost* made me thinking sharing a table with a stranger isn’t so bad after all.

Gabi Logan is a Boston-based food and travel writer. On the web, you can find her recommendations for affordable yet delicious food in Boston at the Examiner and The 30 Minute Dinner Party.

BOSTON, RESTAURANTS

Coppa: Italian Small Plates in Boston’s South End

I recently popped into Coppa on a Monday night for a light meal. I’d already been at an event with appetizers and was tempted with the prospect of a small, yet flavorful nibble. The problem was, after savoring one small plate of pasta, it just left me wanting more.

Coppa Restaurant, Boston by Bellyglad From Flickr

Coppa is located on Shawmut Ave., a quiet street in Boston’s South End. The restaurant itself has a neighborhood feel and a cozy atmosphere. Tables are aligned close to one another, making it an ideal spot to visit in parties of two. Plan to wait with a larger party, as Coppa does not take reservations. However, as discovered by savvy locals, you can swing by, put your name in and come back later when your table is ready.

Even on a Monday night, Coppa was packed with a lively crowd. My wonderful dining companion and I didn’t want to wait for a table, so we sucked it up and took quite possibly the worst two seats in the house, which are located along a small side bar directly to the right of the entrance. At first, we felt like we were encroaching on the hostesses space by the door, but they couldn’t have been more kind and gracious.

I ordered a small bowl of the fettuccine with a wild boar ragu and my friend the spaghetti alla carbonara with smoked pancetta, sea urchin, farm egg and scallions. Both were fantastic. I adored the fat fettuccine noodles and the leftover wild boar ragu was so good that we kept dipping our bread into it. We also appreciated the carbonara’s melt-in-your-mouth sea urchin. Similarly notable was their hot buttered rum, which put any other hot toddy I’ve ever tried to shame.

Coppa is located at 253 Shawmut Ave. in Boston’s South End. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.coppaboston.com/