So Colorful!
During a recent stroll through Copley Place, I noticed heads turning and camera phones pointed in the direction of Louis Vuitton’s store. Was there a celebrity shopping? Or, a new swoon-worthy handbag? Interestingly, people were stopping in their tracks to marvel over the luxury retailer’s vibrant new windows.
Tablet Website Screen Grab
As a passionate leisure traveler with professional experience in the travel industry, I couldn’t resist giving a little love to Tablet. Specifically, the person who puts together the content for their weekly newsletter and TabletTalk blog. My personal inbox is forever clogged with newsletters (which is clearly my fault, I find it hard to pare down), but I always look forward to seeing the unique hotels Tablet selects for their readers. While most are above my budget (it is a luxury travel site after all), I find myself completely sucked in by the clever copy and beautiful photos. Plus, the hotels are unique and full of personality, like No. 5 Maddox St., an all-studio apartment hotel in London’s Mayfair district. Luckily, I can “favorite” them and hope the stars will align and one of the posh places will end up on a private sale site, just in time for my next trip. Crazier things have happened, right?
And, I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise to any of my lovely blog readers that so far all of my “favorited” hotels are in London….
Blake's Hotel, London. Have wanted to stay here ever since it appeared on an episode of Anthropologie's Man Shops Globe!
In case you were wondering about Boston, Tablet ranks our beloved city’s top five hotels, in order from one to five, as: Mandarin Oriental Boston, XV Beacon, Ames Boston, Hotel Veritas and Taj Boston.
Not the kind of view I like to see from my apartment
It’s been a long, strange and most importantly, dark couple of days. And, it’s not over yet. Like many Back Bay residents, my week took an unexpected turn with a three alarm fire ripped through a parking garage several blocks from my apartment. As of Thursday night, I’m one of the 1,500 residents still without power (gee thanks, NSTAR). It’s been an interesting 48 hours and I feel compelled to share some of the strange, heartwarming and comical series of events that have keep my little Back Bay world going.
I like it when my food can multitask. I’m so busy these days, that I make one vat of a salad-y item on the weekends and combine it with different ingredients throughout the week. Especially if you’re cooking for one, it’s a great way to avoid that inevitable food boredom.
For this dish, I’m starting with three of my pantry staples, carrots, chickpeas and toasted almonds, and I’m jazzing them up with a flavorful dressing. Made with a tangy, yet delicious blend of lemon juice, fresh cilantro, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne and ground black pepper, the end result makes pantry staples suddenly seem more gourmet.
Volcano Roll from Genki Ya
Something you might not know about this SavvyBostonian? When I first moved into the Boston area, I called Coolidge Corner, Brookline, home for four years. During this time, I got to know the neighborhood very well, including its numerous sushi spots. Of the many delicious sushi options, Genki Ya, stands out. Situated a handful of blocks away from the hustle and bustle of Coolidge Corner on Harvard Ave., Genki Ya is a tiny gem boasting great sushi.