The SavvyBostonian

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.

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!

TRAVEL

Get Out While You Can: An Early Fall Getaway to Maine’s Hidden Gems

Full of good old-fashioned Yankee houses and fresh lobsters the size of a lap dog, there are few more appropriate places to close out the New England summer than Maine.

Most New England beach towns are aflutter with tourist traps over the summer, but there are still hidden gems and treasures off the beaten path for you to explore. Here’s a look at York Beach, a sun-bleached beach-side summer town, and Kennebunkport, a bustling (by Maine standards) historic city.

York Beach, ME

Across from the York Harbor Inn, what looks like a park or war memorial is actually the entrance to a oceanside boardwalk. The trail is a mix of Newport cliff walk and hiking trail, with views of turquoise pools and pristine rock beaches. Parts of the walk are steep, so bring appropriate footwear and make sure to pack your camera. The foliage is almost as stunning as the crystal clear water.

On the other end of York Beach, Sohier Park is home to a historic lighthouse. A ski-lift style gondola dangles invitingly, waiting to escort you to the lighthouse island, but you’ll have to sweet talk a coast guard to get a ride. No matter; the sweeping views down the coast are worth the visit.

Kennebunkport, ME

Skip the crowded, over-priced tourist joints in town and head to Captain Hook’s, over the bridge and just out of downtown. Grab a seat at the picnic-style outdoor tables and place your order. Most fish and fried things are ordered inside, but for lobster, you go out back and pick out your lunch in person.

If you are into architecture, history, or just pretty things, the Carriage Rides are a real treat. They depart from the edge of the town’s residential area at 25 Ocean Street. Watch where you park your car though – a sign on a nearby house warns visitors: “Don’t park here. We’ll crunch your car while you shop and dine.”

Wanna Stay Overnight?

In Kennebunkport, you can get 40% of the Nonantum Resort ($144-214, 1-800-552-5651) or 30% off at the Kennebunkport Inn ($199, 1-800-248-2621). Just ask for the “Inn Crowd” rate.

Gabi Logan is a jetsetting food and travel writer. In addition to being a fabulous contributor to The SavvyBostonian, Gabi inspires people with her menus, recipes and cooking tips for delicious home-cooked gourmet food in a flash at The 30 Minute Dinner Party. For more of Gabi’s guest posts on The SavvyBostonian, please click here.

RECIPES

A Little Love From The Washington Post’s Lean & Fit eNewsletter

Liberté Yogurt by Jessica Gioglio

You don’t have to be from Washington, D.C. to enjoy the Washington Post’s weekly Lean & Fit eNewsletter. In addition to featuring helpful nutrition and fitness tips and recipes, the newsletter allows readers to submit their food-related questions. I recently sent in a response to a reader’s question about yogurt suggestions that were fat-free AND low in sugar (yet delicious). A tall order, right?

Well, imagine my delight when my savvy tip made the cut:
I find Greek yogurt a bit too tart, so I prefer plain Liberté yogurt, which isn’t non-fat (2 percent milk), but for 6 ounces it only has 9 grams of sugar and has a rich, luxurious taste. The only ingredients are milk and yogurt cultures. I typically buy it at Whole Foods – hopefully they also have it at their DC stores. – Jessica

Thanks again to Jennifer for including my yogurt obsession in this week’s Lean & Fit eNewsletter. If you’re interested in subscribing, please click here to do so. Note that you are required to register for The Washington Post’s website first, which is free.

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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