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.

BOSTON, RECIPES

Sweatin’ in the City: How I’m Trying to Beat the Heat

Christian Science Center Plaza Fountain by Jessica Gioglio

Hot.  Sticky.  Humid.  Oppressive.  Unbearable.  Just a few words that I have been abusing this week.  In between sucking down water and fighting my urge to jump into the Charles River, here’s how I’ve been beating the heat this week:

Sip: Coconut Water. Sweating depletes both sodium and potassium, making this lightly sweet beverage a nice way to refuel.  Offering more potassium than two bananas, sodium and sugar for energy, I’ve been sipping on one per day to replenish.  Though there are many brands available, I’m partial to Vita Coco.

Stay: Air-Conditioned Office Building: I’ve never loved my office so much.  Usually I complain about the overly cold air conditioning, but this week, the temperature feels just right.  I’ve actually found myself staying a bit later than usual to postpone going back to my heat box of an apartment.  Don’t work in an office building?  If I didn’t, I’d be spending my time in public buildings, like the Boston Public Library, Prudential Center, movie theatre and local museums.

Splash: Christian Science Center Plaza Fountain: While there are several great fountains around the city, this one has attracts both locals and tourists equally.  Though a shorted power cable temporarily disabled the fountain yesterday, it’s now back up and running.  It’s not only little kids that can shriek in delight while running through the spiral streams of water!  Who’s dashing through with me!?

Savor: Summer Soups. My friend Gabi has a fantastic food blog with oodles of soups, slaws, salads and salsa recipes perfect for cooling off after a hot day.  I can personally attest to going gaga for her Summer Gazpacho and slurping the wine-infused Chilled Watermelon Soup with delight.

Splurge: Double Shot Affogato. When this Health.com recipe popped into my inbox this week, I was instantly taken back to Italy, where I first tried this yummy espresso and coffee ice cream dessert drink.  Why didn’t I think to try and re-create this at home sooner?   Click here for the recipe.

With scorching temperatures scheduled to run through the weekend, how have you been keeping cool this week?

TRAVEL

Travel: Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, Connecticut

Rose in Elizabeth Park by yourFAVORITEmartian Flickr

Vibrantly green with the oldest municipally operated rose garden in the country, Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, Connecticut is a fragrant oasis tucked between Boston and New York.  One of twenty-two public All America Test Gardens in the country, Elizabeth Park is home to more than 800 varieties of roses and evaluates new types of the gorgeous flower before they are available to the public.

Elizabeth Park, West Hartford by Jessica Gioglio

Offering free parking and admission, pay no attention to the clock as you enjoy a leisurely stroll in the garden.  Be sure to pack a camera and make frequent stops to pose for photos among the colorful blooms and well-manicured shrubbery.  Don’t be surprised if you see a wedding taking place, as the garden’s romantic rose-covered arches and artfully landscaped pathways make this a prime wedding venue.

After working up an appetite, visit the Pond House Café, which is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner on Sunday for brunch.  With both indoor and outdoor seating, it’s a great spot to relax.  Menu items range from wraps, salads and burgers for lunch, to chicken, salmon and pork tenderloin for dinner and brunch classics like omelets, crepes and french toast on Sundays.  Though the cafe does not serve alcohol, patrons are welcome to bring their own beer or wine for a nominal corking fee – $5 for wine or $1.50 for beer.

For more information about Elizabeth Park, please visit www.elizabethpark.org and www.pondhousecafe.com for The Pond House Café.

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Parmesan “Breaded” Chicken

Parmesan Chicken

Ideal for a busy professional, this easy entree can be prepped the night before.  Start by coating four boneless, skinless chicken breasts with dijon mustard (Annie’s Naturals is yummy).  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and coat a cookie sheet or baking dish with nonstick spray.

On a clean plate, spread a thin layer of finely ground parmesan cheese (Whole Foods has a fantastic store brand one) and top with ground black pepper, crushed red pepper, ground or freshly minced garlic, dried or fresh rosemary.  Do NOT top with salt, as the cheese is already salty.

Coat both sides of the chicken breast in the parmesan cheese and spice mix and place in the baking dish.  Continue the process until all four chicken breasts are evenly covered.  If popping into the refrigerator overnight, make sure the chicken is at room temperature before placing in the oven.  Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of the breasts.  Cook until the insides are tender, but not pink.

The result is a juicy, flavorful piece of chicken with hints of cheese and kick of spice from the crushed red pepper.  Serve with a side salad, or green beans and brown rice.

For more of my recipes, click here.

BOSTON, RESTAURANTS

The South End Buttery: The Little Cafe That Could (and Does!)

South End Buttery by Don’t Wake Me, I Plan On Sleeping from Flickr

Casually cool with amazing sandwiches and pastries, the South End Buttery is exactly the kind of place you want to live within walking distance of.  Tucked into a quaint area of the South End filled with posh brownstone walk-ups and hip furniture stores, this neighborhood gem is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, allowing ample opportunity to satisfy cravings on a whim.

Upon entry to the restaurant, step into the bustling cafe space with cheerful yellow walls and a display case filled with pastries worth salivating over.  Though there are two quieter rooms, I prefer sitting in the main room, which gets fantastic natural light and presents a constant stream of Bostonians for people watching.  On a nice day, try and snag a seat on the tiny outdoor patio, which is pet-friendly.

While I’ve never been for dinner, I have tried – and loved – their plain croissant, pecan sticky bun and seven layer bar.  Their iced coffee is lovely, but fair warning – the large size is huge!  The sandwiches are truly the star of the show here, especially the Curried Chicken Salad, which is worth every deliciously messy bite.

Though the South End Buttery has many high points, I wish that they also made their salads to order instead of having them available at the takeaway counter.  I’m guessing that this is only a lunchtime issue, but after seeing the delicious made to order sandwiches arrive at our table, I would have swooned over a more innovative salad menu.

The South End Buttery is located at 314 Shawmut Avenue at the corner of Union Park in the South End.  For more information, please visit their website: www.southendbuttery.com