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BOSTON

BOSTON, EVENTS, NIGHTLIFE

On the Town: After Hours at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Thirsty Thursday just got classier. Transport yourself from Boston to Venice on Thursday, February 18 at 5:30 p.m., when the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum hosts a Carnevale themed After Hours event. From sketching in the galleries, to bellinis in the courtyard and a live DJ spining, it’s a fantastic excuse to soak up some culture while rubbing elbows with interesting Bostonians. The event lasts until 9:30 p.m. and tickets are free to Gardner members, $12 for adult tickets and $5 for student tickets.

For more information: http://www.gardnermuseum.org/afterhours/index.asp

BOSTON, RESTAURANTS

Boston Cafe Etiquette – How Long Can You Linger?

How long can you linger?

After Dinner by p!o from Flickr

This is perhaps the most pressing matter of cafe etiquette, not only with your fellow latte-sippers, but also with management. In fact, some establishments have had such a problem with customers over staying their welcome that they have started covering power outlets or posting signs requesting that laptops remain out of site during peak hours (such at Toscanini’s in Central Square and their no laptops at brunch policy).

In my humble opinion there are two basic rules; the first applies also to restaurants. Do not linger after you have finished. This is an annoyance to waiters and hostesses, but smacks of bad taste in a busy cafe. Buying a cup of coffee does not earn you a landing pad for the day. I can’t tell you how many (single!) people occupy entire four person booth seats at Diesel Cafe in Davis Square for hours after finishing their meal.

Now, it is easy enough to make that latte, sandwich, or cup of coffee stretch for hours (maybe not easy, but doable). But is that really a fair solution? I always aim to consume my purchases at a normal speed and when they run out either buy something else or take my leave. That being said, it is highly advised to order more than just a cup of tea if you know you will be staying a while. Few things will earn you glares faster than ordering the cheapest item on the menu and then staying two or three times as long as other customers.

If you are looking for a place to hang your hat (or at least spread out your books and laptop) for a while, here are some of the best spots in Boston for passing a few hours or quality cafe time:

Espresso Royale Cafe (Newbury Street and Gloucester)
Hynes Convention Center – Green Line
One of three cafes in under the ERC/Bagel Rising umbrella, the Newbury location is without doubt the coziest. At high-traffic hours, it can be dumb luck to find a table, but early in the morning or in the late afternoon and evenings, you are sure to have an undisturbed space of your own. Bagel sandwiches are available until two to three hours before closing, and the beverages are supurb.

Athan’s Bakery (Washington Square, Brookline)
What this classy, European-style local is lacking in internet, it makes up for it by being open until midnight. Possibly the only such cafe hours you will find in Boston, but also one of the most congenial settings. The spacious main room gives you a great opportunity of finding a choice table, and the endless baklava and cookies up front will supply you with sweets as longs as you care to stay.

Clear Conscience Cafe (Central Square, Cambridge)
This is not a place you come for the coffee – or at least not the espresso. But the interior is gorgeous, with tons of tables, comfy couches, and homey lighting. The food is quite good, particularly the scones. Outlets abound and free internet is available (though only for one hour).

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

Boston Cafe Etiquette – A Special Series by Gabi Logan

I despise the cold weather – so much so that each winter I question why I live in Boston.  One of the ways that I deal with subzero temps is warming up at a cozy cafe.  Lucky for me, Boston has many wonderful cafes that are perfect for a casual date, catching up with a friend, or quality time with your laptop.

One thing I’ve noticed about the Boston cafe scene is that it has its own set of rules.  Inspired by the fantastic and wildly observant Gabi Logan, I’m going to publish a special series on Boston cafe etiquette over the next few weeks.

As a freelance writer, Gabi spends a lot of time in local cafes, and has valuable tips on how long you can linger, snagging that coveted table, and rules for sharing a table with a stranger (without driving each other crazy).

Gabi’s first post will go live tomorrow, so in the interim please enjoy her scrumptious cooking blog, The 30 Minute Dinner Party, and her Examiner.com column on Boston’s Budget Meals.

BOSTON

Could MTV’s Jersey Shore Come to Southie?

Love it, or hate it, MTV has renewed its controversial hit, Jersey Shore, for a second season.  Immediately after it was announced by the cast live on the Today Show, rumors started flying as to where they would film their next season.  Adding fuel to the fire, MTV’s Remote Control Blog launched a site poll asking readers where the show should be set, and somehow hotspots like South Boston, Detroit, Skywalker Ranch and The Congo (seriously?) made the cut.  Miami, Cabo, LA, and Ibiza were also up for consideration.

Beach Photo By Jessica Gioglio

Perhaphs it was local pride, or a strange desire to see guidos outside of theirelement, but South Boston came in second in MTV’s poll.  Detroit came out on top (again…seriously?).  I sincerely doubt that Boston is even a contender for the next season, but all of my friends in Southie said that they’d pay money to see the cast try to fist pump their way into the Blackthorn.  I’m guessing that it would get ugly really quickly.

So, where should the Jersey Shore cast get down in Boston?  Personally, I’d like to see them try the mechanical bull at the Liquor Store, and I bet their energetic dance moves would be a hit at Underbar.  I’d also like to see the ladies at Jacques have a Snooki impersonation night.  As for employment, I’m thinking Duck Tour operator?  My local beach expert GroupieL0ve suggested Revere Beach and Hampton Beach as prime spots to put the “T” in “GTL,” (gym-tan-laundry).

BOSTON

Welcome to the New SavvyBostonian!

Welcome to the new and improved SavvyBostonian!  Originally started as a freebie wordpress blog in October 2006 as a forum to share my “savvy” Boston tips and adventures, I finally took the plunge and decided to create my own website.  It’s been an incredible (and sometimes frustrating) learning experience, so please bear with me as I continue to tweak and make changes.

I would like to thank my loyal readers for staying with me over the years, and hope that you will continue to post comments and send me great ideas to cover at savvybostonian@gmail.com.