About 10 years ago my Mom and I visited St. Francis vineyard in Sonoma, CA and purchased 2 bottles of this zin, and tucked both away for my brother's and my engagement. My bro got engaged a year or 2 later, and my bottle has been collecting dust with a Post-it: "Save for Katie's Engagement!" Well tonight is the night! Cheers!!!!!
This past weekend a couple hundred people, including myself, Mike, and his parents, roamed and viewed 9 personal gardens in my historic home town of Sutton, MA, as part of the 2008 Sutton Garden Tour organized by the Sutton Garden Club. Each property, peppered with local artists capturing the picturesque views and robust gardens, had its own unique flair that really communicated the individual personality and character of its owner. The day was a perfect 10 – sunny in the 80's – and culminated with a wine and cheese party on my parent's lawn. Congrats to my (now exhausted yet relieved) rock star Mom for spearheading this fabulous event.
'Tis the season for tastings! BRIX, my favorite wine shop in Boston, is turning four tomorrow and celebrating with a (free!) Zyr vodka, caviar & champagne tasting. You know where I will be, so I'll see you there? Here's the det's:
Zyr Vodka, Caviar & Champagne
Thursday, December 20th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
BRIX
1284 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
617.542.BRIX (2749)
brixwineshop@verizon.net
We are throwing a holiday cocktail party this Tuesday night and am expecting about 20-25 of my colleagues and a few significant others to attend. The menu consists of some staple apps like a cheese and sausage plate with fresh figs & grapes, seared flank steak with carmelized onion and horseradish cream on mini toasts, and smoked salmon, dill, caper, & cream cheese "lollipops". However, I am testing out some comfort food tidbits, to help coat the bellies as we sip champagne splashed with pomegranate. Here are the new additions:
Italian Cocktail Meatballs with Herbs and Ricotta (above pic)
Ridiculous Truffle Mac & Cheese
I love testing out new recipes; if they are a flop, there's always pizza delivery :)
I spent this week at the Digital Hollywood conference in - you guessed it - Hollywood, CA. I gained some valuable insights into the world of emerging medias, broadband video services and video streaming, white label social networking apps, and more; however, the highlight of my trip was not related to digital media & entertainment, but rather Lindsay Lohan!
I had dinner with friends on Wednesday (Halloween) evening at Il Sole, a fabulous boutique Italian restaurant on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. I was prying my friend for her list of celebrity sightings since she and her husband moved to LA a couple years ago, when she suddenly whispered "LL... LL...LL!". I looked up, to see the blond Lindsay Lohan herself, dressed in a short black dress with thigh-highs and boots along-side Riley Giles, her rehab snowboarder boyfriend, greeting friends with hugs and kisses. She was seated 10 feet or so directly in front of us; the view was unobstructed so I naturally found myself staring at her, like a would at anyone in my direct view. The photo above was captured that night; I didn't dig the blond on her at all nor the orange hue of her skin probably from self-tanner, and she has packed on a few lb's since hopping on the wagon (I hope), but she did have a sparkling smile despite what these photos show. And no, she wasn't drinking anything but a post-rehab Coca Cola; I am sure the repugnant paparazzi lined-up outside with the curious cameras were hoping to see something a bit juicier. Rachel Zoe, the controversial stylist to the stars, also popped in for a visit.
Here's some more photos from that night.
[Image courtesy of wheretheyshop.com]
For those of you who are wondering when the Peter's Park Dog Park, located on Washington Street in Boston's S End, 
is going to be complete... its looking like this Fall! I have been eagerly awaiting this day, not because I have a dog here in the city (though my Mom & Dad have in fact indefinitely adopted my dog, Bailey), but because I cannot wait to see the little munchkins frolicking around in their new arena.... my back yard! So, its great news that they have apparently raised over $100K since my last post in April, just $30K shy of their $300K goal.
For those of you who are not familiar with this project, its the first officially sanctioned dog park on city land.
Want to give a little to help them reach their mark? Then donate here!
Also, be sure to check out the events in and around the neighborhood to benefit the dog recreational space; there was a great one tonight with special guest Mayor Menino, and sponsored by local shops and restaurants like my personal favorites The Butcher Shop, Brix Wine Shop, Oishii Boston, and the South End Buttery.
Just returned from Rocca, here is the photo I took from my mobile phone:
As a neighbor noted when we walked in, Rocca has its growing pains. I never try the fare at a newbie restaurant on opening night - or for the first couple weeks for that matter - so I am not going to review it in this post. Tonight, I enjoyed a vodka martini, and how I love knowing the olives are truly fresh, with sweet & firm qualities! I waited about 10 minutes for my cocktail at a not-so-packed bar, but thats the growing pains part. They will get it down, and it really was yummy. We sat in the bar area, located on the bottom level; the kitchen is on the same level, and the main dining room above. The decor in the lounge/bar is definitely "different"... and this may sound bizarre, but I like it from the waist up!
What I like...the curtains, made of a mesh-like, porous material, are set against enormous (must be 30 foot) windows and are breathtaking. The U-shaped bar affords the bartenders little working space, though the customers ample seating/drinking/eating space (perfectly done!); and a large, mast-like pole perched on the lounge emphasizes the dramatic size of the room, like a voluminous great room. The bar space is rather brightly lit, but in a pleasing way, and quite large, with both lounge chairs & couches and 4-person tall bar stools and tables at which you may drink cocktails and dine. The ladies room, and the slate floor leading up (if I recall correctly, or it may be slate in the bathroom), is elegant and attractive.
What I do not like.... (from the waist down) is the floor in the lounge area, covered by a commercial-feeling carpet with a turquoise water-like pattern; the lounge couches, covered by a stripy cloth, and the turquoise leather covered barstools are unique and cool, but donn't quite seem to pair well with the carpet; I wish they had carried out the slate more in the bar area in it's place, or chosen a less-loud pattern. The cuisine, as noted in a prior post, is inspired by the Linguaria (translation: Where the land meets the sea) region in the Italian Riviera, and I can see those influences in the decor; for me, some work, some don't; but things like this are often more personal taste than anything else.
I look forward to going back and dining at Rocca. Welcome to the neighborhood.
If you swing by, let me know what you think...
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Great news to all the foodies out there: Rocca opens today! I plan to swing by for a cocktail tonight at the very least, so I'll be sure to let you all know how it is (or see you there!).
Rocca Boston
500 Harrison Ave
The South End, Boston
617-451-5151
http://roccaboston.com/
To all the dog lovers out there (like myself) I recently walked through the new Peter's Park Do
g Recreational Space (DRS), and construction is well underway. I came across the Friends of Peter's Park Website (it's a great site, check it out), offering a wealth of information pertaining to this doggie paradise to-be. The park will feature separate sections for large and small dogs, dog water fountains and water spigots peppered throughout the property, a dog "Walk of Fame", and benches, covered trash receptacles, gardens and more.
The DRS ribbon cutting event is slated for the fall of '07, but the organization still needs to raise some additional funding to reach the $300,000 mark & complete the project; DRS is funded entirely by donations from the local community, so if you want to contribute, please make a donation today.
What a fabulous project, so suitable in a neighborhood that really treasures and embraces it's 4 legged friends. Here are some links for additional information on the project:
This is only feeding my temptation to get another dog!!!
A congratulations is in order to all the intrepid and able-bodied runners who made it out today despite the high-winds, rain and nasty nor'easter residual for the running of the 111th Boston Marathon! Special hats-off to Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot (2:14:13) and Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva (2:29:18) who captured the men's and women's crowns, respectively, as well as Japan's Masazumi Soejima (1:29:16) and Wakako Tsuchida (1:53:30) who found victory in the men's and women's wheelchair races, respectively.
Here are the detailed stats for the top 3 winners across all 4 categories, courtesy of Boston.com:
Calling all foodies! Sage Restaurant is now open at:
1395 Washington Street
(South End) Boston, MA
(across from Cathedral of the Holy Cross).
http://www.sageboston.com/
Mapquest it!
And if anyone dines at Sage before I do, please leave me a note!
To all my readers, I'd like to extend a formal invitation to the Boston Fashion Expression Event at MANSION, on May 9th! The event, as I have noted in previous posts, is to benefit the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign. Please click on the below image to view the invitation in detail. I hope to see you there!
I had a very rough start yesterday morning. As I was ready to walk out the door and head into the office, I bent over to zip up my boots and ZAP!!, a shooting pain in my lower back left me hunched over in agony. I have a high-threshold for pain, but this happened prior (last September it was sparked by bending over to re-coil the vacuum cord) and it's an excruciating experience. I guess it's official, I have a chronic back problem. So, I had to lay flat on my back all day (which I despise), was doped-up on 800mg of Advil every 4 hours with 3 Lidoderm patches (thanks, Mom!) across my lower back.
However, there is a happy ending to this story. At 5:00, I managed to dress myself and get out for some fresh air. I headed down to Morse Fish Company to purchase some salmon (if I am lying immobile, I am eating healthy!), and I noticed that the temporary window coverings have been removed from the 
space on Washington Street that will soon be the new home of Sage Restaurant. The new logo is on the window, and I of course peeked in and saw men stocking the bar! It looks like this spectacular Italian eatery could be opening very very soon! Now that's a fabulous end to this not-so-fabulous day :)
The official save the date is in. Please pass on to your friends & family!
Rating: 5 forksFor Valentine's Day, Mike and I dined at Excelsior, the "Bold American" restaurant, that we also dined at on our first *real* date, and for last year's V-day celebration. Although the clientele at Excelsior has always been a tad bizarre to me - picture lots of makeup, mink and bling seeking out the perfect sugar daddy - the food at this Back Bay/Boylston Street upscale restaurant and bar is consistently remarkable, and the wine list is quite extensive.
I had:
Soy-Lime Dressed Tuna Tartare 19.
Nori Seared Tuna Sashimi, Wasabi-Miso Paste, Ginger Pickled Beet
Grilled Rack of Lamb 42.
Kalamata Olive Salsa, Syrah Braised Osso Bucco, Fennel-Yukon Potato Pure
Mike had:
Braised Veal Cheek and Escargot Chestnut Gremolata 15.
Chantenay Carrots, Wood Roasted Cippollini and Hoshimeji Mushrooms
Carved Long Island Duck Breast Seasoned with Caraway 32. Smoked Duck Confit Pierogis, Vidalia Onion Marmalade, Goatâs Milk Fromage Blanc and Port Sauce
And we shared:
Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Sharecroppers, Columbia Valley 2004
We dined in the bar this time and really enjoyed it. Our server was attentive and friendly, and we didn't feel rushed, unlike the prior 2 experiences in the upsairs dining room. For those not wanting a heavy meal, Excelsior also has a fabulous bar menu, and prior to 7pm, all appetizers are only $7.
I'd recommend Excelsior to all foodies in search of an elegant meal in an upbeat environment, and the people watching in the bar is like no other :)
TorontoThis week, business brought me to one of the most amazing North American cities: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This was my first visit, and I absolutely LOVED it! Perched on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, it's a cosmopolitan, international metropolis, with trendy fashionistas on the city sidewalks, restaurants galore, high-end retail space, and a flourishing economy. The city is very New York-like visually, but with more of a Chicago pace.
The coolest feature of Toronto by far is the PATH, a 16-mile network of pedestrian tunnels snaking below downtown office towers. And what's in this immaculate and upscale "tunnel" other than about 100,000 daily commuters? You got it: shopping! There's about 1,200 shops, from clothing stores, restaurants & shoe shiners, to flower shops and fresh produce markets; apparently, about 5,000 people are employed in this underground city.
Just think about what this does for the economy of the city. Take the retail space on the above-
ground level, and more than double that! Additionally, it provides Toronto residents and tourists a means to navigate the city in weather-proof conditions (and man, its cold up there). When we commuted with the locals during AM rush-hour, flurries of professionals marched through the PATH hallway like a NYC sidewalk. Above ground, the city bustles still, but in a sleepier state.
I can't wait to go back to Toronto! An added bonus, my #1 favorite store has three locations in the city!
Click here for an update to this post!!!
Wednesday evening, we attended a cocktail launch party for Boston Fashion Weekend, sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Go Red for Women movement. The complementary kickoff event, held at The Living Room, was hosted by Miss Massachusetts 2006, Michaela Gagne, and was the first chance for VIPs in Boston to learn more about the upcoming fashion extravaganza, scheduled for May 2007.
A crowd of representatives from Boston’s greatest companies, organizations, and media groups gathered to watch an exciting fashion show featuring threads by local Boston designers, sip on tasty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and receive special gifts.
Boston Fashion Weekend will present local, national, and international designers to Boston like no event before, and will showcase the best in Boston fashion. Be sure to check out the event this May!
A special thanks to Gail Schneider, the super-hip and amazingly successful Boston fashion designer, founder of Gail Schneider Designs, and a Fashon Weekend board member, who invited Mike and I to this launch party and to take part in Go Red Day and Boston Fashion Weekend. What a perfect fit for us, the convergence of fashion and the heart :)
Mark your calendars my fellow shoppers; the 3rd Annual SoWa Holiday Market is just around the corner! Rather than giving the uninspiring wish-list item for your friend or loved one, take the creative route, and pick-up a unique gift, hand-crafted by a local, New England artisan. Choose from jewelry, handbags, clothing, art, pottery, home decor, and other unusual gifts. The market, located in the Cathedral High School Gymnasium at 74 Union Park Street in Boston's South End, is 2 days only:
Saturday, December 9th: 10am-8pm
Sunday, December 10th: 10am-6pm
Additionally, the art studios at 450 Harrison Ave will be open to the public. Here are a few more links with useful info:
In the spirit of Halloween, I'd like to share a few pics from the Diva's Unleashed! party in my neighborhood this past Sunday. We were unaware that this party was going to happen, so you can
imagine our surprise when a full marching band arrived in front of our condo, followed by hundreds of four-legged friends dressed in costume! We managed to snap a few pics of the dogs and owners on the blustery, chilly afternoon. My particular favorites were the "Pug Boat", the "Fat Pug Bumble Bee", and the "Slutty School Girl" (the winner). Randy Price from WHDH Channel 7 emceed the event, and all proceeds benefited the MSCPA Animal Care and Adoption Center.
Last weekend, my best-girl Jen (a.k.a "Half-Pint") came for a long overdue visit to Boston, after living in Dallas, TX for about two years. My best-bud Ethan (a.k.a. "E-Funk Masta Flash), who just moved back from sunny San Diego, Mike, Jenny and I started the night out at with tapas and cocktails of plenty at my favorite Boston restaurant, Toro. We ended our dinner with the cava Porron, a large decanter-like bottle with a thin spout for "shooting" the bubbly. Dangerous! Then we made a brief visit for a cocktail at Masa where we met up with Ethan's friend Mary "Lovely" (and lovely she is), and on to close the night out at District in Boston's leather district. We had an amazing night colored by old stories, memories, and a lot of silliness. Here are a few pics...
Alas, as promised in another post , here is the pic from the night @ Match with Stéphane Pompougnac, the resident DJ at Paris' Hotel Costes; can you tell it was a total blast?!?!?!
And finally, the long anticipated evening, highlighting one of the biggest international DJ names, has come and gone w/ a blink of an eye. Thursday night, Stéphane Pompougnac, the resident DJ at Paris’ Hotel Costes, spun his magic in celebration of Match’s one-year anniversary (I was also an attendee at the opening night, invite-only party last year, also a total blast).
The show was so AMAZING! I have seen & heard quite a few DJ’s spin in-town over they years, renowned names such as Paul Oakenfold, Sasha & Digweed, Deep Dish, & Paul Van Dyk, but this experience far surpassed the others. Instead of the large-venue, club scene characterized by twenty-something’s dancing maniacally, sweating, sipping water bottles and licking citrus lollipops, this was an intimate, 30-something crowd, and the small-venue (really, a restaurant) added a personal, intimate ambiance that really brought back the "lounge" and "chill-out” in the music genre.
Being a "school night", I thought I would stay just a couple hours. However, after Mike & I shard a light dinner of Spicy Shrimp and Chorizo Skewers ($9.50), a Spinach & Goat Cheese Salad with Sliced Apples and Caramelized Pecans ($6.95), and a few of their spectacular signature mini-burgers ($5.75-$6.75), the beats energetically picked up and the crowd inside, and in the agonizing long-line outside, grew larger and larger. I knew the night was nowhere near a close.
After finishing our dinner, I noticed that seated next to me, was a girl that I had befriended at a wedding I attended a few years prior, but hadn't seen since. She was seated with this quirky but very cool events designer, also a HUGE SP fan, and a guy-friend who generously offered us some Champagne. And thus we hung out the rest of the night, and yes, the Champagne flowed & flowed.
While dancing, chatting, and making friends with fans, we managed to also befriend the in-house Match photographer (solving my huge dilemma of mindlessly forgetting to bring my digital cam), and
we worked-in some great snapshots with Stéphane himself. I must note that Stéphane, probably only 5'5" or so and a good-looking guy, is uncharacteristically also a "nice-guy"! He chatted with us, took requests, allowed multiple pictures with fans, and even signed his autograph for me (yes, I am a geek, but it’s proudly on my fridge now, and in the pic to the right :)).
This night really quenched my thirst for seeing and hearing a top-notch DJ. Stay tuned for pics from the night, which should hopefully be posted to the Match website by our photographer friend shortly.
Last night, we mixed-it-up a little, and ventured over to Cambridge to take part in, what I think is, a character stamp that makes the town so unique from it's neighboring urban presence: live music. The Starlight Mints, a band that I hadn't heard of but Mike enjoys, was appearing live, downstairs at The Middle East. After standing in line for about 20-30 minutes, we received our wrist bands and decided to grab some dinner before the show.
The Middle East is great. It's not fine dining nor posh, but its suitably gritty, serving up authentic bites from - you guessed it -it's namesake, the Middle East. We enjoyed an appetizer of hummus and fresh pita, followed by a tasty lamb kabob dish, served with a tangy salad, beans, and rice. Entrees are very reasonable ($10-$12) and the portion-size was quite abundant. Cambridge hippies, musicians, intellectuals, and the artsy folk socialized loudly in the packed dining room, as two Middle Eastern men played guitar and sang in Arabic on a small, raised stage at the entrance to the restaurant.
Downstairs is a subterranean live-music venue; it's dark, with low ceilings, loud, and it's fitting for the alternative rock & punk bands that dominate the performance schedule. They have a full liquor license, with micro-brews on tap and premium spirit labels, but expect to be served by a mod-dressed, bleached blonde, pierced alternative chick in a bustier with twenty facial piercings and a painfully extensive tattoo collection. So Cambridge, gotta love it. The band was great, a little bizarre, but quite entertaining.
I love breaking the monotonous stride and trying new things. If you think that Boston is at the peak of preppy and conservatism, I suggest you venture to The Middle East. It's a trip.
The Middle East
472 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.864.3278
While visiting Match on Saturday night, I was alerted to the BIGGEST event to hit the Boston nightclub-music scene in quite some time. Those who know me, know that I have been a huge fan of deep house music, and I was even lucky enough to spin at a local club here in Boston a couple years ago! You can imagine my excitement when I found out that Paris' Hotel Costes resident Dj Stéphane Pompougnac is making a guest appearance in Boston, at Match, on September 28th!
Known most for his Hotel Costes compilations (all 8 of them), Pompougnac is a brilliant musician, a composer, producer, and of course a deejay famed for his remix of Madonna ("What it Feels Like for a Girl"); his pairing up with artists such as Michael Stipe of REM; his spinning at Gucci and Yves Saint-Laurent couture fashion events; and his performances at Cameron Diaz's Miami restaurant and movie premiere parties. His chic, mellow yet groovy, Parisian lounge music is the ultimate in chill-out. His creations are down-tempo, mood-soothing beats infused with mythical vocals and jazz blends; it lacks the thumping beats characteristic of the mainstream electronica that I have grown so tired of (probably because I am getting old!). Aside from #6 and #7, which I thought were total let-downs, as well as # 8 which I have not heard yet, the Hotel Costes compilations are by far the best to hit the scene and undoubtedly what made Pompougnac one of the worlds most renowned Dj's.
He has been playing in the background in my home for years, and I can't wait for his appearance in my city!
I just uploaded a few pictures of the Boston fireworks display on Tuesday evening. Highlights included performances by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry with the legendary Boston Pops on the Esplanade (we listened via radio on our roof deck). The John Hancock building obstructed the full view of the fireworks at times, but what I found disturbingly quite eerie, was the fiery light yielded the appearance of the tower burning when photographed (click on the photo to the left). Eeek.
Last night, Mike and I hosted our first cocktail party. Throughout the evening, about 40-50 
people stopped by to mingle, sip wine, mojitos and cocktails, and just to meet new friends. For munchies, we made and served:
New Potatoes with Caviar chive Crème fraîche, dollop of black caviar
Spiced Shrimp Cigars; finger-size, ginger chili dipping sauce
Asparagus Spears Elegante blanched asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, provolone, and pesto cream cheese
Hot Artichoke Dip spiced, served with crispy pita points
Lamb and Beef Meatballs horseradish cream dipping sauce
Spicy Sushi: cucumber, avocado, asparagus, shrimp
Kate's Spicy Cucumber Boats: Chili mayo, tomato, avocado
Formaggio Cheese and meat samples
Thanks to EVERYONE for coming by; this evening was truly spectacular, and we look forward to the next!
Every Sunday during the summer, my neighborhood animates with bustling shoppers seeking rare finds and amazing near-steals on local artist's, farmer's, and entrepreneur’s goods and "stuff". From handbag designers, antique jewelry collectors, and painters, to bread makers, florists, and even fleece hat and scarf designers (sales looked a tad slim here on the 70 degree day), the South End Open Market is the place for vendors to showcase their creativity and for shoppers to browse, buy, and absorb the culture of this treasured Boston Neighborhood.
Yesterday I had some free afternoon time, for the first that I can recall in a few months, and 
decided to make the stroll to the open-air marketplace located at 540 Harrison Ave. I particularly took a liking to the Parlor table, a hip, new favorite clothing boutique dangerously close to home, the Jessica Moss Handbags tent, displaying flirty, fun summer totes, and a cool table of 60’s and 70’s vintage accessories and jewelry, of which I can’t recall the name. Apparently some of the vendors change weekly, so I can't wait to check out who's next.
I left the market with two T’s and a tank from the Parlor table ($100+/each marked down to $10/ea!!!) and a fun gold over-sized heart pendant from the vintage jewelry spot, a mere $5. Oh, and with a smile on my face to boot J. I am looking forward to the marketplace this Sunday, featuring the Tournament of Tarts, the first annual South End bake-off… thankfully, Boston Sports Club is located on the other side of the parking lot, so I can taste it all and run it off! Well, maybe not it all!
This post is to all the "Lisa Foleys" and "Derek Grouts" of the world. Check out Lucky Voice, a swanky Karaoke venue that is adding a personal and private twist to the old Japanese tradition. This
swanky London club features 9 rooms for you and your friends to burst out in song; and don't worry if you are not vocally gifted, as these room are completely private. Simply reserve a room, sit back with a tasty trendy martini, and let loose. Since my musical talent is quite limited, and I have no problem with embarrassment among friends but the public is another thing, this really appeals to me! And btw, Lisa and Derk are a few friends of mine who have been know to belt out Pat Benatar and Johnnie Cash in their day :) They'd love this place!
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