Sunday, January 25, 2015

around town: forge baking company



as a coffee addict, baked goods aficionado, and a writer, i'm forever on the lookout for a place to set up shop and toil away for a couple hours on a sunday morning. let's be real, half of that time is probably spent trying to find the perfect spotify playlist and/or facebook stalking and/or people watching. but i digress.

i recently read on one of my favorite local blogs, somerville beat, that a new cafe had emerged on the scene. while i'm quite loyal to my ol' standby (kickstand cafe in arlington), i was in the mood to mix things up and give the new kid a chance. i'm so glad i did!



forge baking company is housed in an old warehouse space within a shopping plaza (no parallel parking, hallelujaaaah!). it's totally bright, open, and airy. oh, and big! it always bothers me when cafes have like, 2 tables in the whole place. i wanna sit and sip, man. sit and sip i did, thanks to the abundance of seating, which included a counter that looked into the kitchen. no secrets here! there was also a ton of cool art on the walls that i dug.



the menu is large and varied, with both sweet and savory offerings. fresh-baked pastries, muffins, and scones are available alongside more substantial sandwiches and salads. i obviously got the house-made s'more pop tart, because ... uhhh, WOULD YOU JUST LOOK AT IT?




i should also note that there's free wi-fi -- which, as far as i'm concerned, should be a requirement at any coffee shop. you'd be surprised how many places in the area don't offer it, though (::cough::rhymes with "weasel"::cough::).

overall, forge is a great addition to the neighborhood with good coffee, good food, and good vibes. i'm looking forward to becoming a regular!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

BLOG BEACH PARTY!

now, for something completely different. i may have been all gung-ho on winter a few weeks ago, but i've moved on and i'm ready for sunshine and warm weather once again. since i have a waaaays to go 'til things warm up (and i go to vegas in april!), i decided to bring the summer vibes here.

we've got the perfect soundtrack:



oh my god, i've rediscovered this song in a big way in the past few days. it was my jam at age 16, and no matter what mood i'm in or how old i get, it never fails to transport me to a boardwalk where i'm eating cotton candy and wearing cut-offs. dig it.


aaaaaand some sweet treats:



can't forget the waves:



and one of those tacky t-shirt shops, for good measure:



your turn! what would you bring to the party?


Thursday, January 8, 2015

5 things i love: boston winter edition

if you couldn't tell by the flood of iPhone weather screenshots, it's cooooooooold here in the northeast. i'm hunkered down with a blanket, some coffee, my favorite candles, my wax warmer, my flannel PJs, uhhh you get the idea. but it got me thinking about some of my favorite things to do 'round here when the temps drop and drop and drop and drop.

1. drink hot chocolate at max brenner and LA burdick

if you hate hot chocolate, i feel bad for you, son. there are only a handful of both max brenner and LA burdick locations in the whole country, and the boston area is blessed to host both chains. while both provide top-notch cocoa and ambiance to boot, i've gotta hand it to max brenner because of their adorable hug mugs. also, i made the mistake of ordering a large hot chocolate at burdick a few weeks ago, and almost fell into a chocolate coma on newbury street because it was so rich. but i mean, if i had to fall into a coma, a chocolate one would probably be the best kind, eh?

 


for once, i didn't steal anyone's photos for this one! that's my very own hug mug from a visit to max brenner, and what i like to call a "where's waldo selfie" at LA burdick. 

2. shop for weird vintage jackets and scarves at oona's and raspberry beret



the only thing better than wearing a cute sundress or romper that belonged to some random, strange person is wearing a fur coat or a fluffy patterned scarf that belonged to some random, strange person. y'all know that i am all about secondhand stuff, and thus completely unfazed by all of the odd smells and other unknowns ... perhaps disturbingly so. but anywho, you can find some true gems at oona's in harvard square and raspberry beret in porter square, from big jackets to cute hats and all sorts of other winter wear. plus, how can you NOT love a place named after a prince song?

3. watch people fall down while ice skating at the frog pond



am i a bad person? i mean, i do love watching great skaters do their thang, too. but as someone that has only been on ice skates a few times in her life -- and spent most of those times flat on her ass -- i've just gotta sympathize (while chuckling) with the poor souls that chose to show off their skills (or lack thereof) right there in the middle of boston common. we're laughing with you!


4. eat mac & cheese at the publick house 



ugh, i wish i lived closer! their beer menu is killer, but i come for the mac & cheese. you get your choice of add-ins, which include shrimp, scallops, lobster, and short rib. 'nuff said. 


5. get cozy with a cocktail at JM curley



i'm actually obsessed with this bar. and it's in downtown crossing, so that's saying a lot. from my first visit, when the insanely hot bartender lit my friend's and my drink ON FIRE with a match in his mouth, i was sold. whew, sorry, still get a little flushed thinking about that moment a year later. aside from the drink pyrotechnics and eye candy behind the bar, it's got a super-cozy neighborhood vibe and they have yummy cocktails and an amazing food menu (ramen lasagna, huhhh). plus, they give you bacon-y popcorn! great great great.