There are loads of people we see every day without whom we just couldn’t function. Teachers, neighbors, coffee shop servers, mail carriers, dry cleaners, and dog walkers just to name a few. You know those people that if they’re not there one day, you really notice! Don’t forget to let them know you appreciate them.
Whether you bring it to a friend or you buy it for your own Holiday Open House, here are some nice little things to grace your table and/or side table.
He definitely lives in the neighborhood and it is clear why. We have so many great gifts within a couple block radius.
If given the choice, and let’s face it it is almost always a choice, I will drive several towns away to avoid the crowds at the mall. The lights, the smells, the cranky people are an affront to my general well being and completely destroy any pleasure that shopping gives me. So I will stroll through a town (Wellesley, Davis Square, Belmont Center, Huron Village, New Canaan (CT), Bronxville (NY) where I can shop small boutiques, enjoy a great cup of coffee, shop a bit more and grab lunch with a friend at a favorite chef-run restaurant. And online, I definitely feel the same way. I like a well curated shop virtual, real, or brick and mortar but totally accessible online too. The convenience of a superstore online like Amazon.com is great too and often small business sell through Amazon, but my first choice is somewhere like this…
So here are a few of my favorite sites. I like nice things, but I do have a boundaries when it comes to budget, so I like to peruse the sale first. I’ve also noticed that some of the best deals can be found if you look for it on a site that doesn’t specialize in that particular thing. For example; great toy deals on a site that primarily sells clothes or great furniture/lighting deal on a site that primarily sells children’s toys, or women’s clothing.
Garnet Hill: Primarily: women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, linens. Also sells: girls’ clothing, shoes, toys, house wares
Duluth Trading Co.: Primarily: outdoorsy clothing for men and women. Also sells: retro toys, cool gear, and that one thing for the person in the family who is impossible to buy for.
Uncommon Goods: Gifts of all sorts, trinkets, toys, tools, and gear.
Kaufmann Mercantile: Beautiful everything for just about anyone. This is on the pricier side, but you definitely get what you pay for. The shop is divided into accessories, office, grooming & beauty, tools & outdoors, home, kitchen, grocery and garden.
Gather Here: This is one of my homes away from home so I actually don’t shop online, but for those of you who are not lucky enough to live nearby, Gather Here has a great selection of fabric and more. Ever since Gather Here opened I have been lucky enough to be on Santa’s nice list so I have been getting a gift card here for all my knitting and sewing classes and stash.
Schoolhouse Electric and Supply: Home, office, lighting and fixtures. Browse the sale section for gifts, and odds and ends.
Local Root: This is another neighborhood spot, so I shop here in person, but they have a great selection of tools and equipment for the kitchen. There are stocking stuffers and “major gifts” and there is everything in between. Perfect for your favorite chef.
Best Made Company: I love this site for the unexpected. From flag patches as stocking stuffers, to books, enamel signs and tools. Worth a browse whether you’re done shopping or not.
Reside: Mid-century modern from table to table top. Buy someone special that one piece they’re missing. Finish a room for the holidays, or wrap up a gorgeous pottery tea set for the family.
Formaggio Kitchen: Send a basket, subscribe someone to a cheese CSA, pick up some sweets from the old country, or chocolates from here. Order the Panettone for Christmas morning, or some amazing pasta and olive oil for Christmas dinner.
Soluna Garden Farms: Delicious and unique spice blends, salts, and teas. Gorgeous wooden carved tea strainers.
Karma Coffee: My favorite coffee compulsively roasted to perfection.
Eat Boutique: Perfectly curated delectable delights. That’s all! Actually no, it isn’t…check out the blog for some jaw dropping food porn and inspiring recipes.
And for when you do get out of your pyjama and head outdoor here are some great spots to shop in Cambridge’s Huron Village. For the host, children, fashion fabulous, the hard to please, foodies and those who are at home in the kitchen, your home, and for the teachers and community members that keep you going.
I like to know what’s going on around town and who’s doing what. I’m a neighborhood busy body, but I don’t care or notice who bought a new car, who painted their house, who just got back from a ski vacation at Whistler and the like.
What I care about is who is making what, starting what, producing what. I’m interested in what you do and your business, and your newest product, or concept. I want to know about the latest show on Broadway, but also about the little neighborhood sing-along in the upstairs neighbor’s rec room. I want to know about the newest restaurant in Kenmore Square and the cupcake business you’re starting in your kitchen. I want to know about classes at the MFA and computer coding classes for kids at Parts and Crafts.
Thanks to our digital world, it is easier. Guides for shopping new, unique, boutique, and niche businesses online can come to your inbox as a newsletter or you can peruse what’s going on at Kickstarter, Joyus, Eat Boutique, Daily Grommet and other such sites. Here are some sites that I use to keep me in the loop.
Some Favorites
The Kitchn – For, you guessed it, kitchen related stories, goods, recipes.
Daily Candy – For a little bit of everything
Apartment Therapy – For a little bit of everything home.
Style Carrot - Beautiful inspiration for style, for every room and every part of your home life.
Crocodile Tears - Mid-Century Modern in the Boston area.
UrbanDaddy – Less Daddy..more Urban.
Boston Restaurant Talk – Openings, closings, must try spots and more.
And if you just can’t bare to get one more email in your inbox, just “like” them on Facebook, follow them on Pinterest or Instagram, or Twitter.
Felix Doolittle Does Valentine’s Day Like No Other
Instead of worrying about which are his favorite flowers, or which chocolates her ex used to get her, if you make something in your own kitchen from the heart you can’t go wrong. Don’t be mistaken, I love flowers and good chocolates are a sweet gesture, but when someone makes me something my heart glows just a bit warmer.
Love all bottled up.
A quick spoon jam, a box of brownies, little bag of cookies, even a nicely assembled collection of teas, sugar cubes, or locally roasted coffee and a handmade mug tells someone, “I love you, I’ve thought about what you like, and I’ve made this just for you.”
Local artist Felix Fu, of Newton, is the heart, art and soul of Felix Doolittle, a small stationery company, with note cards and labels that will complete your home made gift. Their collection of chef’s medallions, oval kitchen labels, and baker’s labels are beautiful with illustrations just for Valentine’s day or for every season of the year. (As a small Valentine’s day treat from me to you, there is a little giveaway below for the chance to win a set of your own chef’s medallions.)
Personalized illustrated chef’s medallions for gifts from the kitchen. Felix Doolittle
My husband loves apricot jam which he’ll eat by the spoonful or on a graham cracker for dessert. The nice thing about making a spoon jam is that no canning is necessary, you can customize the sweetness and flavorful undertones (add a little Bourbon, a hint of lime, a cardamom infusion). To get you started on your Valentine’s day gift making, I’m giving away one set of Chef’s Medallions courtesy of Felix Doolittle and here’s a little spoon jam recipe for inspiration.
Leah’s Valentine’s Day Spoon Jam
Ingredients:
Directions: Bring the water, 1/2 cup of the sugar and tea bag to a boil. Wash and halve the apricots. Once boiling, add the other 1/2 cup of sugar pull the tea bag out and toss the fruit into the pot and lower stove to a hot simmer.
Simmer uncovered until the fruit is very soft. Mash with a fork and as you do you can opt to pull out the skins (I like to pull them out, chop them up and put them back in or eat them as a treat). Take a small spoonful and test for sweetness (wait a second before tasting so as not to burn your lips!). If you like you can add a little honey or maple syrup for more sweetness.
Spoon into a clean jar. Once cool, affix your Felix Doolittle label or chef’s medallion. Refrigerate. Spoon jams will stay good for at least a week in the fridge. Enjoy with your loved one (if (s)he’s willing to share) over yoghurt, ice cream, on a biscuit, in a croissant.
Giveaway: You have four days (2/5 – 2/9/2013) to win your own personal set of Felix Doolittle Chef’s Medallions. This is a tin of 20 illustrated personalized adhesive labels 1.25′ in diameter. Put them on a cookie box, jam jar, or treat bag. For Valentine’s day, or any time you make a gift in your kitchen.
Every year at this time, as spring approaches, I am faced with two big questions:
I love staying local for spring break because I love spring in New England. We often head to the beach where the parking lots are empty and the beach is all ours. We enjoy walking into Harvard Square or just heading to the park to play in the sun. By staying local, not only do we save money, but we can also splurge on extra little outings. We’ll try a new restaurant. Max Brenner is on our radar for a treat and we have a whole list of places to try for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If the weather is cool, we’ll splurge on a day pass at the Royal Sonesta Pool.
Now back to that question about eggs. I have yet to find any connection between bunnies and eggs, but I do know that reptiles lay eggs, penguins lay eggs, turtles and fish lay eggs. I also know that one of my children’s favorite big day trips is to the Mystic Aquarium. Mystic Aquarium has some special guests in town from Saturday, April 13th to Sunday, April 21st. Included with membership and admission, Experience Scales & Tails, is a new, hands-on reptile encounter featuring baby alligators, bearded dragons, ball pythons, jeweled lacertas and more. Children, and any of their parents brave enough, can touch a reptile, chat with an educator, hear fun facts and get their photo taken.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, Mystic Aquarium visitors will learn all about these critters during themed activities and demonstrations, including scavenger hunts, matching games and a spine-tingling bug buffet. If you are thinking about having a reptile as a pet, come to the Mystic Aquarium first and view a variety of reptile habitats and learn what it takes to care for them.
General admission prices: $29.95 adults; $26.95 seniors (age 60+); $21.95 children (age 3 – 17); Children 2 and under are free
Part of what make’s finding the perfect Father’s Day gift so hard is that more often than not, it isn’t a particular thing that dad wants or needs. More often than not what dad needs is more time, more sleep, more flexible income, more time with his buddies, more time with his kids, more time with the family.
So, although a great beer or new bike tool is much appreciated, try something different this year. If father and daughter (or son) love trains, then here are some great options for this weekend. Don’t think just because you’ve packed away the toddler set of wooden trains that your husband and now double-digits daughter don’t get excited seeing the train pull into the station and even more excited hopping onto the train.
If you want to go vintage, then take dad up to Maine and head to the Sea Shore Trolley Musueum. You’ll ride vintage trolleys from NYC, see old MBTA vehicles and take a step back in time.
If you want a weekend escape, then hop on the new Capeflyer. You can even stay the night at the Sea Crest resort for $2 you can hop on the bus and request to be dropped off at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel where you can check into your beachside room and enjoy family time for a weekend.
Click to view slideshow.The Sea Crest Beach Hotel has a beautiful beach, an indoor pool and an outdoor pool so no matter the weather you’re going to be able to take a dip and enjoy the water with the kids. For father’s day breakfast you can sit on the screened in porch overlooking the ocean and enjoy the bountiful and delicious breakfast buffet.
It turns out that dad is not that into breakfast in bed. In fact I’m our family, the idea totally repulses him. My children’s father is fully dressed before he leaves the bedroom and a bit fastidious about his morning routine. The idea of having breakfast in pajamas of any sort with the potential chance of crumbs in the bed is totally horrifying.
I know not every dad is so and if your dad or the father of your children enjoys bacon and eggs in bed, then go for it! If not, ditch the breakfast in bed and give dad something he can really dig his teeth into.
Formaggio Kitchen’s BBQ is a weekly treat but for Father’s Day they’ve paired up with Taza for something beyond!
Formaggio will have their regular BBQ on Huron Ave. but will also be over at 11:00-2:30 over at 561 Windsor Ave. in Somerville.
As you may know, I’ve been on a bit of a green smoothie kick. I think with back to school, back to work, and back to life as we knew it in general smoothies just work. There is a lot of pressure on this holiest day of the year to start it off right and so finding the perfect smoothie recipe is no small task. Today is a day of atonement. You don’t want anything too overpowering. The flavors of the Yom Kippur smoothie are very subtle and this green smoothie is so lightly green that the colour is barely there.
Because this day is a one of purity, cleansing, and atonement you want your blender blades and pitcher to be very clean.
Once you have washed and dried all the seals, blades, lid and the like, then you can assemble your ingredients.
Because you may sip this smoothie all day, no need for ice or to chill your glass. Just pour the ingredients into the blender. Then grab a glass from the cupboard and a cute straw and you’ll be all set for the perfect Yom Kippur Smoothie. Feel free to sip it all day. It is so light that you’ll feel that it is an almost bottomless glass.
Ingredients
If you are on Pinterest you know that this month there is everything from Halloween Bento boxes being sent to school with kiddos, fun Halloween cocktails for grown ups to enjoy while others indulge in their favorite childhood candies. Every food channel, magazine, local restaurant and bakery is celebrating the flavours of the season as well as the fun and playfulness of Halloween.
The Food Network shared some of their favourite Halloween recipes with me and I picked the perfect one to try for an upcoming party. What I like about this recipe is the simplicity. I’m going to be helping the children get in their costumes and want to capture the excitement of it all so I would rather focus more on them than the dish I’m bringing to the party. I also wanted to bring some spreads that I can just pick up at the local store. I’ll probably grab a few whipped feta and pepper, hot pepper labne, and mouhammara from Sofra and Arax because they are so tasty and my standby crowd pleasers to serve with the Ghostinis.
Food Network Kitchens Ghostinis With Bloody Murder Sun-dried Tomato Tapenade Photo courtesy of FoodNetwork.com
Ghostinis with Bloody Murder Sundried Tomato Tapenade
From Food Network Kitchens
Prep Time:15 min
Inactive Prep Time:5 min
Cook Time:15 min Level: Easy
Serves: 8 to 10 servings
The ghost-shaped crostini–ghostinis–make as eerie accompaniment to this tomato-ey tapenade. But even without its ghostly companions, it’s still a hit.
Ingredients
1 loaf sourdough bread (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes in oil, plus 1 tablespoon flavored oil from the jar
2 tablespoons drained capers in brine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Grissini and/or seeded flatbread crackers, for serving
Special Equipment: one 2 1/2- to 3-inch metal ghost-shaped cookie cutter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Trim the hard crusts from both ends of the loaf of bread. Slice the remaining loaf into 1/2- to 3/4-inch slices; you will have between 14 and 16 slices. Using the cookie cutter, cut 1 to 2 ghosts from each slice of bread, depending on the size. Reserve the scraps for making fresh breadcrumbs, stuffing or bread pudding.
Lay the ghosts on a rimmed baking sheet and lightly brush with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season all the slices with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bake in the oven until toasted, flipping halfway, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
While the bread toasts, put the olives, parsley, sundried tomatoes, flavored oil, capers, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons water and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until chunky and then process until mostly smooth. Add the lemon juice and pulse a few times to incorporate.
Serve with the ghostinis on the side plus additional grissini breadsticks and/or flatbread crackers.
Copyright 2013 Television Food Network G.P.
All Rights Reserved
So here we are. On the other side of a night where we dress our children inappropriately in some way or another (too cold, as a scary being, as a branded superhero, as a career choice, a fantasy, too hot, too naked, too hidden).
Our homes are filled with piles of candy on the floor and in closets with little stashes in drawers and coat pockets.
So now what?
I think I’m going to start my day with a smoothie to counteract some of my candy nibbling from last night’s Halloween stroll.
What am I going to do with the leftover candy? The good thing is that Thanksgivingkkah is fast approaching.
We need candy for some good old-fashioned dreidl gambling. So it’s not gelt… York Peppermint patties are almost like gelt.
We’ll also be hosting lots of friends and family for Thanksgiving, so I get to do some candy sorting of my own. Time to make and freeze some cookie dough subbing candy bars for chocolate chips.
Let the fun begin!
Perhaps Halloween is the holiday of choice at Monsters University but we have Thanksgiving, Thanksgivukkah, Chanukah, and Christmas fast approaching. Monsters University just released their Blue-ray DVD sets and they make the perfect gift for all the monsters in your family big or little. If you haven’t seen it yet, save it for your next family gathering because it will entertain the whole family.
Photo courtesy of Pixar
School: It is a little world that carries a whole lot of meaning. From the privilege of going to a top school in your city, in the country, in the world to the privilege of being able to attend school at all. School is a wonderful, magical, safe place for some. For others, school is full of anxiety, stress, and shame. I live in Cambridge at the threshold of Harvard University and in Massachusetts a state that must have the largest number of universities per square foot! I am also the daughter of an academic, and I myself love being a student. After my Masters, if time and money were no object I would have been happy to continue on and get a Doctorate. Having said all that, I don’t believe that university is the right path for everyone and I definitely feel like the black sheep in my community with that opinion. So, when I saw Monsters University, I was singing inside because it is the first modern story I know of that celebrates individuals and success in a different way recognizing that there is more than one ladder to the top.
Just like University, the “student body” at Pixar spent four years playing, working, failing, and succeeding to put together this “final thesis”: Monsters University. I had the chance to meet with producer, Kori Rae, and learn a little bit more about the making of the movie.
Monsters University Producer, Kori Rae poses for her portrait at Pixar Animation Studios on February 6, 2013 in Emeryville, CA. (Photo by Jessica Brandi Lifland/Pixar)
Kori Rae is the producer of Disney Pixar‘s 14th feature film and first prequel, Monsters University, released this past summer (2013). Rae joined Pixar in 1993 in the Commercials Division and since then has worked on Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Golden Globe winning Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Academy Award winning movie The Incredibles, as well as Up, and Car Toons.
Let’s start with the beautiful setting of Monsters University. If you have seen the movie and you live locally, you’ll recognize so much of Harvard University. Ms. Rae mentioned that they also encompassed the expansive feel of Berkley’s campus which allowed the sense of possibility around any given corner. They also visited other iconic American universities like Princeton to be able to capture the old buildings, creating a sense of history and legacy.
My main question for Ms. Rae was about this underlying commentary on higher education. I have always believed that too many people pay too much money to get a university degree. Gone are the days when you followed the university track to be handed a secure, great paying job at the end of your journey. However, our perception of college hasn’t changed to match that. I look forward to the day when apprenticeships, trade schools, and community colleges are recognized for what they can offer students. The problem is that class, “brand name” schools, and the “old boys club” are all still so intertwined with it all and everyone seems to want a chance at that fantasy.
So, given this state of limbo we seem to be in, I wondered whether Pixar was worried about the message they were sending and how parents might react to it. The interesting parallel here is that Pixar’s animators all got to Pixar via different paths. There crew members from all sorts of different educational as well as occupational backgrounds including lawyers, doctors, baseball players, teachers and coaches. They took a circuitous route to be where they are today. Kori Rae, herself, is a former teacher who was a star basketball player. Rae was headed on a path to the Olympics until an injury fouled her out of that game. Ms. Rae then became a coach and eventually followed a path that led to Pixar .
Ms. Rae explained how working at Pixar is very much about playing on a team. Nothing gives you more experience, sheds light on life problems, teaches you to talk and work with others than playing on a team. Like athletes coming back from a loss, story artists need thick skins because an entire scene will get scrapped and it is just part of the process. There is an environment of healthy competition at Pixar. In Monsters University (MU) Sully helps Mike realize he’s a better coach than a player. Sometimes that’s the best lesson anyone can learn. Whether in life (parenthood, adulthood) or in an academic setting, Kori Rae, reflected: “It is your friends who help you realize your strengths.”
One of the quirky aspects of Monsters University that I loved was that the top sorority was a goth sorority. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how that came to be until Ms. Rae pointed out that a lot of those working on MU went to art school where there were no traditional sororities. Then all of a sudden it all made sense.
My children who are afraid of everything when it comes to movies, finally agreed to go see a movie in the theatre, which is scary itself because it is big and dark, and we all went to see Monsters University. We all loved it! The team at Pixar did an amazing job of creating a monster movie that not only appealed to adults and children but also had the perfect balance of fun and fright.
The colors of the Monsters are bright and playful. The major scare scene references classic horror movies with motifs that are perhaps not iconic triggers for young children. The color is pulled out of the scene and tropes such as the scary doll and backward playing record create the frightening atmosphere and get the adrenaline pumping for just the right amount of time so that even my tentative children could handle it without the repercussions of nightmares for the rest of the week.
The Blu-ray DVD which just came out includes some fabulous bonus material including a wonderful animated short (I love animated shorts!) which you must watch as a family before the Thanksgiving coma sets. The Blue Umbrella, directed by Saschka Unseld and produced by Marc Greenberg, is a sweet city story.
The other bonus is a wonderful “reading between the lines” experience. There is a look at “Campus Life” which is a day in the life of a Pixar production crew member. Ms. Rae mentioned that crew members were shooting footage of their days on their phones. In addition, the behind the scenes crew were given full access during the making of MU.
As this is Pixar’s first prequel, the behind the scenes “Story School” takes a look at everything from the challenges of creating a prequel to how jokes and gags are created. MU has an incredible “set” and the lighting in the movie is exceptional. The behind the scenes bonus material walks you through everything from the architecture to the scoring of the movie and the creation of colorscripts.
For your new college student, or your soon to be graduate, the Monsters University Blu-ray sets are a perfect gift this Thanksgivukkah or Christmas especially with the “Paths to Pixar” bonus. College students can be so stressed out this time of year that a little fine tuned levity from the movie itself can be a welcome gift. The Paths to Pixar MU edition though takes a look at members of the MU crew’s stories as they share the challenges they overcame along their paths from different points in their lives to Pixar.
Regardless of which holidays you celebrate the messages about a childhood dream, changing paths to reach that dream, and that life includes doors that will shut and others you have to be willing to go open are perfect to embrace as we finish of this year and head towards the next.
If you just can’t wait for the DVD set to arrive by mail that’s okay, as of October 29th Monsters University is available On Demand as well.
These days you can find or make just about anything if you try hard enough. Between DIY instructions pinned on a Pinterest, Etsy, online shopping on big sites like Amazon and then of course all the craft fairs as well as your favourite shops, the perfect gift is out there it is just a matter of finding it.
I ‘discovered’ Gemvara earlier this year when I was invited to preview some of their jewels and try out making a piece of my own on the website. I was unsure about measuring my finger for a ring even though I had a measuring kit. I had a blast designing my ring online but I have to admit I was kind of nervous about pressing ‘order’. Jewelry is usually such a hands on experience. So, to bridge that gap, in comes the Gemvara pop up. The perfect solution. A gorgeous gallery space on Newbury street where you can try everything on. You can learn about the choices of gems and precious metals, order you piece with someone by your side to help or head home and have a great starting point to make your creation.
Tonight is the grand opening of The Gemvara Experience. Here is a peek at the store. As a special treat, whether you order from home or stop in just to browse, when you order your piece you will get a pair of gemstone stud earrings just because.
Today the 27th annual Christmas Festival opens at the Seaport World Trade Center.
The children have been so excited to be official judges this year with several others. For months they have been trying to imagine what the chefs will create. We’ve even looked at some photos from past years including the impressive Fenway gingerbread creation.
The Gingerbread House Competition benefits Housing Families, Inc. – a non-profit organization dedicated to ending family homelessness. This year the following restaurants and bakeries are participating: Ginger Betty’s Bakery, Wicked Goodies, Cakes for Occasions, Empire Asian Restaurant & Lounge, Entertainment Cruises, Mooo Restaurant, Area Four, Grill 23 & Bar, Del Frisco’s, Davio’s Lynnfield, Sweet Things Bakery, Finale, and Tosca.
In addition to the competition there is the artisan market. Crafts folk from all over the country come to Boston for this holiday event to exhibit and sell their handcrafted items. From home accessories to holiday treats and decorations there will be the perfect gift for everyone on your list..
The festival is at Seaport World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Boulevard
in Boston.
Parking is nearby as well as across the street at Seaport Garage. Costs range from $11 to $20.
From November 8, 9, & 10, 2013
Friday noon – 7p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door and are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors: children under 14 are free. The Christmas Festival is presented by Artisan Promotions Inc.
http://www.BostonChristmasFestival.com.
We love ginger, we love bread, we love gingerbread and we love getting our “craft on”. Even before kids, my husband and I (actually mostly my husband – I’m a bit terrified of pastry) went all out and made a gingerbread house replica of his family’s barn.
This year the children and I were honoured to judge the gingerbread competition over at the Christmas Festival at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. The houses are all available for sale and the proceeds of the sale go to support Housing Families, an organization that is working hard to end homelessness. Here is some of the exquisite work we were able to see. We even took inspiration from each of the houses to try this year when we build our own.
This village won “Best Decorated” and you can see why. The details were perfect and the precision on the icing work was impressive.
Hansel & Gretel house. This was my choice for best in show. I loved all the details. They also made a delicious classic gingerbread that had a slight caramelized taste.
This was a gorgeous stone church. I didn’t realise until someone told me that each of the stones are gingerbread. All these amazing gingerbread structures made it very difficult to choose winners.
Many of the houses had lights flickering inside. Details were found inside each window.
Davio’s got creative this year with a huge sandcastle, Little Mermaid characters, holiday wreaths, and a little nod to the Red Sox. The children campaigned hard to get me to choose this as most creative. I was deciding between two. Davio’s won the title of “Most Creative”.
This was a Candyland game board. Henry loved the colourful columns on this part of the board game village.
Kids’ Choice Award. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs made by Cakes for Occasions
Sometimes the brussel sprouts get lost at the Thanksgiving table. Green Beans and Bourbon glazed carrots are the diva vegetables of our feast. So I decided that they need a stage of their own. Breakfast of course!
Julienned brussel sprouts with shallots, scrambled eggs and latkes or (for the non-kosher plate) sausage latke patties
are the perfect Thanksgiving/Chanukah breakfast.
I started off totally dismissing Thanksgivukkah but then when I learned that it’s not going to happen for a very long time I thought I might pay a little attention to it. I don’t like messing with the traditional Thanksgiving menu, but as the holiday came closer into focus I warmed to the idea. Megin of Labels are for Jars offered to make a Thanksgiving starter of matzoh ball soup with mini matzoh balls (so we don’t fill up too fast). Perfect!
Now we’re really starting to get into the holiday spirit as we’re planning menus for the first night of Chanukah, finalizing our Thanksgiving menu and making cookies (our nod to Christmas) for the Cookie Takedown. And… we can’t do all this without a theme song. Here’s what we’re chanting and snapping our fingers to:
Recipes for Thanksgiving and Chanukah:
As I sit outside class, rack after rack of beautiful hand-stitched costumes roll by. They will soon be coming to life on stage in dress rehearsals making the renderings of the newest production of the Nutcracker come to life.
The dewdrops fairy’s bodice and tutu alone has 4,000 crystals set on it. Each one done by hand. The magic that happens on stage is created by hours of work behind the scenes in the costume shop, in the studio and on stage.
Some shows are already sold out. The Nutcracker opens on Friday, November 29th and runs through Sunday, December 29th.
Here are some tips for going to see the show from tickets and parking to logistics with little ones.
Getting tickets
If you think about all the work that goes into each production the value of a ticket is worth it’s weight in crystals! On the other hand, buying tickets for the whole family at full cost is not always feasible. So what are your options?
Getting to the Opera House
I recommend driving especially if you have little ones. The performance is long and it is easier for everyone to enjoy the show if you can park nearby and walk to the theatre. Arrive early so that you can enjoy the whole experience. Allow for traffic. Park in the Pilgrim Lafayette Garage if you want to be as close as possible. The rate for theatre-goers is about $15 as you pay the weekend or evening rate. You can also take the T and get off at Park Street (Red Line), Chinatown (Orange Line) or Boylston Street (Green Line).
Going to the Ballet with Little Ones
No matter what your vision is for the evening or matinée remember that the ballet may be too long for your child to sit through. Be prepared to leave at intermission if you have to. You want this to be a positive experience so that your child will have fond memories of the gorgeous theatre, the live music, the costumes, the dancing, and the overall atmosphere. If you push them passed their limit you risk ruining the experience. You are better off planning to be okay leaving early if need be so you can continue enjoying the ballet for years to come.
As a general rule of thumb I think 7-8 is a great age to begin going to the ballet. Of course some children will enjoy it at an earlier age and others won’t appreciate it until later in life.
If you’re looking for an easy place to dine out before or after the show with children I highly recommend Back Deck. Allow plenty of time so you are not rushed getting to the ballet. For more adventurous eaters or if you are going out sans children I would pop into JM Curley or stop in for dinner at Stoddard’s Food and Ale for dinner.
Illustrations by Robert Perdziola courtesy of Boston Ballet
Illustrations by Robert Perdziola courtesy of Boston Ballet
Illustrations by Robert Perdziola courtesy of Boston Ballet
Illustrations by Robert Perdziola courtesy of Boston Ballet
Illustrations by Robert Perdziola courtesy of Boston Ballet
