Cinco de Mayo: BBQ-style

Blue Ribbon in Hipstamatic

For Cinco de Mayo, Dan and I decided to buck tradition & enchiladas by instead heading to Blue Ribbon Bar-B-Q in Arlington for a dinner of pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, baked beans and slaw. Mmmm. Since we were heading to Arlington anyway and the baby loves BBQ so much (ok, it's me...since I love BBQ so much!), it was a no brainer, really. Blue Ribbon's sides are especially delish and I dig the 1950's diner vibe. We highly recommend this place if you're in the area. Happy Cinco de Mayo! 

(note: I tried to take "cute" photos of us eating the BBQ goodness, but I don't think it's possible to look cute or attractive in any way, really, while eating such a meal, so I decided to spare us (and you)).

W. 101st St.

101st street off of Riverside Drive

And the New York pics continue. Here, my new favorite block...W. 101st. Colorful trees, brownstones, Riverside Park a stone's throw away. I wouldn't mind residing on such a block one day. Nope, not at all. 

p.s. & unrelated: tonight i had a deelish burger with russian dressing + jalapeños + sweet potato fries on top of it. where you ask? here. yummm. 

Mr. Bartley's

Harvard Square's famous burger Joint ~ Mr. Bartley's
We've passed by this place a bunch of times over the last month or so (have we really been here that long?), always marveling at the constant line out the door...and so yesterday (after a rather long and tiresome sort of day), we decided to finally check it out. (my (internet) sources tell me that it's been a Harvard Square institution since 1961. which is nothing to sneeze at).

So we went. And I am sad to report that I was a little bit underwhelmed. I wish that I was as impressed as so many others out there seem to be, but I just wasn't. Well, that's not totally true. I did love the sweet potato fries. And the menu (which contains 25+ inventively named burgers like The Jersey Shore and The Bill Clinton). But the burgers themselves? Eh. They were okay, but didn't blow my mind. I'd take Five Napkin Burger (NYC) over Mr. Bartley's any day (sorry, Boston). (have you ever tried the Italian Turkey Burger at 5 Napkin? oh. my. gosh.).

For my next time at Bartley's -- and yes, I plan to try it again, it's only fair -- I think I will do a turkey burger and/or a milkshake.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Magical Steakhouse Castle (read on).

...a magical castle in the middle of Boston...
This was taken during our walk around Boston last Saturday evening. Around a corner and then...a castle! Happy surprise. Also surprised to see that it is in fact a Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse.

After doing a little digging on the web, I found this delightful & informative post (from a beautiful Boston food blog that I've just gotten sucked into for the last half-hour) all about this Steakhouse Castle (including a little history lesson). Too bad I didn't know about her blog and the $50 giveaway sooner!

Aren't her pictures beautiful? That upstairs dining room would be perfect for an elegant wedding reception, don't you think? And even though I just ate dinner (our third 10:00 p.m. dinner this week = bad!), I find my mouth watering just looking at these amazing food shots!!

We might need to come up with an excuse (anniversary! birthdays!) to take ourselves out for a nice steak dinner at the Steakhouse Castle (as I am now calling it) STAT.

In other fun news, tomorrow is Friday! And Cynthia is coming to visit! (yippeeeeee). A familiar face! A piece of New York! Can't wait.

Time is flying (7 days left)...

Rice to Riches in SoHo
Can't believe how quickly time is flying. Can't believe we only have one week left in New York. Can't believe how much there is still left to do (specifically: packing). On the bright though, more and more things are getting crossed off The List!

Last night after a fun evening of live music at a very cool venue in SoHo (Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken! We got to chat with Derek! He is very small!), we headed to a hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant on Elizabeth Street that I had gone to a few years ago with a friend, and had wanted to go back to before leaving. After that was dessert at Rice to Riches, which is...mmmm...my favorite (and definitely a top priority on The List). Try the chocolate chip and/or coconut. You won't regret it.

There is something about SoHo that feels so very New York to me. Perhaps it is because I don't get down there very often, or maybe it is the cobblestone streets and trendy restaurants and fashion. But some of my fondest and most quintessential New York moments have taken place in that neighborhood, and last night was no exception. It was a perfect summer evening spent with my husband and friends that I have a feeling will stand out in my mind for many years to come.

I love a good Broadway show...

Lincoln Center Theater
It's been awhile since I've been bitten by the Broadway bug, but it's also been awhile since I've seen a reeeeeally, reeeeeally good Broadway show. But since seeing South Pacific on Saturday night with my fam (mom & george were in town - yay!) I can't stop twirling around the kitchen singing "I'm in Love With a Wonderful Guy" (which is true, btw) and looking up Boston auditions online. You know, just in case :)

Definitely go see South Pacific. And also go eat at New Leaf up by The Cloisters (another highlight of the weekend). So. Good.

A good night.

High Line Park
Got some things checked off the list today. Saw some good friends, went to the Biergarten underneath High Line Park (something we've been wanting to try for awhile), took a nice stroll up on High Line (one of my favorite spots in the city) and ended the evening at a yummy Peruvian restaurant on W. 43rd. A perfect New York kind of night.

Hello, Brooklyn.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn
So. Last night. Brooklyn.

It was delightful! We'd been wanting to try the Biergarten for awhile now, so decided last night was the night since the weather was so darn pleasant. And let me just recommend to EVERYONE right now: GO to the Biergarten!! Oh. my. goodness. SO fun. The ambiance was amazing (I felt like we were in the middle of some little European village), the beer was great (obviously), the music -- so good (very old timey and fun), and the food...oh, the food. Didn't expect much, to be honest, and the other factors would have been enough for me. But wow. The food was fantastic! Better than fantastic, really. Just....well, you need to go see/taste/experience it for yourself (and I'd recommend the chicken). That's all.

Happy Friday!

date night.

interior of Barbounia
dan and i have decided that once a month we will take turns planning a date night for each other. he had january, but things were so crazy all month and suddenly we realized the end of the month was upon us (hence the last minute "surprise" date for saturday night :).

after a hellacious and ridiculous trip down to the east village for a friend's show (one of those terrible, horrible journeys that makes you hate new york and hate public transportation and hate the WORLD! there was a broken down train and then no trains at all and then a cab ride halted by gridlock traffic, then fire trucks and ambulances blocking everything, then (once the streets finally cleared) a timid cabbie who refused to STEP ON THE GAS!! an hour and a half later we finally arrived at our destination -- rockwood music hall -- VERY late, and so stressed out and angry that we immediatley had to DRINK ALCOHOL to calm our nerves. whew). anyway, after all that, dan took me out on our special surprise date :)

apparently, the original idea he had wasn't "available" on saturday night (but he still won't tell me what that is b/c he is saving it for another time) so we ended up having pre-dinner drinks at Flute, a fantastic little champagne bar with nookie seats to hide out in while sipping bubbly, and then dinner at an incredibly romantic and charming restaurant in gramercy. the setting felt very european (which i loved) and i couldn't get over all the cool lighting -- there were candles everywhere, which created the perfect magical setting for our date night.

so...though it started out a little (A LOT) rough, the night turned out to be lovely and special and therefore new york and i are once again on speaking terms :)

Cupcake Love

There's nothing like a Magnolia cupcake at the end of a long day to make life look a little brighter. Mmmm....