Monthly Archives

November 2010

BOSTON, FASHION

Fashion Update: Fab Finds at H&M

Have you popped into H&M lately?  Is it me, or has the brand really been upping the fashion ante?  While I haven’t seen the highly anticipated new Lanvin for H&M collection in person yet, I’m pretty impressed by the band’s array of tweed blazers, sparkly dresses and open cardigans.  I recently bought the cool army green military inspired cardigan with silver chain detailing pictured above.

Also of note from H&M is a fabulous new fall/winter jacket, which has kind of turned into the new love of my life.  Available in classic navy, this collarless jacket has a modern ruffle detail along the pockets and a cinched waist that creates curves in all the right places. At $99, this coat is perfect for a brisk fall or warmer winter day and looks fantastic when paired with a cute scarf and knee-high boots.  It’s quickly turned into my new favorite ensemble to stroll throughout Boston in. Click here for a photo.

While I usually frequent the Newbury Street H&M, I’d like to give a special shoutout to the Downtown Crossing location.  I recently went on a Saturday around lunchtime and the store was incredibly well organized and not terribly crowded, making for a much more enjoyable shopping experience.  I loathe crowds, so the opportunity to shop undisturbed was a real treat!

H&M in Downtown Crossing is located at 350 Washington Street.  The H&M in the Back Bay is located at 100 Newbury Street.  During your visit, inquire about discounts for checking into Facebook Places on your smartphone to unlock a coupon.

BOSTON

Hey Bostonians – What About Boston Are You Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

I'm Thankful for the Boston Public Garden, One of My Favorite Boston Spots. Photo by mdurwin2 from Flickr

As we all know, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we’re thankful for in life.  Which, got me thinking – as Bostonians, what are we thankful for in this great city that we call home?

So, I decided to do a little crowd-sourcing on Twitter to my @savvybostonian followers, plus I posted messages on my personal Facebook page and emailed a diverse group of Boston area friends so see what they would come up with.

The goal in posing this question was that anything goes. I wanted answers that were all over the board – from simple, to funny, sacrastic, or sentimental.  Lucky for me (and you), that’s exactly what I got.

From sweet to sassy, here is what a sample of your fellow Bostonians are thankful for this year:

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BOSTON, EVENTS

Wednesday, November 24: Free Community Day at the Museum of Fine Arts

MFA's Art of the Americas Wing

Need a little R&R before the Thanksgiving holiday? If you’re lucky enough to have Wednesday, November 24 off from work, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is opening its doors from 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. for a free community day courtesy of State Street.

A must-see at the MFA is the new Art of the Americas Wing, which recently celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, November 20 and has already seen more than 40,000 visitors.  For a very nicely produced video of the opening event, including great music by the Boston’s Hot Tamale Brass Band and the Boston University Pep Band click here.

Can’t make it to the free community day on Wednesday? Kudos to State Street Corporation for sponsoring a Wednesday evening series called Free Nights at the Museum.  Throughout the month of December, entry to the MFA will be free every Wednesday night from 4:00 p.m. – 9:45 p.m..  Perfect for busy professionals like moi.

For more information about the Art of the America’s wing at the MFA, click here.

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Cranberry-Apple Chutney

Cranberries & Sugar by Jessica Gioglio

This Thanksgiving, I’m introducing a delicious new side dish to our menu: homemade cranberry-apple chutney.  Sweet yet tangy with hints of cinnamon and ginger, this chutney is fantastic when paired with turkey.  It’s also a lovely addition to a turkey sandwich – think Iggy’s whole grain bread, dijon mustard, spinach, leftover turkey and chutney.

To make the chutney, you’ll need the following:
– 1 lb cranberries
– 1 cup water
– 1/2 cup sugar
– 2 green apples, peeled, diced in 1/2 inch pieces
– 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
– 1/4 cup lemon juice (e.g. one to two lemons)
– 1/3 cup sugar
– 1 tbsp cinnamon
-1/4 tsp ground cloves
-1 tbsp fresh ginger

Start by combining the cranberries, one cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for ten minutes.  After ten minutes, remove from heat, but keep the saucepan on the stove.

While the cranberry and sugar mix is boiling, chop two green apples and toss with red wine vinegar, juice of two lemons, 1/3 cup of sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves and fresh ginger. Pour mix into another medium sauce pan and cook on medium heat until the apples are soft.

Once the apples are soft, combine with cranberry mix and heat until the chutney forms.  You’ll want it to be the texture of a thick cranberry sauce with chunks of apples.  Allow to cool and then pour into three empty jam jars (I hoard jars of Bonne Maman preserves for this very reason).

Buon Appetito!

For more of my recipes, click here.

TRAVEL

Travel: A Blissful Weekend in Healdsburg, California

Scenic Vistas at the Ferrari-Carano Winery by Jessica Gioglio

A charming small town in Northern California wine country, Healdsburg’s gorgeous vineyards, gourmet cuisine and cute boutiques make it an ideal locale for a relaxing weekend away.  During a recent jaunt to the West Coast for a wedding, I was fortunate enough to spend a few days drinking in all that Healdsburg has to offer.  And yes, wine was involved.

Approximately two hours north of San Francisco, Healdsburg is an easy drive from the city.  In my opinion, the place to stay in Healdsburg is at a hotel or inn within walking distance of the town center.  Filled with a variety of tasting rooms, boutiques, restaurants and cafes, it offers a fantastic home base.

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