Recipes: Hearty, Winter Casseroles

I remember when I was little, I would always see my mom looking through her favorite magazines, Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle and Women's Day. Who would have thought, nearly 30+ years later, these classic women's mags would still be going strong today...and for a new generation of moms!  Now it's my turn as a mom, and I always look forward to receiving my monthly edition of Better Homes and Gardens packed full of home decor ideas, recipes & great lifestyle tips. I can always count on BHG.com 's weekly recipe e-blast for terrific recipes to jazz up my weekly rotation of spaghetti & meatballs, grilled chicken and turkey chili.

As any busy mom (or individual) will tell you, hearty, quick & easy casseroles are a life-savor! They are my go-to meals for feeding my family when it's cold outside...and usually good for 2 or 3 meals! Click this link for all of the recipes...but here are a few of my faves.

Deep-Dish Chicken Pot Pie

It's hard to go wrong with this crowd pleaser -- it's as delicious as the dish grandma used to make. Here, buttery pastry tops a creamy blend of veggies, mushrooms, butter, and chicken.

Bean-and-Beef Enchilada Casserole

For enchilada flavor -- without all the frying, filling, and rolling -- try this mouthwatering dish. Cut fat by making it with ground turkey, reduced fat cheese, and fat-free sour cream.

(Source: BHG.com)

Provincetown - Cape Cod's Hip, Cool & Delicious Getaway!

Provincetown is Cape Cod's northern-most town, sitting proudly on the very tip of Massachusetts, jutting out into the beautiful blue Atlantic Ocean. P-Town is known for it's bustling gay community, great beaches, shopping, art galleries, history, bars and restaurants...this seaside getaway and is a slice of heaven everyone with an adventurous spirit. In a nutshell, Provincetown is gorgeous, sunny and fun by day...delicious and wild by night! Whatever your speed, whatever your persuasion...P-Town is the ultimate summertime getway for the wild at heart!

Every summer it has been a tradition for my amazing husband Andrew and I to rent a condo in P-Town either with friends or on our own. In summer 2007, we rented a 2-bedroom condo just off of Commercial Street with Jaap and Danielle, our Dutch friends who came over from Amsterdam for their summer holiday! We had the BEST time with them, really bonded and got to know the quirky, welcoming, gourmet and wild side of P-Town first hand. The following summer, we rented a cute & modern 1-bedroom right on Commercial Street across from Lorraine's mexican and tequila restaurant (highly recommended!). We relished in being in our own little place, renting bikes and kayaks, finding cute hideaways, climbing the Pilgrim Monument and meeting locals for drinks and oysters. As a rule, I suggest renting a condo or house rather than getting a hotel room when I travel. You have the freedom of having your own place...to cook, relax and sit on your own private deck. Check out HomeAway.com and VRBO.com for the best in vacation rentals around the world.

Last summer, we stayed in Brewster, MA in Cape Cod (mid-Cape) with my sister Sara and her fiance Dan at Ocean's Edge Village. His aunt has an amazing condo with pool and beach access. It was a gorgeous sunny weekend and we spend the days on the beach, and the nights eating lobster and clams, and singing along to the cover band at local dive bar, The Woodshed in Brewster. We had such a blast with them! On Saturday afternoon we hit Cape Cod hotspot The Wellfleet Beachcomber for much needed raw bar fix - Wellfleet oysters and gigantic shrimp cocktail. Goombay Smash rum drinks and Bud Lite Limes were happily consumed...and we had a blast!

Andrew and I snuck up to P-Town for brunch one day (the lobster eggs benedict at Cafe Edwige is highly recommend!) and did some people watching on our way back (ok, it was backwards) to Boston! We wanted to stay longer but had to drive back home after a wonderful weekend on the Cape.


Getting There:

There are 2 ways to get to P-town, by car its about a 3 hours drive from Boston...or a 90 minute ride by ferry from Boston Harbor ($70 one way).

Getting Around:

The two best ways to see P-Town are on FOOT or by BIKE. I highly recommend renting bikes for your stay. Not only can you ride to the beaches, but you can get a crazy, intense workout the bike paths, and at dusk, take in a leisurely cruise down Commercial Street for the best people watching you will ever see! Drag queens strutting their stuff to promote their shows (Thirsty Burlington is a dead-on Cher) , foreign tourists from Japan, Germany and England, couples holding hands, families with strollers, locals, bikers, freaks of all kinds, good-looking sun-kissed people, and celebrity sightings galore (i.e.: Marc Jacobs, Lily Taylor, John Waters, Jennifer Coolidge aka "Stiffler's Mom," and many, many more) many who are in town for one-man or one-women shows.

Site-seeing:

• Whale Watch/Harbor Tour - we saw a lot of whales!
• Fishing Trip - go catch your dinner :)
• Rent Kayaks - cruise around the harbor
• Rent Bikes - go to the beaches
• Pilgrim Monument - climb up the stairs for great view of town
• Dune Buggy Tour - unique way of seeing P-Town's beaches
• Gallery Walks - many have wine & cheese at night
• People Watching
• Nightlife - Comedy, Dancing, Drag Shows, live bands
• Shopping
  

Dining (and cocktails):

-The outside patio at Bubala's by the Bay is great food, drink and peepin' time. (across from Marc Jacobs). http://www.bubalas.com/ We loved the clam rolls, huge burgers with brie and onions, great bloody mary's and fruity rum drinks too. Awesome peep watching place too.

-Next to Bubala's is Jimmy's Hideaway, down the stairs...amazing! Sit at the little bar and chat up the friendly bartender. It's a cute, upscale haven with amazing martinis, steamed mussels with white wine broth and their Bouillabaisse of Scallops, Shrimp, Mussels, Local Littlenecks, and Fish Over Basamati Rice is to die for. 179 Commercial St. http://jimmyshideaway.com/

-Lorraine's is amazing Mexican...all the way down past Bubala's on Commercial. They have 20 kinds of tequila...we stayed in a condo right across the street last summer! We had the best time...delicous food and great convos with the staff and barthenders. 133 Commercial St. http://www.lorrainesrestaurant.com/

-Café Edwige is a restaurant that is upstairs, really cozy and romantic, great food! Go for brunch on Saturday (Sunday they can't serve booze til noon...the horror! lol) and get the LOBSTER eggs benedict with mustard sauce and home fries...a decadent meal! Friendly friendly staff and lovely decor. 333 Commercial St. http://edwigeatnight.com/

-The restaurant at the Crown & Anchor (Central House Bar & Grill) is really good too...its on the outdoor porch. We really liked sitting on the airy porch and watching people walk by. We had a wonderfully romantic dinner with wine, great salads and apps, yummy fish dishes (Grilled Swordfish and Pistachio Crusted Scallops), did I say Lobster Mac n Cheese?! Check it out. http://www.onlyatthecrown.com/centralhouse/

-Sal's Place - awesome italian food...legendary spot, but quite far down on Commercial towards the very West End...but worth it! You must get a table on the deck and dine on the water. We loved our colorful waiter with tales of his winters living in a village in Indonesia and Thailand and summers in P-Town. Anything you order from Sal's is divine. Get the cheap house chianti and get ready to indulge.. We ordered a variety of pasta dishes including Pasta Fra Diavolo with Shrimp and Scallops, spaghetti with Lemon & garlic, and their traditional lschian pasta dish of raisins, pinenuts, walnuts, anchovies. The Veal Saltimbocca was out of this world. Don't forget dessert! 99 Commercial http://www.salsplaceofprovincetown.com/ (At press time, I'm afraid that Sal's may have closed down! I hope not...I will find out for sure and post.)

Nightlife:

When in P-Town, you must catch one of their world famous drag comedy shows. All the best entertainers and comedians come to P-town for the summer to do a show. We usually check out Ryan Landry's latest musical-spoof-tacular. One summer we saw his hilarous take on Cinderella, another time it was The Wizard of Oz...and better still..."Willy Wanker and the Chocolate Highway" HAHA! How amazing is that!? Our friends Julie and Adam love to head up to Provincetown to catch world famous Drag Diva...Varla Jean Merman. So many drag shows, so little time. :)

If you like to sing, or at least enjoy singingvery badly in public while drunk (lol)...you MUST go to Drag Karaoke with Dana Danzel at the Governor Bradford on Commerical St. I don't know HOW she does it, but the show starts at 9:30 every single night. Andrew and I went 3 nights in a row and sang a different song each time! OK, we had a few tequila shots to get warmed up...but once you get up on stage..all the fear goes away and you just sing your heart out! (He sang a great cover of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash and i belted out "Goldfinger" by Eartha Kitt and an Amy Winehouse tune!) Everyone is welcome and friendly there...and you can be a star for the night! (NOTE: It's especially popular for Bachelorette parties...so beware of the wasted bride-to-be from Somerville in the dime store veil and "kiss the bride" tank top.

Shop til you Drop:

Be sure to hit the Marc Jacobs store -- I love all the fun accessories they have for $5-10 bucks! This is about the only time you will be able to afford a Marc Jacobs original, seeing as his bags run upwards of $500-1000. We usually go in for a cool t-shirt, flipflops, umbrella or some funky jewelry.



Provincia - one of my favorite stores. Owned by Portuguese artist Manuel and his partner John. He designs and imports the most gorgeous ceramics in bright traditional colors. The prices are really reasonable too in the $10-50 range and up. Last year we bought a few of his signature olive dishes and some "good luck" rooster wine toppers for family and friends. http://www.provinciagifts.com/

Toko Indo - I just discovered this cool, Balinese jewelry shop. Beaded necklaces and bracelets with bits of stone, shell or metal in bright colors. I picked up a necklace for myself and braclets for Mom and Sara. :) http://www.shoptokoindo.com

The Army-Navy Store - It has everything under the sun, from nautical-themed housewares and novelties for cheap, to the typical army fatigue pants, sailor shirts and canvas hats.

Amsterdam - City Girl's Top Ten Guide!

Amsterdam is one of the most vibrant, fashionable and diverse cities in the world. I had the luxury of living in Amsterdam in 2000-2001 and go back to visit as often as I can. Enjoy my “insider’s guide” on experiencing this idyllic European city. During my stay as a "resident alien," I learned Dutch, worked for a cutting-edge start-up firm and lived life as an an honorary Dutch girl. I spent my days riding my bike along the canals, shopping in the trendy boutiques, buying fresh bread, cheese, and produce in the markets, eating dinner in the traditional "brown" cafes and making some lifelong friends. Hopefully, Andrew and I will go to Amsterdam in 2009 for the wedding of our close friends, Jaap and Danielle, an amazing couple. I love the pulse of the city - the energy, flavors, history, fashion, curiosities and local eccentricity. Take my advice, once you visit Amsterdam, you’ll be hooked for life. Enjoy my travel guide to Amsterdam!

1) STAY – There are many great options for lodging in Amsterdam. My favorite hotels are the smaller boutiques or B&Bs such as Le Coin, located in the Muntplein in the heart of the city. Chic & Basic Amsterdam is a new concept within walking distance to Centraal Station. Hotel Die Port van Cleve is good hotel located in Dam Square, formerly the Heineken brewery with original Delft blue tile in the brasserie. (My family stayed here and loved it for the convenience and location.) For a posh stay, the Hotel Vondel is an upscale hotel between the lovely, green Vondelpark and the Leidseplein, a popular tourist area. Try the Hotel de L'Europe on the banks of the Singel River, the stylish Dylan Hotel or the luxury Hotel Pulitzer, located on my favorite canal, the Prinsengracht. I actually prefer to rent a private apartment along a quiet canal or in the city center. I love living like a local with lots of space and privacy. My last rental was a huge 2-bedroom apartment in Dam Square overlooking the Royal Palace. It was perfect! I recommend CityMundo which is a very reputable, reasonable and friendly company with a great variety of rental properties, including houseboats.

2) EAT & DRINK – The Dutch dining landscape is diverse and delicious. When in Amsterdam, do as the locals do. Eat at the traditional “brown cafes” or “grand cafes” as they are the lifeblood of the city. Amsterdam’s cafes offer a cozy, hearty lunch or dinner with bistro-style fare and fresh local ingredients. Amsterdam is a culinary hotspot, with influences spanning the globe from Indonesian to French, Surinamean to Turkish, German to Italian. Order a bottle of wine or beer with your steak & frites, whole fish, chicken sate with peanut sauce, lamb, or rabbit, a popular dish.

My favorite classic Dutch “brown” cafes for lunch, dinner or a “borrel” (after work drink) are Dante Gallerie Café and Cafe Hoppe on the Spuistraat, Twee Prinsen, Finch and Café Thijssen in the Jordaan, De Kroon in Rembrandtplein, Cafe de Jaren, and Cafe in de Waag in the Nieuwmarkt. Be sure to order some local bar bites such as bitterballen (fried meat and potato croquets) with mustard or vlammetjes (“little flames” of meat-filled spring rolls) with sweet and sour sauce…pure heaven! Lekker! (Delicious!)

Enjoy a Grolsch, Bavaria or Heineken beer on tap…the real thing, fresh from a local brewery. You’ll be glad you did. If you are a gin drinker (I am definitely not!) then you have to try the Dutch jenever - fancied by sailors and explorers in 17th century, and now available at any local bar or pub. The house wines are also very reasonable, and with close proximity to France and Italy, you can always find a nice bottle. Prost! (Cheers!)
Highly regarded restaurants for dinner on the more upscale side - Bordewijk, Burgers Patio, November, Le Rive, and Le Garage/En Pluche. Be sure to indulge in any number of Indonesian restaurants such as Puri Mas, Kantjil & Tijger and Blue Pepper for a traditional Indonesian Rice Table, a gorgeous spread of fine Asian cuisine. (Detailed bar & restaurant reviews coming soon.)

For a contrast, I always tell friends to go to a casual café one day, and a high-end, fashion forward restaurant the next. Try these ultra modern hotspots for a cocktail or a late night lounge fest: Jimmy Woo and Suzy Wong, Werck, Lux, Vibing, Nevy, Supperclub, Hotel Arena, or Vakzuid, to name a few. As trends change so quickly, be sure to ask a local for the latest hotspots.

A few more tips to eat Dutch-style: Eat your french fries with mayonnaise, order your pannenkoken (large, thin pancakes) with pineapple and ham for lunch (it’s not a breakfast food!) at The Pancake Bakery, stop into the Albert Heijn grocery store for all of your picnic needs (fresh bread, cold cuts, cheese, licorice candy, wine and beer), and for a late night snack, hit the ever popular “snack bars” on every corner for a brodje kroket (deep fried cheese log served in a bun) with plenty of spicy ketchup. Yum!

3) CRUISE - Take a canal boat tour. It is the quintessential way to see Amsterdam. Go on your first day, so that you can get a feel for the city and plan where you want to go over the next few days. Tours depart daily from the harbor around Centraal Station. I suggest a typical 2- to 3-hour cruise, either during the day or early evening when the canals are all lit up with sparkly lights. (I don’t suggest a dinner cruise as the food is not typically very good.) Lovely by day and romantic by night, the waterways are not only beautiful but used for commerce and travel as well. You can even rent houseboats and party boats during your stay.

4) WALK & BIKE – Amsterdam is the ideal walking and biking city. The city is laid out in a series of rings in a horseshoe shape following the flow of the canals (called “grachts”). The tram (street car) and rail system is suberb. Maps are fairly easy to follow, pronouncing the names of the streets is another issue! (Luckily I speak Dutch.) However, I think the best part of traveling to a new city is getting lost and discovering fun places by mistake! Remember, bicycles are the main mode of transport for Dutch people. Bikes have the right of way, so be very careful in the streets. It is said that there are more bikes in Amsterdam than people…and it’s true! Dutch cyclists are true multitaskers – you’ll see people pedaling along with a kid on the back seat, a dog in the basket, a cigarette and cell phone in either hand, and groceries on the handlebars! If you do decide to rent bikes, Mac Bike is located near the Leidseplein. It is an amazing way to see the city and get some key tips on navigating the city.

5) SHOP - til you drop! Amsterdam is a shoppers dream. It has a great mix of high fashion with low fashion…with price points for everyone. Even though the Euro is constantly kicking the Dollar’s butt, I can always find a bargain no matter what country I’m in! I usually buy jewelry, purses and shoes when I travel, and Dutch fashion is truly colorful and unique. You will find Dutch department stores like De Bijenkorf (like Saks or Nordstrom), Vroom & Dreesman (with great food court), and Hema (a great store like Target) as well as international chains like Esprit and H&M along Kalverstraat, the Rokin, and Damstraat.
-Visit Magna Plaza, an indoor boutique mall close to Dam Square for one stop designer clothing such as Mango, Zara, Replay and yes, even Sissy Boy.
-For antiques shopping go to Speigelstraat, and for trendy boutiques head to the winding streets in the Jordaan.
-Another great shopping adventure are the street markets. Albert Cuyp Market is the most famous daily market, located along Albert Cuyp Street (in The Pijp). You have a diverse, multicultural series of stalls and table with everything from incense to t-shirts, cds to hookah pipes. Lots of fried food and lunch options, as well as fresh fruits and veggies, cheese and fish mongers. Waterlooplein Market is the largest flea market in the ‘Dam. It’s fun to walk through and people watch even if you are not in the market for pickled herring, a portrait of Velvet Elvis or a pair of pink glittery running shoes.

6) LAUGH & DANCE - Amsterdam comes alive at night. Go see Boom Chicago, Amsterdam’s only expat American Improv theater show. The group is run by US-born comedians poking fun at being an American in a foreign country. You will definitely laugh (and even cry) out loud. Get your tickets early to this ‘Saturday Night Live’ style comedy show. (In fact, Seth Meyers of SNL got his start here.) Audience participation is required. Years ago, I took my family and the cast did an impersonation of my Auntie Jane in their act! :)

-See live bands on any given night at Paradiso or Melkweg (Milkyway), two of the cities best enterntainment venues. On other nights, they have house or techno dance parties…If nightclubbing is your thing, Amsterdam is known for its wild nightlife, superclubs and top notch DJs spinning from around the world. As trends change so quickly in the dance music scene, there are always flyers in all the record shops and cool clothing shops. So ask the locals where the cool nights are, and be ready to dance all night.


-Another "unique" area of Amsterdam is the Red Light District. Yes, the world's oldest profession is still legal in Amsterdam. For the most part, the area is more of an oddity for tourists to catch a glipse of the real "Roxanne" in her window with the red light on. While this part of town is home mainly to establishments catering to the risque and XXX-rated, there are some decent bars and restaurants in the area. So, if you do want to see it with your own eyes, I suggest going in the daytime, as it tends to be a big crime area for pickpockets and unsavory creatures at night.
7) SEE ART - Visit the Dutch Masters in Amsterdam’s world renowned museums.
-The Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam major art museum, home of Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” masterpiece, Vermeer and all the Dutch Masters)
-Stedelijk Museum (fantastic, modern art – my personal fave)
-Van Gogh Museum (Vincent and his friends on display)
-Hermitage Museum (fine art – located by Centraal Station)
-There are many more smaller galleries and museums throughout the city, including the Shipbuilder’s Museum, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, NEMO science museum, and the blush-inducing Sex Museum, to name a few.
-And be sure to visit the Cobra Café located in the center of all 3 museums in the Museumplein…a great spot for a beer or coffee after a long day of seeing great art!

9) REMEMBER HISTORY – Amsterdam is a city steeped in history. There are many war memorials and monuments throughout the city. Be sure to visit Anne Frank House and Museum. This very intimate tour of the actual house where Anne Frank and her family were hidden during the Holocaust is something you will never forget. Venturing inside the “Secret Annex” to see the original wallpaper with pictures Anne pasted up of artwork and film stars (including Greta Garbo) is truly moving. Go early in the morning to avoid lines.

-Visit the Dutch Royal Palace in Dam Square. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with an active Royal Family. Queen Beatrix is in her 70s and is the ruling monarch. Her son, Willem-Alexander is the Crown Prince. While the governing headquarters is in The Hague, the family occupies the Royal Palace in Amsterdam for special events and annual holidays. There is a nice gift shop there as well. The Dutch really love their queen, and the biggest holiday is called "Queen's Day" which is held annually on April 30th, the birthday of the Queen Mother Juliana. It is on par with any "4th of July" celebration in the U.S. complete with parades, parties, live music, yard sales and happy drunken revelers...all while dressed in the royal family color of Orange. Hail to the Queen!
-The Netherlands is culturally and religiously diverse. Visit some of the city’s churches including The Westerkerk (West Church), Oude Kerk (Old Church) and Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Explore historic synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship, as well.

9) BREATHE - Stroll through The Vondelpark, the lush, green “Central Park” of Amsterdam. This public park is by far one of the best places in the city to breathe in the local culture and visited by over 10 million per year. While especially lively in the spring and summer, the park is alive with families and friends enjoying a picnic or afternoon jog. Check out live music, theater, drum circles and many “colorful characters” playing hacky sack in the Vondelpark.

-There are cafes dispersed throughout, my favorites being Café Vertigo, artsy café housed in the Filmmuseum. It is located at the entry to the Vondelpark by the Marriott Hotel/Leidseplein. In the center of the park is The Blue Teahouse (Het Blauwe Theehuis), a multi-storied café with a space-agey feel and plenty of outdoor seating.

-Stop by the Floating Flower Market (The Bloemenmarkt) located in the Muntplein. It’s a great place to buy bulbs for spring - stop and smell the tulips!

-Naturally, there are other things you can "breathe in" while in Amsterdam...namely those things you can purchase and smoke legally in the infamous "coffee shops" scattered throughout the city. Just remember to be careful, act smart and follow the rules. If it tickles your fancy, you can find some eccentric and unique places along with some equally interesting customers. You will certainly have some stories to tell upon your return.

10) ENJOY! The Netherlands is an amazing country…full of life, beauty and history, and very easy to navigate on the train system. If you have more time, take a side trip to Rotterdam, Maastricht, The Hague, Eindhoven, Delft, Utrecht or to Aalsmeer to see the legendary world flower auction. Amsterdam is my favorite city, my European home away from home. Explore, take lots of photos, laugh, eat, drink and take it all in. Most of all, have fun! If you have seen the terrific tv ad for Amstel Light beer, it really depicts the vibe of the city…Check it out here!

Boston's South End - Hot Dining Spots!

Boston's South End is the hipster, foodie part of town, a high-end residential area where the city’s architects, lawyers, artists, bankers, and designers mingle to eat, drink and be merry. It is the epicenter of Boston's thriving gay community and more recently, home to urban young professionals and married couples pushing baby buggies. The South End is filled with trendy shops, bars and galleries. Parking is almost non-existent, but many places offer valet parking. Better to take a cab or walk from the Back Bay train station. The South End is Boston’s answer to SoHo or The Village. It’s cool, hip and somewhat exclusive. Prices are on the higher side, and reservations are most definitely required. Be sure to check out The Beehive, Gaslight, Union, Stella and many more, including my personal favorites, reviewed here.


B&G Oyster – South End, Boston. If you are an oyster freak, like I am, then B&G is the place for you. My boyfriend Andrew and I always sit at the bar, which resembles a Scandinavian sauna with wooden floor and tiled walls, and watch the chefs in action. More of a date place due to it’s small size, B&G is our favorite spot to sit down and devour a gigantic tray of oysters from around the US and Canada, and sip a few glasses of Prosecco. I love the sweet and plump East Coast Wellfleet’s and Duxbury’s while my boyfriend prefers the slim and briny Pacific Coast bivalves. The zesty vinaigrette is a great alternative to the ubiquitous cocktail sauce. (I always hope to find a pearl, but no such luck.) You have to try the house favorite Maine lobster roll and for dessert, yes, fried oysters on a bed of sea salt…I just can’t get enough, they melt in your mouth.


Masa – South End, Boston. Beautiful, rustic d?cor in this Latin bar and eatery. The “especiale de la casa” is the Banderita, a trio of shots which involves taking fresh lemon juice in your mouth first, then adding the tequila, swallowing, then doing a sangrita chaser (tomato juice). Down the hatch - uno, dos, tres! Any of the house margaritas are great, including the Masarita (with apple), Mangorita and Watermelon Margarita and can be made for the table. My girlfriends and I popped into Masa for drinks on a Saturday night to toast my friend’s birthday, and it was jam packed in the small but cozy bar area. As we were waiting for a table in the bar area, we didn’t realize we were inadvertently crowding the owner and his guests. We were really friendly with them, and as he left he said, next time he saw us he owed us drinks for being so patient, yet persistent. (Let’s hope he comes through on the promise!) They have a huge tapas menu…so sky’s the limit. Taquitos, calamari, chorizo, plantains…and for dinner are upscale Mexican entrees of lamb, steak, fish, chicken and more. Thursday nights are Salsa Night from 9pm – 1am, with lessons, drinks and dancing all night. Cha Cha Cha!


Rocca – South End, Boston. A nouveau Italian hot spot - divine in design, drinks and food. Described as a “kitchen & bar,” Rocca is much, much more. A hipster restaurant with multiple floors, outside seating and a popular lounge. Stop first in the bar for one of Rocca’s signature drinks with authentic Italian flair. I recommend the Ligurian Lemonade (lemon vodka, Campari, home made Limoncello, honey & fresh lemon juice) or the White and Stormy (white rum, Cointreau, lime & ginger beer). The menu is set up so that you can get a lot of little plates to share. We enjoyed the Meatball Slider, Rigatoni Baked in a Pot (with veal, tomatoes and Parmigiano), Hand-rolled Trofie (pasta) with pesto, the Braised Lamb Shank, and Roasted Whole Fish. They are on-trend with the “late night menu” until 1am consisting of many of their most popular items. There are monthly house music dance parties which bring out all the Euro boys & girls to sashay their night away. Rocca is a happening spot…get it while it’s hot.

Boston's House of Blues to open in February!

Great news for music fans...The House of Blues Boston is set to open on February 20th on Lansdowne Street! (They tore down famed nightclubs Axis and Avalon to make way for the new HOB complex.) See below for more details and visit the new website for show dates! Enjoy! Meliss :)

From Boston.com: With excitement building a month ahead of its return to New England, the House of Blues offered details on its opening series of concerts earlier today. Located on Lansdowne Street in the spot formerly occupied by Avalon, Axis, and the Modern, the House of Blues officially opens Feb. 20 with the Gipsy Kings. The latest bookings suggest the venue will continue to target a young concert market with performances by Jesse McCartney (above, Feb. 27), Bloc Party (March 19), and Katy Perry (April 1). The Dropkick Murphys, who had become a staple at Avalon and performed one of the last shows there, will play six consecutive nights (March 12-17).

Tickets for the following shows go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. They're available through www.livenation.com, www.hob.com/boston, and www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000.

Gipsy Kings -- Feb. 20, $55 -- Opening Night**
Thievery Corporation -- Feb. 24. $30, $32 advance.**
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic -- Feb. 25. $25.
Jesse McCartney -- Feb. 27. $25.
Saints & Sinners Tour ’09 -- March 6. $20.
Justin Nozuka -- March 7. $22, $20 advance.
George Thorogood & the Destroyers -- March 11. $32.50, $29.50 advance.
Dropkick Murphys -- March 12-17. $29.50.**
Ozomatli -- March 18. $25.Bloc Party -- March 19. $25.
The Pogues -- March 20-21. $51. **
The Oddity Faire, featuring Les Claypool -- March 26. $27, $25 advance.
Live -- March 27, $29.50 and $39.50.
Morrissey -- March 29, $45. (Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon.)**
Lady GaGa -- March 30. $22, $20 advance. **
Katy Perry -- April 1. $18. **

**My HOT picks!

Holiday Fun in Boston (on a budget!)

Visit the CityofBoston.gov for details on brilliantly lighted Christmas Trees and Hanukkah Menorahs on display in the Boston Common, Copley Square, Columbus Park, as well as links for shopping coupons, events, and other holiday merriment around the city!

Go to the Top of the Hub - Take in the gorgeous view of Boston at night at the famous Top of the Hub. Visit the Skywalk Observatory ($11 adults/$7.50 children/$9 student), enjoy the restaurant’s Spicy Lobster Soup ($11), or stop in for a Pear Drop Martini ($13) and groove to the sounds of their nightly live jazz with late night dining menu ($24 minimum in lounge after 8pm).

Go Ice Skating at Frog Pond ! Visit America’s oldest public park’s ice skating rink. Have fun skating with your family and friends...and be sure pack a thermos of hot cider or hot chocolate (with or without Peppermint Schnapps!) Admission is $4 per person, and children under 13 are free. Skate rentals are $8 and $5 for children under 13.

Watch Sports at Game On! Fenway's Game On! is here to help with "Recession Session" Thursday nights (5-8 pm), featuring $4 appetizers and $100 gas card giveaways. Watch your favorite games on TV such as basketball, hockey, or even snow boarding…it’s all good! Enjoy great drinks and yummy apps such as buffalo chicken wings, nachos or hot spinach & artichoke dip! yum!

Go to Pajama Brunch @ Tremont 647. Enjoy this popular event every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wear your PJs, drink coffee and eat amazing food! I suggest Andy’s Huevos Rancheros, Gingerbread Pancakes, and Joanne’s Pop Tarts with house-made filling & colored sprinkles! Brunch entrees range from $8-16. (And check out Taco Tuesdays…only $2 each!)

(Source: Boston.com “25 things to do in Boston for under $25”)

The Liberty Hotel - Escape to Boston's Newest Hotel

The Liberty Hotel is Boston’s newest luxury boutique hotel which opened its doors in the fall of 2007. The space occupies what was once the historic Charles Street Jail, built in 1851, and is a prime example of “Boston Granite Style” of architecture. I'm an events planner for a large Boston financial services company, and am in the midst of planning our annual two-day team conference at The Liberty Hotel, so I’m pleased to be able to share my review. Interestingly, my paternal grandfather worked as a deputy sheriff at the jail and my dad remembers going to visit his father at work as a young boy and being jokingly locked in a cell as a reminder to behave…or else!

As Boston has grown in popularity as a destination for some of Hollywood’s most popular films, The Liberty Hotel has become the hotel of choice for many of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. Recent guests have included Meg Ryan and her daughter who stayed here during the filming of “The Women” and Morgan Freeman, who ate quietly each night in CLINK while in town filming “The Lonely Maiden”. The lobby is truly grand, formerly the "The Yard" where inmates worked out or socialized. As soon you ride up the escalator, you gaze up to see a gigantic cathedral ceiling with a multi-leveled catwalk and hanging wrought iron chandeliers. The walls are partially covered in rich floral wallpaper while the rest of the lobby is exposed brick. The guest rooms are decorated with subtle shades of tan and gray, the bathrooms are very Zen and luxurious. Every room is outfitted with cutting edge technology from ordering room service to web access, and is considered to be the most technologically advanced hotel in Boston. Overnight rates can run upwards of $475-675 night, so be sure to bring your platinum card (or a wealthy relative!)

CLINK is the hotel's restaurant located in the main lobby with tables nestled between original jail cells. Menu items include a fresh selection of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, a nod to Buzzy’s famous roast beef sandwich, warm lobster roll, grilled chicken salad, pan seared sea scallops, and short ribs.

In spring '08, celebrity chef Lydia Shire opened the modern Italian concept, Scampo. The decor is handsome and cool, with exposed brick, a great rectangular bar covered in copper and a huge outdoor patio. Her modern Italian fare is delicious, inventive, rustic food. My favorites include mozzarella with peach & pistachio pesto, beef carpaccio, spaghetti bolognese, white clam and bacon pizza fired in a brick oven, fried calamari, tagliata of prime sirloin, and a ricotta-parsley tortellaci (tortellini). The bartenders and waitstaff are professional, friendly and attentive. The wine and cocktail selection is great...be sure to order a robust Italian red wine or the house Bellini with peach nectar. Scampo is also a great place for a private party or corporate event...the service and food are top notch, and you will feel like a celebrity yourself! Scampo is a great spot for a lunch meeting, dinner with friends, or an after work cocktail. Buon appetito!

The Liberty is the happening place to be any night of the week, but especially Thursday through Saturday nights, with lines wrapping around the building to get into hotspot Alibi or the lobby bar. Guests vie for a chance to get past the velvet ropes and into the much-hyped lobby bar scene, complete with the Veuve Clicquot “La Grande Dame Bar.” Alibi is the cavernous bar located in the former “drunk tank” of the jail, appropriately decorated with infamous mug shots of Mick Jagger, Hugh Grant, Frank Sinatra, and Paris Hilton, to name a few. Light bar fare is served, and the drink list is unusual and pricey. Furthering the "Hollywood Hipster” vibe, Paris herself stayed here in February '08 after receiving her award from the Harvard Lampoon. So, if feel like getting “locked up” (without the criminal record) and are looking for an “escape,” The Liberty Hotel is the place for you.