In the last installment of See Beantown Like Nobody’s Business, I wanted to at least touch upon what is across the Charles River with tips on Cambridge. With a simple hop on the Red Line at Park Street, you can arrive at Harvard Square, which is of course home to Harvard University and its Harvard Yard (pronounced Ha-vad Yad). With such a prestigious reputation throughout the world, it is a nice attraction to visit, take a few pictures, and walk amongst the collegiate elite.

But, Harvard is not the only thing to do in Cambridge. There is the Harvard bookstore if you want to take home a sweatshirt or a coffee mug to inspire your studies, funky stores for window shopping or buying like Urban Outfitters, and small markets to whet your appetite before visiting the many places to eat well in Cambridge. My absolute favorite is the Border Cafe. It is a Tex Mex establishment that if you don’t get there early on weekend nights the line can be around the corner. The chips and salsa are some of the best in Beantown (believe me I have taken on the quest to fine the best everywhere I have lived) . I would recommend three items at the Border: the chicken fajita salad, carne asado, or vegetarian quesadilla, all with a large dose of Cholula. For those of you wondering, yes, I am somewhat a chilihead; everything must have a little hot sauce. However, whatever your selection, I would wash it down with a margarita (I prefer on the rocks with salt). They do them up well at the Border (another item that I have taken as a quest in each place I have hung my hat).

If you are in the mood for Hamburgers, I would recommend Bartley’s Burger Cottage located on Massachusetts Ave. You can get a plain hamburger, but sometimes it is just fun to order a burger with a cool name like the Stimulus Package with bbq sauce, grilled onions, bacon and baked beans or the Viagra (rise to the occasion), which is topped with blue cheese, bacon, tomato, and lettuce.

Right in Harvard Square there are other options from Bagels to Chinese and even croissants and coffee at Au bon Pain, which was the place of the famous seen with Matt Damon and Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting. All are great for a bite as well as the street performers, chess matches, and just funky passerbys.

To see another trendy area of town, hop the Red Line back towards Boston to MIT’s station. Near to the station there are many interesting restaurants, but I must say that the Middle East is the top. It provides an eclectic menu with falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, and more. In the evenings, they have live bands and a very eclectic clientele from artsy to funky to wild.

So that’s it for Seeing Boston Like Nobody’s Business. If you haven’t seen my Boston for the Fourth Video, here it is:

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting good times and good stories of my travels to yet another Northeastern city. Yes, Ms Traveling Pants explores the culinary and cosmopolitan sites of New York City. Keep you posted!

In this second installment of See Beantown Like Nobody’s Business, I would like to share with you a day in Boston starting once again from the Common, but with two options for those of you with a time crunch or just different styles: the Esplanade Park or strolling Newbury Street.

The Boston Common is the public gardens, park, and recreational area of downtown Boston. Denoting the historical relevance of Boston, the Common is peppered with statues of a former President, writers, and yesteryear’s influentials. The center of the Common is picturesque in the summer when the yard and flowers are beautifully maintained and in bloom. The bridge over the Swan boat pond is probably the ideal picture spot. There you can get a photo with the swan shaped paddle boats and the weeping willows. However, in winter the Common is also fun as the Frog Pond is frozen offering ice skating for the young and young at heart.

I have always thought that the Common is a picnickers paradise. I would suggest making your own picnic basket, but if you don’t have the time or a kitchen there are lemonade, sausage, and pretzel vendors outside the main entrances. I would bring a blanket or choose a park bench close to one of many musicians or the world renowned ducks. As the ducks are a tourist’s highlight in the Common, it means good people watching from parents taking pictures of their children on the ducks to groups of friends and adults taking the opportunity for a group picture all with or on a duck (Ms Traveling Pants did it!). You may wonder why statues of a family of ducks? They are there as an honor to a book written about a family of ducks that wanted to raise their family on an island in the Boston Common, called Make Way for the Ducklings. Believe it or not, the ducks have gone missing at times. Here is a news story just earlier this year of a kidnapped mallard.

After enjoying the Common, you can choose between two itineraries: Charles River and the Esplanade park or Newbury Street. For the first option, head to Arlington and take Beacon one block away from the park and cross Storrow Drive to arrive at the Esplanade Park. Bordering the Charles River and overlooking Cambridge, the Esplanade Park is great for walking, running, and roller blading. If you fancy sailing, there is also a community yacht club offering small sailboats. You will see the famous Hatch shell pavilion, which is where the Boston Pops Orchestra plays every year for the Fourth of July. Fireworks beautifully punctuate the 1812 Overture speckling the Boston and Cambridge sky.

For those that are looking for a more artsy, perhaps shopping experience, Newbury Street should be your option. Close to the Common, the stores are couture; only the finest global fashion brands line this portion of the street. Within a manner of blocks, you will begin to see along both sides of the brownstone lined street many cafes. I would have to recommend Stephanie’s on Newbury, Tapeo, Joe’s, or Charley’s. In fact, Charley’s was one of my former employers for close to two years of my time in Boston (pictured below); while, Joe’s was a former employer of both myself and my better half. For shops, Newbury comics is always a fun place to check out music, fun t-shirts, and rock posters, but there are also many second hair consignment stores that offer trendy hand-me-down fashion.

If you feet are tired and you would like to get a great view of Boston, Cambridge, and of course Fenway Park and the Green Monster. I would recommend going to the Prudential building (pictured above) and going to its top floor, called the Top of the Hub. The restaurant does serve full meals, but you can also get good seats at the bar while having an appetizer or a nightcap and dessert. If you are a jazz lover, they do have live jazz. Just think good music, good view, and good company….

And that is a wrap of my See Beantown Like Nobody’s Business – Part 2.
Take a peek at my video of Boston for the Fourth, click here.

To see Boston in a day or even a long weekend is a tough task.  However, it can be done.  Having just completed a weekend in Beantown, I have a series of tips for those of you wanting to see Boston and the surrounding area called See Beantown Like Nobody’s Business.

As the picture above shows, there is a red line that winds through the streets of Boston.  It is called the Freedom Trail.  It starts in the Boston Commons and weaves a 2.5 mile path throughout the city to allow tourists to easily navigate past famous burial sites, churches, marketplaces, and memorials.  Although the Freedom Trail takes you on the beaten path, let me suggest spending a little extra time exploring a little off the path with Ms Traveling Pants’ recommendations.

Start at the Commons and walk to the State House. Famous for its golden dome, the State House is one of Beacon Hill’s most famous attractions seen in many movies such as The Departed (one of my favorites). Walk down the trail to the Park Street Church on the corner of Tremont and Park, within steps of the church you will see the Granary Burying Ground.  This is probably America’s equivalent of Westminster Abby with such historic heros as John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Sam Adams laid to rest there.

Continue on the Freedom trail and make your way past the site of the Boston Massacre and to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Take at least an hour to visit the various artists that range from jugglers and singers to ethnic bands, mimes, and people of stilts.  This area is an absolute people watcher heaven.  If you want to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat, there are many options.  Although the original Cheers in located near the Commons, there is a second location at Faneuil Hall to grab a quick beer. Please support the local Sam Adams brewery and try either their standard or seasonal brews. However, if you are in the mood for fresh shucked oysters or a taste of New England Clam Chowda, you must pay homage to the oldest restaurant in Boston, the Union Oyster House which is just steps from Quincy Market.

In front of the Union Oyster House, I would recommend a brief stop to visit the Holocaust memorial.  The memorial consists of six pillars of beautiful etched glass with quotations of survivors of the sad events. Each of the pillars represents one of the six death camps from WWII.

From the memorial, continue on the red line to the North End, which is Boston’s Little Italy.  Step off of the path to check out the aromas of freshly baked breads, bistros and markets with prosciutto, cured olives, and parmesan reggiano.  If you chose to skip the Union Oyster House, I would recommend Rabia’s Ristorante on Salem St. They offer a nice selection of anitpasto such as baked figs stuffed with prosciutto drizzled with gorgonzola sauce to traditional bruschetta and more.

If you are looking for not a meal, but a pick me up.  You must venture down Hanover Street (pictured above) to Mike’s pastry.  You will see that it is famous for its canolis, but don’t be afraid of their lobster tails, tiramisu, or even the detailed marzapan.  And no one does coffee better than Mike’s.  The coffee is to die for.  My suggestion is a cappuccino with a pastry to share.

After your refueling, one of the most remembered historical sites is Boston’s oldest church, the Old North Church.  My history teachers would be pleased that I still remember that this was the site where two lanterns were placed in the steeple to alert the Patriots that the British were coming. Along this same theme and still in the North End is Paul Revere’s home.

And that is where I would call it a day!  One great thing about doing a walking tour is that you can do it at your pace, but you also need to remember that what you walk, you must also return.  There is no need to feel guilty about the creamy clam chowda or the extra canoli after a day of over 5 miles of walking the Freedom Trail.

I will be posting another part in this series regarding the Commons, Newbury Street, and Cambridge.

Boston or “Beantown” has been one of my homes. I lived there for roughly five years. With its combination of history, arts, culinary scene, and the vibrancy of the population (with so many higher educational facilities), Boston is a top notch city.

I had the opportunity to visit last week over the long Fourth of July holiday. Although I do have a series of posts that will give tips and to dos in Boston, I have created a short video that explains what I did in Beantown and the surrounding area over Independence Day weekend.

As the majority of us head back to work after a weekend of getaways to campsites, cottages, beach homes, or just a coma induced weekend of lots of grilling and libations, I have just arrived back to South Florida from a very quick whirlwind tour of Boston and a traditional New England Fourth of July.

It was not planned, but yes I stumbled across one of the quintessential components of any Fourth of July, a parade. Last Saturday, I attended a hometown Fourth of July parade in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (just 24 miles outside of Boston and pronounced chums-ferd). With the local crowd waving American flags, kids running for candy thrown by fire trucks blaring their sirens, high school bands marching in step, and bag pipes playing, I certainly received my dose of people watching. However, I have to admit that my absolute favorite part of it all had to have been the Minutemen (see picture above). Just as a history refresher, Minutemen were colonial militia that fought for America’s freedom in the Revolutionary War. They were typically young, very mobile, and quick to respond (thus the name).

Although the Fourth’s festivities and parade were just one of the many good times and good stories of my trip to Beantown, I will be sharing over the next few weeks a series of posts with tips and pictures from the North End, Newbury Street, the Commons, and more.

But, before I go, I will leave you with a piece of Boston trivia.

Why is Boston nicknamed Beantown? As an influential trade town, Boston received much sugar cane from the Caribbean for making other products, including rum and molasses. In colonial days, it was very popular to serve beans that had been cooked in molasses. Today, Boston Baked Beans are not as common, but if you fancy a taste, try out this recipe from one of my favorite sites Epicurious.

As a key component of all travels, food is the window to a different culture. I have decided to highlight my favorite food destinations along with some recommendations in a top ten list.

For those of you familiar with David Letterman and the Late Night Show, I give you…..Ms. Traveling Pants’ Top Ten Favorite Food Destinations.

10. Montreal, a great blend of bilingual culture, jazz, and dining. I have had the pleasure of visiting this great city twice with my husband who is an executive chef. Believe us, if you are in the mood for a great aged steak, you must stop by Le Queue Cheval and if you have a second night to dine please go to Peel Street and visit Ferriera’s Cafe.

9. Florida Keys…my number nine review is for an outstanding Islamorada restaurant called Pierre’s. With its own private white sand beach and beautiful Gulf views for sunsets, this is a special place. It is high end cuisine, but you can always just visit the inviting bar and lounge on the beach patio lit by tiki torches after the sunset. For lunches, I would recommend its sister restaurant Morada Bay. With great chips and salsa, live music, and that same private beach, it is one of the best lunch joints in the Keys.

8. Also, in South Florida, you must go to Le Tub in Hollywood. Award winning for its extra large burgers, the place certainly has a unique decor with a wooden enclosed eating area with benches for parties of two to six people. Some of the tables are waterfront (you need to get there when they open to get these prime spots) while the others are shaded by tropical trellises. Be prepared to wait an hour for your burgers and the servers are “no-frills.”

7. Whether in Casablanca, Marrakesh, or Tangiers, you must try the national dish of Morocco, tagine. Named after the actual cooking vessel, tagines are rather unusually shaped casserole pans with a cone shaped cover. It is with this heating and steaming method that the typical chicken and lamb combination is very moist and enhanced by the flavors of carrots, potatoes, onions, and many times dried fruits and nuts such as almonds and raisins.

6. When in New England, a stop in Beantown for “chowda” is necessary no matter what the season. Clam Chowder, a traditional thick soup with onions, potatoes, cream, and clams, is no better than at one of the most historic restaurants in all of Boston, the Union Oyster House. In fact, the Union Oyster House, near Quincy market and Faneuil Hall, was one of my husband’s first jobs in the culinary field.

5. Madrid is near and dear to me so I must mention one of its specialties. Cocido Madrileno is a very filling stew usually served in two stages. The first consists of a broth, straight from a large pan where all the stew’s meat has been slowly simmering. The second course is usually presented in a tray placed in the middle of the table containing chickpeas, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and all the meat: beef, chicken, ham, chorizo and sometimes morcilla (blood sausage). Only true Madrileno style restaurants do cocido and typically only one day a week.

4. New Orleans is a great stop for culinary travels. If you haven’t heard of it before, you must go to Cafe du Monde for a good coffee and the world renowned beignets, square fritters covered with powdered sugar. If you want an enjoyable Southern dinner on Bourbon Street, try the Red Fish Grill. Go for the Red fish….it is good enough to name the restaurant after.

3. Ixtapa, Mexico not only is a trendy, Mexican beach destination, but it has a great hamburger place called Ruben’s. Now you don’t think of burgers when you think Mexican food, but these charbroiled burgers are to die for. You can have them with the traditional ketchup and mustard, but I would recommend skipping both and going for the in-house pickled vegetable mixture to garnish.

2. Not to far from number 3, Zihauntanejo, Mexico…..This is where you would find Pollo Loco (crazy chicken) a small, local hangout that has the best hand made tortillas, grilled onions, peppers, and chicken a la brasa. Just order the 1/2 chicken, a Sol (a more authentic Mexican beer than Corona), and roll up your sleeves and dig in.

1. Nerja, Spain is one of the jewels of Costa del Sol and paella beachside is my number one pick. Paella is typically done by fire in a very shallow, metal pan (see picture above). It is a rice dish with fresh seafood, chicken, sometimes rabbit, saffron for color, veggies and is best accompanied by a nice pitcher of sangria. I would recommend Chiringuito Ayo, one of the most popular on Burriana beach.