Boston Walkabout

Today was one of those, "get out of the house and get movin'" type of days. Partly because of spring fever, but mostly because I had construction going on in my apartment. And, much to my weekend dismay, unlike San Francisco (which has a law that makes it illegal for residential construction to start before 9am), the Irish lads working on my place like to show up around 7:15am. Ouch, says the weekend sleeping in gods.

OK! So out and about we go. A total of 9 miles walked from one side of the city to the other. A bit windy, but all in all, good to feel the sunshine. With the goal of the Bunker Hill Monument in mind, a friend and I meandered across the Mass Ave bridge, along the river taking in the water sports, all the way to Charlestown. A really charming little neighborhood, with it's traditional New England clapboard houses. Two hundred and ninety four steps later, and we were at the top of the Monument.

A post-climb stop at Massachusetts oldest tavern, the Warren Tavern (we're talking 1780 here, people) for an Allagash or two was much needed. We passed on the food, as the standard bar fare looked, well, fairly standard. It was then off to the Navy Yard, the North End (new favorite dive bar there would be the humble and oh-so-Boston Corner Cafe - lots of accents in here) for a beer and pizza and a stroll through the Commons and Garden.

The city is really starting to rumble from it's slumber. Lots of runners, walkers and bikers had the same idea today. Wake up, Boston! Spring is here!

-xo-

eb

crew practice on the charles.

sails away!

love these colors.

the pond is full at the boston garden!

i was here two days ago, and it was an empty muddy mess!

YAY spring :)

i liked the look of this here truck.

can see tooling around during summer in it.

just add a cooler, dog and some company 'n tunes. beach time, anyone?

294 steps to the top.

#workitout

hey there, mister. 

Brrr... Kind of...

It's finally feeling like winter here in Boston. It's not cold or windy enough to make it miserable, although I'm told it's coming.

For now, I'm ok with it. Appropriate for the holidays and it's nice to have an excuse to cuddle up and enjoy some tea and good book. Or, let's be real... most days it's good whiskey and online shopping.

Here some pics from my first real snow in Boston. It's so pretty - I'm wanting more of this white stuff! Famous last words, as I'm sure come February I'll be online window shopping for trips to the Caribbean. When in Rome, eh?

- xo -

eb

My street and own little park. Ain't it cute?

BRING YOUR RED HAT!

Whoops

Uh. How about this? How about my 2013 resolution is to better about blogging.

Ok, now that that's been said. I'll do it: I'll be better about blogging. But not before I apologize for being absolutely awful at it for the past four months.

Let's start with the fall in New England. I have to admit that this little quaint region of the world is starting to grow on me. Autumn brought new decorating to the apartment and a trip to go leaf peeping. Both of which caused me fall deeper and deeper "in like" with Boston.

The apartment redecorating was a huge step in my making Boston as much of a home as possible. It's now filled with art from SF AND New England, lots of textures and different materials. My sense of style is a hodgepodge and my home now reflects that.

Stripes! Chevron! Wood! Metal! Glass! 

OH MY!

The 48 star flag was a gift from my brother.

He found it at the Alameda Flea Market in the Bay.

Here's a sampling of my bike posters. 

All of these came from ArtCrank - an poster party I showed in for three years in SF.

Don't call me pumpkin, Pumkin'.

So now let's talk about Leaf Peeping (yes - we're gonna make this a proper noun)! My parents came East for a week to explore New England during the fall with me. It was wonderful. We drove north to Vermont, stopping and exploring in little towns along the way. We then looped back via North Adams and the Mass MOCA, staying at The Porches Inn. Between the museum and the absolutely adorable hotel, I'd say Western Mass has a lot to offer. We then scooted down to Stockbridge to visit the Normal Rockwell Museum and soak up a little Americana. 

The leaves were a little disappointing, but the scenery, food, pumpkin beer and company all made up for it. Can't wait to do it all again next fall. 

The Concord Cheese Shop. Yup. Amazing.

Concord.

Cheese was everywhere in Vermont!

See?!

My Leaf Peeping souvenir in prep for the Boston winter.  

The claw foot tub at the Porches. Amaaaaazing.

Love the wainscoting walls.

The porch at the Porches. Charming, no?

One of my antiques purchase. The antiques are amazing out here.

The wall drawings of Sol LeWitt. Unreal. On till 2033.

Normal Rockwell's studio.

His bike!

My favorite fall beer.

Well, that's if for my fall. Fast forward to winter! 

Happy New Year! 

- xo -

eb

Go Read

Last week, I went exploring in Boston's Public Library. Just like a lot of things in this town, it's old. Established in 1848, it was the first large library to open in the US, and the first to check out books. Crazy. It's the second largest library in this great country, with 8.9 million books. In a world of 140 characters, that's a lot of words. 

There are two main entrances to the library which lead to two vastly different main buildings. I entered on the Boylston side through the Johnson building, a 1972 addition to the main library. This building, well, is a little, errr depressing? It's what you would expect from a municipal building built in the 70s: few windows and a vast amount grey concrete. People have likened it to a mausoleum. Yikes.

At any rate, there's still much to explore and tons of people watching to be done in the Johnson building. I walked by a public talk on the past and future of local jazz in Boston. Pretty cool. The real magic, however, is passing through the Johnson building to the McKim building. The McKim building was erected in 1895 and was called the "palace for the people." And today, it still feels like it. Quiet, serene and totally peaceful, you can't help but imagine the about of learning that has happened there. I was totally surprised to stumble upon a beautiful courtyard that was almost Alhambra-like in its subtle and simple beauty. 

I got lost in the library for a couple of hours, it's easy to do with all the titles of public record books from the days of the first Pilgrims and the earliest Americans. It's still summer here, but something tells me that the library might be a good place to hibranate in the coming winter months. 

Read on, people! Read on...

xo, 

eb

The front of the McKim building. It faces Trinity Church and Copley Square, 

which all sit in the shadow of the John Hancock building.

I think that says 1895.

(ok - I only know that thanks to Wiki)

The grand entrance to the McKim building.

I loved these lights in the Johnson (read: retro) building.

Miles o' miles o' books.

For all the surfers in my life.

Old stuff.

First page of old stuff:

Emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels. 

An amazing book of all the names of the rule breakers from days of ol'.

Social life in Old New Englad?

Wonder how it's different from social life in New New England.

And can we talk about the Customs and Fashions in Old New Englad?

Hmmm....

#bestcoast

The courtyard. Amazing. Quiet. Peaceful. Happy place.

Straight from a movie set.

I wanted to steal this lamp. 

It's a turtle!

The front of the McKim building. Check out those insane lamps.

Like I said, keep reading people. Keep reading. 

Or one day, we could lose these amazing public institutes.

Everyone Getting Ready for the 4th?

I am! I love my star spangled kicks.

Can't wait to see what Boston has in store!

Brimfield Antique Show

There is this magical thing that happens here in Massachusetts. It happens three times a year. In a small, sleepy town called Brimfield.

The Brimfield Antique Show.

For five days, in May, July and August, from sunup to sundown, 6,000 antique dealers from across the country gather in a gigantic field and displays wonders of time's past for purchase. In a few words, it's amazing and almost unbelievable.

Brimfield draws a lot of merchants and buyers from stores far and wide across the globe. This is where Anthropologie gets its great beat-up store decor, where set designers find the perfect antique for period pieces and where stylish Japanese and New Yorkers interior designers (think the Ace Hotel) invade small town New England in search for the one statement piece that will set their home, bar or hotel apart. All alongside everyday peeps looking for old stuff.

It would take all five days (maybe more) to properly comb through the roughly 84 acres of antiques. There's everything from neon signs to Eames chairs to clothing, jewelry and purses to art to wooden boxes, glass jars and brass candlestick holders. Furs. Tables. Car parts. Eyeglass. Literally, anything and everything you could ever want.

I can't wait to go back in July. I've got my eyes set on an old industrial cart and a great farm table.

LOTS 'o pictures on this post. There's just too much to share.

xo,
eb

The line of cars goes on for miles.

(also - the pros and veterans rent a uhaul to bring home all their goodies)

My friend Millah matching the tents.

Wait? Are we in the lobby of an Ace?

This is the cart I want.

Millah finding hidden treasures.

This was my favorite tent. All outdoorsy stuff. 

Very Colorado. 

My dad would love this one, too.

Who doesn't need this??

Purchase #1: A giant light bulb

Purchase #2: 1940s / WWII Propoganda

Purchase #3: Brass anchor candlestick holder

Purchase #4: An array of glass bottles

Purchase #5: Richard cufflinks + tie clip