Pretty Type

It's been rainy, rainy, cold here for the past few days.

Look at that sun!! - and dang! Look at that typeface!

1 if by Land, 2 if by Sea, 3 if by Bike - The Minuteman Trail

In 1775, Paul Revere took a midnight ride that forever changed the history of the United States. 

"One if by land! Two if by sea!" he warned as he raced on horseback towards Lexington and Concord as the British troops approached Boston. Yikes! And so the American Revolution began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. 

A few years later (um...  in 1992), the Minuteman Bike Trail was constructed to follow almost the exact route Revere took that famous night. The trail runs from Somerville's Davis Square out to Bedford, Mass. The paved path passes by small towns, ponds and lakes. It's shaded by huge old trees that create a magical and cooling canopy for the bikers, joggers, inline skaters (yay, Rollerblades) and walkers. 

I've ridden the path for the past two weekends, with 26 miles being my longest ride. Let's just say this, I'm kicking myself for not bringing my road bike out East. Three to four hours is along time to spend on a single speed. Lesson learned: people do bike in New England!

The Minuteman Trail has become my favorite weekend activity. I can't wait to ride further - after the paved road ends, it spits you out onto the road where you can travel to places like Thoreau's Walden Pond and gives you a chance to really explore the charming New England countryside. 

Yay, bikes! YAY!

xo, 

eb

p.s. here's a map of the trial.

Rad signage that peppers the trail. I knew America's Founding Fathers loved bikes.

(Nice whip, Paul.)

I DO bike Boston!

Feels like riding through the forrest.

Perfect way to end the 20 mile ride. Beers 'n food in the sun at Harvard Square's

restaurant Upstairs on the Square.

The PB&B - Peanut Butter and Burger

So I know that I mentioned the East Coast phenomenon - the peanut butter burger - in my Pittsburgh post. But I wanted to write a follow up to prove that this wonderful/bizarre thing was not just a fluke. 

Enter Bukowski's Tavern, a great dive bar located miraculously close to my office. It's a great find and does well to satisfy my cravings for a sweaty small bar that seemed to be on every corner in SF (oh, my wonderful Black Horse...). 

Anyways, my friend from SF, the wonderful and talented Mark Himmselbach stopped by Boston for a beer (read: meeting in Cambridge). We stopped by Bukowski's for some local brews and he spotted the peanut butter burger on the menu. We added bacon and let's just say we were completely surprised at how good it was. 

I'm all for interesting concoction. PB&B for all. 

xo, 

eb

Quiet Common

The Common by night.

Homes of New England

I love exploring the city via foot and bike. It's a perfect way to appreciate the unique architecture. 

People say that Boston is a London lookalike. Low, brown and brick, the streets twisting and turning, I can see why they say that. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm in US. Sounds silly, but the West is a total 180 from here. It's vast, gridded and weirdly, light. San Francisco has always amazed me  in how light it is. All the buildings are a mixture of white, lights pinks, yellows and light concrete. Breathtaking when viewed from the Bay...

But Boston is gorgeous, too. Very old world. Very fun to explore. Except more Homes of New England posts. They're too pretty not to showcase.

xo, 

eb

P.S. Also! I saw my first "hilly" street last night in Boston! It's so flat here - such an adjustment after climbing the hills of SF daily. It made me a little homesick - funny what a hilly street can make ya feel after living in the city by the Bay.

See that slight angle of the sidewalk - a hill!

My favorite alley in Boston thus far. 

Cobblestoned and quiet, complete with an American flag.

Union Park by night.

South End fleurs.

Boom! Sam's in Seaport

Last night a friend and I stopped by a great place in the Seaport called Sam's. Summer is officially on its way in New England, so I've been trying to figure out the best places to enjoy eats and drinks en plein air.

Sam's sits on the harbor in a fantastically designed space. It's small an compact, but very open and airy. If you found yourself here on a chilly day, eating inside would be just as enjoyable. The view of the harbor is wonderful. Outside, there's patio room to stand and have drinks or eat at one of the many tables.

My friend and I actually ended up eating at the bar. We opted to share the cheese plate, along with a couple of salads: a quinoa, arugula, grapefruit and feta salad and asparagus with tea egg and Serano ham. All washed down with some Rose. Yum.

Sam's sits next to the ICA, which hosts evening events. Last night's event went out with a bang with a surprise 10 minute long surprise firework show over the harbor. We had front row seats. So fun. The fireworks got me on the mood for the 4th. Can't wait to see what this historic city has in store.

I can't wait to go back on a sunny day for the views, atmosphere and eats.

xo,
eb

Sunny Friday