Another weekend, another trip to Massachusetts

This time to Boston!

Boston is a beautiful city, with a lot of history, and we had a GREAT time.

FRIDAY

After a very long ride on the Mega Bus (which Mega sucked), I met my friend Andrea at the Liberty Hotel on Charles Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

The Liberty Hotel was once The Charles Street Jail, built in 1851 and officially closed in 1990.

It was GORGEOUS!

The front



The lobby



Former cells



View of the Charles River and Cambridge from our window



They even have bikes you can ride!



After our complimentary glass of champagne (nice!),



we headed out to wander around the city.

Our first stop was the Public Garden.



to see the Swan Boats.



Then, we stopped for a late lunch at Jacob Wirth, which first opened in 1868 (and can soon be seen in the upcoming Tom Cruise/Cameron Diaz movie "Knight & Day").





After lunch, and a couple of Sam Adams Summer Wheats (me) and Maibachs (Andrea), we wandered through the city, until we found ourselves (completely by accident, really!) at the Bull & Finch bar on Beacon Street, which inspired the tv show Cheers.



At first we just walked by. But then... we started to slow down. Finally, I turned to Andrea and said (sheepishly) "I'm kind of curious." Luckily, she laughed and said that she was too. So, we agreed to just go in and check it out.

We ended up staying there the rest of the night.

As is often the case, you have the best time when and where you least expect it.

There were shots of Absolut, in honor of our new Swedish friends Peter and Frederick...



and more Sam Adams...



which naturally lead to dancing (despite the lack of dance floor),





and this...



SATURDAY

I woke up way too early, and unfortunately couldn't get back to sleep, so went for a walk along the Charles River,





then had brunch at Panificio on Charles Street.

By this time, Andrea, and our friend Kris (who'd driven up from New York late the night before) were up so we headed out to The Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 historic sites.



Our first stop was the Old State House.



The Old State House was the seat of British Government before the Revolution, and afterwards served as the Commonwealth’s first capitol building, with the office of the state’s first governor, John Hancock. The Declaration of Independence was read to the people of Boston from the building’s balcony in 1776.

Some of the most significant events leading up to the Revolution took place in and around this building, including Samuel Adams urging resistance to taxation without representation. And, the Boston Massacre, which occurred in 1770, resulting in the deaths of five men, and galvanizing public opposition to the British.

Next was Faneuil Hall, and the famous grasshopper weathervane.



Behind Faneuil Hall is the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, with a variety of shops, restaurants and tourists. Lots and lots of tourists.

From there, we followed the Trail (in the cute new shoes I bought at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace!)



to the North End of Boston, the city's oldest residential district, where people have lived continuously since the 1660s.

Today the North End is home to Boston's Little Italy, but this is also where Paul Revere lived, with his mother, wife and 16 (!) children on the night of April 18, 1775, when he was sent to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were marching to arrest them.

His home is still standing, and is downtown Boston's oldest building.



The Christ Church, where he famously hung his signal lanterns, is also located in this neighborhood.



After a long day of sightseeing, we decided to return to the hotel to get ready for a night out watching the Chicago Blackhawks. The weather, however, caused us to change our plans slightly...

A brief downpour had us running (literally)



to the nearest Irish pub.



But eventually, we made it to our destination, The Four's Restaurant and Sports Bar, rated the #1 Sports Bar in America by Sports Illustrated.



I don't know if that's true, but they did have great Clam Chowder, and the Blackhawks on every tv.



And, the Blackhawks won!

(Imagine The Fratelli's Chelsea Dagger playing right now)



SUNDAY

Fenway!

After lunch at Bouchee on Newbury Street (the Grilled Two Cheese Sandwich, with brie and gruyere, tomato, arugula and dijon on fresh wheat bread was delicious!), we went to the Boston Red Sox / Kansas City Royals game at Fenway.

I used to live in Kansas City, so of course I wore my Kansas City Royals t-shirt.



We sat in the bleachers...



Saw the Green Monster...



Did the wave...



Sadly, by the 7th inning, it became painfully obvious that the Royals were not going to win (the final score was 8-1), so we walked across the street to the Cask & Flagon, which had been recommended to us the night before, and is, according to ESPN, the best baseball bar in the nation (as opposed to the #1 Sports Bar in America according to Sports Illustrated).



Inside, we quickly became friends with four guys from New York, then the people at the table next to us (as soon as they ordered pizza).



After a brief trip to the Landsdowne Pub, we ended up at Game On! with the boys from New York for more of this...



MONDAY

Monday was Memorial Day, and our last day in Boston. Before we left, we walked to Boston Common, where 20,000 flags were placed at the Sailors and Soldiers Monument, to commemorate all the Massachusetts men and women who have died in battles since World War I.

"Small and Cheap"

That was the theme last weekend.

Last Friday night, after work, my friend Kris & I drove about three and a half hours northeast of New York City, to the small town of Brimfield, Massachusetts, for the Brimfield Antique Show, which is (supposedly) the largest outdoor antique show in the world.

The show has been held three times a year (in May, July and September) for over 50 years. Dealers and visitors come from all over the world (26 different countries!).

During the show, the population of Brimfield grows from 3,000 residents to over 250,000 visitors and 5,000 dealers, who sell everything from fine antiques to "junk".

We parked at the church, which also served as a point of reference if we got lost (which was easy to do).



In one of the first booths, a little fan caught my eye. As I walked into the next booth, I had to stop and go back for another look. It was old, and really dusty, but looked like it had never been used. (The vendor even had the original box.) And the color was so cute!

So, I made my first purchase! I love it, and (luckily) it works perfectly!



In the very next booth, I walked over to get a closer look at a set of china. I don't really need fine china, but this was a really pretty pattern.

Without even asking, the vendor said "I'll give you the whole set for $15". I was really surprised (and a bit skeptical because there seemed to be a lot there) and he apparently took my hesitation as a form of bargaining because he then said "Ok, I'll give you the whole set for $13".

Well, you can't really go wrong for $13.

So, I'm now the proud owner of about 100 pieces (not exaggerating) of Mikasa Chadsworth fine china.

I actually really like it. In addition to the plates and bowls, I also have a gravy boat, sugar bowl, creamer, platters, serving bowls and about 20 sets of cups and saucers.

I will never use it all, but it is really pretty...



Soon after that, I saw these:



My dad had asked me to look for old license plates and these were used on a car that was being exported from Germany (which I thought was appropriate since my dad had been stationed there with the Air Force). They'll make a good Father's Day present!

Since my apartment is so small, I try to find things that are cute, but also useful. I especially look for different storage ideas.

I'd seen several old wooden crates but they were all really expensive. So, when I saw this one...


...and the vendor said it was only $10, I grabbed it.

The exterior is worn and faded, but the interior is perfect!



And, as I was carrying it back to the car, a guy asked me if I'd gotten a good deal on it. I had no real idea how much it was worth, so I asked him what would be considered a "good deal", and he said "$20". So, yeah, I guess I did get a good deal!

However...

I probably paid more for this old Godiva tin than I should have. But, it was only $5 and the people selling it looked like they could really use the money. I like the colors, and (again) it'll be good for storage.



I bought two necklaces, on long silver chains.


I love the round one. It's actually a clock!



It doesn't work, but I'm hoping that it only needs a new battery.

The other, though... it's a ladybug, that is also a clock. But, it looks a bit too much like a bug. I do like the chain, though! (And, it was only $3.)

I also bought a white wicker folding chair that the vendor believes had been used on the deck of a ship. I don't really have room for it in my apartment, but it was such a unique and cute chair that Kris & I decided that somebody had to have it. That somebody turned out to be Kris. It looks great in her backyard, don't you think?



By the end of the day, my car looked like this...



(Those two big boxes of bananas are actually full of my new china.)



Even with all that, I did see some things that I liked, but didn't buy...

I love old bikes. And that "thing" in the background is actually really pretty.



And I loved the colors of these old Christmas ornaments.



This would've been great as a coffee table in my living room.



Remember these glasses? I had some just like this! And, I love Wile E. Coyote. He never gives up.



Everything in this booth was gorgeous. I would be happy if my entire apartment looked like this booth.



The next morning, we headed back to New York, after a good breakfast at Annie's Country Kitchen, in the neighboring town of Sturbridge.

It had been recommended to us the night before by some locals and they were right! How good do these pancakes look?



So, it was a fun trip. The market was a success, and Brimfield is gorgeous.



I can't wait to go back!

She's Crafty!

Today I went to the Crafts in Chelsea show,


which was sponsored (in part) by...



My favorite booth (by far!) was Purty Bird.

Everything is so cute!!!

Magnets:

(I actually bought that cute little pink owl at the bottom.)

Pendants:


I also really liked Citybitz, where you can buy items with photos from around New York.

Pendants:


Card Cases:


And a lot more!

Some of the switch plates at Lovely Day Designs were cute...



As was the jewelry at Wabisabi Brooklyn.

And the woman at McFlashpants is really creative! Everything she makes is made almost entirely from recycled materials, like these rings made from old spoons...



And, the people at Majabella were really sweet. So sweet, in fact, that I now own this...

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I live in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Manhattan. Primarily known for it's thriving drug trade, it's also home to Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It's surprisingly hilly...



Really hilly, actually...



And, unlike most of Manhattan, flowers are growing in front of my building.





And there's this...

(So cute!)

I've Got Class

Classes, actually.

I'm still not sure that owning my own business is the right thing to do. So, I decided to take some classes to find out if it's even feasible.

One good thing about New York is that you can find anything you want, anywhere, anytime.

So of course I was able to find the perfect classes.

The Fashion Institute of Technology is part of the State University of New York (SUNY). And, they offer non-credit certificate programs in Creative Enterprise Ownership and Retail Experience Management.

Right now, I'm taking two "CEO" courses:

Setting a Course for your Business
Starting a business requires clear conceptions about your product or service, and about yourself. Examine your strengths, weaknesses, desires, and definition of success in order to develop a business description that will guide you through the planning process. Find the perfect name for your business; learn how to obtain licenses, permits, and tax identification numbers; and set up your business as a legal entity.

Formulating Your Financial Strategy
Forecasting sales for a new business is probably the hardest and most important element of financial planning. This course will guide you through the soundest methods for making sales projections and help you find the critical break-even point. Get the real stories behind banks, loans, grants, private investors, and credit.

Wish me luck!

(If you're interested in taking classes at FiT too, go to www.fitnyc.edu. They offer courses in design, fashion, art, communications, and business. And they have online courses, so you don't even have to live in New York!)

Sew Close!

I'm trying to learn how to sew.

But I was getting frustrated, so stopped for a while. (Quite a while, actually...)

Then I realized that the only way I would ever get better is by practicing.

So, I bought two new books: Sew What! Skirts and Sew What! Bags.



First, using this as my inspiration...



I made ...

This! (I actually don't hate this.)





Then, I decided to try this "Breezy Beach Wrap".



It did not go well...



According to the description in the book "It opens in the back, ties in the front, and has an optional buttonhole on one side for the tie to go through."

As you can see, mine...
1. Does not open in the back
2. Does not tie in the front
3. Does not have a buttonhole (optional or otherwise)

So, it's not perfect. But it's getting closer!

"Old Lady" Chic

I live in New York City. So, I walk. (A lot.) So I need comfortable shoes. But I'm also young(ish) and like cute shoes.

So, when I went shopping at the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets last weekend, I decided to check out... Easy Spirit. (Yes, Easy Spirit.)

And you know what? It wasn't that bad!

First, I found the Quint slingbacks in black (use your imagination).

They're perfect! With a low, chunky heel and square toe, they're very comfortable. (And, I got two compliments when I wore them to work today!)

Then, my friend was looking for a pair of white shoes, so I pointed out these Braiden sandals...

Well, she didn't like them. So I bought them!

When I told one of my friends I was wearing Easy Spirits, her reaction was "Old lady shoes?!?"

Not anymore.

See for yourself! (www.easyspirit.com)