Locke-Ober Café

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Locke-Ober Café
3 Winter Place, (617) 542-1340

Locke-Ober Café is just off Boston Common is classic Boston with a twist. The largely male clientele includes many politicos from Beacon Hill, who meet here to cajole and twist arms over lunch – keep an eye out for the likes of John Kerry and Mitt Romney.

Jackets are recommended. Think dark wood, gold chandeliers, worn mosaic tile floor, stained glass and the famous nude painting of “Yvonne,” much of it dating back to 1875 when the cafe was founded.

The menu, which changes weekly, includes a collection of old and new – grilled bluefish and salmon luncheon entrees swim between traditional poached eggs with roast beef hash and the calf’s liver with bacon and onions. Lunch appetizers are $13 and entrees range from $15 to $25. Dinner entrees start at $25.

Sage Restaurant (North End)

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Sage
North End, 69 Prince Street, (617) 248-8814

If you love authentic and hearty Italiam, Sage is hard to beat. The menu, which changes often, can include intimate savory dishes like rabbit, veal and lobster. Sage is tiny (28 seats maximum) and easy to miss from the street, while inside, it’s simply adorned, but comfortable. Reservations are recommended. Open for dinner only. Appetizers are $10, entrees $18 to $30.

Save room for torrone nougat ($4.75) at the Modern Pastry Shop around the corner at 257 Hanover Street.

The Clarendon Square Inn

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

The Clarendon Square Inn

198 West Brookline Street; 617-536-2229; www.clarendonsquare.com is a beautiful surprise. The rooms in this brownstone have been elegantly renovated with antique tubs, fine linens and serene furnishings. Every detail is lovely.

Rooms are $150 to $385, May through August.

Four Seasons Boston Hotel

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Four Seasons
200 Boylston Street; 617-338-4400; www.fourseasons.com/boston. Perhaps the grandest of Boston’s hotels is the Four Seasons. You can’t beat it for service and it’s just a few streets from the South End. Weekend rates start at $325 a night.

Cambridge House Bed & Breakfast Inn

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Cambridge House Bed & Breakfast Inn
(2218 Massachusetts Avenue; 617-491-6300; www.acambridgehouse.com) is my top pick. It is conveniently located in north Cambridge, close to Harvard Square, Lesley University, Porter Square or Davis Square subway to M.I.T., or downtown Boston to the theater district and the Freedom Trail. Rooms are tastefully decorated with a Victorian style, spacious lounge is ideal for relaxing or meeting friends. Parking, breakfast and Internet access are all included in the rate. An urban gem.

Hotel Marlowe

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Hotel Marlowe
(25 Edwin H. Land Boulevard; 617-868-8000; www.hotelmarloweboston.com) just over the Charles River in Cambridge. Across the street from the wonderful science museum and duck tours, it is conveniently attached to a terrific mall. But in the hotel, you can feel a world away with a comfy communal living room where coffee and tea are served in the morning and wine is shared before dinner. The staff remembers your preferences and requests and seems perpetually cheerful.

Omni Parker House Hotel

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

Omni Parker House
(60 School Street; 617-227-8600; www.omnihotels.com). The service is exceptional and the friendliness of the staff is second to none. The hotel is centrally located to many of the historic sites in the city, many of which are within easy walking distance.

The Harborside Inn Hotel

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

The Harborside Inn
(185 State Street; 617-723-7500; www.harborsideinnboston.com) is affordable, small and quaint. A couple blocks to Quincy Market, and another to Faneuil Hall. 2 subway stops from airport. Clean, friendly, great location.

Southie: Shopping @ the South End Open Market

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

The South End Open Market
540 Harrison Avenue, 617-481-2257
www.southendopenmarket.com

The South End Open Market takes place every Sunday through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except on holiday weekends, like this one).

This is Boston’s version of London’s Portobello market, with vintage clothes sellers and young fashion and jewelry designers rubbing elbows with artists and cheesemakers and antiques dealers.

What’s exciting about this market is that it changes each week. So, some Sundays you’ll discover a local artist who is there only that day. Everyone sells from tables beneath white tents.

Southie: South End Buttery (Organic Bakery)

By admin, 22 November, 2009, No Comment

South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Avenue, 617-482-1015

The Buttery is an organic bakery where the cupcakes are named after two local Labrador retrievers. Madison, the yellow Lab, is honored by the vanilla with vanilla frosting, and Simon, the chocolate Lab, by the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting .