Between shows I met up with Dan Perman again so we could catch up. Along the way I had a chat with a founding father:
And witnessed a little princess in action:
I made Dan walk me up to the North end so I could do pastry comparisons. A local Boston former fat kid told me that Bova's bakery could give Mike's a run for its cannoli money:
Mike's certainly has options:
How would I ever choose?
Luckily, we brought in reinforcements in the form of Matt Sydney - another former camper I've marginally kept in touch with. This one's for you, mom:
The Results:
Bova's cannoli (above) had very airy, creamy filling, and a shell that tasted like the fried dough you get at carnivals. It was divine.
Mike's (below) had a dense, rich filling, but the shell had nothing on Bova's.
If I could fill Bova's shell with Mike's cream, it would be the perfect cannoli. Guess this means I have to have one of each from now on...
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After the second show, a bunch of us went to a bar called Beehive for live blues and beers:
Ted and I shared the short rib grilled cheese. A half was the size of my face, so sharing was a good idea:
Boston. The accent is a killer, but the city is a delight. Love the gay friendly churches:
And the eccentric shops:
Have you seen Love Actually? Remember this scene?
Well, I saw it live and in person at the Fairy shop:
The woman was buying a one-inch, pewter fairy statue. The shop owner pulled out a box of dried lavender and rosebuds and proceeded to create a bed for the fairy. He then added a few shakes of "extra strength" fairy dust. You can't make this up.
Tea freak that I am, I took my friend Jason's advice and hit up Tealuxe:
The electricity was out, so they were only able to provide cold beverages. Bubble tea? Twist my arm.
I really wanted to try their Apple/Chai blend, so hopefully I can find time to swing by before we leave Monday morning.
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Got myself a new pair of specs!
There was a 2-4-1 optical on the way to our benefit concert venue (more on this later), so Lizzie and I went splitzies. Grand total was less than $200 and it included non-glare coating and super thin lenses. Score.
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In case you're new to this photo blog, let me explain something: Traveling is a great way to see friends, but its an even better way to eat tons of delicious foods. Exhibit A) Vietnamese Pho:
Roasted chicken noodle soup with thai basil, lime, and fresh veggies. Stir in some spicy chili paste and you've got a ridiculously delicious meal. Plus, the small bowl is enormous and usually ends up being two meals. Double score.
I've spent a lot of time wandering around Chinatown trying different places and exploring the pastry shops. The architecture is beautiful and slummy at the same time:
After days of exploring, I met up with my college friend Ted for a little informed feasting. Ted is of the Asian persuasion, and he is full of hidden gem knowledge:
Crispy tofu stuffed with veggies and peanut dressing?
A dish I can never remember the name of that includes pan-seared dough and a succulent curry dipping sauce? YES PLEASE.
Thank you, Ted. THANK YOU. I will devour this red bean lotus cake in your honor:
Valentine's Day this year was less awful than usual. My sweet boyfriend Jason got me an adorable card and some yummy pomegranate soap from Anthropologie. Patrick also hit the nail on the head:
People have been calling out like mad in Boston. Whether its the cold weather or injury, its been a fast-paced week for the swings. I went on for an ensemble track I'd never done, as well as the two I'd done previously. Three out of five in one city. That's pretty intense.
Lucky for me, I had witnesses! Dan Perman, who I coached as a pre-teen, is all grown up and studying to be something smart and wealthy:
I can't believe he's taller than me, let alone in college. Where does the time go?
I didn't have much time to sit and talk with Dan because Thursday night was our benefit concert for ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty). Here's me and the lovely boyfriend, Jason Testa:
Bow ties are the best.
Hilarious candids with Alex:
And Chris:
Chris is actually a friend of mine from high school. A super talented performer, he's randomly crossed paths with our tour route in productions of his own. Its been fun to see him multiple times and spend time away from the family. He was lucky enough to catch our little evening of song (which I have to say was truly packed with star-quality performances), and then we went out for drinks.
Robbie and I decided to grab lunch together on Friday. I tried to convince him to come to the pho place, but he was determined to go to some "ramen place" he'd found. I would have been far less skeptical if he'd told me the name:
WAGAMAMA!!!! Friends, I was obsessed with this chain when I lived in London. I started freaking out when I saw our destination. I knew EXACTLY what I was going to order: #43.
This dish is what Pad Thai wishes it could be. No joke.
Set up cafeteria style, Wagamama is a delectable noodle bar with a large selection of tasty meals and fresh-pressed juices:
Robbie's chili ramen left nothing to be desired. Perfectly balanced and garnished with love.
My meal? Please. Obsessed. I had to force myself to leave leftovers so I could enjoy it again the next day. This is after eating the special fresh rolls with mint, basil, and sweet chili chicken (holy crap, heaven), I still would've continued devouring this dish.
That night, I was scheduled for a dinner date with my high school sweetheart, Henry. While waiting for him to arrive, I enjoyed the clever cocktail titles:
I ended up having steak tartare. Why did it take me this long to realize how delicious that is?
Henry came to see the show before driving up to a casino with his friends. This picture is pretty bad, but its the only one I got.
Our dressing room is very small, just like the rest of the Shubert theatre. When we have two show days, I feel claustrophobic and full of cabin fever. During today's dinner break, I trekked up to Beacon Hill do do a bit of window shopping. I love the brick buildings here; everything feels like it has a history:
I'm not sure what the history of this could be:
But I'm definitely sure about this one:
Cheers! Immensely popular TV show way back when. It was originally shot in the bar, but when the show hit the heights they built a studio set. Here's the bar as it looks today:
Cozy isn't even the word for it. Its barely bigger than my room back in NYC. Its surrounded by gift shops and photos of the cast:
It was crowded and noisy, so I didn't stay long. Instead, I did a bit more walking up Beacon Street and through the park.
There were a couple people practicing tightrope walking:
Not something you see every day!
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To give myself a little taste of Boston...
... a Boston Creme cupcake!
I've always listed Boston Creme doughnuts as my favorite above all others (unless we're talking freshly made glazed from Krispy Kreme), so I thought I would love this item. To be honest, there wasn't enough of the pastry cream. Under that chocolate shell was a swirl of chocolate buttercream frosting which, while delicious, overpowered the dollop of cream in the center. If they'd deleted the frosting and just dipped the cupcake in chocolate, I would have enjoyed it more. It probably wouldn't have been as visually appealing, though.
I leave you tonight with images of my walk back to the hotel. I have to pass a nightclub called Royale/Guilt, and the sidewalk is always cluttered with unattractive men and women in inappropriate footwear/clothing for winter.
Its like the runway show Fredricks of Hollywood and Wet Seal teamed up and took to the streets. Kind of depressing, really.
One more two-show day, and then we are bound for Hartford, CT. Momma Huston and Papa Elem will be dropping by for a little family time, so check back for more adventures soon!
