Good morning, readers! Deacon is on his way back from a long weekend spent in the chilly North, where he was playing for the last few days in the great city of Boston.
We're regular visitors to this fabulous city - after all, our college roommate lives here - but every time we visit we see few new things that we really, really wish would make their way down to DC:
So whether you're planning your first visit to this fair city or just searching for a great new "local spot" ... here are a few of our picks:
For a Sweet Treat:
Flour Bakery
It's safe to say that we're kind of obsessed with this little coffee shop and bakery that's just a few blocks from our friend's apartment in the South End. It's always packed and no wonder why - the baked goods (made fresh in-house daily) and coffee are tops. It's like our favorite shop in DC, Northside Social ... but better.
For a great Christmas gift, pick up their new cookbook - the recipes look delish!
Psst, we also tried the chain's newest outpost - an Asian Fusion / Dim Sum "funky diner concept" called
Meyers + Chang. It's great! Opt for the short rib "tacos," the pork belly buns, and the squash/coconut soup ... all amazing.
For a too-cool-for-school shop:
AllSaints Spitalfields
Housed in what used to be a Pottery Barn, this London-based clothing chain is the first we've seen in the US, so naturally, we had to pop in and have a look. The window dressing - a collection of old Singer sewing machines - caught our eye first, but once inside, the quirky mix of sweaters, dresses, and great boots quickly captured our attention. If it's street-sexy grunge you're after ... this is your shop. Just beware - they go by UK sizing, so a 6 is really a 0.
For high-end hautness
Louis Boston
We trekked all the way across town to see the new location of Louis Boston, now housed in a super modern building on the water. While the layout is nothing to thrill (the store looks more like a smaller version of Barney's than anything else), we did love the rotating selection of vendors and well-edited selection of housewares.
For indie cool clothing:
Flock
At first glance, this store seemed a bit too hippie-chic for our tastes, but a glimpse inside and we were hooked. Boasting names like Megan Park and Lauren Moffat, we wanted just about every dress, boot and flowy blouse available in this South End store.
For a neighborhood hotspot:
Coppa
Truthfully we weren't
that blown away by this neighborhood gathering place (by the same owners as Toro), but since it was voted "Best New Restaurant in Boston" by
Improper Bostonian, we had to at least give it a go. The perks: sample great wines by the glass and a selection of small plates with a heavy emphasis on the local, organic, and lesser-known cuts of meat - brains, livers, marrow, ect. What we loved? The signature cocktails - an Autumnal "flip" made with spiced brandy and egg was delish, and the lamb ragu pasta, made with just the right amount of spice. Skip the veggie sides - they're overpriced. Be sure to come early as there's sure to be a wait.
For an oldie but goodie:
The Beehive
While we waited for our table at Coppa, we opted to have a cocktail at jazz club / restaurant / bar The Beehive, one of our favorite spots in the South End.
Maybe it's because we have a soft spot for speakeasies or maybe it's just because the dark n' sexy ambiance downstairs is totally our kind of vibe, but this place is just about perfect.
We'll begin by saying that Ms. Martha Stewart just might be our idol. She's THE homemaking goddess and we've been longtime fans of the show and the magazine(s) so this was really quite exciting. We thought we'd share a bit about the process:
