Boston – The Sol Compass

Boston Concert Guide

To say that I love concerts is a bit of an understatement. Ever since I turned 18, I’ve gone to (on average) one concert a month. It’s sort of weird now, since I tend to be one of the oldest people at the concert (save for a few parental chaperones), but I truly believe that live music can heal in a way most things can’t.

Something that I get asked a lot by my friends is where they should eat before a concert. While food is my top priority, proximity is a close second. I always try to keep the food bill (before beverages, taxes, and tip) under $20, so the recommendations you’ll see here are all in that ballpark (though, rarely, slightly over). Every single restaurant here is someplace I would willingly go to again, and not just mentioned out of sheer convenience. Music may rival my love for food, but it certainly won’t encourage me to eat whatever garbage chicken fingers are being served inside.

After visiting every venue on this list, I have pretty strong opinions as to which is the best/worst.

Venue: House of Blues.
Restaurant: Sweet Cheeks BBQ.
The House of Blues is far and away my favorite venue in Boston. The acoustics are great, the bars and aisles around the sides are distinct enough to allow a constant flow, and they keep prices for their tickets consistently affordable (I generally expect to spend less than $40). It also has the added bonus of being widely accessible from anywhere, whether you are looking for affordable parking (good luck finding a $10 parking spot near the Garden the night of your concert) or just take the green line into the Kenmore Station.

To sweeten the deal, a quick walk away from the House of Blues is my favorite barbecue spot in New England, Sweet Cheeks! B and I will usually split a tray (one meat choice, one hot side and one cold side) and then get a big bucket of the biscuits – they are absolutely to die for!

Venue: The Sinclair
Restaurant: Cambridge, 1
The Sinclair sneaks in barely behind House of Blues for my favorite venue. I’ve seen some amazing shows here, but while the intimacy of The Sinclair is hard to match, I think truly great artists can shine a bit more at the House of Blues. Harvard Square may be evolving away from its former quirky glory that I remember it most fondly by, but The Sinclair is thriving as always. An obvious choice is to eat at the kitchen at The Sinclair, but it can get pretty busy during the pre-show rush, so I prefer to walk down Church Street to Cambridge, 1. They have a great wooden interior, clean but sultry vibes when the sun goes down, and really great, innovative pizza pies.

Venue: The Red Room at Cafe 939
Restaurant: Trident Booksellers & Cafe

Cafe 939 is a totally unique venue in that it’s actually run by students at Berklee College of Music. The business students are tasked with booking artists for the venue, and seniors have their performance recitals here as well. I saw Rachel Platten and A Great Big World here back in 2011 before either of them had made it big, and it was such a great experience. It’s a small and cozy venue, with great acoustics and a friendly, engaging atmosphere. Pop over to Newbury Street before hand to grab a bite to eat at Trident, which is totally different than my old go-to for Cafe 939, the since closed Cactus Club. Trident is a favorite shop of mine, thanks to their friendly and helpful environment, plus being one of the only independent bookstores left. If you can find your way out of the shelves, they serve breakfast and sandwiches all day long.

Venue: Agganis Arena
Restaurant: Otto

Agganis is my favorite arena sized concert venue. It’s more intimate than the Garden, and with better acoustics. I saw Macklemore and Halsey within two months of each other there, and they were my two favorite concerts of that summer. Comm Ave is full of places you could eat at, but I’d recommend going to Otto for their thin crust pizza. Right across the street and on the same block as Agganis, the location can’t be beat. The interior of this one is my favorite of all their locations – bright white walls, wooden tables and bar, an outdoor patio, and a wall of basil right as you walk in. They do pizza by the slice or whole pies, and they also have gluten free crust available! It’s also important to note that they have an extensive craft beer and wine selection available, in case you want to get the party started a little early.

Venue: Great Scott
Restaurant: Roxy’s Grilled Cheese

My sister and I saw Matt Hires (one of my all-time favorite musicians) and Alex Dezen play the coolest joint set here, and they mingled around the audience before and after the show. Since Great Scott has a very laid back vibe, I like to kick off the night with some equally low key (but delicious) grilled cheese over at Roxy’s brick and mortar destination (the food truck can frequently be found at the Greenway, Downtown, or Harvard Square!)

Venue: Brighton Music Hall
Restaurant: Lone Star Taco Bar

Brighton Music Hall to me is a better version of Paradise Rock Club. It’s less than a mile down the street, has no poles blocking your view (see below) and has a set up that makes it very easy to get to the bathroom, bar, or merch table. Lone Star Taco Bar is the perfect place to get your Mexican fix beforehand, with $4 tacos every day of the week, not just on Taco Tuesday! Their servers are amazing, and all the ingredients are fresh. For the price you just cannot beat it, but it is very small and pretty popular, so try to get here as early as you can.

Venue: TD Garden
Restaurant: Finch
As far as concerts go, the Garden is a 0 on the -5 to 5 scale. That energy I felt when Paul Pierce returned for his last game and played under Larry Bird’s number, the eery feeling of history being made in front of your eyes just doesn’t translate to concert performances. The acoustics aren’t great, and the upper deck can be hard to dance around without feeling like you’re going to fall off. That being said, bigger acts aren’t going to stop at the smaller venues, and some concerts I’ve seen here have been truly great in spite of the circumstances.
Around the corner from the Garden, inside of the Boxer Hotel, is Finch, where American fares on the lighter side are paired with specialty cocktails. The interior falls somewhere between vintage and farmhouse, which strikes a much more elegant balance than one might expect. Finding a meal at a nice restaurant in the West or North End can seem budget breaking, but Finch really slides in at a palatable price point.

Venue: Gillette Stadium
Restaurant: Tavolino
I don’t personally love going to concerts at Gillette, if only because the traffic on Route One after an event is my own personal kind of hell. I would absolutely make an exception to go back if The Boss decided to do another stadium tour (…please?!) At any rate, the other 66,000 people attending are also trying to get food in Patriot Place before the concert, which can make it frustrating, if not impossible, to fuel up. Tavolino has done a great job capitalizing on the lack of restaurant seats available, and set up a “To Go” station on the sidewalk outside for pizza. You’ll still have a wait, but it will be tremendously shorter than waiting for a table and sit down service, guaranteed. (Celiac friends: since they didn’t have any gluten free pizzas ready outside, they walked my sister inside and let her order a GF pizza at the bar to go!)

Venue: Paradise Rock Club
Restaurant: Mei Mei
I decidedly do not love going to shows at Paradise, which garners a lot of scorn from my fellow concert lovers (and boyfriend, for that matter). The low ceilings can induce a bit of claustrophobia, and the unsightly poles block the line of sight for the entire back half of the theater. They also hosted U2 one time back before I was born and they will never let anyone forget it. B loves the intimacy of the small venue and its location, being right off the T and near plenty of food and bar options. It’s also a sort of institution in Boston, the kind of place that you grow up going to. Some artists I love, including but not limited to Wrabel and Cigarettes After Sex, have made stops on tour to Paradise though, so I will continue going back for worthwhile performances. Luckily, Mei Mei– my food spot of choice- is also a very enticing reason to head to Paradise. Another food truck that amassed a huge following, Mei Mei’s small, but open restaurant serves up the most drool-worthy dumplings, amongst other Asian Fusion choices.

Venue: Fenway Park
Restaurant: Tiger Mama
There, I said it. Fenway Park is the worst concert venue in Boston. It’s great for baseball games, but absolutely terrible for concerts (which is good, since it was actually built for baseball games…) I’d really only go for people I desperately wanted to see (i.e. Lady Gaga, who had been on my list for years). It’s also a great reason to go to Tiger Mama. Right down the street from its sister restaurant Sweet Cheeks, Tiffany Faison’s Southeast Asian outpost never disappoints. They did an amazing job on the interior, and it feels as authentic and transporting as you could ever dream. I love going family style here, and sharing a bunch of items because they are all way too good to pass up.

Bonus: some concert venues around New England!

Venue: Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
Restaurant: Red Fez
Now named the Strand Ballroom, I guess I’m a little old fashioned because I love all the history that the name Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel holds. They’ve held court for my beloved Colony House, among many others. My friend Erick never steers me wrong for recommendations in Providence, so hats off to him for introducing me to the nearby Red Fez. If you aren’t in the mood for something too heavy, its perfect for bar snacks or tacos before the show.

Venue: Maine State Pier
Restaurant: Flatbread Company
B and I really love Portland, so I frequently check in on their concert lineups just in case there’s a great show that we could take a night away to go see. The Maine State Pier is home to many waterfront shows during the summer months, and is about everything you might expect from an outdoor venue. Just steps away is a location of Flatbread, which I will gladly go to any time, any place, for their (wait for it…) flatbread pizzas.

Venue: Port City Music Hall
Restaurant: Duck Fat
A small venue with great sound quality is pretty much a one way ticket to my heart, as far as concert halls go. Port City strikes an amazing balance between retro vibes, and actually looking clean, somehow. It has the nice added bonus of being within walking distance from Duck Fat, which is possibly my greatest weakness as far as greasy food goes.

Venue: Mohegan Sun
Restaurant: Frank Pepe’s

I’ve never had a bad show experience at the Mohegan Arena (if you don’t count the brutal hour that I had to listen to Colbie Caillatt open for Christina Perri three years ago…) It’s nice to have free parking at a venue, and the casino offers endless amounts of entertainment before or after your show. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but I personally am a sucker for grabbing a slice of Pepe’s red tomato pie (clearly, pizza is a very prominent part of this guide). That, and a couple Krispy Kreme donuts after the show…

xo, C

10 Boston Restaurants I Want To Try

While trying (and loving) restaurants is no secret passion of mine, I noticed last year I had a tendency to revisit places a bit more than branching out. I rounded up the top ten spots on my to try list, and B and I are going to start making our way through them!

Citrus & Salt. I love Mexican food, and I love Buttermilk & Bourbon, so I really can’t wait to hit up its sister restaurant Citrus & Salt.
Fat Baby. My favorite Boston restaurant, Loco, has a new sister in Fat Baby. I can’t wait to try their sushi and see what else the East Asian haunt has to offer!
Dumpling Palace. Pretty self explanatory, but B and I have tried to get here a few times and never succeeded. One day!
Sarma. There is a shortage of phenomenal Mediterranean restaurants in my opinion, so Sarma seems like a great excuse to get out to Somerville.
Abby Lane. Another child of Jason Santos, Abby Lane joins Citrus & Salt on the list of must try spots this year!
Saltie Girl. Trying out this seafood spot shouldn’t be too hard with such a perfect location on Dartmouth Street!
Tiger Mama. Despite going to Sweet Cheeks on the regular, I have never been to Tiffani Faison’s other location down the street. One night I’m in Fenway I definitely want to substitute the usual BBQ for Tiger Mama’s Southeast Asian cuisine.
Toro. Tapas are one of our favorite ways to enjoy food, so Toro is a pretty high priority this year!
Little Donkey. Another Tapas place, this Central Square location is a favorite among several of my friends, but I have somehow never made it there.
Waypoint. Waypoint is another restaurant I keep saying I’m going to try (for at least a year now!) They have everything from a raw bar to pasta, right in Harvard Square.

Are there any other restaurants I should add to the list? Let me know in the comments! Have a great day!

xo, C

Tuesday Ten: Holiday Date Ideas

Hello everyone, welcome back! I mentioned in my Gift Guide that I would love to spend time doing something with all of the people I love this December, so today I wanted to share a list of my favorite activities – perfect for a date, girls’ night, or family outing! A few of them are New England specific if you’re in the area!

Pop-up Winter Market. There are tons of Christmas markets popping up this month. In Boston, it’s SoWa and City Hall Plaza, but a quick Google search with your city should turn up some near you!
Build a Gingerbread house. An annual tradition at my family’s Thanksgiving is to kick off Christmas by building Gingerbread houses, and now I can hardly imagine a holiday season without them!
Go Ice Skating. As cliched as it may be, I love ice skating. B and I went well after Christmas last year, though there is something magical about going during December.
Visit Winter Reimagined at Tower Hill Botanical Garden (or your local light display!). Tower Hill is one of my favorite places in the world, and every year they put on the most spectacular winter lights display. Every area usually has a well known lights display, so bundle up and reserve your tickets!
Build a fort for movie night. Everyone’s calendars are so full during December, I love the idea of finding a night you both have free and staying in for a cozy Elf screening (or your favorite movie, but it’s probably Elf). This date is best enjoyed with homemade cookies!
See the Newport Mansions decked out in their Holiday Best. Two years ago I went with my sister and best friend and they were absolutely stunning. Newport native Jess wrote a full blog post about other holiday activities to do in Newport here – it’s an amazing resource and I can’t wait to go try all of the things she recommended!
Get tickets for a holiday classic. Whether it’s Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker or the Boston Pops, I love seeing the Christmas magic come to life. If you’re looking for an option that’s more budget friendly, you’d be surprised how fantastic a lot of local high school’s Christmas concerts are!
See a holiday comedy show. If Christmas music isn’t your jam, most comedy clubs have holiday specials during the month of December. I’m a fan of ImprovAsylum in Boston!
ZooLights. Most zoos have great light displays for the holidays. In Boston, it’s Stone Zoo.
Take a cheese board making class to prepare for all of your party contributions! I mentioned this in my gift guide, but for my birthday B got us tickets to a cheese board making class with Formaggio. It was so much fun and we left armed with the knowledge to create some killer cheese boards for our holiday parties (PLUS we found some of our new favorite cheeses!)

My Seaport

Welcome back everyone! Today I’m kicking off the first official segment of my My Boston series by sharing some of my favorite Seaport and Fort Point haunts. My goal with these neighborhood guides is to facilitate any travels you may have in Boston. Want to go to the ICA? Now you’ll know where to grab dim sum after. Interested in checking out Harpoon Brewery? I can suggest the perfect place to walk off those IPAs. The best part about this new neighborhood is its newness. Everything is just being built and new places are still opening, so I always find something new here.

Where To Stay.

The Envoy Hotel. There are plenty of options in the Seaport District (such as the aptly named Seaport Hotel), but my only recommendation is Marriott’s Autograph Collection. It’s bold and yet easy going. Rooted in the sea yet lifted up by urban development. Outlook Kitchen and Bar provides modern food in a fun atmosphere with a world class waitstaff, and Lookout Rooftop Bar has some of the best views of the city. Staying in the winter doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your view, though, as Lookout just recently put in these awesome igloos to keep you toasty and warm as you sip on your cocktails and admire the views.

Things To Do.

Craft beer fans rejoice as the Seaport was pretty much made for you. Since Sam Adams was kicked out of the craft beer category, Harpoon has taken over as the biggest craft brewery in New England. The Boston outpost (there’s also one in Vermont) is located right on the water at the far end of the Seaport. They’re best known locally for their big outdoor festivals for Oktoberfest, Saint Patrick’s Day, and Harpoonfest. If you aren’t traveling around those times, you can settle for an impressive brewery tour or drafts and pretzels in their big German-style beer hall and take in some impressive views.

Trillium is Harpoon’s cooler younger sibling in the Seaport. Named #3 on the World’s Top 100 Breweries, this family owned brewery is increasingly harder to find in your local packie these days, which means it is definitely worth a stop at their Fort Point Retail Shop.

If art OR architecture is your jam, you can’t miss the Institute of Contemporary Art. It’s arguably more famous for its sharp glass theater that hangs over the harbor than its art, but we love going for First Fridays, 21+ themed parties that happen on the First Friday of the month (don’t forget to purchase tickets ahead of time!).

Harborwalk travels along the length of the Boston Harbor, passing by many of the big attractions. You can hop on and off the walk as you please and stop in some of the main attractions in the Seaport, including the ICA and Boston Children’s Museum.

If you are a fan of comedy, you should definitely check out Laugh Boston, the comedy club at the Westin. Music fans should check out Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater on the water.

Places To Eat.

There is no shortage of places to eat in the Seaport. There’s even two outposts of Legal Sea Food for crying out loud (Legal Harborside and Legal Test Kitchen). The flagship location is by far my favorite if you’re looking for a chain, but the LTK is a great option if you’re a fan of the brand looking to expand your options. I have three celiac family members and my mom doesn’t eat seafood while my dad exclusively eats seafood, but we can all eat pleasantly (dare I say enjoyably) at Legal, so it is definitely worth noting if you have a family with a wide variety of dietary restrictions! The flagship location has outdoor seating and a killer rooftop bar.

Flour, a local chain with a few locations throughout the city, Flour is best known for their fresh pastries and delicious sandwiches. They also have a good amount of gluten free options!

Blue Dragon. Ming Tsai, of Blue Ginger fame, recently opened this Asian gastropub on A Street. It’s much more affordable than its sister restaurant, and great for snacks or Dim Sum. The only problem is their weekend hours are frustrating at best, so make sure to check their hours before you head over!

Row 34. More than just a raw bar (although the raw menu certainly doesn’t disappoint), Row 34 expands into burgers, pancakes, and more in this always bustling location. The interior is charming, and the patio is well shaded during the hot summer months. As you can see from the pictures below, I thoroughly enjoy the mini lobster tacos.

Committee. Possibly my number one choice for dining in the Seaport, Committee has a trendy and global vibe to their Mediterranean Meze serving hotspot. It’s nearly always busy by 5:30 when the bustling young professionals have broken free of the air-conditioned cubicles, and B and I absolutely love it here. The meze style menu allows us to share many small plates, and thus get to experience more of the delicious flavors. If you are looking for a hotspot vibe, stay inside and hover around the bar (assuming you can get close enough to it). If you’re looking for a quieter more conversational atmosphere, take it out to the patio!

For healthy chains in the Seaport, you have byChloe and sweetgreen, for anyone seeking comfort food there is also a Shake Shack and a Ben & Jerry’s. Pictured below is byChloe!

I hope this helps on your Seaport adventures! Let me know what your favorite stops are in the comments below!

xo, C
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Boston Summer Bucket List

After seeing two of my favorite bloggers (Grace and Kendall) write activity based posts, I felt inspired to write my own! Today I’m going to be sharing my five bucket list items to check off in Boston this summer! Whether you’re a Boston native or are considering a trip this summer, check out this list to see if any of them spark your interest!

Boston Harbor Islands. I went to the Harbor Islands a few years ago, but I am dying to go back (and go to more of them!) especially now that Barbara Lynch has taken over the concessions!
Sunset Sail around Boston Harbor. After seeing the Tall Ships at Sail Boston this week, B and I decided we absolutely have to take a sail around the harbor with my best friend and her boyfriend. Due to work schedules and busy summer weekends, we will end up taking a sunset sail, but they offer daytime and even Sunday Brunch sails as well! We have already started the planning process for this one and are so excited about it!
Visit Fenway Park. This one is cheating a little bit since I’ve already gone to Fenway twice this season, but I will gladly go again anytime someone asks me. Fenway is one of those quintessential Boston experiences that everyone I know loves. Whether you go for Mookie Betts, the wave, or just the Fenway Franks; Fenway has something for everyone!
Catch an outdoor movie. There are screenings all summer long at the Lawn On D, Hatch Shell, Boston Harbor Hotel, and more! There’s a full list of outdoor movie screenings here.
Visit a rooftop pool. The Colonnade and Revere hotels both have rooftop pools, which I have promised to go to for the last four summers and failed each time. Hopefully this is the summer I finally visit one of Boston’s rooftop pools!

What are your favorite activities to do in Boston for the summer? Is there anything special on your bucket list this year? Sound off in the comments!

Have a great weekend!

xo, C

My Boston

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with Boston. I can say with a great deal of certainty that the Boston I know is not the Boston that tourists may find in the average guidebook.

Newbury Street, Boston Common, Prudential Center… These are all places that people recognize, and maybe even identify, as Boston. They are indisputably amazing parts of what makes this city unique. I was brought up with a parent (hi Dad!) who traveled frequently and was absolutely set on finding his spots in different cities. Anywhere from New York City, where my parents met 30 years ago, to small towns in Switzerland, he can give a rundown of his favorite spots. Seeing this adventure he was constantly on, falling in love with food and culture alike, I subsequently set out to on my own adventure. This search led me outside of past the top ten attractions, into hole-in-the-wall jazz clubs, new restaurant openings, and neighborhoods not on the Freedom Trail that have equally amazing things to offer.

My parents may have met in New York City 30 years ago, but I was born and bred in Boston. This has led to some comical differences between generations, but I think everyone born in Massachusetts can relate when I say “As first thanks… Boston for raising me.” I am and always will be proud to be from this free and fiercely independent birthplace of America. Boston has always been a revolutionary town steeped in deep history that is impossible to escape, and I find the soul of the city echoing through my actions every day.

Today I want to kick off a fun new series with you, sharing My Boston and how I learned to fall in love with different neighborhoods in my city.

As I try out new places, experience new things, and buy from new retailers; I will be sharing my experiences with you in a “By Neighborhood” post series.

Kicking off this series I’m sharing 5 Things I Love About Boston.

It is incredibly healthy. I love seeing bikers, runners, and even the occasional roller blader getting their exercise in on the esplanade every morning, and I love the accessibility I have to fresh and healthy food here. Plus, being around such healthy humans makes me a lot less likely to fall off the wagon ;).
It’s America’s Walking City. It’s pretty remarkable that I can walk from my favorite restaurant in Southie to my favorite cannoli in the North End in 45 minutes. This makes Boston an excellent travel destination because you don’t need to worry about a rental car.
Spring, summer, and fall are absolutely radiant. (Sorry, I cannot say the same about Boston winters).
History is inescapable. The Old City Hall and State House are tucked in between skyscrapers; and Revolutionary heroes Paul Revere and Samuel Adams are buried right downtown on the city’s built in map-The Freedom Trail.
Variety. You can watch the world class Boston Pops one night and then head to Fenway to catch a Sox game the next. Boston is full of unexpected things and unless you want to party until 4am… I promise we can find something for you here.

Thank you all for following along on my adventure of falling in love with my own city. I can’t wait to share all the things I love about it with you.

xo, C

Get a kick start on planning your trip on MassVacation.com!

White and Blue

Friday night I’m going on a little cruise around the Boston Harbor with some friends to watch the sunset and fireworks to kick off the Fourth weekend and plan on wearing this blue and white ensemble (#spoilers). Harbor cruises are one of my favorite summertime activities in Boston! I love wearing red, white, and blue together; but I wanted to put together something sophisticated that would work for the adults-only boat and also if we went out afterward. I knew I wanted to wear pants and flats so I didn’t have any wardrobe malfunctions thanks to wind or waves, so I chose to go with my white skinnys to make more of a holiday statement than classic blue jeans. I had been eyeing these navy flats from J.Crew factory for a couple months and just finally bought them during a sale, so I’ve been itching to wear them out as much as possible!

Thanks for reading!
xo, C

MFA

As I mentioned on Instagram earlier this week, the Museum of Fine Arts is my absolute favorite museum in Boston. As a self-taught artist with a penchant for American Art, the MFA is naturally one of my favorite attractions in the city. Housed inside a gorgeous Neoclassical building is one of the largest and most comprehensive art collections in the Americas. The exterior (where I took my outfit photos) is majestic and stately; like a castle dropped in the middle of Huntington Avenue. Their sprawling Art of the Americas wing is absolutely transcendent, and features everything from the gorgeous portraits of John Singer Sargent to the New England landscapes of Fitz Henry Lane and Thomas Sully’s Passage of the Delaware (you really cannot escape Colonial History in this city, no matter how hard you may try). The Contemporary Art Collection is another can’t miss, showcasing neon lights, Andy Warhol, and modernist sculpture alike. By far my favorite room in the MFA is the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Gallery. Impressionism is one of my personal favorite art movements and the MFA has a spectacular collection of some of my favorite artists (Van Gogh, Degas), and one of the largest collections of Monet outside of France, which is pretty rad, especially for a Monet aficionado like myself (isn’t everyone a Monet aficionado at heart?). With such an enormous and extensive collection of art that transcends time and geography, I’m constantly finding paintings I had never seen before and falling in love with recent acquisitions. This time I happened to see Expulsion from the Garden of Eden for the first time ever and it totally took my breath away. I stood in front of it in awe for a good five minutes before I could even begin to go further in depth into its beauty (and then later went back for another look after we had already left the wing… Sorry, Mac).

“I am not what I am”

The MFA also has a constant rotation of fun, relevant, and important Exhibitions come through. Two of my past favorites were Hippie Chic and Hollywood Glamour– both fashion exhibits that showed fashion of a particular era as a crucial element of art. Naturally, I was in heaven at both of them. Until August 9th, the museum is home to an extensive collection of works by Hokusai, the internationally renowned Japanese artist. Almost everyone will recognize Under the Wave off Kanagawa, his most famous piece. I was so excited to view his extensive works that spread over his lengthy career, and the exhibit most certainly did not disappoint.

“Doesn’t that ceiling ever just make you want to cry?”

“I don’t think she knows how to knock”

The other girl in the pictures is my sister/best friend Michaela, frequently referred to as ‘Mac’. We do pretty much everything together (within reason, as she actually lives on the North Shore), including museum trips. Sisters make for perfect traveling companions, as you’ll always have someone who is down to talk pretentiously about paintings and then turn around and take artsy instagrams on the staircase. It’s also pretty sweet to have someone snap a candid of you across the room or not judge you when you want to go back to your hotel and change outfits in the middle of the day. She’s also my number one photographer and a pretty great person in general, so since she’s such a major part of my life she’ll probably make quite a few appearances around here in the future!

I shared this skirt a couple months ago in this post, and it quickly became one of my favorites. I love the shape, detail, color, and versatility of it. It can easily be taken from day to night, or from work to weekend. I also love how a change in top can totally change the vibe of the outfit. I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for the fact that this bucket bag is in approximately 75% of my outfits. It’s just so great that I use it all the time. I love that its so on trend, but the nude color goes with almost every outfit. It’s a great every day bag- I throw all of my stuff in without it bulging at all or losing its shape with use!

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!
xo, C

Head of the Charles Regatta

This past weekend was the 50th Head Of The Charles Regatta and in true New England fashion, the other Bostonians and myself gathered on the banks of the Charles for two days of racing and other cherised collegiate traditions. Some of my favorite merchandisers included Naked juice, Brooks Brothers, and an intriguing Boston 2024 booth campaigning for their summer olympics bid! Of course, nothing compares to the Harvard campus in autumn, and the foliage was the perfect backdrop for such an esteemed event.

Here are a few pictures taken with my iPhone 6, I am beyond obsessed with the 8-megapixel camera and the quality pictures it produces!