Out And About: With Swoon At Boston's ICA

May 15, 2012

On Mother's Day morning, I was served coffee in bed and then taken to Boston's ICA for a dose of contemporary art. Upon entering the beautifully designed building we were greeted with an amazing mural by Swoon, a street artist specializing in wheatpaste prints and intricate paper cutouts. Her Boston ICA installation represents humanity's relation to Earth. Not only is the entire wall boldly detailed with pattern and color; a long paper streamer connected to the wall guides you around the corner to a tall bamboo sculpture that can be viewed at multiple levels from within a glass elevator. The sculpture is just as intricate and complicated as the mural. If you haven't seen Swoon's Boston installation, you must do it, as well as the current exhibit: Figuring Color.

Many thanks to my hubby, Max, Ben and Zoe for making my Mother's Day so special.

Check out this this Swoon piece. Do any of you, Cambridge or Somerville locals, know what building it's painted on?

I do!

Out And About: Troquet Restaurant

April 11, 2012

Last Friday, my husband and I hosted a surprise birthday dinner for his mom at Troquet, one of our favorite Boston restaurants. The combination of great friends, delicious food, and curated wines marked the evening as a true celebration. Chef Scott Hebert created a tasting menu for our party of 8, so we could sample some of his amazing dishes. Each course was painstakingly prepared, beautifully presented and was extraordinarily tasty. Between the the ever flowing glasses of perfectly paired wines, I was fortunately able to snap photos of the food and guests celebrating a special birthday. Take a look:

Many thanks to Troquet and its staff for making the evening very special for all of us.

Happy Birthday, Natalia.

Out And About: In Hayes Valley, San Francisco.

February 25, 2012

Pop up retail, food trucks and coffee ritual sites make one the most captivating cities in the U.S., San Francisco, even MORE interesting. Where the central freeway once stood, green ways, benches and random shops abound, adding to the vibrant marketplace atmosphere. On a recent visit to SF my husband and I had a chance to catch up with a good friend who showed us all the hip and happening places in Hayes Valley. Please join me on a mini tour:

Ritual Coffee, Aether Apparel, San Francisco Food Trucks

Out And About: "Derrière" Restaurant, Paris

January 19, 2012

This week's Out And About features Derrière, a restaurant my husband and I dined at while visiting Paris past summer. The eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories artfully arranged in its many rooms make the experience feel more like dining at your coolest friends' house. At the end of a narrow hallway on the second floor, there's an antique mirrored armoire which, upon opening, leads to a secret fumoir. After savoring our meals we ventured through the secret door for a nightcap, complimentary champagne and some intriguing conversations with an array of interesting people dropping in as the evening progressed. Take a look at quite possibly the coolest restaurant I've ever been to...

Derrière, 69, rue des Gravilliers, 75003; (33-1) 44-61-91-95. Métro: Arts et Métiers; derriere-resto.com.

Out And About: A South End J.E.M.

November 15, 2011

This week's Out and About features J.E.M. located in the South End of Boston. The moment you step inside, you're surrounded by an eclectic mix of vintage pieces, unique designs and original art, all curated by owner Jane Miller, a furniture and interiors designer. A unique urban aesthetic reveals itself through the art and artifacts she features in her shop. Take a look at J.E.M.: