the end of a short affair

Last week in Boston. Last few days, really, as I am leaving on Saturday. Saying goodbye to people and places: making pasta from scratch with E.G. and R.R.; going to see M.D.'s play; shabu and frozen yogurt with H.; lunch at Dave's Fresh Pasta with M.D.; drinks on Friday with E.G. and R.R.

Today I got a soy mocha at Cafe Vanille and then wandered around Beacon Hill. What a beautiful neighborhood. Neither pictures nor words do this area justice. I am completely transported when I walk around this historic place with its cobblestone streets and rich red-brick rowhouses. It is especially beautiful in the Fall when the houses are complemented by a chill in the air and trees that appear to be on fire due to the bold colors of their leaves. So New England. Such a perfect Autumn day.

It was hard, but I finally broke myself away from Beacon Hill to visit the Charles River. I sat in a wooden deck chair and watched the Red Line shuttle back and forth between Kendall/MIT and Charles/MGH. I remembered the first time I walked by the Charles with L...

I continued to walk along the river bank. I rode the flying fox (mini zip line) beside the playground. I crossed over the Charles River to Cambridge and walked down Massachusetts Ave to Kendall Sq. Then Central Sq. Then I meandered until it was time to meet C.L.J. at Baraka Cafe. Rose lemonade is amazing.

After dinner we had Toscanini's, of course. We talked for so long, and then she rode off on her bike towards Kendall and I hopped on the T back to Somerville.

On being 20 24

Yesterday was my 24th birthday and the day was lovely.

The morning started with a visit from H. She brought me a birthday cupcake and gave me a cuddly brown cable-knit sweater. We then popped around the corner for some coffee and treats at 3 Little Figs, my bakery obsession.

After breakfast we took a nice stroll around Davis Square and then jumped on the T to head down to H's corner of the city. There we parted ways and I headed to the Isabella Gardner Museum. If you ever visit Boston I highly recommend visiting this museum. It is in an elegant four story Venetian palace with a statue-filled courtyard in the middle. Three floors are open to the public and on each floor there are themed rooms, such as the Dutch Room and the Titan Room, filled with pieces of art and history. I slowly wandered through the museum, often sitting to take everything in, and pretending it was my home. I spent almost 3 hours there, and I could have spent even more. Dreamy.

After the museum I headed to the top of the Prudential Building (otherwise known as The Hub) for a decadent snack of crème brûlée and Laguvulin 16 whiskey and a breathtaking view of the city.


For dinner I met up with my roommate I. for a sushi feast at Thelonius Monkfish, followed by ice cream at one of the top 5 creamery's in the states: Toscanini's.

After dinner we headed home. I built a sheet fort and snuggled in to watch some comfort-Netflix and drink some chocolate milk. A little before midnight L. called to wish me a happy birthday, and I talked with him for a while as the day faded into September 28th.