A New Wing on the MFA Gives Art an Edge

The MFA (Museum of Fine Arts Boston) is right out my back door and even though I have a friend that interns there, an understanding of French Modern Art and I'm bored hanging out on campus most Saturdays, I have only been to the MFA once--- for class. So I set out with two friends (a history education major and a friend desperate to spend some time away from homework) to the see the new American Wing on the MFA.

Let's just say that they used their $500 million dollars well. It's gorgeous! It's a mix of old and new architecture and the American Wing really highlighted some of Boston's older celebrities; John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Singleton Copley. We spent a few hours in the American Wing, then Impressionism through Contemporary. I stopped off to see a Gauguin that I had learned about in the Modern Art class in Paris. We also made it to the Avedon Fashion 1944-2000 Special Exhibit, which was stunning fashion photography.

So if you're stuck in Boston, especially this winter, I would highly recommend the Boston MFA. It's got art, architecture, cozy cafe, and a lot of class.

Mark'It: Is Four Loko a 'Trick or Treat'?

Four Loko, what many college kids are discovering, is a special treat for Halloween. It's an energy drink, flavored in delicious candy flavors, and gives you a buzz for $2.49! But this "treat" for of-age Halloween party goers has landed numerous college kids in the hospital. We got a formal warning from BU about the dangers of Four Loko and other energy/alcoholic drinks. The New York Times published an article, citing Four Loko as a culprit in deceptive marketing practices. But how much responsibility falls on the consumer?

We debated this in Consumer Behavior class-- we had a nice mix of budding marketing professionals (well aware of the guidelines of deceptive marketing) and the target consumer (40 college-aged students).

For those PRO deceptive marketing practices:
-The Four Loko packaging is almost indistinguishable from other energy drinks or even fruit drinks
-Four Loko can be found next to the Smirnoff Ice's (containing 4-5% alcohol, while Four Loko contains 11%)
-The price point makes it accessible to, and even targets specifically, college-aged (or younger) drinkers (aka the least experienced)

For those AGAINST deceptive marketing:
This argument is mostly constructed on the belief that Consumers should be responsible for knowing the consequences of what they drink/consume
-The alcohol content is very visibly displayed at the point of purchase
-The top of the can states "this drink contains alcohol"
-People that have tried it claim that "It doesn't taste good. You know that it has alcohol"

Some of the most interesting topics were whether or not the consumer is aware but just doesn't care. In college, the perception of blacking out is that it is fairly common practice. People often brag about blacking out, so this is a guaranteed way to black out for $5. Another point is that college students consumers, independently, a lot of caffeine and alcohol, so why is there such an uproar about consuming them at the same time? Caffeine is an "up-er" and alcohol is a depressant. Most people start to feel the effects of alcohol "down-ers" so that they know they are getting drunk. But caffeine counter-acts this process and leaves the consumer a "raging drunk", literally.

But who's responsible? Should companies put this on the market? People are ordering Red Bull & Vodka, so why not package it, mass distribute it, and sell it for $2.50? Or should consumers have full control over what they are "consuming"? Who are they really targeting, 21+ or -21?

I feel like it's all quite simple. The drink is called Four Loko, "Four Crazies" and it's sold in liquor stores-- It's not for a calm night in. Also, energy drinks and alcohol-- it just sounds like a terrible idea.

The Greatest Thing Since Online Shopping...

Well maybe that's a stretch...but I just received 2 online magazines! I am used to an "online magazine" either looking like a PowerPoint presentation or a huge PDF of magazines pages that look like they are ready for the printer. But these magazines were different! They were interactive; allowing me to "turn" the pages (even adding in the "turning page noise") and embedded streaming videos into the content! Has a regular magazine ever really spoken to you?!!?

Now the 2 I received were rather small and specialized; BU Well News November and Survey Magazine. But they worked great and probably cut down on most of the costs, especially the BU Well News which is produced by students. In comparison the BU magazines is less sophisticated than the Survey Magazine (which is produced professionally) but it has it's perks. From working for the BU Buzz, BU's first student-run lifestyle print magazine, I know that there are very talented magazine layout designers on campus, as well as, some aspiring technical, graphic designers. BU should start recruiting for their next edition! They also need some pictures! The colors were vivid and the words looked crisp, so I think uploading a few more photos would really add a lot.

Sorry publishers (between online magazines and Kindles...)-- I think interactive online magazines are the wave of the future!

Mark'It: Sponsor a Cause, Recall with a Feeling

I recently ran Tufts Healthcare's Women's 10K in Boston. It's my second year running it and I would like to boast that I improved my mile time from a 7:09 to a 7:07! I also achieved this year's running goal-- having my name announced at the finish line. It was a proud moment!! But after the race, I was charged with feel good endorphins and ready to attack the "recovery" tables. After crossing the finish line, they have you walk your way around the Public Gardens, handing you water and leading you to the home stretch of "recovery" tables. These tables are stocked with the most delicious recovery treats any runner could hope for...or at least every exhausted woman that just completed the race. Bananas, oranges, bagels, Powerade, juice, etc. But I skip to the gold mine-- mini Luna bars. Luna bars are delicious power bars/granola bars for women. And what could be a better place to promote Lunas than at a Women's 10k! They are able to capture 99% of the given population at the race with free samples. Delicioussss!

I also really liked that they had tables set up for the general public with taste-tests and free coupons. It seemed to draw a crowd. At many of the tables, I was handed a "runner package" or full sized products and coupons for future purchases. Why not?! I'm their target customer, in their face, and my defenses are down...I'll basically eat anything.

This extends one step further into sponsorship. All of these brands really sponsor Tufts Women's 10k as a source of long term advertising. They hope that when I am fondly remembering my 10k race, their brand will somehow be recalled with a mix of feel good endorphins and post-race hunger. And you know what-- It works...I tried these a week after the race...mini Lunas in the supermarket!!!

New Luna Minis

Mark'It: Gatorade is the new Big Brother

According to this Wall Street Journal article, Gatorade is trying to break into clicks of their drinkers via social media. They have "Mission Control" which alerts Gatorade whenever their brand name comes up on your wall or tweet. Then they assess a need to respond with a high-five or interject with a counterargument. Who do they want to be; the popular kid or the teacher's pet? We all know in high school (that's their main target in this article) the popular kids know that they are always being talked about --good or bad-- but accept that any attention is better than none.

So Gatorade is using social media to monitor and correct their brand image immediately instead of investing in a multi-million dollar repositioning advertising campaign. Cost savvy?? You betcha. Creepy? Absolutely. Genius? We shall see.

But if we think about it realistically-- social media, for the most part, is public information. So if I can broadcast my opinions of products to hundreds of my friends, they are entitled to theirs. Once it's an my wall-- it's for anyone to see (and "Like").

Gatorade's 'Mission': Sell More Drinks
September 14,2010 : Wall Street Journal
By VALERIE BAUERLEIN
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703466704575489673244784924.html

Skitch it, Snip it, Snap it!

When I was interning for my first website, my boss told me about a Mac tool for "cutting" images right off of your computer screen-- apparently Macs all have this awesome tool. Then one day I found the Window's version, called Snipping Tool. It takes anything off of your screen and makes it a .jpeg. Unfortunately it also only cuts in a square and comes with a big red boarder around it. Not so classy-- but then I got an email about this new product for bloggers: Screen Capture Software

The Best Part:
a) I love cropping random images from my screen shot
b) I was contacted and asked to sponsor this on my blog
c) someone is reading my blog
d) I am officially a blogger!

Bringing Sexy Back

I have heard it a few times in passing but I never really stopped to question "sexy" as a business adjective until Michael Porter, yes from Porter's 5 Forces, described an industry as "sexy". It's come up in business classes ever so rarely: "sexy" companies, "sexy" strategies but what does it really mean? In context, professors usually pull out "sexy" when they are describing a business that is successful, innovative, and attractive to investors. Here "sexy" makes sense: "sexy" = attractive. But do we need to take it that far? Attractive is really an influential enough word to describe a business. My professors must really just love, or lust, after these businesses. I mean maybe my relationship with Case studies would develop that much too if I talked about them to 150 students, every semester. Someday, hopefully soon, I will find "sexy" as a multiple choice answer on my test and then maybe highlighted in a textbook but until then, I'll watch the Porter's Five Forces video one more time to hear Mr. Porter say "sexy" with a straight face.

Michael Porter bringing sexy back

Mark'It: Sold Out of Sweets!

I finally broke down and went to grab some Swedish Fish from the CampusCo. in the GSU on BU's campus...they were out.

Sold out? Out of Stock? Never carried them? I didn't stick around to find out.

Dear Swedish Fish,

Next time you go plastering those delicious fish candies all over my campus-- KEEP THEM IN STOCK! My craving hit and there was nothing to satisfy it!

Marketing Campaign: DEAD...or should I say, All fish AFLOAT

Sincerely,
Craving-some candies customer

Mark'it: Swedish Fish

Fish are spawning their way up Comm Ave and on to dozens of bus stops. It all started with one fish on the sidewalk outside of the Kenmore Classroom Building.

Now we've got fish on Kenmore Square's Homelessman's suitcase...

Park Drive bus stop

and Mass Ave bus stop.


Where are they all going? Who is posting fish all over the city? What's the message? I'm surely intrigued...here are some hypotheses:

Someone at Cadbury knows my occasional weakness for Swedish fish so they put them outside of Campus Convenience stores to increase impulse purchasing. But that only explains some of the locations...so that's out.

Another fish-fan start-up business is trying co-promoting their business with Swedish fish. Possible, but they are only promoting the fish at this point.

Someone really doesn't like Swedish Fish. I only say this because on Park Drive, the fish is dead.

Cadbury is revamping their Swedish Fish product to become a more talked about brand.
This seems to be a trend in advertising that I first witnessed in Paris. Company put up a "first round" of posters with a "hook", usually an attention getting picture or phrase, then a week or so later, they put up the "second round" of the campaign that explains the meaning of the first. It really peaks interest and it was all anyone could talk about for days after, "I figured out what that poster meant...". And since these ads seemed to be heavily displayed on bus routes and campus sidewalks, do they want the elusive (18-24 year olds) to become Fish Fans?

Check out their website: http://www.swedishfish.com/

What did I eat for lunch? The Finest Foodies gather at Fenway

I'm becoming a Food Festival fanatic! Maybe its sunny days and unseasonably warm weather, but I am loving being outside and enjoying food. This weekend I wrnt to the Phantom Gourmet Food Festival around Fenway Park. We got there early this time to assure ourselves adequate elbow room and food samples-- we were prepared for another Dessert Disaster (See Dessert Showcase post).

We were gathered at the top of Lansdowne St with hundreds of Foodies; dressed in purple costumes, with purple boas, or purple wigs. I was well equip with a water bottle. The blue tented stands lined one side of the street and open bars and restaurants lined the other. We funneled down the middle, stopping at almost every stand to grab, taste, swap, and grab some more. There was no real rhyme or coherence to the progression of food so we just tasted tacos, meatballs, and chocolate cake in three bites. It was amazingly well managed chaos. These vendors were well prepared with tons of food, tiny samples, plastic forks, dishes, and napkins. The whole experience was one of gluttony and glory.

Some of my stand outs were: New England clam chowder (voted best in New England), meatballs, pulled pork (i had been craving it), and a Fluffer Nutter cupcake. But here is my issue-- I couldn't tell you ANY of the businesses that made these. None of the brands stuck out in my mind and I don't have a business card or photo to match up. At the entrance, they give you a list of vendors/businesses that will be there. Some (but very few) are local Boston names that are impossible to miss, but most are small mom'n'pop shops in the suburbs that really make great food. So how do they get their brand/restaurant name to stick in my head long after I leave the festival?? How do they assure that I come back or order from them next time?? These businesses know food-- but they don't know how to market themselves.

First technique: one business put the piece of chocolate on a business card and offered 15% off
(in store) with the card. This way, I've got the name, location, website, and an incentive to keep the card. But out of 50 booths-- one did this.

Second\ technique: I had to sign a mailing list to get a free sample bottle of Pineapple hot sauce. Perfect-- they have my email, but how many people want to wait in line to get a sample? And NO ONE I was with put down their real email, myself included. I didn't even get to taste the product so there is no way I'm getting spammed by them.

Third technique: napkins with logos on them. About 1/4 of the booths had this and as soon as I ate the sample and wiped my mouth, I threw away the napkin, whoops!

Fourth technique: business card on the table to grab along with your sample. Yeah right, I'm focused on the food and only the food.

Fifth technique: signage! One pizza place (Flatbreads, see Bowling post) brought a fake brick oven and parked it next to the stand. Attention getting-- but maybe not memorable.

Most didn't even try. Their signs were hidden on the bottom or back of the booth (no visibility). Some might say that if the food is good enough, you'll remember the name but honestly 50 samples in 2 hours. I am amazed that I could remember how to get out of there. SO, assuming these restaurants want to be remembered as the 'best of the best' around Boston, they need to stand out in our minds!!

My suggestions: I think that along with the list of businesses, Phantom Gourmet should each write a quick blurb about what they are serving and one differentiating factor. For example, one stand had cupcakes-- with ice cream filing and over 10 flavors. Now if that was attached to the business name, I would definitely be able to connect the two. Also, I think that each stand should have someone handing out business cards after people get their food. Most people eat it right in front of the stand, so after they toss the plate-- hand them a card before they move on.

In the interest of being green-- maybe everyone could get a platter or silver ware at the start of the festival (included in the $50 ticket price, of course). Stands could serve cafeteria style or on napkins for quick grabbing.

One brand that I did remember was Sugar, the makers of the Fluffer Nutter Cupcake. We talked to the woman in the booth and then I ran into two young kids in baker's uniforms working the crowds with some cookies. They proudly announced that they worked for Sugar. Sugar is located where?? I have no idea but I researched it later to find out. That's the power of a really good cupcake.

Sugar Bakery
1884 Centre Street
West Roxbury, MA 02132
www.sugarbakery.net

Running with Charles

Boston is definitely a runners city. Not only do we have the Boston Marathon, but there are plenty of hidden running paths where you are more likely to run into a duck than a car or see a sailboat rather than stop-and-go traffic. My favorite run is the one around the Charles River. I start on campus and make my way into Cambridge, loop around the Museum of Science, and head back through the lush Esplanade. I catch glimpses of the North End Bridge, State House, and finally the Citgo sign, which means that I am almost home. Running around the paths (dirt or paved) is simple to follow and it's never too crowded like Newbury Street. The view is what keeps me trucking along my 5.4 mile route...


There is one catch...the wind. I've discovered that whichever way that you run, the wind is always in your face. Some days its a struggle to get moving! But I like to try and chase the sailboats or crew boats in the morning. For me, it's a motivator to keep going forward because I know that if I turn back...it'll just hit me from the other side.

Dessert Showcase and Groupon

I've visited the Chocolate Buffet in Boston, countless Paris chocolate shops, Belgium for Easter, and Geneva, Switzerland (highest consumption of chocolate per person in Europe), so it should come as no surprise that I jumped at the chance to go to the New England Dessert Showcase in Boston. I had tentative plans to go but I solidified my decision when I received a Groupon for Showcase tickets at 50% off! I rallied the troups (5 of my foodie friends) and we bought up a bunch of passes.

It ran from 12-5 on a Saturday at the Westin in Copley so we wandered from campus to Copley around 1pm. As we headed in the building, we were met by a guard that informed us that the entrance was being closed for 2 hours due to high traffic and the line was being broken up. WHAT!? We wouldn't get our dose of dessert until 3pm-- no, we decided to wait. Well the line started at the hotel, looped through the mall into another hotel, out the hotel, around the block, back into the 2nd hotel, back through the mall, and in front of the Westin again. INSANE! We decided that the only way to get in was to wait-- or pull a college-move and cute the line. We waited until most of the people had dispersed or stormed off in aggravation before we made our move to the front of the line.

Our tactics worked and we made it into the glorious room of dessert tables and samples. It was a smorgasbord of cakes, cupcakes, chocolate mousse, candy, ice cream, pie, cookies, biscotti, chocolates, pound cake, croissants...I could continue but I'll leave it up to your imagination.

Highlight:
Chart House's Molten Lava Cake (mini muffin size) with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and heath bar crunch (15 minute wait)
World's Largest Boston Cream Pie
Chocolate Ginger Mousse with Mango (I don't like mango or ginger but others said it was good)
Bakery Cafe Chocolate Cupcake
Tre Corsi Anise Biscotti or Lemon Biscotti
Spiced Nuts--which I used as topping for a creamy chocolate ice cream
The Brewster's Cow Beer Infused Ice Cream (Sam Adams + Coffee...terrible but some of the other flavors were better)

So after this lovely sugar high-- how could anyone be mad about a little wait at the door??! right? NO WAY! People were pissed so naturally I assumed the blame would fall on NE Dessert Showcase or the Westin, but I received an apology (and optional refend, which I declined) from a different source the following Monday...

Groupon. Since most of the customers were storming around on Saturday with print-out coupons from either Groupon or LivingSocial, I guess they received some hefty hate-mails. But honestly, it isn't their responsibility! It's not! Read the fine print, dear. Technically the venue gives Groupon the right to sell tickets online and should receive a total number of vouchers sold at the close of the online sale day. So even if, they oversold their capacity, they should have known before. I talked to a vendor and she said they were expecting 5,000 people. 10,000 probably showed up. Another vendor said that it was absolutely insane and that he had never seen this many people here before. The NEDS was usually an industry event. So obviously dropping the ticket price by 50% increased demand by quite a bit. And posting it on LivingSocial (in July) and Groupon (in September) was a little over kill. This is apparently a really big issue with small businesses using Groupon as a Marketing tool. They often don't have the capacity to handle the increase in short-term demand-- the rush.

I still stand firm in believing that it is the responsibility of the venue to weigh the economic costs of deciding the advertise on Groupon. Businesses should be more knowledgeable about what they are signing up for-- and maybe THAT aspect is on Groupon to convey.

A New Self-Check Out for an Old Tradition

As an avid reader, it is slightly shocking that I have made it three years without stepping inside the Boston Public Library. It's literally in the middle of a hub of activity-- next to Newbury, across from Copley, and beside Boylston! Not anymore, my friend! I am now a BPL library card holder.



The library is giant (4 floors) and the architecture is impressive. All I needed was a school ID and a proof of address and I had access to 1.2 million books in Boston. The best feature is the self-check out, like at the grocery store but for books! You scan your card, your book, drop it on the slot so that it can be "measured" (?), and then carry it out. A tech-savvy library?! Is this their way to keep up with the digital age? Offer new tech-gadgets with the old traditional smell of books or offer a new way to self-check out a self-help book.

Boston Public Library
Copley Square
Boston, MA
www.bpl.org

Mark'it: Touchdown or throw down; Can men and women watch the game from the same couch?

I ran into a football player today, fully suited up and ready to tackle people in the middle of Copley square. Most people looked surprised that he was standing in a brown uniform with "Dove" written across his chest. I felt some mixed messages as well. Unmistakeably, he was from Dove chocolates but what was he doing in a football uniform? As he dropped a peanut butter Promise into my hand, he said "Just reminding women to take a break this football season too." Football & chocolate? Well, at least they are both brown but otherwise I don't see the connection. Football is about beer and wings and manly men things. Maybe women felt left out, maybe they wanted to be included on game day instead of an annoying distraction. Maybe Dove knows that women everywhere secretly love football but don't have a snack that fills their party bowl. Does the snack table really have room for a glass of red wine and a bowl of chocolates?

Here's the new Dove campaign: http://popsop.com/38482

Side note: Is it a sign that you eat too much chocolate when you get the same Dove message multiple times? Here's what Dove has to say:

"Too much of a good thing is wonderful."

Mark'it: A Market for Me

Along with my discoveries of around Boston, I want to highlight certain experiences from my perspective as a Marketing student. Marketing, advertising, social media are rapidly changing the way that businesses are communicating with consumers. Since I am studying Marketing in this hub of activity, I wanted to point out some of the greatest and/or worst tactics to grab college students, professionals, and Bostonian's attention.

Red Carpet Premieres and Giveaways

Boston isn't exactly Hollywood but it might as well be when it comes to being a college student. My roommate and I went to Collegefest at the Hynes Convention Center. All you need is a few bucks (or a free ticket!) and a college ID and you are throw into a world of free giveaways, pushy company reps, and total chaos. It's a two day event but we were lined up when it opened to secure our "free t-shirt" loot. They go the fastest, so you'd better get there early!

We visited tons of booths from local start-ups to national chains. Each wanted to fill our bags with flyers, coupons, and freebies all in exchange for one thing: our email. Booths have gotten smarter about the fake emails and started using...FACEBOOK! You have to "Like" the page via cell phone, text message, or on their computers. So basically-- I'm spamming myself and telling my facebook friends that I think it's cool. But out of all of the spam, I got 2 free t-shirts, tons of free drinks (healthy energy drinks), free candy, free pens, and free movie passes to see "The Social Network" for that evening. Oh, and I signed up to win 5 iPads!

The best was the pass to the free screening of the "The Social Network", in theaters Oct. 1st. The storyline follows the creator of Facebook from one night in his dorm at Harvard to the monstrous business that it is now. The movie had a ton of Boston landmarks, a few snide comments about BU, and a lot of local charm. It was amazing to see the inner working of Harvard students, they really recruit some genius students. After the film there was a Q&A with the screen writer, Aaron Sorkin and actor, Armie Hammer. Aaron said that the story was un-embellished but a collection of 4 versions of the story. Marc Zuckerberg was/is involved in 2 major lawsuits about Facebook, so this film taps into all of the sides. The film was really interesting and amazing to see Facebook from the other side of the screen. It was a little freaky though-- and I didn't sign on for about a day after (which in college time is really long). I'd definitely recommend it, but don't believe the BU diss-- we're wonderful.

AMC Boston Commons
175 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02111

The Ladies that Brunch

My Parisian pals and I took a trip to the South End (now known as Restaurant Row) for brunch at a French bistro to celebrate a friend coming to town. Walkable from Park or Copley T stations, it was my first time venturing in the South End of Boston. It has been drastically vamped up with brownstone renovations and a restaurant strip. It is truly a beautiful area, the SOHO of Boston, with streets lined with red-brick brownstones.

We brunched at Aquitaine on exquisite omelets, scones, potatoes, and bottomless cups of grapefruit juice and coffee. The omelets were stuffed with fresh veggies and French cheeses and we walked out stuffed, as well. The big brunch concept is surely not French, but the prix-fixe surely is ($9.95).

Aquitaine French Bistro
569 Tremont Street, South End
http://www.aquitaineboston.com/index.php

We then T'ed in over to Harvard Square and stopped in a bunch of boutiques and silly shops. My favorite being:

Cardullo's
Gourmet International Food Shop
6 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA
www.cardullos.com

This shop carried all of the products that we fell in love with in Europe. Turkish tea, nehaus chocolats (with speccaloos), Cadbury chocolate, London biscuits, Italian sauces...It's amazing that in Europe we searched for peanut butter, cake mix, and wheat thins , and now we're drooling over imported cheeses, chocolates, and teas!

Cannolis and Couture

First of all, I stole that title from the New York Times article, 36 Hours in Boston. But my friend and I decided to take a step back from the Italian pastries and pasta in Boston's North End and try boutique window shopping instead. We started with the bling...

Filthy Rich of Boston
236 Hanover Street, North End
filthyrichofboston.com
*It's a inexpensive jewelry store that make replicas of celebrity jewelry for you and me! Think everyone from Jackie O to Beyonce. It's SOOOO cute and reasonably priced!

We picked up a shopping guide and popped in a bunch of boutiques, stopped at a street fair, and read menus of the most delicious Italian food in Boston. We also fell in LOVE with Salem Street!! Best Boutiques, restaurants, and a cupcake shop! Head over from Hanover...

A Venetian palace in the middle of the Fens!

"You haven't been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum!?!" seemed to be the reaction for my friend and I as we talked to locals and tourists alike. Only a short walk from our apartment, the ISGM is situated in an ugly little building next to an ugly little park. Not exactly top of my list-- but she was an art collector and international traveler with incredible decorating skills.

We walked in and the ground floors immediately opens up to her Venetian courtyard filled with green, lush plants and a beautiful tile centerpiece. Obviously inspired by her trips to Venice, Cambodia, and many more European and Asian countries. It was the perfect tranquil getaway from cold, wildy Boston.

The rest of the three floors contain furniture, pictures, and objects of art from across the world. Its beautiful to see the difference in art from countries spanning from Asia to Northern and Central Europe.

My friend informed me that in her will she specified that nothing could be moved from where she originally displayed it in her home. She did have great taste and it really gave the museum flow and personality. It worked out great until the museum was raided of 13 artworks. Nothing has been put up to replace them but the FBI is still trying to get them back, with a $5 million reward for information. I'll keep my eyes peeled for old museum work hidden in some college student's apartment!


Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
280 Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 566-1401
*If your name is Isabella, you get in for free

"Make Life Sweeter...Eat Dessert First"

These are the wise words of the famous Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston. My friend and I headed down to the water front to visit the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). We walked the long way from South Station, passing the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The ICA is weird, grey, ugly building with a kick ass view of the waterfront. Neither of us are particularly into contemporary art so we just kind of observed the strange art and stared out the giant glass window at the boats. This isn't my first time to the museum. I visited with my mom a year ago and it really does open your mind. This exhibition was all tiny replicas of clothing and toys that were supposed to represent a loss on innocence while growing up or the reality of the working world. Because everything was so small, it was supposed to change your perspective on things. Oh-- yes, Mom the Sugar Cube & Oil video was still there!!

We needed some serious sugar after that experience so we walked over to Flour Bakery & Cafe. They line the entrance with a giant chalkboard listing of killer sandwiches and baked goods. The display cases are even better. I'm talking about brick-sized brownies! We opted for cookies; lemony-cornbread, milk chocolate-hazelnut, and loaded (chocolate chunks, nuts, coconut, and like 10 more delicious things). We managed to save them for our roommates, but just barely!

Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 478-3100
Public transit: South Station

12 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA 02210-1224
(617) 338-4333
Public transit: South Station

Lunch Truck Lineup

Ever since I saw the commerical for the Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race", I have wanted to see and taste the lunch truck culture. Now that I am in Boston, I am on the hunt for lunch trucks (and secretly hoping that Food Network parks its trucks nearby). On my way to an interview in Kendall square I stumbled upon 4 lunch trucks lined up on MIT's campus.

T stop: Kendall/MIT

I didn't taste any of the food since I was in "interview attire" but this guy seems to have a lot to say about the food...http://www.yelp.com/biz/mit-trucks-cambridge

MIT also provides a listing of the local Food Trucks
http://dining.mit.edu/venues-menus/all-venues

A Fresh Take on Pizza & Bowling

My friend invited me out to pizza & bowling in Cambridge. Bowling alleys used to be scuzzy and filled with smoke but as I've discovered that without all that smoke and grime, bowling alleys are a really fun place to be.

We put down our names for an alley and sat down for some pizza while we waited. (If the lanes look busy, put down your name and order some pizza! It took us almost an hour to get a lane.) The tables are made from bowling lanes and the seats are old bowling booths. The bar stretches along the side of the lanes so you can watch people bowl, or we chose a booth facing the giant brick oven-- it looked like a brick igloo. The pizza is made from fresh, local ingredients. We order a summer vegetable pizza which was amazing!! Each veggie has a great taste and crunch but don't expect 8 triangle slices, they have their own way of slicing up a pie. The beers are also local brew and we had a few of those too. I loved that most of the ingredients were from local farmers and organic. I think that more businesses should support farmers markets and buy local produce. It's a great promotional point too!

The bowling is candle pin. Smaller balls, smaller pins. You get 3 rolls to knock down all the pins. Remember to keep score though, this isn't automatic. Also-- don't forget to "push the button" after your turn.

Love it!?
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The Flatbread Company @ Sacco's Bowl Haven
45 Day St. (Davis Square)
Somerville, MA, 02144