Boston by Foot Walking Tour: The North End and Victorian Back Bay

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I really love my architectural walks.  I think in my previous life I was meant to be a builder or an architect of some sort.  I remember being a kid and looking at buildings, libraries, my school, restaurants, shopping malls from a pram’s perspective and wondering how they were made, who made them, why they were made etc.  For a lil kid – there was a lot of ‘deep thoughts’ happening.  There still are let me tell you. 

I know the City of Toronto does some cool walking tours but I haven’t attended one.  Mainly because the one’s I want to go on always fall on a Sunday and this girl always works on Sundays.   It’s my Monday in my world. 

Check out the City of Toronto’s Walking Tour’s here:  http://www.heritagetoronto.org/discover-toronto/walk  I’m determined at one point this summer to at least get to one walk or two in my hometown City of Toronto.

When I was in Boston I found a neat lil company by the name of Boston By Foot that offered cultural and architectural walks of Boston’s City Centre.  I decided to take two tours.  One of the North End and the other of the Victorian Back Bay.

The North End

America’s oldest neighbourhood is a delightful labyrinth of narrow streets and exotic marketplaces. The walking tour of the North End makes the perfect companion to the Heart of the Freedom Trail continuing on through second mile of Boston’s famous historic walk.

A gateway for immigrants from around the world, the North End is also home to the Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, and the Paul Revere House. Isolated from the rest of downtown by the construction the old Central Artery in the 1950′s, the North End remains largely preserved from modern development.

Upon entering the North End, I was greeted by the new North End parks of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. Walking among the Italian markets and downtown Boston’s largest collection of colonial buildings, I heard the story of a changing neighbourhood from the time of Cotton Mather, to the exploits of Paul Revere, the rise of the Fitzgeralds, the fall of molasses and present day regentrification.

Victorian Back Bay

On this tour I learned about the filling of the Back Bay, the creation of the neighbourhood, and how this was enabled by the development of new technology in the mid-1800s. Designed to imitate the grand boulevards of Paris, the Back Bay is one of the few areas of Boston where the streets are straight and the sidewalks wide.

I joined my guide in front of Trinity Church and walked back in time to view splendid examples of Victorian architecture.

Boston’s Back Bay embraces one of America’s richest collections of art and architecture. The treasures of Back Bay and Copley Square include grand rows of Back Bay townhouses, Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, and New Old South Church.

Check out Boston By Foot’s website here:  http://www.bostonbyfoot.org/

Regular 2012 Season

May 1 – October 31

There are different meet up times for each of the tours – check ahead online or at the time of booking.

Duration: 1 hr. 30 min.

$12 adults

$8 children (6-12)

I would suggest giving the Docent’s a lil tip – they work for free!  For $12 I guarantee you will get your walking and cultural dose worth and more.  You can tell the Docent’s truly enjoy interacting with folks and teaching about Boston’s glory.  Pay it forward and give them a lil something to let them how much you appreciate their time.  It will make them smile.   

Thank you to Veronika for booking me on these tours as well as Michelle and Ellen for being amazing Docents while I was in Boston.  You made my trip an amazing architectural and cultural journey into Boston’s historical past!

Yours in travel,

Mel xo

Boston Chocolate Tours: BOSTON CHOCOLATE TOUR OF THE SOUTH END

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One of the best parts of my trip to Boston last November was the Boston Chocolate Tour I took of the South End of Boston.  It was such a blast and I got to meet some cool people too.  I love taking off the beaten track tours when I travel.  It gives me a real flavour of the neighbourhoods and a grass roots take from its locals.

The November Fall weather made for a lovely jaunt around town and the eating of crazy amounts of chocolate from some pretty swish boutique cafes and shops whilst I was on holiday.  On the tour be ready to pick up plenty of samples on the way, plus tips on tasting, buying and storing fine chocolate.  Each participant also receives a VIP Card, good for discounts and VIP treatment at local gourmet businesses.

I was glad that the leader gave us a Ziploc bag that came along with my goodie bag at the start of our journey.  I came with a full belly but man I can eat only so much chocolate.  I’m glad I saved the lion’s share of the samples.  They came to good use when I was able to eat them for dinner on my flight back to Toronto.    Holla!

BOSTON CHOCOLATE TOUR OF THE SOUTH END runs on Saturdays at 2:00PM

 The exclusive 2 ½-hour walking tour highlights the historic South End neighborhood. This area is home to elegant Victorian brick row houses, many dating from the 1800s, and one of the most diverse populations in Boston.

Some of the destinations we visited were:

 •Feature stop: ChocoLee  – this award winning chocolate shop is owned by Lee Napoli one of Yankee Magazine’s Top 5 Chocolate Makers

 •Enjoy chocolate heaven in the form of a homemade Oreo at a bakery owned by Celebrity Chef Joanne Chang

 •Yelp reviews call this hidden spot’s “chocolate chip cookies” to die for

 •A neighborhood landmark restaurant with a celebrity chef shares their special chocolate martini during their pajama brunch

 •The best homemade chocolate ice cream in Boston can be found at this Pizza restaurant

 •Enjoy cupcakes named The Madison, The Harriet and The Simon voted “The Best of Boston” by the Improper Bostonian

 •Rosie’s Bakery is not in the South End but their famous chocolate orgasm is and we know where to find and sample it.

The Boston Chocolate Tour of the South End meets on Saturday afternoon’s at 2:00PM at Code 10, 1638 Washington Street in Boston’s South End. The walk itself is moderate and it ends near the Boston Center for the Arts.

My favourite spot on the chocolate walking tour was a stop at the world renowned Flour Bakery.  The homemade Oreo Cookie were to die for and the gluten free brownies were enough to put me into diabetic shock.  I’m glad I indulged on the trip early on because tons of walking was needed to work that decadence off. 

I even found the book ‘Flour’ by Joanne Chang that housed the recipes for these two gorgeous creations.  It retails for $35.00 USD from Chronicle Books.  Check it out here:

‘Flour’ by Joanne Chang $35.00 USD from Chronicle Books

Advance tickets required for any of the Boston Chocolate Tours – tour size is limited to 14.  Check them out here:  http://www.bostonchocolatetours.com/tours/

Thank you to Victoria and Veronique for such a fun and highly educated chocolate walking tour!

Yours,

Mel xo

Women’s Crepe Tie-Belt Dresses from where? Um, Old Navy.

When my co-worker P and I were on our lunch break last week we happened to bump into a girl on the street with the cutest flower print dress.  I was actually surprised that I liked the dress because let’s face it I like my dark colours.  But I was so taken with the dress that I asked the girl where she got it from.

She said….’Old Navy’.   Old Navy???????  A store I have not physically got into in maybe 7 years.  Yes.  I never go in there.  I don’t know.  The quality of their pieces changed after they suckered us in with cheap prices for trendy every day clothes upon their arrival in Toronto 9 years ago.  I gave up on them once I moved to England.  When I came back…meh…there was always other stores I could find better less ‘boxy’ pieces in.

Then there was this dress that I bought for $20 on Thursday.

Women's Crepe Tie-Belt Dresses

fabric & care

•100% polyester.

•Hand wash.

•Imported.

overview

•Rounded neckline

•Elasticized empire waist and cuffs

•Tie-belt at waist

•Soft, lightweight crepe

•Smooth tricot lining

fit & sizing

•Fitted through body

•Hits above knee

I also noticed that ON had a bunch of other cool but edgy dresses too that are on sale this week.  Check it out!  I’m planning on adding a lil rocker edge to this dress.  It’s pretty but I want to look a lil badass too.  By the way, if a cashier doesn’t ask you for your email address – you get a $5 gift card, which I scored too.

Yours,

Mel xo

Florence and The Machine: ‘Never Let Me Go’

This has to be my favourite song on F&TM ‘Ceremonials’ album. I often listen to it on my way home from work.   It is so epic and an amazing way to end your work day especially when the day was ho – hum.  I always fly home from the subway when I hear it pounding through my iphone buds.

The video is quite grim – well obviously the song is sad.  In my mind I pictured the video to be more majestic and brightly coloured.

My mates and I are hoping to catch her this summer at some point.  Fingers crossed.

Yours,

Mel xo

Nautical Stripes

Sienna Miller films a commercial in London

I’m loving the nautical stripes for this season.  It’s very fresh and at the same time there is something a lil punk rock about it.  Maybe because in my mind I’d match a striped dress or skirt with either black flats, sandals or combat boots depending on the weather.

STRIPED DRESS $29 from Joe Fresh

Joe Fresh has some neat and pretty affordable nautical pieces this season.  I like the layering aspect of these dresses & skirts.  You could wear the pieces as stand alone dresses or with a legging or jeans.  Summer music festivals to summer picnics…these pieces would make for an easy fit.

MARINE DRESS $29 from Joe Fresh

The thing I really like about Joe is that they are affordable.  But that in turn makes it tricky too as the sizes go fast and if you are lucky to get stuff on sale it may not be in your size and picked over.  My suggestion is – if you see something you like, but it fast or it will be long gone.

STRIPED PENCIL SKIRT $19 from Joe Fresh

The Joe Fresh pieces also wash really well.  I like all the pieces here that I posted, but if  I can make a suggestion on what you should pick up this season it would be the Striped Pencil Skirt for $19.  I bought a similar one last year and I wore it all year in different variations.  For $19….even if you are on a budget it’s a sweet addition to your wardrobe.

Yours,

Mel xo

Call Me a Hipster If You Must: The Shins ‘Port Of Morrow’ Review

From Pitchfork:  http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16390-port-of-morrow/

The Shin's 'Port Of Morrow'

The Sopranos ended. The United States elected an African-American president. The global financial system more or less keeled over. The U.S. stopped sending people into space and ”got” Osama Bin Laden, both in the same year. Harry Potter peaced out– twice. Zach Braff’s career shit the bed. Martin Scorcese won an Oscar, finally. Jeff Mangum returned. R.E.M., LCD Soundsystem, the White Stripes– called it quits, all of ‘em. Michael Jackson died, and so did Whitney Houston. Pop music headed out to the club, mainstream hip-hop more or less went bust, people started buying more vinyl (and, to a lesser extent, cassettes), and “indie” culture traded its guitars for turntables (or, at the very least, pirated audio software and synthesizers that didn’t take up too much space in the bedroom).

A lot can happen in five years, the amount of time since the Shins released their last album, the eclectic and overlooked Wincing the Night Away. During that stretch, the band’s primary songwriter and sole constant member, James Mercer, also went digital. In 2010, he teamed up with Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton to form Broken Bells, a collaboration that has led to an album and an EP, both of which were light on things like “songs” and “choruses.” The problem with Broken Bells is that it took up so much of Mercer’s time and didn’t provide a proper outlet for one of big-tent indie pop’s strongest songwriters. For a few years, the idea of a new (never mind good) Shins album seemed unlikely. Mercer sounded hopelessly adrift.

A deep breath, then: James Mercer has returned to Earth. Port of Morrow, the Shins’ fourth studio album in 11 years, is a triumphant return from a project that once risked being reduced to an indie-went-mainstream tagline. It’s the perfect distillation of the Shins’ back catalog– the jangly, wistful airs of Oh, Inverted World, Chutes Too Narrow‘s genre-resistant playfulness, Wincing the Night Away‘s expansively detailed production. But in other ways, its colorful, detail-oriented approach sets it apart from anything Mercer’s done before.

Mercer invited a cast of characters both new (Janet Weiss, production wiz Greg Kurstin, singer/songwriter Nik Freitas) and old (Modest Mouse’s Joe Plummer, Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson, on-and-off supporting players Marty Crandall and Dave Hernandez) to realize his ornate pop-rock creations. All contributions are felt– you don’t need liner notes to tell how many people worked on this thing– but none more so than Kurstin’s. His multi-instrumental arrangements and behind-the-boards know-how are what make Port of Morrow one of 2012′s best-sounding records thus far. Every element here is tricked out for maximum emotional effect– experience total power-pop pleasure overload from “Simple Song”‘s acrobatic pile of guitars, get the chills from the drifting sea breeze-echo of “September”, and wrap yourself in “For a Fool”‘s string-laden lushness. Needless to say, these songs would sound great on Natalie Portman’s humongous headphones.

Of course, Kurstin wouldn’t matter if the raw materials weren’t so strong: Mercer (who also co-produced) delivers the goods, mostly by being himself. He’s either missed out on the last few years of indie’s ever-shifting microtrends or simply doesn’t care about “the conversation.” And thank fucking god for that. More so than any other Shins album, Port of Morrow doesn’t sound like it belongs to any particular decade or style, instead hopping around like some fully loaded AM radio dial that cranks out gem after gem. There’s the sugary new-wave “Bait and Switch”, “No Way Down”‘s meat-and-potatoes American pop-rock (right down to the “Jack & Diane”-biting guitar hook), the title track’s creeping psych-soul bombast. Most surprisingly, there’s “Fall of ’82″, a Steve Miller Band-meets-Chicago lite-rock hybrid– muted trumpet solo!– that also works as a “Summer of ’69″ update. (These are all good things.)

Lyrically, I’ve always thought of James Mercer as a cousin of A.C. Newman, another songwriter with a gift for spinning gold from the sounds from the past. Newman’s never been shy about writing kinda-nonsensical lyrics that simply sound good accompanying a solid melody (think “Sing Me Spanish Techno”, or “Submarines of Stockholm”). Although Wincing the Night Away had dark undertones drawn from Mercer’s personal life, he’s got a similar knack for writing beautiful words that don’t need to mean anything in particular. Along with its other strong points, Port of Morrow proves he hasn’t lost that talent, especially when rhapsodizing on matters of the heart. “Simple Song” and “Fall of ’82″ score points for sharp, nostalgic description, but “September” is the real winner, a straightforward stunner of stumbling affection with a shining pearl of a couplet buried within: “Love is the ink in the well/ When her body writes.”

Despite all the hullabaloo about band members getting “fired,” the fact is that Mercer isn’t a member of the Shins– he is the Shins, and he always has been. In a recent interview, he expressed his frustration over how to represent that specificity: “Bands I really loved were these auteurs who presented themselves as bands– Neutral Milk Hotel, the Lilys– and I just felt, ‘Why am I not allowed to do that?’” Consider Port of Morrow, then, the results of an auteur’s accepting that role while having a load of fun with his friends in order to realize it. Comeback stories don’t get much better than that.

Mary Jane’s

Christian Louboutin Lillian Mary Jane Platform Pumps Black

It’s an early Spring so that means it’s time to bust out a spring shoe.  Of course I can’t afford a beautiful Christian Louboutin Lillian Mary Jane Platform on my salary – but I can certainly swoon after one. I was just looking at my wardrobe today and realized I was rocking a lil classic Courtney Love-esque Hole type look.  Ruffled striped t-shirt, denim pleated mini, black tights and a Mary Jane pump from Aldo.  It’s a clean but pretty look for work.  Very comfy.  I love how a Mary Jane can make a statement – professional but still preppy cute. If you are not into a Mary Jane Pump – try a flat.  My friend T is a fan and has a lovely flat that she bought in the UK which I would love to get my hands on.  I  think they may be Clark’s.  J’aime.

I found a pair of MJ flats at Zara a few years ago in L.A. for $20.  They are perfect for a mini skirt, jeans and even a legging/mini combo.  Be it for work or for play a staple Mary Jane is a good investment.  Classic or a wedge can be somethings to consider as a good transition shoe from spring to summer be it on a bare leg or with tights.

Yours in fashion,
Mel xo

Imagine

Imagine (photo courtesy of Derek Crook)

I was out late last night with my girls having some drinks, eats and laughs. When we left the bar at 2 a.m. we walked out to a misty night. By the time I got to my home station – I walked out to a pea soup thick mist. It reminded me of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ video. In turn also a photo my friend Derek Crook took this week in London (as seen above). Beauty.

Yours,
Mel xo

Another reason I wish I still lived in the UK……

How good does this show look?

The Toronto Star: Sears aims for a new look – and new catalogue – ahead of Target’s launch

Sears aims for a new look – and new catalogue – ahead of Target’s launch

Written by:  Francine Kopun Retail Reporter

Shoppers across Canada are getting a peek at the new Sears today, between the pages of a glossy, 24-page fashion magazine featuring fedoras, caftans and maxi-skirts.

“It not only speaks to our refreshed sense of style, but also to the changes we are making throughout our stores. Today, when you come into Sears, you will notice these changes include a better, simpler shopping experience and finding exactly what you’re looking for, at competitive prices,” Calvin McDonald, president and CEO, Sears Canada Inc., writes in the premiere issue.

McDonald, who took the helm at Sears Canada last year, is trying to reposition the retailer to increase sales and profitability and meet the challenge of new competition from heavy hitter discount retailer Target, which plans to open up to 135 discount stores in Canada beginning in 2013.

McDonald is focused on improving customer relations with new training for sales associates, de-cluttering stores and improving merchandise.

“Great retailers have retail rhythm. We’ve lost that rhythm. We’ve got to get it back,” he says.

Especially since Target — as the name implies — is focused. The retailer of cheap and cheerful fashion and housewares is popular with an important demographic – new moms. Last fall, Target stoked a run on stores in the U.S. with a capsule collection of clothes, accessories, housewares and outdoor goods by the Italian fashion house Missoni.

In February, Target grabbed headlines with a pop-up store in Toronto’s fashion district, featuring a limited line of clothing by Jason Wu, the Taipei-born designer who made the chiffon dress Michelle Obama wore on her first night as First Lady.

The Sears book makes it clear that Sears intends to tangle with Target on the fashion front. The magazine is not your typical Sears flyer – it’s glitzy and large-format, more Holt Renfrew or Fashion Week than suburban-wear circa last century.

It includes fashion-forward looks put together with separates by Sears trend director Cynthia Florek, pairing floral scarves, coloured jeans and flats for chic soccer moms and maxi-skirts and fedoras for the younger crowd.

“There was a definite decision to separate it out from what we normally do,” said Vincent Power, divisional vice-president, corporate affairs and communications for Sears Canada Inc.

“We have great value, but we may not be doing a great job of communicating it to Canadians.”

Retail expert Wendy Evans, president of Evans and Company Consultants, says Sears has traditionally aimed for the mid-segment of the market.

She says Sears is changing – the core stores have been spruced up, clothing collections have been edited down and the Jessica brand – an inhouse line of clothing and accessories – is improving.

Communicating that change to the public is the next hurdle.

“You’re changing your position in the market and that doesn’t happen overnight,” said Evans.

Target will have a natural advantage when it launches in Canada, she added. The novelty factor alone will draw crowds.

“Everybody will be kicking the tires.”

Look! report began arriving at Canadian homes in newspapers and mailboxes on Tuesday. Sears typically delivers flyers to 3-4 million households across Canada, says Power.