I finally went to a Bruins game, Game 1 of Boston vs. Toronto, and I’ll admit that I enjoy the fast-paced, rowdy nature of hockey more than a baseball game (I’m sorry, Red Sox… I still love you).

The Bruins won 1-4. Funny enough, Christoph and I found ourselves in La Verdad during Game 7, sipping on (or in Chris’ case, suffering through) habanero margaritas and holding our breath during overtime until the Bruins’ victory.

A post-victory fist fight

Boston Duck Tours and the Blue Man Group recently hosted an event for Boston event planners in the Theater District. Christoph and I were invited and were able to enjoy a Duck Tour, appetizers and drinks at Chef Jason Santos’ (FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen) new restaurant, Abby Lane, and a show by the Blue Man Group. It was my first time doing all three of these things.

Our Duck Tour guide was an expert on the history of Boston and had a fun personality. I enjoyed the road tour and river cruise, and learned things about Boston that I did not know before.

The Duck Tour dropped us off for food and blue/Boston-themed drinks at Abby Lane, then we walked over to the Charles Playhouse for the Blue Man Group. The show was fun, musical, philosophical, messy, and comedic, with a special emphasis on how technology is affecting society. I recommend everyone to see it.

Thank you to the Duck Tour, Abby Lane, and Blue Man Group hosts who had us!

Inside the duck boat

Cruising on the river, after the “truck” became a “duck”

Amidst the salboats

Lounging at Abbey Lane for food and drinks

Before the Blue Man Group (photography not allowed)

I have never felt the need to write in detail about a mixed drink, but La Verdad’s habanero margarita is worth it.

After a day of shopping, Ryana and I somehow found ourselves on Lansdowne Street and decided to eat at Ken Oringer’s festive Mexican restaurant. We sat on the patio, shared fish tacos, and sipped on different drinks; I ordered the passionfruit margarita and Ryana had the habanero one. After tasting Ryana’s drink, I ordered one for myself. It’s spicy, refreshing, and even better with a squeeze of lime. Get it frozen!

Passionfruit and habanero margaritas

Fish tacos

What started as a lovely Marathon Monday ended in something I would never have imagined happening in Boston.

I watched the elite finishers of the Boston Marathon from my roof in Back Bay, right where Commonwealth Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue intersect. The runners only had about a half mile to go before reaching the finish line in Copley Square.

Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia won first place in the male division with a time of 2:10:22, while Rita Jeptoo of Kenya won first place in the female division with a time of 2:26:25.

A beautiful Marathon Monday.

View of the last half mile of the Boston Marathon from my rooftop, with the Boston Police clearing the route for elite runners.

Elite Runner Rita Jeptoo – Boston Marathon 1st Place Winner (Female Division)

Elite Runner Lelisa Desisa – Boston Marathon 1st Place Winner (Male Division)

After the elites passed, I decided to grab lunch and go for a run. I then considered heading to Marathon Sports for a commemorative Boston Marathon shirt or jacket. I didn’t expect to meet a scene of chaos from Boylston Street, only a few blocks away from home.

I was on Newbury Street when a large mob of hectic people ran onto the street, some sobbing, others yelling confusedly. Boston Police officers were shouting at us to get away from Boylston Street. Friends and family started calling and texting me, asking if I was alright, if I had been near the bombings, or if I knew anyone who had been hurt. After navigating through the alleyways of Newbury Street, I finally returned to my apartment and was able to fully process what had happened.

Near the marathon’s finish line tent on Boylston Street

Parallel to the site of the first bombing

Marathon runners who were finishing their last half mile were being stopped and re-routed in front of my apartment. Many of them walked or jogged in circles until their pace watches read 26.2 miles, so they were able to complete the marathon mileage. As they discovered the grim news, the runners were worried that their families had been waiting for them by the finish line and were hurt. My neighbors had cases of water and were handing bottles out to the marathoners from our front yard.

Runners were stopped outside my apartment at the Comm/Mass intersection

Runners and spectators, waiting for instructions from the police and marathon workers on what to do and where to go

A SWAT officer behind my apartment. Armed men were outside all night.

Words cannot explain how horrible and helpless this feels. I don’t know how to speak or write about it. My heart, and the hearts of other Bostonians and people around the world, go out to the victims and their families.

It’s a surreal experience to know that I could have been there, that I would have been there, in just a few more minutes. Throughout my six years in Boston, I have never seen this city pull together as a community more than it has during this tragedy. Yesterday, President Obama called Boston and its people tough and resilient. That is certainly the truth.

Just another beautiful day at America’s most beloved ballpark. I cozied up to the field and Green Monster before the start of the game. Boston swept Tampa Bay in this past weekend’s series.

On the field

What’s big and green?

Our perfect view of the game

]]> http://kaitlynsoares.com/2013/04/16/red-sox-vs-tampa-bay-rays/feed/ 0 kaitlynsoares Screen shot 2013-04-16 at 12.41.00 PM Screen shot 2013-04-16 at 12.41.11 PM Screen shot 2013-04-16 at 12.30.50 PM http://kaitlynsoares.com/2013/04/16/the-17th-annual-taste-of-back-bay/ http://kaitlynsoares.com/2013/04/16/the-17th-annual-taste-of-back-bay/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:48:49 +0000 Kaitlyn Soares http://kaitlynsoares.com/?p=2123 ]]> Where? Boston, MA
When? 4/11/13
Who? Me + Christoph

The 17th Annual Taste of Back Bay, a food and drink tasting event, was held at the Prudential Center’s Skywalk Observatory last Thursday. The food was delicious.

Participants included some of my favorite restaurants and eateries that I’ve been meaning to visit:

• Asana
• Bistro du Midi
• Brasserie Jo
• Bristol Lounge
• Capital Grille
• Eastern Standard
• Forum
• Island Creek Oyster Bar
• La Voile
• L’Espalier
• Lucca
• Market by Jean Georges
• Mela
• Met Back Bay
• Sel de la Terre
• Stephanie’s on Newbury
• Top of the Hub
• …and more!

At the top of the Prudential Center

Sampling the restaurants

View of a very illuminated Fenway Park

A hamachi dish

Taste of Back Bay is hosted by the Neighborhood Association of Back Bay, a volunteer organization that aims to preserve and enhance the neighborhood. A portion of proceeds were donated to the Haley House, a Boston-based nonprofit that uses food as a vehicle to help alleviate suffering, build new skills, and bring communities together.

The 2013 New England Music Awards were hosted at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium this past Saturday. Nominees included Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Dispatch, Karmin, Adam Ezra Group (Winner of Best Band of the Year), Sarah Blacker (Winner of Best Female Performer of the Year), Air Traffic Controller (Winner of Best Album of the Year), McAlister Drive, and more.

The event was a blast and culminated with a jam fest of 30+ artists on the stage with Adam Ezra Group. The awards ceremony and performances, including the final Adam Ezra Group concert, can be found here.

The ceiling of the Lowell Memorial Auditorium

Adam Ezra and many other artists performing on stage just before the show’s end.

In light of yesterday’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon, I thought I’d share “The Devil Came Up To Boston” by Adam Ezra Group to further heighten our Boston love and pride.

Last night, Cloud Cult performed an emotional and artful concert at Brighton Music Hall.

The eight-person ensemble played with an array of instruments, including guitars, cello, violin, glockenspiel, french horn, trombone, trumpet, and drums. At one point, every member of the group played a floor tom, sending the drums’ reverberations through every body in the crowd.

The barefoot lead singer, Craig Minowa, sang his heartfelt lyrics about the ups and downs of life while his artist wife, Connie Minowa, and artist Scott West painted on spinning canvases. The artists worked calmly or feverishly, depending on the intensity of the song. It was a unique element to the show and the paintings were auctioned at the end.

Craig and Connie are on tour with Cloud Cult and their two young children. They lost a 2-year-old son, Kaidin, in 2003. The boy died mysteriously in his sleep. Minowa’s album about the traumatic event, They Live On The Sun, gained much recognition that year. They just released a new album called Love.

When Craig and Connie are not touring, they live on a sustainable, organic farm in Minnesota that is also home to their environmental non-profit, Earthology/Earthology Records.

Connie Minowa’s painting (left canvas) and Scott West’s painting (right canvas)

Close-up of Scott West’s painting.

Connie and Craig singing together at the end of the concert.

The New England Music Awards (NEMA) show is held annually to celebrate musicians in the region who demonstrate a strong passion for and dedication to their craft. This year, three NEMA nominees (McAlister Drive - up for Best in State (Massachusetts), Sarah Blacker - up for Female Performer of the Year, and Dressed for the Occasion - up for Best New Act of the Year) performed at Redstar Union, an incredible venue near Kendall Square.

All three acts have unique sounds and genuinely love what they do. It was my first time hearing Sarah Blacker and I was immediately taken by her music, which has been dubbed “Cambridge Sundress Rock.” The New England Music Awards show is this Saturday at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Other awards nominees include Grace Potter and the Nocturnals,  Dispatch, Karmin, and more.

Ready to be surprised? There is a classy restaurant in New Bedford.

This once-booming fishing town is an appropriate place to eat fresh seafood and seems to be making a comeback with the opening of more upscale establishments, like cafés and Fernando’s Grille and Bar. My family dined at Fernando’s for my brother’s 16th birthday.

My dinner: baked scallops, asparagus, mashed potatoes

Ryan + Dad

Dad + Mom

]]> http://kaitlynsoares.com/2013/04/10/fernandos-grille-and-bar/feed/ 0 kaitlynsoares Screen shot 2013-04-10 at 9.26.15 AM Screen shot 2013-04-10 at 9.23.43 AM Screen shot 2013-04-10 at 9.25.17 AM