Some might say that the downturn came when they dumped "The Nutcracker" in favor of "Radio City Christmas Spectacular", while others could counter it has more to do with the dumbing of America, but today may mark the darkest day yet in the history of Boston's performing arts culture. They're renaming the Wang Center for the Performing Arts. Although we don't like to admit it, inside every Bostoninan lurks a 12-year old boy who stifles... [continue]

Think Halloween in the city is all about drunken undergrads carousing in the streets? Think it's all about costumes from the Garment District or Salvation Army? Think you can't adequately celebrate without a plastic cup in your hand? Think again. Boston has plenty to offer outside of house parties and club nights, with several local restaurants providing a much-needed alternative to beiruit and bump n' grind. Let's start out with the Halloween scene at Upstairs... [continue]

Bostonist loves a night out, especially when she can save the receipt and write it off on her taxes, so attending Blogtoberfest at Match was like a dream come true. We'd been hearing about the luxe lounge since 2005, but, until last Thursday, hadn't found a good excuse to strap on our high heels and do some drinking. The hook for this trendy hotspot lies in the selection of specialty martinis and gourmet miniburgers that... [continue]

After the infamous tunnel collapse of this past July, one could argue that East Boston had it bad. Being an island, there is no feasible way for residents to get into the city without going through a tunnel or over a bridge, unless one considers a detour through Chelsea and Somerville "feasible". However, some comfort was taken in the fact that the Sumner and Callahan, built in 1961 and 1934, respectively, had existed for decades... [continue]

When the Boston Chowhound board starts mooning over a restaurant two months prior to its opening, there's a pretty safe bet something special's a'brewin'. In this case, the "something" was Chris Schlessinger (East Coast Grill, formerly of Blue Room), and the "special" was his newest venture, the All-Star Sandwich Bar, a small yet breathable joint that embraces a wide variety of meat-on-bread and eschews the trendy wrap without compunction. The first thing a budget-conscious diner... [continue]

With the demise of the drive-thru and the largely inhospitable weather in New England, the outdoor movie theater has been all but forgotten. Too many film buffs are denied the simple pleasure of munching popcorn while the moonlight casts shadows over the screen. If you're one of the poor sods who's never experienced the romance and magic of al fresco cinema, fear not! Boston's own Asian Community Development Organization (ACDC) is teaming up with... [continue]

It’s that time of year again – that time when New Englanders gather up their beach balls and towels for one more run in the sun. This weekend, that last fling will take thousands of Bay Staters north to Maine, to explore the outlets, the beaches, and most importantly, the restaurante. Now, when envisioning a casual dining experience in southern Maine, jerk chicken may not spring immediately to mind. Nor might oxtail curry, meat pies,... [continue]

The August 12 closing of Someday Cafe left employees, regulars, and regular citizens disenheartened. Plans are in the works to reopen under new management, in a new location, possibly even with the same name. But even if the renaissance comes to pass, old-time Someday customers may feel that something is missing... that certain intangible quality that comes from familiar surroundings: a bookshelf, a refrigerator, a coffee bin. If you are of this mindset, today may... [continue]

It’s been a bad run for Boston lately. The tunnel collapse, the botched detours, the political infighting and the ever-increasing number of bad bolts, all this bum news can really get a person down. Unless, like 76-year old Mark Smith (former owner of Finagle-A-Bagel), you're kept up! up! up! by a $200/day coke habit. Although his addiction reportedly decimated his profits from the sale of his company, he used some of the remaining funds to...... [continue]

What goes better with summer than al fresco dining? Al fresco beer, of course, and Cambridge Brewing Company (a.k.a. CBC) has both in spades. Although this Kendall Square hideaway makes for a cozy nosh during the winter months, (wood-burning stove outside the front door so smokers don’t have to freeze,) once the mercury rises CBC opens its spacious patio for diners and drinkers alike. It’s an ideal place to while away a weekend afternoon, and... [continue]

Hey, don’t laugh - you know you’ve been there. Wandering the display floor in search of that perfect sidetable or hopelessly lost in the warehouse trying to find aisle 16 bin 35, you suddenly feel weak, beaten. Hungry. Luckily, IKEA is there for you with prefab dishes served cafeteria style in a sterile yet oddly welcoming atmosphere. Their food, like their products, varies in quality from “not-so-hot” to “pretty-ok-actually-especially-since-it-cost-almost-nothing”, but by using some discretion... [continue]

As if the constant gridlock, brown-outs, and stifling heat weren’t enough, now Bostonians can add “stranded in Chelsea” to their list of complaints. Yesterday afternoon, Massport nixed the exit 26 airport detour in favor of diverting traffic over the Zakim Bridge, through the winding flyaway ramps, and onto the Tobin bridge, ending at exit 27, Beacon Street. This, however, is not the Beacon Street of Brookline and brownstones. This is Beacon Street Chelsea, and...... [continue]

Today is your last day to get in on advance pricing for the annual “Taste of Cambridge” festival, held tomorrow in Technology square from 5:30 – 7:30pm, with tickets for sale online and at all Cambridge Whole Foods. Featuring gastronomic treats from B-Side Lounge, Upstairs on the Square, and the Elephant Walk, to name a few, “Taste” donates 100% of its proceeds to these local nonprofits. Since its inception in 2003, this increasingly popular event... [continue]

A bit of a misnomer this year, Boston's Summer Restaurant Week spreads itself leisurely over a 14-day span, affording the populace twice as much time to spend money they don't have on food they can't afford. And we at Bostonist couldn't be happier about it! This biannual event (winter and summer only) provides a beacon of light for culinary adventuring, allowing even us poor writers a chance to taste the good life. The difficulty... [continue]

Two days after the I-90 connector tragedy, answers are starting to surface. Unfortunately, none of them are what you’d want to hear. Given the history of mismanagement surrounding the Big Dig project, it should come as no surprise that problems were discovered as early as 1999, when at least five bolts in the connector failed routine testing. It may be worth mentioning that these bolts, which anchored the tie rods holding 3-ton panels, were fastened... [continue]

A coastal city, Boston has no shortage of waterfront dining. Meritage, Sal de la Terre, Anthony’s Pier 4, all these are spectacular restaurants boasting five-star meals at five-star prices. But where to go when it’s the day before payday? When all you need to complete your week is an ocean view and a cup of chowder, but all you’ve got is a couple fivers? The answer, friends, lies under a yellow-and-red striped tarp on Sleeper... [continue]

A sub-level grotto hidden in the 1 Kendall Square complex, The Blue Room offers sweet relief from the neighborhood’s austere biotech ambiance. Upon arriving, diners are greeted and led through the dimly lit interior to a table that is, invariably, set with water and wine glasses, encouraging thoughts of an unoaked chardonnay or a ripe malbec. However, even the most die-hard oneophile would find it difficult to resist the specialty cocktails served up by resident... [continue]

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