#25 Bagel Rising

Bagel Rising
1243 Commonwealth Avenue
Allston, MA 02134-3501

Travel Time: 20 min MBTA B Green Line T Ride, from Hynes Convention Center. Harvard Ave, Stop.

Cost: Everything Bagel, with Cream Cheese and a Small Iced Coffee: 8$

So here is a little background on why I needed to find the best bagels in Boston. I grew up on Long Island, with the BEST bagels in the world. (yes, I went there, and I stand by it). I would have a bagel for at least one meal 5 times a week, healthy I know. So imagine my surprise upon my arrival in Boston, and findng there are no local bagel shops, only chains such as Finagle a Bagel. Now I was open to these chain bagels, and gave it a try, once. It was probably one of the worst bagels I have ever had and for three years, I basically avoided bagels in Boston. However, for this list I decided to give one bagel specific store a chance.

Bagel Rising, focuses on the bagels, with a strong accent on their creative sandwhich list. It was refreshing to know that their bagels were made on site, compared to numerous stores that have them made and shipped, which is just not cool. This store has a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I would also arrive early and be prepared to wait in line if you want a fresh bagel. This shop also has a strong bagel sandwhich menu, with some funky options.

So the taste test: Now I went in there to sample the bagel, so I went simple; an everything bagel with lite cream cheese, I have to watch my girlish figure somehow. It was a good bagel, and decent amount of cream cheese, which is super important. However, it pales in comparison with those from home. It was a tad dense, compared to the light and fluffy LI Bagels, and a tad under done with the seedage and flavoring. But even with that said, I was glad I gave it a shot, becuase with no expectations, it exceed all of them.

If you are daring, up for the trek over, and not used to Long Island bagels, I would suggest this place in a heartbeat.

Don't Forget to Check Out Their Website: www.bagelrising.com

#33 Haymarket

Haymarket

Travel Time: 15 T Ride, Orange or Green Line to Haymarket.

Cost: whatever you want to spend on food!

Haymarket is your local, and cheap, fruit and veggie vendors, this market is open all day Friday and Saturday only, so get there early! This is a great place to do all your produce shopping, even some seafood shopping too, if you dare. There are local vendors shouting at you constantly, and it is about two blocks around the square, so it is easy to feel overwhelmed. The best advice is to do a lap around, check out the prices, since most are competitive and think about what you want. I found that the middle stalls tended to have more bang for your buck pricing. Also, make sure you have cold hard cash, these vendors will accept nothing less, and don't forget a bag to carry it all in.

In the end I was able to get some great herbs, salad things, and even an eggplant for under $5. I am definitely going to try and make it over to Haymarket a couple more times before the summer ends.

#3 Boston Celtics Game

Boston Celtics

TD Bank North Garden

Travel Time: about 15-20 min Orange Line T ride to North Station.

Cost: (it was a date, so I never found out) But approx 30-40 for the upper sections of the Garden.

Well this seems as good a time as any to post about going to my first Boston Celtics game, and actually my first professional basketball game, especially since the Celts have made it all the way to game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, in LA. Since everywhere else in Boston is supporting Celtics fever, I figured I may as well jump on the bandwagon (hey even the Pru is green!)

I went to the Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons, on March 15, 2010, it was so close to St. Patty's day that they had on these special jerseys, they were actually green and gold compared to the normal home jerseys of green and white. The first thing I noticed about the garden, was that it was packed! and this was a monday night, and there was barely an empty seat in the house. Now, the funny thing about this game, was my date told me that I shouldn't expect anything great out of this team, because they were having a mediocre season, and had lost real bad a couple of nights before. (well just look at them now!)

Just a few game points: I saw Nate Robinson slam dunk, and then hang on the rim, which was awesome since he is such a little guy, and the reigning NBA Slam Dunk Champ. The whole garden was rocking throughout the entire game. I was introduced to Gino, during the 4th quarter (see picture). And I was part of the first ever fan wave at a Celtics Game, now who can say that? (check out the article here.

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap/_/id/300315002/detroit-pistons-vs-boston-celtics).

Final Score: Boston:119 vs. Detriot: 93

This was a great night, and a great season for the Celtics. If you ever get the opportunity to go to a game, do not hesitate to say yes!

Dont Forget to Check Out Their Website:

http://www.nba.com/celtics/

#22 The Christian Science Center Mapparium

Mapparium

(not map-a-por-ium) 

1 Norway Street
Boston, MA 02115

Travel Time: 5 min from NEU Campus or MBTA Green Line T Prudential or Symphony Stops. or MBTA #1Bus. 

Cost: $4.00 for students, $6.00 for non students 

This is really cool, not going to lie. However, I was expecting something a tad more granduer, and it did not live up to what I was expecting. I was extremely underwhelmed, but once I got over that. It was enjoyable. 

Fun Fact: Tours leave every 20 mins, and on the hour. 

There is a brief LED light show, within the Mapparium, with quotes about the world, and globalization. The map itself is frozen in time from about the 1930's, so it was interesting to see all the countries that are no longer around, i.e the Soviet Union. The location and size of each country was also something that surprised me, because the relative location of everything was a lot different than in my head. For example Hawaii is a lot closer to the other Pacific Islands than to America. I think the ideal of the Mapparium, to show that no matter how different each country really is, we are all a lot closer than we think, was beautifully displayed. 

I personally enjoyed the acoustic display of the center. The acoustics were interesting due to the shape, size, and material of the room. If you stood in the dead center of the room, and whispered you were able to hear your voice, amplified, and only in the center. The other acoustic showing was the ability to stand on one edge of the room and hear the whisper of the others that were on the opposite side of the room.  This is definitely a quick stop on the tour around boston and only took about 1/2 an hour in total. 

Dont Forget to Get out Their Website: 

http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/exhibits/mapparium

# 15 Flour Bakery

Flour Bakery

1595 Washington St., Boston MA 02118

Travel Time: 30 Min walking from NEU Campus, or Sliver

Line MBTA To Washington Street.

Cost: Sticky Buns: $3.00

So FUN FACT, there are TWO Flour Bakery's in Boston MA, with 2 different phone numbers. With that said, here is the story of why this was a FAIL:

Flour Bakery, for those who do not know, has been a featured WINNER on Throw Down With Bobby Flay! For their sticky buns. So clear

ly they have the best sticky buns in Boston, and for that reason alone they sell out every weekend by 11am at the latest. SO, Flour has a reservation service, where you can call ahead either the day before or the morning of, and order whatever treats you so desire from the bakery. The morning of our adventure, I woke up and called the number I had found from google, at 9am, when they opened, and ordered 7 sticky buns for me and all the other chicas that were joining me on this adventure, I had told so many people about it, everyone was excited. I figured everything was smooth sailing from there, boy was I wrong. We take the walk down Mass Ave, into the South End, at 11am on a SUNDAY! It was gorgeous out, so it was a nice walk anyway, and we arrive at the South End Location. It was

packed, with a line out the door, but I wasn't worried, we had called ahead. We get to the front, and the guy looks for our order. Its not there, but there was one sticky bun left in the shop, which they put aside for us. They call the other location...and yep, there was our order. I had made t

he reservation at the WRONG Location, even though I could have sworn I asked the girl when I ordered them if I was calling the South End, but che sara sara. SO all 6 of us, split the one sticky bun left, and ordered various other bakery items. DELICIOUS!

However, since I royally screwed up, there will be a do-over.

Tip: Call the right store ahead, to save time and guarantee that sticky experience.

South End: 617.267.4300

Fort Point Channel: 617.338.4333

Do Over:

So I told my mother about this bakery while I was starting this blog, and she came to visit this weekend, and had a strong desire to go to Flour, giving me the perfect opportunity to right all my wrongs from the first attempt. To begin with I called the right Flour, put aside enough sticky buns for everyone, even though no one actually ate a whole one, it was still good to know I did it right.

With that being said, the sticky buns were delish! And I am super happy to come back to this bakery to now try all the other delicious treats that are in store.

Don't Forget to Check out Their website here: http://flourbakery.com/

#34 Toscanini's Ice Cream

Toscanini's Ice Cream
899 Main Street

Cambridge, MA 02139 

Travel Time: 40 min walk from NEU Campus, or MBTA Red Line to Central Square Station

Cost: Medium ("2" scoops) $5.00

 

Toscanini's claim to fame is winning the Best of Boston 2009 for Ice Cream, and one small sentence from the New York Times, "Best Ice Cream Ever". So clearly I had to try it. And I will agree, the best ice cream I have had, at least in Boston anyway. The place itself is adorable, tiny, and as seen in the photo they make their ice cream on 

location (which takes a lot of space). They also have a Brunch menu, that looks awesome, and maybe a future post. 

We get in there, and I was totally overwhelmed and had no idea what flavor to choose! I ended up getting a medium Nocciola (Hazlenut, for those who do not speak Italiano). It was amazing. So good! Although it was a lot of ice cream (check out that picture) totally worth it. I will be going back, getting a small, and maybe trying some of their other creative flavors. 

This is an ice cream place, and I must say that their ice coffee was not anything special, and was a tad disappointed by it. 

If you find yourself in Cambridge, on a hot day, this is definitely a place to go! 

Don't Forget to Check Out Their Website: http://www.tosci.com/