Monday, April 30, 2018

Monday Mashups: April Sours Bring May Flowers

With a dreary April already underway, City Tap House is remixing the old adage of “April showers bring May flowers” to something that suits them better: April Sours Bring May Flowers. Beginning April 30, the Fort Point beer paradise will put 40+ sour beers in the spotlight for one straight week – or while supplies last, since no one can resist something that starts out sour and ends up sweet (like our favorite candy)!


The first night of the series will kick off with a complimentary sour candy bar filled with sugary delights that will seamlessly pair with the lineup of 40+ sour specialties that will be available for the duration of the week. In addition to showcasing limited releases, there will be biting brews from Cascade Brewery (Portland, OR), Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN), Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (Denver, CO), Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland, CO) and more. Get your taste-buds ready!

You may think the concept of sour beers is crazy - but trust us, it tastes better than it sounds! In fact, we know someone who loves sour beers (Christopher). So you can bet we will be at City Tap one night this week for a drink or two...or three!

April SOURS bring May Flowers

Want to know more about City Tap? Well in the 1890s, the grounds of City Tap House Boston were home to the Congress Street Commons. For two years, the MLB called this area home. In 1906, the building that is now City Tap, was built by the Boston Wharf company. By 1920 it had transformed again into a sheet metal warehouse and supplier owned by Arthur C Harvey Co. Some odd years later, craft beer had arrived and started taking over!

City Tap House Boston has truly updated the gastropub experience. Minutes from the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center, the Institute of Contemporary Art, the Boston Convention Center & Exhibition Center, and more, City Tap House Boston is excited to offer guests the best bar and restaurant experience in Boston's Seaport District. Sports fans, casual diners, brewers, beer nuts, and beyond make this place feel like home. And we couldn't agree more!

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Put your umbrellas away and instead get your taste-buds ready to devour the details of some April sours! Cheers!

Thursday, April 26, 2018

A Double Chocolate Dessert for Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is on our radar and on a Saturday. How are we preparing? With the best dessert recipe around. Get those ingredients ready! You'll want to make these double chocolate-stuffed mini churros for years to come.


Ingredients
125 g (½ cup) butter, cubed
85 g (⅓ cup) brown sugar
230 mL (1 cup) water
1 teaspoon salt
250 g (2 cups) flour
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon rum
mini chocolate chips
½ L (2 cups) oil
100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Instructions
  • In a saucepan over a medium heat, combine the butter, sugar, water, and salt, and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low, and mix in the flour with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together to form a soft ball.
  • Take the saucepan off the heat and cool for 5 minutes, to prevent the eggs from curdling.
  • Gradually mix in the eggs one by one.
  • Add in the vanilla extract and rum, and mix until creamy.
  • Spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a star nozzle.
  • Pipe mini churros onto a baking tray, about the length of your index finger, and top with mini chocolate chips.
  • Pipe another churro on top, so that no chocolate shows.
  • Freeze for 20 minutes, until set.
  • In a large saucepan, heat up the oil until it reaches 375˚F (190˚C).
  • Fry the churros in the oil for a few minutes, until slightly golden in color.
  • Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or a clean kitchen towel to drain.
  • Combine the remaining sugar with the cinnamon.
  • Coat each churro in the cinnamon sugar, then serve.
Yes they are as delicious as they sound! Be sure to make these for your fiesta and devour the details of a churro-mazing Cinco de Mayo.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Wedding Wednesdays: How to Book Your Rehearsal Dinner Venue

Once you’ve booked your ceremony site and your reception venue, it’s time to book your rehearsal dinner spot. Typically, the groom’s family foots the bill for this wedding event, but it could also be hosted by the bride’s family or jointly by the couple. It’s important to schedule the dinner, which usually occurs after the wedding ceremony rehearsal, just a day or two before the wedding. The space should also be close in proximity to the wedding as well—out-of-towners will love you for it. And your wedding style doesn’t have to dictate your rehearsal dinner either. Having a black tie ballroom affair for your “I dos”? Feel free to throw a clambake on the beach. Ranch wedding? Have dinner at a luxe restaurant in town. The options are really endless!

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A more formal sit-down can be an intimate way to celebrate and thank the officiant and wedding party for being a part of your day. If you’d like a more informal gathering that includes out-of-town guests and others, consider serving light fare and hors d’oeuvres. Whether it’s in your backyard, at a restaurant or at your reception venue (be sure to ask if a rehearsal dinner space isn’t already included), these are some important points by The Knot to go over before you book:
  • Name and contact information for you, your spouse-to-be, the name of the person footing the bill and the rehearsal dinner venue
  • Details of specific rooms to be used
  • A detailed description of the space and any items that will be provided (linens, flowers, food, technology and entertainment materials like power extension cords and speakers)   
  • A list of rentals and décor that will be brought into the space (if any)
  • Approximate number of guests
  • The name and contact information of the manager or site director that can be a day-of point person and a name of a substitute in case of an emergency
  • Proof of insurance and food certification and liquor license if you’re planning to serve cocktails
  • Setup, cleanup, overtime and any other fees that may be applicable
  • Confirm any restrictions that might be possible (such as sound, décor and dress code)
  • Deposit amount and due date
  • Total cost, itemized cost and due date
  • Cancellation and refund policy
Don't let the rehearsal dinner planning get away from you! Devour the details of booking your venue and celebrate your wedding the best way!

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Count Down to the Kentucky Derby with these Cocktails

This year the Kentucky Derby overlaps with Cinco de Mayo! Two reasons to celebrate on one day - what could be better? Today, we're bringing you some fun interpretations of a classic mint julep - the drink of choice for Derby-goers. Start your count down to the Kentucky Derby with these cocktails today and get ready for May 5th!

Sweet Tea Mint Julep

Sweet Tea Mint Julep - the perfect southern cocktail for a Kentucky Derby party.

A blend of two favorite southern drinks, this Sweet Tea Mint Julep is perfect for Derby Day or a warm afternoon spent on the front porch. Get the recipe here!

Peach Mint Julep

The classic mint julep recipe gets a twist with this mouth-watering Peach Julep cocktail recipe

The classic mint julep gets a twist with this mouth-watering Peach Julep! Try out this recipe for Derby Day!

Blackberry Mint Julep

Kentucky Derby Party and Blackberry Mint Juleps - The Fashion Fuse

Nothing is more quintessentially a Derby drink than the Mint Julep. So southern; so sweet; so good. But have you tried it with blackberries? Get your new favorite drink recipe here!

Cherry & Lime Mint Julep

Cherry & Lime Mint Julep

Cherry and mint infused simple syrup make this cocktail a sweet and fruity twist on the traditional Mint Julep. Try this recipe out for Derby Day!

You can't do a derby without a julep! Count down with these cocktails and devour the details of a sweet sippin' Kentucky Derby!

Monday, April 23, 2018

Monday Motivation: Clear Path NE & Dogs2Vets Festival

Clear Path for Veterans New England (Clear Path NE) is a 501(c)3 established in 2017 with one mission — to build a safe, supportive and respectful place for Veterans to seek the help and resources they need in order to successfully integrate into their communities. There has been a growing recognition that we, as a nation, and as individual communities, need to do more to support our Veterans as they leave military service and return to civilian life. Clear Path’s vision is to create a community that understands and supports the journey home for our Veterans and their families and inspires other communities to do the same.


This organization aims to provide support through a wellness-based Veterans' Community Center to bolster those who've served, with a particular emphasis on reconnecting Veterans to their communities upon their return home. The wellness focus will recognize the life long journey that can be embraced by all members of the community and provides a roadmap to guide the development and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and services the center will offer.

In an effort to raise money to support Clear Path NE's programs and services, they will be hosting a Dogs2Vets Festival this Sunday, April 29th! Clear Path for Veterans is excited to bring the Dogs2Vets mission to New England, matching Veterans with Service Dogs. The program involves the Veteran in the canine training process working together with the trainer to achieve individual goals.


Join Clear Path NE for a fun filled wagging good time in partnership with the Nashoba Valley and Ayer Rotary Clubs. They are excited to bring this first of its kind festival to Devens where we will celebrate the matching of Veterans with Service Dogs. Clear Path NE's goal is to raise enough funds and sponsorships to provide two service dogs to local Veterans!

With such a meaningful platform and a goal of supporting our Veterans, Clear Path NE was able to secure Tito's Handmade Vodka as a sponsor for this awesome event! For full event details and to see how you can get involved, check out the Clear Path NE website. Consider donating today and devour the details of giving back to our Veterans!

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Party for the Planet this Saturday at Franklin Park Zoo

Don’t miss the Party for the Planet in celebration of Earth Day at Franklin Park Zoo! Visit the Zoo on Saturday, April 21 for a fun and engaging day to raise awareness for the planet and all it has to offer.

Zoo New England

Talk with exhibitors from local conservation organizations to learn how you can contribute to a healthy planet and preserve the Earth. Participate in multiple citizen science activities to celebrate the kickoff of the Boston Area City Nature Challenge. Other festivities include opportunities to meet the zookeepers, animal enrichment, hands-on activities, and much more!

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Exhibitors include: Agents of Discovery, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, UNICEF USA.

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Hang with all your favorite zoo animals...including the monkeys and devour the details of giving back to the planet at this party!

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Wedding Wednesdays: The Launch of Shutterfly's Wedding Shop with Mindy Weiss

Shutterfly might be best known as a website that allows consumers to personalize photo albums—but the brand is now wading into the wedding industry. It recently launched its first line of customizable wedding products, which includes menus and invitations, champagne and wine glasses, coasters, and pillows and blankets. And we LOVE it!

<p> After entering the venue, guests could grab glasses of champagne from a wall with an on-theme neon sign.</p>

To celebrate the launch of the Wedding Shop by Shutterfly, the brand partnered with world-renowned event planner Mindy Weiss and actress Ashley Greene to host an event inspired by all things weddings. The event, which took place March 28 at the Carondelet House in Los Angeles, featured a number of wedding-theme photo stations, tablescapes inspired by bridal showers, and gift lounges that displayed the new products. You have to see how Shutterfly's products came together to demonstrate what could be your very own wedding style.

<p> The “Bride Tribe” lounge offered items including wine glasses, notebooks, and canvas pouches.</p>

The design and layout mirrored the stages associated with getting engaged and planning a wedding. A champagne wall and photo booth with balloon rings was inspired by engagements; a mailbox wall gave guests their invitations to “bridal showers”; three different photo backdrops were inspired by wedding reception styles; and a life-size, black and white apartment cutout created with Shutterfly products was meant to resemble a newlywed couple's apartment.

<p> The “Something… Borrowed” wall had a vintage feel with framed black-and-white wedding photos.</p>

Get ready to get hitched with the help of Shutterfly and devour the details of your wedding style with these perfect products! Check out more images from the event here.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

A DIY Face Mask Favorite

Now that spring is here, bring back that glow to your skin with this green tea honey coconut face Mask! This natural and organic face mask that leaves our skin feeling moisturized, glowy and exfoliated all at once. Combining coconut oil, which soothes, honey, which detoxifies, green tea, which gives an antioxidant boost, and lemon, which brightens, is such a treat for your skin. Plus, you can probably whip it up with things you have in your very own pantry! Here’s how to make our favorite green tea honey coconut face mask!

DIY Green Tea Hone Coconut face mask

Ingredients: 
1 teaspoon coconut oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon green tea leaves (or about ½ the amount of leaves that come in 1 tea bag)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions:
1. Mix together your honey, coconut oil lemon juice and green tea leaves. You can do this using a fork or whisk, just make sure that it is thoroughly mixed together and that the coconut oil is not separating.

2. Using your finger or a cotton swab, spread evenly on face.

3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer.

DIY face mask to make your skin glow

And there you go! Easy as pie, but pretty delicious and hydrating for dry skin. Try this face mask recipe and devour the details of a whole new glow just in time for spring!

Monday, April 16, 2018

Marathon Monday: How to Donate to the Boston Marathon

Happy Marathon Monday! Did you know the Boston Marathon has 34 official charities you can donate to? Established in 1989, the B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon Official Charity Program provides entries to non-profit organizations. The organizations then recruit runners, who must fundraise a minimum of $5,000 each. This year, 1,558 runners are expected to race for an official charity team.

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All participating charities focus on health, fitness, and the local community, with causes ranging from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s research initiatives to the Semper Fi Fund, which provides assistance to Armed Forces injured in combat after 9/11.

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Donations can be made to any of the 34 teams through individual organization pages online. Boston.com has the complete list and links for the Marathon charity teams. Most marathoners run for a reason. This is your opportunity to join in and support a great cause! Consider donating today and devour the details of a happy Marathon Monday!

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Grilled Cheese Weekend at Wilson Farm

Humans have been combining bread and cheese together for centuries. Even the Ancient Romans put together recipes for cheese melted on top of bread. The modern American grilled cheese is a more recent invention however. Early grilled cheese sandwich recipes were made by mixing the grated cheese with a binder, such as salad dressing or white sauce or yes, even mustard, and toasting the sandwich between two slices of buttered bread. These were called "Toasted Cheese Sandwiches." Today, grilled cheese is making a resurgence with gourmet versions popping up in restaurants across the country and people exploring international varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches. And we LOVE them!

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And if you do too...this Saturday and Sunday, you can enjoy an entire weekend dedicated to this delicious sandwich. Join us at Wilson Farm in Lexington for a feast of all feasts - Grilled Cheese Weekend! Back again this year on the 14th and 15th from 11AM-4PM, get to the farm to enjoy varying flavors from Spinach & Artichoke to Spicy Thai to Brie with Cranberry and everything in between (between two slices of bread that is)!

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Tickets can be purchased at the door and include unlimited grilled cheese samples. You can also purchase a full sandwich if you want the full Mont(erre)y. Yes, that's a cheese pun. All of the proceeds will go to Team Wilson Farm's ride at this year's Pan Mass Challenge, which benefits the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.


Feed your need for grilled cheese and giving back this weekend and devour the details of a great trip to Wilson Farm!

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Wedding Wednesdays: 6 Postage Tips for Your Wedding Invitations

The Knot shares 6 easy steps to putting together your wedding invites with postage. Here's what you need to know to get your wedding invitations addressed, packaged and in the mail!

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1. Assemble Your Invitations
Leave yourself enough time to address and stuff all those envelopes. If you (and maybe your generous wedding party) are doing the job, here are a few guidelines:
  • The invite goes on the bottom, then stack your enclosures on top in order of largest to smallest (the smallest goes on the very top of the pile).
  • The RSVP card should be tucked into the flap of the reply envelope (so the flap covers part of the text).
  • Place everything in the inner envelope so the text is facing outward—that way guests can read the invitation as they take it out.
  • Put the unsealed inner envelope inside the outer envelope with the guests' names facing outward.
  • Note: Inner envelopes aren't required and are reserved for traditional invitations.
2. Stamp the RSVP Envelopes
You don't want your guests to drop their RSVP envelopes in the mail without a stamp or to make them pay for postage to RSVP to your event. Make it easy for them to reply by pre-stamping the RSVP envelope. You'll ensure they get back to you (or whoever is in charge of the guest list) without a hitch.

3. Weigh a Complete Invitation
Before you mail your wedding invitations, ask the post office to weigh a fully assembled envelope so you know exactly how many stamps you'll need. This step may sound tedious, but the alternative could mean invites returned for insufficient postage, which will throw your entire wedding planning timeline for a loop. Enclosures typically increase postage, so keep that in mind when you're deciding on including maps or reception cards and the type of paper they're printed on.

4. Have Your Invitations Hand-Processed or Hand-Canceled
Machines at mail centers can only process certain envelope shapes and sizes—generally rectangles that are a minimum of 3.5 by 5 inches to a maximum of 6.125 by 11.5 inches. If your envelope is an odd shape (say, square), even if it falls within those dimensions, you may end up paying a 20 cent non-machinable fee per envelope. With larger invites (more than 3.5 ounces or bigger than 6.125 by 11.5 inches), like a boxed invitation, you won't have to pay the surcharge to hand-process them. Even if your invitation doesn't meet the non-machinable criteria, consider paying the extra fee to have them hand-processed—it will guarantee that your mail will be sorted by a person rather than a machine, which can bend or soil envelopes. Another option is hand-canceling (just a stamp that says your mail is processed). In most cases, this option is free, but check with your local post office first to make sure they have a hand stamp. The big caveat: Most post offices try to keep hand-canceled mail separate from regular mail, but there's no guarantee your invitations won't also go through the processing machines.

5. Put a Stamp on It
After all the work you've put into your envelopes and invitations, make them look special. Customizing a stamp for your wedding envelope is a great way to personalize it, and it's the first opportunity you have to show off your wedding theme. A few custom stamp shops we love are Wedding Paper Divas, Etsy, Minted or, the classic choice, USPS. There's also the option of working with a stationer to design custom postage that matches your invitation design or colors. And don't forget to order enough for your RSVP envelopes too.

6. Mail Them Out
You're done! Send out your invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding—or 10 to 12 weeks in advance if you're having a destination wedding.

Viola! There you have it. We hope these 6 tips help you devour the details of packaging your invites properly and getting them out to your guests without all the unnecessary stress!

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Spring Soups for the Soul

Winter isn't the only time of the year to enjoy a good soup. In fact, we prefer this soul and belly warming dish year round! So today we're bringing you three spring soup recipes that you'll want to eat almost every day of the next few months. Don't believe us? Try them yourself!

Ginger and Spring Onion Egg Drop Soup

Ginger and Spring Onion Egg Drop Soup | www.asaucykitchen.com

Ingredients
4 cups (1 quart or 946 ml) organic chicken stock
1 1/2 (375 ml) cups water
2 tablespoons coconut aminos (or gluten free soy sauce)
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon fish sauce
2 eggs whisked
1/2 cup (1 bunch) spring onions chopped (use only the green parts for low fodmap)
2 large zucchini's julienned
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
  1. Add the stock, water, coconut aminos, ginger, red chili flakes, and fish sauce to large sauce pan and heat on a medium high heat.
  2. While the broth is heating whisk your eggs. Once the broth begins to boil, drizzle the eggs into the soup and stir with a fork to create ribbons from the eggs and prevent clumping.
  3. Reduce the heat and then add the spring onions and zucchini noodles and let the soup cook an extra minute or so to soften the zoodles. Use this time to season with salt and pepper. Garnish with a sprinkle of spring onions and additional chili flakes and enjoy!
Spring Leek Soup


Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
3 large leeks white and light green parts, sliced in half longwise, rinsed and thinly sliced crosswise
pinch fine sea salt
4 cups chicken stock
pinch ground white pepper
1/2 Meyer Lemon juice and zest
4, 1/2- inch slices crusty bread toasted
3 ounces Gruyere cheese shredded
1 green onion thinly sliced (for garnish)

Instructions
  1. Preheat broiler.
  2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  3. Add leeks and a pinch of sea salt, to help sweat out the liquid. Cook and stir until leeks are tender but not brown, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add stock and white pepper, bring to boil. Stir in lemon juice and zest. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and white pepper.
  5. Ladle soup into 4 broiler-safe serving bowls. Place one slice of toasted bread over each serving, pressing it down to submerge. Divide cheese evenly, sprinkling it over each toast.
  6. Place bowls under broiler and broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. If desired, garnish each serving with green onion. Serve.
Spring Minestrone with Mint Pesto

Spring minestrone with mint pesto -- I would sub leeks for zucchini and fava beans for sugar snaps.

Ingredients
1 onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, diced
1 stick of celery, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 fat garlic clove, crushed
1.5 litres hot vegetable stock
500g small new potatoes, sliced
2 courgettes, diced
200g sugar snaps, halved
250g frozen petit pois
a small handful of basil
a small handful of mint leaves
a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil
a sprinkle of Parmesan, grated (or vegetarian alternative)

For the Mint Pesto
2 garlic cloves, peeled
50g pine nuts
2 x 28g packs mint, leaves only
1 x 28g pack basil, leaves only
4-5 tbsp grated Parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
100ml olive oil

a few drops of lemon juice to garnsih

Instructions
  1. In a large pan, soften the onion, carrot and celery in the oil for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the pesto by whizzing all the pesto ingredients in a blender with a pinch of salt.
  2. Add the garlic to the onion, carrot and celery, and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Pour in the stock, add the potatoes and bring to the boil. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Season.
  4. Add the courgettes and simmer for a further 5 minutes, then add the sugar snaps and peas and cook for 1-2 minutes until tender. Stir in the basil and mint leaves.
  5. Spoon the soup into warm bowls. Finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, a spoonful of pesto and a sprinkling of grated Parmesan.
These spring soups are sure to warm your soul and bellies! Get the ingredients today and devour the details of my favorite dish all season long!

Monday, April 9, 2018

Monday Mashups: A New York Pop-Up Museum Inspired by Sleep

The success of visual pop-up “museums” such as Refinery29’s 29Rooms in New York and Los Angeles, the traveling Museum of Ice Cream, and San Francisco's Color Factory is leading more event producers and designers to create temporary, Instagram-worthy exhibits based on a theme. One of the latest of these is the Dream Machine—a new experience in Brooklyn that features a series of rooms inspired by dreams and stages of the sleep cycle.

<p> The museum, which is open April 5 to May 31 at a vacant space in Williamsburg, welcomes guests with...

The ticketed pop-up museum—which runs through May 31 at a vacant retail space at 93 North 9th St. in Williamsburg—is the brainchild of Gary Johnson and Paige Solomon, a duo that previously created events for brands at experiential agency Magnetic Collaborative. Dream Machine is the first standalone project they have produced and designed on their own.

<p> The Dream Machine's first room, "On Cloud 9," is designed to make guests feel as if they're walking through...

The self-guided experience invites attendees to walk through a series of rooms at their own pace. Hired “dream technicians” wearing blue uniforms are on hand to direct guests as needed and encourage them to take photos. The rooms, all of which present different dreamlike environments, include an entry room designed to make guests feel like they’re walking through clouds; a neon laundromat that serves cotton candy from washing machines; a ball pit designed to make guests feel like they’re swimming underwater in a pool; and two areas inspired by the popular, traveling art exhibit “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors.”

<p> The end of the rainbow hallway leads to a room painted in blue that has a ball pit filled...

Depending on the success of the Dream Machine in New York, Solomon and Johnson would love to bring the experience to other cities. We hope Boston's on the list! Make plans to visit the Dream Machine to see how you can devour the details of this sleep experience.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Prison Style Boot Camp at Precinct Kitchen + Bar Patio

Precinct Kitchen + Bar, the former Boston Police Headquarters, is now the home of a new fitness program that will give you another reason to head to the former “slammer.” Paying homage to its building’s past, Loews Boston Hotel has partnered with trainer Bron Volney of BronCore Fitness to create a 60-minute full body workout complete with effective high intensity intervals like Prison Mate bands and abs and Jail Bird Battle ropes; all exercises fitness enthusiasts can conquer in small space similar to a prison cell.

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Join this happening hot spot for its inaugural class on the patio at Precinct Kitchen + Bar on Saturday, April 7 at 9:30 a.m. Trust us, you won't want to miss this! Class starts promptly at 10:00 a.m. followed by light healthy bites from Precinct's Executive Chef.

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#CELLFIES are allowed and encouraged! Get your tickets here. Workout like an inmate and devour the details of a day at the Precinct this Saturday!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Wedding Wednesdays: Earth Tones and Textures are On Trend

Garland isn't just for your Christmas decor anymore. These strands of earth are trending right now in the wedding world in more way than one! They can add a floral feel to reception tables, serve as accents in otherwise plain spaces, and create boho vibes in practically any venue. Check out our favorite ways to make them work for your "I dos."

Trim for the Entrance and Exit

Ceremony exit photo

Hang garlands or blooms over the doors to the church or reception venue. Bonus—if you leave through the same doors, you'll have an amazing backdrop for festive exit photos.

Line the Aisle

Wedding ceremony seating lined with green garland

Add some visual interest to an aisle runner with a strand of greenery and a few statement blooms. Or hang swags of garland on the ends of church pews for just a touch of green.

Accent the Tent

Green garland accenting a tented reception

Garland adds instant color and texture to any structure—especially a white one where they'll really pop. Line the edges of the tent with greenery and finish with a bunch of fragrant blooms for a luxe touch.

Festoon the Ceiling

Tented wedding reception with green garland accents

Hanging garlands add color and help create a more intimate feel in large rooms or tented spaces. Pair with good lighting so they can be appreciated at night.

Get with the garland trend and devour the details of all the earth tones and textures for your wedding!

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Tasty Tuesday: Adoughrable Robin's Egg Spring Donuts

Spring has sprung (even though there was snow in New England yesterday)! And even though we're still thinking about getting in shape for summer—we cannot resist these delicious robin's egg carrot cake donuts. The perfect treat you can't wait to eat. Check out this amazing recipe right here and get to baking today!

Luxuriously moist Carrot Cake Donuts topped with a "Robin's Egg" buttercream frosting. So perfect for spring, am I right?!

Ingredients
For the donuts
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup finely grated carrots
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup buttermilk

For the frosting
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
blue, black, and brown food coloring

Instructions
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut pan with spray. Set aside.
  • In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, combine vegetable oil, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs. Mix until combined, about 30 seconds. Add in carrots and mix until combined.
  • Meanwhile in a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Alternate folding in the flour mixture and the buttermilk until everything is combined.
  • Pour batter evenly into prepared donut molds, filling until the top crest of the mold. Bake for 15 minutes, then allow to cool slightly before inverting onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before frosting.
  • To make the frosting, whip the butter in a standing mixer with a whisk attachment until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add in the powdered sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract, whipping an additional minute. Add in 1 drop blue and 1/2 drop black food coloring. This should form a nice robin's egg color. If it's off, experiment with adding more blue and more black, but keep the color light.
  • Frost donuts by dolloping 3 tablespoons of frosting onto each donut. Spread evenly over the top, then use the back of a butter knife to scrape the frosting from the inside of the donut, then the outside.
  • In a tiny bowl, mix 4 drops of brown food coloring with 2 drops of water. Dip a dry 1-inch brush into mixture, then flick the brush over the donuts, creating desired egg effect.
Luxuriously moist Carrot Cake Donuts topped with a "Robin's Egg" buttercream frosting. So perfect for spring, am I right?!

These beautiful blue robin's egg carrot cake donuts taste just as good as they look! Get your bake on today and devour the details of these perfectly sweet spring treats!

Monday, April 2, 2018

Monday Mashups: The Transformation of Meeting Space

Montreal’s landmark Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth hotel reopened last summer after a yearlong renovation—but the $140 million (Canadian) project didn’t just overhaul the downtown hotel’s decor. It also reimagined its meeting spaces through a new partnership with the business conference C2 Montréal, bringing escape rooms, ball pits, and swing sets as conference seating to what had been traditional hotel meeting space. A true transformation!

<p> CoLab 3, the hotel's new third-floor business hub, has 13 meeting spaces and seven gaming-theme rooms, which include eclectic...

The renovation of the luxury hotel, which opened in 1958 and has nearly 1,000 rooms, was led by the architecture division of Sid Lee, the creative agency behind C2. The annual international business conference focuses on commerce and creativity—BizBash named it the most innovative meeting of 2017—and was developed with founding partner Cirque du Soleil. The partnership allows the AccorHotels property to position itself as a venue with spaces designed to facilitate innovative meetings and events.

<p> One of the hotel's new meeting spaces is the Agora, a lobby-level area that can host a variety of...

Along with a new urban market, restaurant and bar, and coffee shop, new spaces for meetings and events at the hotel include the Agora, a lobby-level space with built-in food stations that can serve as a pre-function area; CoLab 3, a third-floor business hub with seven gaming-theme rooms and 13 meeting spaces; and Espace C2, a 21st-floor rooftop meeting and event space named after the city’s signature festival of innovation. (It still offers traditional meeting venues such as the 17,000-square-foot Place du Canada ballroom.)

<p> Espace C2 is on the hotel's 21st floor, and has permanent stations for teambuilding activities inspired by the C2...

We're all about this nontraditional approach to meetings. The goal to inspire business-goers with this type of creative environment really changes the outcome of these gatherings. It encourages efficient and effective problem-solving and more importantly—fun! The space gives you insight on the direction you want to take the experience you're planning. It's so unique and nothing like you've experienced before; you can't go wrong with holding a meeting here!

<p> The hotel's famous John Lennon and Yoko Ono suite is now open for public tours when it's not booked....

Espace C2 serves as a C2 Montréal preview with built-in areas that offer teambuilding activities inspired by the conference, which will have its seventh edition May 23 to 25 at the Arsenal. The space can accommodate as many as 220 people in a variety of configurations, and the activities can be customized for particular events. Facilitated by C2 team members, activities include brainstorming exercises in elevated ball pits; a white, multi-sensory “cloud” tent; drawing sessions that use the venue’s windows as canvasses; Lego-building activities; and a room that offers escape room-style puzzles.

<p> Another group activity led by C2 team members in Espace C2 involved building with Legos. </p>

Aside from the meeting and event venues, the hotel’s renovation also focused on keeping the interior aesthetic local to the city. The hotel has 123 original pieces of artwork in public spaces and suites, which celebrate Montreal and local Quebec artists. And room 1742, which is famously known as the location of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 Bed-In for Peace, is now open for public tours when it’s not booked.

<p> Global Meeting Exchange attendees also participated in an escape rooms-style puzzle session in another Espace C2 room. The answers...

Innovation is key when it comes to meeting planning. A nontraditional environment leads to creative thinking. We commend the Queen Elizabeth hotel for taking the opportunity to explore this new way of engaging attendees and look forward to seeing other venues devour the details of this up-and-coming trend!