An Instagram-famous Ice Cream Shop is Coming to the Seaport this Spring

According to Boston.com, an ice cream shop known for its unicorn floats, fish waffle cones, and Instagram fame is set to open at 121 Seaport Blvd. this spring. Taiyaki NYC launched in Manhattan in 2016, immediately garnering long lines for its photo-ready dessert: soft serve swirled high inside waffle cones modeled after taiyaki, a Japanese fish-shaped cake. The shop expanded to Miami, Brooklyn, and Toronto, and now has its sights set on the Seaport. And we're ready for it!

Co-founder Jimmy Chen confirmed with Boston.com that Taiyaki is aiming for an April opening. “Boston is a tremendous city full of lively college students, rich history, and was always on our radar,” Chen wrote in an email to Boston.com. “Being presented the opportunity to work with a great company like WS [Development] and being around their passion and vision for the Seaport area in Boston was also extremely attractive for us as well. We are tremendously excited for this next venture and cannot wait to share our treasure with the Boston community.”

Taiyaki features soft serve flavors like matcha, black sesame, vanilla, and chocolate, and Chen said that, although they are in the early stages of planning, the menu in Boston will be similar to other Taiyaki shops. “We will definitely have the unicorn taiyaki as well as the unicorn floats,” he said, referring to a couple of the shop’s most popular orders. “For the other flavors, we are still in the brainstorming stage.”

There are a handful of ice cream and tea shops around Boston that already serve some version of taiyaki, including TeaMoji and Yotopia. But Taiyaki has been a social media powerhouse, implementing Instagram-friendly concepts from the beginning. Case in point: Its fish-shaped cones have become one of the most recognizable taiyaki variations in the country.

And just like us, we hope you're ready to devour the details of this Instagram-worthy sweet treat this spring!

Wedding Wednesdays: Bringing a Plus One 101

Receiving a wedding invitation is always fun—and seeing the magic words "and Guest" next to your name is an awesome bonus. But with the prospect of bringing a date does come a little responsibility. After all, nobody wants to bring the plus-one that drinks too much and ends up falling asleep at a table or harassing the DJ. Trust us, follow these tips from The Knot to spare yourself any potential agony.

Make sure they'll actually show up.
We all know people who habitually flake out at the last minute for drinks and parties, but for a wedding, not showing up is a big deal—cost per head is no small matter when it comes to large affairs. Your plus-one should be someone who's dependable and reliable, knowing full well they'll block off the date a year in advance to attend with you. Otherwise, you'll be the one stuck making an excuse for their absence and feeling guilty when you have to do so.

Make sure you've seen them in a social setting before.
Sure, you've been on a few drink dates with that cute, nice guy you met on Bumble, but how does that translate into big groups? If he's a bit introverted, you might have to drag conversation out of him and deal with awkward silences, and if he's super outgoing, you maybe don't want him to be leading the Cha Cha Slide when he doesn't even know the newlyweds. At the very least, make sure he or she has manners and will heed the dress code.

If the plus-one is an ex of anyone attending, be careful.
Again, trust us—you don't want to be the one who brings any drama to the wedding. If you're thinking about bringing someone's ex or anyone who may make another guest or wedding party member feel uncomfortable, think twice. Of course, the to-be-weds shouldn't dictate who you can and can't bring, but that doesn't mean you can't be considerate of their feelings—and the feelings of other guests too.

If you feel like you'll need to keep an eye on them the whole time, proceed with caution.
It's one thing if the bride's sister pranks her and hides her bouquet, or drinks too much wine and has a wardrobe malfunction on the dance floor, but it's quite another if it's your date who doesn't know anyone. Guests having an amazing time is every to-be-wed's goal of the night, but it should be the kind of fun that won't land you on bad terms with the couple's close family and friends.

Keep this advice in mind when inviting your plus one and devour the details of a worthy wedding date that saves your from some serious embarrassment!

The Trinket Tray Trend is Getting Us Organized in 2019

Lauren Conrad seems to be just as obsessed with trinket trays as we are! From our bathroom to our workspace and everything in between, we can't get enough of these tiny trays. They're so versatile and keep us infinitely organized. Today we're here to share how we (including LC) do it. Check it out!

1. Office Supplies
There’s nothing worse than a messy desk. If you’re anything like us, you might find yourself with tons of extra office supplies and no place to store them. (We're talking colorful paper clips, washi tape, thumb tacks, and anything else that usually comes in ugly plastic packaging.) Simply store those items in one of these cute trays and your desk will never be the same.

2. Hair Accessories
If it seems like all your hair ties disappear the second you take them out of your ponytail, a cute trinket tray like this koala bear might be the answer. Not only will it spruce up your vanity, but it’s the perfect way to keep all your hair accessories in one place. Add a second tray and you can even organize them by type.

3. Household Items
Before you let your junk drawer get out of hand, try putting a few pretty trays in areas of the house where you tend to collect odds and ends. For instance, a tiny cactus dish on a nightstand makes the perfect home for loose change at the end of the day, while a bunny bowl might hold matchbooks for your candle collection. Most importantly, keep your keys and other everyday essentials by the door so you’ll never face that last-minute scramble again.

4. Pint-Sized Products
Collecting trial sized beauty products is great for product testing, but it can clutter up your bathroom counter. Instead, try grouping the jars and bottles in a tray like this one. Not only will it keep the products out in the open, where you’re more likely to actually use them, but it will keep your makeup drawers a little more organized.

5. Kitchen Essentials
While these were originally designed to hold jewelry, many of LC Lauren Conrad's trinket dishes can double as kitchen storage. From sugar to salt, you can keep ingredients handy and make your countertops a whole lot cuter in the process.

Stay organized and devour the details of always knowing where you put something with the help of trinket trays in 2019!

Monday Mashups: Love/Hate Relationship with Waiting in Line

To enter the after-parties for the Golden Globes, anyone who didn't attend the ceremony gathers in a parking garage about a mile away. Used for both security and space issues, the process causes the crowd of celebrities, executives, and members of the press to wait upwards of 90 minutes before being shuttled to the parties. Leaving most wondering “there has to be a better way".

While there may not be a better way to deal with such a high-profile crowd, event planners around the country have, in fact, found ways to keep guests comfortable and entertained in the inevitable lines that come with large events, trade shows, and festivals. In addition to using pre-registration and mobile check-in to speed things up, planners are offering interactive entertainment, fun beverage options, and other tricks to keep guests happy. Here are their go-to moves according to BizBash.

1. First things first: Keep everyone informed as much as possible.
Consider using mobile push notifications to let people know if panels are full or create a dedicated social-media handles, such as @NYCClines, to update attendees.

Additionally, for long lines, it’s helpful to have a staff member ‘man’ the end of the line—they can confirm what the line is for, that it’s the end, and any other questions the guests might have. If there are any breaks in the line, that’s another point where you want a staff member—it keeps folks from accidentally cutting the line and it’s another point where guests can get questions answered.

2. Make the actual check-in process as smooth as possible.
Mobile check-in is the way to go. If you have the budget to incorporate the technology, let guests check themselves in—then they can just come in and get their badges and speed the whole process up. Allowing guests to check themselves in can actually boost morale—even in situations where it doesn’t necessarily cut down on the amount of time. If people are engaged, they will be less frustrated. Just like at the airport, if you're not standing in the same position for 10 minutes, you feel like you’re making progress.

3. If there's no way to avoid a long line, make sure guests are comfortable.
With an outdoor line, plan for possible swings in the weather. Tents really aren't that expensive; even if it's a gorgeous day, not having the sun beating down on you while you're in line makes a big difference.

Offering food and beverage is, of course, another option; cold water bottles on a hot day can go a long way—as can a glass of champagne.

4. Offer interactive entertainment.
Having something as simple as a magician doing card tricks up and down the line goes a long way. It's something that is engaging, and it's total escapism. Look to the theme parks for examples of ways to make the line feel like part of the event. Theme parks have mastered the art of keeping you entertained and distracted. With entertainment and decor tying in the overall event design, guests’ eyes, ears, and minds are occupied with wonder and awe.

Turn the waiting game from a hate to a love-filled experience with these helpful tips and devour the details of your next event with long lines!

Food and Fun with the Phantom

Who says food festival fun should cool down once the weather does? The Phantom doesn't!

Phantom Gourmet will be hosting its first-ever winter food fest this Saturday, January 26th on Landsdowne Street - The Phantom Winter Phest! The indoor/outdoor event's food offerings will include samplings of Phantom’s 30+ favorite foods; vendors plating up full-size dishes including Harrow's Chicken Pies and Mendon Twin Drive-In fried dough; and Summer Shack shucking $1 oysters.

Keeping guests warm from the inside out, the event will feature bars and heating tents on the street plus themed parties inside all of the participating restaurants: Tropical Party at Bill’s, Live Country Music Party at Loretta’s, Eskimo Kiss Party at Bleacher Bar, Winter Fun Stuff at Cheeky Monkey and Jillian’s, Pre-Party at Game On, and Very Important Phan Party at Lansdowne Pub.

For a limited time, tickets cost just $20. They will soon cost $30 in advance and $40 at the event. VIP Tickets cost $50 and include early admission at 11:30AM; VIP Party at Lansdowne Pub with special entertainment; and specialty food and service. You can purchase tickets here.

Phans who donate one winter coat or ten socks (in new/good condition) to New England Center and Home for Veterans in Boston get free admission (limit 500 Phans). The first 100 Phans to attend in just a bathing suit get free admission. An interesting trade-off.

It'll be a cold one but well worth it for some delicious Phan favorites! Grab your friends for some food and fun and devour the details of Phantom's first even Winter Phest!

Wedding Wednesdays: 5 Times You Shouldn't Wear Your Engagement Ring

We know, we know - it's so shiny, sparkly and new but if you want to keep it that way, The Knot recommends you put your engagement ring away. Whether it’s in an attempt to keep it in good condition or to avoid the risk of losing it, there are definitely times where that precious ring should be left at home. Sure, if you lose it there’s always insurance, but no one wants to deal with that headache. Here are the five places you definitely shouldn’t wear your engagement or wedding rings.

1. At the beach
There are a couple reasons for this. The most obvious being if you lose that sucker in the sand or water, it’s a goner. The second and lesser known reason is because of the sand that can wedge itself in the ring setting or under the diamond. And you definitely don’t want to apply sunscreen when you’re wearing your ring, it’ll cloud your stone right up.

2. Hitting the gym
Wearing your ring during cardio activities won’t do it any harm, but it’s the weight lifting that can take a toll. The pressure of the weight’s bars (or really, any amount of strong pressure) that’s applied to your band might bend it, which is especially bad for a pavé band because the smaller stones can fall right out of their setting. As for contact sports, definitely take off the ring, or risk a serious injury thanks to ring avulsion.

3. Taking a shower
Similar to sunscreen, any other soaps, hair or beauty products can cause a cloudy buildup on your stone, or worse, under your stone—which is much harder to clean. Shampoos and body washes are a no-go. The same applies for your favorite scented lotion that you apply post-shower or that hair serum.

4. Soaking in a pool or hot tub
Losing your ring here isn’t as big of an issue compared with the open sea (filters can be checked and the pool can be drained), but it’s the chemicals, like chlorine, that do the damage. After time, they can seriously discolor the metals.

5. Cleaning anything
Washing your car on the weekend? Cleaning the oven? Bleaching the shower? Take off that rock. That’s especially important if your ring has a colored gemstone rather than a diamond, as the chemicals can erode the finish and polish on the gem.

When you do take the ring off, don’t just leave it anywhere willy nilly. Put it in a box or jewelry pouch separate from your other baubles (so it doesn’t scratch them and you'll know exactly where you left it). Treasure your ring and devour the details of keeping it in tip top shape for years to come!

Liquor.com's Six Things You Should Know About the Bloody Mary

Is there a more appetizing drink than the Bloody Mary? Not only is it entirely sequestered to a time of day (morning, or however that word applies to the time of day you wake up—no judgments) and kind of meal (generally before lunch or in lieu of it), it isn’t a drink about which one feels neutral. You love them or you simply do not fall victim to the flavors of tomato, lemon, spice and alcohol. We are the latter but encourage all those whom love the drink to keep on keepin' on! Which is why we wanted to share Liquor.com's six things you should know about the Bloody Mary before your next one. Cheers!

1. The Big Apple Invented the Big Tomato Drink
There are differing versions of the Bloody Mary’s origins, but it all points to the mid-1930s and one Fernand “Pete” Petiot, a bartender at King Cole Bar at the St. Regis hotel in New York City. Prior to the St. Regis, Petiot tended at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in the 1920s—the other spot given credit for the Bloody’s birth. But it’s unlikely that the drink was served en masse at the famed Parisian watering hole, says Brian Bartels, the author of “The Bloody Mary” and partner and cocktail generator for Happy Cooking Hospitality.

2. It Has Seven Staple Ingredients
Riffs and creativity notwithstanding, there are seven ingredients to a traditional Bloody Mary, according to Bartels. “The seven ingredients that I associate with Petiot and the King Cole Bar would be vodka, Worcestershire sauce, tomato juice, black pepper, celery salt, Tabasco and lemon juice.” Swap out the vodka for tequila, and you have a Bloody Maria. Prefer gin? Just call it a Red Snapper, please. The addition of clam juice gives you Canada’s Bloody Caesar, and beef broth makes it a Bloody Bull. But if you want the original, stick to the original lucky seven.

3. Indiana's Got the Juice
You might have to thank the Hoosier State for the commercial popularity of tomato juice and, thus, the easy availability of the Bloody’s biggest ingredient. So the story goes, it was at the French Lick Springs hotel in French Lick, Ind., where allegedly the first glass of tomato juice was served in 1917 by chef Louis Perrin.

Tomatoes were a prolific crop in both Indiana and neighboring Ohio, so when Perrin realized he didn’t have enough oranges to juice for a summer morning breakfast banquet, he swapped out the juice of the state’s popular red fruit instead, straining out the seeds and zipping up the flavor with a little salt and sugar. Voila—tomato juice! Of course, it’s likely that people have been consuming tomato juice for as long as there have been tomatoes, but Perrin is the guy who gets credit for making it a thing and inspiring a small cottage industry of tomato plants, to boot.

4. Smirnoff Got the Tomato Rolling
Although its name originated from its 19th-century Moscow-born creator, Pyotr Smirnov, he sold the rights to the Smirnoff recipe and name to one Rudolph Kunett, in Bethel, Conn., which was then bought by Heublein Imports and moved to Hartford, according to Jeffrey Pogash, the author of “Bloody Mary.” And that’s when the Bloody Mary got its boost.

5. Chicago Gave It Celery
While the Bloody Mary garnish has taken on entirely new proportions, the traditional celery stalk garnish attributed to the Chicago’s famed Pump Room. In 1970, the story goes that a server or bartender was looking for a straw for a Bloody Mary, and next to the garnish station were these stalks of celery, so he used it instead. “Next thing you know, it’s popping up everywhere and part of the drink’s iconic image.” says Bartels. “It’s almost like a flag.”

6. The Drink Has Given Us Garnish Wars
There’s something about a toothpick that gets the creative Bloody juices flowing, but the last decade has seen a definitive increase tilting in favor of the edible portion of the garnish-to-drink ratio. From Sobelman’s Pub & Grill in Milwaukee, Wis., famed for adorning drinks with more than a dozen items, including full-on cheeseburgers and even a whole fried chicken, to the meat-and-potatoes stylings of Atlanta’s Nook—its 32-ounce Bloody gets the full-meal treatment with slices of steak, Tater Tots, a hunk of bread, and a hard-boiled egg, among other noshables—there’s no limit to what a Bloody Mary will bear.

Next time have a bloody with your brunch and devour the details of knowing all there is to know about this satisfyingly spicy drink! Check out Liquor.com for the full story!

Monday Mashups: Emotions & Funds on the Rise

Charity: Water, a nonprofit organization that provides drinking water to people in developing nations, has a reputation for using technology to build an emotional connection between donors and beneficiaries. At past galas in New York, BizBash shares that guests experienced activations like a virtual-reality film depicting a girl drinking clean water for the first time, plus a video-matching program that connected eventgoers with similar people in a village without clean water. (For example, an American couple married for 20 years would be “matched” via iPad with an Ethiopian couple married for 20 years).

But for its first West Coast gala on December 1, dubbed Charity: Ball and held at the Armory in San Francisco, the nonprofit upped the tech ante by surrounding the evening's 522 dinner guests with a 40,000-pound, 360-degree video experience, plus a custom app and personalized iPads that allowed for easy, real-time donations. The moving video, produced by Canadian director Drew Lightfoot and Bodega Studios, documented an Ethiopian woman’s daily trek for water. Of course, it took quite a bit of innovation—and teamwork—to bring the low-tech villager experience to the high-tech Bay Area—but it was so worth it!

Another technical highlight of the evening was the custom app from All of it Now. The result of three months of work from creative director Howard Wong and his team, the fundraising app powered 11 futuristic “giving moments” throughout the event, such as graphics and details about rigs that can dig wells. Every seat at the gala was outfitted with an iPad pre-loaded with the seatholder's information. The iPads were controlled by a bank of laptops, which were networking with 10 on-site servers.

At each of the giving moments, 522 iPads flashed to life, simultaneously prompting attendees to donate. By tapping the screen, donors could pledge money, the totals of which would be displayed in real time with animated graphics on the halo.

Creating the film was no small feat, either. Lightfoot and his team traveled to Ethiopia to document a local woman’s daily journey for water with 360-degree cameras. Ultimately, the team had to hike with their equipment to get the footage they needed and find hiding spots behind rocks and trees to avoid spoiling the shots. To complement the walk footage, Lightfoot and Bodega also filmed interviews with Ethiopian women detailing their daily struggles to acquire water.

Over the last 12 years, Charity: Water has worked in 28 countries to bring clean water to 8.5 million people, according to founder Scott Harrison. This year's technology-rich benefit, which raised a record-breaking amount of money to continue solving the clean water crisis, was one for the books.

Get inspired and devour the details of a similar emotional connection at your next charity event. Additionally, please consider donating to Charity: Water today!

Boston's Battle of the Bloodys

Oh boy! You read that right. This Saturday from 12-3PM, enjoy a battle unlike any other - featuring one of the most quintessential brunch items in Boston...Bloody Marys! Jump from bar to bar as 20 of the City's hottest brunch spots battle it out for the title of Boston's Best Bloody. Check it out!

Tickets include access to the following venues:

Loretta's Last Call
Sample 6 different samples of Bloody Marys from 6 local restaurants, free customized photo booth on stage, "the world's LARGEST Bloody Mary Bar", brunch snacks, specialty Tito's cocktails, & giveaways!

Lansdowne Pub
Sample 14 different Bloody Marys from 14 local restaurants, watch and compete in bartender competitions, try other signature brunch cocktails in the "Not So Bloody" room, and enjoy a variety of brunch snacks!

Bill's Bar Boston
Live band from 12-3pm, raffle table set up to benefit the MSPCA, full bar, & giveaways!

As well as:

• Unlimited photo booth pictures 
• 1 event program and "Bloody Mary Passport" 
• 20 samples of various Bloody Marys from 8 of Boston's brunch hot spots including Sonsie, Southern Proper, Back Bay Social, Lulu's Allston & many more!
• Brunch snacks (provided by Loretta's Last Call and Lansdowne Pub) 
• 1 token to vote for what you consider "Boston's Best Bloody Mary"
• Tito's swag & giveaways 

You can purchase tickets here. This year, 50% of total ticket sales will be donated to the MSPCA. So head into town this Saturday and devour the details of some of the best Bloody Marys while supporting a great cause. Cheers!

Wedding Wednesdays: Reinventing Renting

It’s no secret tuxedo rentals have a bad rap for being ill fitting and outdated. Factor in the multiple trips to a rental shop to buy and later tailor your look (not an easy feat when you have an entire party to outfit) and the whole process can seem even more daunting. So what’s the good news? Brands like The Black Tux, Generation Tux, and Stitch & Tie are reinventing the rental game. With little more than a measuring tape, internet connection and spare half hour, you can pick out a tux or suit (plus shoes and accessories, if you’re so inclined) and have it all shipped directly to your doorstep. Below is The Knot's guide to the new way to rent formalwear. Check it out!

The Black Tux
The Selection: With the largest collection of the bunch, The Black Tux boasts 39 suit and tuxedo rentals guranteed to fit any and every wedding style with options in tried-and-true neutral shades, plus more fashion-forward colors and prints.

The Fit: Most styles come in a range of sizes, for a made-to-order look. If you don’t know your size, use their Fit Formula to help find what’s best for you based on answers to a few questions like your height and weight. You can also visit any one of their 21 showrooms across the country to be measured in person. Your outfit will ship two weeks prior to your wedding, so plan ahead and secure your rentals at least three months in advance. That will give you enough time to make alterations (should they be necessary). The Black Tux will cover minor fixes to jacket sleeves and pants, up to $15 with a receipt. If the thought of renting a tux or suit without first seeing it in person makes you nervous, take advantage of The Black Tux’s free, at-home try-on. You’ll get to test drive one of its rentals for up to 48 hours for peace of mind before you commit.

The Process: The six-step rental process takes about 25 minutes to complete, including adding your measurements. You’ll first choose your tux or suit, and a name for it (like groom). If you’re looking to differentiate your best man’s look from the rest of your groomsmen, this will help keep you organized. Next, build your outfit with a shirt, tie, shoes and accessories. Then add all your event details and enter your measurements. If you don’t know what your size is, use their guide. Shipping is free, unless you need it expedited, which can run from $20 to $40. Once your event is over, you have three days to return the rental with prepaid postage.

Standout Service: If you’re looking to make a serious fashion statement at your wedding (after all, it’s your day too!), The Black Tux offers plenty of unexpected suiting options like mixed tartan prints, gingham, oversize pinstripes and rose-colored jackets.

Generation Tux
The Selection: While Generation Tux has a smaller lineup of formalwear styles with a selection of 21 suits and tuxedos in classic shades like blue, gray and black, its extensive collection of accessories more than makes up for the difference. You can choose from an assortment of neckwear, socks, cuff links, pocket squares, suspenders, belts, tie bars and even satin flower lapel pins in a range of colors and prints—you know, the trendy add-ons that will guarantee you and your guys look extra dapper.

The Fit: Without a brick-and-mortar store, Generation Tux relies on its eTailor to determine your perfect fit with a few questions about your body profile, including height, weight and jean size. Order your rental three months prior to your wedding date and you’ll have plenty of time to flag any fit issues. Generation Tux will cover minor alterations up to $20, and if your suit requires more extensive fixes, they will send you a free replacement.

The Process: First order of business is creating an event on the website. Once that’s done, enter your measurements using the instructional videos. During this step, you can also set up a free at-home try-on if you want to touch and feel the suit you’re planning to order in person. Then you’ll pick out your tux or suit, add accessories and check out. The whole process takes under 30 minutes. Once you secure your own rental, you can then invite your groomsmen to get started on their orders. Generation Tux’s management system allows you, your partner or even your wedding planner to view the status of each groomsman. (So, if one of your friends is seriously slacking and hasn’t been measured yet, you can follow up before it becomes a full-blown crisis.) And with friendly automated reminders of rental deadlines, all of the stress of managing (read: nagging) your wedding party is out of your hands. Another plus: When six or more of your groomsmen rent tuxedos through Generation Tux, your outfit is free. Your rental will arrive two weeks prior to your wedding. Once your receive your rental, you have 48 hours to flag any issues. After your event, return your rentals within three days with prepaid postage.

Standout Service: In addition to killer accessories, Generation Tux also offers a pretty decent selection of suits and tuxes in boy sizes—so even the most pint-sized members of your wedding party will look polished in photos.

Stich & Tie
The Selection: Stitch & Tie has a collection of 27 suits and tuxedos in traditional shades, as well as a couple of bolder options like red and teal. Unlike other sites, they also have a classic black tuxedo rental specifically tailored for women too.

The Fit: Stitch & Tie offers a range of sizes in slim and modern cuts. To ensure an accurate fit, you’ll have to enter your  specific measurements. If you’re not sure how to take your measurements, watch the instructional videos that make measuring yourself virtually fool proof. If your rental arrives and the fit is off, they’ll send you a replacement if you contact them within 48 hours or reimburse you up to $15 for minor alterations. For added peace of mind, try the at-home trial service and borrow a suit or tux for 48 hours for $40, which is later applied to your final costs if you decide to take the plunge.​

The Process: To avoid rush-shipping charges, start shopping for your rental at least 21 days before your event. After creating your account, build your custom look or choose from a selection of curated outfits, enter your event date and then your sizes before checking out. Their group management tool can save different looks for each groomsman and even send out friendly reminders to place their orders. Your rental will arrive a week before your event date, and you’ll have 48 hours afterward to return it. If you need to keep it longer (or forget to pop it in the mail), there’s an extra fee.​

Standout Service: No formalwear is complete without the  right accents, and while Stitch & Tie offers the usual accessories  to complete your outfit, its bespoke service is pretty innovative.  It works like this: Mail in your fabric of choice, and it’ll send you  a custom bow tie, tie or pocket square within four weeks. Let  your groomsmen choose their favorite print, or send in a swatch complementary to your bridal party’s dresses to match. ​

These companies will surely change your feelings about renting! Rethink the groomsmen attire and devour the details of some serious savings. You (and your bank account) will be happy you did!

Tasty Tuesday: Forget About French Fries

Forget about french fries this year. Once you try these Sage Sweet Potato Crisps, you won't even want to pair a hamburger with anything else. Light, healthy bites that leave you feeling satisfied - what else could you ask for? Try this recipe today!

Sage Sweet Potato Crisps

Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons avocado oil
fresh sage leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Put your sweet potato rounds into a large Ziploc bag with the 3 tablespoons cornstarch. Give the bag a good shake until all rounds are evenly covered.
3. Move rounds into a medium mixing bowl and add avocado oil. Toss as you’d toss a salad until rounds are covered. Add parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, then toss again until mixed. Note: we add a lot of parmesan cheese to my rounds, but you may adjust as you please.
4. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and place rounds in a single layer on parchment paper. Use more than one pan if necessary, but don’t add a double layer as this won’t achieve crispness.
5. Pick off fresh sage leaves from stems and place on each potato round. Add more parmesan, salt and pepper if needed.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until rounds are nice and crispy, with the outer rounds turning golden brown.

More satisfying than a french fry, try this recipe today and devour the details of your new favorite side! Enjoy!

Monday Mashups: New Year, Same Notable Events

We may officially be in the New Year but our favorite events will surely remain the same this 2019. That being said - our hopes are high that they surpass 2018 expectations. From highly scrutinized events such as the Oscars and the Super Bowl, to events that continue to get bigger each year like South by Southwest, here’s a look at what BizBash expects from major events this year.

Sundance Film Festival
The 35th edition of the winter festival staple in Park City, Utah, will run January 24 to February 3. Festival organizers shared new inclusion initiatives, which seek to add people to its programming team to achieve a 50/50 gender balance. The festival also partnered with Stacy L. Smith, the founder and director of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, on a research project to analyze the demographics of submissions to the festival. For 2019, the festival received a record-breaking 14,259 submissions from 152 countries; it will screen 112 feature-length films that represent 33 countries and 45 first-time filmmakers. Fifty-three percent of the directors in the U.S. Dramatic Competition are women and 41 percent are people of color.

Super Bowl LIII
The 53rd Super Bowl is heading to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on February 3 and, naturally, the halftime show has taken up most of the media coverage of the N.F.L. championship so far. After Rihanna reportedly turned down the league’s offer to perform in support of ostracized player Colin Kaepernick, it has been confirmed that Maroon 5 will be the headliner. Now, the band is struggling to find other musicians to join them for the 13-minute show, as many artists are refusing to perform because of the N.F.L.’s position on a player’s right to protest. Besides the halftime show, the Super Bowl will see satellite events around Atlanta, including DirecTV Super Saturday Night featuring the Foo Fighters; and the first Bud Light Super Bowl Music Festival, headlined by Post Malone, Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Migos, and Ludacris.

Grammy Awards 
After a one-year stint in New York, the Grammys will return to the Staples Center in Los Angeles for its 61st edition, which will air live on CBS February 10. After the last ceremony was criticized for its lack of female representation onstage and in major categories, the Recording Academy introduced a diversity task force to focus on female inclusion. So far, the awards seem to be improving from last year on that front; artists nominated in multiple major categories include Cardi B, Janelle Monae, Kacey Musgraves, and Lady Gaga. Whether the show will continue to draw low ratings—it saw a 24 percent drop in 2018—remains to be seen. Recording Academy president Neil Portnow, who drew backlash after saying women in the music industry needed to “step up,” will step down as president when his contract expires this year.

Academy Awards
In recent years, the Oscars dealt with considerable controversy and the lead-up to this year’s ceremony is proving to be no different. The 91st annual ceremony, which will air live on ABC February 24 from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, still doesn't have a host. In December, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars governing body) announced Kevin Hart would host, but in the span of a week, Hart dropped out of the gig after refusing to apologize for past homophobic tweets. Now, the ceremony is considering having multiple hosts to move the event along. And after the Oscars saw its lowest rated ceremony in history in 2018, the Academy announced the runtime would be shortened to three hours and that certain technical categories would be awarded during commercial breaks; footage from those categories will be edited and aired toward the end of the broadcast. The Academy also announced that in 2020 the ceremony will be moved to early February, which might have event producers dealing with a quicker turnaround after other major award shows. And it’s still unclear if the Oscars will move forward with its idea to introduce a category honoring “popular films.”

South by Southwest
Austin’s annual technology, music, film, and television conference and festival will take over numerous venues in the city March 8 to 18. The 33rd edition of the event will have keynotes from Instagram C.E.O. and co-founder Kevin Systrom and TechCrunch editor-at-large Josh Constine. Featured speakers include Lance Bass, Elisabeth Moss, and Trevor Noah. The festival shows no signs of slowing down its growth—in 2018, the South by Southwest’s economic impact for Austin totaled $350.6 million.

Met Gala
Reaching new levels of pop culture relevance when it was recreated in the female-led heist comedy film Ocean’s 8 last year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute Benefit will have a theme inspired by camp. The museum’s 2019 Costume Institute exhibition, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” is inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on ‘Camp.’” The gala, taking place May 6, will be co-chaired by Anna Wintour, Lady Gaga, Serena Williams, and Harry Styles.

San Diego Comic-Con
Comic-Con International, also known as San Diego Comic-Con, will celebrate its 50th anniversary July 18 to 21 at the San Diego Convention Center. Last year, the event saw the absence of major brands and franchises, including Marvel, Star Wars, and HBO. It hasn’t been announced whether or not they will return this year, but the convention might have better odds, with the final season of Game of Thrones, and films like Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and the final installment of the Star Wars sequels all premiering in 2019.

Don't take BizBash's word for it! Tune in to each event and devour the details of finding out whether or not your expectations have been met. We can't wait to see what unfolds!

Changes to the Boston Food Scene in 2019

In 2018, fast-casual eateries continued to dominate restaurant openings in Boston. There was more pizza. More poke. More tiki. All in all, nothing wowed us in the way of trends. But, you know: New Year, New You. In the spirit of looking forward, Boston.com talked to a handful of restaurant and bar industry professionals who have noticed some new fads and innovations start to take off this year, ones that give an indication of what 2019 might hold for Boston’s dining scene. Check out the top 3 trends!

Trend No. 1: Restaurant technology will improve hospitality
It comes as little surprise that in a city as tech-savvy as Boston, technology is propelling restaurant ingenuity. Lauren Abda is the founder of Branchfood, a networking hub for food entrepreneurs, and Branch Venture Group, a network of investors in the food innovation sphere, and has seen an uptick in new technology-driven products and services for restaurants. One of Branch Venture Group’s investments is a company called OpenCity, which builds software that allows guests to text a restaurant an inquiry — anything from, “Have I left my card at the bar?” to whether it can accommodate dietary restrictions. Frenchie Wine Bistro and Royale are among the Boston businesses that have already started using the service.

Technology is directly impacting the experience for diners on-site, too. Take Spyce as an example: Founded by four MIT grads, the restaurant opened in May with a robotic “staff” behind the counter that assembles bowls for customers. The founders recently made Forbes’s 30 under 30 list and have given Boston diners a look at what’s possible when tech takes over a kitchen.

Trend No. 2: Food halls will become the middle ground
We may be trailing a few U.S. cities (Los Angeles, New York, Miami) in this regard, but 2019 is poised to be the year of food halls in Boston. High Street Place is scheduled to open in the Financial District in the spring with 22 vendor spaces. Time Out Market will be coming to Fenway next year as well, occupying the ground floor of 401 Park Drive with 16 food vendors, two bars, a cooking school, and shopping. And while it is currently in demolition and likely won’t open for a couple of years, The Beat food hall will open in the former Boston Globe offices.

It’s a trend that may be even more welcome in Boston, where a middle ground between fast-casual restaurants and fine dining seems to be disappearing.

Trend No. 3: Career development will be a priority
Inside the kitchen, some restaurants are striving toward improving the mental health and career development of their employees. South End bar Shore Leave offered a mindfulness class before opening in November.

At Fenway’s Mei Mei, Irene Li uses open book management. Li said that being completely transparent makes it easier and more empowering for the staff to do their jobs. It’s a priority that Li believes will catch on even more in 2019.

Welcome to the future of food and beverage! Visit some of these forward-thinking restaurants and devour the details of their amazing 2019 trends. Enjoy!

Wedding Wednesdays: Pros and Cons of a Sunday or Friday Wedding Date

It’s no secret that Saturdays take the cake for the most popular day of the week to get married. According to The Knot, 7 in 10 weddings take place on a Saturday. Saturday weddings remain popular for obvious reasons: They give out-of-town guests enough buffer time to travel to and from the wedding location, and provide everyone a chance to recuperate on Sunday. But being a highly sought after day of the week does have its downsides. The easiest way to guarantee higher wedding vendor rates is to choose a Saturday during peak wedding season (typically between May and October, during which nearly 80 percent of couples say "I do"). Here are a few of The Knot's pros and cons of getting married on Friday, Sunday or really any non-Saturday wedding date.

Pro: There Are More Options
At many wedding ceremony and reception sites, Saturdays are booked a year or more in advance. If you have your heart set on one of these popular venues, an off-day wedding could be the right alternative for you, especially if you’re planning within a tight timeline.

Con: More Guests Than Expected Might Have to RSVP "No"
There's no getting around the fact that weeknights and Sundays are hard to plan for. Whether it's work, school, religious obligations or travel logistics, any number of factors could prevent your nearest and dearest from being able to make the trek for your nuptials. With a Friday or Sunday event, be prepared to receive a few more "regrets" than you would for a Saturday wedding.

Pro: You’ll Save Money on Vendors
The more popular the wedding day, the more expensive pros and services will be. So in an effort to book their space that would otherwise remain empty, some reception venues may offer the same sit-down dinner on Sunday for a lot less money than it does on a Saturday. It's a simple case of supply and demand: You'll have better luck negotiating lower rates with vendors if there aren't five other couples lined up behind you, ready to take your spot.

Con: You'll Have Some Late Arrivals and/or Early Departures
All of that said, a few guests might not be able to make the ceremony—either on time or at all. On the other end, some may have to skip out right after the meal and toasts to head home (unless you consider a Sunday brunch wedding). You'll just need to be a little more flexible, which is totally doable.

Pro: You Can Start Early or Party Late
Going off the beaten path lets you get creative with your wedding events. In an effort to be considerate of your traveling guests, you’ll want to start a Friday wedding later in the evening to give everyone a chance to get there. On the flip side, you should make a Sunday wedding earlier so your guests can get home with time to spare. Serve an elegant champagne brunch reception on Sunday that wraps up no later than 5 p.m. Or you’re free to party later into the night on Friday with two whole days to recover (yes, please). And your morning-after brunch on Saturday won’t feel quite so rushed without the Sunday scaries to dampen the mood.

Consider these pros and cons when selecting your wedding date and devour the details of planning your big day while maintaining your budget!

Tasty Tuesday: A Better Breakfast to Kickoff the New Year

Kickoff the New Year with some better breakfast options. It is the most important meal of the day for a reason! Nutritious, delicious and packed with protein to keep you energized all day long, these recipes will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep you away from some unhealthy morning choices. Trust us, you'll devour these all year long!

Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients:
1 cup (100 g) gluten-free oats
14 oz (400 ml) coconut milk
1 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries
1 cup almonds
1 cup raspberries
1-2 Tbs nut butter of choice
2 Tbs coconut flakes
1-2 Tbs maple syrup, to taste

Instructions:
Add the coconut milk and the oats to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat. Stir in the maple syrup.
Wash the berries. Add the oats, berries, and almonds to a bowl. Sprinkle with some coconut flakes and nut butter of you choice.

Overnight Oats

Ingredients:
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk (in the can)
1 tablespoon chia seeds or ground flax meal
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
0-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
1/3 cup chopped fresh or canned pineapple
1/3 cup chopped ripe mango
1/2 ripe banana, chopped or mashed
2 tablespoons unsweetened flaked coconut

Instructions:
Whisk together all ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
Close and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight before eating.

Sensational Smoothie

Ingredients:
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
1 banana
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
3 cups baby spinach leaves
1 cup ice

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth.
You may need to stop, stir, and run again to get everything blended.
Add a little extra water or orange juice if it's too thick. Serve immediately.

Start your day the right way with these better breakfast options and devour the details of a healthier New Year!

Monday Mashups: 4 Teambuilding Ideas to Digitally Connect Co-Workers in Multiple Cities

It's 2019! Companies are headquarter in one city but are able to employ people across the globe thanks to advances in technology. We're here to share that as more and more employees telecommute or collaborate with colleagues virtually in offices spread across the globe, there are still opportunities for effective teambuilding. Here are some ideas from BizBash for digital teambuilding with co-workers located in multiple cities.

1. Play online games.
Popular, non-violent online games for teams include Bike Mania 4–Micro Office, which is an obstacle-course game from the Bike Mania game series. Rescue Team and its sequel, Rescue Team 2, give users the opportunity to use time-management skills to rescue virtual people and rebuild virtual locations that have been hit by natural disasters. Websites such as Kongregaate and Armor Games offer numerous free online games that can be played by teams.

2. Plan hybrid activities.
It’s not uncommon for companies with offices in different cities to have employees who never meet because of long distances. Digital services with video capabilities, such as Skype, can be used for everything from virtual office tours to games like in-office scavenger hunts in which in-person and long-distance employees collaborate.

3. Use a digital conference systems to bond over a major live event.
Events that are televised live in several time zones, such as the Super Bowl and Academy Awards, can be opportunities for long-distance co-workers to connect. Social media platforms are ideal, as are digital conference systems like the AKG CS5 Reference Digital Conference System, which can work for meetings that can accommodate as many as 5,000 stations and 63 languages.

4. Host an online auction.
Co-workers can donate items for company fund-raisers in the form of online auctions, many of which are live. While eBay, eBid, and Bonanza are options for those who want to have auctions according to those sites’ terms, companies can custom-build their own auction websites. AuctionWorx Enterprise, Bidding Owl (which specializes in auctions on mobile devices), Auctria, Bidding for Good (which specializes in auctions for nonprofits), and Charity Auctions are some of the services for people to create their own online auction sites.

Just because colleagues are working globally doesn't mean they can't be part of teambuilding activities. Consider these digital options and devour the details of collaborating outside of work-related projects!

Five Places to Outdoor Skate this Friday

Nothing is more fun during the winter months than ice skating. Especially when it's outdoors! From now until March, you can have some family and friends fun at these five rinks in and around Boston. Check it out!

Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square
Rink: $5
Rentals: $8
Location: 300 Athenaeum St, Cambridge, MA

Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink 
Rink: $6
Rentals: $6
Location: 23 Newton St, Brookline, MA

Kelly Outdoor Rink 
Rink: FREE
Rentals: $3
Location: 1 Marbury Terrace, Jamaica Plain, MA

Frog Pond Skating Rink 
Rink: $6
Rentals: $12
Location: Boston Common, Boston, MA

Winter Skate at Patriot Place
Rink: $10
Rentals: $5
Location: 2 Patriot Pl, Foxborough, MA

If you can't bear the cold, here are some indoor options:
The DCR Steriti Memorial Rink is a great (and cheap) place to skate in the North End.
The Bruins official practice facility, Warriors Ice Arena, is open to the public on weekends for hockey and skating (on Friday nights they host "Rock 'n Skate").

Lace up your skates and devour the details of some fun with your family and friends, this Friday and every Friday until March!

Wedding Wednesdays: 4 Pre-Wedding Movie Picks to Catch on Netflix

Nothing relaxes us more than a Netflix binge. So when it comes to the stresses of wedding planning, it makes sense to set some time aside to curl up on the couch with a good movie. We recommend the four following flicks that'll help take your mind off your own wedding (at least for an hour or two). Check them out!

The Family Man (2000)
Nicolas Cage plays Jack Campbell, a single, high-powered Wall Street exec who falls into an alternate universe where he finds himself married to an old fling, Kate, played by T´a Leoni. This romantic dramedy is a heartfelt reminder that pulling off a multi-billion dollar merger and getting the corner office will never feel quite as gratifying as spending Christmas morning with your loved ones.

What Women Want (2000)
Advertising hotshot Nick Marshall, played by Mel Gibson, gets a curious wake-up call when he suddenly develops the ability to read the thoughts of women—obviously resulting in absolute hilarity. Suddenly, dealing with his new female boss, his daughter from his previous marriage and rest of the ladies at the office gets a lot more complicated.

The Wedding Planner (2001)
It's safe to admit we're most excited to stream this movie. Jennifer Lopez stars as Mary, wedding planner extraordinaire, who can organize anyone's wedding to a T, despite the fact that her own love life is non-existent. But when she finds out she's planning the wedding of the dreamy doctor who saved her from a near collision, her rigid plans to nail the job start to unravel. If only Matthew McConaughey was there to save us every time we got our shoe heel stuck in a grate…we digress.

Our Last Tango (2015)
If this gorgeous documentary doesn't get you pumped for your first dance as newlyweds, we don't know what will. Watch the true story of two tango dancers, now in their 80s, who've been dance partners, friends and sweethearts for decades. Before the end credits start rolling, you'll want to jump off the couch and head straight to those ballroom lessons. So much romance and passion!

Relax and unwind from wedding planning with these binge-worthy flicks and devour the details of some well-deserved couch time!