Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at Lake George, NY.

Top ten most memorable moments from my trip to Lake George:

1. Sipping the most delicious pina coladas on a lakefront deck.
2. Rejoicing over the sudden appearance of a majestic rainbow.
3. Photographing a panoramic view of Lake George from Prospect Mountain.
4. Seeing dogs everywhere.
5. Staring in amazement at the scene of a piglet on a leash at the dock.  Yes, that's what I wrote. A piglet on a leash at the dock.
6. Chasing butterflies in the garden.
7. Floating on the lake while looking for images in the clouds.
8. Buying a pretty sundress.
9. Achieving top score playing Ms. Pac-Man at the arcade.
10. Feeling like a melting, oozing puddle of relaxation after a spa treatment.

Bonus Memorable Moment:

Hearing the song playing from the steamboat "Minne-Ha-Ha at random intervals.  Even from the summit of Prospect Mountain!

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at Federal Hill in Providence, RI.

Atwells Ave. is the gateway to Federal Hill.  You will begin your journey through "little Italy" by passing under the welcome arch.  The center of the arch is adorned with a pine cone or "la pigna" which is the traditional symbol of welcome & abundance in Italy.  This neighborhood is an indulgence for the senses.  Foodies will be delighted with the selection of restaurants and bakeries.  I highly recommend the decadent "All American Chocolate Cake" with a cold glass of milk at Pastiche Café .  Voyeurs will be mesmerized by the art galleries and the picturesque Piazza DePasquale, which features an ornate fountain, colorful umbrellas and cheery Petunias.  Night owls can enjoy live music at the piazza every Saturday. 

Another nifty area of Federal Hill is Broadway.   I discovered Broadway while driving to an exhibit this past spring. Broadway is for the historian who has a penchant for architecture.  ME!! This boulevard is studded with homes in the style of "Italiante", Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Victorian.  AND if that isn't enough, the Columbus Theater is definitely worth a peek.  Touted by Travel & Leisure as being "the city's reigning cool music venue", you will be awed by the lobby which is iconic of the gilded age of Newport, RI. Don't hesitate to go rogue and explore some of the side streets too.  Much to my amazement there was this carriage house that had the most beautiful façade embellished with circular windows.  I have never seen a design like it anywhere. 

Still into vinyl? Check out Analog Underground record store.  If want to spin records from the obscurest of artists, this is where you need to buy.  Don't expect to have an in depth conversation with the proprietor however, because when I asked if it was ok to snap some photos his response was half grunt/half mumble.  A grumble.....ha!  I'm wicked smaht. 

Whether it's restaurants, random street art, cute shops or a gnarly gothic church it's all here waiting to be discovered on Broadway.   

 

 

 

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at Shelburne Falls.

Shelburne Falls (01370) is a quaint village located in Western, Mass. on Rt 2.  The heart of this hamlet is Bridge St.  Here you will find unique boutiques, art galleries (a little pricey for my taste) and an interesting collection of mosaics.  Each mural pays tribute to one of the 10 hilltowns of Western County: Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Hawley, Heath, Plainfield, Rowe, and Shelburne. 

A river runs through it...

Coursing through Shelburne and it's neighboring town of Buckland is the Deerfield River.  About 14,000 years ago the river flow started shaping one of the two earthy attractions in Shelburne, The Glacial Potholes. Of course the only access point to the river was via the ruins of a condemned manufacturing  plant on private property.  Alas the rebel me was like "whateva!" so I immediately dis-obeyed and hopped the rope.  Hey, you only live once!  I selected myself a gem of a river rock as a souvenir too. Neato peachy keen!  The second attraction is a dormant trolley bridge transformed into a garden called The Bridge of Flowers. The first flowers were planted in 1929. 

The final stop on my tour of Shelburne Falls was the Trolley Museum.   Trolley #10, built in 1896,  was in service for thirty years.  The site of the museum is the original station stop and Trolley rides are offered to museum visitors.  A very cool feature at the museum is a graveyard of subway cars from the "T" dating back to the 1950s.

Every time I visit Western Mass I always marvel over the rustic small town culture that still exists today.  However, my only piece of criticism is that the visitor's center @ Shelburne Falls, which contained one of the two available restrooms, closed at 3pm.  👎😾

http://www.shelburnefalls.com/index.php/things-to-do/attractions

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at Horseneck Beach and she's mad.

This is a Piping Plover chick.  And this is it's home. 😢  Enough said.

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at Post Office Square.

For the last 13 years of my career I have been blessed to work in two beautiful districts of Boston: Back Bay and most recently Post Office Square.  Ranked #8 on the Today Show's 2017 20 best cities to live in, this Urban jungle has an impressive amount of green space. One of my favorite activities has been to explore this metropolis on foot.  My latest discovery is Norman B. Leventhal park in the cranny of Congress St, Milk St. and Pearl St. Nearly invisible in the dead of winter, it transforms into a lush tropical oasis by Spring.  This jewel is stylized with eye candy featuring gardens galore, a contemporary water fountain, and a 143 ft long vine covered trellis accented with marble columns. Heavenly!  There's even a cafe and a string quartet.  Given its smaller acreage (1.7) and popularity with the lunch crowd, it is best to visit this green space in the morning and afternoon past 1pm.  

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at the UN Sustainability Summit.

If you are a nature & wildlife enthusiast like myself, you are probably passionate about the effects that society's bad habits have wreaked on our planet.  One of our most common is the use of the plastic straw.  Do you know that in the US alone 500 million plastic straws are used every day?  Many of which end up floating in our oceans endangering fragile marine life. Like the movement to eliminate use of the insidious plastic bag, there are now re-usable straws made of silicone, glass and stainless steel.  One month ago I decided to substitute the plastic straw that I would get with my daily caramel ice latte with a re-usable straw and I'm not looking back! I even carry one now in my purse for dining out.

 

Are you up-for the challenge? Pledge to stop using single use plastic straws.

 

A set of re-usable silicone drinking straws as sold on one of the largest on-line retailers.

Where will you find the Boston Babe today? She's at the botanical garden.

Happy 4th of July!

In honor of July 4th, I've decided to feature flowers that resemble fireworks.  Introducing AH-mazing photos offering a big BANG! and a KABOOM!

FLOWERWORKS OR FIREFLOWERS

Leucospermum Cordifolium, or commonly known as Pincusion Protea, is native to Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Silybum Marianum, or commonly known as Milk Thistle, is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the middle east.  Milk Thistle is an anti-oxidant and used to treat liver disease.  

Calliandra Haematocephala, or commonly known as Powder Puff or Fairy Duster, is native to the tropical regions of America.  It is one of 140 species of the Pea Family.

Albizia Julibrissin, or commonly known as Persian Silk Tree or Mimosa, is a relative of the Pea family.  It is native to southwestern and eastern Asia.

https://www.wikipedia.org/