Interns Attack!!

Andrea is out of the office for a few days, so we, the loyal Boston Life interns, have taken over the blog.
Muah ha hahahahahaaaaaaa...

The picture on the left was actually a collaboration between a bunch of people at Boston Life. Leah received the flowers from one of her students, but she decided to let everyone in the office enjoy them. Andrea placed them in a mug on the desk. Takeshi trimmed and arranged the flowers because he was an apprentice florist in Japan for two years. Young Min, one of our volunteers, gave me some photography tips because he is an award-winning photographer in Korea. I (Shaina) took the picture with my camera and Katie gave me a cable so that I could put the picture on the computer.

So many people were involved in something so simple. What great teamwork!

Mirror Mirror on the wall, whose the prettiest house of all?

There are many beautiful and architecturally unique homes in Cambridge and Boston--but I happen to like this little ivy covered house that I walk past on my way to work.

Dear Blog Readers: I will be away on business (as well as pleasure) and will be unable to update the blog again until the second or third week in September. Please stay tuned!

Be a Volunteer!

In the United States, volunteering is a popular sport. Many people volunteer time or money to worthwhile organizations. Jayoung (pictured on the right) is a student in Boston, and one of our newest volunteers. She has a deep, whispery Kathleen Turner style voice and an elegant way about her. (I think all the male students will fall in love!)

Daytime, Boston

A quiet moment in the shade.

The Public Garden

The Public Garden in Boston is a National Historic Landmark. It was the first botanical garden in the U.S. and its 24 acres was once a salt marsh. Below is the fetching bronze statue of George Washington. He was a total hunk (and by the way, it's a myth his teeth were wooden-- he did however wear dentures carved from the finest ivory and gold!)

Today: Swan Boat in the Public Garden

Sometimes grown men like to play dress up

On the Boston Common Sunday there was some sort of patriotic, founding of Boston--revolutionary--Freedom Trail event. There were many tents set up along the lawn with various actors playing the roles of the men and women from olden times (Paul Revere, etc.) In some tents the womenfolk were cooking/eating, in other tents there were people preparing their weapons for battle or maintaining the small hospital/medical tent. I would have stayed and watched some of the activities but I had important tax free shopping to attend to.

Get me to the church on time

Yesterday as I did my tax-free shopping (this weekend was the tax free holiday in Boston--by the way, this is not a national holiday--only Boston)--I stepped in for a moment of quiet to the Old South Church (across from the Boston Public Library) and the Arlington Street Church across from the Public Garden. Boston has a variety of churches, synagogues, mosques, etc. and while they can never compare to the splendor of the cathedrals I have seen in Europe, they are quite lovely (and sometimes they have free concerts/events). I grew up in New Jersey going to a Jewish temple with 1970's decor: shag carpets and lime green classrooms. Sometimes we baked challah and had festivals with candy apples and games! One of my Hebrew School teachers was named Eliot and he was very handsome and kind. (Go to Trinity Church in Copley Square for the creme de la creme of Boston churches)

Teacher in Pose

Teacher Debbie basking in the glow of the late aftrnoon sun. Debbie is not only an English teacher, she is also an accomplished musician and singer.

Babyface!

Members of the Boston Life family, Miho and Evan Owens, brought Layla, their beautiful bundle of joy, to Boston Life last night. Not only is Layla charming and well behaved, but she also has the prettiest toothless smile I have seen...(Layla and I shared a few good laughs together)...Thankfully Layla is now sleeping through the night so mom and dad can finally get some rest! Congratulations Miho and Evan!

Saturday (Tea and Facials)

On Saturday I met Boston Life cooking teacher Stasia and some of my friends (Nancy and Amy) at Cafe Vanille on Charles Street. Stasia's broken leg is coming along nicely (she now walks with a very stylish cane) and as always she looked gorgeous. For any of you not familiar with Charles Street, you should visit (take the red line to the Charles Street T station). Charles Street is in Beacon Hill near the public garden (pictured here) and the Charles River. There are many quaint antique shops, dress boutiques, restaurants, etc. We had a tea and cookies at Cafe Vanille (they have pretty cakes and pastries as well) and discussed the John Edwards scandal (his affair), the creepy Rockefeller case, Stasia's very cool doctor who we ran into at Cafe Vanille with her French boyfriend, travel to Canada (my upcoming trip) and the benefits of facials.

Notes on my facial: Before I met up with the gals, I went for a facial at Bella Sante on Newbury Street--it's an elegant day spa with a variety of spa services (facials, massages, pedicures, etc.) It's also very expensive (this was my early birthday present to myself). The staff are friendly and professional. They give you a robe and flip flops to change into as you wait for your treatment--in the lounge I noticed the women across from me staring at my feet (she was very expensive looking--flawless hair that didn't move, perfect makeup, slender and chic with newly pedicured and immaculately painted toenails)--I think she was aghast by my feet--unpolished toenails and pasty white skin. I became embarrassed by her attention and made a note to myself to polish my nails the next time I returned to the spa. Paulina, my facialist, gave me a wonderful facial (including a leg and head massage--the head massage was heaven but the leg/foot massage was mildly torturous since I'm ticklish). All in all a very nice day.

Puppy Love

This is my neighobor's dog Boris. He and I have become good friends. In fact, I quite adore him. He's 15 years old and enjoys long walks (he walks very slowly these days), scratches behind the ears (he also likes kisses), and he is a connoisseur of fine and unique smells--during walks he will frequently stop to investigate the size and odor of every leaf, flower, and random object he sees. Today I walked him during my lunch break--as you see he was napping when I arrived. He's a big fan of the afternoon nap. Today's word of the day: GROGGY. When I arrived, Boris was groggy from napping.

Battle of the Sandwiches

A week or so back I said the tuna sandwich was possibly the most popular American sandwich. However, our intern Shaina (from Northeastern) has recently notified me that she dislikes "smelly" tuna sandwiches. I am astonished. I thought everyone loved a good tuna sandwich. Her favorite sandwich is the all-American grilled cheese sandwich, which I have to admit is also wonderful...a gooey delight of creamy cheese and crispy, buttery bread. I am now going to turn over the blog to Shaina so that she may write some informative and possibly heartwarming notes on the delicious grilled cheese sandwich...here she is:

There are so many ways to make a grilled cheese! All you really need is bread, cheese, and a little butter. You can cook it in a pan, on a grill, or in a sandwich maker. If you want to spice it up a little, you can add tomatoes, apples, mustard, or even spicy jelly. Really anything goes, as long as you have the two main ingredients; bread and cheese.

My favorite grilled cheese is made with Muenster cheese (picture on the right), which is creamy and a little salty. Andrea loves Fontina cheese, which also makes a nice gooey sandwich. My boyfriend, on the other hand, likes to use Kraft singles (picture on the left) which are the perfect size for one grilled cheese sandwich.

Sourdough bread is usually considered the best kind for a grilled cheese, but you can use any kind you want, from plain old white bread to a fancy Italian foccacia bread. Spread a little butter on the outside of the bread, put the cheese in the middle, and cook it in a pan on medium heat for a minute or two on each side. Remember to press down on the sandwich with a spatula so it gets very gooey. If the cheese oozes out of the sandwich into the pan, that's okay! It will get very crispy and delicious.

Now pair that classic American grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup, and you have a great meal!

(If you aren't able to make your own grilled cheese, many restaurants around Boston offer up this delicious treat. The Beehive in the South End has a grilled cheese with tomatoes and one with short ribs. Flat Patties in Harvard Square also serves this sandwich "just right.")

-Shaina

A picture of Boston

When you live in a place, you forget how pretty it can be...until you see the many tourists (and duck tours, trolley tours, etc.) and then you remember you really do live somewhere special.

Finally: Shakespeare on the Common

After going last weekend to Shakespeare on the Common (and getting rained out) teachers Angela, Leah, and myself finally saw the play this Friday (clear skies thankfully). It was much fun ('As You Like It')--Shakespeare is a joyfully vulgar and raunchy kind of guy (he likes the lowbrow humor--and lots of references to sex) and there are a surprising number of musical interludes throughout the performance (which after a couple of glasses of wine, we happily joined in on). Furthermore, we had surprisingly good seats (the trick is to be bold--you simply have to insert yourself on a nice patch of grass up front and ignore the deadly stares that greet you from those who came hours earlier to stake out a spot).

Teacher Reshama hanging out in the office

Reshama, the Pronunciation teacher.