Better than Rachael Ray.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I detest Rachael Ray. It's a hard toss-up as to whether she or Sandra Lee is more annoying. Ms. Ray might just win out over Ms. Lee's coke-fueled perkiness just due to the fact that she has like 5 gazillion shows; thus, she is more pervasive and therefore more odious. Her ever-so-obnoxious smoker's rasp of a voice, the fact that she actually says E.V.O.O., pronouncing each letter rather than forming it into a word, or even better, just saying olive oil, the wretched spread in FHM, her ugly new highlights - well, those are but three of the many reasons as to why for this Dine & Dish #4, I decided to actually participate instead of merely being a voyeur. The couple of times I've inadvertantly watched the $40/day show, I was struck not only by her annoyingness (again), but also by the thought of, oh yeah, I could do better than that. So the idea was to take her $40/day concept, and apply it to one's current city of residence.
It was a little difficult. After all, there are a gazillion places I love in Cambridge/Boston. But here goes.. I'll take you on one of my favourite personal walks around the city, punctuated by some of my favourite restaurants.
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It's a beautiful day in the Boston area - let's say, 70 degrees fahrenheit with practically no humidity to speak of, clear sparkling blue skies with only the faintest wisps of clouds in the sky. Haha! You know that that's a fantasy! We'll start the day jetting from my apartment in Cambridge over to Charles Street. By car, of course. Public transportation is such a pain and germy (I am a pain), and we're going to pretend that we automatically have parking wherever we're going. Or a driver. Ooh, I like the idea of having a driver. I'd say we'd start with breakfast, but I have the very bad habit of not eating breakfast unless I'm hungover or unless I have guests. Rarely do I wake up hungry. It always takes me a couple of hours for my metabolism to start going. So, we'll take Storrow Drive from Cambridge over to Charles Street...
Yes, I realise that it's not winter right now and that long-time readers have already seen these pictures.
Unfortunately, these seem to be the only photos I can find of Beacon Hill in my files.
Just imagine how much prettier it is when there's no snow.
Unfortunately, these seem to be the only photos I can find of Beacon Hill in my files.
Just imagine how much prettier it is when there's no snow.
Charles Street, on lovely Beacon Hill, is one of my favourite parts of Boston. If ever I were to move back to Boston, it'd be a hard tossup as to whether I'd return to Cambridge or attempt to find something on Beacon Hill. The latter would require a fair amount of money, unfortunately. It might be worth it though, for everything you'd have at hand. It's a short street, perhaps all of five brick-paved paths, but it's quite lovely. There are a few darling boutiques there, as well as a high concentration of antique stores. And strangely enough, it's not tourist-ridden.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/050815%20Upper%20Crust%20%281%29.jpg)
While you may eat in the restaurant - it received some sort of architectural honours for its ceiling, I believe, I think it's a far better idea to take your slice of pizza and walk across the street to the Boston Common and enjoy it there. Remember, it's a perfect weather day. Enjoy the fresh air!
Again, pretend that it's pretty and sunny instead of gross and all snowy.
Mmm, pizza. There are few foods I enjoy more. Okay, that's a lie. I love lots of food. Now, after that, I suppose you could walk down Newbury Street, but in my opinion it's a touch over-rated and ack! So many people who can't walk! They just stop randomly and you crash into them! Plus, the number of Guidos there! No, no, let's have the driver take us back to Cambridge. We're done with Boston now.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/Picture%20067.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/050730%20Lobster%20Sandwich%20%283%29.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/050730%20Alive%20and%20Kicking%20Lobsters%20%282%29.jpg)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/050802%20Shakespeare%20on%20the%20Common.jpg)
Now, take your lovely lovely food and backtrack to the Charles River. I love sitting on the banks of the Charles and watching the boats (well, motorboats and crew teams by my end. Mmm. Crew. Guys who row crew. Nice arm muscles. Mmm. Just as delicious as dinner, but in a different way) go by. It's quite pleasant, and makes for an enjoyable picnic place. Ah, that footbridge pictured below. It holds so many amusing memories.
Make sure to share the food with the driver, who is most likely one of my friends I've conned into driving me about because sometimes, I just don't feel like dealing with Boston traffic. Like I could finish all that food, anyway. Share! Sharing is caring! We might need a little postprandial nap here, too. Hey, everyone needs a little disco nap before going out for the evening.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5288/280/200/050611%20Drinks%20at%20Middlesex%20-%20Pimms%20cup%20and%20Meyer%20lemon.jpg)
And there you have it, and our total for the day comes to $39.65, leaving us with $0.35 with which you can... um, send a postcard to write your friends about the lovely food adventure on which you just went.
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