Massachusetts Archives - Page 2 of 10

NEW Star Wars MINILAND Display at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston

Feb 132018

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I never tell my kids where we’re going, I just tell them we’re going on a Mystery Ride and we go. Sometimes we go to Walmart, sometimes we go to Washington, DC. It’s a surprise every time. So, when the opportunity came up to go to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston for #LEGOStarWars #MINILAND Preview Event I was psyched. This was going to be a perfect Mystery Ride! With my oldest being almost 13, the age gap between him and the 9- & 8-year olds feels like dog years. It’s getting harder and harder to find Mystery Rides they will enjoy together but something like this was a no-brainer.

Star Wars MINILAND is the newest addition to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Boston. For Star Wars fans, this is a display not to be missed!

When they saw Gio, the giant Lego Giraffe, and realized they were going up to the Discovery Center, the excitement was palpable. Even the tweenager smiled. We found parking two blocks over that was free for the first 3 hours, made a mental note that there was an ice cream shop across the street and headed in for our adventure. Continue reading »

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Keep the Kiddos Busy During Their Winter Break (Locally)

Feb 072018

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Did you catch the Facebook live I did this morning with Leah from City Living Boston live from The Royal Sonesta Boston. Actually, Kim from Kimworld was there, too, but she did all the behind the scenes stuff for us (THANK YOU for that by the way, Kim)! During the live stream we covered local things to do over the Winter break/February school vacation.

What, you missed it? No worries – grab a snack, sit back and have a look:

Before I get into all my February vacation picks, here are a few of the links for things mentioned in the live stream for your reference:

Little Scientists Package: https://www.sonesta.com/…/royal-sonesta-boston/offers

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston February Vacation Offerings http://www.mfa.org/…/special-event/february-vacation-

Mirror Maze Exhibit at Museum of Science, Boston https://www.mos.org/exhibits/mirror-maze

Love Royally at the Royal Sonesta Boston https://www.sonesta.com/loveroyally

As promised here is some information on the locations I discussed in the video (plus a few that I didn’t have time to mention): Continue reading »

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BABEL: An Evening of Mind Reading in Boston

Feb 052018

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My husband, Christian, and I got recently invited to check out a new show in Boston called “BABEL: An Evening of Mind Reading”. Sounds cool, right? Well, it was cool. Actually, it was totally mind blowing. We love it when we watch America’s Got Talent and a mentalist comes on and it always ends the same way with the two of us: when the trick is over, we look at each other and say in unison, “how the h-e-double hockey sticks did they do that??”

BABEL is a 90-minute intimate evening of mind-reading with Boston’s premiere mentalist, Christopher Grace, at The Bostonian Boston in the financial district and we went to BABEL’s debut show last Friday. It’s a performance designed for sophisticated adults looking for a different type of entertainment and Christopher delivered on his promise.

BABEL is a 90-minute intimate evening of mind-reading with Boston’s premiere mentalist, Christopher Grace, at The Bostonian Boston in the financial district. It's a performance designed for sophisticated adults looking for a different type of entertainment.

Christopher completely confounded the entire audience on Friday with his seemingly impossible mind-reading abilities, acts of super memory, and actually entertaining rapid fire math skills. He was inside all of our heads and kept up laughing the whole time. Continue reading »

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Chef’s Demonstration Table at the Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa

Jan 172018

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I don’t know about you, but my husband I are always looking for fun date night ideas. We are both foodies, so going out to eat makes us both very happy, but every now and then it’s fun to change things up. Last weekend we definitely leveled up our date night! We spent a super fun night at the Chef’s Demonstration Table at the Dan’l Webster Inn in Sandwich.

The Chef's Demonstration Table at the Dan'l Webster Inn is a unique entertainment experience. Enjoy a cooking lesson and a wonderful dinner all in one fun night out.

The evening was quite entertaining as about 23 of us watched Chef Steve Chausse and Pastry Chef Lydia Broderick prepare a 3 course meal from scratch. The menu included roasted Stuffed Artichoke Tartlet, Winter Flounder Francaise with a beurre blanc sauce and a Ricotta Cheesecake with an almond crust for dessert. The two chefs made all three dishes from scratch all while providing tips on which tools and materials are best to use and lots of other practical tips that we will be able to use at home. Continue reading »

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Plan Your Next Romantic Cape Cod Getaway at the Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa

Jan 152018

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Here in Massachusetts a sandwich isn’t just a delicious combination of lunch meat, condiments and bread – it’s a town on Cape Cod, too. Yes, the actual name of the town is Sandwich and what a lovely town it is. I actually spent many childhood summers in Sandwich and I have so many fond memories of all my time there. My Great Aunt Millie and Uncle Jack used to rent a beach cottage on N Shore Blvd every summer and as kids we loved visiting them and playing on the beach. Sure there are beaches in Maryland (where they were from), but there is something really special about Cape Cod and it kept them coming back year after year.

Aside from the amazing beaches, there is charm everywhere you look. Cape Cod is filled with antique shops, boutiques, museums, cafes and so much more. It really is a wonderful getaway destination and I have just the place for you to stay when you start planning your trip to “The Cape”: The Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa!

The Dan'l Webster Inn & Spa is the perfect destination for your Cape Cod vacation, business gathering, wedding or simply a quick Cape Cod getaway.

The Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa in Sandwich, Cape Cod’s oldest town, has been in business for over 300 years. When you book a stay in one of the 48 guest rooms/suites at the Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa, you will be pleasantly surprised when enter your guest room. Each room has it’s own lovely decor and is full of amenities that you will help you to have a comfortable stay, including WiFi, a coffee maker, hair-dryer and more. If you are looking for a little more than just a room, there are suites available which feature canopy and/or four-poster beds, fireplaces and over-sized whirlpool tubs. Continue reading »

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Halloween Fun at Edaville Family Amusement Park

Oct 172017

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When I was a kid my sister, brother and I waited all year long until my parents finally said we were going to “Edaville Railroad” to see the Christmas lights. I’m dead serious – it was one of the highlights of my childhood and I have so many fond memories of going there year after year with my family. These days it’s know as Edaville Family Theme Park and I am so thankful that I have the chance to go there with my own children so they can have the same wonderful memories of Edaville as I do.

Halloween Fun at Edaville Family Amusement Park's Not So Spooky Halloween event being held weekends throughout October. It's fun for the whole family.

Edaville Family Theme Park is tucked away in the middle of cranberry country in Carver, MA. It is a fun family attraction which features amusement rides including a Ferris Wheel, carousel my boys favorite: the bumper cars! Each admission includes a five mile train ride through the cranberry bogs on their property, all the rides, Dino Land and Thomas Land. Continue reading »

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What To Expect at King Richard’s Faire

Sep 122017

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There is so much fun to be had at King Richard's Faire in southeastern Massachusetts!

Hear ye, hear ye! It’s September and around these parts that means that King Richard’s Faire is back. For two months every fall, you can travel back in time at King Richard’s Faire in Carver, MA. Spread out over 80 acres of woods, King Richard’s Fairs is the place to be if you want to fully immerse yourself in the 16th century. If you’ve never been to a renaissance festival, you are seriously missing out a very unique experience. The fair includes all sorts of entertainment, exciting rides, shows, games and so much more. Here’s what you should expect when you go.

And yes, you too can lock your husband up in a cage when you go……

You can also lock your husband in a cage at King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA

Lots of amazing entertainment!

There are eight stages of live entertainment all day, included in your admission price at King Richard’s Faire. In addition to jousting show, you can see fire eating, magic, comedy shows, acrobatic acts and much more. Continue reading »

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New England Fall Fun: Mann Orchard’s Riverside Farm Corn Maze #MannsMaze

Sep 112017

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Getting lost in a corn maze is one of the most fun things you can do with your family in the fall. Mann Orchard's Riverside Farm Corn Maze is now open!

I love summer, I really do. I love the warm weather, the beach, the relaxed schedule – all of it. But do you know what I love more than summer? FALL. How can you beat pumpkin flavored everything, chunky sweaters, hayrides and corn mazes? And speaking of corn mazes, did you know that the very first corn maze is now open in Methuen?

Getting lost in a corn maze is one of the most fun things you can do with your family in the fall. Mann Orchard's Riverside Farm Corn Maze is now open!

Mann Orchard’s Riverside Farm is home to an 7-acre corn maze, which is the main attraction of their Riverside Farm location. Once this South Shore girl figured out where Methuen was, we headed up there for a day of fun this past weekend. You see, there is much, much more than just a corn maze at Mann Orchard’s Riverside Farm and you definitely need to plan to stay for a while once you’re there. Continue reading »

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Boston Bites: The Parish Cafe

Aug 282017

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While I don’t live in Boston proper, I am in the city fairly often. My husband, Chris, works in Boston, so he’s in there all the time for work, but even on his days off – we always seem to find ourselves in the city for one thing or another. We go in to the city to eat quite a bit because the food just doesn’t compare out in the boonies where I live. I’ve walked past the Parish Cafe numerous times, but for some reason I never made it inside to eat. Until last week.

Each sandwich on Parish Cafe's menu is named for the chef and the restaurant they are from.

The Parish Cafe opened in November 1992 and usually has a line anytime you walk by. And now I know why! Owner Gordon Wilcox approached local Boston chefs and asked them each to create a sandwich for the Parish Cafe menu. Each sandwich on Parish Cafe’s menu is named for the chef and the restaurant they are from. I love this concept and was super excited when the Parish Cafe invited my husband and I to come in for dinner.

We grabbed a window seat (inside) so that we could do some people watching and started with some appetizers. Here’s what we got:

The Benny is stuffed with Vietnamese-style, spicy grilled chicken breast, assorted julienned vegetables, and mint-coriander mayonnaise. It’s served with spicy purple cabbage slaw tossed with diced tomatoes, fresh mint, Thai basil, and cracked peanuts on the side. Continue reading »

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Good Eats on the South Shore at the Quarry Hingham

Aug 072017

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If you live on the south shore you may have heard of The Quarry Hingham. It’s a wonderful restaurant in Hingham that is quickly earning a reputation for fantastic food and outstanding service. Since earning Boston Magazine’s 2016, Best of Boston South Shore for General Excellence, The Quarry continues to get positive reviews. Chef Greg Jordan, graciously invited my husband, Christian, and myself to dine at The Quarry recently so that we could see for ourselves what all the buzz was about.

The first thing we noticed when we pulled up was the restaurant’s namesake. There is a big old water-filled quarry behind the restaurant, which is housed inside a gorgeous stone block building on the property.

With food made from scratch daily with locally soured ingredients, the Quarry Hingham is the restaurant for good eats on the South Shore.

The menu at The Quarry changes based on the region’s harvest cycles. All of their food is made from scratch daily with locally sourced ingredients and after eating there, I can definitely see why they are consistently getting positive reviews. Continue reading »

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The Ghosts & Gravestones Tour is a Must-Do in Boston

Jul 242017

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In a city nearly four hundred years old – troubled with war, murderers, strife and the occasional bout of stray molasses, it is hardly any wonder that Boston remains one of the most haunted cities in America and stories of the glory days of Colonial Boston only scratch the surface of Boston’s darker side. Boston has found itself plagued with some of history’s most nefarious figures – The Boston Strangler, Jolly Jane, Dr. John Webster, Cotton Mather, amongst a slew of other assorted characters. If you want to hear all about Boston’s dark history, the Ghost & Gravestones Tour is the place to hear about all of it.

Explore Boston’s most chilling murder sites, haunted places and spend time with the dead on the Ghosts & Gravestones tour.

I took this fun trolley tour in Boston a few years ago with my husband, but I recently had a chance to take it again with him, my sister and brother in law. Our tour guide was Ashton Burns and we really enjoyed the stories that he told us. Ashton was not only just great a storyteller, but he was also well-informed and ready to answer any questions asked of him. There were a few tours out that night and all of the guides are dressed up AND in character! As I mentioned, Ashton was our guide and sadly, all of the pictures I took of him came out blurry, but he was great and really authentic. The other guide out that night was Betty and our group met up with their group in one of the cemeteries we visited. Continue reading »

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Old Town Trolley Tours are the Best Way to See Boston {And a Free Printable Scavenger Hunt}

Jul 172017

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It is no secret that I am a proud Bostonian. I have lived in the area all my life and love being from this part of the country. There is so much to see and do in Boston and sometimes I like to pay tourist in my own city. When I want to see the sights in Boston, I take the Boston Old Town Trolley Tour in Boston.

If you're planning on visiting Boston, spend a day on the Boston Old Town Trolley Tour. It's hop on/hop off and brings you to over 100 Boston attractions.

The Hop On Hop Off Boston Tour covers all the major areas of the city including Downtown, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the Theater District, and the Waterfront District. On the trolley, the fun conductors narrate the tour with a fun mix of trivia and humorous stories. My husband and I took the trolley tour on a rainy day a couple of weeks back. Since we’re local, we decided to stay on for the whole tour and I am so glad we did. Lucia was our tour guide/driver and she was wonderful. She is a life-long Bostonian and she was full of stories and trivia about Boston. Continue reading »

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Summer Fun at Davis Farmland

Jul 102017

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For a fun summer outing with the family, visit Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA

Located in Sterling, MA, Davis’ Farmland is super fun farm experience for families with children under 12. Davis Farmland has over 100 breeds of animals that can be petted and cuddled with as well as North America’s largest sanctuary of endangered farm animals. They don’t just have animals at Davis Farmland, they have several playgrounds, hay & pony rides and an awesome splash park, too. There is tons of summer fun at Davis Farmland!

For a fun summer outing with the family, visit Davis Farmland in Sterling, MA

There is so much summer fun at Davis Farmland

My boys were both really excited to spend the day at Davis Farmland – especially once I told them there was a splash park there. It was a hot day in July and they were happy about there being a way to cool off. We actually brought cousin Jonah, who was visiting with his dad, Uncle Keith, from San Diego with us for the day. All three of the boys had a blast exploring everything at Davis Farmland. Continue reading »

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17 Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids This Summer in New England

Jul 052017

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Inexpensive things that you can do with your kids this summer in Massachusetts, Rhode Island or New Hampshire!

Entertaining kids ALL SUMMER LONG can be exhausting and expensive. Let me save you the time thinking about what to do…Here are 17 free & cheap things to do with kids this summer in New England.

1. Unplug with good old fashioned outdoor activities at the Great Glen Trails. Located at the base of Mount Washington, families can bike, kayak, picnic, and see some spectacular wildlife. Rent equipment or bring your own.

2. Water park admission can really add up, so instead, take the kids to any number of community pools and splash pads your city has to offer.

3. Visit the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, where kids can explore caves, learn about dinosaurs, and get hands-on experience in the air conditioning all day for only $10!

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Goat Yoga

Jun 192017

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Yoga on a farm with baby goats

I will be the first to admit that I have let myself go and I am completely out of shape. I used to run 7 miles and now I couldn’t run 7 minutes if I tried, and that is unlikely with the summer months upon us. I’m always looking for things to do and for things that at least give me the illusion that I am doing something healthy. I recently came upon an article in our local newspaper about a local yoga studio doing yoga with goats classes.

I have never done yoga; I’m not particularly flexible or quiet (I’m Italian, we aren’t meant to be quiet). I have heard all the health benefits of yoga: increased flexibility, increased muscle tone & strength, increased energy, and weight loss, just to name a few. I’ve also never had much of an interest in trying yoga……but this was with baby goats!! I’m an animal lover through and through and let’s be honest, baby goats are adorable, so my friends and I decided to sign up for a class. Let me tell you, these classes sell out quickly!! The class cost $30 for an hour and was being held rain or shine (indoors if it rained) at a local farm. Continue reading »

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Call Alpine Cleaners for the BEST Carpet Cleaning in Massachusetts!

Jun 192017

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From the minute I walked into my house it was love at first sight. I knew as soon as I walked through the door that it was built for me. It’s an older home (built in 1954), but the charm of it caught my eye immediately and I just knew that I had to live in it. My then husband and I put in an offer right away and were giddy when we got the news that the owners accepted it.

The people that owned the home before us redid the interior of the house over the course of three years, so it was basically all brand new inside when we moved in. There was one thing that had me scratching my head about all of the work they did, though. The carpeting they installed up the stairs and throughout the whole upstairs of the house. It’s off-white. There isn’t a lot of natural light, so I am sure they were just trying to brighten things up, but come on, off white?

See what I mean about poor lighting?

We talked about replacing the carpet because we knew we planned on having kids who would inevitably soil it, but we kept putting it off. Now here I am 15 years later and the carpet is still there. Trust me when I say, it’s seen better days. Continue reading »

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Water Parks in Massachusetts

May 302017

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water slides in New England

If you are wanting to stop by one of the most popular water parks in Massachusetts (or southern New Hampshire this season), then check out this list below! This is a list of the top places you will want to add to your travels this summer! No matter which park you pick, I am sure you and your family will have lots of fun!

Enjoy inflatable rides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and amusement rides and more. This is a great way to find fun things to do near you, or plan a trip for you and your family. Beat the summer heat this year at one of these fun water parks or amusement parks listed below. Make this summer filled with fun memories.

Water Parks in Massachusetts

Water Wizz (Wareham, MA): Southern New England’s largest water park! Mussel Beach is a huge wave pool that is very popular. If you like to live on the edge try the Squid Row, it’s a tube ride, with high speeds. Or if you want to go with little kids, they do have a family pool area as well. Thrilling slides, tubes and cabanas to relax in, this water park has something for everyone.

Nelson Park Splash Pad (Plymouth, MA): Located inside Nelson Memorial Park on Nelson Street in Plymouth, this is a popular place for kids to cool off in the summer. In addition to a free splash pad, there is a playground, beach area and plenty of room for a picnic lunch here. Parking is free, but I highly recommend getting there early because the lot fills up fast. For a day full of free fun, stop by the Nelson Park Splash Pad this summer. Continue reading »

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Did You Know That Boston Has a Major League Lacrosse Team?

May 222017

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When I was growing up, lacrosse was an almost unheard of sport. Over the last 20-ish years, it’s really picked up steam and now there are nine professional teams that play for a Major League Lacrosse here in the US. One of those nine teams are based right here in Boston! The Boston Cannons have been a part of Major League Lacrosse since 2001 and play right at Harvard Stadium in Boston.

I had the chance to go to a Boston Cannons game with my family recently and we thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, my oldest son, who is 12, is considering joining a team after seeing a live game. The thing is, it was more than just a lacrosse game – it was an experience. Here are some of the things that made going to the game more than just a game.

Boston Cannons Fan Zone

Get there early and experience the Boston Cannons Fan Zone. The Fan Zone is open at every Cannons home game two hours prior to the start of the game and remains open through the first quarter. At the Fan Zone you will find things like music, ping-pong tables, RCN Ice Cream Truck, FlingGolf, the Bud Light Build-A-Bar, and more! It has something for fans of all ages. Continue reading »

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Review: ANNIE at the Boch Center (Wang Theater) in Boston

May 152017

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I am a child of the 80’s and I am ok admitting that I spent an entire summer watching and re-watching the movie Annie. On VHS. Ok, maybe I stopped watching to eat and go outside occasionally, but I think it’s pretty safe to say that I watched it at least 500 times that summer. I had the story line down pat and knew every word to every song. I even went out trick or treating as Annie that year (which reminds me that I need to go through some old photos and dig that one out). I know that the movie has been remade a few times since the one in the 80’s that I loved so much, but I am loyal to the version I watched so many times that summer.

So now you know that I am a self-proclaimed expert on all things Annie, imagine how giddy I was when I got invited to see the live musical at the Boch Center (Wang Theater) in Boston last week.

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Culinary Fight Club: Boston – Pork Event Recap #culinaryfightclub

Apr 272017

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Culinary Fight Club is a National Food Sport Organization. They produce live cooking competitions to highlight local Culinary Talent, ingredients and resources. Culinary Fight Club competitions take place in Chicago, Omaha, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Boston, Knoxville, Johnson City, Pittsburgh, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, Twin Cities, Kansas City, Montgomery, Charlotte, Charleston, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Los Angeles and now Boston! I was invited to attend the inaugural Boston event and it was such a fun experience.

The Chefs Competing in Boston’s First Culinary Fight Club Event.

Culinary Fight Club brings the passion of a high-energy kitchen and the thrill of a timed competition for you to enjoy. As a self proclaimed foodie and someone who is obsessed with cooking competition shows on the Food Network, it was amazing to be able to attend an event like this live and see the chefs in action with my own eyes. No two events are the same, with new teams and themes every time, so you will definitely want to attend as many events as possible. Continue reading »

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