What I actually...love about Boston

I've obviously had multiple posts about my problems with Boston. Okay...it's not really that bad...there are admittedly a few things I love. Here's a few:

1. Newbury Street: A shopping-mecca. And everything surrounding the area is just amazing. You have gorgeous small restaurants - perfect for a date - and you have shopping. What more can a girl dream of?
2. Boston Commons: If you're looking for a place to hang out on a gorgeous fall day this is the go to. I was near the Park Street green line stop and forgot how much I actually loved the Commons. And when you're surrounded by colorful fall trees and leaves on the ground, it makes for the perfect scene.
3. Boston Book Festival: So...I haven't actually gone because tomorrow's my big nerd day, as well as the actual date of the event. However, I did walk by Copley Square tonight where the vendors were setting up...and I could not be more excited.
4. North End: Once I gather up some serious cash, I am making my boyfriend and I go to one of these restaurants. I've wandered around with my mom - and have had a lunch date with my friends a few summers ago - and have found that it's the perfect Little Italy. Everyone raves about Mike's Pastry...which I have yet to check out considering the lines are usually a little overwhelming. I have, however, checked out another Italian pastry shop (I want to say it was Modern Pastry but I can't remember). They had Grappa (which all my CIMBA study abroad friends know is quite dangerous) and profiteroles. And I do love profiteroles. It's a very cute date spot. For everyone: I've heard Modern is more to rave about than Mike's - Mike's is just the brand name.
5. Faneuil Hall: I just love the area for the ambiance. There's always fun performances, such as the man on stilts...and other miscellaneous fun (see below video). Plus, there's vendors, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. If you go out on a weekend night, don't try and get a cab at bar close because from personal experience...it's really quite impossible.
6. Brighton Center: Though not as mainstream as the other ones on the list, I had to include it due to its close proximity. There are a lot of fun restaurants there - Devlin's being one of my favorites (a fancy, yet casual Irish pub with delicious food). Also, if you're looking for a cheaper place to get your nails done...Paris Model Nails has it there and they do an awesome job. Brighton Beer Garden is another one of my favorites...but that's because I love my beer - and they have Brooklyn Octoberfest, my NY staple.
7. Fenway area: Okay, I really did have to include this. Yes, I hate the Red Sox (being the diehard Yankee fan I am)...but it really is pretty. During baseball season the bars are crazy. There's a Yardhouse over there, which I love, again for the massive beer selection. But there's also other fun bars in the area.
8. Finally, the BU Pub: I felt the need to include this because it is one of the more beautiful BU buildings. It's attached to the castle...and a great excuse to enjoy a beer and study at the same time.

I'm sure as I continue to explore the city, I'll add more. While Boston does have the multiple issues that "grind my gears," there is a lot of beauty once you do explore.

Spontaneously enjoying Boston, one day at a time,

-A.

Bus vs. T?

When I was first looking at apartments in Boston...from my bed in New York...I thought to myself: Do I want to live next to the bus or the B Line? I decided on the B Line. After all, at orientation I learned that the B line was right outside the school of COM - where I'd be most weekdays. But what they didn't tell me was...The B Line is absolutely the worst form of public transportation ever invented. Ever. Why? This past post gives just a few reasons why.

Today, I decided to give another form of transportation a whirl. The public bus. I had to go to Brighton Center and knew that the 57 bus would take me right there. So I waited diligently and it picked me up without much of a wait. Alright...so most people, including me, think: busses? Gross. You sit next to some strange random person and you barely have room to breathe. Well, reality check for me: it wasn't that bad. Maybe I was just lucky. But when I take the T at that same time...it's always packed. So packed that I've literally stood there right next to the conductor holding on for dear life and stepping awkwardly off the bus just to let others off at each stop.

Yes, sitting on a bus with my bag to my left and an empty seat to the right is a huge step forward. Now if I could only find the nearest bus stop to my apartment.

So now, in retrospect...I should've considered living near a bus route instead. Ideally, I'd have the best of both worlds. But then again, finding an apartment was hard enough as it was considering my roommate and I left it until last minute (sounds about right). And since we're talking about ideal - I'd really enjoy one of those apartments conveniently located on Newbury Street in Back Bay. Thanks money gods; I assume that's coming right up.

As seen on Newbury Street: Never a dull moment. Copyright Alina Rubezhova 2012

Yours,

-A.

Yummy fall cookie recipe

As an unemployed college student, the pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe I found screamed my name. Instead of the tons of ingredients most recipes require, this simply requires three:

• a 15 oz can of pumpkin in a can
• 12 oz bag of chocolate chips (though I didn't use the whole bag)
• A box of cake mix - I chose spice because nothing is better than pumpkin spice.

Preheat your oven to 350. Then, mix the cake mix with the canned pumpkin. I'd recommend using an electronic mixer. Admittedly I made my boyfriend mix it by hand since I don't have a mixer...and found it too difficult to do on my own. 

Once it's mixed to a pumpkin puree, add as many chocolate chips as you please and throw them onto a greased cookie sheet using a tablespoon. Had I been thinking, I would've used a knife or something instead of my hands to shape the cookies. It ended up being quite a mess with cookie batter all over my fingers into my nails (attractive right?). I thought I'd washed it all off, but I still have my pumpkin battle wounds on the palm of my hand.

I used two cookie sheets to make 22 cookies. Put them in the oven for 20-25 (I did just over 20) minutes and voila: easy to bake, absolutely delicious cookies. But don't get too excited...don't forget to let them cool for at least 5 minutes!

You can actually shape these whichever way you'd like, considering the shape pretty much stays the same. They don't expand like regular cookies. 

Feel free to do any variations of the recipe and let me know.

-A.

Seen on campus

I've posted many Twitter rants about this, but if I have to see another girl wearing see through leggings with a short shirt, I think I just might go crazy.

Dear girls,

Leggings cannot and will not be used as a substitute for jeans. If you wear them, feel free to do so with a baggy sweater, or something that will at least cover your butt.

It's in the handbook.

Okay, so there's no handbook. But there should be. I mean, there's even a flow chart. But either way, here's a few tips:

• If you're gonna get leggings, invest in them. Go to American Apparel and get yourself a nice pair...ones that I've found are certainly not see through.
• A baggy sweater with leggings and boots is the perfect fall look. A crop top and Converses...not so much.
• Please, just please wear your size. Leggings that are too tight is not flattering on anyone. I don't care if you have J-Lo's booty. 

So girls, next time you leave the house look at yourself in a mirror. And ask yourself this:

You're welcome, 

-A

The B-Line Chronicles...

Photo retrieved from Flickr

So, I’m standing there casually waiting for the T at one of the multiple Boston University B-line stops scattered through campus. Finally, a train comes. But no, it doesn’t stop. It goes right past. Okay, maybe it’s an express train. That’s fair…another one will come right?

Wrong.

Because the next train that came through stopped. But it only stopped to seemingly taunt me – because it just continued on to the next stop. So, little outraged me, carried on to the next stop. Only to wait a good 10 minutes for the next train…which by the way DID stop at the stop before. Again, only to taunt me, I presume.

This leads me to my question…what is up with the B-line?! So I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 problems, in no particular order:

1.       It takes about 10 minutes to pass two stops.
2.       It goes express whenever the damn well it pleases.
3.       A large majority of the conductors are just rude.
4.       It never ever runs on time.
5.       My luck has it that it never runs express when I’m running late.
6.       …Oh, and it hits every light on the way.
7.       Do I need to go back to my rant about Boston accents? Because the conductors are the worst. Cop-ley? This whole time I was under the presumption it was Cope-ly. Not sure why.
8.       Do you really need to stand there putting nickel after dime after quarter in for fare?
9.       There’s plenty of room for more passengers, yet the ignorant people stand in the middle of the train instead of moving back like they’re told.
10.       Finally…I get that it’s crowded, but there is simply no need for you to have your butt in my face sir.

Fellow Boston T-travelers…comment a list of any of yours. I’d love to hear.

-A.

Boston accents: my tribulations

"I'm wicked ti-yahd"

I think I could ramble on forever about Boston accents. But seriously...what?

I don't have an idear, I have an idea. And I don't want to go to the bah. I actually don't know what a bah is. If you mean bar, you've got my attention. I’m not sure what wicked is, and I don’t know why self-proclaimed Bostonites think they can just walk around and take “R” out of certain words and then just throw it into others.

I'm not even sure in what world a Boston accent is attractive. Okay fine, maybe in a Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, sexy actor sort of world, but not in the real life I have to interact with you every single day sort of world. And certainly not when all I want to do is enjoy an ice cold beeR – make that a few – at a baR just outside of the GaRden.

I'm not saying I hate Boston.

Just saying I hate the way they talk. And not only do they have a highly unattractive accent (did I mention unattractive?), but they look at you like you are just riding the crazy train when you say things like Worcester instead of Wuhstuh.  But...w...where did all the letters in between go? No, really…I’m confused.

Granted, yes I'm from New York and I do (I confess) enjoy my morning caw-fee. But at least I'm not disregarding a letter that belongs in the English alphabet (hey Boston, it comes between Q & S, and it's not pronounced AH).

Sincerely lost, confused and a little bit bitchy,

-A.