Maria Olia: I am a free-lance writer and the author of the "Little Black of Boston" (Peter Pauper Press). My favorite museums in Boston include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Hanging out in Cambridge is one of my favorite pastimes. Like most travel writers, I love to eat out- I have a strong preference for ethnic(especially Italian and Middle East cuisine) and/or chef-owned restaurants . And of course, I am a huge Red Sox fan! I am an active free-lancer. Currently, I am the "Fun-To-Go" editor for the monthly parenting publication "Parents and Kids of Massachusetts". I also recently revised "The Little Black Book of DC" (Peter Pauper Press) - DC is fast becoming one of my US favorite cities! My travel and parenting articles have appeared in many national publications including the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, Woman's Day and Parents Magazine. Follow me on Twitter @thebostonguide
Dining with a View at Top of the Hub
The Top of the Hub, with its extraordinary skyline view from the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, is without doubt one of Boston’s most romantic destination restaurants.From the sophisticated New American cuisine to the glamorous decor to the fluid and attentive service, dining at Top of the Hub is an unforgettable Boston experience.
The food at Top of the Hub is truly equal to the setting.Chef Mark Pocaro has created a menu that is seasonal New American with a New England accent. You can...
January 31st, 2011 | Boston | Read More
62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Salem
Head 30-minutes north from Boston and your reward is extraordinary Italian food at 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar in Salem, Massachusetts. Chef-owner Antonio Bettencourt’s restaurant is known for its outstanding homemade pastas and other Mediterranean-influenced dishes.
Settle into the elegantly rustic dining room and start with a few Italian small plate selections. The spuntini take the place of traditional appetizers so that everyone can sample more flavors. Mid-priced ($6 each, 3 for $15,...
January 30th, 2011 | Boston | Read More
Valentine’s Day: Romantic Boston Restaurants
Valentine’s Day calls for romantic excess, so here are six Boston-area restaurants that deliver.
To rekindle the romance, you can’t do better than the Top of the Hub (800 Boylston St., Boston) (map). The panoramic view of Boston from the 52nd floor windows is dazzling, the special Valentine’s Day 4-course prix fixe menu ( $250 per couple) is luxe, and there will be live jazz playing softly in the background -it’s all the help you will need. Reservations are a must!
For...
January 28th, 2011 | Boston | Read More
Q Restaurant for Hot Pot in Boston’s Chinatown
Bring an appetite for adventure when you visit Q Restaurant (660 Washington St., Boston) (map). Q specializes in hot pot cookery-a meal that encourages diners to engage in culinary experimentation by cooking their meal in a communal pot filled with a flavorful broth. Owner Ming Zhu explains that hot pot restaurants are among the most popular restaurants in China today- there is one practically on every block. With its hip, design of burnished reds, darkwood and contemporary accents, Q is definitely...
January 26th, 2011 | Boston | Read More
New England Mid-Winter Day Trips
No matter the season, Boston’s location makes it easy to take day trips throughout the region. Here are some excursions outside of Boston to consider during the winter. And since New England’s weather can be harsh at this time of year- be sure to wear a warm coat and snow boots!
A Cape Cod get-away is not a conventional winter vacation choice, but snowy Cape Cod certainly does have its charms.Walk along a stretch of deserted beach at the Cape Cod National Seashore (50 Nauset Rd., Eastham)...
January 23rd, 2011 | Boston | Read More
Make the Most of 2011: A Dozen Places to Take Your Kids in New England
Whether enjoying the big city buzz that is Boston, spending carefree days at the beach or enjoying outdoor adventures, there are tons of awesome thing for families to do in New England all year-round. As you make your vacation plans, here’s a list of 12 places in New England -one for every month-that will make memories your kids (and you!) will remember for a lifetime.
January: Visit one or all three of Boston “big three” family museums; the Children’s Museum (308 Congress...
December 31st, 2010 | Boston | Read More
A North End Standout: Prezza
Cozy-fancy Prezza (24 Fleet St.) (map) (dinner only) is considered by many as one of the North End’s best restaurants. Chef/owner Anthony Caturano nails rustic Italian cuisine with a menu that draws heavily from his ancestral Abbruzzi region with dishes like eggplant rollatini with goat cheese and a lamb ragout ($15) and homemade meatballs, sausage, ribs and polenta ($25). Both are lusty dishes that represent “peasant” fare at its very best.
There are inspired offering too- including...
December 29th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
No Fail Date Night Spot: Beacon Hill Bistro
When it come to romance, you really can’t beat the French. Cozy Beacon Hill Bistro (25 Charles St.) (map) with its handsome dining room, spacious brown leather booths, tables dressed in white linen and hearty yet chic fare brings a little bit of Paris to Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood.
It’s a lively setting for Chef Matt Malloy’s innovative menu which merges New England ingredients with French bistro cuisine. Everything is skillfully prepared- from the house made...
December 27th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Winter Escape: Boston
Haven’t made your New England winter vacation plans yet? A Boston get-away is a top New England winter vacation choice for many. This winter, be among the first to check out the Museum of Fine Art’s (465 Huntington Ave.) (map) newly opened Art of the America’s wing. There are 53 galleries spread over four floors that chronologically encompass the MFA’s American art collection from Pre-Columbian works to modern art of the 1970′s. The MFA’s collection of Colonial...
December 26th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Family Fun: First Night Boston 2011
Just because you have kids doesn’t meant that you can’t go out for New Year’s eve. This New Year’s Eve bundle up the kids and take the family to Boston’s “First Night”celebration. First Night is a great New Year’s option for families-it starts early in the afternoon, is alcohol -free and is affordable. Best of all, there are tons of live entertainment choices-both indoors and out-that will please everyone. So whatever you choose to do with your...
December 15th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
New on Newbury Street: Met Back Bay
It is easy to feel special when ensconced in Met Back Bay’s cool, elegant dining room with a drop- dead view of bustling Newbury Street. This is one sophisticated urban dining room where the patrons call the shots.
Focusing mostly on modern American cuisine, you will find such satisfying dishes as lobster pot pie ($24), a grilled veal chop with duck fat fries ($36) and a Chinatown salad ($9) which features crispy duck with sixteen (!) veggies. You could also make a meal of the well-priced (one...
November 30th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Stanhope Grille at the Back Bay Hotel
Stanhope Grille is tucked into the lower floor of the Back Bay Hotel and doesn’t get a lot of attention but it is a refreshingly low-key find that offers contemporary American bistro food that is sublime even when its simple. The menus reflect Executive Chef Raymond Southern’s skill at coaxing the best from New England ingredients. You see it in the lobster bisque ($9) which is well- flavored with cognac and chunks of Maine lobster. The entrees- such as the grilled roasted salmon with...
November 29th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake
Whether you eat at the busy bar or in the dining room at Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake (384 Boylston St., Boston)(Map), you will find an an eclectic menu that features both plates for adventurous palates( quail tacos anyone?) and crowd-pleasers like chili-dusted calamari ($9) and a trio of guacamole and chips ($9).
As you might expect with a name like Rattlesnake, the menu echoes the best of Mexico, South America, and the Southwest. Chef Brian Poe is at the helm -and he’s inspired...
November 12th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Thanksgiving Dining : Leave the Cooking to Someone Else
Need a place to gobble down some turkey this Thanksgiving Day? These three Boston restaurants have you covered.
Legal Sea Foods (all locations including 255 State St., Boston)(Map) is a long-time favorite special occasion seafood restaurant for legions of local New Englanders, and they put together a pretty good turkey day spread as well. The traditional feast will include slow-roasted turkey sausage stuffing, butternut squash, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce and cost $21.95 for adults,...
November 10th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Boston Lyric Opera’s Tosca
Tosca has it all- high drama and gorgeous music. Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Puccini’s classic is thrilling- an exciting all around performance to open the 2010-2011 season. Set in Rome, against a backdrop of political tyranny, it is a gripping tale that explores a twisted love triangle made deadly by the passions of jealousy, lust, and revenge.
The leads are well cast. Jill Gardner plays the title role, the diva Floria Tosca. Diego Torre is engaging as Tosca’s lover,...
November 8th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
The Public Garden: A Boston Treasure
“When they got to Boston, they felt too tired to fly any further. There was a nice pond in the Public Garden…” Robert McCloskey, Make Way for Ducklings
Located adjacent to the more prosaic Boston Common, the Boston Public Garden (bordered by Arlington, Beacon, Charles and Boylston Sts.) (travel guide) is Victorian formal with sublimely designed flower beds, meandering walkways and an adorable footbridge that crosses a storybook lagoon. Established in the 1830′s as the...
November 3rd, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Boston | Read More
Before and After Drinks at Top of the Hub
With floor-to ceiling windows, the lounge at the Top of the Hub boasts sweeping views of Boston’s skyline that you will not soon forget. As you sip your cocktail and enjoy a tidbit from the light-snack menu relax to the sounds of live jazz .
The specialty drink list is exceptional. Try the very pretty Purple Rain Martini ($12) made with vodka, chambord, pineapple juice and sours. Or go for the refreshing strawberry basil lemonade ($11). The lounge menu features nuanced appetizers perfect...
October 31st, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Wandering Boston’s North End
Boston’s red- brick Freedom Trail brings throngs of tourists to the North End to see the home of Paul Revere- he is the neighborhood’s most famous resident after all. But it is the authentic ristorantes, tempting pastisseria’s and cozy cafes that compel visitors to linger. Fronting Boston Harbor, the North End is a peninsula and is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods-it was first settled in the 1630′s by tradesman. Today, the area is famously known as the city’s...
October 29th, 2010 | Baby Boomers, Boston | Read More
Fall Family Activities
Thanksgiving is a time for family. And since spending time together as a family is time well spent, here are a few late fall things to do in Boston that encourage family bonding.
In town with the family for Thanksgiving? An adventure in Boston will please everyone. And although there are lots of way to “do” the Boston’s Freedom Trail, the most entertaining tour i for all age groups is the 90-minute walking tour offered by the Freedom Trail Foundation.(Boston Common Visitor’s...
October 27th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
Brunch in the Country
Looking for destination dining that features authentic New England charm? Set amongst the orchards at Nashoba Valley Winery, J’s restaurant is located in a New England farmhouse that glows with warmth and features creative American fare.
From the warren of dining rooms on both levels to the gorgeous kitchen plot out the back door, the sumptuous Sunday brunch at J’s is worth the drive. The brunch menu is totally seasonal- and as you would expect, much of the produce is from their...
October 26th, 2010 | Boston | Read More
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