Living Social's vacation coupons

We are now living in the world where we get coupons on line.  We get coupons to Barnes and Noble, Bed, Bath and Beyond and every other major chain around.    But I a big fan of coupons for social activities like Groupon and livingsocial.  

If you don’t know what these sites are you should check them out.  They are fantastic because you can get spa deals, restaurant deals, classes and many other things at sometimes majorly discounted prices and it’s free to join.  You can sign up for any city that they offer.  So that is great if you are going on vacation or a weekend getaway.  You can get a coupon to get a massage in Boston when you are there for the weekend or 50% off at a restaurant in London that you heard about. 

Well, livingsocial.com is now offering weekly “Escapes”.  I have been watching over the last several weeks and some of the deals are great.  They have deals for places that are within driving distance as well as those that would require you to fly.  They just had one for a Mexican resort (Mayan Riveiera) for 5 nights, 2 people for $900.  The resort looked amazing (they have lots of pictures) and you can usually get a cheap flight to Mexico.  This week they have resort deals in the Dominican Republic, Florida and California as well as some other great places like Vail and Virginia.  I haven’t committed to anything yet because I have my next off-the-beaten-track vacation planned for February.  (The hint:  it is a South American Country with no time change and a travel time of about 5 hours.  I will share after the holidays) But, if you are looking for a discounted getaway, check out livingsocial.com.  You might just find a bargain that gives you the much needed break you deserve.

They currently have discounts for the US, UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada.

B&H Photo

So if you have read Pam’s great tips on things to look for when buying a camera, you probably have thought about which camera to buy.   Now that you have asked yourself some good questions and are possibly ready to buy something, I wanted to share with you a great tip that you may not know about.  BandH Photo in New York City has a fantastic used/refurbished camera department.   They sell everything from lenses to bodies, you name it they have it.  

Now, they may not have the specific camera/lense you are looking for, but it isn’t a bad place to start.  Maybe you weren’t prepared to spend a whole lot on a brand new camera but wanted to upgrade from your pocket point and shoot, or you wanted to try a new lense for your slr.  They people who work there are EXTREMELY knowledgeable and can help you with your every need.  I ended up buying a lense for my Nikon film camera  (a 28-200) and I got it for $99.   (Yes that is also because I am a little old fashioned and like shooting in film) You can’t beat that!  And I love it!

BandH is also great when you are buying a new camera.  I have to say, there is nothing better than having a staff that knows everything about cameras.  And they do.  Now that you have read Pam’s postings, you have a better idea about your specific wants, so when you go to BandH, the staff can guide you through the different makes and models to get the one that will suit you the best for the best price.  I personally like Nikon and Canon the best, but when I bought the Canon Powershot G10, I went to BandH.  The man talked me through all the models and told me what to expect from each.  At the end I spent $100 more than I had planned, but I am so happy with my camera.  Their reputation is excellent and you will see why.  You can order from them on-line, but it is worth the trip if you ever find yourself in New York City to go there and experience it for yourself.

Pillars of the Earth

I love history and I love historical fiction.  When I go to Europe I love visiting huge cathedrals and castles built centuries ago.  I now appreciate these beautiful pieces of architecture even more after reading “Pillars of the Earth”, by Ken Follet.  If you like historical fiction you will want to add this to the top of your reading list.  That said, “Pillars of the Earth” is a huge book.  There is no getting around it.  If you are thinking about taking it on vacation you will absolutely want to have a Kindle a Nook or an ipad.  Or check an extra bag because it just might be heavier than your suitcase.   I read all 1100 pages in a week.   I couldn't put it down.  One of my friends asked me if I was carrying around the bible.  But I didn't want to miss any opportunity to read a few pages.

The story takes you back to 1123 where we follow the stories of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge who has the dream of building the greatest Gothic Cathedral of all time, Tom who is the mason who becomes his architect and Lady Aliena, the woman who holds a shameful secret.  This is an epic novel that will follow their lives and hold you spellbound for the duration.  Then when you finish that you can move on to the sequel, “World Without End” which will take you 200 years into the future to this same town of Knightsbridge to see the future of this cathedral and the town’s inhabitants.  If you like historical fiction at all, GO GET THIS BOOK.  Oprah said it first and I have to reiterate, this is an amazing book!  It will not disappoint.

Handmade gifts in Boston

I am continually talking about how I love to find that unique thing when I go travelling that will make me remember my trip.  I also love finding gifts for other people for their birthdays or holidays that are special.  Even better if they are made by a local artist.  Well, when I was in Boston last week, I found a store that had so many beautiful, unique things I almost needed a shopping cart to get home.  Gifted (on the corner of Tremont and Dartmouth) is a fabulous store that carries just about everything you could want.

Handblown glass, gorgeous pashminas, jewelry, handbags and more.  Many things in the store are made by local artists, but there are also pieces from Africa, Mexico and other countries around the world.  It is really a fantastic little store with prices that are nice to your wallet.  Christmas is coming and soon we will all be in that frenzied shopping mode, but if you shop at Gifted your holiday gift getting might just be a little easier and more rewarding.  You can also visit them online.  Of course don't be surprised if you end up buying something for yourself.  You just might not be able to resist!
2 Dartmouth St.
603-494-8391

Happy Thanksgiving!

Join us tomorrow for another travel story.  In the meantime enjoy your day, eat lots and wear loose fitting clothes.

B&G Oysters ROCKS!

Being a native of Bostonian, I am extremely picky about my lobster.  If it hasn't come from the cold cold waters of Maine or Massachussetts, then it probably isn't going to be sweet and tender enough for me.  I had heard that the lobster roll at BandG Oysters in the South End was the best in town, so I went to see for myself.

The rumors are true.  They are amazing!  The key to a great lobster roll is that it should have tons of lobster meat (it did), very light mayo so as not to overpower the taste of the lobster (check), and the lobster itself should be tender and sweet (it was - SO SWEET).

I was tempted to get the lobster BLT, but I wanted to check out the original before going for the twist.  I couldn't have been happier.  I even ate the hot dog bun, which I never do because they are normally not very good.  Not this one!  It was a scrumptious brioche bread bun.  All buttery and delicious.  Yum!

BandG Oyster (as you would expect from the name) also has some of the most fantastic fresh oysters anywhere.  They change daily and they have a pretty large selection which includes both East and West Coast oysters.

I sat at the bar where there is lots of room to eat.  There are several tables as well, but the restaurant is fairly small and cozy.  For me, sitting at the bar is great because you actually get to see them making all the food.  I saw so much that I have to go back and try.  The staff is extremely knowledgeable and really friendly.  They will also help you pair wine with your food if you like.  If you like seafood and are in the Boston area, you owe it to yourself to go to BandG Oyster.  You will feel like you are eating the catch of the day right out of the net.
BandG Oysters 550 Trement Street
617-423-0550

Italian tapas in an upper west side gem

I think one of things that I enjoyed most about going to Barcelona was the tapas bars.  It is really nice to go with a friend or 2 and taste a bunch of things and still not feel overly full like we so often do here in the states.  At Salumeria Rosi that is what you will get; the Italian style tapas.  They have an AMAZING selection of Italian wine and cheeses that will knock your socks off.  It is small and cozy, yet sophisticated.    

We started with a sette fagioli (a 7 bean salad in a light dressing).  All the portions are small so we each got just enough that we didn’t feel to full.  We then had a chickpea crostini with 

broccoli rabe and a Torta di porri (A leek torte with pancetta and parmegano reggiano).  Both were exquisite.  Next we had a farrottto del risotto ( a risotto that is made with faro instead of the traditional risotto rice with pumpkin and sunflower seeds) that was to die for.

And unlike getting a risotto for yourself, it didn’t make you feel like you needed to walk 7 miles home before you could lie down because it was small and you split it!  We then finished with a selection of meats and cheeses.  

Salumeria Rosi is small, but they do take reservations.  I suggest making one, especially if you are planning on making a trip on the busier Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings.  The atmosphere is delightful and the servers very knowledgeable and friendly.  It is a slice out of an Italy (plus you won’t have to deal with the weekend crowds of Eataly to get some authentic Italian food).  If you are looking to see where the Upper West Siders eat, then hit Salumeria Rosi.  You will get to taste a lot, not spend a fortune and have a great meal!