Boston: Day the Last (8/22)

And so we near the end of this epic East Coast journey! Our flight was scheduled for 6 that evening. With almost a full day ahead of us, we chose food.


We walked down Ashley's neighborhood (which was such a pleasant thing to do) to a little place called Cafenation that had shelves of fresh green tea and those tall spindly tables. I got a Caprese-style salad, which I remember being good but I definitely don't remember being worth the $10 I paid for it. It was served alongside a balsamic reduction that was a little too sweet for me.


Lauren chose some apple raisin affair. I ate the red onions and walnuts for her, because I'm a good friend.


Then we split this thing, because we're awesome. Who could turn down a Nutella strawberry crepe?


I can't remember what else we did today, again because I am awesome. So here is a picture of the mushroom soup I got at Au Bon Pain at Logan International:


And with some sweet farewells, we were off!

This is so ripe for Twilight Zone parody. I only wish I were as cool as William F. Shatner.


Los Angeles! How I missed you!


I really did. The first thing we did when we got in the car was pull into In-N-Out. Swoon! Sorry Boston, you can't beat that. But I'll be back, damnit! You'll never escape me! Evil lahahahaugh

New York: taxis, toilets, Trader Joe's (8/20-8/21)

Ashley went back to work the day after Kim left and we three ladies were left wondering what to do. Well, I hadn't stayed idle. I bought three bus tickets to New York, and the next morning we boarded a Megabus at 8:30. About four hours later, we reached our destination: Manhattan!

I can't tell you how unsettling it is to think about the sun setting in a direction opposite that of the nearest ocean.
(by Lily)


We went from Penn Station to Bryant Park to meet my sister's friend (and first love, aww) Carlos, who works nearby and generously offered to house us.
(by Lily)

But first things first.


That is some mozzarella panino thing from Tom Colicchio's 'Wich Craft. Lily got what she calls the best tuna sandwich she's ever had, and Lauren got something similarly delicious.

Later we went to Carlos's imposing building and took a cab with him to his apartment. This is part of his fancy lobby.
(by Lily)

His apartment was pretty high up.


The view:


View of the viewers:
(by Lauren)

And just around the corner, the East River.
(by Lily)

Teeny New York kitchen. (s^ @ u, Smitten Kitchen) The refrigerator was broken.


The bathroom. I'm only showing you this because that bathroom plays a part later.


And because we hadn't done enough sitting that day, we immediately sat down and watched TV. Ah, New York.


See, Carlos works some big important-person job. He popped out to take us to his apartment, give me a key and a quick tour, then left to go back to work. We chatted on the way over, and he told me about how he'd been frazzled that day: he woke up late, then somehow managed to break the curtain rod in the shower and have the toilet overflow at the same time. "Don't worry, though," he promised. "Someone from the building came and fixed the toilet."

Reassured, we sat down and made ourselves comfortable. I pulled out some maps I found there and started studying the subway system. I had a few destinations I wanted to hit, and I didn't want to spend my time on the street unfolding big maps. I familiarized myself as well as I could with our route and we prepared to head out.

"Oh, hold on," Lauren said. "I should pee."

So we grabbed our jackets and sat in the living room. Then we heard a scream.

"THE TOILET!" Lauren shrieked. "It's overflowing!"

Lily and I rushed to the bathroom. It wasn't pretty. Remember in "Look Who's Talking Too" when Mr. Toilet Man, voiced by Mel Brooks, wants Mikey to gimme all your pee-pee and he's spitting all over the place?


It was kind of like that.

Did I also mention Carlos had said, "I need to go grocery shopping. I'm all out of paper towels"? 'Cause he did.

So there we are, panicking, as the water steadily approaches the lip of the doorway. I ran to the kitchen, found a plastic serving spoon and thrust it in Lauren's hand. It was like a triage. "Stop the hemorrhaging!" I yelled. "Stick the spoon under the float!" She waded across, so to speak, and jammed the utensil into the toilet tank as I pointed and shouted instructions. Sirens blared, babies were crying. The water stopped running.

We called Carlos, who called the lobby, who arranged for someone to go repair the toilet again. It turns out that person didn't show up and Carlos ended up mopping everything up when he came home from work that night! What a sweetheart. He didn't even mention it until I asked.

The only thing we could do after that was go shoe shopping.

We took the subway and ended up in Union Square, where Lily bought some shoes. After that we stumbled upon Max Brenner's, a restaurant devoted to chocolate. Need I say more?

Lily's white chocolate shake. The glasses had a cute Alice in Wonderland tag design.


The restaurant was really dark, so we had to rely on taste and feel for most of the meal. That's OK. Under those sprinkles is molten gold. The edible kind. Served with chocolate-covered crunchy things and caramel sauce, also edible.


Dessert waffles! Swoon. With toffeed bananas, vanilla ice cream and a freaking beaker of warm milk chocolate. That crap was so thick we could barely pour it. We clearly needed the extra chocolate, though.


So demolished.


Later we took the subway to Washington Square Park in search of falafel. We found it at Mamoun's: a teeny cash-only affair teeming with hungry locals. The standard is a falafel-filled pita with fresh tomatoes and hummus. It was fabulous. I got the spinach pie.


We finally went back down to lower Manhattan and stumbled into Carlos's apartment near midnight. He came out to ask us how our day had gone, then went into his room to continue working. To continue working! The three of us unfolded the couch and I made them watch "Thirteen Ghosts" (sorry, I meant "Thir13en"). I'm not going to lie, I don't hate that movie. The lawyer gets cut in half, for pete's sake! (Hot dog, not hamburger.) Like in that Tales From the Crypt, only back/front and not left/right. Anyone?

The next day we went in search of some form of food and found it near the apartment, a place called Imperial Pizza. I got some pesto tomato thing.


Look at that grease! That's how you know it's good.


And of course, this wouldn't have been complete without a trip to Trader Joe's. This time I have justification! Two reasons: Lauren's former boss had recently transferred there, so she wanted to go visit him, and Carlos had said he needed groceries, so I wanted to pick some up as a thank-you for letting us stay with him.

When we went there Lauren saw her old boss Jason right away and introduced us. We also met some other full-timers, including a guy who knew some of my coworkers because they all came from a San Francisco store.

The Manhattan store was crazy, needless to say. Some crew members' only tasks were to mark where the lines started for the registers. The store has won Store of the Year for about 3 years now, but the only reason is sales--kind of unfair. They should offer a Nicest Store of the Year Award, at least.

When I asked Tony, the SF full-timer, where the bathroom was he led us inside to the crew members' bathroom. We walked in on three girls gossiping, who stopped dead when they saw three normally-dressed strangers standing there. A quick explanation sufficed, and after we left the bathroom Tony gave us a tour of the back room. Everything is upstairs--meaning milk boxes and all floor pulls need to be brought down a level, every time! What a nightmare. They have to break down pallets right on 14th St., because there isn't enough space anywhere else!

So I waited in that line with supplies I'd noted Carlos needed (including plenty of paper towels) and then we popped in to the wine store to buy him a bottle, which by law in New York has to be separate from the groceries, I guess. The beer was in the main store, and we noticed it was really expensive. Jason explained that it was due to the high alcohol taxes in the state, which really limited the selection NY Trader Joe's offer.

The Manhattan store also delivers! For a fee, of course, and only within a certain radius. We carried our groceries back to Carlos's, left them on the coffee table with a thank you card and his apartment key, and took our things to Penn Station.

Later that night we arrived back in Boston, much to the relief of Lily and Lauren. Throughout the trip they compared New York to Boston pretty unfavorably, but I really enjoyed the city and wanted to spend more time there. The two are so different: New York is just so busy. Boston is more communal. Also there were no toilet incidents in Boston. That may have played a part.

The One Where They Eat All Day (8/19)

We did something completely new and exciting today.

WE ATE!

Wait, that's not right.



That shot pretty much illustrates how the day started. Meanwhile, the only thing I have written down in my expense journal for the day is food from four--that's right--different eating establishments, books from a used bookstore, and a $23.60 bill from a vintage pen store where I bought an Italian seal of a "C", some green wax and the best erasable pen I've ever used (all currently gathering dust on my bookshelf). Oh, and the expense journal is how I keep track of what we do. Other people write in diaries or sketch things. Mine says what type of payment I used and my balance for the day. I am so interesting.

But back to this:


That was the human equivalent of half-full red party cups and sticky floors that we found the next morning. The night before, which consisted of wings and video games, evidently became such a rager Ashley's bed got some serious action. The man you see with his back turned so modestly toward the ladies is Ashley's friend Chris, who will be visiting LA for the first time when Ashley brings him here next week! To quote Kitty,

"SPRING BREAK WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"

I actually don't think there was a rager. (I say think because most nights I was in Ashley's room reading Dracula.) We just don't have enough places to sleep. Most of the trip was the girls rotating between Ashley's bed (wooooooo) and the futon in the living room.

Here's a glimpse at the mild disaster area that is four girls' clothing for a weeklong trip. On my bags are "Atonement," one of the DVDs I got from Brighton Video earlier, and a postcard of the JFK inauguration from the visit to Brookline. Hanging out of Lauren's case is a hand-carved pipe she bought for our other friend Chris from the Redcoat Encampment. Also bras.


Here's where my memory gets fuzzy. I think today Ashley had work, so she left early that morning and we met up with her later when she got off work. The T is so navigable that we were not at all worried about being on our own. Lily and I decided to let our three sleeping beauties stay in their compromising position (God, I'm so glad I took that photo. It's so awkward!) and headed downtown by ourselves.

At one point I wandered into this shady looking building that was food-court-in-Big Trouble in Little China-esque and found a long line of businessmen leading to a very unglamorous storefront under a "Falafel King" sign. Following my stomach, I got in line and was promptly handed a warm, crisp falafel dipped in a bit of hummus. Sold.


When Lauren and Kim finally woke up, they headed with Chris and Nick to join us and Ashley. Kim had her things with her because this was her last day! She could only get away for a week.

One last meal together. Everyone got Lambert's again. I stuck with fruit and a Gatorade (don't hate). You may notice Lily is French-braiding Kim's hair. She started a total French braid fad while we were there! She must have done everyone's hair a dozen times.
(by Lauren)

Case in point: our day at Harvard, when Lauren successfully French braided (Lily's) hair for the first time. Clearly we were utilizing our vacation time to the fullest.


We parted from the boys and the five of us boarded the train for the airport forlornly.


We stayed with her at the airport a bit, reflecting on her trip. It was a really interesting experience, because before that point Kim and I hadn't really spent too much time with each other. We've been friends since about 3rd and 4th grade, but being cross-country was a really random and fun way to get to know her. And then she was off!

We consoled ourselves with ice cream. And because we were so very sad, it couldn't be just any ice cream. Ashley took us to a place in her neighborhood called 3 Scoops. Funny story, I sometimes (ahem) talk without thinking, so when I walked into the store the aloof teenager behind the counter looked up briefly from his book and mumbled a greeting. Well, as I had been wont to do, I blabbered, "HAY HAY HAY" in my best Peter Griffin impersonation. The stark contrast between his unenthusiastic reaction to our arrival and my very enthusiastic reaction to the ice cream might not have been that big a deal were it not for my friends, who all tumbled in when it happened and looked on in silence for anything from the guy.

Nothing. The only response I got was from Lily, who took my arm and whispered, concerned, "did you just say 'hey hey hey' to that kid?" Nobody understands me!

Lily got mint chocolate chip. You know it's legit when it's not green.


I got cookies and cream. It was...I can't...describe it. Note how the cup seems bathed in an ethereal glow. That was a good way to imagine its taste.


I ask you, where in LA can I get ice cream like this? Please tell me!! It was dense and creamy, studded generously with soft, chocolatey pieces of Oreo and flecked with cookie dust. I totally would have gotten three scoops if I could have handled it. I wish I had.

Anyway. The day ended with... I don't know if I can bring myself to type it.

We got Wings again. Lily and I were so jazzed from last night's venture that we ordered from there for the second night in a row. If you had eaten there you'd understand, I swear it!


Seriously so sweet and soft. Not at all dry, which is what usually turns me off of cornbread.


So ends day 7!

Cambridge, Black Ink, Wings: Boston Day Five (8/18)

This is generally how things go inside my head:

"Hmm hmm hmm. I'm hungry."

And people say, Christine, what's up?

To which I reply, oh, not much.

But in my head:

"What could I be eating right now?"

And on.

Luckily, it is this thought process that gave me the foresight to spend an hour or two on the floor of the bookstore with Lily before our trip, writing down names of dozens of promising eateries.

I remember seeing it in the Zagat guide or whatever it was. Moderately priced North African food in Cambridge: sold. Faster than the economic collapse. (Too soon?)

So when the five of us ladies were debating what to do that day, Cambridge came up. And it just so happened that Cafe Algiers was in Cambridge. Lucky me.

To be honest, I think what happened was I'd seen the storefront en route to the Brattle Theatre a couple of nights before and remembered its placement on my list. I then annoyed my friends to the point of them taking me there just to keep my stomach quiet.

I think it was worth it, though. Evidently, so did they.



The restaurant itself was very nice, with a bustly sort of lower level and a very quiet, cozy upper level. We ate upstairs, where there was a little doorway to a roof deck and a circular balcony overlooking the main floor.
(by Kim)

(by Lily)

I'm sorry, is it possible to order, um, everything?
(by Lily)

This is what Lauren got. It was some type of flatbread with chopped lamb and a yogurty dipping sauce.


Lily got a spectacular lamb kebab over rice.


My dish was lamb with grilled vegetables and warm hummus. I ate, died, was reborn, ate some more, and guarded my plate jealously.


It didn't work.
(by Kim)

This is how we eat, by the way. It's hilarious and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We decided to stroll through Harvard after that. There were lots of trees.




Exclusive: Behind the Scenes!
(by Kim)

I could go on and keep linking to the photos that resulted from each camera, but I'll spare you.
(by Kim)



We ran into this building and were mildly obsessed with it.






I'm pretty sure I thought "scaffolding" was a made-up word when I first heard it. When I was 14 or so. Ah, shameful secret catharsis.


To scale. Although to be fair, Ashley is about 5'2".


Other nearby things! That guy at the end was very nice. He didn't say much when he noticed us photographing him, and rushed by when we passed, and I thought I noticed some blood dripping from his hands, but I got a good vibe from him, and I'm known for being a solid judge of character if I do say so myself.


This was a big curvy wall.


Also, I am a creeper.


More proof, because suddenly being short and happy is a crime around here
(by Lily)

At one point we went into one of those overpriced specialty-item quirky gift stores, known to the younger crowd as Black Ink. I definitely spent money. Stupid Japanese products. It's like The Cornballer--it gets me every time!

Then I figured we might as well stop by other prestigious pinnacles of education, so I made Ashley take us to MIT. Unfortunately she only knew where it was in theory, so we ended up in this area by the T stop.




I went over to Au Bon Pain with Lily and got some sw8s.


Then we meandered down to this little dock on the Charles River. That's downtown Boston?






Between Ashley's apartment and her bus stop is a used bookstore and a movie rental store that happened to be going out of business. They might as well just put out a bucket for my money. I bought six DVDs, including The Host, The Omen, and other crap I can't remember. At the bookstore I found From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which is a damn fine literary achievement that I'd been looking for for years after I wore through my childhood copy. Lily had never heard of Rip Van Winkle! So I made her buy that.

Back at Ashley's her roommate and some friends decided they were craving wings. So they went and got some without asking us if we wanted in. Jerks, with their big dumb faces! Not like we would've wanted any anyway. Then we had a whiff and decided to walk down and try this "Wings" thing for ourselves. (The "restaurant" was cleverly called "Wings Express.")

It was a bit dubious, to put it nicely. One white-washed storefront with a single table, a couple of chairs littered around, and one of those liquor-store refrigerators that holds a variety of drinks. A couple of guys stood around behind a tall counter, that was unmarked, and behind which was a calculator and a cash register. There were no customers or food in sight. We took a menu, ordered, and were handed big bags 15 minutes later. If I were a less constantly hungry person I would have refused to eat whatever came out of them.

I'm so glad we didn't. Sticky-sweet wings, creamy garlic mashed potatoes and honey cornbread--I'm really not one for cornbread, but this was soft, and moist, and sweet. It was incredible. Also celery sticks and bleu cheese on the house! Wonderful.


We probably ended up playing video games inside that night. What a life!