"To The Back Bay!" said ze German.
- Me: Beacon Hill is the only real neighborhood in Boston, so I'm still hesitant about moving to the Back Bay.
- Jason: But Lena, Patrick needs his lebensraum.
23 hours ago
July 4, 2009
Mushroom Phyllo
Roasted Mixed Beets
Remains of Stuffed Baked Lobster
Key Lime Pie
Almond Tiramisu
Lychee Sorbet
Last night’s dinner from The Red House in Harvard Square. The Red House is the most romantic option on the strip of bars running down Winthrop Street. OM? Too trendy for my taste. Upstairs on the Square? Only when I’m in the mood for leopard print decor. And whereas I’d never take a parent to either of the preceding, The Red House is perfect for semi-proper folks and semi-proper occasions.
On the photos: I managed to scarf down an appetizer (mushroom phyllo), baked stuffed lobster, and key lime pie. Then I went home and made myself a banana mousse dessert and a bowl of cereal. (Through no fault of The Red House’s — their portions are huge!) In my hurried/hungry state, I neglected to take photos of the main courses until I destroyed my lobster.
The Red House
98 Winthrop Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 576-0605
2 days ago
July 3, 2009
Things Men Have Yelled At My Readers
Yesterday, I asked readers to submit catcalling stories for my giveaway. According to them, here are some of the pleasantries they’ve exchanged with would-be Lotharios:
“I’m making a DVD. Have you ever thought about acting?”
“You WIFEY material!”
“Hey baby, wanna check out my gun shot wound? It’s so fresh the scab hasn’t even healed.”
“Hello, pussycita, yum yum!”
“Pork fry ri!” [“Pork fried rice” in a purposeful Asian accent.]
The last one is probably my favorite, because it’s just so without context. I’m also partial to “You WIFEY material!” (But I’m choosing the eventual winner at random.)
3 days ago
July 2, 2009
Claiming that you “just happen” to prefer the blonde-haired, blue-eyed type (or whatever yours may be) ignores the biases we’ve each inevitably formed as a result of living in a society that promotes very specific beauty ideals. What many deem a “preference” is informed by their exposure to stereotypes, such as those depicted in television and movies. (The hypersexualization of black males and Asian females, the emasculation of Asian males, and the masculinization of black females are just a few examples.) Incredibly divergent interracial marriage rates are also a testament to the fact that physical preferences are really stratified by race.
— Sexy Time: Check Your “Type” At The Door, today’s column on College Candy
3 days ago
July 2, 2009
Sex and the Ivy’s July 4th Giveaway
After a lengthy hiatus from Sex and the Ivy, I’m giving away a Womolia Heat ($99.95) from Emotional Bliss to a lucky reader for Independence Day. To enter, comment on the contest entry with your best/worst catcalling story. For inspiration refer to mine.
Please reblog and link out to your female friends! (Unfortunately, the Womolia is designed to fit the curves of a woman, so boys will have to wait for my next giveaway to score free toys.)
3 days ago
July 1, 2009
The Condensed Version of the Previous Year
Everyone seems to be wondering what the hell it is I’ve been up to all year without school, so here’s a life update in chronological order. Kind of.
My friends have little to no understanding of what I do for my day job, but the basic gist is that I manage editorial content for an education non-profit. I got this job in October when I returned to Boston and went from part-time to full-time last winter. When not working the 9-to-5, I’ve kept up the freelance work and have also started writing about food, through self-published recipes and reviews as well as pieces for websites like Citysearch’s 3 Buck Bites.
I was only supposed to live with Patrick for a month before finding my own place. I actually did pay one month’s rent for a Porter Square apartment I never moved into, before Patrick and I decided that his Beacon Hill one-bedroom could fit another tenant. I went to Germany over the holidays and made my first-ever trip to Austria, where I learned how to ski (a minor miracle). For Chinese New Year, I appeased my mother by bringing home ze German (who spoke Mandarin to my bedazzled relatives) and against all odds, she did not make him sleep in a separate room. This spring, I visited Kennedy in Seattle for her birthday, went to Seattle two weeks after that for a speaking gig, took my little sister on a grand college tour of Northeast art schools, entertained various visiting friends in Boston, and have managed to wind up in the dress section of Beacon’s Closet in Brooklyn nearly every month. In late May, I finally got health insurance. In June, my friends graduated and promptly dispersed across the globe.
Right now, I’m transitioning out of my full-time position and working overtime so I can take late July and August off to read and travel, get ready for my return to Harvard, and prepare for the first big move of my life (but don’t worry, I’ll still be in Boston). I’m psyched for the new apartment (which will actually accommodate my wardrobe now), excited to start school again, and still have zero idea of what I’m doing after I graduate. But I’ve got time to figure it out.
3 days ago
July 1, 2009
Arabic Coffee, $2.95
Shakshokeh, $9.95
Chicken Khalili Sandwich, $8.95
I discovered Andala Coffee House during a walk around Central Square yesterday. Today, I brought Patrick here to work and enjoy some of the most delicious Mid-Eastern food I’ve tried in Cambridge.
The best part? Nothing on the menu over $10, not even the Meat Pie Plate ($7.95) which I hear is the house special dish. (I haven’t managed to get my hands on one yet, since the cafe’s been out of them since yesterday.)
Andala Coffee House
286 Franklin Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 945-2212
3 days ago
July 1, 2009
Also, it’s way more acceptable to leash dogs. You can’t really leash babies without being judged.
— Me, on why pets are better than kids
4 days ago
June 30, 2009
My newest acquisition, this feather and lace cocktail dress by Carmen Marc Valvo, is one of my best shopping finds in a long time. I found it this weekend in pristine condition at Ilus, a dress rental boutique in Nolita. (Each season, the store holds a sample sale of its rentals to make room for next season’s collection.) I’ll have to get it taken in a bit around the waist, but even with the cost of tailoring, the dress is a great steal at $167.
Ilus
248 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10012
(646) 454-1678
5 days ago
June 30, 2009
Because I'll Never Stop Being "That Girl"
- Zac: Bye, I'm going out to see Lena!
- Zac's father: Lena, who's Lena?
- Zac: You know, Lena from college? The small, Asian girl?
- Zac's father: Who?
- Zac: She went to dinner with us a bunch of times.
- Zac's father: ...
- Zac: She has a website.
- Zac's father: OHHHH. SEX Lena!
- Zac: Yes. Sex Lena.
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