inacove

Category: Fun in Boston

  • Limelight Stage & Studios (Boston)

    Limelight Stage & Studios (Boston)

    Limelight Stage & Studios
    LimelightBoston.com
    204 Tremont St
    Boston, MA 02116 (map)    		 Survey Says: My spot

    I will not hide it. I’m going to tell you and the world right now: I LOVE karaoke. I love being on stage, I love the sound of my voice over a mike, I love showing off the fact that I know the songs without looking at the lyrics screen, I love it when strangers come up to me afterwards and tell me what a great job I did. I LOVE karaoke.

    I have tried a few places around town, but you always run into the same issue: you want to sing, but there are so many people in line that you barely get to sing 2 songs (usually just one). What a drag. If I wanted to sing one song I could sing it in the privacy of my home, in my car, or in the shower. When I go out to sing karaoke I want to be on stage for as long as possible.

    One would think that the best place to do this would be a karaoke shop that has private rooms. I have tried these… the problem is that it is not the same as singing on a stage in front of a group of strangers. You see, my level of self-consciousness is greater the more people I know in the audience. So, is my only option to go to a crowded place and wait for my turn? Nope!

    In comes the Limelight Stage & Studios in Boston (LimelightBoston.com/, 204 Tremont St, Boston). This place is a hidden jewel! It has multiple private rooms, which apparently is what people come here for. They also have a stage, which is mostly empty on Friday nights! By empty I mean NOT CROWDED. I went out with some coworkers last night, and I had the time of my life! I must have gone up at least 3 times by myself and 3 other times as duets. I went in at 7pm (when they opened) and left at 11pm and I was satisfied.

    Also, don’t miss Zach, the Frank Sinatra singer. He is there every time I’ve gone, and he’s just a delight to listen to!

    I’m afraid to even write this because I don’t want the place to get ruined by the mobs… but I just can’t wait to go back! This is easily one of my favorite things to do in town.

    ina

  • Gingerbread House Decorating (Boston)

    Gingerbread House Decorating (Boston)

    75 Chestnut
    75chestnut.com (restaurant link is broken)
    75 Chestnut St
    Boston, MA 02108 (map)    		 Survey Says: A new tradition!

    Right off of the Boston Common there is a tiny fashionable restaurant called 75 Chestnut, which tends to hold special events every so often. I remember going there with a friend a few years ago and enjoying back massages on the house. Unfortunately the massage caused me to lose consciousness and I spent the rest of the evening incontrollably (really, could not control it) crying. But anyways, this restaurant has a nifty little activity for families (or anyone, really) every holiday season: Gingebread housemaking.

    See the Boston.com story on this activity here: Gingerbread houses at 75 Chestnut

    Credit Card Meters!!! (#mindblown)
    Credit Card Meters!!! (#mindblown)
    Lucky for us, the city of Boston gives the gift of free parking to shoppers on Saturdays from Thanksgiving to Christmas. However, I must say that now that I know that there are CREDIT CARD meters in Boston, I would have not minded paying regardless of the rules! How fun!

    Well, I took my family down for the second year in a row today, and it was absolutely wonderful. Both years I got the eggs benedict (you get to eat before you play with the gingerbread houses), and they did not disappoint. I probably should review this restaurant on the food menu, but I don’t have a full review. All I can say is that the raspberry stuffed french toast have been overdone every single year. What a way to ruin a classic.

    As I was saying, the gingerbread making was wondeful. Take a look at some of our creations:

    Original by: ina
    Original by: ina
    One of my sisters-in-law actually gave up and didn't finish a whole wall, so she got shamed by a waiter who walked up to our table to judge our final work! Burn!!!
    One of my sisters-in-law actually gave up and didn’t finish a whole wall, so she got shamed by a waiter who walked up to our table to judge our final work! Burn!!!
    Other family members went ALL OUT (cheaters)
    Other family members went ALL OUT (cheaters)
    This is the back of my house
    This is the back of my house

    Back of sister-in-law's house
    Back of sister-in-law’s house

    After brunch, we walked down to the Boston Common and watched the skaters at the Frog Pond. If there is one thing that is SO Boston that you have to do no matter what, is going to the Frog pond. We did not skate (look at that line!), but just being there was refreshing and got us into the holiday spirit like nothing else.

    Frog Pond Ice Skaters
    Frog Pond Ice Skaters
    More skaters
    More skaters
    You can see the Prudential and Hancock buildings in the background. Classic Boston.
    You can see the Prudential and Hancock buildings in the background. Classic Boston.
    There was a spot on the floor with a sign that said "This is a good hug spot" -- how romantic!
    There was a spot on the floor with a sign that said “This is a good hug spot” — how romantic!
    This is a good HUG spot sign
    This is a good HUG spot sign
    Line to buy passes to ice skate.
    Line to buy passes to ice skate.
    Rates for ice skating in the Frog Pond
    Rates for ice skating in the Frog Pond
    Thinking Frog by the Pond
    Thinking Frog by the Pond

    I hope everyone enjoys the holiday season and find that one thing you get to do every single year. What a great time to start a new family tradition.

    ina