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Bowled Over

11 Jun

Yes, this is another post about how much I ate.

I don’t mind paying $8 for ice cream when it’s all for charity, and as donations go, you could do a lot worse than the Scooper Bowl. Here’s how it works: The Jimmy Fund gets my money, and I get to fill up on all-you-can eat ice cream. Everyone wins! A host of vendors large and small serve up samples of about four flavors each, and if you don’t mind the huge crowd, you could try a whole bunch of flavors in a few short minutes. Me? I tried Edy’s new Take the Cake and Cold Stone Creamery’s Shock-A-Cone, among other flavors. They were good, but the best thing I tried was Ben & Jerry’s new Cake Batter. Sadly, I was also really disappointed by B&J’s ONE Cheesecake Brownie. I bumped into Liz on the way over, so I didn’t have to pig out on my own, and in the end, a good time was had by all. The weather’s going to be hot again today and thankfully the Scooper Bowl lasts for three days. But you’d better hurry; after 7 p.m. Thursday, it’s all over. So if you’re in Boston, head on over to City Hall Plaza, grab a spoon, and dig in.

Three for Fore

8 Jun

Birthday Fiesta 2008 continued today with brunch at Z Square in Harvard Square and then a trip up to Kimball Farm in Westford for some mini golf and ice cream. I’ll say this much about the afternoon: We started out early so as to beat the crowds and the heat, but man oh man was it hot out there. Our ice cream sure did go down easy. And just in case you’re keeping track, unlike last time (and especially because of last night’s meal), I exercised restraint, choosing a frappe instead of a sundae. It was tasty just the same. Oh, and as for the golf, chalk it up to beginner’s luck, but Jeremy beat Nina and I — though in my own defense, I’ll say he only beat me by a couple strokes, and of the three of us, I was the only one to score a hole-in-one. So maybe I’m older and possibly wiser now, but I’m no better in the mini golf department than I was. S’alright. It could be worse.

I Scream for Cheap Ice Cream

30 Apr

Hey everyone. Somehow, and I can’t quite explain it, but I totally missed yesterday’s free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream day. Today I won’t make the same mistake. It’s 31-cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins. From 5pm to 10pm, head on over to your local scoop shop and pick up a cheap serving of Mint Chocolate Chip or whatever your favorite flavor is. And tell ’em Martin sent you — maybe they’ll throw on some sprinkles or something. (Or, more likely, they’ll just give you a free spoon. Think of it as my gift to you. You’re welcome.)

Sweet!

7 Apr

Free ice cream and Opening Day at Fenway Park — what could be better? To celebrate the start of home games over on Yawkey Way, J.P. Licks is giving away free ice cream all day tomorrow, Tuesday, at every one of their locations. Woo hoo!

Quick Thoughts

19 Feb

After the rain stopped, Monday was a really nice day.

Teflon-coated pots are excellent. One of the best inventions ever.

I wish I had given Gossip Girl more of a chance and hadn’t given up on it after the first episode.

We’re negotiating, and I should have a decision on the apartment on Tuesday. I’m now feeling more 65-35 as far as excitement and nervousness go.

Ben & Jerry’s Crème Brûlée ice cream is so so so good.

I’m rooting for a There Will Be Blood Best Picture upset on Sunday.

There’s something about seeing baseball players practicing down in Florida, smiling, happy, with the sun shining, that makes everything all right.

Are you on Facebook? Why not? Sign on and let’s be friends.

Days off would be more enjoyable if there was something good on TV in the morning. At least on Saturdays there’s three hours of repeats of 90210 and two of The O.C.

Which is the more annoying instrument to listen to: violin or the flute?

I don’t think there’s any movie in theaters right now that I haven’t seen that I want to see.

My early American Idol favorites are Amanda Overmyer, a.k.a.: the rocker nurse, and Michael Johns. Kristy Lee Cook is cute, but she won’t get past the top 8. And David Archuleta is overrated. And anyone who sings “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” will never win, much less make it to the top 12.

Sometimes when scrolling through the names and numbers in my cell phone I’ll come across Bubby and I’ll be tempted to call. I wish I could.

Next week, March 1 to be exact, marks the 11th anniversary of the day I moved to Boston. Still the best decision I’ve ever made.

I own way way way too many books, CDs, and DVDs.

Can’t believe I still haven’t finished The Year of Living Biblically.

Kupels went and raised their prices, and in so doing went from being a great deal to a total rip-off.

When I move, I think I’m going to hire a cleaning person to come regularly.

Some movies I can watch over and over and never get tired of them. The Shawshank Redemption is one of them.

Long weekends are great … until you have to go back to work the next morning.

Yummmmm

29 Sep

Didn’t have much to do today, and I was still in a celebratory mood after last night’s Sox clinching of the A.L. East title, so I decided to spend the day wandering the city. After lunch in the waaaaaay too crowded Faneuil Hall, I walked to the North End and finally went to Trani, the unfortunately-named store where you can get baked goods injected with ice cream. (It’s right next to my favorite Italian restaurant, Al Dente.) I had what is called a “Bust-Out,” i.e.: a cupcake stuffed with ice cream and covered in fudge. Actually I had two: a yellow cupcake stuffed with chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate cupcake stuffed with vanilla ice cream. (What?! The cupcakes were really small.)

Can I just tell you how good these were? I mean, how could they not be? It was my two great loves — cupcakes and ice cream — in one delicious snack, with chocolate fudge on top. The cake was moist and tasty, the ice cream was really good, and the fudge, although it was the kind that hardens in seconds, was also good. Best of all, believe it or not, these were not heavy, filling snacks. If I was feeling truly gluttonous, I could probably have eaten two more. But I refrained. So next time I go back, I’ll have to try a brownie or a canoli, or any of the other yummy-looking things on the menu.

Don’t have much exciting to tell you about the rest of the walk, although I did find a nice park I never knew existed and that was pretty cool. Oh, and I checked out the new Hard Rock Cafe, now located where The Rack used to be. They did a nice job renovating that place. But anyway, lotsa people were out and about today. It was a great day to be in Boston.

Happy Summer, Y’all

26 Jun

Ninety-degree-plus days mean one thing to me: ice cream.

And so because my walk home through Coolidge Corner means walking right by J.P. Licks, I decided to stop for dinner on the way home (at Quiznos) so I could get some ice cream as I walked down the street.

One bad sandwich later, I got to J.P. Licks. Sort of. The line was so long that it stretched the full length of the store, out the door, and down Harvard Ave. past the entrance to the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse.

That’s a long line.

But I was determined, so I got in line and worked my way to the front. Continue reading →

No Avoiding It

17 Apr

You know, I tried to avoid American Idol Tuesday night. Really I did. After last week’s results show, I said I was done. So I went to Ben & Jerry’s at the Pru for Free Cone Night and waited on a long, long line that stretched from the B&J’s counter all the way around the perimeter of the ‘court to Pizzeria Regina. Didn’t mind it, either, especially when I was enjoying my free cone of Phish Food. And I loved when all the parents would show up with their smiling, happy kids and would try to convince the little ones that the line was too long to wait. But God bless the kids, who always knew better. “I don’t mind,” I heard one say. Kids always win, don’t they? Good for them. Free ice cream is worth it.

Anyway, and then I got home and was excited to turn on the TV to watch the Sox. And not just that, but Dice-K on the mound again. But I tell you … if Idol was an embarassment, this felt worse. Sure, the line might not be as bad as the end result, but c’mon — we (and I say we like it came out of my pocket) didn’t pay $103 million for 2-1 losses and three walks in one game. Didn’t pay $103 mil for wild pitches that load the bases, and runs that are walked in. What a bum this guy is. I can’t believe he’s 1-2. That makes him worse than a bum — he’s a loser! At first I thought it was just the weather, but tonight’s game was in a dome. It’s not the lack of run support. This guy should be lights out. So there’s really no excuse. And here come the Yankees this weekend. If Dice-K is our great hope to lead us to another World Series championship, then let me be the first to say it: we’re doomed. Again.

So … long story short, at 9:30 I decided to watch Idol after all (my DVR recorded it automatically — damn that series recording). And I have to say, Melinda Doolittle made at least part of it worth it. I just wish Blake Lewis did Ryan Adams proud. What an awful rendition of a great song. (And I won’t even mention that other guy.) But I promise I won’t be watching anymore. I’m so done with that show. (Until next week, I’m sure.)

Yum

15 Apr

It’s that time again, kids. This Tuesday is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s, or as I like to call it, The Most Wonderful Day of the Year. From 12 to 8 p.m., head on down to your local B&J scoop shop and pick yourself up a free cone of AmeriCone Dream or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or Half Baked or Phish Food, celebrating its 10th anniversary. It’s all good. (Thanks to Stephanie for the tip.)

And in related news, Baskin-Robbins has apparently done away with their free cone night and instead now does a 31-cent cone night, a benefit for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. This year’s event takes place on May 2 from 5 to 10 p.m. Eat up and give to a good cause, all at the same time.

Welcome to the Wow

12 Jan

Just when I had adjusted to the three-hour time difference, I’m back from Vegas and very tired.

Overall, it was a good trip, as I’ve already said: productive and cost-effective as far as my work objectives go, and fun as far as everything else goes.

Here are some “reporter’s notebook”-style things I thought I’d mention: Continue reading →

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