Boston Bacon Takedown set for June 19th

Boston Restaurant Talk reports that another bacon themed event is coming to the Boston area. The Boston Bacon Takedown will take place Sunday June 19th at 3pm in the Somerville Armory.

The event will feature 20 Boston cooks who will be creating a variety of bacon-based dishes, with guests judging each dish to decide which one is the best. In addition to prizes for the cooks, attendees will have a chance to win a year's supply of Hormel Black Label Bacon.

Tickets are just $15.

MBTA to run soccer train to Gillette for US-Spain match

The MBTA will run a special commuter rail train this Saturday to Gillette Stadium for the USA-Spain soccer game. The train will depart South Station at 2pm, Back Bay station at 2:05pm, and will make stops at the Dedham Corporate station and Norwood Central station before arriving at Gillette at 3:05pm. The match will begin at 4:30pm and the train will depart the stadium 30 minutes after the end of the game (just like for the Patriots games). Round trip tickets are $15 and must be bought before boarding the train.

This is a great way for visitors and residents alike to get to Gillette Stadium and watch the US take on 2010 World Cup Champions in friendly match. Hopefully the MBTA will be able to also offer this train for the July visit of Manchester United as well.
For more information on the Soccer Train visit the MBTA website.

Harbor Islands Pavilion to open thursday

Northendwaterfront.com has an excellent video preview of the new Harbor Islands Pavilion on the Rose Kennedy Greenway which will officially open this coming Thursday June 2nd at 11am.

After 18 months of construction, the Boston Harbor Islands Alliance and National Park Service are putting on the final touches for the grand opening of the Boston Harbor Islands Pavilion on the Greenway, across from Christopher Columbus Park. The Pavilion will serve as a gateway to the islands which are accessible from the ferry terminal across the street at Christopher Columbus Park and Long Wharf.

Grubwithus coming to Boston

The Boston Globe reports today that Grubwithus, a group dining concept from Chicago, is expanding to Boston. The Grubwithus concept brings eight people together for family style, discounted meals at different restaurants around the city. So far they are workingw with Maurizio’s (North End), Masa Southwest Bar & Grill (South End), and Hana Sushi (Cambridge).

People who reserve a spot early pay a little less than those who decide later; the price increases 50 cents with each person who signs on. On the website, you can see photos and profiles of the people who’ll be joining you, including information about where they work and their hobbies.

Concerts in the Courtyard at the BPL start this week

The Boston Public Library's Central Library in Copley Square will again host free lunchtime concerts in its beautiful courtyard on Fridays at 12:30pm from June 3rd - August 26th. The music presented will range from jazz to classical and from folk to funk. The June 3rd concert features the Raviv Markovitz Quartet in a jazz program.
For the full schedule visit http://bpl.org/news/concerts.htm

Hotel union goes to court to block Park Plaza sale

The Boston Business Journal reports that the Boston hotelworkers union (Unite Here Local 26) has filed a request in federal court to block Starwood Hotels and Resorts's sale of the Park Plaza Hotel to Donald Saunders Family LLC, a group comprised of Boston developer Donald Saunders, the investment company Rockpoint Group and hotel operator Highgate Hotels. The union claims Starwood violated an existing collective bargaining agreement by not providing a letter from the purchasing group stating that all aspects of the current collective bargaining agreement will be honored by the new owners. The new ownership intends to require all of the Park Plaza employees to reapply for their jobs once it takes over. The sale is set to close June 1st, unless the judge agrees with the union and implements a temporary restraining order blocking the sale. Starwood currently owns a 55% stake in the Park Plaza and mananges the hotel with Donald Saunders having a 45% stake.

Underground dining coming to Boston

Boston Restaurant Talk reports that a new underground dining series called Anemochory (literal meaning: the dispersal of the seeds of a plant by the wind) is coming to Boston this June. Anemochory will be series of multi course, prix fixe gourmet dinners (using locally sourced and organic ingredients) at different locations around the city. The concept is similar the pop up restaurant, but the locations are not announced until the last minute via email to the invited guests.

Additionally, each event features entertainment. No two events are the same, so the menus, the venue, and the nature of the entertainment will vary every time. Furthermore, Anemochory places a strong emphasis on social reconnection. In light of this, guests will all sit together, and we will request that (barring extenuating circumstances) all mobile devices be shut off during the course of the experience.

For more information and to sign up for their email list visit http://www.anemochory.com/

Stanley Cup ticket prices are soaring

The Boston Herald reports today on that the Boston-Vancouver Stanley Cup Final is one of the most sought after events in recent years. The cheapest home game tickets for the first Bruins Stanley Cup Final appearance in 21 years are over $400.

“You have every father wanting to take his son,” said Jim Holzman, owner of Ace Ticket, which had a line at its Causeway Street office yesterday until 3 a.m. after the Bruins [team stats]’ Eastern Conference Final win in Boston. “These games are absolutely gigantic. Everybody wants to go.

Dinosaur exhibit coming to the Museum of Science

The Museum of Science will be opening a new exhibit June 5th called "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries," reports The Boston Globe. The exhibit, which seeks to explain how dinosaurs walked, traveled, and formed herds, has been traveling the nation for the last six years after opening at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. It is comprised of replicas of dinosaur skeletons, mechanical dinosaurs, along with an assortment of artifacts, images, and videos.

We’ve been looking forward to this for a few years now,’’ said Paul Fontaine, vice president of education at the Museum of Science. “What’s really exciting about this exhibit is that everybody knows about dinosaurs, but this exhibit has a lot of new information.’’

Back Bay restaurant faces loss of valet parking due to bike lane plan

Boston.com reports that a plan to add bike lanes to a stretch of Massachusetts Avenue has generated opposition from local business owners, including a restaurant owner. The plan, which would add bike lanes from Symphony Hall to the Charles River, calls for the elimination of 71 parking spaces on the northbound side (heading towards Cambridge).

Thierry Belluche, the owner of The Wine Cellar, a fondue restaurant at 30 Massachusetts Ave., said he was upset that he did not hear about the lanes until another business owner told him on Thursday.

"I’m quite shocked, Belluche said, "most importantly shocked they didn’t send us any sort of notice.” He called the restaurant's valet parking--he just sent in his city renewal fee for the spaces--“a must."

"Without it, we don’t do business," Belluche said, adding that customers, especially those "all dressed up" and wearing heels, "don’t want to walk 10 blocks for a romantic dinner."

Top restaurants in Boston hotels named

The Feast yesterday listed Boston's ten best hotel restaurants. Topping the list was Restaurant Dante at The Royal Sonesta, followed by KO Prime and Rialto. Island Creek Oysters and Eastern Standard at the Hotel Commonwealth also make the list. It's interesting to note that though all of these restaurants are located in hotels, they are not necessarily run by the hotels. The complete list is here.

Government Center to get pop up crepe restaurant

Boston Restaurant Talk reports that Dore Creperie will open early this June in the former Pressed space at 1 Beacon Street near Government Center. It will be a pop up restaurant open from June - November serving crepes for breakfast, lunch and dessert. The restaurant's Facebook page indicates that if they reach 10,000 followers everyone will get free crepes on July 14th (just coincidentally the French Independence Day).

Olives eyes September re-opening

Charlestown Patch reported this week that Olives, Todd English's flagship restaurant is looking to re-open this coming September. Olives has been closed since a May 2010 fire which caused about $200,000 in damage. Todd English recently sent a letter to the Boston Licensing Board indicating that construction is set to begin the first week of June and will take approximately eight to twelve weeks. In the letter English wrote:

"I want to express that I am 100 percent committed to reopening the original Olives in its home in Charlestown, for which the community and I have a deep fondness," he wrote.

Thank you to Boston Restaurant Talk for the heads up on this!

Boston clubs face sanctions over female fights

Universal Hub reports that two clubs in Boston's Theater District, Caprice and Felt, could be penalized by the Boston Licensing Board next week for incidents involving fights among their female patrons.

In Felt's case, board Chairwoman Nicole Murati Ferrer told bar owners they need to get a handle on why they keep having trouble with women; in Caprice's case, managers had to listen as police described a large brawl that saw women taking off their shoes and forming a fighting ring in the parking lot next door.

Cape Cod eyes increase in summer visitors

The Boston Globe reports today that all signs indicate this year's summer tourism season will be a good one for the Cape Cod economy.

Though gas prices and unemployment remained high heading into the Memorial Day weekend, all signs point to a solid tourism season on the Cape and Islands, thanks to a slowly improving economy and pent-up demand for outdoor fun after a brutal local winter, tourism officials said. Hotel owners say advance bookings are running 5 to 10 percent ahead of last year, while the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce projects overall spending at local hotels, restaurants, and other establishments will increase by double-digits.

New Boston-Tokyo flight is a boon for tourism industry

Boston's tourism industry will benefit from the Japan Airlines direct Boston-Tokyo flights that will begin next year. The Boston Globe reports today on the impact to the region's businesses along with the impact it will have on the hospitality/tourism market.

But businesses aren’t the only beneficiaries of the new flight. The local tourism industry will also get a boost, said Patrick Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, who estimates that the annual number of Japanese visitors to Boston — both business and leisure — will increase by 20 percent after the flight is in place, a $16 million boost to the local economy.

Steamship Authority launches mobile website

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend the Steamship Authority, which runs ferry service to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, has launched a new mobile website to enable smart phone users to easily access arrival and departure information for all of its ferries. Boston.com reports today that the website will allow users to see cancellations, get parking information and directions to ferry terminals.

Boston Chamber hails new direct Tokyo flights

Boston.com reports today that the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce is hailing the announcement today that Japan Airlines will start direct flights between Boston and Tokyo next April.

"These flights will not only make it easier for tourists to travel between our two cities, but will bring wider economic benefits as well, enabling closer connections to markets, products, customers, family and friends that will benefit New England and Japan," said Paul Guzzi, the chamber's chief executive.

Boston-Tokyo direct flights coming next year

The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald report today that Japan Airlines will begin direct flights between Boston and Tokyo in April of 2012. There will be four flights per week beginning April 22nd and daily service will begin in June.

Having nonstop flights between the two regions is considered critical to tourism and business and could generate about $175 million a year for the regional economy, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Logan.

El Centro opens tonight

New Mexican restaurant El Centro will open for dinner this evening on Shawmut Avenue in the South End. El Centro replaces the former Siraj Cafe and will serve moderately priced authentic Mexican fare.

Doubletree Cookie CareVan to hit Boston this Friday

The Doubletree Cookie CareVan will be in Boston giving out the hotel's signature chocolate chip cookies tomorrow May 27th from 8am-4pm at City Hall Plaza. Doubletree Hotels launched its Cookie Carevan today in New York City to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary. Check out this great video by Doubletree concierge Evan Martin for more information.

Italian restaurant coming to former Rocca space

South End Patch reports that a new Italian restaurant run by the Aquitaine Group is coming soon to the former Rocca space on Harrison Avenue. The report cites local blogger BosGuy as reporting the upcoming new restaurant. Rocca closed this past January, the first three large South End spots to close this winter.

Ted films at the Midtown Hotel

Ted, the Seth MacFarlane directed movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis filmed yesterday at the Midtown Hotel on Huntington Avenue. The filming involved using a water cannon to simulate a rain scene in front of the hotel. Ted has filmed in various sites around Boston over the last several weeks, including Lucky's Lounge, the Union United Methodist Church in the South End, and Charlie's Sandwiche Shoppe.

Downtown fire hits Kennedy's Midtown building

The Boston Fire Department tweets this morning that they responded a fire on the third floor of 44 Province Street, the building that houses Kennedy's Midtown restaurant and Sam Lagrassa's, the legendary downtown lunch spot. The fire was in the walls and vents on the third floor. It is out now but the fire department reports that a food inspector is on the scene. There's no word if either restaurant has been closed as a result of the fire.

Bijou set to open soon

Bijou is set to open soon on Stuart Street in Boston's Theater District at the former site of Europa and Buzz reports The Improper Bostonian in its latest issue. The club is named for Boston's famous Bijou Theater, which was located on Washington Street and was the first American theater to be lit entirely by electricity when it opened in 1882. Cafeteria owner George Aboujaoude and his partners Mete Aslan and Kevin Fitpatrick have been working hard for a while to get everything just right.

Today, the second-floor lounge looks like it’s been to second base with King Midas, dripping with golden accents and lamé drapes. The legions who frequent Cafeteria will love the metallic couches and the ceiling’s rotating light show, but you can’t write off Bijou as just another fist-pumping factory. It’s the first club in town to offer a craft cocktail program, and many of the signature sips wink at the building’s history.

“This is where people will come after work for a drink, to listen to the DJ or the live band, whatever we’ve got going that night,” says Aboujaoude. “They’ll move upstairs later on.” Utensil-free snacks from chef Michael Navarrete are served on both floors and range from caviar to skewers.

49 Social eyes Thursday opening

UrbanDaddy reports that 49 Social, located in the former Ivy space at 49 Temple Place, is set to open this Thursday.

Take a minute to drink in the new feel (basically some paint and a healthy dose of white linens), and then claim a plush booth to get down to business.

And by business we mean Fried Oyster Po’ Boy Sliders, meaty bottles of red and the Berkshire Pork Tenderloin Roulade, made with wild boar sausage, pancetta, risotto and pork jus (all Thursdays should end with thrice-stuffed meatstuffs).

Top Boston spots for celebrity sightings named

CBS Boston yesterday named the city's top restaurants to spot a celebrity. The list includes the Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons and all of the restuarants (Clink, Scampo, and Alibi) at The Liberty Hotel.

Thank you to @hotelie82 for the heads up on this.

Doubletree Cookie Truck to travel nation

HotelChatter reports today that Doubletree Hotels by Hilton is launching a "Careavan" cookie truck that will travel the country starting May 26th to celebrate the hotel brand's 25th anniversary. The Doubletree brand gives all arriving guests a warm, delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookie at check in at all of its hotels (that's more than 60,000 baked fresh daily!).

But don't worry, fellow sweet-tooths, it's not all marketing mumbo jumbo—DoubleTree's global head, Rob Palleschi, revealed the singularly philanthropic appeal of the now internationally-renowned cookies: "We also understand that in today’s dehumanising travel environment small acts of kindness, like providing our warm chocolate chip cookie welcome, can have a positive impact on people all over the world."

They are also having a naming contest for the truck. Ideas can be submitted via the hotel's Twitter account. I'm hoping they will the Doubletree Guest Suites in Boston one of the stops on the tour!

Nebo makes good on basketball wager

This past week I had the pleasure of dining at Nebo Restaurant in Boston's North End. Nebo is owned and run by sisters Carla and Christine Pallotta, who gave up their former careers as hairdressers to open an Italian restaurant in 2005 to serve the same type of food they grew up enjoying with their large family. Most recently the Pallotta sisters made a bet with Miami restaurant Sosta that if the Celtics beat Miami the Miami spot would have to serve Nebo's "Boston Garden Pizza" wearing Celtics jerseys and if the Celtics lost, Nebo would have to serve Sosta's "Spicy Diavolo Pizza" wearing heat Jerseys. You all know how it went down and last Tuesday the sisters made good on their end of the bargain. Having sampled both pizzas I can say that the Nebo one was far superior. The combination of fresh mozzarella, pacchino tomato, breasola, baby arugula, truffle oil and shaved parmigiano made for a mouthwatering and delicious eating experience. Carla and Christine are passionate about using only the finest ingredients in their food and they serve all of their items on the regular menu on a separate gluten free menu, the first Italian restaurant in the city to do so. In addition to the pizza we enjoyed the timballo di melanzana, a delicious mixture of eggplant and mozzarella timbale with fresh tomato sauce. We were also able to sample Nebo's famous zucchini lasagna which won an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay which aired in March. The lasagna, made without any pasta, is light and delicious, leaving one wanting more and not feeling heavy at all. The scene at Nebo is upscale but comfortable with a lively bar scene attracting a pre and post TD Garden crowd, along with an established group of regulars. The restaurant is also serves dinner and drinks late.

BPL to host chef's roundtable tomorrow

The Boston Public Library will host a Chef's Roundtable with Jody Adams, Barbara Lynch, and Lydia Shire on Tuesday May 24th at 6pm at the Central Library in Copley Square. Part of the Library's Lowell Lecture Series, the discussion will be moderated by former Boston Globe restaurant critic Alison Arnett.

These culinary experts will explore the evolution of their extraordinary careers, the launching of their groundbreaking restaurants, and the transformation of Boston dining scene.

Cheeseboy review

Check out Fun and Fearless in Beantown's great review today of The Cheeseboy at South Station.

I've got to say that this grilled cheese sandwich did not disappoint. I loved that there were thin slices of bread perfectly grilled to a golden-brown color that sandwiched a generous helping of gooey melted cheese.

The Cheeseboy will also soon be opening at the Prudential Center!

Panera on Boylston Street to open Tuesday

Panera Bread will open its long awaited Boylston Street flagship location tomorrow in the former Aquascutum storefront at 450 Boylston Street reports The Boston Herald today. The Saint Louis based restaurant company has been aggressively expanding recently into the Boston market, most recently with a Huntington Avenue location near Symphony Hall earlier this year. Panera Breads will soon follow in Lexington and Porter Square.

Mexican Tall Ship visits Boston

The Mexican tall ship Cuauhtemoc is visiting Boston this week. The 220-foot ship training ship for the Mexican Navy, docked at the Seaport World Trade Center, is named for the last Aztec emperor. The ship will be open for public tours until Thursday reports WBZ. Tamo at the Seaport Hotel is serving a "Tortilla and Tall Ships" menu until May 28th to celebrate the ship's visit.

Phantom Gourmet CEO named top innovator by Boston Globe

The Boston Globe named Phantom Gourmet chief executive Dave Andelman to its list of the region's top 100 innovators. Andelman is listed in the Entertainment/Retail/Food/Travel category along with Johnnie Cupcakes founder Johnny Earle and Narcissa Campion, the managing director of Urban Improv. From the article today.

Pretension doesn't sit well with Dave Andelman, chief executive and founder of The Phantom Gourmet. "We approach food and restaurants in a different manner," he said. "It's not about celebrity chef butt-kissing. It's not about which restaurants approach us."

The Salty Pig to open in Six Burner spot

The Feast reported this week that The Salty Pig will take over the spot at 130 Dartmouth Street formerly occupied by Six Burner and Firefly Bistro . The restaurant will be run by the culinary group that owns Coda, Canary Square, and Common Ground.

The menu—helmed by Canary Square's Marco Suarez—will contain a build-your-own-artisan-board format with a charcuterie section of 10-15 offerings of imported and house-cured meats and terrines, a section featuring a variety of cheeses and a section with accoutrements like honey, olives and house-made pickles.

Thank you to Boston Restaurant Talk for the heads up on this report.

A round up of regional food festivals

Boston.com takes a look today at thirty of New England's most popular food-related festivals. They range from the familiar local ones (The Scooperbowl and Chowderfest in Boston) to the ones you may not have heard of (The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft, The Vermont Stinks Garlic and Herb Festival in Bennington, and the Rhubarb Festival in Sherman, CT).

Las Ventas awaits indoor seating permit

The South End News reported in its May 2nd edition that Las Ventas was still having trouble securing a permit from the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department for seating inside its Harrison Avenue spot.

Since 2009, the shop, owned by Lara Gavigan and Julio de Haro, has had to change their permit several times, from a shop that could only sell retail items ("retail"), to one that could sell take out ("retail with take out"), now to one where people can sit and eat the sandwiches they order in the establishment.

This most recent required permit change, to allow seating, has been the most confusing for Gavigan and de Haro, and the most costly. Since being required to remove all seating from the shop in October 2010, Las Ventas has seen a 30 percent drop in profits. Shop hours and employee hours have been cut. And Estragon, the restaurant the two own next door, has been subsidizing the small sandwich joint.

Notable Bostonians on The Rapture

The Boston Herald reported yesterday on what some famous Bostonians in the hospitality/tourism industry (Lydia Shire, Keith Lockhart, Jamie Bissonette, Joanne Chang, Sal Lupoli, Roger Berkowitz, Marilyn Riesman) would be doing if today was the end of the world. Some of them are all set already.

Lydia Shire, chef at Scampo and Towne: “I’m fine if the world blows up because last Tuesday I went to Brimfield (Antiques Fair) and did mega shopping there, so I can pass along very happily now. I bought a vintage, bright red Olivetti Valentine Typewriter.. I’m going to take it with me so I can write to people when I go to heaven.”

Boomerangs opens in Central Square

The Aids Action Committee of Boston has opened a fourth location of their popular thrift store Boomerangs in Central Square at 563 Massachusetts Avenue. This store joins locations in Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury and the South End. Jamaica Plain Patch has more information on the Boomerangs expansion.

The Cambridge store will take up the space at 563 Massachusetts Ave., where it will be the first Boomerangs on a subway line. “We've always wanted a store that was easily accessible by subway," Twitchell says."We think Central Square will be a welcome convenience for T riders. We have many customers who go out of their way now to take buses and the commuter rail just to shop at one of our stores.”

World's End review

Universal Hub has an excellent post today on the World's End reservation in Hingham. World's End is located a short drive from Boston and is an excellent place to hike, bike, or just walk and enjoy views of Boston, Hingham, Hull, the ocean and surrounding area. It's great half day excursion and is only a short bike ride away from the Nantasket Junction station on the Greenbush commuter rail line.

Adam Sandler movie holds casting calls

Open casting calls will be held this weekend and next weekend for the Adam Sandler movie "I Hate You Dad" which films in the Boston area this June and on Cape Cod in July. This weekend May 21st and May 22nd open casting calls for thousands of different types of people for background extras are being held from 12pm-6pm on Saturday and 2pm-8pm on Sunday at the Boston Teacher's Union Hall at 180 Mount Vernon Street in Dorchester (adjacent to the Bayside Expo Center). Kids (age 11 or over) and adults (all ages and of all ethnic backgrounds) are needed. Please bring a current 3x5 color snapshot (no head shots. No movie experience is necessary.
Next weekend (May 28th and May 29th)open casting calls will be held at Barnstable High School in Hyannis from 10am-4pm each day. For the Cape Cod casting call the casting agent is seeking hundreds of fashionable looking males and females of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. This includes singles, couples, and real families (as well as children of all ages).
For more information on both casting calls visit www.SandeAlessiCasting.com

Boston Pedicab drivers profile

South End Patch has great article about the camaraderie of the Boston Pedicab drivers. It's a very interesting piece that gives a unique look at people who pedal residents and visitors all over the city.

Overshiner's example is an extreme one, but it serves as a strong illustration of the close bonds and friendships that develop between the group of wacky, energetic tricyclists who pedal folks all around Boston for money. On nights not spent huffing and puffing up Beacon Hill or shuttling Sox fans to Fenway, a group of riders is likely to be found out on the town themselves, enjoying each other's company, and perhaps calling for a Pedicab ride later on. They talk throughout the day over e-mail, get together for weekend getaways, and team up to fundraise for charitable walks and bike rides all over New England.

Mija now open

Grubstreet Boston reports that Mija Cantina and Tequila Bar is now open at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Mija features Mexican cuisine and over 100 types of tequila.

Marriott Copley to be site for emergency preparedness drill

The Marriott Copley Hotel will be one of the sites of a massive homeland security 24 hour emergency preparedness drill starting tomorrow at 8am. The drill, called Urban Shield Boston, is an exercise during which first responders are deployed to and rotate across 12 different exercise sites/scenarios, each hosted by jurisdictions of the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region. From the city of Boston website.

Urban Shield is the largest exercise ever conducted in Boston. In all, the exercise will include over 500 emergency responders from 50 different agencies. Participating agencies include Federal, state, local, and private sector partners.
Exercise scenarios will take place in 7 different cities/towns, and 4 communities will activate Emergency Operation Centers in order to effectively coordinate the exercise. Overall exercise activities will be managed from the City of Boston EOC.
The goal of Urban Shield is to test and evaluate specific public safety capabilities that have been developed and enhanced with the investment of grant funds received from the US Department of Homeland Security (primarily through the Urban Area Security Initiative or UASI grant program).

The bottom line is don't be alarmed by the security presence around Copley Square and other parts of Boston and the surrounding communities tomorrow.

El Centro to open May 27th

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that El Centro in the South End plans to open May 27th on Shawmut Avenue. El Centro will be a moderately priced Mexican restaurant, located in the former Siraj Cafe space on the opposite corner from Orinoco.

Greater Boston discusses pop up dining

WGBH's Greater Boston spoke yesterday with Eat Boston's Aaron Cohen about the pop up dining scene here in Boston and how his latest pop up dining experience this weekend at the British Consulate of Boston came about.

Hotels use Skype in the hiring process

The Boston Business Journal has an interesting piece on how the Intercontinental Boston hotel hired one of its restaurant hostesses from Hungary using Skype.

“It made the whole thing so easy,” said Bàràn, who started the job three weeks ago, after being hired following the Skype interviews.

"Diamond" guest video

Check out this hilarious video! It may be just a cartoon but many guests actually behave like this (though they may not have a giraffe and want a helipad!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCqm4H3m3Ew&feature=share

Ted films at Lucky's Lounge

The Seth MacFarlane movie Ted filmed a scene Wednesday at Lucky's Lounge on Congress Street. The scene includes Mila Kunis and Joel McHale singing karaoke. Earlier this week a scene was filmed at a church in the South End and earlier this month a scene was filmed at Charlies Sandwiche Shoppe.

New nightclub to open this weekend in Theatre District

Guilt will open this Saturday at 275 Tremont Street in Boston's Theatre District. The 5,000 square foot nightclub is located the space once occupied by Pearl (2006-2011), Matrix (2001-2006), and The Juke Box (1982-2001). The club will be run by the same people who recently transformed The Roxy into Royale. Stuff Magazine highlighted the new spot last month.

The club's new décor should be pretty dramatic: think swathes of red and gold, floor-to-ceiling banquettes, and a general aesthetic designed to capture a plush Old Hollywood vibe. But other touches are decidedly modern: special-effect lighting over the bar will have it looking like the bartenders are slinging drinks in the pouring rain.

Jacques Pepin to be honored by BU

Grubstreet Boston reports today that the famous French chef Jacques Pepin will be honored with an honorary degree at Boston University's commencement this coming Sunday. Pepin has had a long relationship with Boston University, having founded, with Julia Child, its Metropolitan College (MET) master’s program in gastronomy and the certificate program in the culinary arts. He has also been at part time instructor at MET since 1983.

Jerry Remy's featuring Chicago Red Dogs

Jerry Remy's Grill is featuring Chicago Red Dogs on their menu this week as Chicago Cubs come to town to Boston (for the first time since 1918!) to play the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Check out this appetizing photo and decide which one you'd prefer. The Chicago dog definitely looks more creative, though not sure how I feel about tomatoes with a hot dog.

BRA holds meeting on proposed Cleveland Circle hotel

The Boston Redevelopment Authority held a meeting this week on a proposed hotel development in Cleveland Circle reports Boston.com. The proposed 180 room hotel would be built at the site of the former Cleveland Circle Cinema and Applebee's on the Boston/Brookline border. Forty of the hotel's rooms plus a proposed medical building are on the Brookline side of the property adding another layer to the review process. Developer Boston Development Group is proposing to bring a Hampton Inn to the site.

W Boston and Back Bay Hotel become union

Employees at the W Boston hotel and The Back Bay Hotel (formerly Jury's) have voted to become members of the Boston hotel workers Unite Here Local 26 reports The Boston Globe today. The two hundred new union members include bellhops, housekeepers, restaurant staff, valets, and maintenance workers.

Nestor Garcia, 41, a food runner in the W Boston’s restaurant and a veteran of several steelworkers unions, helped organize the vote at the W. Garcia said his weekly health insurance bill will drop from $106 to $12, and his wages will increase 90 cents an hour by January. And the ability to file grievances will improve employees’ relationship with management, he said.

I wonder whether the unionization of the W Hotel and The Back Bay Hotel will affect the quality of the food and beverage operations at both properties. The W has Market by Jean-Georges & The W Lounge while The Back Bay Hotel runs Stanhope Grille and Cuffs. The union situation offers workers many layers of protection against dismissal and offers less staffing flexibility than a nonunion situation. That being said though, The Lenox Hotel, a union property, was recently ranked number one on Tripadvisor among 73 hotels in Boston.

It's also interesting to see that the article mentions that Boston's percentage of union hotel workers is 61% while nationally only about 8% of hotel workers are unionized. Local 26 continues to have a protest trailer in place across the street from the Hyatt Downtown hotel after Hyatt fired its union housekeepers at its Boston and Cambridge properties in 2009, replacing them with cheaper non union labor. The workers have yet to be rehired by Hyatt, raising questions about the effectiveness of Local 26.

Gilson leaving Garden at the Cellar for Cape Cod

The Boston Herald's Forklift Blog reports today that Garden at the Cellar chef Will Gilson is leaving the Cambridge restaurant to open a summer pop-up restaurant at Adrian's in Truro. His Eat Wagon food truck, which he recently launched with Aaron Cohen, will continue to make appearances around Boston. The Feast has more details on the Truro pop-up restaurant.

Bill Russell and Ray Allen to join President in Boston

Boston.com reports that Celtics great Bill Russell and current Celtics player Ray Allen will be part of President Obama's fundraiser tomorrow afternoon at the Boston Center for Arts in the South End.

Boston hotels performance outpaces nation

The Boston Business Journal reports today that the Boston hotel market is outperforming the national market according to a new report. Occupancy percentage, average daily rate, and revenue per available room in the Boston market all increased at rates higher than then national averages.

Occupancy at Boston-area hotels rose to an average of 68.9 percent last year, up 10.5 percent from 2009 and well ahead of the national average of 57.5 percent. Nationally, occupancy was up 5.6 percent year-over-year.

Local ADR — average daily room rates — also increased by 2.5 percent to $142.47 in 2010, versus a national average of $98.07, which was down 1 percent.

Boston’s improved occupancy and room rates combined to boost RevPAR — revenue per available room — by 13.3 percent to $98.13. The national average was $56.43, up 5.5 percent for the year.

Boston Pops and Boston Duck Tours to celebrate new Duckboat tonight

The Boston Pops and Boston Duck Tours will celebrate the recommissioning of the "Symphony Hal" duck boat with a parade this evening around the Back Bay featuring Mardi Gras music from the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz Band. The festivities begin at 6:45pm at the Boston Duck Tours kiosk on Huntington Avenue (adjacent to Shaw's) and will continue down Boylston Street, Newbury Street, and Massachusetts Avenue, arriving at Symphony Hall by 7:15pm. The Pops will perform a Mardi Gras in May concert beginning at 8pm featuring the Dukes of Dixieland Jazz Band and Mardi Gras music from New Orleans and Rio. There will also be a post concert party Tuesday for orchestra level ticket holders. For tickets and more information visit wwww.bostonpops.org.

Wedding of Boston PR executive and Boston hotel excutive delayed

The wedding of Regan Communications founder/CEO George Regan and Kimpton Hotels executive Lubna McInnes has been delayed reports the Boston Herald's Inside Track. Ms. McInnes has recently taken a job with Kimpton in NYC, possibly a reason for the delay.

We’re told Lubna has been traveling back and forth between NYC and Boston to be with her man, including last week’s Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event at the Boston Convention Center.

Two new Italian options on the waterfront

MC SlimJB reviews Aragosta at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel for Stuff Magazine this week.

It's also hard not to notice dining-room furnishings that look chintzy by Fairmont standards, more consistent with an airport Marriott than a luxe downtown hotel. The bar is far more sleekly attractive, with futuristic-looking yet surprisingly comfortable barstools.

Matt Schaeffer writes in the Boston Herald last week about Pasta Beach at Rowes Wharf, adjacent to the Boston Harbor Hotel.

With its industrial chic decor, curved marble counter and terrazzo and mosaic floors, Pasta Beach has the feel of a ristorante you’d be more apt to find in Milan than next door to the Boston Harbor Hotel.

49 Social to replace Ivy

Boston Restaurant Talk reported on Friday the 49 Social will replaced the recently closed Ivy at 49 Temple Place in Boston's Downtown Crossing Neighborhood.

The Boston Herald today reports the 150 seat new restaurant will serve a contemporary American cuisine over three floors. Its owners are confident that the Downtown Crossing area is on the rebound.

"Ted" to film Tuesday at South End church

The Seth Macfarlane/Mark Wahlberg movie "Ted" will film all day Tuesday (and possibly into the evening) at the Union United Methodist Church on Columbus Avenue in Boston's South End. Earlier this month "Ted" filmed at legendary Boston restaurant Charlie's Sandwiche Shoppe. The film also stars Mila Kunis, most recently of Black Swan fame.

Meal4Meal launches in Boston

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a kickoff event for Meal4Meal, a new half priced restaurant deal that benefits the Greater Boston Food Bank. When you buy a MealforMeal deal, four meals will be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Meal4Meal will also donate one meal when you sign up on their website. Today is the last day you can purchase their first deal which is $20 for $40 worth of food at Max & Dylans either in Downtown Crossing or Charlestown. A new deal will be announced soon. So far more than 800 meals have been given to the Greater Boston Food Bank through Meal4Meal. Hunger remains a large problem in our city, state, and country as it is estimated that 1 in 6 Americans are hungry, unsure of where their next meal will come from. Meal4Meal offers an excellent way to give back while dining out. Visit www.Meal4Meal.com to purchase the deals.

Area Four opens part of new restaurant

Bostonchefs.com reports that Area Four has opened the bakery/cafe part of the new Kendall Square spot. The bar/grill section of Michael Leviton's new venture at 500 Technology Square should open in the next several weeks with the menu to feature many items with in-season ingredients, and many items from a wood fired stove. The cafe side is now open from 7am-6pm. Area Four is one of several new restaurants coming to Kendall Square as the area begins a major transformation. The name Area Four comes from the name of the Cambridge neighborhood adjacent to the new restaurant.

Jack Sidell tribute celebration set for tonight

Twenty of the Boston area's top chefs will gather tonight for Circle of Legendary Boston Food Friends, a culinary tribute to the late Jack Sidell tonight at the St. James Galleria. Mr. Sidell, the father of Stephanie Sokolove (owner of Stephanie's on Newbury, Stephi's on Tremont) and Kathy Sidell Trustman (owner of MET Back Bay) was an investor and mentor to many of Boston's legendary chefs including Jasper White and Todd English. Jasper and Todd will join with with Steve DiFilippo, Barbara Lynch, Jeff Fournier, Tiffani Faison, and others in the event to benefit the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center.

Tickets are $150 per person or $275 per couple. More information on the event is available from Boston Magazine and tickets can be purchased at http://jackscircle.eventbrite.com/

Granary Burial Ground renovation set to begin

The Granary Burial Ground, one of the most popular sites on Boston's Freedom Trail, will soon be getting a much needed refurbishment. The Freedom Trail Foundation and the City of Boston will jointly fund the two month-long, $300,000 renovation reports The Boston Globe.

The work will include widening the paved paths around the cemetery; new observation areas near the graves of Adams, Hancock, and other historic figures; a new path behind Revere’s grave; and new chain-link fencing to keep visitors on the paths.

The cemetery will remain open during construction though sections will be closed off for the renovation work.

Cheeseboy to open at Prudential

Cheeseboy is coming to the Prudential Center this summer. They will be opening a fourth location in the mall's Terrace Food Court. The other Boston location is at Boston's South Station and there are also locations in Braintree's South Shore Plaza and the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut. Founded in 2009 and based in Boston, Cheeseboy is America's first quick service grilled-cheese franchise concept. From the release today.

“We are very excited to open within The Shops at Prudential Center, which boasts one of Boston’s great landmark buildings,” said Cheeseboy founder and President Michael Inwald. “We believe that the Pru – with its mix of lunch-seeking professionals on weekdays and a consistent flow of shoppers, conventioneers and visitors all week long – will be an ideal location for our concept, just as South Station has proven to be. We look forward to providing even more busy Bostonians with a fresh, satisfying, hot lunch on the go.”

The grilled cheese sandwiches here are excellent and I think the Prudential Center location will do brisk business. It will located just past Panda Express in front of the windows in the food court.

Mixed drinks now available in Fenway Park concourse

The Boston Herald reported earlier this week that the Red Sox began to serve mixed drinks in the Fenway Park concourse this past Monday. Fans can now purchase mixed drinks, such as frozen margaritas and daiquiris, at a single stand in the park. The Sox plan to expand to up to five non-bleacher locations this season, the most allowed by their new liquor license. Prices for the drinks range from $8.50-$9.50. The Boston Licensing Board approved the Red Sox plan in April, and last week the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission gave its final approval. Previously mixed drinks were only available in the luxury seating areas under a license held by Fenway concessionaire Aramark. The Red Sox now hold a full liquor license for all of Fenway Park.

Liberty Wharf review

Stuff Magazine's Louisa Kasdon writes a great piece about Liberty Wharf, Boston's hottest new dining destination, home to Jerry Remy's, Del Frisco's, Legal Harborside, and Temazcal. She is right on about the new waterfront dining scene.

I took in the big square openness of the Liberty Wharf development — the glass, the steel, the rustic wood walls — spiffy yet industrial like a new pier ready to weather. I loved that the complex is set up so you can see the harbor without having to play peek-a-boo with the buildings. Kudos to the developers and the architects at Elkus Manfredi.

Boston is being reinvented as a harbor city. From the Courthouse to the Black Falcon Terminal, you can see the water. And for the first time in my life, there will be rows and rows of places to eat and drink and celebrate that this city comes with an endless ocean views

City suggests Seaport developer keep hotel plan on track

The Boston Herald reported earlier this week that the Boston Redevelopment Authority told developer Madison Properties that it strongly prefers they remain committed to a plan to build a $100 million hotel at a Congress Street parking lot, instead of a luxury apartments as the developer has indicated. The parking lot is directly across from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). Building more hotel rooms within walking distance of the center is a primary goal of the T5 Initiative, a collaborative city/state project to make Boston one of North America's top five convention markets. Boston is currently ranked 9th.

Temazcal Tequila Cantina review

Devra First visits Temazcal Tequila Cantina, recently opened at Liberty Wharf, for a piece in today's Boston Globe.

Another day, another upscale Mexican restaurant/tequila bar. Temazcal Tequila Cantina opened at Liberty Wharf in South Boston in mid-April. What differentiates it from other, similar concepts recently opened in Boston?

I love the last line of the piece.

Note to boaters pulling up to the public docks: Cabo Wabo and open water don’t mix.

The Savant Project closing

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that The Savant Project, on Tremont Street in Mission Hill, is closing May 21st. They are having their last sex and drugs trivia night on May 15th, reports the restaurant's Facebook page.

Four Seasons package offers free gas, room upgrade

The Four Seasons Boston is running a package called "Fueled Up" this summer offering complimentary valet parking and $50 gas card and a free room upgrade! They are also having a contest in which one can submit a video via Facebook and win a free "Fueled Up" package. These offers sound really exciting and brings to mind a question. If one has made the decision to stay at the Four Seasons, is one really worried about the price of gas? Either way it seems like an interesting way to attract new guests to property.

Boston Food Truck application to go live today

Boston City Councilor Mike Ross tweets this morning that food truck permit applications will be available online later today and soon after available at the city's Inspectional Services Department (ISD) and Department of Public Works. The Boston City Council recently passed legislation to streamline the application process for those looking to launch food truck in the city and there could be up to 25 new trucks on city streets by this summer.

Interested applicants can visit http://www.cityofboston.gov/business/foodtrucks/

Legal Seafoods to offer public tours of its fish plant

Legal Seafoods will offer public tours of its Quality Control Center (QCC) at its waterfront headquarters beginning next month. You will literally be able to follow the fish from "the pier to the plate". The 60-75 minutes tours will run every Thursday at 9am from June-August. The cost is $7 per person and proceeds will go to the Boston Harbor Association. Advanced reservations are required by calling 617-530-9000 or by reserving online.

You’ll visit our lab as technicians conduct tests for quality assurance, see our giant lobster tank, observe our master fish cutters as they work and more! And before we say good-bye, we’ll give you a voucher for a cup of our famous New England Clam Chowder, redeemable at any Legal Sea Foods restaurant.

Visitors must be at least 12 years of age and minors must be accompanied by an adult. Slip resistant shoes are required; no sandals or flip flops. We’ll give you a disposable lab coat and hairnet to wear during the tour - you’ll dress the part! Eating, drinking and gum chewing is strictly forbidden in any processing area and personal items such as bags, pocketbooks, etc. aren’t allowed in. Lastly, taking pictures or videos is not permitted.

I had the opportunity to take a tour of the Legal Seafoods QCC several years ago with a private group and it was an amazing experience. The company is serious about the quality of its product and the QCC is an integral part in this.

Harvard Square's Redline to close

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that Redline in Harvard Square will close May 28th. The Grafton Group (owner of Redline, Grafton Street, Temple Bar, and Russell House Tavern) intends to re-concept the space and menu and reopen under a new name with the Redline staff intact. The Redline burger was recently praised by Boston Burger Blogger Richard Chudy.

El Centro to open in South End May 26th

South End Patch reports today that El Centro, a new Mexican restaurant, will open on Shawmut Avenue May 26th. The goal of the spot is to serve real Mexican food at prices people can afford. It will be located in the former Siraj Cafe, diagonally opposite to Orinoco.

“I wanted to bring a piece of my Mexico to Boston,” Rodriquez said in a press release announcing the restaurant’s opening. “Boston has a lot of quote un-quote authentic Mexican restaurants, but they aren't the type of restaurants you find in Mexico.”

Starwood to sell its share in Park Plaza Hotel to Saunders

Starwood Hotels and Resorts will sell its 55% stake in the Park Plaza Hotel to minority owner, the Boston real estate honcho Don Saunders, reports the Boston Herald today. He has teamed up with Boston's Rockpoint Group in the sale and is also planning to soon start the largest upgrade to the Park Plaza in many years. The hotel operations will be run by the hospitality management company Highgate Hotels, who is keeping the hotel's more than 450 employees, but requiring they reapply for their jobs.

Saunders paired up with Starwood in 1995 to buy his brother out of the 950-room hotel, but began looking to split with the New York firm after legendary Starwood CEO Barry Sternlicht stepped down 10 years later.

“I’ve been trying to make this deal happen for a long time,” Saunders said. “It’s really a culmination of many years of work.”

Red Sox slow start means plethora of tickets available

The Boston Herald reports today on how the Red Sox slow start to the season (17-18 as of last night, thank you - Carl Crawford!) is a boon for people who don't want to spend a lot to get in the park. Tickets are selling often for under face value through Ace Ticket and for as little as $6 on Stubhub! The article also questions whether the team's streak of 651 straight sold out game at Fenway Park is in jeopardy. Some are more optimistic though.

Ace Ticket’s Holzman — who’s “eaten” about 100 unsold tickets per game recently — said prices should shoot back up if the Sox do well on their upcoming road trip.

“If they can turn things around, it will be a whole different story by the time the team comes back to town next Monday,” he said.

New Fenway hotel to be run by Pyramid

The planned Marriott Residence Inn on Brookline Avenue, slated to begin construction this fall, will be run by Pyramid Hotel Group reports the Boston Business Journal. Pyramid Hotel Group is a well known operator of hotels of several brands and they currently operate The Boston Harbor Hotel. The hotel could also include space for a new restaurant.

Thanks to Boston Restaurant Talk for the heads up on the possibility of a new restaurant as part of this development in the Fenway.

New York company to take over Faneuil Hall Marketplace lease

Boston.com reports tonight that Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., a New York real estate investment firm will acquire the lease (city of Boston is the landlord) to Faneuil Hall Marketplace from General Growth Properties for $130 million. General Growth, which recently emerged from bankruptcy protection, had put the lease up for sale two years ago. General Growth had come under fire recently from Mayor Menino over rent increases and evictions of longtime retailers.

Tony Maws wins James Beard award

Congratulations to Tony Maws, chef/owner of Cragie on Main in Cambridge for winning the James Beard award for the Best Chef in the Northeast award! He was among several great Boston chefs nominated for James Beard awards this year.

Red Lantern now eyes June opening

Red Lantern Restaurant & Lounge, a new Asian restaurant to be run by Big Night Entertainment Group, is eyeing a June opening at the former Bertucc's location on Stanhope Street reports The Boston Business Journal today.

Red Lantern will be a 9,000-square-feet “boutique Asian restaurant” whose menu will feature sushi and Asian-style steak, among other offerings.

Big Night Entertainment Group owns and runs Shrine Asian Kitchen Lounge and Nightclub at MGM Grand at Foxwoods, The Estate in Boston, along with Tosca and Caffé Tosca in Hingham.

Red Lantern had originally planned a late May opening.

Thanks to MC SlimJB and Boston Restaurant Talk for the heads up on this.

Intercontinental to use self made honey at spa

The Wall Street Journal reports that Intercontinental Hotel Boston will soon be using honey from its very own beehives in several treatments offered at its spa. Beginning in June and September honey harvested from the hotel's rooftop beehives will be part of an 80-minute exfoliating scrub with olive oil and sugar followed by a warm honey mask ($150), and a 25-minute foot treatment that includes a layer of hydrating honey ($60).

Boston chefs vie for James Beard Awards tonight

Several Boston area chefs are up for James Beard awards tonight at Lincoln Center in New York City reports the Boston Herald. They include Tony Maws (Cragie on Main), Tim Cushman (o ya), Joanne Chang (Flour, Myers & Chang) and Barbara Lynch (Menton, No. 9 Park, The Butchery, B&G Oyster, Drink and Sportello). Said Joanne Chang to the Inside Track of her nomination.

“It’s a little surreal,” she laughed. “But if I win, it’s a long shot. The people I am up against are traditional pastry chefs who work in restaurants and turn out these fabulous desserts with architectural designs and beautiful garnishes. I make muffins. Our fanciest new item is a white chocolate cherry almond cookie.”

MIT to light up Mass. Ave bridge this weekend

From 7pm-10pm this Saturday and Sunday (May 7th and 8th) MIT will light up its Charles River Campus and the Massachusetts Avenue bridge as part of its Festival of Art, Science and Technology (FAST).

A weekend of kinetic illumination kicks off with the launch of Otto Piene’s SKY Event when large-scale, brightly lit stars fly over MIT’s Killian Court. The Charles River and the Mass Ave Bridge are illuminated with projects by MIT faculty Nader Tehrani, Gediminas Urbonas and Meejin Yoon, and postdoc Susanne Seitinger.

During the day, visitors can take a self-guided tour of the 20+ installations by faculty and students that will transform the way people experience the campus.

For more information visit http://arts.mit.edu/fast/fast-light/

Mass. Ave Pita opens

The owners of South End Pita on Albany Street recently opened a new spot called Mass. Ave Pita , located at 197 Massachusetts Ave in the Church Park apartments near Symphony Hall. Formerly Bon Bon cafe, Mass. Ave Pita offers a smaller, but excellent selection of Moroccan/Middle Eastern cuisine.

Emeril Lagasse to feature Omni Parker House on new show

The Boston Herald's forklift blog reports that famed Chef Emeril Lagasse's new Food Network show "The Originals with Emeril" will visit Boston's Omni Parker House Hotel for this week's show. Emeril began his culinary career at Omni Park House Hotel as a sous chef in 1979. Previous famous employees of the hotel also included Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh, who was a pastry chef. Lagasse will also visit the Union Oyster House and Doyle's Cafe in JP during the episode which airs this Thursday at 10:30pm.

Marriott hotel coming to Fenway Park area

Construction will begin this fall on a Marriott Residence Inn on Brookline Avenue steps from Fenway Park reports The Boston Globe today. The 175-room hotel, which will include 6,000 square feet of retail space, will be built at 121 Brookline Avenue, currently an Ace Ticket office.

The $60 million hotel will fill a dead spot along Brookline Avenue, adding new street activity in an area that lacks foot traffic when the Red Sox are out of town. A rendering of the building, designed by Group One Partners Inc. of Boston, shows a red brick facade with a series of colorful retail awnings along the street.

The hotel, with rooms for around $200 a night, will offer large suite-style rooms with kitchenettes for long-term guests. It will also feature an enclosed rooftop pool and a balcony framed by a large pergola.

Boston Globe editorial cartoon on Harbor Garage

Check out this interesting cartoon on the parking situation at the Harbor Garage next door to the New England Aquarium. A Boston Globe editorial this week called for the garage's owner, Boston developer Don Chiofaro, to lower the rate for people visiting the aquarium.

Museum of Science to host food festival

As part of their ongoing food series, The Museum of Science will host a festival on food called "Let's Talk about Food" June 25th on the banks of the Charles River (at Cambridge Parkway, behind the Royal Sonesta Hotel). The festival will be an celebration of food, health, cooking, and science. There will be demonstrations, tastings, Q&A with experts, and a varied menu of activities designed to spark conversations about some of the hottest topics in the world of food. There will also be a pop-up food truck food court. Highlights include:

The Main Stage with Demo Kitchen Join Boston's top chefs and food experts for presentations and cooking demonstrations.

The Endless Table Break bread, discuss our food system, and find out how what we eat affects our bodies, our planet, our economy, and our future.

Food Truck Food Court Eat your heart out! A pop-up food court offers a selection of cuisines.

Activity Booths and Exhibitor Tents Participate in hands-on activities and explore new products and tastes.

Local restaurant goes local for its bread

Several weeks ago while shopping at Shaw's at the Prudential Center on a Wednesday evening I noticed a server from an upscale Boston restaurant heading to checkout with an overflowing basket of Shaw's Culinary Select freshly baked bread. There must have been about twenty loaves in all. It was an interesting to see one of Boston's most upscale restaurants picking up the bread to be served to its high paying customers at the local supermarket. Maybe it's not really that big of deal as the restaurant doesn't charge for the bread? Would the restaurant's guests would even notice the difference and even if they did would they care? An email to the restaurant company was not returned so as far as I can tell it was just an extra busy Wednesday night at this particular spot.

Stuart Street Playhouse stops showing films

The Stuart Street Playhouse at the Radisson Hotel in Boston, has stopped showing regular movies according to several sources. The space will be maintained as a theater to be used for film festivals, events, and other functions. There's no word if West Newton Cinema owner David Bramante, who reopened the Stuart Street Playhouse in late 2009 as an art house cinema, is still involved in the operation of the space, though his name and number still appear on the theater's website. The Radisson Hotel Boston was sold last fall to Northwood Investors LLC of New York for an undisclosed amount.

Levine will not appear at Tanglewood this summer

James Levine, who recently announced his resignation effective September 1st as Boston Symphony Music Director, will not appear this summer at Tanglewood reports the Boston Globe today. The Boston Symphony will announce in June what conductors will be taking over Levine's programs, including the all Italian Opening Night program July 8th.

Four Burgers coming to Boston

Central Square's Four Burgers is coming to 134 Boylston Street across from the Boston Common by the end of May reports the most recent issue of Stuff Magazine.

It'll be nearly a dead ringer for the original, with seats for 30-something diners to chow down on all-natural beef, salmon, turkey, and veggie burgers (plus two hot dog styles) in a sleek, modern space. But this outpost will offer huge open windows overlooking the Boston Common across the street, inviting us to order our grass-fed beef "to go" so we can graze in the park.

A Coolidge Corner location is also in the works.

Seaport Hotel gets beehives

The Seaport Hotel has recently installed two beehives on its roof that will house up to 90,000 bees reports the Boston Metro this week. The honey the bees produce will be used in the hotel's two restaurants and the hives are a key component of the hotel's environmental sustainability initiatives. The Seaport Hotel is the second Boston hotel to install beehives, following the lead of the Intercontinental Hotel which installed hives at the hotel last June. One of the Intercontinental's restaurants is aptly called Miel (French for Honey).

Basho now supplying Fenway Park

Basho Japanese Brasserie is now supplying sushi to Fenway Park for sale in the stands and in the premium seating levels. The Fenway sushi hotspot (sister restaurant to the Back Bay's Douzo) this season became the Sox partner for game day sushi. Basho is located steps away from the park at 1338 Boylston Street.

Pop-up restaurant coming to British Consulate

Eat Boston's next pop-up restaurant will be at the British Consulate in Cambridge on May 20th and 21st. The menu will be a five course, United Kingdom inspired feast and part of the proceeds will benefit the British Society, a group that helps British nationals abroad. Tickets go on sale today at 1pm. Here's the menu, courtesy of Eat Boston's website.
First
Seared foie gras and crumpets. Maple gel, HP powder, pickled berries, lemon butter

Second
Chicken korma soup with curry leaves, green garlic and fiddleheads

Third
“English breakfast”
Earl grey tea smoked duck bangers with bubble and squeak, griddled tomato and fried local egg

Main
“Fish and Chips”
Local Dayboat Cod, brik batter, crispy fried parsnips, leek cream, citrus and basil tartar sauce

Dessert
Sticky Toffee pudding

Also featuring Greylock Gin cocktails from Berkshire Mountain Distillers, lovely beer from Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project, and flowers from Bittersweet Gardens.
Previous pop-up restaurants by Eat Boston have been a hit including ones at Mizu Salon. They also put together the recent Boston Bacon and Beer festival.

Hilton Logan Airport chided by city licensing board

Universal Hub reports today that the Hilton Logan Airport hotel was cited by the Boston Licensing Board for the disrespectful way a hotel restaurant mangager treated two Boston Police officers on a surprise inspection visit in March. The officers were told by hotel managers they needed an appointment for the inspection. The Board voted to suspend the hotel's license for one day, but suspended the decision to give the hotel time to improve its practices.

Despite his (hotel's attorney) apology, board Chairwoman Nicole Murati Ferrer made it clear she wouldn't tolerate any such behavior in the future. The whole point of surprise inspections is surprise, she said.

"You do understand that just because you're a hotel or just because you're at the airport you don't get special treatment," she told Upton and two hotel managers who attended the hearing.

It's not yet clear whether the Board voted to suspend just the hotel's liquor license for one day or whether to suspend their inn-keepers license, which could have a bigger financial impact on t