Improv Asylum TV show debuts

The Boston Globe reported recently that the North End-based comedy company Improv Asylum has launched a television show on Channel 5 called "Improv Asylum's Vanity Project." The ten episode series will air on Saturdays at midnight until Labor Day against repeat episodes of Saturday Night Live. The debut episode last week involved a scene at Symphony Hall with Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and this week's episode contained a sketch involving ticket scalping outside Fenway Park.

For Improv Asylum, the gradual move to television is informed by an online push that it’s made over the past year and a half. The company’s video “Tom Brady’s Car Accident 911 Call’’ has been viewed more than 450,000 times on YouTube; its video “The Oscar-Winning Boston Movie’’ more than 57,000 times. “Vanity Project’’ will have an online presence as well; under a business agreement with Improv Asylum, sneak preview clips from the show will also run on Boston.com, with the possibility of shared advertising revenue.

Licensing Board sets September hearing for Olives license

Universal Hub reports today that the Boston Licensing Board has scheduled a September 13th hearing to vote on whether to cancel the restaurant's liquor license. Olives has been closed since a May 2010 fire and the board recently granted Todd English an extension of the license to allow for him to make the necessary renovations, which English testified Tuesday are moving along.

he and his contractors said their massive interior demolition project is well under way, that it should be finished within four weeks and that construction - including a major new smoke duct system required by fire officials - should be done within eight weeks after that.

It seems odd that the Licensing Board would consider taking action to threaten the reopening of restaurant when the owner is currently spending significant money on construction? Perhaps the board may have overstepped its bounds? Perhaps they are just trying to give English extra incentive to reopen on time?

Copley Square Hotel turns 120 this weekend

The Copley Square Hotel will celebrate its 120th birthday this weekend. The hotel opened on July 4, 1891 as a three hundred room property built for $300,000.

The hotel was the election headquarters for President William McKinley, and has hosted many celebrities including sports legend Babe Ruth and jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington. Most recently, in its lower lobby, the former Cafe Budapest, it was host for the filming of scenes in the 1992 comedy movie "HouseSitter" starring Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin. (Wikipedia)

The hotel tweets today that it will launch a special anniversary promotion at 9am Friday July 1st to celebrate. Several years ago the hotel launched a $18 room night promotion so this new one should be worth checking out.

Cupcakory to be at Extreme Sailing this weekend

The Cupcakory tweets that their cupcake food truck will be at Fan Pier all this weekend for the Extreme Sailing Series. They will join Chef Louie's food truck at the sailing festival village which is free and open to general public through Monday.

Fairmont celebrates Social Media Day with free apps

The Fairmont Copley Plaza and The Fairmont Battery Wharf will celebrate Social Media Day with free appetizers today from 4pm-8pm in the Aragosta bar or the Oak Bar for anyone who is a friend of the the hotel on Facebook or follows the hotel on Twitter. Just simply mention "Go Social" to the server when you arrive. You must spend a minimum of $30 in food or drinks per person to be eligible for the offer.

Pop up restaurant coming to Fenway Park

GuiltCity is offering its members the opportunity to dine at a pop up restaurant at Fenway Park this July for a mere $200 a person.

What could be better than seats on the Green Monster with a Fenway frank in one hand and a cold brew in the other? To a Sox fan, not much.

But to foodies, a pop-up dinner co-conceived by Geoffrey Zakarian and Michael Schlow, two of the East Coast’s most beloved chefs, atop Boston’s most beloved landmark, makes for a dream come true.

From July 12 through July 15, Gilt City members have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a four-course feast with wine pairings on the Green Monster, or on the First or Third Base Decks.

The evening kicks off at 7 p.m. with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception that, along with the meal itself, hits every luxurious high note from caviar to lobster to truffles—as well as a few down-home ones (like shortcake and mini-milkshakes for dessert).

Navy Ship visiting Boston this week

Channel 5 reports that the USS Oak Hill, an amphibious assault ship, arrived in Boston yesterday for a July 4th port of call. The ship, docked at the North Jetty in Boston Marine Industrial Park, will be open daily from 12pm-4pm for public tours today until Monday.

The Oak Hill was commissioned in 1996 and is based in Virginia Beach. The vessel can carry more than 400 combat-ready Marines, approximately 40 vehicles and 40,000 cubic feet of cargo and equipment, which can be transported by both helicopter and landing craft. The 16,400-ton ship is 609 feet long and 84 feet wide, has a top speed in excess of 20 knots, and has a crew of 300 officers and sailors, the Navy said.

Forum set to open in mid July

ZagatBuzz gives us a preview of Forum, set to open July 15th in the former Vox space on Boylston Street. Forum will be run by the group behind Noche, The Federal, and The Tap.

On the menu, executive chef Jared Chianciola, whose Boston résumé includes 28 Degrees, Eastern Standard and Rialto, reimagines American classics. For example, his sea bass is prepared with tomato water, lemon verbena, spring onion and fava beans and finished with uni foam. “Simple, straightforward flavors,” he says, and yet their combinations are clearly imaginative. Appetizers run $13–$18; entrees range from $21 to the mid-$30s. A bar menu will include a signature burger, fish tacos and more.

Thanks to MC SlimJB for the heads up on this piece.

Bijou opens

Bijou, Boston's newest nightlife hot spot, opened last Friday on Stuart Street in the theatre district. 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. It is owned and operated by Cafeteria owner George Aboujaoude and partners DJ Mete Aslan and promoter Kevin Fitpatrick. The Globe reports that the Bijou opening was attended by several of the Stanley Cup Champion Bruins players.

Chef Louie Food Truck to be at Fan Pier this weekend

Chef Louie (Louie DiBiccari) tweets that he will have a food truck at the Extreme Sailing Series event Fan Pier beginning tomorrow. The truck will be open from 11am-11pm, Thursday through Monday.

Globe columnist proposes City take over Borders operation

The Boston Globe's Kevin Cullen proposes today that the City of Boston take over the operation of the Downtown Crossing Borders Bookstores which is slated to close soon. Under his plan the Boston Redevelopment Authority would extend the Borders lease until 2012, buy all the inventory and change the name to "Without Borders" to save the spot from becoming another eyesore in Downtown Crossing. Also Boston would not be the same with this location (though the upscale movie theater proposed for the site sounds pretty nice).

First and foremost, there is this stunning fact: After Borders is gone, it will leave Boston, the literary capital of the United States, with exactly one major bookstore within the city limits. That store is the Barnes & Noble in the Prudential Center, and who knows how long it will be around.

To put this in perspective, Columbus, Ohio, has more major bookstores than Boston — many more. So do San Diego and San Jose and just about any other city you can name. It wasn’t that long ago when the Harvard Bookstore stood on Newbury Street across from the massive Waterstone’s, not far from the Brentano’s in the Copley Mall.

Elephant and Castle chain files for bankruptcy

The Boston Herald reports today that the Boston based Elephant & Castle chain of British style pubs has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Elephant & Castle, founded in 1977, has 19 company-owned and two franchised locations in major cities in the U.S. and Canada, including a pub in Boston’s Financial District. The company said it owes more than $16 million to its lender, GE Canada Equipment Financing. Dobbin noted that Elephant & Castle was hurt by a downturn in sales during the recession, prompting cost-cutting at the corporate level and at its restaurants.

Teranga chef wins Food Network's "Chopped"

Teranga owner/chef Marie-Claudy Mendy is the latest winner of the Food Network's Chopped program reports South End Patch today. She hosted a viewing last night at her Senegalese restaurant on Washington Street at which the winning menu of marinated ribs, lamb stew and gingerbread crepes was served.

“Chopped,” now in its seventh season, features four chefs competing head-to-head over three courses using a basket of mystery ingredients for each. A contestant is “chopped” after each timed course.

Mendy outshone the competition in the appetizer round, incorporating her “secret sauce” of garlic, bell peppers and scallions into a dish of Senegalese marinated ribs.

Free Ice Cream on School Street this July 4th

Boston Restaurant Talk reported yesterday that the Cooking Channel's Frozen Treat Truck Tour will hit Boston this July 4th from 12pm-6pm at 45 School Street (Ruth's Chris, Old City Hall) in downtown Boston. The truck will be giving out free treats from JP Licks!

Ice cream flavors will include cake batter, el diablo, oreo, and vanilla (with this last one having both regular and sugar-free options). Raspberry lime rickey sorbet will also be available.

Downtown Crossing to soon have two cupcake stores

The Boston Herald reports today on how two cupcake shops will soon be competing head to head in Downtown Crossing. Sweet opened on School street just last week and next month Cakeology will open at the 45 Province luxury condo building, less than a block away. The Sweet owner however told the Herald she's not concerned the new spot opening.

“The more merchants that offer quality things, the more people will come to Downtown Crossing,” she said. “We are focused on making the best quality cupcakes, service and packaging and we want to support the great businesses around us because it helps the neighborhood.”

Taste of Cambridge is tonight

The Taste of Cambridge will take place this evening from 5:30pm-8:30pm at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. Tickets ($50 in advance and $60 at the door) will enable you to sample food and drinks from over 50 local restaurants, food purveyors, breweries and wine distributors. This year's Taste of Cambridge will benefit the The Cambridge Project and The Salvation Army. For more information visit tasteofcambridge.com.

Dropkick Murphys, BossTones to play Fenway in September

The Red Sox announced today that (pending City approval) The Dropkick Murphys will perform two shows, with The Mighty Mighty BossTones as the opening act, on September 8th and September 9th at Fenway Park. A portion of the proceeds from the shows will benefit the MA 9/11 Fund. Tickets will go on sale at 12pm on July 7th.

The show will be played in a "bleacher theater" style set up, with the stage set atop the bullpens in Right Field, and fans seated in the bleachers and first few Grandstand sections. This intimate setting has been used for other successful shows at Fenway Park, including the 2007 performance by Grammy-winning artist and musician John Legend and by the Landmark Orchestra in 2010.

Thank you to Boston Tweet for the heads up on this!

Legal Harborside roofdeck opens today

UrbanDaddy reports today the new Legal Harborside at Liberty Wharf will open its long awaited roof deck this evening. The first floor of the Legal flagship restaurant opened in April, with the second level opening the following month.

So starting tonight, you’ll grab your new executive assistant (you know, for shop talk), head to Legal Harborside and take the elevator to the third floor (only junior executives take the stairs). Then: claim a couple wicker chairs or a two-seater couch and wave over a few pitchers of red sangria or Purple Jesus (just like regular Jesus, only with a lot more Absolut).

Harborfest begins Wednesday

The 30th annual Boston Harborfest begins this Wednesday and runs through July 4th. Harborfest is one of the nation's largest patriotic festivals. It celebrates the maritime and colonial history of Boston, where the American Revolution began.

The award-winning festival strives to honor and remember the past, celebrate the present, and educate the future with reenactments, concerts, historical tours and much, much more. Over 200 Daily Events during the Festival are concentrated in Boston's historic downtown and waterfront districts, with sponsored Main Events on Boston's City Hall Plaza.

Boston Harborfest will kick off on Wednesday June 29th with an Opening Ceremony at 12pm at Faneuil Hall. Highlights of this year's festival include Children's Day on June 30th, Party on the Plaza on July 2nd, the Extreme Sailing Series from June 30th-July 4th, a British Encampment on Boston Common on July 2nd, and the Chowder Festival on July 3rd. Full information is available at bostonharborfest.com.

Four Burgers now open in Boston

Four Burgers has opened its Boston location at 134 Boylston Street across from the Boston Common.

T to run soccer train for Manchester United game

The MBTA will be running a special commuter rail train from Boston to Gillette Stadium for the highly anticipated New England Revolution-Manchester United match on July 13th. The soccer train will leave South Station at 5:45pm, make one stop at the Dedham Corporate station at 6:20pm and then arrive at Gillette Stadium at 7:05pm. Note that the train will NOT stop at Back Bay or Norwood Stations. Coolers and backpacks will not be allowed on the train, which will depart Gillette Stadium thirty minutes after the conclusion of the match.

The train will be an All Reserve Train and tickets will go on sale Monday June 27th at North Station, South Station and Back Bay Station. Tickets will be on sale until 12pm on July 13th, or until whenever they sell out. (Train capacity is 1800 passengers). The soccer train is sure to be popular so the MBTA recommends that fans buy their tickets as soon as possible after they go on sale. For more information visit mbta.com or call 617-222-3200.

Extreme Sailing Series coming to Fan Pier this week

The International Extreme Sailing Series is making a five day long visit to Boston this week to coincide with Boston Harborfest and the city's Fourth of July celebrations. The event will take place from June 30th to July 4th at Fan Pier, which will host a series of events open to the public, including a fireworks display Thursday evening. Boston will be the first United States city to host a leg of the International Extreme Sailing Series.

The 11-boat Extreme 40 fleet will showcase their close combat ‘stadium’ style of racing in front of the spectators at Fan Pier, a 21-acre site on Boston’s waterfront spanning nine city blocks, owned by the Fallon Company, the official host venue partner to the Boston Act. The Extreme 40s will be supported by 49er racing, Laser and J22s racing for the official charity Courageous Sailing, fireworks, live music and street performers, and aerial demos from the Red Bull Air Force skydivers

For more information visit the Extreme Sailing Series website.

Let's Talk About Food Festival a success

The Museum of Science-sponsored Let's Talk About Food Festival brought thousands to Cambridge bank of the Charles River to learn more about food reports The Boston Globe. Local food writer Louisa Kasdon organized the event (which included chef demonstrations, information booth and food trucks) in partnership with the museum.

Yesterday, she again partnered with the museum to gather dozens of local eateries, food sustainability activists, and farmers market advocates for the first Let’s Talk About Food Festival, which she hopes will tour science museums nationwide. About 30 representatives from museums throughout the country attended yesterday’s festivities, she said.

Boston Public Market benefit barbecue today

The Sam Adams Brewery (30 Germania Street in Jamaica Plain) is playing host this afternoon to a barbecue party to benefit the Boston Public Market Association reports the Boston Herald's Forklift blog. Admission is $20 for all the barbecue and ice cream you can eat (one beer is even included). The proceeds will benefit the Association's efforts to bring a year round public market to the city of Boston.
Email bpmajpbbq@gmail.com to RSVP.

Whiskey Park closes

MCSlimJB reports today that Whiskey Park at the Park Plaza Hotel has closed. A call to the hotel this afternoon confirms they have indeed closed for business. The Park Plaza Hotel was recently sold to new a new ownership group led by former minority owner Donald Saunders. I wonder what will take the place of Whiskey Park? Will Pairings be the next to be closed?

Boston Pops to present Triple Crown shows this weekend

Keith Lockhart and The Boston Pops will present two programs this weekend entitled Triple Crown. The concerts (Sat at 8pm and Sun at 7:30pm) will be the last of the Boston Pops spring season.

America’s love of horses is the central theme in this concert featuring music from the films The Magnificent Seven and Far and Away, classical pieces like The William Tell Overture, and high-energy bluegrass from Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs and his phenomenal band Kentucky Thunder performing some of their greatest hits including “Uncle Pen,” “Road To Spenser,” and “Soldier of the Cross.”

For tickets visit bostonpops.org.

Lydia Shire to cook for Tanglewood opening night

Grubstreet Boston reports that Lydia Shire will design a special Tuscan themed menu for the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Opening Night at Tanglewood gala on July 8th. Her menu, which sounds amazing, will complement the evening's all Italian program to include
Excerpts from Act 1 of Bellin's Norma, Rossinni's Overture to William Tell, Verdi's Trio from Act 3 of I lombardi, and Respighi's symphonic poem, The Pines of Rome. Lydia Shire's collaboration with the BSO marks the first time Opening Night at Tanglewood has welcomed a guest chef to design the gala menu. Hopefully this is just the beginning of fun new tradition.

ImprovBoston to debut show about MBTA

ImprovBoston, the Central Square based improv comedy thater, will debut "T: An MBTA Musical" next Thursday reports the Boston Globe. Here's a synopsis of the plot.

Young Bostonians Alice, John, and Michelle each have a problem that they blame on the T, and set out to find the T’s Big Boss using a map that Alice finds in her backpack. The mysterious Charlie, he of the eponymous card and Kingston Trio song, secretly guides them on their way.

Songs range from a number about shuttle buses in the style of “Cell Block Tango’’ from “Chicago’’ to “The Bro Song,’’ which channels Irish drinking songs and the Dropkick Murphys in chronicling the loutish behavior of some testosterone-poisoned locals.

Salem Upper Crust fined by US Department of Labor

Boston.com reports today the United States Department of Labor recently fined the Upper Crust in Salem more than $80,000 for failing to follow federal laws on overtime payment and wage record keeping.

Federal labor laws require that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, as well as time and one-half their regular hourly rates for every hour they work beyond 40 in a given week. The law also requires employers to maintain accurate records of wages, hours and other conditions of employment, and prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who exercise their rights under the law.

Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party begins tomorrow

The Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party opens tomorrow at 12pm on City Hall Plaza in Boston. The event runs from 12pm-10pm Friday and Saturday (June 24-25) and from 12pm-7pm on Sunday (June 26). Admission is $10 at the event (food & drinks are extra, ranging from $3-$18) and free from 12pm-4pm on Friday! In addition to seven BBQ teams there will be two beer gardens, a Ferris wheel, tons of sand, live music and games. There will also be fried dough, whoopie pies, fries, chicken fingers, roasted corn, cannolis, watermelon, slush and ice cream for sale. For complete information visit phantomgourmet.com. Part of the proceeds from the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Fest will benefit the Fund for Boston Neighborhoods.

Boston Segway tour company sues to block new regulations

The Boston Metro reported this week that the operator of Boston Gliders Segway Tours has filed a suit in federal court this week to block the City of Boston's recently passed regulations on Segways. The company says that the new regulations would put them out of business as they would prohibit Segways from using public sidewalks and parks. The suit, which names the City of Boston and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, was put on hold because the new measures have not yet officially been enacted.

Cambridge Dance Party Tomorrow Evening

The City of Cambridge will hold its annual dance party tomorrow night from 7pm-11pm. The party will take place on Massachusetts Avenue in front of Cambridge City Hall in Central Square(Mass. Ave will be closed to traffic from Inman to Bigelow Streets for the event).

The annual dance extravaganza is a special opportunity for the entire Cambridge community to celebrate the beginning of summer with an evening full of music and friends. After dark, spectacular lights will be launched, adding to the magic of the evening.

Originally conceived in 1996 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Cambridge, the Dance Party returns each year attracting young and old to join in the festivities! The event is free and open to the public.

It's also important to note that the #1 Bus will terminate at Central Square beginning at 6pm tomorrow. Regular service will resume at 11:30pm.

Second Glass to celebrate Portuguese wines tonight

Second Glass (known for the Wine Riots and recently Muscadet May) presents A Night in Lisbon tonight from 7pm-10pm at the Fourth Wall Gallery in Brookline, MA. The event will celebrate Portuguese wine with leading producer Esporao pouring six varieties.

Join us for a Night in Lisbon with some traditional snacks, native Portuguese wines and serenades by a beautiful Fado singer, Nathalie Pires. Fado is the traditional music of Lisbon and is sure to be just the thing for a hot summer night.

For Tickets visit www.secondglass.com/events/a-night-in-lisbon/

Tall Ships Coming to Boston next summer

Boston.com reports that Boston will host a fleet of tall ships from around the world June 30th-July 6th, 2012 as part of a joint US Navy-Operation Sail event to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the USS Constitution's pivotal role in the conflict. Boston is one of 12 ports to participate in the event, which will include a parade of sail, public tours of the vessels, and air shows.

William Armstrong, a spokesman for Operation Sail, said today by phone that President Obama has been invited to participate in the festivities, and organizers are hopeful that he will attend ceremonies in several cities including Boston. He said he could not say how many ships will visit the Hub, but invitations have been sent to about 120 nations.

Dropkick Murphy's, Bosstones, Pearl Jam could play at Fenway

The Boston Herald's Inside Track reports today that the Dropkick Murphy's, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Pearl Jam could be the acts to play Fenway in September if the city approves the Red Sox permit application to host three shows September 8-10 at Fenway Park.

Fort Point may get brewery this fall

The Feast reports today that the Fort Point neighborhood may be soon home to a new craft brewery called Trillium.

Trillium will offer "the kind of beers that I love and that people don't know yet that they love." According to their website, this translates to his takes on a Belgian honey wit, an American wild ale, an imperial red IPA, a Pale Ale and an oatmeal stout, all made with locally grown barley, wheat and rye.

They will go before the Boston Zoning Board on July 12th and will host a community meeting this Thursday at 6pm at 12 Farnsworth Street. This proposed brewery would be a great addition to the city's craft brewery scene.

Convention panel votes to recommend expansion

A twenty-seven member panel that has been studying the feasibility of expanding the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center today recommended expansion reports The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. The expansion recommendations include a second ballroom, additional exhibition space, and to seek proposals for a second headquarters hotel attached to the convention center with up to 1200 rooms. The proposed expansion will attract up to 26 more events to the city, create more jobs, and pump more than $200 million more a year into the economy once it is built according to convention center authority figures. The panel put forward an array of possible funding options for the expansion, including increasing the statewide hotel tax, borrowing against future tax revenues from the expansion, or raising fees on taxis, rental cars and other tourist services (such as tour companies, whale watches, etc). It's important to note that the vote to expand was not unanimous.

Three members of the 27-member Convention Partnership raised questions about the expansion and didn’t sign on to the group’s recommendations to the Legislature: state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation president Michael Widmer and Boston Municipal Research Bureau president Sam Tyler. All three said they were unsure the benefits of the project outweighed the estimated $2 billion costs.

Expansion of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center will offer Boston the chance to host additional and larger events and will bring more money to the city/regional economy. However, public funding should not be used to build an adjacent headquarters hotel. In a time when essential public services (libraries, schools, health programs, police, fire and transportation) are being cut, state and city money should not go towards supporting a privately run hotel. A headquarters hotel should be able to be built with private financing, as it will already benefit greatly from any publicly funded expansion of the convention center.

Red Sox seek permission for Fenway shows in September

The Boston Phoenix's On The Download blog reports today the Red Sox have applied for city permits to hold three concerts at Fenway Park on September 8-10th. The city will hold a hearing on the application on Monay June 27th at 11:15am in City Hall room 801. The Phoenix speculates that Theo Epstein's favorite group Pearl Jame maybe one of the bands being considered to play the 99 year old ballpark.

Westin Waterfront celebrates birthday

The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel celebrates its fifth anniversary today. From the hotel's Facebook page.

Happy Anniversary to us!!! Today is the mark of 5 years of open doors! We've got a whole day of festivities, so whether you're currently staying with us or not, we invite you to join us today! We're doing 5 giveaways for 5 lucky guests, complimentary treats and Westin White Tea in the lobby, Birch Bar $ 5 menu specials , and a $5 White Tea Signature Martini. Please join us from 1-4pm as we celebrate!

Bruins honored at Fenway Park

The Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins were honored before yesterday's Red Sox-Brewers game at Fenway Park. The players entered the field on three ducks boat which circled the warning track to the thunderous approval of the crowd. The players then disembarked in center field, walked to the mound with the Stanley Cup, and proceeded to throw out the ceremonial first pitches to nearly the entire Red Sox team. But that wasn't all the Red Sox did to make the Bruins feel at home, as the Boston Herald reports.

No, it wasn’t just the pregame festivities that drove home that theme. Every time the Red Sox crossed the plate, the PA system blared the signature foghorn and techno-thumping sounds of Kernkraft 400’s “Zombie Nation” played after every Bruins goal that made Fenway Park [map] feel a lot more like the Garden.

And with 12 runs, each foghorn blast was as thrilling as the first! Here's the view of the fun from my seat!

Union Bar and Grille to offer fixed price BBQ menu

Union Bar and Grille in Boston's South End will be offering a Prixe Fixe BBQ menu for $29.95 for entire month of July. The three course menu will have a different entree them every week of the month. The first installment sounds very promising.

Appetizer

gazpacho smoked fried oyster, green onions & crème fraiche

tomato and arugula salad sherry vinaigrette, cornmeal fries, sheeps cheese



Entree

spicy honey glazed chicken legs red bliss & chip in farm egg salad *

*dry rubbed pork ribs pickled red cabbage & garlic chive hushpuppies

whole charred ohio river trout frisee & chard salad with peach salsa



Dessert

chocolate cherry bread pudding nuttella & vanilla bean ice cream

verrill farms strawberry fool & lemon spongecake

Summer Shack Dedham to open Wednesday

Jasper White reports on his Facebook page that the Summer Shack in Dedham will open this Wednesday June 22nd for lunch and dinner. The newest location of the Summer Shack will be located at 850 Providence Highway, adjacent to Legacy Place. This location will bring the number of Summer Shacks to five.

Aquarium celebrates birthday today

The New England Aquarium opened 42 years ago today (June 20th, 1969). Happy Birthday to The New England Aquarium.

Boston Pops to celebrate baseball, film with shows this week

The Boston Pops, under the baton of Keith Lockhart, will perform a program entitled American Pastimes featuring special guest Kenny Loggins this Tuesday and Wednesday evening at Symphony Hall. The show will feature baseball-themed music from the orchestra's 2009 CD The Red Sox Album including The Star-Spangled Banner, Sousa's National Game March, Sousa's narrated work Casey at the Bat, and Newman's Suite from The Natural. The program will also feature a tribute to Pops laureate conductor/composer John Williams, including the Main Title from Star Wars, Harry's Wondrous World from Harry Potter, the Theme from Jaws, and the Flying Theme from E.T.. Additionally the Pops will pay tribute to famed film scorer Maurice Jarre with a cinematic singalong and his Oscar winning theme from Lawrence of Arabia.

For a video preview of the Symphony Hall shows this Tuesday and Wednesday visit www.bostonpops.org. For tickets to the Symphony Hall concerts visit bostonpops.org or call 617-266-1200.

Hyatt guests arrested after valet finds gun

Universal Hub reports today that a couple was arrested at the Hyatt Boston Downtown hotel after the valet discovered a gun in the front seat of their car. After the couple was transported to the police station several bags of crack cocaine were found in a purse which was used to transport the couple's dog they had with them at the hotel.

Somerville restaurant closed after car crash

The Feast reports that a car crashed into the front of new Union Square restaurant Journeyman at around 11:00pm on Saturday evening. No one was injured in the accident, but Journeyman's Facebook page reports the restaurant expects to be closed for the next two-three weeks.

Basically, one of the piers that hold the roof was severely damaged & would have fallen if the roof weren't being held in place by our garden. Saved by plumbing pipes & wine boxes!!

Lionel Richie to headline Boston Pops July 4th esplanade concert

WBZ reports that Lionel Richie will be the headline performer at the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular show July 4th at the Esplanade. Past headliners of the nationally broadcast July 4th celebration have included Toby Keith, Neil Diamond, Aerosmith, and Lee Ann Rimes.

Parade Boosts Back Bay Businesses

The Boston Globe reported yesterday on the economic boost that the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship Parade had on businesses in Boston, specifically the Back Bay. Some restaurants saw as much as a 60% increase in business on Saturday.

The closer a business was to the end of the route, Trainor said, the worse the rush probably was. Fans near Copley Square waited almost two hours longer than those who watched the parade’s start at the Garden.

“We’re a little worried about the alcohol situation, because people sure like to drink on days like this,’’ said Michael Hart, the manager of Fire and Ice Restaurant on Berkeley Street. A half-hour before the kitchen opened at 11:30 a.m., fans in Bruins gear nursed beers and cocktails, and Hart predicted a crowd of a few thousand by closing at 11 p.m.

City of Boston passes Segway regulations

Universal Hub reported this week that the Boston City Council approved new regulations for the operation of Segways in Boston.

The measure is aimed mainly at operators of Segway tours - whom some councilors have said pose a growing threat to pedestrians, particularly seniors and parents with strollers - but the restrictions will also apply to non-disabled people who like Segways enough to buy one on their own.

The requirements of the new Segway regulations are very similar to ones already on the books in Cambridge.

Pointer Sisters at Hatch Shell tonight

The Pointer Sisters will perform a free show tonight at 7pm at the Hatch Shell as part of the WODS Free Summer Concert Series.

Making their first appearance on the WODS Free Summer Concert Series stage, The Pointer Sisters will bring the party to The DCR Memorial Hatch Shell with their mega-hits like “I’m So Excited,” “He’s So Shy,” “Neutron Dance,” “Fire,” “Slow Hand,” and “Jump (For My Love)!”

The series will also feature Eddie Money on July 23rd and KC & The Sunshine Band on August 20th.

Boston Harbor Parade of Lights is tonight

The Boston Harbor Parade of Lights takes place this evening from 8:30pm-10pm on the Boston Harbor waterfront. The parade begins at Charlestown's Constitution Marina and ends just past Liberty Wharf. From the Sail Boston website.

The parade will feature over 30 brightly lit vessels cruising Boston Harbor. Public viewing will be available along the Seaport District’s Waterfront, with Liberty Wharf and Fan Pier as the best viewing areas. Based on an “Island Theme”, awards will be given for “Best Entertainment”, “Most Creative”, and “Best Decorated”. New this year is a competition among Boston area yacht clubs for the “Best Boat”.

Many of Boston's boat companies are offering trips to see parade from the water.

Saks shoplifters sentenced

Universal Hub reports that two men who attempted to shoplift $20,000 worth of Louis Vuitton bags from the Saks Fifth Avenue at the Prudential Center were sentenced to jail time yesterday.

The two were part of a large gang that grabbed several dozen pairs of Cartier sunglasses from the Optical Shop of Aspen on Newbury Street on Dec. 16, the DA's office says, adding prosecutors had images and text messages from James's cell phone showing his attempts to sell some of the glasses.

Companies paying big to be in the Bruins parade

Boston.com reports today that sponsoring a duckboat in the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship parade tomorrow will cost companies up to $50,000.

Corporate sponsors include City of Boston Credit Union, Dunkin’ Donuts, Gillette Co., Hallmark Health Care, JetBlue, Mohegan Sun, SBLI, Suffolk Construction, and TD Bank.

The money will go to the city of Boston to help defray such parade-related expenses as police coverage, said Bob Schwartz, assistant director of marketing and sales at Boston Duck Tours, the company that operates the duck boats.

Boston Duck Tours, as they have done for past parades, has donated the use of their vehicles.

South End Garden Tour is tomorrow

South End Patch has great piece on Saturday's South End Garden Tour which takes place from 10am-4pm.

There’s nothing not to like about the South End Garden Tour. The funds generated go to excellent use and the tour itself is a celebration of positive energy: the transition from spring to summer, the desire to keep things alive and the effort South End residents put in to beautifying their urban spaces with flourishes of nature.

This year's tour will also feature local artists painting at various stops along the tour with their creations to be auctioned off a post garden tour party at City Year headquarters on Columbus Avenue.
For tickets and more information visit http://www.southendgardentour.org/ This is an excellent event that should NOT be missed!

Upscale cinema eyeing Downtown Crossing site

The Boston Herald reports that upscale movie theater chain iPic is eyeing the soon to be closed Borders location in Downtown Crossing for its first ever Boston location.

The iPic Theaters concept was launched in Wisconsin in 2007, combining movies with upscale bars and restaurants and sometimes bowling alleys.

It’s not a cheap night out, with movie tickets costing up to $29 each and entrees starting in the mid-$20 range.

The Boston suburbs are no stranger to the upscale movie experience with Showcase Deluxe cinemas in Patriot Place in Foxborough and Legacy Place in Dedham.

Itadaki preview

The Feast has an interesting piece today on Idataki, the new Japanese restaurant taking over the former Pazzo space on Newbury Street early this July.

Just as we eat Americanized versions of Indian, Chinese and French cuisine, in Japan you can find modified versions of these very same cuisines—"American" included, owner Lena Kikuchi tells The Feast. And those are many of the dishes that you will find here.

Bruins win is big for state's tourism industry

CBSBoston.com reports today that the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship victory is great for Boston businesses and a major boon state's tourism industry in general.

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism also plans to capitalize on Boston’s sports pedigree, as the city marks its seventh championship in ten years.

“This is a great win for the Bruins and the Commonwealth. Massachusetts is home to many innovations – including superior professional sports,” said Betsy Wall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, in a statement.

New York Times article admits Boston Sports dominance

The New York Times today has a great article on how Boston has become the first town in history to win all four major sports championships within the same decade. Since the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship victory Wednesday night, the Boston has seen seven championships in the last ten years.

Johnson, the museum curator, said the resurgence of Boston sports teams coincides with the advent of social media, creating a group of young fans who not only watch their favorite athletes play sports, but read their thoughts on the Internet and even pretend to be them in video games.

“Boston is the Hollywood of sports,” he said. “Sports matter here. Lots of teams, not just the big four, have an audience and a constituency.

“This has always been the greatest sports city in the country, in my estimation. This just underscores it.”

Thank you to Universal Hub for the heads up on this story.

New England Aquarium offers discount to Bruins fans today

In honor of the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship the New England Aquarium is offering a buy one get one free ticket deal today from 9am-12pm to fans wearing Bruins colors. Anyone wearing Bruins paraphernalia today will get one free adult ticket with the purchase of a regular priced adult ticket. This offer is not valid on Whale Watch or IMax tickets. Check out this video of an Aquarium diver taking a mock up of the Stanley into their giant ocean tank yesterday.

Stanley Cup visits Tia's and Stella

The 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins brought the Stanley Cup with them to the North End and the South End today. First the cup was at Tia's on the Waterfront (at the Marriott Longwharf) for drinks and then it was onto Stella for a private dinner with several of the players. South End Patch has a great video of the players and the Stanley Cup entering the restaurant.

Franklin Park Zoo names new bongo Stanley

In honor of the Boston Bruins' Stanley Cup victory last night the Franklin Park Zoo has named their new bongo (born Wednesday evening) Stanley reports The Boston Globe.

The bongo, a rare species of antelope typically found in the lowland rain forests of Africa, has been bred by the Franklin Park Zoo since the 1980s, Linehan said. Often considered the most beautiful antelope, they have dramatic coats, with 12 to 14 thin white stripes overlaying shades of bright chestnut. Bongos tend to be nocturnal, and their large eyes enable them to see well in the dark.

Stanley currently weighs 30 pounds, but will eventually grow up to be somewhere between 300 and 400 pounds.

Stanley Cup Championship Parade Route Announced

The Boston Bruins and the City of Boston have announced details of the team's Stanley Cup Championship parade which will begin this Saturday at 11am. The parade of Boston Duck Tours boats will leave the TD Garden on Causeway Street, then head up Staniford Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, continue around Government Center to Tremont Street, turn right onto Boylston Street and then continue to a Copley Square conclusion. There will be many parking restrictions and street closures in effect along the parade route. Anyone coming for the parade is strongly urged to use public transportation to get into Boston. The Red Sox game with Milwaukee on Saturday, originally scheduled for 1:10pm, has been moved to a 7:10pm start to accomodate the parade. The Stanley Cup Champion Bruins will also be honored in a pregame cermony at the ballpark.

Children's Chorus to perform with Boston Pops this Saturday

The Boston Globe has a great article on the Voices of Rennaissnace Choir, which will perform at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops this Saturday as part of the orchestra's annual Gospel Night. The choir is made up of 120 students in grades two through six from the Boston Renaissance Charter school in Hyde Park. The group has toured the country and also performed locally at the Wang Center and Faneuil Hall.

“I think the Voices of Renaissance is one of the best-kept secrets in Boston,” Lee-Jones said. “They are a powerful choir; they are a disciplined choir. … Their hard work is going to pay off, being in a place like Boston Symphony Hall.”

The concert will also feature the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and the Canton-based Oladipo Sisters. For a special ticket offer visit www.bostonpops.org/groups/gospel.

Copley Place tower plan re-unveiled

The Boston Herald reports today that Simon Property Group unveiled a revamped design for a proposed 569 foot residential tower above Copley Place at a public meeting yesterday morning. The 49 story condominium tower, part of a $500 million retail/residential expansion of Copley Place, would be Boston's eight tallest building.

After a series of BRA meeting in 2009, Simon rotated the position of the building. Project architect Rob Halter of Elkus Manfredi said the glass tower’s rounded, tapered shape should reduce the shadow and wind a tall building typically creates.

The developer intends to file a more detailed draft project impact report in about three weeks with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, after which a sixty day public comment period will commence.

Vancouver fans riot after team's loss

Check out these photos of Vancouver after the Canuck's loss to the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals last night and you may understand why Boston officials were hesitant to allow large scale game viewings here in Boston. Not that Boston fans have ever been as crazy as these ones in Vancouver. My favorite photo is the one of smoke rising over the city as the sun sets. Maybe Hurricane O'Reilly's was on to something when the bar decided to ban Vancouver fans?

What do you make of the Canuck fans' reaction to their team's loss?

Bruins Victory Parade set for Saturday

The Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Championship parade will be held this Saturday June 18th. It will begin at 11am at the TD Garden and will most likely head up Staniford Street to Cambridge Street, turn left on Cambridge Street, continue on to Tremont Street, turn right on Boylston Street and continue up Boylston Street to finish at Copley Square.

Area Four to begin dinner on Friday

GrubStreet Boston reports that new Cambridge restaurant Area Four will start dinner service this Friday. Currently they are doing breakfast and lunch. The restaurant is named for the name of the Cambridge neighborhood where it is located.

Copley Place tower plan back on track

The Boston Herald reports today that a plan to redevelop Copley Place, including a 47 story residential tower, appears to be back on track. The plan, which also includes new restaurant/retail space and expansion of Neiman Marcus, was put on hold in 2009. Copley Place owner Simon Malls is holding a public meeting this morning regarding the project.

“Simon Property Group is looking forward to continuing work on the Copley Place Expansion Project,” Morris said in a statement. “Boston is in the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery and Simon wants to fulfill its vision for Copley Place.”

Women attacked on Esplanade this morning

New England Cable News reports that a women was attacked and thrown into the river while walking along the Charles River Esplanade early this morning. She is currently being treated a local hospital.

Boston prepares for Game Seven

The Boston Globe reports today on how the city of Boston is preparing for anything that could happen this evening after the Bruins play the Canucks in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. Police will be out in force around Fenway Park and the TD Garden where there will be extensive parking and street restrictions. Regulations against public drinking will be strictly enforced. Bars are also being asked to not let people enter after the 2nd period, black out windows so crowds cannot gather outside an establishment, and to secure/remove any outdoor furniture before the end of the game. The Boston Beer Works manager sums up most people's feelings pretty succinctly.

At the neighboring Boston Beer Works, the staff is accustomed to the drill of preparing for a championship game.

“At this point, we have this down,’’ said Joe Ferrari, the manager. “We want the victory, and we want people to celebrate. We just don’t want them to turn over cars or do other stupid things.’’

Aragosta Bar + Bistro review

The Boston Globe's Devra First reviews Aragosta Bar + Bistro at the Fairmont Battery Wharf hotel. She offers a thorough analysis of the ups and downs of the food, concluding that more flavor, not just a nice patio, is needed at Aragosta. She also appreciates that the restaurant offers some healthy menu items.

They don’t induce a feeling of deprivation in the person who orders them. Many restaurants glorify heavy, fat-laden fare, celebrating bacon and butter as though tomorrow will never come. Food culture in the US currently has a split personality. On the one hand, we vilify fast food as unhealthy, demanding access to fresh fruits and vegetables for all. On the other, we spend significant amounts of money at upscale restaurants on dishes that taste wonderful but load diners with calories, fat, and sodium. The heart wants what it wants. But it also needs what it needs to be healthy.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace lease sale to go forward

The Boston Herald reports today the sale of the lease to operate Faneuil Hall Marketplace will go forward after current operator General Growth agreed to supply the requested financial information to the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The BRA blocked the deal last Friday after General Growth refused to let lease purchasers, New York based Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation, meet with Fanueil Hall vendors and also disclose the requested financial information to the City.

The BRA must OK any sale of Faneuil Hall’s lease, because the city technically owns the popular tourist spot, although officials leased the site out for shops and restaurants in 1975.

Ashkenazy faces scrutiny because of financial problems it’s encountered with similar shopping centers the firm has operated in Wisconsin and Florida.

Shake Shack coming to Philly, could Boston be next?

Grubstreet Philadelphia reports that Shake Shack, the legendary Manhattan hot dog and burger spot is opening next year in Philadelphia at the corner of 20th and Sansom. This will be the 13th Shake Shack (including two international locations in Dubai and Kuwait City). Could Boston be next? We know it won't be on the Boston Common but there must be another spot where the Shake Shack could find a home in The Hub.

Shake Shack was born from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park created by Union Square Hospitality Group to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation “I ♥Taxi.” The cart was a success and lines formed daily, so it re-opened for an additional two summers in 2002 and 2003. In July 2004 USHG was awarded the contract from New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation and the Madison Square Park Conservancy to create a permanent food kiosk in the park. Shake Shack opened and instantly became a NYC institution with a loyal following, receiving numerous accolades from the press including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Magazine, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, Food Network and The TODAY Show among others, and was voted one of the Most Popular Restaurants in New York according to Zagat.

Freshii coming to Downtown Boston

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that Freshii, a new chain of health-focused fast food restaurants will be opening up at 160 Federal Street in August according to the Boston Business Journal.

The article mentions that the new dining spot will offer fresh, healthy eats including soups, salads, burritos, wraps, rice and noodle bowls, and frozen yogurt, and it will be a "green" restaurant, with recycled paper and biodegradable packaging used.

Freshii also uses food sourced from "local, responsible farmers" according to the article.

Prudential Tower to back the Bruins tonight

The Shops at the Prudential tweets that the Prudential Tower will join the Zakim Bridge in rooting for the Bruins tonight!

Dore Creperie to open next week

Dore Creperie announced today on their blog they will be open for business next Monday June 20th. Dore Creperie will be taking over the former Pressed spot at One Beacon Street, steps from City Hall Plaza. You've got to love their logo in support of the Bruins!

Bina Osteria to host John Mariani event tonight

Esquire magazine food and travel writer John Mariani will be at Bina Osteria tonight for a dinner launch of his new book “How Italian Food Conquered the World.” From the event's Facebook page.

Guests enjoy a four-course prix fixe dinner ($40/person) of Chef Will Foden's sophisticated Italian dishes. Our modern approach to classic Italian fare is a natural tie-in with the book's focus –
a historical journey through the traditions of Italian cuisine.

Mr. Mariani will be on hand to speak to guests and answer any questions. The book will be on sale for $25. Call 617-956-0888 for reservations.

Lyndell's closes in North End

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that Lyndell's Bakery has closed its North End location at 227 Hanover Street. The bakery's Somerville and Cambridge locations remain open.

Lyndell's features a wide variety of baked goods and pastries, including breads, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and pies. One of their best-known items is their handmade half moon cookie.

Attempted robbery outside Neiman Marcus

Universal Hub reports there was an attempted robbing at knife point outside of Neiman Marcus in Copley Square tonight.

Sweet Cheeks owner talks about her new restaurant

The Feast talks with former Rocca chef Tiffani Faison about her newest venture Sweet Cheeks, a barbecue restaurant to open on Boylston Street in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

Sweet Cheeks will definitely be on the casual side, Faison promises. "To do barbecue in a trumped up, fancy way becomes annoyingly pretentious," she says. "It will have some strokes of elegance, but I don't want it to be cheffy in a way that will be annoying."

She also talked to the Boston Globe about her new restaurant venture.

She wasn't particularly planning to start a barbecue place, although the idea was somewhere in the back of her head. "It felt like [barbecue was] missing around here in the way I know it and love it. I wanted that here. I kept wanting to eat at that place and couldn't find it," she says.

She also embarks on a research trip to Lockhart, Texas in a few weeks. Sounds like fun!

Salvatore's coming to Theatre District this summer

Salvatore's is opening at 525 Washington Street in mid August tweets the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The upscale Italian restaurant, under construction adjacent to Emerson College's Paramount Center, appears to be similar to the Salvatore's at the Park Lane complex in Boston's Seaport District. Salvatore's is owned by the same company as Sal's Pizza, which opened recently across from the Boston Common on Tremont Street and in the Fenway neighborhood.

Ted films at New England Aquarium

The Boston Herald's Inside Track reported yesterday that Ted filmed a scene at the New England Aquarium this week. Previous locations have included Charlie's Sandwiche Shoppe, Lucky's Lounge, The Midtown Hotel, Gaslight, and The Union United Methodist Church in the South End.

Segway Experience tour a winner

Last Friday morning I had the pleasure of taking the Museum of Science's new Segway Experience tour. The Museum of Science has partnered with Segway of Boston, the only officially sanctioned Segway company in the Boston area, to run the tours. The tour experience began with a short instruction video on how to safely operate a Segway. While I admit at first I was a little daunted by seeing all of the stick figures in the video falling off the Segways, once I stepped on all of my fears were allayed. My very knowledgeable tour guide Andrew led the training, showing me how to lean forward to speed up, lean back to slow down, and safely board and disembark the Segway.

Leaving the Museum of Science we crossed the O'Brien Highway and went first through the beautiful new North Point Park which was built as a result of the Big Dig. The park was a great place to get adjusted to the Segway experience as the paths were wide, the vistas beautiful and the people few. The park was built into the river resulting in a smaller scale Esplanade feel. At the end of the park, I saw construction ongoing for a pedestrian bridge that will connect the North Point Park to the Paul Revere Park in Charlestown and the Esplanade by Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. This could allow for future Segway Experience tours to include Boston. My tour continued past the EF building, home to a piece of the Berlin Wall. Science and history are everywhere on the tour, including on the vehicle I rode. The experience is literally taking the Museum of Science experience outside the walls of the museum to the surrounding area, one rich in history, architecture, and scientific innovation.

The tour stops at several locations on the MIT campus, including the park in front of the Great Dome, Building 54 (the golf ball building), and the Frank Gehry-designed Stata Center. As we stopped, Andrew discussed the great MIT tradition of pranks and also told the story of the Smoots that measure the Mass. Ave. Bridge among other stories. We also drove by several great institutions of medical research including the Koch Institute for Cancer research, the Whitehead Institute and The Broad Institute. I was blown away by the work that is going on in these buildings everyday and the potential implications of their work on society. The tour also goes by Lechmere Point, the site where the British troops landed after crossing the Charles River on their way to Lexington and Concord in April, 1775. Towards the end, we rode directly along Memorial Drive offering sweepings views of the Boston Skyline.

This tour is one of most innovative new experiences in the Boston/Cambridge area. I thoroughly enjoyed my first time on a Segway and I would recommend it to tourists or locals looking for a fun time.

Tickets are $60 for museum members,$65 for nonmembers and can be purchased online, at the Museum box office, or by calling 617-723-2500.

Newbury Street frozen dessert spots ranked

The Boston Herald this week reviewed the four newest dessert spots on Newbury Street. In addition to these there are three ice cream spots on Newbury (JP Lick's, Emack & Bolio's, Ben & Jerry's) along with three more in the nearby Prudential Center (Ben & Jerry's, Pinkberry. Coldstone Creamery).

Max Brenner review

The Boston Herald's Matt Schaeffer reviews Max Brenner in today's edition. He likes the desserts, but finds the appetizers, entrees, and service to be lacking.

The service staff is undertrained. One evening, despite reservations and many empty tables, we were given the worst seats in the house — in back, by the emergency exit and waiters’ station. When our entrees arrived, all the dirty dishes and cutlery from the previous courses were still on our table. So our server moved them to a neighboring (clean and already set) table before transporting them to the kitchen.

He never wiped off that table before the next guests were seated. Yuck.

City to block Faneuil Hall Marketplace lease sale

Boston.com reports today that the Boston Redevelopment Authority will block current Faneuil Hall Marketplace operator General Growth's pending $140 million sale of the lease to New York real esate company Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation unless General Growth provides the city with vital information regarding the sale. The City of Boston, through the Boston Redevelopment Authority, owns the four buildings at Faneuil Hall Marketplace and leases three of them out to General Growth.

Peter Meade, director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, said General Growth -- the Chicago mall operator -- has refused to provide various documents related to Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp., the New York real estate firm set to take over the lease.

The requested records include Ashkenazy’s capital reserves and restrictions on those reserves, capital and maintenance plans for Faneuil Hall, pending litigation against Ashkenazy, plans to retain and attract local merchants, plans to respond to merchants’ concerns, and the most recent financial statements for Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Sweet Cheeks to open in the Fenway

Grubstreet Boston reports today that former Rocca chef Tiffani Faison will open a southern BBQ spot later this summer at 1381 Boylston Street near Fenway Park. Currently the spot is occupied by pizza restaurant Cambridge 1 reports Boston Restaurant Talk.

We're told to expect "ingredient-driven, highly thoughtful, and intensely flavorful" food, with a busy takeout business, too. Plus outdoor dining.

Sweet Cheeks will open just a few doors down and across the street from Sweet Caroline's which is to take over the Fenway Cantina spot.

Brahmin Restaurant and Lounge coming to Back Bay

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today that a restaurant called Brahmin Restaurant and Lounge is coming to Stanhope Street soon. It would take over the former 33 Restaurant & Lounge spot, next to the recently opened Zocalo and Red Lantern restaurants. It will be run by the group behind Faneuil Hall's Red Sky.

Sweet Caroline's Restaurant coming to Fenway

Universal Hub reports today that Sweet Caroline's Restaurant & Bar is coming soon to Boylston Street near Fenway Park. Sweet Caroline's, which will take over the Fenway Cantina spot across the street from Jerry Remy's, will serve "sophisticated American comfort food" and will be run by the same group as the Financial District's Battery Park. The Boston Licensing Board today indicated that they will vote on Thursday to approve the group's request to buy Petit Robert Kenmore's full liquor license and to stay open until 2am three days a week. The closing time seems to be the only sticking point in the whole process as the Mayor's office and City Councilor Mike Ross want it to close at 1am.

She (the restaurant's lawyer) said fairness demanded the restaurant be allowed to stay open until 2 just like those two establishments.

City Councilor Mike Ross and the mayor's office both wanted a 1 a.m. closing time, because the restaurant would be on the "residential" side of Boylston. Connolly noted the Baseball Tavern is on that side, too; Ianella noted that people now live on the other side of the street.

I hope the Board is able to see past the concerns of the Mayor's office and Councilor Ross. Anyone who moved to this neighborhood knew that there would be lots of people coming through the area to go to games and restaurants. If they are so concerned about this place being open until 2am then perhaps they should consider living in another part of town.

Hurricane O'Reilly's bans Canucks fans

The Boston Herald reports today that some Boston bars are barring access to Vancouver Canucks fans for the Stanley Cup Finals in Boston this week.

“If you’re wearing a Canucks jersey, we won’t let you in,” said Dan Butler, general manager at Hurricane O’Reilly’s. Butler, a Calgary native, said the bar has turned away 20 to 30 Vancouver fans during the first three games of the Stanley Cup finals. He said the policy is all in good fun but also comes out of safety concerns, citing previous scuffles during the Bruins-Flyers series.

However over on Canal Street The Fours is the unofficial bar for Canucks fans to gather, thanks for some postings on Facebook.

South End liquor store closed after FBI visit

South End Patch reported this week that CRU Wine & Spirits on
Washington Street in the South End was closed after an FBI visit last Friday.

CRU opened in November of 2008 and offered a wide variety of wines, beer and liquors. The shop also hosted free wine tastings and was an active supporter of the "Yes on 1" initiative to repeal the alcohol tax in Massachusetts.

Herald property redevelopment to include restaurant space

The Boston Herald reports today that the developer engaged by the Boston Herald to redevelop the newspaper's property in the South End filed development plans with the Boston Redevelopment Authority today. National Development plans to build 262 residential units and 64,000 square feet of retail space.

Tye said while no retail leases have been signed, the first floor will include a supermarket, coffee shop, bank, restaurant and other local stores. He said while it’s too soon to put a price tag on the apartments, he expects a mix of studio, one- two- and three-bedroom units.

Canucks fans get duped in Somerville

The Boston Herald's Inside Track reports today on how several Vancouver Canucks fans tried to save some dough by scoring cheap digs in Somerville during their trip to Boston this week for the Stanley Cup Finals.

But things aren’t all sunshine and hat tricks for the visitors who have come to town. With hotels in Boston full to capacity, many out-of-town puck nuts are finding they have to travel to the ’burbs to find a bed. Canucks fans Steve Kerr and Brian Trinble thought they’d found a steal in Somerville when they answered an ad on Craigslist and scored an apartment Sunday night for $100.

“It was absolutely terrible,” Kerr told Vancouver’s The Province. “It was like a hostel in Thailand.”

Kerr said there were stains on the carpets and bed sheets, exposed duct work, wires hanging from the ceiling and bugs. To top it off, the apartment was right next door to the train tracks. The two have relocated to a hotel at the airport in a $300-per-night room.

Chris Kimball to speak tonight at South End Library

Chris Kimball from the television series America's Test Kitchen will speak tonight at the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library (685 Tremont Street) at 6:30pm. In addition to television he is also a star in the culinary publishing industry.

For this event, Kimball will bring copies of his recent book, Fannie’s Last Supper, a tale of the author’s recreation of a 12-course Christmas dinner given at the end of the 19th Century in the South End by Fannie Farmer, who wrote The Boston Cooking School Cookbook. The entire meal was prepared on a wood-burning stove at Kimball’s home located near where Ms. Farmer used to live.

For more information visit the Friends of the South End Library website.

Scooperbowl begins today

The Scooperbowl begins today at City Hall Plaza in Boston. All proceeds will benefit the Jimmy Fund! The event runs today, tomorrow and Thursday from 12pm-8pm each day. Tickets are $8 for adults (age 10 and up), $4 for kids (age 3-9) and free for kids under three.

Here is the lineup of flavors.

Baskin-Robbins®

* Lucky Mint
* Firehouse #31
* S'More the Merrier
* Oreo®Gold Rush

Ben & Jerry's®

* Late Night Snack
* Americone Dream
* Milk and Cookies
* Bonnaroo BuzzTM

Ciao Bella Gelato®

* Chocolate S'mores
* Mango Sorbet
* Wild Blueberry Sorbet
* Key Lime Graham Gelato

Edy's®

* The Original Rocky Road
* Cookies and Cream
* Orange Sherbert
* Espresso Chip

Friendly's

* Hunka Chunka
* Vienna Mocha
* Mocha Chocolate Chip
* Rocky Road

HP Hood/Brigham's®

* Hood BoSox Brownie
* Hood Frozen Tangy Yogurt Rasberry Vanilla
* Brigham's Oreo
* Brigham's Mocha Chip

SoCo Creamery

* Dirty Chocolate
* Vanilla
* Espresso Cookie
* Berkshire Berry
* Mexicali Chocolate

Aragosta to host Father's Day Italian BBQ

The Fairmont Battery Wharf's Aragosta Bar & Bistro will host a Father's Day Italian Barbecue next Sunday June 19th from 11am-2:30pm on the restaurant's waterfront patio. The menu features steak grilled on terrace by the Aragosta chefs, along with the regular brunch menu. A steak with accompanying sides is $17 and a grilled lobster tail is just $4 more. Reservations (617-994-9001) are recommended.