Safari #50: What the Pho?

Pho, pronounced "Fa", is a Vietnamese soup known for its savory broth and rice noodles.  Better than your Mom's chicken soup, Pho is a wonderful gateway into Vietnamese cuisine and culture.  If you haven't tried it yet, let this post inspire you to get out and try some.

If you're wondering where to go, look no further than Boston's own "Little Saigon" located in the heart of Dorchester's Fields Corner neighborhood where Vietnamese restaurants, shops, and businesses abound.

My safari took me to Pho 2000 (198 Adams Street) where, according to rumor, the best Pho in town is served. You can garnish your Pho with bean sprouts, freshly squeezed lime juice, thai basil, and cilantro.  Other accompaniments include fish or Sriracha sauce.  Pho 2000 is easily accessible via the Fields Corner T station (only a few blocks away).  A 2-hour public parking lot is also located directly across the street.

While you're sampling Pho, try some of these other activities in Dorchester:

• My DOT Tour - visit historical spots around Dorchester including Fields Corner and the Municipal Building.
• Franklin Park - if you're really up for an adventure, head to Franklin Park for a stroll and picnic.  If you're really feeling adventurous, get Vietnamese to go and eat in the park!
• The James Blake House - Visit the oldest house in the state of Massachusetts.  I had no idea!  It's a few T stops before Field's Corner.

Have you tried Pho?  Which is your favorite place?  Share in the comments below - I'd love to try your place!

Special thanks to the @EvolvingCritic and @Jenlightenment for joining me!

In Search of Potica

I'm an Ohio-bred, Boston transplant who's been living in the area for nearly four years.  Periodically, I make trips home to visit my family.  Every trip is good, but this one was extra special.  Why?  Because of something called Potica.

Pronounced 'po-teetz-sa', it's a Slovenian nut roll.   Layer after layer of pastry dough is brushed with butter and spread with a nutty mixture.  It's then rolled up and baked till golden brown.  It's delicious, and a treat that always reminds my mother of her childhood.

My mother, who is of Slovenian decent, wanted to take a trip to far east side of Cleveland to visit an old Slovenian neighborhood to buy sausages and of course, potica.  Our trip eventually led us to Joe Zuzak - owner of R & D Sausage.  Joe welcomed us with open arms and couldn't have been happier to provide my mother with her favorite treat.

Sometimes it's the reminders of home and childhood that bring us comfort when times are difficult.  My mother, who is now in remission from a 2 year battle with cancer, was thrilled to be able to leave the house and head out in search of potica.  And I was happy to be with her.

What foods remind you of home or your cultural heritage?

*Special thanks to Joe Zuzak, owner of R & D Sausage located on 15714 Waterloo Road in Cleveland, Ohio.  For hours and other information, call (216) 692-1832.

*Image kindly borrowed from 30 Days of Decadence. 

A Different Kind of Safari

Class Photo

Very recently, I had a different kind of safari. It was more than a trip. It was a safari of self-actualization.

When I first moved here four years ago, I didn't know a anyone, and I'll be the first to admit that I was a little frightened. I was unable to anticipate much of anything, and this uncertainty left me feeling uncomfortable. I decided that taking a self-defense class - to help me deal with expecting the unexpected - would help.

I'm happy to report that it has.

Thanks to the many wonderful connections I've made on Twitter, I met Jake Steinmann, a mixed martial arts and self-defense instructor. When I explained my interest in learning more about self-defense, Jake invited me to participate in one of his courses based on the Personal Defense Readiness System, which is a holistic self-defense program focused on finding realistic solutions to hostile confrontations in real-world scenarios. The class, held at a local gym in Central Square, was a combination of lecture, group discussion, and hand-to-hand exercises.

I was nervous at first, but Jake's easygoing style and sense of humor calmed me immediately. Most of all, I welcomed his perspective of self-defense. Using logic and reasoning, he encouraged us to determine the tools we have available to defend ourselves - right now. This realization was amazing given that my impressions of self-defense involved needing to know how to fight.

The class was a mixture of curious individuals, like myself, and trained fighters. I was surprised to see fighters present, but soon realized that they, just like the rest of us, cannot always be prepared for the unexpected. This gave me even more assurance that I was in the right space to learn and grow.

Before You Go

• Check out Jake's Blog. Visit http://honestphilosophy.blogspot.com to learn more up his upcoming classes and his teaching ideology. To learn more about the Personal Defense Readiness System, visit http://pdrteam.com/. 
• Interested in attending a session? Check out Jake's next class scheduled for Feb 26, 2012. 
• Don't be afraid. While the subject is serious, the environment is open and honest. You have nothing to be afraid of! 

*Special thanks to Matthew Gaskill and Jake Steinmann for making this safari in self-actualization possible!

Safari #49: No Pants?

The No Pans Subway Ride is exactly that - a ride on the subway with no pants on.  Why?

Well, why not?

The Societies of Spontaneity, organizers of this yearly event, encourage fun through participatory, public events.  Participants shed their inhibitions (and their pants) all in the name of having a good time.

Dropping your pants in public may be one of the hardest things you ever do, but once you do it, you can do anything.  Seriously.

You'll also get a rare opportunity to laugh at yourself and consider what else its time to let go of.

You Might Be Wondering...

• It's not Illegal.  The Society offered a great pre-event guide outlining the do's and don'ts for the subway ride including how to dress without pants on. 
• Selecting Attire.  The idea is to ride without pants, but you can be as creative as you'd like.  I wore (gasp) shorts (as did many of the other riders).
• People's Reactions.  They were priceless!  One of the MBTA T drivers gave us an enthusiastic "Woohoo!" as we got off the train.  She was just as excited as we were.  An out of town family visiting for the day thought it was one of the funniest and unexpected parts of their trip.  I was glad to contribute.
• Safety.  At no time did I or any of the other participants ride by ourselves.  We were always in groups of at least 8 people.
• Want Pictures?  Visit Boston.com to see all of the images from the day.

Special thanks to @EvolvingCritic for throwing out the idea to do this and then doing it with me.  I will never forget it!

HNY!

Happy New Year fellow safari travelers!

While I'm still compiling ideas for 2012, I wanted to take a moment to reflect back on some of my favorite local finds during 2011.  While I always enjoy all of my trips, there were definitely a few standouts.

Special thanks to all of my partners in crime this past year - I'm sure we'll have more great adventures in the New Year!

2011 Favorites

• Learning how to Shuck Oysters
• Attending a Free Concert at the New England Conservatory
• Participating in Somerville's Honk Festival

Do you have a local favorite I haven't visited yet? Please tell me about it in the comments below!

*Image borrowed from http://www.photofurl.com/2012-new-year-wallpaper-happy-new-year-pictures-for-2012/2012-new-year-wallpapers

Safari #48: A Wee Bit of Scotland

In Boston, anything Scottish is hard to find. Until now.

The Haven, located in Jamaica Plain, is Boston’s only Scottish pub serving traditional food and drinks. As a lover of craft beer, I really enjoyed trying BrewDog Dogma (a honey infused ale) and Merlin’s Ale along with some traditional Scottish foods like bridies (pastries stuffed with meat and veggies), deviled eggs, and haggis (when in Rome folks, when in Rome).

During my visit, Jason (the owner) and his son Oliver graciously shared some Scottish Christmas traditions such as the Christmas Cracker (a toy containing a joke and a prize) and paper crowns. It made my visit all the more memorable.

I hope to return again soon.

*Special thanks to Jason, Oliver, @layersmarketing, @blumie, and @TheMightyRib for a wonderful evening.

Safari #47: Pasties, Pointe Shoes, and Whips? Oh Yeeaaaah!

If you’re at all uncomfortable with sex, you might want to stop reading. And when I say sex, I mean stripper poles, pasties, dildos, rhythmic simulations - all of it. If you keep reading, I might offend your delicate sensibilities...
 
If your “proper” self decided long ago that the Slutcracker wasn’t for you, you might want to reconsider. This safari traveler recently attended an amazing, eye-popping performance.

Now in its fourth run at the Somerville Theatre, the Slutcracker combines elements of the traditional Nutcracker ballet with burlesque, fetish, and free flowing hormones. The show deals with its risque topic using humor all the while proposing the idea that sex (gasp) - however you may like it - is meant to be enjoyed (double gasp).


The show is an enjoyable exploration and a reminder that we take ourselves way too seriously. It was shocking, titillating, and completely hilarious.

Thank you to the cast for showing me such a good time.

My Tips:

• Go with the Right People. The faint of heart will not be impressed. Choose carefully to ensure you have a great time. 
• Buy Your Tickets Early. This show continues to grow in popularity. Figure out when you’re going, and buy tickets ASAP. 
• Beverages. Did you know that the Somerville Theatre serves alcohol? I didn’t, and it was a nice surprise. 

*As of this posting, there is one last performance on New Year’s Eve at 7pm.