Safari Style #3: Cratchit!

Ebeneezer Scrooge didn't have it all together, but he did have one thing right: saving money is a good thing.  If you're looking to save a little money this holiday season and give something unique, try the following local shops (and grab something nice for yourself too):

Allston
Lola's Urban Vintage (187 Harvard Ave) - A little store that packs a big punch with period jewelry, hats, and fascinators.  If someone on your shopping list loves unique vintage, this shop is not to miss.

Buffalo Exchange (180 Harvard Ave) - Pat yourself on the shoulder, because I blinked too.  Yes, Buffalo Exchange has opened an Allston location.  While not as big as the Davis Square location, this is still a great stop for holiday consignment shopping.  Within minutes of entering the store, I scored a new pair of dark gray Chuck Taylors for $16 (applause).

Roslindale Village

Regeneration (20 Birch Street) - located in the lovely Roslindale Village, Regeneration offers both vintage and new clothing.  If you're looking for unique outerwear, this place has it.  The shop also has great novelty items - perfect for the stylish geek.  Parking is free and conveniently located right in front of the shop.

Jamaica Plain
Dame (68 South Street) - Shop in Betty, Joan, and Peggy's closet.  Find a dress perfect for any holiday party or celebratory night out with someone special.  Dame is chic at a great price. 

Image credits: http://www.buffaloexchange.com/index.php?pg=25&id=35

Safari #17: Getting Crafty

Lately, I've been wanting to get back in touch with my crafty side.  The drawback?  Supplies and workspace.  Enter Grey's Fabric and Notions (450 Harrison Ave) located at the SOWA market in the South End offering inspired, beautiful fabrics and a gorgeous storefront.

On Thursday nights from 6 to 9pm, Sarah, the shop's owner, holds sewing classes that are appropriate for beginners (and those who haven't sewn in awhile, ahem, ahem).  In addition to sewing lessons, Sarah offers a great selection of fabrics and pattern books.  If you don't have fabric, you can easily purchase some before class - just as I did.

After a three hour class, including sewing basics and stitching lessons, I (and my trusty machine, Millicent) created a lovely, reusable, tote bag perfect for small grocery shopping.

Check out Grey's Facebook page for contact information and the class schedule.

Tips:

• Be fearless and have fun!  It's ok to make mistakes.  Focus on learning as much as you can and enjoy what you make.  
• Practice.  Grey's offers open sewing hours during the week.  Stop in and practice your stitches! Be sure to contact the shop for details.
• Feel like driving?  Go ahead.  Parking is free at SOWA.  

*Grey's Fabric and Notions logo from the shop's Facebook page.

Safari #16: Get Out, Give Back

There is only one thing at the top of my list this holiday season: getting out and giving back.  Fellow safari travelers, with this posting,  I hope to encourage you to do the same.  If you're not sure how, here's one idea to get you started.

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest food bank facility in New England.  It acts largely as a processing and distribution center where donated food is sorted, boxed, and shipped for delivery to local soup kitchens, community centers, and religious organizations.  As a volunteer, you can work within the main distribution center sorting and packing food.  Shifts occur daily in the morning (9:30 to 12:00pm) and afternoon (1 to 3:30pm).

Before your shift, GBFB employees will provide you with all of the training that you need to handle and sort a wide range of non-perishable foods.  Training lasts about 15 to 20 minutes.  Charts and how-to sheets are also placed throughout the facility to assist you.

Last Saturday, I volunteered with 67 others and enjoyed every minute of it. In the short amount of time that we volunteered, my group sorted 4,869 pounds of food making a total of 3,752 meals possible for those in need.  The sad part is that we could have done much more.  Our shift ended 45 minutes early because we ran out of food.

If you're interested in helping the GBFB this holiday season (or at any other time), here's how:

• Donate Food.  Using the GBFB's Virtual Food Drive tool, you can purchase food at wholesale price for donation directly into the bank.  You can also bring boxes of food directly Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4pm.  Be sure to contact the Food Donations Manager to arrange a drop-off time.
• Donate a Turkey.  During the holiday season, the FoodBank provides thousands of turkeys to shelters and soup kitchens in the community.  Turkey's are only $13.
• Volunteer.  All you need to do is complete a volunteer registration form, and you're ready to go.

**Please watch for additional posts this holiday season to help you find ways to do more.

Safari #15: Sam Adams Brewery

You'd be hard pressed to find a Bostonian who dislikes beer - and this one has grown to love it.  One of the most popular brews in town is Sam Adams, and over this past weekend (with visiting guests in tow), I had a chance to visit the brewery in Jamaica Plain (JP).

Home brewers and beer connoisseurs alike will appreciate the informational nature of the tour which gives you a full picture of the brewing process.  For a special olfactory experience, hops are passed around the room for rubbing between your hands.  The aroma gives you a better appreciation of the high-quality ingredients Sam's uses for brewing. 

The JP location focuses largely on tours and brewing smaller craft beers, including the once yearly Utopias brew which contains anywhere from 24 to 27% alcohol by volume.  Other U.S. locations focus on brewing large quantities of the top sellers including the Boston Lager and seasonal brews.

The tour ends in the tasting room where three types of beer are offered.  Guests first get to sample the Boston Lager, Sam's flagship brew.  Second comes the seasonal selection, which in our case was the Octoberfest.  Last, we sampled a craft selection called the George Washington Porter, which is not sold in stores. 

If you're new to Boston and haven't had a Boston Lager, there's no better way to try it than at the source.  The sampling glasses given at the tasting are complimentary and yours to take home after the tour.

Tips:

• Go on a Weekday.  Weekend tours fill up quickly.  We showed up just before noon on Friday and made it right into the noon tour.
• Stop by Doyle's Cafe.  Doyle's was the first bar to serve the Boston Lager on tap and a tour bus (with a fun and knowledgeable guide) will take you there for a meal - and special deal.  For $4.50, you can purchase a pint of beer served in Sam Adams glassware to take home (1 per guest).  The bus runs every 15 to 20 minutes to take you back to the brewery.
• Drink the Irish Red. All proceeds from this beer help to support local entrepreneurs find capital to open their own businesses.  A great way to support the local economy!
• Give the suggested donation.  The suggested donation for the brewery tour is $2.  Sam Adams uses these funds to support to local charities.  To learn more, visit the Sam Adams website.

Safari #14: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

Guilty as charged.  I've passed the Boston Public Library (BPL) in Copley Square more times that I'd like to admit.  As a buyer rather than borrower of books, I didn't think that the library had much more to offer outside of books and research materials.  After a recent visit, I learned how wrong I was. 

We Bostonians should be proud to know that our library was the first free, municipal, public library in the United States (say that to yourself a couple of times).  Pretty amazing.  With this spirit in mind, the library was painstakingly designed as a testament to spirit of learning and the appreciation of the arts.  The best way to learn about the library is to take a free, one hour guided tour, which focuses on its history, architecture, and art - of which there is alot.

Not to Miss
If you don't have time to take a guided tour, make sure to stop by and see the following sights:

The Entrance Stairway.  From the murals and fixtures to the and visually appealing marble, the entrance stairway is stunning.  When facing the stairwell, head towards the lion on the left side. Don't forget to rub its tail for luck.

John Singer Sargent Gallery (3rd Floor).  Known largely for his portrait and landscape paintings, Sargent is less known as a muralist.  When library architect Charles McKim asked if he would paint the third floor gallery, Sargent jumped at the chance.  It took him 26 years to paint the gallery, and sadly, he died before being able to finish it (a blank mural represents this).  The gallery art was recently restored, so this is a great time to visit and view the refreshed pieces.

The Courtyard.  If you're walking from the Johnson Building (the location of the circulation desk), you'll have an unexpected surprise just before you reach the McKim Building.  The courtyard made my jaw drop.



Quick Tips:

• Visit During the Day.  While I loved seeing the Courtyard lit up at night, it was difficult to see some of the artwork as the natural light in the galleries dimmed significantly.
• Eat in the Courtyard.  Either bring your lunch or buy it at the library cafe and eat outside in the courtyard.  What a beautiful setting to enjoy lunch with a friend - or someone special.
• See More Art.  The museum displays many historical pieces quite frequently in partnership with other organizations.  The current exhibit was of vintage travel posters.  The next installation will display vintage postcards from Boston in the 1920's.
• Get a Library Card.  Why not? While you're at the library, get a library card from the Circulation Desk.  It took me about 5 minutes using my Driver's License.

Safari #13: One Bite at a Time

Did you ever think that eating chocolate could support the local economy, promote direct trade, and be environmentally conscious?  If you eat Taza Chocolate, it certainly can.

My latest safari took me on a tour of the Taza factory in Somerville, where Taza has been making artisanal, organic chocolate for nearly four years.  Made Mexican style, the chocolate is ground using stone mills allowing for smaller bits to remain within the finished product offering a distinct and rustic texture. 

Taza uses direct trade to purchase its cocoa beans.  Rather than using fair trade, where a middle man acquires beans without regard to growing practices, Taza buys beans directly from a farm in the Dominican Republic.  Direct trade allows Taza to ensure that the farm uses both humane and organic farming methods.

Last but not least, Taza uses environmentally sustainable practices for the production and shipping of its products.  Each chocolate is hand-wrapped using bio-degradable paper and shipped using corn-based insulation.  The remaining cocoa shells (removed from the cocoa bean after roasting) are sold as mulch to local and organic gardens and to local breweries as an ingredient in beer.

If you're interested in learning more about how Taza produces its chocolate (and to taste some of its chocolatey goodness), sign-up to take a factory tour at the company website. 

A few tips before you go:

• Skip the sandals and fragrances.  Since you are entering a manufacturing facility, you must wear closed toed shoes and refrain from wearing perfume or cologne.
• Prepare to expand your palate.  You'll get a chance to try some traditional dark chocolate (ranging from 60 to 80%), but you will also be offered traditional Mexican flavors like spiced chilli pepper.  It's a little different, but it's worth trying.
• Don't leave without chocolate.  While finished chocolate is sold in local retail stores and used at many local restaurants, you can also bring some home.  At home, it can be eaten as is or shaved and mixed into liquid (like milk) to make hot chocolate.
• The factory is within short walking distance of Inman Square in Cambridge (accessible to the 69 bus) or a 10 minute walk from Union Square in Somerville (accessible to the 86 bus).

Safari #12: South End Open Market

Local. Chic. Indie. 

This is the mantra of the South End Open Market (SOWA) located at 460 Harrison Avenue in Boston's South End.  Open mid-May through late October, this market highlights handmade goods by local artists ranging from housewares and furniture to clothing and accessories.  Recently added to the lineup is the vintage market. 

If you're on the hunt for handmade or vintage goodies, check out the booths I visited during my recent trip to get some great local (and regional) flavor:

• Lola's Urban Vintage (187 Harvard Ave in Allston) - the day's offerings included a great selection of late 70's and early to mid 80's jewelery.  Many items were priced under $10.
• FidgetFinds (Rhode Island) - Tons of accessories including a great selection of day and evening bags. 
• Calico (New Bedford, MA) - Great stuff all around.  I couldn't pass up the sunglasses.
• Escama Studio (Arlington, MA) - Are you a fan of recycled items made into something new?  If yes, check out Escama's merchandise (and my soda can top handbag).

Some tips before visiting SOWA:

• Try your luck at bargaining with the vendors - most times, they are willing to lower the price ;)
• Hit the ATM.  While many vendors accept credit cards, some only accept cash. 
• Food Trucks.  If you're hungry, head to one of the many food trucks available.  Most of these are also cash only.