Lost in a good bookshop

Right down the street from my apartment is a great book shop. It's not a big box/big name shop. Nope, it's a small, locally owned, non-chain, bookshop. It actually put the Barnes and Noble down the block out of business! 

I love walking past there everyday and taking a look at all the different books they have in the shop windows. If I have time I typically just walk in and browse the stacks, just because!

It has such a great feel. Wooden shelves lined with books. It smells like books, that great homey freshly printed book smell. One of my favorite parts of the whole shop is the ladders along most of the shelves and the amazing lighting they have all over the ceiling. Such an eclectic mix - it is just perfect.

My favorite section to browse is the cookbook section. I love looking for inspiration and the pictures in the volumes are mouth watering. The New Cook's Illustrated cookbook is such a fun read, I swooned while reading it!

And, I cannot forget the children's section! It is so darling and I too can get lost in the amazing little corner of the shop dedicated to the youngest readers. I have bought many a book for Noam here, well, and for me too!

The shop is always full. Full of people, full of life, full of curiosity. It is amazing to think that in all these books there is something for everyone. A different genre, a different adventure, a different story to get lost in.

I just love having this shop so close to my home. I love that the community has supported this great shop and that so many people share my love of a good book. Without a doubt, I will always have something to read as long as the Booksmith is down the blog from me!

One Day More!

Sunday night was finally the night! I honestly think I bolted right out of bed on Sunday morning, giddy with excitement! Mom drove up and after a quick bite to eat we headed downtown for the show!

The Opera House was packed! It was so cool to be there with all the patrons, after being their last week for the tour. It was like I had my own special preview of the opera house and its past. Well, come to think of it, I did!

Of course, they were selling various souvenirs. I think the 24601 shirt is my favorite! And they weren't lying about the haze, gunshots, and strobe lights!

 I think I was practically levitating out of my seat waiting for the lights to dim! Once the first cord of music was played my smile widened and stayed that way through the show! Oh and it was MARVELOUS! This cast was spectacular, each and everyone of them! They did the show justice and, oh, words cannot describe how much I loved it!

 I laughed, I cried, I sang along. It was a magical evening. The sets were amazing, the cast phenomenal, the live music gorgeous. It was honestly, a dream come true! The three hours went by in a flash, I never for a minute wondered when it would end, if anything I wished it never would!

 At the curtain call, the cast announced they were collecting money for Broadway Cares. For various donations you could get various souvenirs. For ten dollars you could get a picture taken with the actor and actress who played the Thénardiers (who were fantastic)! Yes, please! I've never had a picture taken with Broadway actors before, ah!!

I went to bed with visions of Les Miserables in my head! I will never forget this night and seeing such a famous show brought to life for the 25th anniversary tour!

Week 12 around the sun

What a week! The weather was glorious, with temps over 30 degrees above normal for Boston! This time last year, we had snow on the ground. Spring was in the air, for sure, as I did my Pesach shopping, repotted some plants, and pulled out the flip-flops. Professionally, it was a much smoother week, although we all had a minor case of Spring fever! Only 2 weeks until Passover and 3 until Spring vacation, but for now, onward to week 13!

Scav Hunt Sunday: Chandeliers and Colors

Sprout:

With this insane weather last week, all the trees are in blooming mode! I came home on Friday and enjoyed the gorgeous weather while capturing this early spring sight.

Create:

I have a set of fabric markers and I am trying to figure out what I can create with them...

Dust:

I took a tour of the opera house last week and they talked about the 350 chandeliers there and how they had all been dusted that day. I wouldn't want that job!

Swing:

Real original, I know. But these kids were having a great time swinging!

Whimsey:

There is a trendy furniture store near the Opera house and I had fun looking around. These lamps were just so full of whimsey!

Instant Snapshots

Lin-sanity. GF cupcakes. Felt flowers.

Sleety evening. Train Station. Vintage shop.

Purim fun. Morning light. School zone.

Art from a student. Lesson prepping. Rainy am commute.
Special treat. Opera House. Reading homework.
Waiting for the gym to open. Early am. Happy spring.

Opera House Tour!!

A few months ago, I purchased a Living Social deal for a Broadway in Boston membership. One of the reasons I decided to get the deal was that it came with a tour of the Boston Opera House.  Yesterday was finally the day! I was so excited, not only was I going there for the first time, but it was just a gorgeous day out!

 I hopped on the T after work and was honestly giddy like a school girl. I have been so busy with work and school that I haven't really had some good old "explore Boston" fun in a long time.

 Even more exciting for me, is that Les Mis is in town right now and that I will finally be seeing it on stage on Sunday! The idea that the stage would be set for the show when I was there was amazing!

 I have walked by the opera house numerous times, but never been in past the foyer. It is gorgeous! So many ornate decorations and details.

 I learned so much on the tour too. Like how the theater was built in the late 1920s and has been home to many types of theater groups and movie theaters since then. I had no idea that in the early 1990s its owner went broke and that the theater spent about 10 years in a state of shambles until it was restored in the early 2000's.

 Everything was restored to its original state, either through reproductions or repairs. Even the 350 chandeliers were restored, they were able to preserve all but 2 of them. Yes, 350 chandeliers and only 2 aren't original!!

 The red walls are made of single panels of silk. To restore them to their original glory they had to recreate the looms used to make them! Talk about dedication to a restoration.

 The ceilings were created and then resorted using dental tools. I cannot imagine what it was like to stand on a scaffold working on such intricate details. But wow, what a payoff this space is just stunning.

 Our guide was great. She really knew her stuff and clearly loved being able to share all this information.

We went into the theater to learn some more about the 2600 seat venue. It is even more stunning in there, but we couldn't take pics. I snuck this one on my phone (such a rebel, I know) of the crew working on some of the Les Mis sets!! I think I sat there with my mouth open for several minutes!

Now I cannot wait for Sunday to come so I can see it all in action. It will be even more amazing to be in the theater, taking in a show now that I know the amazing history behind this historic theater!

11 weeks around the sun!

Is it possible for a week to be one of your better weeks and one of your toughest weeks? Yes? Ok then that sums my week up. I had a great week of teaching, really felt on, was teaching a ton this week due to various reasons and had an observation that went fantastically. Then there were struggles with a student of ours which made it a hard week, professionally. On top of that I was under the weather and kinda meh. But looking on the bright side: the flowers are blooming, the weather is extremely amazing, and I am full steam ahead towards the end of the semester (oy vey!).

Scav Hunt Sunday: Squash, Shops, and Signs.

Nature's Own:

 Nature's own spaghetti! I love spaghetti squash, it's super delicious and I use it just like you would regular spaghetti with less guilt!

Vintage:

 Tucked in between two apartment buildings is this old style toy and card shop. I love the red awning and vintage toys and games it sells!

Choice:

 I had forgotten I had taken this until I did an upload last night. I thought it hadn't turned out when I first took it, but kinda like what it turned out to be.

People:

 I wanted to be different and this is all I had energy for this week.

Quote:

This little boy was trying so hard to pogo-jump and wasn't giving up - led me to think of this quote!

Finish the sentence.

Outside my window...beginning signs of spring are peaking through. The tree by my window has the early signs of spring and I am so looking forward to seeing the little buds peaking through, soon!

 I'm thinking...about how much I have accomplished since I started Wheelock and how close I am to finishing.  It is remarkable how much I have learned and grown, personally and professionally.

I'm hoping...my lesson that is getting observed Thursday goes smoothly and that the kids love it. I know I can teach the lesson, I just hope the kids aren't bouncing off the walls!

 I'm hearing...the thoughts inside my head and the lovely pre-spring sounds of birds chirping and the breeze blowing. The neighborhood is quiet right now, so so peaceful.

 Some of my favorite things...cool evenings and being able to know that I am in a great space with my course work. It feels great to be able to breathe easier each evening and have some time to relax knowing I am in a great spot, academically.