The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

Here is a special treat: a viewing of the Copley Plaza Hotel. I LOVE beautiful hotels and this one is breathtaking. It is historic and grand with decadent, luxurious interiors. Naturally, it has seen its share of famous visitors including jazz greats like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. Countless other distinguished people have stayed here too, like President William McKinley and Babe Ruth. Clearly it has something for everyone. Stop by like I did if you are in the Back Bay neighborhood and marvel at its charm. You won't be disappointed. 

Formaggio Kitchen

Yesterday morning I braved the winter cold and drove to Formaggio Kitchen, an institution in Cambridge and a foodie's paradise. In my research to find the area's best grocer and specialty food store, Formaggio Kitchen's name came up again and again. It was only a matter of time before I visited it myself. I am not much of a cook myself, but I have embraced the food movements of the past ten years as much as anyone (one of my favorite articles on the subject: "How Food Replaced Art as High Culture"). Moreover, I love nothing more than smart packaging. So it was a real treat to visit Formaggio Kitchen and take notice of its wonderfully curated selection of items. The tea in the last picture, for example, is made by a company I have followed since their beginning, but never had the opportunity to try (they are based in New York). I cannot tell you how delightful it was to stumble upon their goods and have the chance to purchase them. In addition to my Bellocq tea, I left with a beer vinegar from Italy, a pair of raspberry french macaroons, hot chocolate from France and honey from Napa Valley. All in all a good start! They are first and foremost a cheese store, but I was too in awe of their specialty goods to give my full attention to their artisan cheese. A reason to quickly return...

Formaggio Kitchen also offers a number of classes and serves as a true community center. A sampling of their classes includes:

-The Science of Cheese

-Beer and Cheese 101

-Hands-on Pasta Workshop

-The Art + Science of Salami 

-Brave the Caves: An Underground Cheese Lesson 

-Feeling Sheepish: Brebis, Pecorino, and Beyond

I should mention that most of their classes for the next two months area already sold out...

For those who do not live in the area, they have a full shop online where you can purchase any of their items as well as baskets and gift certificates. You can even purchase a Mac and Cheese Bundle, which includes Cabot Clothbound Cheddar cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano and Marcel Petite Comte (and pasta too!). 

Sounds perfect for a cold winter's evening....! 

Trinity Church

 As many times as I have visited Boston, I never once thought of entering Trinity Church. Of course, I have passed by it on numerous occasions and noticed its architecture with awe or indifference, depending on the day. I've seen its name appear time and time again on Boston travel guides and yet somehow ignored the recommendation to tour it myself. Until this past weekend, that is. On Sunday after the 11:15 service, I took advantage of Trinity Church's only free tour of the week, led by an incredibly informative docent named Peter. Thanks to his enlightening commentary, I learned a great deal about the church's origins and the individuals who played a part in its creation.

 It was a man by the name of H.H. Richardson who designed this great building, in a style that became known as Richardsonian Romanesque or Romanesque Revival. Taking inspiration from the Romanesque style of earlier periods, Richardson added color and warmth, thereby illuminating the space. The result of this richness, along with a Greek cross plan and the total lack of any columns, is that visitors feel extremely welcomed. I certainly did. An young artist called John La Farge (along with his team) was the one actually responsible for the 22,000 square feet of decoration. Miraculously, it took him and his team only five months to complete all the murals and other decorative features. 

The stained glass came from a variety of different studios, including William Morris's and Clayton & Bell. Edward Burne-Jones, famed member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, was a part of Morris's team and left his mark on more than one stained glass. I had no idea. What was both thrilling and interesting was how unique each set of stained glass windows looked, depending on which studio was responsible. In a way, it's strange that they all call Trinity their home because each has its own style and personality. 

This spring, PBS will air a special on the "Ten Buildings That Changed America." Trinity Church is number two on their list and after touring its interior, I can see why. Though the architect and a majority of the artists studied in Europe (and most of the stained glass came from European studios), the church feels distinctively American. It does not feel at all like the grand cathedrals of France or Belgium that I toured years ago. The materials are different; the history is different. It did not feel stark or isolating. On the contrary, the site felt truly democratic in nature. And when I left, I left feeling proud of its presence. It truly was spellbinding. 

*** 

For those with curious minds, the other nine buildings that changed America (according to PBS) are:

1.Virginia State Capitol-Richmond, Virginia, 1788

2. Wainwright Building-St. Louis, Missouri, 1891

3. Robie House-Chicago, IL, 1910

4. Highland Park Ford Plant-Highland Park, Michigan, 1910

5. Southdale Center-Edina, Minnesota, 1956

6. Seagram Building-New York, New York, 1958

7. Dulles International Airport-Chantilly, Virginia, 1962

8. Vanna Venturi House-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1964

9. Walt Disney Concert Hall-Los Angeles, CA-2003