last week, parker and i headed into the city. it seems we’re doing this at least once a month, often more, and it’s really a nice change of pace. parker and his friend lux are like ten (thirteen?) days apart and, you know, having other mom friends with babes the same age as yours are golden. not only are you in the trenches together but you’re in the very same trench. i have a few friends with kids very close in age to parker and so, we often get together. i call them playdates and my goodness does that feel so very mom of me. what’s next?? i’ll be shopping at talbots.
sometimes we meet somewhere, sometimes one of us hosts. so, this week it was just rachael and i and instead of having her make the trek out of the city, we made the trek in. parker is always game for a day trip. plus, a trip to the city always includes at least one or two firetruck sightings, a few distant sirens, and some good food. bonus if it includes jack, kack, lack, mack, nack, ouack, pack, and quack. (and bonus to you if you got the reference.) this day did not include his duck friends, but he’s forgiven me with the promise of a future sighting.
she suggested cambridge, harvard yard, dwelltime. i said yes. there you have it, the plan was hatched. we drove in and met at dwelltime. my advice: skip the broccoli rabe brioche but do get a latte or cappuccino or whatever hot caffeinated morning drink your heart desires. the other pastries looked delicious too. parker loved his blueberry scone.
then we headed over to harvard yard. from the distance i spotted a food truck parked there and i thought, “DONETHISWASAGOODPLAN.” (though, if i’m not mistaken, neither of us–certainly not me–were aware of the tuesday farmer’s market. a surprise encounter!) i love a good food truck. bon me didn’t disappoint. it really didn’t. rachael and i each got a noodle bowl. i chose soba noodles and rosemary chicken and toasted sesame sauce and it was so good. and so big! i saved some and brought it home where william happily scarfed it down when he came home from school (discovering real leftovers in the fridge upon returning home from school is, for a middle school boy, akin to christmas morning). there’s a huge handful of fresh cilantro in one corner, shredded carrots in another, sprouts and arugula in another still. i give their noodle bowls two thumbs up, since you asked. parker was weirded out by the color of the soba noodles (did he mistake them for worms?). more for me!
before we did that, though, we let the kids run wild at harvard yard, hiding amongst the hundreds of colored chairs there. what an odd thing, so many chairs, so many colors, all scattered haphazardly about the grounds. and what a spot to park yourself for the day, harvard students. grab your homework and pick a chair, any chair.
then i headed to the farmer’s market but only to grab a donut. i’ve had those union square donuts on my mind since spotting them on various instagrams and such. the cupcake craze i really could care less about but i have always loved a donut. i got the vanilla bean and it was really, really good folks. more doughy than dense (i don’t judge. i really like both.) and the icing had actual flecks of vanilla bean in it. nicely done, union square, nicely done.
so, the harvard farker’s market and/or a day in cambridge. farmer’s market every tuesday through the end of october. maybe you’ll check it out.
p.s. we did not try the churn ice cream truck this trip though as far as aesthetic goes, that food truck gets a ten. anyone else tried it??
Okay, Bridget, do tell me…where in the heck are the food trucks in Boston?!?!?! I googled, and I drove around endlessly searching for them. Yes, I'm THAT person that will literally park and walk aimlessly searching for food trucks. It's a disease 🙂
MIT! Which is technically Cambridge, but you know. . . they're right by the Kendall T stop.
There are also some in Copley Square, there's a Clover at Park Street, and I think you can find several in Government Center maybe?
Bridget, the Harvard farmer's market is my fave!
boston food truck app! it's awesome!
Looks so Beautiful there! Love the crunchy leaves on the ground, Parker's adorableness as always, sweet little friends, yummy food and those chairs….they are so hip!
i need to try more food trucks. live about a mile away from harvard though in north cambridge 🙂 such a great area.
you hit it on the head. you need those mamas with little ones in the same age range. it is the only way to be sane.
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-baby-cold.html
The "shopping at talbots" line made me laugh so hard. I tell my mom this stuff all the time. Especially when I confessed to her that I get the functionality of a mini van now that I have three kids under the age of four. But I think I might hold out on that one until one of my kids starts soccer…can't have a soccer mom van with out the soccer… 🙂
mini vans are the bomb (not even kidding. it's what i drive!)
I think the one with the vacuum in it might be in my future!!!
Cambridge is so pretty! I've only been to Boston once, but the majority of our time was in Cambridge vs Boston proper and I loved it!
Union Square Donuts are on my list of donuts to eat and SOON.
that one of you two is just adorable! is it already cold out there! we are still in upper 70's weather. can't say i'm complaining
today was 80 here! those fall days were apparently just a tease!
wish i could check it out. all your photos are so perfectly fall, i'm a bit jealous 😉
I miss city life so much! What a fun day you had.
I need to head up there. Fabulous. And I'll go eat that ice cream and get a full report.
Ok well I did know it was the farmer's market day but I wanted to surprise you with all the adventure of it! And I was just recounting the dwelltime experience to Joanie yesterday day.
Joanie: how does Bridget stay so skinny?
Me: Genetics. Although, she IS one of those people who always gets a vegetable. I mean, she eats all the time, but somehow she finds the healthy stuff. Case in point: I take her to one of my favorite bakeries and she orders the BROCCOLI RABE brioche. And then she is surprised when it doesn't taste very good.
LOL.
I think this day at Harvard will be one of those nice ones I look back on in deep winter.
of course you knew it was farmer's market day. you're so in on everything boston… they probably tweeted @girlpolish special that morning to remind you?
hahaha, i'm laughing at your conversation with joanie. and next time, i'm skipping the vegetable at dwelltime.
harvard yard in deep snow would be fun too. i'll brave it!
Thanks for this great advice dear i am very inspired of your blog.
Rating Therapist
I am literally obsessed with that pic of you and P with the beanies.
oh you GUYS! are super stylish 🙂 really! i'm loving your outfits – as always 🙂 Parker definitely looks like a very cool young-fella! 🙂 well done you mama – great stylist for sure! 🙂
ah. I know me and the Patton terrors would ruin the spirit of these days for you and Rachael but I would kill to tag along just once. Missoura is so blah.
spirit would not be ruined. only livened.
It is so interesting that you mention the cupcake craze and then say you are more into doughnuts. I live in Chicago, and gourmet doughnuts are taking over the city. It is fascinating. One restaurant basically took an unused coat closet and turned it into a walk up window for doughnuts, and it set off a huge craze. Anyway, my point is… I bet the Boston area will go doughnut crazy soon 🙂 I honestly don't know if I like doughnuts or cupcakes more… but I like that doughnuts can be breakfast.