Massachusetts
October 2020
This was our busiest day! We walked over 12 miles in just this day alone! We started off by getting brunch in Harvard Square at Bluestone Lane. Bluestone Lane is an Australian-inspired coffee, cafe, and lifestyle brand that provides a daily escape through premium coffee and delicious healthy eats. I loved the relaxed vibe that the cafe offered. I ordered the B.L.A.T.E. (crispy bacon, arugula, avocado, tomato, fried egg, garlic aioli, brioche roll, and served with potato wedges) for $13.50. I loved my meal, would rate it a 10/10, and I would eat it everyday! Hannah and Alexa also ordered the same thing! Hannah gave it a rating of 9/10 because her egg was slightly undercooked. She said it was a light but filling meal and she would eat it everyday as well! We all agreed that the avocado to bread ratio was the perfect amount. Alexa ordered her meal with an iced latte and she gave it a rating of 10/10. She especially enjoyed the sauce and the bun! Katie ordered the Brekkie Board (half serving of avocado smash and collective granola) for $16.00 and an iced matcha latte. She said that her iced matcha latte was good but not sweet and that the avocado to toast ratio was the perfect amount. Overall, she gave her meal a rating of 9/10.
I would highly recommend making reservations for Bluestone Lane! We made reservations and once we arrived we were seated immediately! I had a lovely experience at Bluestone Lane and I am looking forward to my next visit!
After our brunch, we walked through the campuses of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We went to the Garment District that sells new and used apparel including vintage pieces. I bought a sweatshirt and a rain jacket while we were there. I had a lot of fun shopping at the Garment District with my friends and seeing all of the unique pieces! From the Garment District, we continued on walking. We walked down Newbury Street, went through Faneuil Hall Marketplace, walked on part of the Freedom Trail, walked through the Financial District, Boston Common, Quincy Market, and the Massachusetts State House. Newbury Street is Boston's most enchanting street filled with several blocks of shopping and dining. Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a shopping center comprised of many stores, restaurants, three historic market buildings, and a promenade. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile long path that goes through downtown Boston and passes by 16 locations significant to the history of the United States. The Financial District is the downtown’s business nerve center, it is crowded with stately banks, high-rise offices and sleek condos. Boston Common is a central public park in downtown Boston. The Quincy Market is a historic market complex near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston. I did some shopping at the Quincy Market and I got a Harvard University crewneck. The Massachusetts State House is the state capital and seat of government for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston.
After our long and busy day of walking all over Boston and Cambridge, we sat down for dinner at an Italian restaurant named Benevento. Benevento is a popular place for pizza and other Italian favorites. We were seated downstairs which I preferred because we only had a few other tables by us. The restaurant was very cute and had a vase of real flowers on the table. They were also extremely accommodating and took us in a hour before our reservation was set for. I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana with Angel Hair Pasta (boneless breaded cutlet enveloped with a light tomato sauce and baked with fresh mozzarella cheese) for $21.95. I also ordered a Sex on the Beach to drink (peach vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry, and orange juice) for $12.00. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and the generous portion sizes. I was able to save half of my meal to bring home and I would rate my meal a 9/10. Hannah ordered the same meal and drink as myself. She enjoyed the meal and the drink and said that the large portion size made the meal well worth the price. Overall, she would rate her meal a 9/10 and said that it is way better than Lean Cuisine. Alexa ordered the Veal Parmigiana with Penne Pasta for $23.95. She enjoyed her meal and said that it was comparable to other Italian Restaurants. Overall, she gave it an 8/10. Katie ordered the Pumpkin Ravioli as an appetizer (finished with a butter sage sauce, honey, and sprinkled Pecorino Romano cheese) for $11.95 and the Grilled Fig Salad (fresh baby greens tossed in our homemade sherry vinaigrette dressing, garnished with Prosciutto di Parma, grilled figs, goat cheese, and then sprinkled with our signature crushed walnut topping) for $14.95. Katie was disappointed that the bread for the table was not served warm and did not have oil. She also thought that the temperature of the restaurant was chilly. She gave her Pumpkin Ravioli an 8/10 because they tasted more like a dessert, she gave her Grilled Fig Salad a 5/10 because there was too much dressing. Overall, she rated her entire meal a 7/10. After we finished our meals, the staff boxed up our leftovers for us.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant! I found the staff to be extremely friendly and accommodating. Lastly, I had a very delicious and affordable meal! After a great meal, dessert was a must! We left Benevento and headed a block over to Mike's Pastry.
Mike's Pastry is a renowned Italian bake shop that provides cannolis in multiple flavors, gelatis, and biscottis ever since 1946. Mike's Pastry was no joke, the line went out the door and down the street. We quickly found out that the wait was well worth it for their famous cannolis. Mike's Pastry is cash only so make sure you come prepared! I ordered the peanut butter cannoli and it was quite possibly the best thing I have ever ate! Our long day came to an end after Mike's Pastry and we took the train home. We were exhausted but I was ready to do it all again tomorrow!
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