Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!

I love seeing live music, and I don't do it nearly as often as I used to. Luckily for me, I have some friends that are very good about keeping track of when their fav acts are in town and letting the rest of us know. Now, I love watching a band perform live, but what I really love is watching a band that doesn't just perform, but interacts with each other and the audience. I'll throw out here some of my favs to see live, so you can keep your eyes peeled for when their in your neck of the woods - Guster, Reel Big Fish, Panic at the Disco, They Might Be Giants, and the talented lady that you're looking at: Missy Higgins.

Missy is an Australian singer/songwriter. She played The Paradise, and our friend Ros (who is also Australian) decided that seeing Missy would be the perfect way to celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday (again) to Ros! To the rest of you: do yourself a favor and listen to this woman sing. I'm currently loving 100 Round the Bend from her new album, but anything you see on that page I linked won't be bad (except the few videos that snuck in and aren't Missy!).

Aside from just being talented and wonderful to listen to, the awesome part of seeing her live was hearing the stories in between the songs - about her experience writing the songs, what they're about, why she wrote them. The best stories though, were about her experiences touring - her first time hearing a Boston accent and realizing that it just sounds funny, but then there's a few "Aussie" words in there every once in a while (Aussies and Bostonians drop their "r"s in the same manner), or about how a few nights ago in NYC she thought she was witnessing a drug deal, but really it was a guy that tried scalping her tickets to her own show.

Don't miss her live if you have the chance!

Lyons Iron Works

This is what the old Filene's building looks like these days (Here's an older photo of the same side of the building). I love how the iron workers always find a way to label the buildings they are working on - click to enlarge so you can see the "signature" here. Demo is kind of like an archaeological dig - you wouldn't find things like this if you weren't tearing down the walls, right??

Monumental Works

These Monumental Works by Anthony Quinn sit in front of the Intercontinental Hotel on Atlantic Avenue. Quinn is also a very well practiced actor, and has an impressive collection of works that you can check out on his site. The news blurb on Anthony Quinn's website reads as follows:

February 27, 2008
InterContinental Hotel Boston
Anthony Quinn
Foundation opens a public exhibition program at InterContinental Hotel Boston. Sponsored by Carnegie Abbey Club, Paolino Properties, Athena Group, and Boston Redevelopment Authority, the exhibition brings art into the public realm and celebrates the global community and human spirit through Anthony Quinn’s Monumental Works created in 1991 along with additional sculpture. The exhibition is a realization of a goal created by Anthony Quinn Foundation (AQF), to make artwork more prominent by making it part of the everyday experience (outside the walls of museums).

Attention Dogs:

I made my way along the Rose Kennedy Greenway on my way to the T tonight (after a ridiculously D-E-LICIOUS dinner with a friend at Sel de la Terre!) and this sign cracked me up! Could have been the wine. Regardless, I had to stop and take a photo. Click to enlarge!

We sprang ahead...

...and maybe the spring is actually coming? The buds on this tree would certainly lead you to believe that spring is on it's way, even if it's still in the 30's and freezing out!

Click to enlarge

Temptation

This is the very tempting window of Artu on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. I walk by here three times a week when I go to the chiropractor, and every time I do a double take thinking about how inviting and delicious this place looks. I'm going to need to actually eat there sometime soon!

Click to enlarge so you can check out the plates they are showing off!

Angell Memorial Plaza

This is the second part of the ASPCA Monument - the memorial to George Thorndike Angell. Angell was a lawyer and philanthropist who was born in Sturbridge, MA, attended Darmouth College and Harvard Law School, and then practiced law in Boston. In 1868 he founded the MSPCA. There are also two animal medical centers that bear Angell's name - one on South Huntington in Jamaica Plain and the other on the island of Nantucket.

ASPCA Monument

In PO Square, just across the street from the grassy bit where everyone flocks to have lunch when it's warm out, is the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Monument. Let me tell you that I would NEVER have known what this was and had never spent the time to actually look at it instead of just walk by or sit on the benches around it if the fire escape plan for my old office didn't involve meeting at the ASPCA Monument. I first saw the plan and thought "who even knew that was an ASPCA Monument in that little triangle?!" Last week I ran to CVS for some tissues and grabbed my camera so I could get a few shots of this since it is just across from the CVS at the corner of Congress and Milk.

The monument is essentially two parts: the part you see here, which is a circular slab of granite with pond scene depicted on top of it and a quote about protecting animals carved around the base of it, and a large flagpole and monument to George Thorndike Angell, the found of the MSPCA. I'll show you that tomorrow!

I wanna see the sunshine after the rain!

Not much of a story to go with this pic, this was taken near my work.

It poured earlier that day, rainy winter days are depressing, but on my way back from lunch (take out at Anna's Taqueria, yummy cheap fresh-mex), everything was glistening!! I really like how even though the sun is hiding behind some clouds, you can see a clear shadow of the tree.

Turn Around, Bright Eyes!

Last week Two weeks ago (Wednesday to be exact) was the last total lunar eclipse until 2010, and Sheepie (being from Australia) isn't one to brave the cold, so she sent her co-worker's boyfriend, Troy, out to capture it for us. Okay, just kidding - he got the photos, and she coerced him to share them with us so we could choose our favorite and post it here.

Click to enlarge! One of the bright "dots" on the bottom right (Troy, correct me if I'm wrong!) is Saturn.

Thanks, Troy!!!

Flat Black

Two doors up from Dark Horse Antiques, who had the cute pop bottles in their windows, is Flat Black Coffee Co. There is a guy that works there named Chris, and he makes the BEST iced mocha on earth. Flat Black serves mostly shade grown, fair trade, and organic coffees. They also have a number of delicious teas, which you can also buy loose if you'd like (I'm a huge fan of the Moroccan Mint Green Tea). They roast their own beans here at the Dorchester location, and if you're downtown and need an iced mocha fix, they have a second location in the financial district. They're opening their third location, also in Dorchester, before the end of the month.

You wouldn't think much about a coffee shop's windows display-wise, but these guys do a great job of decorating for holidays/season, and I think the coffee beans in the planters on their stoop are downright awesome. I love having an option of a locally owned, delicious product producing, creative, community involved company in my little neck of the woods!

BPL

The Lower Mills Branch of the Boston Public Library is located just behind the Common Ground Cafe I showed you a few days ago. The Lower Mills Branch is a small branch and about half of it is the kids/young adult section. The majority of the adult books they have are mystery/crime. There's not much of a fiction selection if you aren't interested in mystery/crime, although my boyfriend managed to find about 6 months worth of books there before he ran out of material. I haven't had a lot of luck finding books I'm interested in, so I acquire my books through other means (buying, from friends) and then donate them! Hopefully someone else will benefit from my awesome book choices down the road. ;)

Darkhorse Antiques

Since we saw the Common Ground Cafe yesterday, let's hang out in Lower Mills for a little bit. These adorable little bottles were in the window of Darkhorse Antiques a few weeks ago and I couldn't walk past without stopping to take a photos. Darkhorse is on the corner of Adams St and Washington St in Lower Mills. It's a great place that is overflowing with antiques and fun to poke around in. It's one of those stores that is so full of stuff you have to be careful when you're turning around, and I love places like that!

Darkhorse has a GREAT sign on the front of their shop, and I'll have to get a shot of it because I don't have one. The first time I saw their sign, I thought for sure they were a little pub, until I looked down and saw the fabulous antiques in their windows!

CDP Monthly Theme Day: Grafitti or Street Mural

This is the mural outside of the Common Ground Cafe, in Dorchester Lower Mills. The Common Ground Cafe serves all organic food and is run by the Twelve Tribes - a Christian community. They have a number of cafe locations throughout the US, including a second MA location in Hyannis (Cape Cod). They have communities throughout the world, including France, Australia, Spain, Canada, Brazil, the UK, Germany, and Argentina. Each of their communities seems to have a business associated with it - cafes, markets selling organic/eco-friendly goods, or a family outfitter. Here's a little blurb from the Twelve Tribes site about their communities:

We live together in households, clans, and tribes, sharing our possessions in common. We strongly support marriage, and we teach our children at home. We dress modestly, eat wholesome food, work hard, pray together, and celebrate our life in music and dance…

Click on the image above to enlarge and see the detail in the mural. You can see our other photos of murals here, and photos we've taken of graffiti here.

There are currently 144 blogs participating in the CDP Monthly Theme Day, so take a trip around the world without leaving your seat by checking out these links:
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,