New England Food Show 2018

The 2018 New England Food Show invaded the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from February 25th through the 27th. For three days, keynote speakers including Stephen Kaufer, President and CEO of TripAdvisor, Inc. took to the main stage to address expo attendees. Culinary and mixology demonstrations wowed the audience with a medley of sights and delectable dishes were served in every aisle. New this year was the expo's technology pavilion,which featured the latest advances in the biz. For those looking for a more formal instruction at the show, education sessions featured a wide-range of topics including, "Financial Tools to Let You Do What You Love" and "The Future of Mixology." No matter what your interest, the New England Food Show allowed attendees to explore their niche and to learn more about advancements in technology through a new pavilion paired with educational sessions, keynote spearkers, and demonstrations. This year's show wowed. Mark your calendars now for next year's New England Food Show taking place: March 3th to the 5th, 2019!      

Boston Flower & Garden Show

The Boston Flower & Garden Show took place from March 16 through the 20th.

The sights, sounds, and sweet aroma of spring were in the air at the Seaport World Trade Center. Features of the show including a wide array of demonstrations and lectures with topics for everyone so the novice and knowledgeable gardener could both feel equally at home at the expo.

Catch a glimpse of just some of the remarkable flower landscapes and  arrangements featured throughout:

The Red Balloon attended the Art in Bloom demonstration. An artist from the Museum of Fine Arts created a floral arrangement before the audiences' very eyes, based on the painting featured to the left. On the right is the finished floral product, a truly gorgeous work of art. 

Not to be missed, there were actual chickens at the Flower & Garden Show:

During the Flower &  Garden's preview show, American Idol alum Haley Reinhart performed a number of songs including an amazing rendition of "Can't Help Falling in Love." The show was informative, educational, and absolutely breathtaking. Here's to next year's show! 

Sights & Sounds: Part 8

The Boston Wine Expo

The Boston Wine Expo will return February 13th-14th. The annual event if celebrating its 25th anniversary and no doubt there will be plenty of wine from around the world. Attendees of the Grand Tasting on Sunday will experience not just wine from over 200 producers but also food from across the globe. The Grand Tasting floor is dividing into different countries and The Red Balloon did enjoy spending Sunday in "Italy" as the wine and food experience is second to none. It is truly like being taken to another country...no passport needed! 

Check back soon for The Red Balloon's Boston Wine Expo full review!

The Lunar New Year

In honor of the Lunar New Year, the Lion Dance Parade will take place on Sunday, February 21st in Chinatown.

Hail Caesar!

The latest film by the Cohen brothers (which doesn't seem like a Cohen brothers film at all) is now playing in theaters. Starring George Clooney among a ton of other celebrities.

Happy Valentine's Day weekend!

~The Red Balloon

Salem: Sights & Sounds

Get ready for a special edition of Sights and Sounds. Today we look at the city of Salem. Best known for it's connection to the Salem Witch Trials, the city has quite a bit to offer in terms of culture, art, and more.

Here's a look at some highlights from The Red Balloon's recent travels in the city of Salem.

First, we start with the Salem Witch Museum, established in 1692. Any visit to Salem is not complete with a trip to this place.

Next, the Peabody Essex Museum offers an array of art including the Yin Yu Tang Ancestral Home, pictured below.

The House of Seven Gables is not to be missed. The secret stairway is one that a visitor who had not been to the house in nearly 50 years still remembered while taking another tour of the house. 

Artwork is in the center of the city.

A replica of the schooner Fame from the War of 1812 is another must see while in the city.

Happy Travels!

Sights & Sounds: Part VI

The Red Balloon  begins the Sixth part in the Sight and Sounds series.

Viga Boston offers a variety of options including catering. The menu offers a wide array of choices including vegetarian options. Viga has recently add a chocolate fondue option to their catering menu.

The above life-size chess game is currently at the Sheraton Boston. The reason behind the gigantic game: Mathworks is in town and they've brought with them both the game and a hashtag: #makeyourmove.

Quentin Tarantino's latest film is still in theaters. If you catch the 70mm Roadshow it includes a program and be prepared: there's an intermission as well. Intermissions were typical of movies made back in the 1950s through the 1970s: leave it to Tarantino to go all "old school."

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. weekend!

Sights & Sounds: Part Cinco

The fifth installment in The Red Balloon's Sight & Sounds series.

First, if you haven't seen the Museum of Natural History at Harvard there's no better time than the present.

Not only is the museum filled with a gigantic array of artifacts that you will not find anywhere else but it has some pretty impressively LARGE collections (see one above) which spans an entire wall.

Below, there is an actual skin of a zebra which someone tried to bring with them through Logan Airport (and you thought you had a long wait in line during your last trip to the airport, imagine being behind that individual!)

Admission to the Museum of Natural History includes admission to the Peabody Museum which contains more collections so be sure to stop be there as well. The photo below is from the Peabody's Annual Day of the Dead Celebration.

Happy Travels!

Sights & Sounds: Part Quattro

Sights & Sounds coming at you:

New England Aquarium:

The Aquarium provides a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown Boston. Outside the Aquarium and open to the public, anyone is welcome to see the Seals up close. Inside the Aquarium, there is much aquatic life including the penguins (pictured above.)

Museum of Fine Arts:

On a snowy day or any day, the MFA offers a great array of art. One of the most current exhibits is Rembrandt and Vermeer.

The Lawn on D:

The playground in South Boston recently announced that they would be opening again in May of 2016, so mark your calendars!

Once:
At the Shubert Theatre, The Red Balloon had the opportunity to see the musical the same day that a record breaking event took place there. 250 guitar players performed the show's smash, "Falling Slowly," which set the record for the most people playing the song together on guitar.

Sights and Sounds in the City: Holiday Edition

Sights and Sounds: get your eyes and ears prepared for the latest edition of what has become a favorite.

BSA Space Gingerbread Exhibition:

This annual competition is quite fierce. Located on Congress Street the BSA space provides ample room to display the Gingerbread works of art. A photo from last year which I call, "Edible Eastie" ~

Let's that forget that the upcoming ice sculptures will soon be featured as part of First Night. If you find yourself in Boston be sure to check them out.

It wouldn't be the Holiday Edition without a photo of good ol' Saint Nick himself. In this photo we don't know if he'll ever get to town...considering he's riding the MBTA!

Last but not least....

Let's not forget this photo from winter in the city last year:

Just in case your forgot what Winter looks like here in Beantown: that image should be enough to open the floodgate of memories : )

Sights & Sounds: Part Deux

Sight and Sounds: Take Two:

First, there are the Duck Tour which are still available for a Holiday Tour around the city for part of the month of December. You'll get a history lesson while seeing the sights and let's not forget you get to give your very best "Quack" at unsuspecting people walking the streets of Boston.

Then, there's the annual New England Dessert Festival which exhorts all who partake to eat dessert first. When attending be sure to bring your appetite because the event always features breathtaking desserts and has in the past featured the world's largest cannoli.

Last but not least, the Greenway Carousel has become part of the landscape across from Haymarket. The carousel features characters that were sketched by Boston area school children. I've included one character below:

Until next time, hope you are enjoying the sights and sounds in the city!

Sights & Sounds in the City: Part One

Now that we are nearly at Thanksgiving, it seems like a good time to highlight the "Sights & Sounds of the City" (The first of a ten part series.) With that fitting title, let us begin the journey ~

Skywalk

Can you think of a better place to start than 52 floors above the city. It is a must-see and a great space with 360 degree views of the city. Whether it is summer (as seen above) or winter (as seen below) the views are breathtaking. If you are visiting for the first time, I recommend taking the small walkie talkie device with you which will provide you with a guided tour of what you are seeing through the glass. Soak in the sights because there is no shortage of beauty from any vantage point here.

Swan Boats

A must see in the Public Garden is the Swan Boats. A scenic tour while also a peaceful boat ride and a chance to see both Romeo and Juliet (the swans that is!) The photo below is from when Swan Lake performed on the Swan Boats as an added sight to see!

Liquid Art House

If you haven't visited this restaurant and art house it is a place to see both for its art of the visual kind and of the edible kind. The outer facade contains large windows and is easy to walk by but be sure to turn back around and walk inside since the Liquid Art House is truly a hidden gem. I took the photo below from inside the Liquid Art House but....I will not say where ~

A Highly Unusual Sight to See

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take this portrait. The rabbit happened to be eating when I spotted him or her but stopped and looked DIRECTLY at the camera for his or her close-up. This rabbit just happened to be minutes from Kenmore Square, stopped along Commonwealth avenue to sample some vegetation.

HONK
If you missed it this year be sure to take the time to see HONK - there is seriously something for everyone at Honk.

Stay tuned to The Red Balloon for a Blog and Fly post in which I review Flywheel.