I don’t know where the time went, but these are from last Wednesday when I went to cupcakecamp boston with my friend Rachel and two of my roommates (NB: none of those ladies went to Pomona. so there). The lighting in there was awful, but you may recognize the giant room from the winter farmer’s market picture. (#awesomethingsthathappeninsomerville). In this giant room were giant tables filled with cupcakes. All free. Provided by bakeries and amateurs alike. I probably ate the equivalent of over 10 mini-cupcakes. And could have eaten more had I brought more water. I was definitely the glutton of the group. But the cupcakes were SO GOOD. Best Wednesday.
Cauliflower cake. One of the more delicious things I’ve made since moving to Boston. I now add black sesame seeds to pretty much everything.
I’ve got one thing that I can’t use for five fingers ever again. No more “never have I ever fired a gun.” Because now, not only have a fired a pistol, I’ve fired a submachine gun! Specifically a Glock and a MP5. And the guys working behind the counter claim that I’m the best shot with the submachine they’ve ever seen. One of them may just have been flirting with me. But I was definitely damn good. First magazine out of the machine gun went straight through the bullseye. It was the most badass I’ve felt in my entire life. Sad sad though that my friend didn’t tell me the target wasn’t hanging straight in this picture.
So, a couple of weeks ago my baby sister came to visit during her spring break, which was absolutely lovely, and not just because it meant I got to spend the weekend watching obscure British television and prancing around Boston to my favorite foodie spots. No, I also thought to myself, this is it. This is the week I will reclaim my dedication to my tumblblog, because not only is my sister well-versed in foreign pop culture, she is also attending art school/a fantastic photographer. So I knew she’d take many brilliant photographs, including some that made me look half-decent maybe, and I would be so stoked to share them with you, what’s left of my readers. Unfortunately, though she did take many photos, they have only just arrived in my inbox today (plus I managed to ruin every last one that included my awkward visage). But here you have it. Belated Boston St. Patty’s parade! Courtesy of my favorite sister.
Oh yeah hay GUESS WHAT. I have FRIENDS. So, okay, sure, all of the friends in this photo went to Pomona, so it doesn’t represent the full spectrum of progress that I’ve made on developing a dynamic social life. Friday just happened to be a Pomona-centric night. But if my friend ever manages to post the photos from Saturday, I’ll put one of those up here to prove the broadness of my social circle. But after this weekend in particular, when I hung out with actual groups of people, rather than making isolated frienddates, on two separate evenings, I am feeling pretty stoked about Boston. Now if only the T would stay open until a reasonable hour.
I went to the Somerville winter farmer’s market today. Its in a building called “The Armory,” which I had heard described as castle-like. I was imagining some ancient stone structure used in the revolutionary war, and was instead met with this turn-of-the-century monstrosity as my roommate led me over the top of a hill. The sterile awkwardness of the exterior of the building belied the vibrancy of activity going on inside. My hopes were not high for a New England farmer’s market in the middle of February. But the vendors had offerings well beyond the expected root vegetables and winter greens (and what they had in that category was much more beautiful and delicious than I expected). There were multiple stands with local cheese, enough bread to feed a small army, people at a counter hand-pouring coffee, multiple stands of local seafood, and meat. Eggs, tomatoes, apples, apple cider, DONUTS, watermelon radishes (awesomely delicious), gentler greens like baby spinach, arugula and tat soi. It was seriously beautiful, and actually made me miss cooking, which I’ve not been doing enough of. My purchases were carrots, a parsnip, a sweet potato, a head of cabbage, a coffee and a donut to munch on while I perused, and a baguette and fig-stuffed mozerella to split with my roommate, most of it organic, and all of it for under $20. Awesomesauce.
So! This is a blot I took this week. The results were solid. See those beautiful changes in protein levels? They’re in allll the right places baby. They will hopefully some day be published! Though probably in a paper without my name. :(
I was greeted unexpectedly by these guys as I walked to lab yesterday, but I didn’t have my camera to snap an image myself. But they were a happy surprise on a gray going-in-to-work Sunday.
Chinese New Year Parade
On Sunday, Bostonians celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Hare, 4709, with a traditional Lion Dance Parade throughout Chinatown.
