Back from Buenos Aires and overwhelmed by work didn't leave a lot of time to blog about experiences. On the top of the list is dinner at Casa Coupage with previous guests of Encore.
The place is run as a sort of private dinner place, no signs at all. You ring a doorbell and are greeted by the chef. Definitely one of the greatest meals I had for quite some time. The wine pairing and the presentation of it was an event of itself.
Before the dessert was served you were asked to test your senses. Little bottles were moved around you were supposed to identify the scent. Fun!

 
The B&B I stayed in couldn't have been a better choice. It felt like sharing a friends house. Situated in the Palermo district of town it is close to a variety of great restaurants (see above), shopping in Palermo Soho and a short walk to the subway, which gets you to downtown. Please visit Tripadvisor and read all the overwhelming good reviews. Run by a German and his Polish partner you experience European hospitality at it's best. Would they be in Boston, they would be serious competition for Encore!

The Collecion de Arte Amelia Lacroze de Fortabat in a new building designed by Rafael Vignoly was simply overwhelming, because totally unexpected. It looks like this lady was what Isabella Stuart Gardener used to be for Boston. It is located in the Puerto Madero area. which has been redeveloped with international flair, drawing interest from renown architects such as Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster, César Pelli and Phillippe Starck. Don't miss to visit the Faena Hotel with the impressive interior design by Phllippe Starck.  

AMALIA LACROZE DE FORTABAT

 A "Corperate Baby Shower" brought us to the North End over last weekend, which like the South End is well known for it's Italian restaurants. I always wonder why visitors to Boston only know about the North End. So we have been like visitors in our own town. Our pick Nico Ristorante turned out to be a a great choice! Their risotto was to die for. So in the future when I am asked at the breakfast table about restaurant recommendations in the North End I can whole heartedly recommend Nico's. Usually our guests understand that we don't venture out a lot of the South End, because we have about 35-40 choices in the neighborhood.

 The Dutch conductor Jaap vanZweeden makes his BSO debut at Symphony Hall tonight with a Beethoven and Rachmaninoff program. BSO currently lacking a music director brings a lot of new faces into town, which is a great opportunity. But in the long run we all are looking forward to find out who the next music director will be. We would be happy to preorder tickets for you at a small discount.



Tomorrow is the big day. My partner's Zeitgeist Stage company will open Alan Ayckbourn's play Time of My Life. Please check out www.zeitgeiststage.com to find out more about the production. The partial cafe seating in theater will make for a special experience. Enjoy conversation with the producer, director, designer during breakfast while I am gone to Argentina (Buenos Aires) next week

                                     

Boston is exciting in Winter too. Allthough the BSO lost it's Musical Director and deals with quite a few cancellations, the musicians decided to showcase their wind and string players in an exciting program with music by Copland, Tomasi, Strauss and Tchaikowsky. The second part of the program showcased conductor Giancarlo Guerrero (new to Boston audiences), with an astonishing debut. Strawinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps  sounded so fresh.

On January 19th the new wing of the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum designed by Renzo Piano opened to the public. One more addition to your itenerary on future visits to town.