Le Mois de la Francophonie continues with an evening of literature featuring Québécoise author Marie-Josée Duquette. We will learn about her two latest books; one that explores Boston through the eyes of a foreigner, while the other chronicles the difficult story of losing the father of her child to a cruel disease. This discussion will be led en français (in French).

About Marie-Josée Duquette: Marie-Josée Duquette is a Quebecer who has been living in Boston since 2010. Holder of a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and a DESS in communication-marketing from HEC, she writes articles on a blog that tells the different facets of American life.

Fourth Annual Kentucky Derby Party at OAK Long Bar + Kitchen

On Saturday, May 5, giddyup to OAK Long Bar + Kitchen for its fourth annual Kentucky Derby Party! Mint Juleps will be flowing all afternoon, along with many Derby-inspired special cocktails. Purchase of a specialty cocktail gets you a raffle ticket with a randomly selected horse’s number – after the race winning tickets can be redeemed for a Maker’s Mark prize. The regular food menu will be available plus two southern-inspired specials: Hush Puppies and Hot Fried Chicken Sliders.

Derby attire is highly encouraged. Break out your finest seersucker, sundresses, bowties and hats – prizes will be awarded to “Best Dressed” and “Best Hat.” A big screen TV will be in the dining room for guests to catch all the action.

New this year: Saddle up at the best seats in the house! For $750, reserve a High-Top table with standing room for 12 people at 4:00pm in the heart of the restaurant. Table will include a round of Mint Juleps, two bottles of G.H. Mumm Courdon Rouge (the Official Champagne of the Kentucky Derby) and plenty of bar snacks. Only two High-Tops available, will book fast. Call 617-267-5222 to reserve.

 No tickets required. Join the party starting at 4:00pm; the post time is 6:34pm and race time is 6:46pm. For reservations, please call 617-267-5222 or book via OpenTable.

DRINK SPECIALS

 Mint Julep – 15

Maker’s Mark Bourbon, mint, lemon, crushed ice

 Triple Crown – 15

peach infused Maker’s 46 old-fashioned

 Winner’s Circle – 18

G.H. Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge, raspberries, lemon, titos vodka

 Talk Derby To Me – 15

house rum blend, fresh juices, crushed ice

 Horsing Around – 15

Sipsmith Gin, cucumber, jalapeno, agave, lemon

 Frozen Margarita (because, Cinco De Mayo!) – 15

house margarita mix

MENU SPECIALS 

Hush Puppies – 9

with remoulade

Hot Fried Chicken Sliders – 12

dukes, lettuce, cheddar, bread and butter pickles

Come see what Bright Horizons® at Back Bay has in store for your child this year!

Are you trying to find the perfect fit for your child’s early education? Attend Bright Horizons’ Curriculum Night to find out how Bright Horizons® works with each age group to build on individual strengths and talents.  Come see for yourself how small ideas turn into big projects at Bright Horizons®.

• Learn about World at Their Fingertips® and how it works with each age group to build on individual strengths and talents.
• Meet and talk with our engaging educators and see just how passionate they are about teaching.
• Explore activities your children will get to participate in on-site.
• See our emergent curriculum and how it uses your child’s own interests to inspire learning.
• Childcare and dinner will be provided!

Join Salon Acote for an evening of beauty, shopping, and champagne.

Kick off your Valentine’s celebrations early with chocolate and wine!

Enjoy a glass of bubbles or a cafe beverage while Rochambeau’s  Executive Pastry Chef Michele Fadden and her team lead you through a truffle making class!  Use the toppings bar to create six unique truffles and take them home in a heart shaped box for your sweetheart — or for yourself!

For more on Rochambeau, please click here.

Just in time for the most romantic day of the year and returning by popular demand, “15 Shades of Red” is back!

On February 13, step up your Galentine’s Day festivities (guys welcome, too!) with your best amici or main squeeze as you stroll through the store and explore a full range of vini rossi. Throughout the evening, you will discover over 15 shades of red wine—from blush pink colors of light rosés to the robust hues of full-bodied vino.

And because no wine tasting experience at Eataly is complete without food, Eataly is bringing you an array of Valentine’s Day-themed bites – from local oysters to artisanal cheeses to decadent Italian chocolate.

…we know. Is it February 13 yet? Get your tickets now!

For more about Eataly Boston, please click here.

Galentine’s Day = a celebration of female friendships. Galentine’s Day Party at OAK = a fun night out to celebrate with food, drink & more!

Back for year two! OAK Long Bar + Kitchen and The Food Lens are joining forces again to throw a party for ladies to celebrate the ladies in their lives the day before Valentine’s Day, popularly known as Galentine’s Day. On Thursday, February 13, from 6:00–9:00 PM, join their soirée for a night of sipping, snacking, and sweets—all while supporting a local charity that serves homeless women.

Here’s how they’ll be honoring the ladies:

• With a tasting of standout rosés produced by lady vintners
• With signature Galentine’s themed cocktails
• With a sweets station from OAK’s pastry chef, Lindsay Le Blanc
• With cheese sourced from female purveyors, plus a charcuterie spread
• With delicious passed hors d’oeuvres and a bountiful raw bar
• With a chance to win a gift basket filled with tasty and pampering items from local women-owned businesses
• With a playlist featuring the queens of pop

Tickets are $55 and include all food, two specialty cocktails, the wine tasting, and a charitable monetary donation. *They will donate $10 from your ticket* to Women’s Lunch Place, a daytime shelter on Newbury Street offering a safe sanctuary, nutritious meals and critical support services for Boston women experiencing poverty and homelessness.

“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year!” – Leslie Knope. The holiday was created by the show “Parks and Recreation” and has since transcended the TV screen to become a beloved tradition of celebrating female friendships annually on February 13, whether that be your friend, sister, co-worker, mom, partner, or other! 

For more about OAK Long Bar + Kitchen, please click here.

ABOUT THE FOOD LENS

The Food Lens is a curated website that enables the culinarily curious to discover or rediscover Boston’s dining scene. Eternally curious and always hungry, female founders Molly Ford and Sarah Jesup have eaten their way through the city, culling the most authentic dining experiences Boston has to offer.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the three C’s: champagne, cheese and chocolate.

Sample our innovative and classic menu which will evoke your senses while you dine on a menu inspired by the C³‘s:.

Arrive to a warm welcome with acomplimentary champagne cocktail. You are then guided through an extraordinary 5 course dinner created by Swiss Executive Chef Markus Ripperger. Savor the sensuous flavors, smells, and textures, and challenge your palate to discover. There will be some commentary on the compilation of the menu items and the making of them.

Menu

Champagne Soup Sampler
Trilogy of gingered organic Veuve Clicquot carrot soup, crémant cheese, caramelized beet and Moet soup, cream of French pea with a hint of Perrier-Jouët and parmesan crisp.
Vegetarian option: Same as above

Textures from the Oceans
Skillet seared lobster and gulf shrimp, baked in a filo crisp, green apple, organic arugula, white chocolate ribbons, rosé champagne vinaigrette.
Vegetarian option: Garden vegetables baked in a filo crust with green apples, lemon thyme and arugula lettuce.

Intermezzo
Champagne sorbet with cantaloupe melon pearls and Madagascar coco dusting

The Big C³ entree
peppered beef tenderloin, coco crusted Lamb rib, cheese crusted veal tenderloin, Mousseline potatoes, haricot vert with miniature carrots.
Vegetarian option:Parmesan Polenta cakes with roasted red peppers, chargrilled portobella mushrooms, spinach, garden vegetables aged balsamic glaze, olive tapenade.

Heavenly Sweets
bittersweet crackle, double chocolate & champagne crème brûlée and Swiss chocolate cheesecake.
Vegetarian option: Same as above

For more about Hampshire House, please click here.

The “Shamrock Showdown” is the city of Boston’s Ultimate St Patrick’s Day Weekend Bar Crawl

Join thousands of Shamrock themed crawlers as they take over the bars of Back Bay and Downtown on Saturday March 14th.

With over 20+ bars participating around Boston, this is sure to be the biggest bar crawl you have ever seen! 

CHECK IN and grab your SHAMROCK SHOWDOWN bracelet at 1 of 2 locations:

• KINGS – 50 Dalton St.
  Back Bay Check In
  10am to 4pm
  SCHOLARS PUB – 25 School St.
• Downtown Check In
  12:30pm to 4pm
  Shamrock Showdown Crawl Stops:

All stops are FREE to enter with our special bracelet. If you do not have the exclusive SHAMROCK SHOWDOWN bracelet you could be charged a cover and or admitted.

Keep in mind the most important times are the “Check In” times for Kings and Scholars Pub. The other times listed below for the various venues are just suggested stop times.

All venues must adhere to their legal capacities and will only let in as many customers as they can legally hold. If a venue is at capacity you have the choice of waiting to get in, or move onto another venue.

BACK BAY BARS

• Back Bay Social – Noon to 8pm

• Dillions – 11am to 6pm

• Kings Back Bay – 10am to 8pm – FREE Bowling, Arcade, and Karaoke 10am to 4pm

• LIR – 10am to 8pm

• McGreevey’s – 10am to 8pm

For more about this event, please click here.