Yesterday was my favorite kind of Boston day. It included art, wandering the city, riding boots and cardigans, open houses for fun, a friend from another city, football… and the seasons first pumpkin spice latte.
My friend Heather and I were planning to get together to watch the Patriots game but since it was the perfect beginning-of-fall weather we decided to head to the SOWA open market in the South End before the game started. As we were walking to the market we saw some open house signs, and me being a real estate and design junkie and Heather being a lawyer who deals with real estate, we decided to take a peak in a couple places… to be nosy and to dream a little 
Plus, it’s always kind of neat to compare different units and see what other people in different parts of the city get for their money!
The South End is definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods in Boston and perhaps one day I’ll seriously look into real estate there 
Before the SOWA open market, we made a stop at the farmer’s market next door to browse a bit. With my camera in tow, I couldn’t help but snap some photos of the local produce. I think next time I’m going to drive so I can stock up on all the goodies!
I’m pretty sure every fall I say I’m going to carve a pumpkin (kind of like every Easter I say I’m going to dye eggs!) but I really want to this year
This “We be Jammin’” sign cracked me up, too!
Old cans as vases = win/win
For those not familiar, the SOWA open market is “Boston’s original outdoor art and indie design market”… it’s generally a fabulous time filled with creative and interesting people, food trucks…
… and handmade items galore. I typically describe it Etsy in real life.
(jewelry by jennifer candon)
The market has moved up the block to a far better location because it’s literally mixed in with other local businesses and galleries, that I’m sure people never really ventured down the street far enough to explore when the market was in the old location.
And because Twitter is sort of amazing, I saw that our friend Jessi from Chicago tweeted that she was in Boston this weekend. Ironically enough, both of our Sunday plans consisted of a visit to the SOWA market, so we met up and did some wandering around together. I feel like Jessi and I have very similar tastes when it comes to art, design, and fashion, so it really didn’t surprise either of us that we were both headed to the same place
It was absolutely lovely to get a big hug from Jessi and see her pretty face… even it it was in the form of a lounging pickle
She is fabulously stunning, kind and real… and everything else wonderful.
(My entire outfit, sans belt, is from Madewell. Love when that accidently happens.)
As we were leaving the South End, Heather and I met this sweet little dog! He had a gray soul patch on his chin so his owners named him Remy, after Remington razors. He was such a well-behaved dog considering he just got picked up from the rescue shelter the previous day! After a few kisses from Remy we continued strolling…
I heard a horn beeping and looked over and, to my surprise, who do I see? My lovely sister and my brother-in-law! This is such a small city hi guys!
After spending hours walking around, Heather and I were both staaaarving and wanted to watch the second half of the Pats game. We weren’t really sure where to go and figured most places would be packed, but then I remembered there was a huge new projection screen TV at Champions, the restaurant at the Marriott Copley Hotel. The entire place has recently been renovated so we decided to just head over and check out the scene. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much at all. I figured it would just be a standard sports bar with mediocre food and a bunch of football fans. Which, to me, is always perfectly fine As we put our name in, the hostess asked us which game we were there to see and then led us into a room where the Pats game was playing. To our surprise, there were separate rooms playing different games which was pretty sweet. The room was spacious and packed with enthusiastic New England fans! Gosh, I love football season
For lunch, I ordered a pumpkin beer (pumpkin beverage #2 of the day!) and the Chicken BLT Wrap which was in a flour tortilla and included grilled chicken breast, crispy smoked bacon, and lemony mayo. Like I said, I was not expecting much at all from the food. I was definitely surprised when I took the first few bites of this sandwich which was packed with fresh and bright veggies! They also offered a pretty nice craft beer list. I guess this is why we shouldn’t judge places until we try them, yes?
I’ve always considered myself to be a lucky girl, for many reasons, but one of the reasons being I actually “get” the game of football. And not only do I understand it, but I looooove it! Growing up, I’d sit in the family room with my dad and brother, typically with the fireplace roaring, giving each other high fives and jumping around while we watched games. And I’m also lucky that both my brother and father always had the patience to explain the game to me It’s one of my favorite times of the year because it reminds me of the comfort that fall brings.
My top 5 favorite things about Fall:
1) stepping on crunchy leaves
2) bundling up because of the night breezes
3) warm apple cider and pumpkin beverages
4) scarves and layering of clothes
5) riding boots and oxfords
Your turn! What are your top 5 favorite things about Fall? How did you spend your weekend?
[Chels]
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What a fun day! There isn’t one thing I dislike about fall, but if I had to choose my top 5, here they are: picking & cooking with the harvest produce (apples, butternut squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, etc.), the cool, crisp & dry air, cozy sweaters, the changing fall foliage, and the autumn holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving are my favorites of the entire year
What a great weekend, I LOVE all your favorite things! A few of my own are
-Seeing the leaves on the highway change colors
-Hitting up Yankee Candle for new fall scents (including a new one that smells like pancakes and syrup!)
-Fall beers like pumpkin and various Octoberfests’!
It’s a great season =)
Love this post!!! i don’t think Erie has any fun market stuff like this. what a bummer.
5 Fall Favorites:
1) second: scarves & layering of clothes
2) ankle boots
3) hot drinks and comfort foods like chili and pot roast
4) walks in the forest to see all the changing of colors
5) that amazing smell from dry leaves and cooler air, neighbors with fireplaces, and apple cider!
6) okay, sorry, but 6 – starbucks caramel cider drink. YUM!
Well, I have to cosign with you on faves 3, 4 & 5. Being in Orlando for so long made me miss the seasons so I’m excited to see what fall brings to Philly! Love the photos and Chels, those boots – killer!
top 5 things about fall:
- air conditioner free windows
- fresh apples stolen from my inlaws house after they went apple picking
- football sundays (its always good to keep tabs on your hubby)
- hair looking amazing and no frizzy
- LEAF PEEPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday was a perfect fall day in Boston! My favs are almost in line with your 5 favs. I’d have to add all the pumpkin and apple baking that I can’t wait to get started on!
Looks like an amazing Sunday
Some of my favorite fall things –
1. Anything pumpkin flavored
2. Cozy layering and scarves
3. Going up to VT
4. Caramel apples
5. Pumpkin picking/carving with my family
I love this post, Chels! My list of fall favorites are the same as yours adding fall hiking and apple picking to the list!
Amazing weekend! So I went into a starbucks the other day and asked if they were serving pumpkin spiced lattes yet… Annnnnnd apparently they do not do them in England! I’m dying and super jealous you had one.
Sounds like the perfect fall Sunday! My favorite things about fall include pumpkin beer; pumpkin iced coffee; apple cider doughnuts; lit fireplaces; and the crisp, cool weather!
I spent my weekend with a few too many cocktails, lots of exercising, some wedding venue searching, Container Store indulging and pumpkin latte sipping. Oh, and lots of cooking. My top five things about fall are: 1. Anything pumpkin; 2. Apple picking!; 3. Sweaters; 4. Making hearty soups and stews; and of course, 5. THANKSGIVING!
I LOVE fall… my favorite things are warm dips (bacon, artichoke spinach, mexican), gorgeous autumn leaves, the perfect weather ( = good sleeping), sweaters/layers, and September is mine and my hubby’s birthday month!
aww looks like such a fun sunday!!! can’t wait for fall! and pumpkins haha
Love your weekend. Even though technically it’s still summer, it FEELS like fall. I recognize Chandler Street in one of your pics (at least I’m pretty sure.) I love the south end! I spent my weekend hiking in Vermont. It’s still pretty green up there but I can’t wait to go back for the foliage.
What a great day! Isn’t it amazing how much southie has changed ( I noted the same thing on Bridgets blog earlier today!!). The market looks fabulous. I love mini pumpkins and multi colored corn- great fall decor! Your outfit is adorable. Pumpkin spice rocks. I’m so glad its back at bucks. 5 favorite things about fall:
1. SQUASH!
2. Apples
3. Pumpkin flavored drinks and baked goods
4. Football
5. turning off the AC
you’re killin’ me! i used to hate fall because i hate raking leaves so gosh darn much– and when october hits in boston, it becomes monsoon season. but now that we have just a small inkling of real autumn here in LA, i’d love to just jet to boston and deep breathe that autumn smell! that looks like so much fun!
Glad you had such a perfect weekend! I love fall too – the clothes/boots, weather, and flavors all make me so happy
I’ve already had two pumpkin spice lattes this year – mmmm 
I love SOWA! All the fall-themed stuff looks awesome. And roaming around the south end is always a good time (for fantasizing anyway!)
my fiance and i were just in boston over labor day weekend, but we didn’t make it to sowa. it looks so cool! well, i guess we’ll just have to plan another trip to beantown : )
i actually just wrote a post about my favorite fall things “falling for fall…” http://cailenascher.blogspot.com/2010/09/falling-for-fall-are-you-falloholic.html
Oooh Boston is one of my absolute favorite cities.. in the world perhaps! And during the fall!? perfect.. I’m so jealous of your cool weather clothes! It’s so hot down here that I’m still sporting tanks and shorts.. but I did have a pumpkin spice latte today to make myself feel a little better
That does look like a great day in Boston!
When I was younger, I loved stepping on the bark that fell off the trees in the fall. It was even crunchier than leaves. Sounds like a really great day.
I’m not really into football but we hosted people over for the game and it was fun. I got to cook my heart out and the boys were all happy
PS – I was *this* close to going to SOWA in the early afternoon. I love that place!!
5 fall favorites: 1) the smell of fall as i’m running; 2) fall baking (apple & pumpkin, anyone???!); 3) sweaters and scarves; 4) pumpkin spice lattes; and 5) changing colors of the leaves!
My 5 fall favs: 1. Good hair days (bye-bye humidity) 2. The beginning of 10 months of non-stop soccer (GOOOOAAAAAAAL!) 3. Crunchy apples (Gotta be Macs) 4. The apple cider donuts when we pick the crunchy apples (So what if I eat 6 in one sitting) 5. Hopping into bed after having the electric blanket on high for an hour (So worth the electric bill)