Another One Bites the Dust: Oyster Bar

The food court at Faneuil Hall in the Quincy Hall Marketplace has gone through a number of closures in recent months, which has also opened the opportunity for new businesses to come in.

First I noticed the Starbucks leaving its prime location by the entrance facing Faneuil Hall.  A new one will open shortly in the corner of the North Market closest to Dick's Last Resort.  But in the meantime, Magnolia Bakery of New York fame, with its famous banana pudding, has been welcomed with open arms just this past week.

Across from Magnolia, we continue to await the arrival of the Legal Bowl, which I figure to be a relation to the Boston seafood chain Legal Seafood.  The spot it will be inhabiting is where Bagelville had previously resided with their humungous bagels.

Down over on the other side of the colonnade, there is now an open rest area where Picolo Panini had been.  I totally missed the transition of that one.

But as I walked through the building today, I noticed yellow ribbons woven around the now darkened Oyster Bar, and I thought to myself, "Wow, another one bites the dust."  Hadn't I
just seen it open as recently as earlier this week?

Outside Quincy Market, Bertucci's has also closed up shop in recent history, with taco spot Mercado soon to open.

Note: In a May visit, I saw that the Oyster Bar was back!

Legal Fish Bowl is Coming to Faneuil Hall!

Across from the once and future Magnolia Bakery in Quincy Market Food Colonnade at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace will be a new Legal concept - The Legal Fish Bowl!

Head's Up on Magnolia Bakery

Look who's coming to the Quincy Market Food Colonnade at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace!

Magnolia Bakery of NYC!

Food Fun: BSA Space's 6th Annual Gingerbread Design Competition

Now in its sixth year, the Gingerbread Design Competition is a fun and tasty way to highlight the delicious talents of Boston landscape and architecture firms. While challenging designers to explore a new medium, this sweet event also raises funds for community design programs of the BSA Foundation.

This year’s theme is “Innovations and Firsts," celebrating 150 years of Boston as a hub of innovation.

As in previous years, there will be an “auction” during the first week of the Gingerbread exhibition, raising funds for the BSA Foundation’s community design programs. The close of the auction will be celebrated at a public reception on Monday, December 18, 2017. Guest judges Brendan Ciecko (Founder, Cuseum), Louise Kennedy (Senior Arts Producer, WBUR), and Sarah Kennedy (Service Manager, No.9 Park) will be announcing their favorite entries at the reception, as well as awarding the Golden Spatula and Golden Whisk to the designs that are most beloved by the public.

Vote for your favorite gingerbread house now! Voting will be open until midnight on December 31, 2017.

Join the BSA Foundation for the Gingerbread Reception to view 15 gingerbread designs from teams of architecture and landscape architecture firms on exhibition, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the incredible bakers on Monday, Decmber 18, 2017 at 6:00 pm.

Essential dates for 2017:

October 17—Open call for participants issued
November 20—Registration deadline
December 7—Gingerbread creations dropped off at BSA Space by firms
December 11—Gingerbread exhibition opens at BSA Space; auction open
December 16—Family Design Day: Gingerbread
December 18—Public reception; auction close
December 31—Exhibition closes at BSA Space; firms pick up their creations

Source: Architecture

Name the Pumpking 2017

Weighing in at 575 lbs, 801 lbs, and a mighty 1065 lbs, the great pumpkins have arrived at Boston Public Market and they need names!

The trio are located in the corner of the BPM by Bonme.  Stop by and fill out a slip with your submissions.

Food for Others: Canstruction Boston 2017

Feast your eyes on Folklore, Fairy Tales, and Mythical Creatures—made from canned goods!

October 8–27th 2017
BSA | Space & the Atlantic Wharf Building
280-290 Congress Street
Free and open to the public.

Canstruction® is a unique nonprofit organization that holds annual design-build competitions to construct unique, colossal structures made entirely from canned goods. Founded in 1992, Canstruction’s mission is to highlight the issue of hunger and food insecurity across communities, collect food for distribution to thousands, and to showcase the creativity of the design industry. The Boston Chapter of Canstruction was founded in 1995 and has been going strong ever since.

The 22nd Annual Canstruction Boston charity event is one where various architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the Greater Boston area compete in building sculptures made entirely of canned goods. These canned good sculptures were built in mid-October and are up for display at the BSA Space within Atlantic Wharf, the 2017 Canstruction Boston host, through the end of October. After the sculptures are dismantled, all the canned goods will be donated to a local food bank.

We’re happy to announce that the Merrimack Valley Food Bank based out of Lowell, Massachusetts will again be the recipient of our canned food donation.

Canstruction Boston Timeline

Build out:  Saturday, October 7, 2017
Judging and Official Opening:  Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Awards + Thank You Party:  Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Decanstruction:  Saturday, October 28, 2017

This year’s event can be found within the spaces at 280 and 290 Congress Street in Boston as well as within the South Station train terminal just around the corner from our main exhibit at the BSA | Space (280 Congress Street).

Source: Canstruction Boston

The 2017 Pint Slice Tour

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and free ice cream called.  I knew that the Ben & Jerry's Pint Slice Tour was here in Boston and they were scheduled to give away the goods at the Greenway till 5pm.

My walk to the Greenway Open Market on State Street led me to hit and surpass 10,000 steps, which for me is quite a feat!  There was a line, but it didn't look bad at all.

When my turn came, I spun the virtual wheel and was awarded their Americone Dream Pint Slice - Vanilla Ice Cream Bar with Caramel Swirls & Fudge Covered Waffle Cone Pieces, Covered in a Dark Chocolate Coating with Waffle Cone Pieces.

Just what I wanted!  And it was good, and a nice treat!  Basically a petite round Klondike Bar with tasty add ins.

They are scheduled to be in Chicago this upcoming weekend.  And if you reside in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, or Miami, they'll be headed your way too!  Just check their website for more information.