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It really helps to have friends and coworkers who love to travel. Aside from blogs, most of the places we visit on our travels come from friends. When we were planning our weekend getaway to the Inn at Mystic, I spent a lot time asking around for places to visit in Mystic, especially restaurants. The Oyster Club came up as a recommendation again and again, and it became a must-visit for our trip.

Oyster Club Mystic

Oyster Club is located in downtown Mystic steps from the harbor. It features an outdoor “tree house” sitting area that wasn’t open for the season yet, but that would be well worth a visit now that it’s nice out.

Oyster Club Tree House We arrived at around 1:30 for lunch, and the Oyster Club bar and dining room were both bustling with activity. Everyone was super friendly, and we didn’t mind waiting a few minutes for a table to be cleared.

oyster club wine

We were soon whisked over to a table by the window, sweet wildflowers providing a burst of seasonal color.

wildflowers

There’s always something to celebrate, so we toasted with a glass of pink bubbly and the house Dark n Stormy.

cocktails

At the Oyster Club, you have to get oysters, and I have been having huge oyster cravings lately. We stuck with a dozen briny, medium-sized Fischer Island oysters, and as always, I could have eaten a dozen more. What is it about oysters?

oysters

It was a bright and sunny day, but the air still had a cold bite to it, so a bowl of the Oyster Club quahog chowder was a hot, filling must-have. Chunks of potato, bacon, and clams were brought together by a light cream broth. It was a really excellent chowder.

clam chowder

The Oyster Club was a really great recommendation and a place that I would visit again on another trip to Mystic. If you have a plan to visit Mystic anytime soon and are a fan of oysters and other seafood, definitely add it to your itinerary.

Tags: Connecticut, mystic, oysters, Travel, travel blog, Travel Tuesday

One of the things that I hate most about winter is the worry that it is so, so difficult for so many people and animals. Ask my husband, I truly do lay awake at night worrying about the cats outside, kids without coats, and most importantly, the homeless. And while we are active in charities we support throughout the year, I feel like winters like this leave almost a helpless feeling at times. There seems to be SO MUCH need. Where do we even start?

When I saw Hadley’s Urban Grape blog post the other day, I thought it was the perfect place. The Urban Grape stores are more than just wine stores; they are places that so many Bostonians have come to love over the years because of the beautiful spaces, events, and people.

The blog post introduced me to the Old South Church’s Boston Warm. The Old South Church is a place where, whenever nearby, I have found peace and welcome, especially in the weeks that followed the Boston Marathon bombing. It is warmth, and it has opened its doors to people who need it most during this awful winter. In addition to providing day shelter, they are collecting items for people in need. You can visit their Amazon wish list here.

The Urban Grape is getting involved and giving you even more incentive to visit their stores this weekend.

From their blog post:

From Thursday to Sunday of this week, we will be collecting donation items for #BostonWarm at both of our stores. If you bring a donation in during this time, you will receive 10% off beer and spirits purchases (no minimum or maximum) and bottles of wine, or 20% off cases of wine (12 bottles of wine). Applies to in-stock items only.

Donations include:
– Non-perishable food. Canned items must be in pop-top lids.
– Warm hats, scarves, mittens, gloves and socks. No other clothing items please (they cannot store them on the other side)
– $43 checks made out to City Mission Society with Boston Warm in the memo line. This is to rent storage lockers where the homeless can store their items.

Let’s continue to show the world that we are a community who takes care of one another, even when it seems like everything is going wrong around us.

Tags: Boston, charity, community

One of the things I love about Boston is how, at any second, there is something really good happening. This city is full of incredible, generous, and innovative people seeking ways to help one another.

I receive a LOT of press releases and I don’t often share the contents, but every now and then I feel inspired to help a cause, and the email I received about Hearth Shares was one of those moments.  Like many of you, I am heartbroken over the loss of Mayor Menino, a friend to all Bostonians, and his memory makes me want to do more good.

Hearth Shares

This November & December, Hearth Shares will offer restaurant goers the opportunity to add a voluntary donation of $1 or more to their bill at over 25 participating Boston area restaurants. Supported by the Citizens Bank Foundation, 100% of proceeds from Hearth Shares will benefit Hearth, Friends of Boston’s Homeless and a select group of other nonprofits working to house the homeless in Massachusetts.

Since so many of us are planning on dining out during the next couple of months, Hearth Shares makes it easy to enjoy yourself and to give a little at the same time. I so believe that this is one of the ways we can build stronger communities and help those in need on a regular basis.

To find out which Boston area restaurants are participating, please visit the Hearth Shares Restaurants page.

In other “doing amazing things” news, Lovin’ Spoonfuls is having their annual tailgate this weekend. You may remember a few years ago when I attended the  tailgate at Sam’s at Louis and it was a blast.  I love the work that Lovin’ Spoonfuls does, rescuing unwanted food for people who need it most. If you are free on Sunday definitely check out the tailgate and help them continue doing the work they are doing!

Do you have any favorite charity events coming up?

Tags: Boston, charity, events, Food, homelessness, hunger

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