life exist

The weather, of late, has been tempermental. Generally the nice sun-filled days have been reserved for the work week when we are stuck indoors and the weekends have been filled with rain, snow, sleet and every other form of winter misery. However the sun was shining on us this past weekend and we decided to take advantage of the nice break in the weather pattern. Granted it was a windy day and would be considered “freezing” by anyone not in and around the New England area. For us New Englanders (or for the acclimated transplant that I am), it was lovely.

The boy and I decided to go to the North End. We had every intention of going to the New England Aquarium as I have never actually been inside. I have only admired the playful seals at the entrance area. Unfortunately we were a bit put-off by the almost $20 admission price and decided that if and when we ever had children, we would readily fork over a small fortune to enter the Aquarium. However, as of today, we were going to be cheapskates. Instead we decided to hike over to the North End and have some Italian food, stop at Mike’s for some Italian pastries and just generally enjoy the unseasonal warmth and sunshine.

We walked for a bit along the water front and watched the sail boats filling the harbor. It seemed that everyone was out to enjoy the day as well and a few were getting a jump-start on the boating season.

The wind started to pick up and we decided to seek out a bite to eat and a bit of indoor warmth. We made a quick pit stop at the parking meter and filled ‘er back up and headed over to Hanover Street, the main drag of the North End.

The boy had his heart set on eating at Pizzeria Regina. He swore up and down that they made the best brickoven pizza and I was quite happy to go along with his quest. We walked up and down the maze of tiny side streets as he couldn’t quite remember where it was. Suddenly we found ourselves in front of a vintage store and naturally I suggested we pop-in and have a “look-see” . The boy really had no option but to agree and in we went.

Cadia’s Vintage is my favorite type of vintage store - a hodgepodge of kitsch and collectibles. If they had more vintage clothing on the racks, I would’ve moved in. They have vintage LPs (which I happen to collect), old magazines, glassware, jewelry (I am a sucker for cheap bling - rhinestones are a gals best friend!) and any number of other tid-bits. They seem to have an ever revolving stock so it would be the type of place I recommend you visit often. We found a complete set of vintage spice canisters on a matching rack and immediately scooped them up.

Yes, walking into our home is like being transported to 1950-something and the spice rack was just what the kitchen needed! We asked the clerk for directions to Pizzeria Regina and with our new purchase safely bundled under the boys arm, we headed off in search of food.

Of course there was a line out the door and around the block! The boy looked at his watch and deduced that we would either have to head back to the car and put another small fortune in quarters into the parking meter or locate another restaurant.  I opted for the other restaurant option. We headed back towards Hanover street,  the mid-point between food and car and the location of endless restaurant choices.

Each restaurant was busier than the next and we had precious few minutes to spare. We ended up ducking into Cafe Pompeii as they were nearly empty and we were verging on starvation.

You would think that two well-educated, moderately intelligent adults could deduce that an empty restaurant in the heart of “fine italian dining central” would equate horrible food. However, our hunger briefly weakend our logical thinking and we sat down and ordered the basil, tomato and mozzarella salad and eggplant parmigiana. There is not much you can do to ruin a salad but the ingredients were less than stellar and rarely have I ever been served a basil, tomato and mozzarella salad on a bed of tasteless lettuce with kalamata olive as garnish. It was edible but not enjoyable.

The eggplant parmigiana was a bit watery and tasteless. The boy seemed to enjoy it and I didn’t exactly spit it out but as were both starving. The sauce was akin to a jar of Ragu and I am not sure there was any actual Parmesan cheese on the plate - or any cheese, for that matter. It was just a giant red blob of food similar to highschool cafeteria fare, if memory serves.

The bill came and it was a bit over-priced, in my opinion.  We do not recommend Cafe Pompeii and am sure we will never dine (if you can call it that) there again. Next time we head to the North End we will be sure to bring lots of quarters and trek the extra mile to the parking meter to buy us some quality food time.

We, of course, stopped at Mike’s Pastry on our way back to the car and purchased two Canolli’s and some Rugalah to take home. There are no pictures of the beautiful sugary sweetness of these concotions as they didn’t survive long enough to be photographed. Mike’s was the perfect end to an atrocious meal!

We walked back to the car and headed through the tunnel to our little home by the sea. The weather started to turn. The winds picked up and the rain came back. The boy and I sat at the window watching as the trees bowed in the wind and the waves crashed against the seawall and we smiled. We were both happy to have taken advantage of the brief respite from winter weather.

Here’s hoping that next weekend gives us the same little break and we will have to start counting down - how many days until spring?

As the sun goes down and local shops and groceries stores begin to close there doors and the flicker of lights from houses begin to diminish as all the children are tucked into bed this is when the night life begins. Stale yellow lights from lamp post soon begin to be replaced by an array of bright buzzing neon rainbows flashing signs for cocktails and beer, live nudes and the ‘party scene’.

Men and women alike get donned up in their best (or not so best) attire and hit the streets all across this beautiful brazen county of ours, all in search of the same thing, that spot with the best Night Life.
As Americans we love the night time party scene. Dim dance clubs blasting the latest and greatest chart toppers while all sorts of multi colored lights flash and spin as smoke begins to bellow from beneath the DJ booth.

Ahh yes, we have all been there shoulder to shoulder with complete strangers trying against all odds not to spill your drink down the bare back of the nice lady dancing in front of you as you simultaneously attempt to scan the crowd in hopes of locating your friend who you last saw scampering off with a random stranger of the opposite sex. As we all know, most of these nights are hit or miss either they are great or you end up wishing you would have stayed home doing something more fun and constructive, such as lying on the couch and catching up on your favorite TV shows. A prospect which keeps some people from ever stepping foot outside their house in attempts to go to the club.

But wait all you people out there who are disgusted by the idea of paying for over priced drinks in an over crowded bar to get your taste of the night life. I have a solution for you, bring the party to the place you know best your home now I know the initial idea of taking a club and plopping it down smack dab in the middle of your living room my not conjure the best of mental images, but give me a chance to explain.

Imagine this you have your house set up with dim lights neon signs posted on the walls stylish light up glasses and straws line your make shift bar all to accommodate only those people who YOU decide are fit to party in your humble abode. If the picture just painted brings a smile to your face you have come to the right place. Lets start from the top.

ou are going to want to make the general ambiance of your home as bar like as you can and what better way to do it then with neon lights??? Here at After5Catalog we have got you covered on just about ANY type of crazy neons you can think of. Everyone loves Beerpong, but can you find a bar anywhere with a beer pong table?? Well you can now, right at YOUR bar!! Martinis and cocktails like I said, if you want a neon sign we got it.

So now that we have the neons taken care of…what kinda classy bar would you have without some really kick ass cocktail glasses?? Dim the lights down low and let theses sets of light up “drinking untensils” make the mood nice and mellow.

Last but not least if want to go full bore and really deck your place out, try one of our personalized signs we have a PLETHORA of customizable signs to fit just about anyones need.

So the next time you are out with the guys or gals and someone spills a drink down your back just remember, we here at after5, ”have got your back”.