The Bachelorette: Men Tell All

I'm back with my viewing buddy this week for The Bachelorette: Men Tell All special. Below, our musings:

- Chris Harrison kicks off the special by recounting the highlights with Ali including a hilarious Kasey montage and Ali's confession that Kirk's scrapbook is what kept him around night one.
- Ali can't remember wearing an astronaut helmet on a date with Kasey. Probably because she blocked it out.
- Chris N. was nicknamed "The Phantom" because he would disappear and re-appear without warning. At least he has ONE personality trait.

- Chris Harrison asks the men about the first night they met Ali and Chris N. comes alive! Not only did he fake and bake before the show, but he mocks Rated-R with his own "The Phantom" shirt. Nice move!
- Everyone gangs up on the Weatherman about him throwing Craig M. under the bus. Yup, punk.
- Craig R. gives props to Kasey for being crazy, but genuine. Can you be my husband now, Craig?
- From the couch, "Wouldn't it be cool if you saw Craig R. on JDate?" HA! If only.

- Kasey's in the hot seat and if you ignore the montage, he actually seems kind of normal.

- Kirk's turn in the hot seat and as he talks about Ali breaking his heart, I can't help but think they will make him the next Bachelor.

- Rated-R decided not to come on to the special. Shocker!
- Jessie from Jake's season comes on and shares that Justin was busted via messages on his Facebook wall. Idiot.
- Chris Harrison opens up the conversation to the audience to share their thoughts on Rated-R. A woman asked Craig R. if he would olive oil wrestle Rated-R and let her be his cheerleader. Back off my man!

- Ali comes out to the stage wearing a disco ball. Fashion emergency.
- Kasey sings Ali a new, original song. Sweet jesus.

- "La Bacheloretta" montage with Craig R. and Roberto speaking Spanish is hilarious! Not even speaking Spanish can make the Weatherman hot.

- Based on the final montages of Roberto vs. Chris L, I have to say, I'm leaning toward Chris L. From the couch, "Roberto is too Flavor Flav for Ali. She should pick Chris, live in Massachusetts and have babies." Well said.

Who do you think Ali will wind up with? Leave your predictions below!

Dining Out: Boat Basin Cafe

Saturday night of my New York City weekend I met two of my best girlfriends at Boat Basin Cafe. The bar and restaurant is located at 79th and the West Side Highway, which overlooks the river. The view from the deck is absolutely breathtaking.

Boat Basin has a large bar area and opens out to a deck that's right above the river. Both the covered area and the patio are spacious and perfect for a group outing. The patio twinkles after sundown with strings of white lights.

We sat on the deck and reviewed the menus. Boat Basin has a typical bar menu with a few great vegetarian options. We started with the nachos (at the recommendation of one of my dining companions). The chips were covered in melted, gooey cheese and black beans and garnished with three plastic containers: sour cream, salsa and jalapenos.

For dinner the girls ordered the chicken fingers (large and crispy) and the grilled chicken sandwich. I ordered the veggie burger which was fantastic!

The garnish veggies were fresh and the patty itself was delicious. The burger came with a side of ranch dressing, my favorite. All three entrees came with a side of potato chips which we received in a giant basket.

While the food at Boat Basin is definitely no frills, its fantastic bar fare and a great atmosphere. The water view is amazing and the bar has a high energy vibe. It reminds me of Barking Crab on the waterfront in Boston.

If you're looking for a casual, fun, waterfront spot to cool down from the summer heat, anchor yourself at Boat Basin.

Dining Out: S'MAC

While in New York City this weekend I was able to experience a truly miraculous thing - a restaurant that serves nothing but macaroni and cheese! Sarita's Macaroni and Cheese, affectionately known as S'MAC, is a hole in the wall serving up incredibly decadent varieties of this classic American dish.

Inside the walls of S'MAC, a yellow counter lines the front windows with matching yellow, leather stools for people watching while digging into your mac 'n cheese. There are also 2 - 4 person tables with bright orange colored chairs (wonder what that color reminds you of?). The restaurants has exposed brick walls which dials up the charm of the space.

You place your order at the register and they give you a number to take to your table for when your dish is ready. All the mac 'n cheese is served in cast iron dishes which come in a few different sizes: Nosh, Major Munch, Mongo, Partay or the Sampler. The Sampler option lets you choose to taste multiple kinds of mac 'n cheese if you feel too conflicted to select just one.

Once you decide on a style, you are asked if you'd like your dish topped with breadcrumbs, the same way you are asked if you'd like whipped cream when ordering a frappucino or a hot chocolate.

My date ordered the All American which is a blend of American and Cheddar cheeses.

I ordered the Garden Lite which is Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, roasted cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, roasted garlic, broccoli and scallions. Are you drooling?

Both dishes arrived piping hot and we quickly dug into to creamy, flavorful, mac 'n cheese heaven.

In addition to the amazing flavor varieties S'MAC also offers multi-grain or gluten free pasta and vegan options. Talk about accommodating!

I want to give S'MAC and extra shout out for carrying Diet Dr. Pepper, the only diet soda that tastes as good as the real thing.

S'MAC's menu is creative and supremely tasty. They have executed this singular concept perfectly.

The next time you are craving this cheesy favorite, explore the endless possibilities at S'MAC.

Sugar Fix: Dylan's Candy Bar

This weekend Pop.Bop.Shop. headed to New York City! After a wonderful evening with friends on Friday, the first stop Saturday morning was at Dylan's Candy Bar.

I met my college girlfriend at Dylan's at 12:00pm. We keep a list of all the places we want to go together in the city and Dylan's has been on the list for easily two years. The store was started by Dylan Lauren, the daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. I absolutely adore the way she has branded the store. Their logo (both text and colors) is punchy and fun and evokes a young, stylish feeling.

When we opened the doors, we were greeted by a clerk handing out samples of three types of fudge. No big deal. Inside there were different stations around the space where food was also being prepared - a chocolate fountain and snow cones, just to mention two.

On the stair case between the ground floor and the basement level, there were candy-themed messages on each landing:

I was fascinated by a wall covered in cupcake themed items and a section next to that wall filled with different types of gummi candy. There were even bins with single colored gummi bears. So for example, if you were having a themed party and you only wanted red and blue gummi bears, you could fill bags with just those two colors.

I also loved the sign of the zodiac chocolate bars! I am a big believer in astrology (my sign is dead on) so I scooped up one for me and one as a gift.

Dylan's also had several New York City themed treats including these adorable cookies:

Be sure you read the sign before you start walking around, its pretty tempting to start chomping!

At the check out giant plastic candy replicas cover the walls:

When we left the clerk said, "Have a sweet day!"

Dylan's has something for everyone - the chocolate lover, the peanutbutter addict, the lollipop licker, the bubble gum blower and more. Its a great place to pick out treats for a party, a care package or pre-movie. Just be aware, there is a high likelihood of screaming children (comes with the candy store territory).

Dylan's also does private parties and gift deliveries. Check out their website here.

Dining Out: Solea

Tonight I had dinner with two girlfriends at Solea on Moody Street in Waltham. Solea is owned by the same restaurant group that owns Tapeo on Newbury Street and Dali on Beacon Street in Cambridge.

This was my first trip to Solea and I wasn't sure what to expect. I checked out the menu before arriving and it looked fantastic.

We met up at 6:30pm and walked in to discover the bar area was hopping! We were walked through the bar area, through a dining room and into the back dining room where we were seated at a table right in the window overlooking Moody Street. The sun was streaming in and cast an extra sparkle across the dining room.

The decor in the restaurant was absolutely gorgeous. There were large, romantic chandeliers, beautiful, heavy, rich colored drapes, and framed posters, paintings and photographs that were classic Espana. There was even a poster of La Feria de Cordoba! (The town I lived in when I studied abroad in Spain).

Our waitress greeted us with a smiling face and promptly returned with our pitcher of red sangria. She poured the sangria for us (very lovely) and it was refreshing and delicious. She also brought us a basket of bread with a tomato and parmesan spread.

Solea specializes in Spanish tapas so we ordered a variety of dishes. We started with a traditional Spanish dish, tortilla espanola, which is an omlette with potatoes and onions. It tasted just like they make in Spain!

The second dish was also traditional, called patatas bravas, which literally translates to brave potatoes. These are usually hash brown style potatoes seasoned with an extra kick. These were the best patatas bravas I have had since my trip to Malaga, Spain! I could have ordered six more plates full!

The next dish we tried was spinach and artichoke fritters. These were small, two bite size, compact balls of moist vegetable heaven! They were served over a light pink sauce that was the perfect garnish.

We also tried the poblano relleno (stuffed pepper) which was the largest plate that arrived. It was a fried green pepper stuffed with vegetables and perfectly seasoned. A vegetarian treat!

We also tried the garlic shrimp which came piping hot. The next plate that arrived was the chicken turnover, which was perfect for sharing. It had a flaky crust and tender chicken inside.

Our waitress asked if we'd like to have any dessert. We knew we were too full, but we asked to check out the menu anyway. Although we ultimately passed, I will definitely go back to try the banana cheesecake crusted with chocolate and served with a rum, caramel sauce and the chocolate almond cake served with fresh berries and whipped cream.

Solea is an absolute gem and a must visit restaurant. Not only is the restaurant itself stunning, but the service is excellent and the food is authentic, flavorful and lick-your-plate scrumptious. Its the perfect location for a girls night out, romantic dinner, or large celebration. They even have a private party room if you want a more exclusive dining experience.

Viva Solea!

The Bachelorette: Tahiti

This week I am without my viewing buddy and I'm getting a late start. I turned on the TV, pressed "play" on the DVR, and then discovered that the ABC News storm watch had cut off the first 31 minutes of this episode! What if I missed the Frank meltdown? I have been seeing those previews for three weeks! Anyone know how I can catch up? Do they have full episodes on ABC.com?

Below are my musings beginning at minute 31 of the episode:

- Ali and Roberto sit down to a private, romantic dinner and he shares that he is falling in love with her. Cue the fantasy suite card!
- Ali and Roberto get cozy in the island paradise themed fantasy suite. I mean, wouldn't you?

- Ali and Chris meet up for their one-on-one date and begin cuddling on the boat. Cute! Can we switch places?
- Ali and Chris are making up for lost time on the make out front.
- Chris finds a pearl for Ali inside a clam shell. Thanks, producers!
- Chris asks Ali, "You know I can see myself with you forever, right?"
- Ali hands Chris the fantasy suite card and she says, "This is from Chris Harrison." Chris promptly starts looking around for Chris Harrison to appear. Cute.
- Chris has never looked happier than when he was holding that fantasy suite key in his hand.

- Frank arrives in Tahiti and tells the camera, "I am here to tell Ali I am in love with my ex girlfriend, Nicole." FRANK!
- Frank wants to talk his feelings through with Chris Harrison, naturally. Chris asks Frank to really think about what he is doing. He advises, "Ali is going to be in emotional turmoil going into the most important week of her life." I think he meant to say, "most important week EVER."

- Ali walks toward Frank and her voice over says, "I really need this day with Frank. I've missed him, I'm head over heels for him." Oh boy.
- Franks stares at the ground when telling Ali about his newly reinvigorated feelings for his ex.
- I love that even when she's devastated, Ali always stands up for herself. Always.
- I can't wait to see Ali and Frank again, head to head on "After the final rose." She is going to lay into him.

- Roberto can't help but smile when Ali says Frank is gone. In fact, its more of a smirk.
- Ali goes through the motions of giving a rose to Chris then Roberto.
- Ali informs the men the next stop is Bora Bora to meet her family.

- In the previews we see issues to be discussed on "The Men Tell All" special, as well as Chris & Roberto's final day with Ali.
- We also see Ali waiting to make her decision looking like a Grecian goddess in a gold dress.

Well, until next week be to sure to check out Entertainment Weekly for the episode recap as well as Chris Harrison's behind the scenes blog. Also be sure to read every word of this hilarious recap from Crushable.com.

Any predictions? Chris or Roberto? Would love to hear your thoughts below!

Dining Out: John Brewer's Tavern

Last night I met one of my college girlfriends for an early dinner at John Brewer's Tavern. The restaurant is just a ten minute drive from my office, located on route 20, right on the border of Waltham and Watertown.

John Brewer's is a casual place with two sides - "the tavern" which is the bar side, and the dining room. Throughout both spaces the decor is classic, Americana kitsch. There are American flags of all varieties and other colonial artifacts adorning the walls.

Once we were seated we noticed the paper placemats on the table had old maps of the city of Waltham. It was actually pretty neat, as the placemats give facts about historical buildings and homes in the city.

We ordered two diet cokes which came in glass mason jars (which I love! Such a cute touch). We also ordered the spinach and artichoke dip to start. While the chips were a bit bland tasting, the dip was incredible. It was cream cheese based and packed with an even ratio of spinach and artichokes. I could have just eaten the dip with a spoon it was so good!

For dinner I ordered the veggie burger which came in an unusual presentation. The veggie patty (which was delicious) was served between two pieces of toasted multigrain bread with lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, American cheese and ranch salad dressing. Its as close to a club sandwich as you can get as a vegetarian. I absolutely loved it! I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries which were thinly cut and had great flavor.

My dinner date ordered the chicken pesto panini and a side house salad. The salad came topped with all kinds of veggies and croutons and the sandwich was hot off the panini press and bursting with pesto flavor.

We were entirely too stuffed to even look at coffee or dessert.

If you're looking for a casual, inexpensive place to grab a great meal, John Brewer's is definitely the spot. Its no fuss and guaranteed to satisfy. John Brewer's also has a second location in Malden, MA.

The Bachelorette: There's No Place Like Home

Its Monday night and you know what that means . . . The Bachelorette! This week is hometown dates which always yields super awkward moments (yes!). I'm reunited with my weekly viewing buddy and below are our rants and raves:

- Ali packs sequin, silver, stripper shoes for the hometown dates. Naturally.
- Ali arrives in Tampa to meet up with Roberto. She's wearing yellow. He's wearing yellow and blue. From the couch, "They match!"
- Roberto gives Ali his jersey with her name on it and presto change-o! He comes out in his old uniform.
- Roberto and Ali play ball and she actually makes a catch. Bet they had to re-shoot that about 14 times.
- Roberto gives Ali his baseball card from when he played on a team in her hometown. Cute. Very thoughtful.

- Ali arrives to dinner at Roberto's family's house in yellow again. I said "I bet his dad's name is also Roberto." They walk in the door. What is the dad's name? Roberto Sr. Knew it!
- Roberto has a trophy shrine in his living room. Ha!
- Roberto Sr. wants Ali to be a homemaker and let Roberto soar in his career. Uh oh.
- Roberto's parents are drinking from the fountain of youth! They must have had him quite young.
- Dance party at Casa de Roberto!

- Ali arrives in Dennis on Cape Cod to meet Chris L on the beach.
- Chris' childhood home is adorable!
- Ali and Chris are sitting on his front porch. From the couch, "Eh. I choose Roberto."

- Ali steps into another room with just Chris' father. He says, "My goal in this life is to see all three kids happy and married." No pressure.
- The two sisters in law are grilling Chris about Ali. Sweet of them to be so protective.
- I didn't realize Chris was the oldest son. That has to be so hard.

- Kirk is from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Oh boy.
- Ali arrives in yellow again shouting, "Kirkyyyyyyyyy." Ick.
- Kirk says his parents are split up so they're going to two houses. From the couch, "Yeah, his mother probably left because she was afraid of what's in the basement." HA!
- "So Ali, do you want to go see my basement?" Um. Gross.
- Kirk's little sister says, "Maybe she'll say - awwww, cool!" Yup. Maybe she will.
- I can really see the resemblance between Kirk and his father. Same eyes, same smile.

- Kirk's house, number two. Kirk's mother just turned me to stone. Yikes.
- Kirk's mother's story about her Livestrong bracelet is precious.
- There's a stuffed rabbit on the front porch! AH!

- Ali's in Chicago to meet Frank's family. She's not wearing yellow. Interesting.
- On the boat, Frank looks like he hasn't showered in days.
- Ali fits right in with Frank's high energy family. Cute.
- Ali and Frank's mom are having the sweetest conversation. Too bad they keep showing that preview of Frank ruining everything in Tahiti.

- Ali debriefs on each hometown date with Chris Harrison. When he asks her how she feels about sending someone home she starts to cry. Awww.
- The first rose goes to Roberto.
- Second rose to Chris L. Oh boy!
- What if Kirk gets the rose and the previews have been about Frank just showing up in Tahiti?!
- The final rose goes to Frank. From the couch, "I called this before it even started!"

- Ali walks Kirk out and he is so incredibly kind to her. She has just set him back at least another year or two before he opens himself up to another girl.

In previews for next week: Oh wait. The same previews we've been seeing for three weeks! Frank ruining everything with his death stare.

Be sure to check out Entertainment Weekly for the episode recap and host Chris Harrison's behind the scenes blog.