I passed by my local Cheesecake Factory at CambridgeSide Galleria on my way through the mall this weekend, which is when I noticed the big sign planted right outside the restaurant. To mark its 30th anniversary in style while giving thanks to customers for their part in its great success, the eatery will lower cheesecake prices to the amount they were when the first location opened in Beverly Hills in 1978.

I admit I’ve only had the Factory’s cheesecake twice, though, and both times it was the very tasty low-carb version that I’m not even sure it still sells (that’s how long ago it was). On the rare occasion I order dessert when I eat there, I usually go for the Black-Out Cake, which contains about five servings and lasts me as many days. Wouldn’t I be thrilled if they offered that for a $1.50!

In any case, the restaurant’s website has a detailed menu describing many of its cheesecake varieties; there’s usually more kinds available in the cases at the physical locations. Check out the list now, mark your calendar, and then don’t forget to drop by your local Cheesecake Factory on July 30 for what is a genuine bargain. Seriously — even I’m going to be eating cheesecake on that day. Note, however, that the low price is only applicable with dine-in service, and guests are also limited to one slice each.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Called Bee- Musette at St. Germain des près, the affair is co-sponsored by the French Consulate of Boston, the French Library, TV5 Monde, and Les Champagne Mumm, giving it a level of authenticity that goes far beyond the norm. Perhaps that’s why it seems so appropriate to learn members of the French Navy are scheduled to attend, along with music artist Violette de Bartillat, who will perform French standards and current hits, and a special guest DJ, who will work the turntables to the sounds of French pop tunes. Live music will play from 8pm to 10:30pm, followed by the DJ’s performance from 10:30pm until 1:30am.

The menu will reflect the occasion, as well, with the dishes Vichyssoise ($7), Saucisse de Toulouse, frites, Toulouse sausages in a mustard sauce, served with frites ($21), and Île flottante, fluffy soft egg-white ‘floating’ on a sea of custard ($7) all on the menu. Since I took Spanish and Italian and passed on French, most of the native terms mean nothing to me, except for “frites.” I bet it’s all mighty tasty just the same, though, as the English translations appear to indicate.

The Beehive recommends advance dinner reservations to ensure a good seat for the burlesque and other highlights, but the event is free save for the price of the food and drinks, and the doors will remain open unless the club’s capacity is reached.

And just so you know, The Beehive provides a bit of history regarding its origins to help explain why this event is such a big deal:

The Beehive or “La Ruche” — “the beehive” in French for which it is named — was an early 20th-century artists’ colony in Paris where the likes of Matisse and Chagall worked and made merry. Today The Beehive is an underground Bohemian bistro featuring amazing cuisine, libations, artwork and live music nightly.

Visit the club’s website for more details.

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Although the French national holiday Bastille Day officially takes place on July 14, Boston residents and visitors will get to celebrate it early when Harvard Square hosts a marathon block party this Sunday, July 13, to commemorate the start of the French Revolution in 1789.

The assorted activities scheduled during the family-oriented event include attractions for children, ranging from a parade with the one and only Curious George to face painting, as well as highlights for adults, such as scrumptious French cuisine provided by Sandrine’s Bistro, Chez Henri, Brasserie Jo, the Elephant Walk, Rialto, and Petit Robert.

Attendees will also have a rare opportunity to observe a traditional waiters race called La Course des Garçon de Café, which will feature a pair of free round-trip tickets on Jet Blue as a grand prize. To top the day off, music from Boston French Party’s DJ Kamal will allow dancers to work off some of the calories ingested, thanks to the assorted food available throughout the day.

If this stateside celebration of Bastille Day sounds as appealing to you as it does to me, visit Harvard Square.com to learn more about what to expect on Holyoke Street this Sunday. The festivities will last from 3pm to 10pm.

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I didn’t check out the display in person myself since the Longfellow Bridge, my favorite perch, was closed to observers. That didn’t stop me from watching on television along with the rest of the nation, though, and I could actually hear the pyrotechnics booming right in my living room.

One thing I didn’t miss was being exhausted by the time the show started after waiting around outside all day with over half a million other people. Trust me — it’s nowhere near as fun as it sounds, especially after the first time and especially when it rains like it did yesterday.

If you didn’t get the chance to see the gorgeous presentation of multicolored lights in the sky, here’s another opportunity to catch about ten minutes of the twenty-three-minute extravaganza from the comfort of your computer, courtesy of kind kimster1232. Enjoy!

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Say you’re not a Boston Pops/outdoor concert/hordes of people kind of guy or gal. Many aren’t, so there’s no need to feel bad. Fortunately, Boston has a lot of other events scheduled for tomorrow’s Fourth of July holiday, and the ones listed below have two essential things in common: they’re all free and family friendly.

Friends of Fort Point Channel Summer Concert Series

Ice cream maker Hood will provide free frozen treats to attendees who show up for the weekly music concert. At noon on July 4th, tunes will come courtesy of Moussa Traore during the Music of Mali presentation. [Fort Point Channel, Boston Children's Museum, 300 Congress Street, Boston, 617-451-9239]

Boston Harborfest 2008

A Flag Raising Ceremony and Parade will last from 9am–10am, followed by a Reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Old State House from 10am–10:30am. See the event website for various other possibilities, a number of which have an admission fee.

Pillsbury will also offer free desserts at Harborfest from 9am–5pm and everyday through Sunday as part of its nationwide Campaign for a Sweeter America. Pictures with the world-famous Doughboy are complimentary, as well. [City Hall Plaza, Boston, 617-635-3911]

Movies by Moonlight

At dusk, which translates to roughly 8pm–10pm, the luxury waterfront Boston Harbor Hotel will screen the classic 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, directed by legendary Frank Capra and starring legendary James Stewart. [Boston Harbor Hotel, Intrigue Café, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, 617-439-7000]

Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July!

Post from: The Boston Traveler

From 10am until 3pm at Boston’s City Hall Plaza, children will be able to enjoy assorted carnival-style entertainment provided by the agency Fly by Night, listen to youth-oriented music from Wayne Potash and the Music Fun Band, and take advantage of familiar festival staples like face painting and balloon art.

If the children have a good enough time, they might even be willing to return on one of the remaining days of Harborfest, which will feature a variety of live concerts, as well as Saturday evening’s four-hour Party on the Plaza and Sunday’s ever-popular Chowderfest.

Visit the Boston Harborfest website for additional details.

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As most residents know, the annual Independence Day festivities featuring the Boston Pops occurs over two days in the city, the actual holiday and the day before it. As a result, the Boston Pops will perform an 8:30pm concert on both Thursday, July 3, and Friday, July 4.

There is a difference between the shows, however. The first concert will end a half-hour earlier, at 10pm, and will not include the eye-popping 30-minute fireworks display set to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, special country music guests Rascal Flatts, host Craig Ferguson of the CBS program The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, or the 8:36pm flyover by the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing and the Air Force’s 131st Fighter Squadron.

Those who can’t make it to the Esplanade and surrounding areas on July 4th have a couple of alternative options to still reap the benefits of the production. Television station WBZ will broadcast it locally starting at 8pm, while the network CBS will do the same nationwide at 10pm.

Visit the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular website for more information.

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Here’s a little laughter for all of The Boston Traveler readers out there who happen to be fathers, courtesy of one of the funniest sitcoms currently on television, Tina Fey’s masterful 30 Rock.

Watch — and try not to choke — as Tracy Morgan’s Tracy Jordan and Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy participate in a very special and hilarious therapy session. I wonder how long it took the therapist to recover afterwards.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Urgent safety considerations forced state officials to take action this week when a Thursday inspection revealed a steel beam supporting one sidewalk requires immediate work. That discovery is in addition to previously known problems with deteriorated railroad ties, which urged MBTA officials to have Red Line subway conductors slow down substantially as they ride over the bridge on their normal route until replacements are completed.

As a result of these combined pressing problems, Longfellow Bridge will close several times this summer to allow repairs that will increase its stability. The west side of the bridge already underwent such drastic action on Friday, and the entire bridge will on July 4th.

Vehicles usually aren’t allowed to cross Longfellow Bridge on that day — the Red Line T carries on as always, however — but pedestrians won’t be able to either this year. Since Independence Day is a time when thousands arrive at the bridge from all over to enjoy the festivities and to get the best look possible at impressive fireworks displays, the changes are definitely going to put a crimp in people’s holiday plans.

The following disruptions in access to the Longfellow Bridge are currently in effect or scheduled for later:

• June 7: West sidewalk closed indefinitely to foot traffic; Pedestrians should detour to east sidewalk
• June 14–15: Red Line service completely shut down
• June 21–22: Red Line service completely shut down
• July 4: No pedestrian or vehicle traffic; Red Line service available

Watch the video after the jump to get a better idea of the effects these developments are having on travelers who use the Longfellow Bridge.

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Bay State residents and visitors will have the opportunity to express their wishes for peace on Memorial Day by joining Veterans For Peace, Iraq Veterans Against The War, Gold Star Families For Peace, and Military Families Speak Out for the ceremony A Memorial Day for Peace.

The event is described not only as a way for attendees to remember those who have perished during military service, but also to strongly voice a desire to end the deaths of military personnel engaged in “senseless, immoral wars for oil and American Empire.” It doesn’t require much effort to figure out exactly what the quoted part means.

A Memorial Day For Peace will take place Monday at 2pm at Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, between Cross Street and Atlantic Avenue, near Boston’s Long Wharf. [More Information (PDF)]

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