The Boston Traveler

Chicago-based online travel company Orbitz recently began offering a nice special that could enable travelers who plan to visit destinations within the United States to save significant money.
If you book a trip by August 31 that will be completed before November 24 of this year, the Great American Sale offers discounts of up to 30 percent off for minimum stays of three nights at some U.S. hotels.
The only applicable lodging I found in the Boston area is Cambridge’s Royal Sonesta Hotel, which has an average price of $129 per night with the deal. A minimum four-night stay also throws …read more

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Tomorrow evening from 5pm to 8pm at One City Hall Plaza, Boston will host its ninth GospelFest, a free music showcase that features the inspiring sounds of contemporary and traditional gospel performers from both near and far.
Boston’s local gospel scene will be represented by LeRoy Streat with Grace. The group specializes in the Christian worship music that Streat has been writing, playing, and producing for more than fifteen years, in addition to his work leading music ministries both in the United States and abroad. The local presence is increased by Major Choirboy, a native of Houston, Texas, and …read more

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It’s almost time to head over to Boston Common and play like a kid, even if you’re not one.
From 11am to 6pm on Saturday, July 19, downtown Boston will host the Life is good Festival, an annual summer event guaranteed to make residents and visitors alike feel pretty darn good, no matter what their age.
The fundraiser, always free of charge to the general public, features a number of physical activities that reflect the infectious spirit and energy of youth. One of the most popular is the competition to be crowned the World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete, a victory that announces …read more

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Tomorrow, July 17, from 6pm to 9pm, Forest Hills Cemetery will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its annual Lantern Festival. The ceremony is based on the Japanese Obon or Bon Festival, a Buddhist-inspired Japanese tradition that allows family members to honor the spirits of deceased ancestors and remember their departed loved ones. Residents of Japan have observed the family reunion-style custom, widely known as the Feast of Lanterns outside of the country, for more than a half century.
At Forest Hills Cemetery’s sunset version of the festival, participants set paper lanterns they’ve created and decorated themselves afloat on Lake …read more

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Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art does much more than beautify Bean Town’s surroundings with displays of gorgeous visual art. In conjunction with Berklee College of Music, it also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the area by offering HarborWalk Sounds, a series of free outdoor concerts performed by Berklee students and alumni, each Thursday evening.
To enjoy the diverse musical styles that lean heavily toward jazz, just head over to Putnam Investments Plaza (100 Northern Avenue, Boston Waterfront, 617-478-3100) from 6pm to 8:30pm. The lineup for the series, which runs until September 11, follows. Visit the ICA website for …read more

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The Bard days of summer are almost here, and they’re free, too!
On Friday, July 18, Citi Performing Arts Center will kick off its three-week engagement on Boston Common performing William Shakespeare’s much-loved romantic comedy As You Like It.
The talented cast bringing the production to life includes Obie winners Marin Ireland as Rosalind and Fred Weller (of USA Network’s hit series In Plain Sight) as Orlando, along with Larry Coen as Touchstone, Johnny Lee Davenport as Duke Senior, Jennie Israel as Phebe, Ali Marsh (Weller’s wife) as Celia, Paul Melendy as Silvius, Dan Roach as Oliver, Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Jacques, …read more

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Food Network personality Giada De Laurentiis, the granddaughter of famous film producer Dino, made a trip to Boston for her cable-television series Giada’s Weekend Getaways.
A highlight of her visit was a stop by the popular restaurant Sonsie, located in Back Bay’s high-traffic Newbury Street shopping district. The talented chef was hankering for some pizza to eat with her hands like a real Italian should, and she selected an absolutely divine looking recipe with a mixture of white cheese, corn, and smoked bacon from the menu.
I caught the episode recently during one of my regular Food Network phases, which is …read more

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Heads-up, sugar, carb, and dessert fiends! Wednesday, July 30, is National Cheesecake Day, and the popular restaurant The Cheesecake Factory is helping patrons celebrate the event by offering slices of its creamy, delectable cheesecake for just a buck fifty each on that day. That’s right — the scrumptious (and extremely fattening and so not good for you or your health) desserts will cost about seven dollars less than they normally do for an entire day.
I passed by my local Cheesecake Factory at CambridgeSide Galleria on my way through the mall this weekend, which is when I noticed the …read more

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If you thought Cambridge’s Bastille Day Block Party in Harvard Square this weekend was the only festive celebration of the French holiday in the Boston area, you are incorrect. On Monday, July 14, the actual date the holiday falls on, South End nightspot The Beehive (541 Tremont Street, Boston, 617-423-0069) will hold yet another Bastille Day event from 5pm to 2am.
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. …read more

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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 …read more

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