Maria Olia: I am a free-lance writer and the author of the "Little Black of Boston" (Peter Pauper Press). I fell in love with Boston when I was a kid, came for college and never left! I live just outside Boston-trolley stop distance- and I try to take advantage of everything the city has to offer- its historical and cultural attractions, great dining, shopping, and Boston's outdoor recreational opportunities too. My favorite museums in Boston include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art. Hanging out in Cambridge is one of my favorite pastimes. Like most travel writers, I love to eat out- I have a strong preference for ethnic(especially Italian and Middle East cuisine) and/or chef-owned restaurants . And of course, I am a huge Red Sox fan! I am an active free-lancer. Currently, I am the "Fun-To-Go" editor for the monthly parenting publication "Parents and Kids of Massachusetts". I also recently revised "The Little Black Book of DC" (Peter Pauper Press) - DC is fast becoming one of my US favorite cities! My travel and parenting articles have appeared in many national publications including the Boston Globe, the Christian Science Monitor, Woman's Day and Parents Magazine.

High Art Lite:The Boston Lyric Opera’s Ariadne Auf Naxos

An idealistic young composer is asked to edit his debut opera, a retelling of the Greek tragedy Ariadne, to include the members of a comedy troupe. Egos are bruised, changes and cuts are made- all with unexpected results. Boston Lyric Opera’s presentation of Richard Strauss’ Ariadne Auf...

March 15th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Accepted! Boston Spring College Visits

Decisions. Decisions. By late March, college students around the country will be receiving college acceptance letters. Boston is known as “America’s College Town” with more than 50 colleges and universities in the area. Accepted high school seniors and their parents may need to plan...

March 14th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Market by Jean Georges

Talk about a two-fer. When the much anticipated W Hotel (finally!) arrived in Boston, so too did Market, by acclaimed Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Jean Georges Vongerichten. Since its opening last fall, Market has proven to be a noteworthy newcomer to the Boston restaurant scene with...

March 12th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Boston Spring Animal Fun

Lots of cute baby animals is a sure sign of spring! Here are a few Boston-area spots where you can get up close and personal to your favorite animal friends. The Franklin Park Zoo (1 Franklin Park Rd., Dorchester, 617-541-5466, weekdays 10 AM-5 PM, weekends and holidays 10 AM-6 PM, $14 adults, $8...

March 10th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

The Boston Public Library: A Cultural Monument

Bibliophiles will not want to miss a visit to the Boston Public Library. The Boston Public Library was the country’s first publicly funded library, founded in 1848. The Copley Plaza building, a grand Italianate “palace of the people” dates from 1895 and was designed by Charles McKim. To...

March 8th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Preservation and Progress: Boston’s Architecture

Spired churches , gleaming towers, and lots of red brick. Boston is an architecturally rich city in the most traditional sense. The iconic image of the 1877 H.H. Richardson designed Trinity Church (206 Clarendon St., Boston)(Map) reflected in the 1976 I.M. Pei-designed John Hancock Tower (200...

March 5th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Boston: Temporary Museum Exhibitions Worth Visiting This Spring

The second half of Boston’s arts season is well under way and there are lots of newly opened exhibits at Boston’s many fine museums this spring. Here’s a guide to some of the best of what to see now. Still life paintings of the 18th century typically showcase brilliant colors...

March 4th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

25 Boston Activities That Don’t Cost a Penny

Savvy travelers are ever on the lookout for bargains. If you are feeling the pinch of a limited vacation budget, know that you can experience a lot of terrific Boston travel experiences for free. Here are just a few ! Take a free guided National Park Service tour of the Freedom Trail (15 State St.,...

March 3rd, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Boston’s Emerald Necklace in Early Spring

March in Boston is melting snow, budding trees, and robins in the park. Take advantage of warmer, early spring days by exploring Boston’s Emerald Necklace , a unique linear park system that was designed in the late 1800’s by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Since Boston was...

February 27th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Algiers Coffeehouse : Bohemian Harvard Square

Attracting both brilliant thinkers eager to expound their views, quiet intellectual types, and a goodly number of aging hipsters, the Algiers Coffeehouse is a bona-fide Harvard Square instituiton . It is an almost sultry setting-complete with a soaring wood ceiling, clusters of tiny brass-inlaid...

February 26th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

‘Tis St. Patrick’s Day Season in Boston

For those of Irish descent and for those who are Irish-at-heart, there is no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than Boston . The entire month of March is a celebration of all things Irish with concerts, theater performances, parades, and culinary events throughout the state. In...

February 25th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Fantasy Tea at L’Espalier, Boston

L’Espalier is one of Boston’s world-class restaurants- a destination dining spot that has received a string of critical accolades and awards as well as won over legions of devotees for Frank McClelland’s contemporary New England/ French cuisine. It is a poshly elegant space-...

February 24th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Hurry Spring! The Boston Flower and Garden Show

For winter-weary New Englanders, an annual flower show event in Boston has always been one of the true harbingers of spring. This year, the Boston Flower and Garden Show will be produced by the Paragon Group.The event will be held Wednesday, March 24-Sunday, March 28 at the Seaport World Trade Center...

February 22nd, 2010 | Boston | Read More

The Daily Catch Boston

Specializing in Italian-style seafood, the Daily Catch never disappoints. The North End location is it’s most well-known location-it has been packing them in (literally- there are just 20 seats!) since 1973. This is an open-kitchen concept taken to the extreme. You are seated so close to the stove...

February 21st, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Cuffs-An Irish Bar in Boston’s Back Bay Hotel

Raise your glass of Guiness stout in honor of St. Patrick’s Day at Cuffs an Irish bar located in The Back Bay Hotel (350 Stuart St., Boston, 617-266-7200)(Map), formerly Jurys Boston, and now part of the Dublin-based luxury hotel group, the Doyle Collection. “Book-em” really...

February 18th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Roni Horn aka Roni Horn at the ICA/Boston

Opening February 19, 2010, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston will show Roni Horn aka Roni Horn. The exhibition spans three decades and includes more than 50 examples of the American-born (New York -based) artist’s work in a wide range of media- including sculpture, photograph, and drawing. As...

February 17th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Celebrate Irish Good Cheer at Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Is there a more Irish city in America than Boston? According to the Boston Irish Tourism Association, over 24% of Massachusetts residents claim Irish ancestry. Boston honors Ireland’s patron saint in grand style with it’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade which steps off from the...

February 15th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

What’s Cooking? Boston’s Restaurant Week 2010

Always one of Boston’s most anticipated events, Boston’s Winter Restaurant Week (March 14-March 19 and March 21-March 26) allows diners to enjoy three-course fixed price dinners for $33.10, three course lunches for $20.10 and/or two-course light lunches for $15.10. This year more than...

February 13th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Rustic French-Sel de la Terre Boston

French culinary creativity , sunny flavors , and a lively and attractive dining space combine splendidly at Sel de La Terre , Long Wharf to create the taste and feel of the South of France. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2010, over the years, Sel de la Terre has carved out quite a following among...

February 11th, 2010 | Boston | Read More

Boston February School Vacation Ideas

The holidays are a distant memory. Spring is weeks – maybe months away. And your kids have nine days off from school, in the middle of winter. If you haven’t made your February vacation plans yet, don’t panic. Boston is a wonderful destination for big city family fun-even when it...

February 10th, 2010 | Boston | Read More