Fall Colors Week: Red

I found out yesterday that Jan at Poppytalk is hosting Fall Colors Week again this year. (I’ve participated in several of her color weeks in the past.) Today’s color is red – my favorite! – so here are some glimpses of red around here:

As I keep saying, it is the season of red leaves.

 

And red chairs.

Plenty of red teapots on the shelves at Tealuxe.

And red beards in the Public Garden. (Go Sox!)

Several shades of red showed up at lunch this weekend:

And, of course, there are apples everywhere.

Where are you glimpsing red this fall?

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Summer nights at Fenway

My Boston mini-tour, and any Boston summer, would not be complete without a trip to Fenway Park. I’ve been there a handful of times now, to cheer on the Red Sox (unless our Texas Rangers are the opposing team, in which case we cheer against the Sox for one night). It’s always a blast, especially if you’re my baseball-fanatic husband.

If you find yourself at Fenway, here are a few tricks and tips to help you enjoy the game:

• Do not – I repeat – do not drive if you can avoid it. Parking is scarce and expensive, and postgame traffic moves at a crawl (at best).
• Take the T (the subway – the B, C or D Green Line westbound), and get off at Kenmore Square. (There is a Fenway stop on the D line, but Kenmore is closer.) The trains will be packed, especially since many weeknight games start right after rush hour. Take deep breaths, squeeze in, and hang on. It will be over soon.
• For a non-bar place to hang out before the game, I suggest the Boston University Barnes & Noble, across the street from Kenmore station. It’s huge (three stories) and air-conditioned, with a big kids’ section and a relatively clean bathroom.
• There are lots of bars and restaurants near Kenmore, though they are packed pregame. You can try your luck, or wait until you get inside to enjoy a Fenway Frank, ice cream, or another ballpark treat. Concessions are expensive and not remotely healthy (like all ballpark food), but pretty tasty. The greatest variety is over by Gate B.
• Check the weather forecast. Bring an umbrella, a light jacket and/or a rain jacket if there’s even a remote chance of rain. I’ve been to two games with rain delays (one short, one looonnnggg) and one game that got rained out altogether (boo!).
• As you’re walking to your seats (and/or making trips to the concession stand or the bathroom), check out the historical exhibits around the park. They include information about Fenway’s construction, its history, famous players (most notably, Ted Williams), a showcase of past and current Red Sox logos, and more.
• Look up the lyrics to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” – at least the chorus – so you’ll be prepared to stand up and sing it in the middle of the 8th.
• And if you don’t know “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” for heaven’s sake look up those lyrics, so you can sing it during the 7th-inning stretch.
• Prepare for more crowded trains after the game. I have not yet found a way to circumvent this. Again: deep breaths.
• Make sure you have enough money on your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket for your return T ride, otherwise you’ll be part of the bottleneck choking the stairs in Kenmore, trying to reload their cards as the crowds squeeze by.
• Have fun!

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