Boston Common Magazine

Where to Sip Spicy Summer Cocktails

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:00 -0400

The Hell’s Manhattan at Zocalo

American Seasons
The American Fire is a fresh-squeezed citrus trifecta with a kick, made from jalapeño-infused Tequila Chamucos with a splash of lime and orange juices, topped with homemade lemonade and garnished with a house-pickled bell pepper. 80 Centre St., Nantucket, 508-228-7111

Area Four
In addition to legendary lattes and an eco-friendly bottleless wine program, the staff behind the bar serves innovative drinks like the tropical Concubine—Bully Boy Distillers vodka, pineapple, lime, mint, and sriracha hot chili sauce. 500 Technology Square, Cambridge, 617-758-4444

Aquitaine Boston
Mixologist Matt Coughlin heads to Japan with the Last Samurai, an on-the-rocks mix of Milagro tequila, shishito pepper cordial, grapefruit bitters, and lime. One in every 10 shishitos is spicy, so the drink makes for a fun gamble. 569 Tremont St., 617-424-8577

Blue Inc.
Leave it to the ingenious folks at Blue Inc. to kick up the Bloody Mary with their version, the Angry Tomato. Based on a secret Creole Bloody recipe and made with house-made gazpacho vodka and pickled green beans, the classic cocktail is elevated to new sensory heights.
131 Broad St., 617-261-5353

Deuxave
The Blue Heat uses a 28-day house-made cayenne tincture along with Lunazul Blanco Tequila, simple syrup, lime, and cucumber. The first sip is cool, with a subtle heat on the finish.
371 Commonwealth Ave., 617-517-5915

Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake
Get ready to sign a waiver in order to imbibe the “glass of fire,” one of the hottest margaritas in the world. Made with a scorching combination of ghost chilies, CaJohns Hot Sauce, habanero powder, and red pepper flakes, the Ghost Chili Margarita singes with every sip. 384 Boylston St., 617-859-8555

Stella
Using green Thai chili pepper-infused reposado tequila, house-made Thai basil simple syrup, Original Combier, lime juice, and muddled blood orange peels, the Sambal puts a stamp on your passport with one swig. 1525 Washington St., 617-247-7747.

Still & Stir
The complex yet quaffable tiki-inspired Tim’s Cup combines jalapeño-infused Double Cross vodka, Yellow Chartreuse, fresh ginger, Velvet Falernum, and fresh lime and pineapple juices. 1 Exchange Place, Worcester, 508-459-9090

Temple Bar
The smart and sassy An Englishman in Thailand cocktail pairs Bombay Sapphire gin with its British cousin, Pimm’s No. 1, plus lime juice, honey syrup, crème de framboise, and a dash of sriracha. 1688 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-5055

Zocalo
The Hell’s Manhattan is a three-ingredient inferno: Jim Beam Devil’s Cut bourbon whiskey, chipotle-infused sweet vermouth, and Bittermen’s Hellfire Habanero Shrub. 35 Stanhope St., 617-456-7849

Local Designer Jennifer Glickman Hits HGTV

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:06:00 -0400

Local interior design maven Jennifer Glickman scored a guest spot in HGTV’s new White Room Challenge series, and the episode airs tonight. The challenge? Glickman and her fellow contestants must transform stark white rooms using collectables and other décor, while incorporating unorthodox items like dog food. The owner of Glickman Designs, Glickman is known for her keen eye and design portfolio, which includes revamps of restaurants and venues such as Chez Henri, Alden Castle, and the State Room, as well elegant residential spaces. We caught up with the designer to talk about the challenge and her best summer décor tips.

What did you take away from the show experience?
JENNIFER GLICKMAN: I have such a respect for the work involved in creating these shows. The networks make design more accessible and interesting to everyone.

In the last few years there has been an emerging eco-friendly trend in popular culture. How can people recycle or refurbish their furniture to add a trendy vibe to their home?
JG: There are so many ways to reinvent your space with what you have. You can mix up your furniture plan and create a new layout with your existing furniture, or repurpose your pieces by applying new finishes to them. New finishes such as paint or fabric give tired pieces a whole new life. To keep it trendy, add patterns, colors, and textures that are new and current.

What are your tips for organizing random objects without making a space look cluttered or outdated?
JG: I cannot stand random dust-collecting tchotchkes scattered around a room without a purpose. Grouping related items together will make your space seem less random and more intentionally designed. Repetition always makes a big impact in a space!

How can homeowners easily change-up their décor for summer?
JG: One of my new favorite trends is temporary wallpaper. You peel and stick. I mean, how much easier can that get? If you don't want to completely renovate your space, go for accessories. If you really want to make an impact, though, try to carry it across your entire space, not just one corner of a room.

Are you currently working on any local projects?
JG: Yes, I'm in the beginning stages of a great modern loft in the South End, just started a loft on Congress St, wrapped up Alden Castle, ongoing with a few houses in Nantucket, and Restaurant Dante’s outdoor bar.

Crush Boutique Sets Up Shop in Back Bay

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 -0400

Rebecca Penner and Laura Macris, best friends and business partners at Crush

Back in high school, Laura Macris and Rebecca Penner were the sort of best friends young adult novels are made of—total opposites and entirely inseparable. Penner, tall and very blonde, was the more outgoing of the duo, while Macris was petite and soft-spoken. Back then, they shared an adventurous style and two personal goals. The first: to attend small, liberal-arts colleges. ("We actually thought about going to the same school but knew that all our friends would make fun of us," admits Penner.) The second, to one day open a clothing boutique that would represent their collective personalities: playful yet polished, with the occasional daring curveball.

After spending four years at different colleges, the friends moved to Boston and became roommates in Beacon Hill. Penner spent those first few years putting her economics degree to use at PricewaterhouseCoopers, until finally admitting she hated finance, especially the clothes. (Penner counts Carrie Bradshaw as her style icon. "I know she's fictional," she says, "but her creativity and fearlessness are unparalleled!"). She quit and took a job at Calypso St. Barths in Back Bay, then one managing the Harvard Square and Coolidge Corner locations of Mint Julep. Eventually she convinced Macris to abandon her job in PR, and in 2007 they opened Crush Boutique in Beacon Hill, a store that feels like your most fun friend's closet.

In the five years since, Penner and Macris, both now 30, have made working in retail, which can be grueling even in the best economy, look impossibly easy. Crush was a near instant success among the neighborhood's young professionals—not to mention celebs like Anne Hathaway, Debra Messing, and Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears—who were drawn to the duo's girly-preppy aesthetic just as other in-town retailers were running in the opposite direction. It's rare to find black in the store. "From the start, we knew we wanted to carry clothes that were on-trend, fun, different, and edgy—but not too edgy," says Penner. The racks of flirty statement pieces and everyday staples from brands like Wink NYC, Madison Marcus, and Paper Crown represent a perfect unison of the friends' personal styles; while Macris is a bit more polished and feminine with a New York City edge, Penner's look skews a little more West Coast rocker. "I'd be psyched if we carried only denim and cool tops," Penner says, wearing a cherry-red Rory Beca tie-front blouse and dark denim by J Brand.

In February, Macris and Penner opened a second location of Crush, on Newbury Street, looking to tap into the neighborhood's vast college population, heavy foot traffic, and reliable influx of tourists. In a bright first-floor space that once housed Matsu, the new store is undoubtedly a step up—bigger and airier than the subterranean Beacon Hill location. Though Crush Beacon Hill already stocked more than 50 brands, Back Bay presented a chance for Macris and Penner to diversify, buying for a clientele they thought might be a bit more adventurous, as college students and Europeans tend to be. This translates into finds like the navy blue nylon/spandex Harvey dress or the kelly green Nikki silk top with cut-out shoulders from LA-based Boulee, a new label for the store. "Over the years we've learned that it's important to be constantly evolving and not scared to take risks," such as experimenting with new designers or, say, opening in a downturn, says Macris. "That's what's kept our customers interested and coming back." So has a commitment to a "mix and match" view of pricing, with a range that spans $40 tanks from LNA and $350 dresses from Shoshanna. It's Crush's most enduring appeal—there's something for everyone here. They've even found a surprising new fan base in the area's trendy moms, says Penner.

Fans of the Back Bay boutique will find a different mix of brands at the new store. "Carrying different designers at each location allows us to expose our customers to more up-and-coming designers whose names are new to Boston," says Penner. The women love nothing more than chipping away at what they consider Boston's fixation with It brands. "Bostonians tend to be obsessed with labels," says Penner, adding that she and Macris also dream of the death of the shearling boot. "We think there's a real market among girls who don't care about that. They just want something fun and interesting and new." 264 Newbury St., 617-424-0010.

MFA Celebrates the Poppa of Pop Art

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Alex Katz with his cutout Edwin and Rudy, circa 1968

His works are sublimely bold and vibrant—portraits that sear despite their deceptive simplicity, landscapes remarkable for their pureness. Alex Katz has endured for some 60 years now, as celebrated in "Alex Katz Prints," a new retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts. Blame Matisse, an artist Katz has admired since his youth and who inspired him to chart his own maverick path. "I just think he's a fabulous artist," Katz says. "A lot of the work I've done is to get away from him…. He was kind of dominating."

What Katz went toward was his own singular vision—anticipating Pop art by distilling influences from advertising, movies, and television with works rendered in dramatic close-ups, luminous color, and unconventional cropping. It was work that led the way for an entire generation of Pop artists. "I think I was an influence on Warhol," Katz says. "Anyone can see it if they put the dates together." Warhol, like Katz, took cues from popular culture, albeit with a much more cynical sense. Much of Katz's own inspiration came from what he describes as the "buoyancy of American culture" in the 1960s. From the SoHo apartment and studio he's inhabited since 1968, the Brooklyn native recalls the New York of that era. "The billboards and wide-angle screens were marvelous images, and they brought a freshness for me. They were a new way of taking painting."

The MFA show, presented in conjunction with Katz's gift to the museum of an archive of his work dating from the 1960s, showcases some 125 pieces. "He's crept into being one of the modern masters with a quiet, dogged consistency and a strong determination," says MFA director Malcolm Rogers. Many of the show's featured works are portraits of the stunningly beautiful Ada, Katz's wife and muse of 54 years. He never tires of his beloved model. "I still manage to come up with images of her," he says. "There's the thing of age. She's getting older, and that's interesting. To try to capture some of that is the challenge."

"When you meet her she is absolutely the woman in the paintings," Rogers says. Also omnipresent in the exhibition are Katz's landscapes of Maine, where he's summered ever since 1954, five years after receiving a scholarship for study at the Skowhegan school of painting and sculpture. "Where I live it's very varied," he explains of his home in Lincolnville. "When I get tired of one place, I can go to another place where there are woods, lakes, seals, the ocean, and all of the flowers. It's a lot to keep me occupied."

Even at 84, Katz maintains a vigorous work and fitness regimen. Lean and muscular, he looks decades younger than he actually is. Exercise always revives him, he says. "Sometimes in the summer I go into a heavy physical routine. I find that I can be very tired from painting. Then I go running and go for a swim, then I paint some more," Katz says. "You can't be decrepit and paint a 20-foot canvas." Or be a fashion model. In the past decade Katz has appeared in print campaigns for J.Crew. "J.Crew was fun," he says with a laugh. "I work with gestures, so I could easily fit into what the photographers wanted."

Prolific as ever, Katz remains true to his style. Never has he been tempted to shock—a compulsion of many of the contemporary artists he likely influenced. "I have a lot of pride," he says. "[With shock value] the subject matter counts more than the painting. With my work you have to like more of the painting." He also still paints using real models as sitters—a long-standing practice from capturing contemporaries like dance critic Edwin Denby and poet Ted Berrigan in the '70s to more recent models like Christy Turlington and Kate Moss. "The color you get from life is much better than from photographs," Katz says. It is this philosophy, and the prowess behind it, that have enshrined him in the pantheon of American greats. "Alex Katz Prints" is on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, through July 29. 465 Huntington Ave., 617-267-9300.

Julie Rogowski Brings BDC to the People

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 -0400

Julie Rogowski, the woman behind BDC To Go, opening the Boston Design Center to the public.

In 2010, when Julie Rogowski was appointed vice president and general manager of the Boston Design Center (BDC), a 550,000-square-foot mecca of interior design and architecture, she thought hard about what she intended to accomplish. "Any time you take on a new role, you want to make your mark. Bringing in the public was one of the things I targeted," she says. "Designers are our core clients, and we've always been good at engaging with them. But as the general population became more involved in home décor, we looked for ways to reach out to them, too."

In pursuit of that goal, she launched BDC To Go, the center's only sample sale showroom accessible to retail shoppers. For the program Rogowski resurrected the Filene's Basement pricing scheme: Every item comes into the 4,000-square-foot showroom at a reduced price; after 30 days on the floor, the cost drops 15 percent; after 60 days it falls another 15 percent—a sales strategy that motivates customers to return in pursuit of better deals. The introduction of the showroom responds to a change Rogowski noticed in customer behavior. "Consumers are much more active in home design than they ever have been," she explains. "Everyone is more schooled, and they want to participate."

Rogowski oversees every aspect of the center and its 80 showrooms of antiques, flooring, kitchen fixtures, textiles, and furniture, negotiating about a half dozen new showroom leases per year, interacting with decorators, and overseeing a celebrity lecture series. Her next big project is The 342 Club, set to debut in May. It gives participating designers access to a lounge with two conference rooms, a kitchen, and a dining room, where they can collaborate with each other and meet with clients.

Although she's immersed in the glittery world of high-end interior design, Rogowski's career background is less glamorous. Prior to working at the BDC, the Boulder, Colorado native sold industrial computers for manufacturers and EPA compliance tagging systems for oil refineries. "I've spent more time in steel-toed boots than Jimmy Choos," she jokes. Despite her lack of design experience, the BDC hired her in 2005 as a part-time consultant. They wanted someone with a strong sales history, and for Rogowski the job was a perfect fit—she'd always been passionate about fashion and design. "When I was 10, I got my first sewing machine," she remembers. "My favorite thing was to go into a fabric store and wrap myself in all the fabrics, the colors, the textures." Shortly after nabbing the consulting gig, Merchandise Mart Properties bought the BDC and promoted her to director of leasing. Five years later, she assumed her present role.

Now, Rogowski seems totally at home inside the BDC. The center's modern vibe in an industrial space with a backstory echoes in Rogowski's own home, a 200-year-old farmhouse that's had a gut renovation and is surprisingly contemporary inside. "People expect an old farmhouse to have antiques in it, but that is not my style," she says. "Right now, I have my eye on a huge, dark wood dining table in BDC To Go that's a mix of modern and rustic."

Her secret weapon for succeeding in such a fast-paced environment comes from lessons gleaned from being mom to five kids, ages 13 to 20. "Nothing goes as planned," she says. "You learn to be flexible, because the minute you look at someone else's kids and judge them for something their child has done, your child does the same thing." Rogowski has mastered the balancing act, letting things unfold and fluidly handling the onslaught of invoices and renovation requests flooding her way. "I thought this job would be draining, but I find that if I bob and weave, things just move forward."

Her approach has been working, because the center has never been more popular. Case in point: Rogowski's "taxi test." "The BDC has always been influential, but one of our goals was to make it a true destination," she says. "Ten years ago, if you got into a cab at Logan and said, 'Take me to the Boston Design Center,' the driver would have no idea where that was. Now he'll know exactly where to go."

Bentley Reveals Luxe SUV: EXP 9 F

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:14:00 -0400

Bentley made a statement the night before the Geneva International Motor Show during VW’s Group Night, where each of the parent company’s brands showcased their latest and most spectacular vehicles. The British luxury maker wowed the crowd with its first SUV concept, EXP 9 F.

Massive 23-inch alloy wheels; the signature bold Bentley grille; a powerful 6-liter W12 engine that can make up to 600 horsepower; an 8-speed transmission; a fold-down champagne cooler; and luxury tailgating fit for the Kentucky Derby, seem to overly exceed expectations of consumers looking to purchase an ultra-elite SUV. Bentley’s sports utility vehicle is in competition with other luxe cars like the Range Rover and Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo. While the design and composition keep all the usual Bentley trappings, it is unknown if this foray into SUVs will be met with negative or positive feedback.