
Zagat took me through an eclectic mix of late. Frank DePasquale refitted News into Splash down on Kneeland St. near South Station. It's meant to be something of a Miami bar / club scene which I guess is possible 2.5 months out of the year. But, who am I to argue with one of Boston's most successful restauranteurs?

First off there's a very nice roof deck complete with its own bar and stands for your chilled bottles. A shallow, aesthetic pool runs down the middle and at night is lit up with water spouting out of the wood into the pool... it does kind of look like what you might be thinking.

We were shooting around some construction, but the indoor had a large bar servicing two different rooms. Off to the side, there was this billiards room and the elevator access to the roof. Can I say again, I love remote flashes. The trick is remembering where you stuck them and not forgetting any.

In the main lounge area, the manager asked if I had seen what the wall "did." No I hadn't. It creates it's own little indoor rainstorm / self cleaning mode. I haven't seen Splash in full swing at night but get the feeling my shoes might not make the cut.

Run to Newton Corner, healthnuts. The Prana Cafe just opened. It's raw, vegan food. I got to shoot and then eat the Prana burrito (chard leaves wrapped around refried beans, avocado, marinated vegetables, and sour cream). Also had a strawberry shake of sorts. The chef was flown in from California... we're not fooling around here. And, I think I could eat vegan a good amount of the time if he was in my kitchen but I'll continue to make do on my own.

The cafe is very family friendly and open complete with encouraging words framed on each table and a kids' corner.
Ah, pizza, a classic. I can still remember as a kid when a pizza shop moved into my small PA town and I really thought we were on the map now... our own post office, county pool, hotel, and now a pizza shop. But, Ducali in the North End is a few notches above Mario's. The pizza is great, and the Italian pride is overflowing.

I like how all the shops in the North End hold on to their first dollar. I don't even know if my first dollar was in paper, check, or electronic form. I do know it was put in the bank. What Germans lack in sentimentality, we make up for in practicality.

I asked the cook to throw some pizza for a few shots. Turns out Ducali is owned by the family that owns the Italian restaurant below the Lee Gallery where I used to work in Winchester. Anyway, he had the dough ready in no time; and, after a little personal preference quiz, put together a great basil, chicken, fresh tomato pizza for me to take home. Ask and ye shall... you know.

































