Start by checking out some of my favourite things to see and do for Memorial Day Weekend in Boston.
Memorial Day Eating
Whether you want to grill a burger at home or enjoy a burger out, the options are many. Who makes your favorite burger? If you can, go to MF Dulock and pick up some of their ground beef for your burgers it is amazing.
The Smoke Shop BBQ in Cambridge’s Kendall Square has a delicious-sounding menu ready to go for your party. Catering Packages include: Combo #1 The Pit Crew ($14 per guest with a choice of two meats, two side dishes, served with slider rolls, pickles and sauces on the side); Combo #2 The Pit Boss ($19 per guest with a choice of three meats, three side dishes, served with slider rolls, pickles and sauces on the side); Combo #3 The Pit Master ($27 per guest with 1st place ribs, beef brisket, two meats with a choice of three sides, served with slider rolls, pickles and sauces on the side); Combo $4 The Grand Champion ($32 per guest with 1st place ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, BBQ chicken wings, hot links, choice of sides, two desserts, corn bread, rolls, pickles, and sauces on the side). Guests can choose from Smoke Shop Boxes including Uncle Jed’s BBQ Box for 4 (full rack of 1st place ribs, sliced beef brisket, glazed BBQ chicken thighs, 1 quart of coleslaw, cornbread, homemade pickles, and sauce on the side for $110) or the IQue BBQ Box for 10 (two full racks of 1st Place Ribs, Sliced Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Hot Links, Coleslaw, Collard Greens, pit beans, Cornbread, Butter Cake, served with sliver rolls, homemade pickles and sauces on the side for $290).
Bistro du Midi has an a la carte menu as well as a two-course brunch with a mimosa for only $29 on their Work Hard, Brunch Harder menu. Items such as Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (lavender crème anglaise, macerated Ward’s blackberries) $15, Croque Monsieur (smoked ham, gruyere, mornay) $14, and Rolled Oats (kumquat, coconut flake, almond syrup) $14 are all on the traditional brunch menu
Chopps American Bar and Grill has a lobster roll on their Memorial Day menu/ The Lobster PLT has Maine lobster, celery, fresh lemon, mayonnaise, fennel powder and parsley. The lobster mix is topped with crispy pancetta, lettuce, tomato as well as bacon and is served on a toasted brioche bun. Make a mini-staycation out of it and you can go to the movies nearby, do some summer shopping for camp, and stay at the Marriott Burlington.
This weekend may be your time to finally get out to Lincoln Tavern and try the Lincoln Test Kitchen or brunch especially since they will be having a special Memorial Day brunch service on Monday, May 29.
Just down the road from Lincoln Tavern, Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar is also serving up an extra day of brunch on Monday, May 29. There will be Breakfast Tacos (carnitas, scrambled cheesy eggs, smoked tomatillo salsas, chile de arbol), PB & J French Toast (peanut butter & berry jam stuffed, banana foster sauce, spiced peanuts) and the ever popular dish du jour Avocado Toast (marble rye, aji Amarillo goat cheese, smoked mahi mahi, avocado).
If you are heading to Martha’s Vineyard, Garde East is open for the season. On the marina deck, there are 30 seats for al fresco dining with views of Vineyard Haven Harbor. I cannot wait for my first clam bake of the season. The Garde East Clam Bake includes chorizo, lobster, clams, mussels, smoked seaweed, and corn. I am a fan of crudos and their Fluke Crudo with pear, avocado, and nori crispies sounds right up my alley. Also on the menu is Halibut poached in olive oil served with bacon-clam agnolotti and lemongrass “chowder”. Then again there is the Squid Ink Chitarra (uni, peekytoe crab, cherry tomatoes) that sounds tempting too. I guess it might be time for me to have a 1st trip to Martha’s Vineyard soon.
Memorial Day Sipping
I like to head to Craft Beer Cellar and try some different beers for my bbq. You can also pick up growlers around town of Lamplighter Brewing Co’s Lion’s Eyes or Buckwheat Brett (to name a few), Cambridge Brewing Co.‘s Tall Tall Pale Ale or Cambridge Amber. Then of course there are many more spots from Night Shift Brewingand Jack’s Abby to Trillium Brewing Co. and Harpoon Brewery.
Bistro Du Midi looks out to the Boston Public Garden where you can sip on a Lion City Sling (Plymouth Gin, VSOP Brandy, cherry, Benedictine, pineapple, orange, lime, Angostura) or a Rosé Vermouth (rosé wine, strawberry and cranberry infused brandy, wormwood, gentian, herbs and spices).
I don’t usually like cold brew, but I’m willing to try this one. Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar is serving a Brewed Awakening (vanilla vodka, RumChata, Kahlua, and house made cinnamon-nutmeg cold brew) to help you transition out of the long weekend.
Memorial Day Weekend Escape in and out of the City
The Boston Harbor Hotel is offering a Family Vacation Getaway Package for Memorial Day Weekend. It includes overnight accommodations, admission to the New England Aquarium, and bedtime milk and cookies, which is perfect for this weekend weather. Families who book two rooms with this deal will receive 50% off the second room.
To Do
This may not be your usual Memorial Day celebration, but this party is celebrating President John F. Kennedy with a 1960’s Sock Hop at Brookline High School. The event is from 7-10 p.m. Regular admission is $38 (includes $10 food tickets) and discounted price are (students, young adults): $23 (no food tickets included; food available for purchase). Door Prices: $40 Regular, $25 Discounted
There will be a DJ – 1960s Jukebox Classics, Poodle Skirt Hula Hoop Troupe, a Costume & Hairdo Competition (Boy & Girl), Iconic Vintage Cocktails and Retro American Food by The Fireplace Restaurant: Stillman’s Farm Bratwursts in a Blanket Swedish Meatballs with Black Truffled Cheese Pineapple Upside-down Cake
Mystic Connecticut is a nice little road trip for the family. We love the Mystic Aquarium and they are debuting their Weird & Wonderful exhibit this weekend. Aquarium guests are invited to take a walk on the weird side of the watery world. This new exhibit showcases some of nature’s most bizarre and fascinating creatures. Weird and Wonderful is more than 1,000 square feet and features both new exhibits and animals. It is all about the unfathomably freaky and outlandishly odd. The exhibit’s signature species include the larger-than-life giant Japanese spider crabs, mudskippers, giant Pacific octopus, fish eating anemone, large-nosed freshwater wonders like the paddlefish, and experts in camouflage like the warty frogfish and so much more. Additional exhibits include coral reefs and bio-fluorescents. Conservation is always at the forefront of the Mystic Aquarium’s work and education is always an element of each exhibit.
These are just a few ideas. You can find out about more on Facebook and get all kinds of ideas on Instagram where I post frequently too.
Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters 