Time For Awesome Fresh Vegetables in Lower Dot!

This year there is a third farmer's market being added to Lower Dot! The newest addition will be Fridays from 3-7 at the ODWIN Learning Center parking lot (1943 Dorchester Ave.) across from the new Carruth Building. Next year it will move to the northern entrance of Ashmont station in Peabody Square. There are of course the two classic farmer's markets at Milton Village (just over the bridge from Dorchester - behind the store fronts on Adams Street), which takes place every Thursday from 1-6 and Fields Corner, which takes place in the parking lot across the street from Town Field on Saturdays from 9-12. Erin and Chris will also be enjoying their farm share this year from Dorchester's own Re-Vision Farm.

Check out our blog entry on farmer's markets from three years ago: Milton Lower Mills Wharf Farmer's Market blog entry

Click here for more info on the Ashmont/Peabody Square Farmer's Market

Click here for more info on the Milton Lower Mills Wharf Farmer's Market

Click here for more info on the Fields Corner Farmer's Market

Design and Architecture Festival at Ashmont

This weekend numerous events related to the Common Boston design
and architecture festival are happening in Lower Dot. There are neighborhood tours, opening buildings, a photo exhibit at the Ashmont T station, Dot Bike tours, food tours, and lectures going on throughout the neighborhood. It's all free and open to everyone and the Boston Society of Architects are really trying to get the whole community involved.

For a schedule and more information: Common Boston

Arts in the Park Day 2009

Submissions are now being accepted for the first annual Arts in the Park Day at Dorchester Park. The outdoor arts festival will be held on Saturday, June 6th from 11 am to 3 pm. It is a juried show for all media. Contact penn1957@comcast.net or go to www.thedac.org for more information.

This post's artwork is from Ashmont Hill artist Shane Ruff. For information on his work, see this recent Dorchester Reporter article: Ruff Styles or his website: Ruff Studio.


Top is a proposed pubic art installation and below are titled "Dot over U 3" and "Dream in Black & White" respectively

Eating and Biking Events in Dot

If you like food and/or biking, there are two awesome events coming up in Dorchester!

The First Annual Taste of Dorchester is Thursday, April 30 from 6-9 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Freeport Street. For $30 (or $40 at the door), you can chow down on every single awesome Dot restaurant in one sitting! It includes the likes of Ashmont Grille, Tavolo, Irie Jamaican Restaurant, Flames, dbar, Dot-2-Dot, Pat's Pizza, Chau Chow, Big Moe's M&M Ribs, Shanti, Saigon Seafood, and you can top it off with The Ice Creamsmith. There are so many more, we don't have to room to name them all... Taste of Dorchester

When you have recuperated, get on your bike on April 25th at 12:30 p.m. at the entrance to the Franklin Park Zoo and and ride with DotBike on the 'Shiny Green Dot Ride.' Enjoy the ride, while burning off all those calories you gained from the Taste of Dorchester! For more information: Dot Bike

Belle Cuisine Haitian Restaurant

With the broadcasting of Haitian television and the sounds of Creole being spoken by the patrons, you will think you have been transported to the Caribbean. The wonderful smells of rice and beans and the welcoming owners make this small and unassuming new Haitian restaurant in Fields Corner a hidden gem. Erin ordered the Poulet en Sauce (chicken and sauce) plate with Du riz Blanc (white rice with peas and seasonings) and a side of plantains. Chris got the turkey and sauce, Du riz cole (rice with beans) and plantains. Everything was full of great flavors that complimented and combined for a great dinner. You can take out or eat in... Bon Appétit.

Belle Cuisine Restaurant
272 Adams St., Dorchester
617.379.2415
Located in Fields Corner near the intersection of Adams Street and Park Street. Just east of the Fields Corner T stop.

Have you been to Belle Cuisine? Rate it below.

Shepard Fairey Puts Up Public Art in Dot

For a very short time period, controversial artist Shepard Fairey posted a billboard (legally) on Hoyt Street and Dorchester Ave. The Dorchester Reporter said it was paid for by the Institute of Contemporary Art and that Fairey’s trademark Andre the Giant image can be seen on the image. Pretty cool...

Dot on TV Diner

Billy Costa's TV Diner on NECN did their entire episode last week on Dorchester! This completely edges them ahead of Phantom Gourmet in our books...

Click here for the clips: Ashmont Grill, Shanti, dbar, Restaurant Laura.

Ashmont/Peabody Square Station

The Boston Globe reports this morning in a story about the Science Park station that the MBTA will be adding "Peabody Square" to Ashmont Station. We knew there was support for this in the neighborhood, but had not heard it was actually going to happen. Pretty neat!

"For the MBTA, the bestowing of a secondary local name to stations is becoming increasingly common as a part of other, larger renovations. The designation Boston Public Library was added to the local signs on the Green Line at Copley Station. On the Red Line, the label Peabody Square was added to signs at Ashmont Station."

Click here for the full story: The MBTA gives a nod to the old West End

Hope in the Hood Ball @ Tavolo

Hope in the Hood Ball! Join other Dorchesterites as they celebrate President-Elect Obama's historic inaugruation on January 20th at Tavolo in Peabody Square. There will be a DJ, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, music and dancing. Their website says, "dress to impress at our 'creative' black tie event and be sure to get you picture taken with the the Choice for Change himself." The cost is $20 per person at the door. For more information click here.

www.tavolopizza.com
1918 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.822.1918
Located on Dochester Ave. just north of the intersection of Beale Street. Just west of the Ashmont T stop (near the southern entrance/exit).

Peabody Square Tree Lighting 2008

On Saturday, Nov. 29th the annual Peabody Square Holiday Tree Lighting will be held at 7 pm. As usual Santa and Mrs. Clause will visit via a city tour trolley and holiday munchies will be provided by the Peabody Square Firehouse.

Check out our post from last year: Peabody Square Tree Lighting 2007

DotPark2 and Lower Mills Merchant Holiday Stroll

On November 10th the Dorchester Park Association will be holding DotPark2, a fundraiser to support the Dorchester Park maintainance of the urban forest. It will be held at Tavolo. For more information and tickets: http://dotpark.org/dotpark2.htm

On November 13th from 6-8 pm, the Lower Mills Civic Association and Lower Mills Merchant's Association will be sponsoring the First Annual Lower Mills Holiday Stroll. Over 30 participating shops in Lower Mills will be offering discounts, giveaways, and exhibits. The fun begins at St. Greg's Auditorium, where you can pick up your eco-shopping bag, food, live music, and raffle.

Martinis on the Avenue: Dotini Election Special

"Martinis on the Avenue", which is now in its fourth year, is an annual fund-raiser for the Fields Corner and St. Mark's Main Streets. $30 in advance or $35 at the door, including the Blarney’s famous hors d'oeuvres, a live auction and taste the new "Presiden-Tini." And of course, you can still get a Dotini, Dorchester's unofficial cocktail!

www.fieldscorner.org/events
Martinis on the Avenue: Dotini Election Special Featuring the Presiden-tini
@ The Blarney Stone (Tuesday 10.30.08 @ 7 PM)
1505 Dorchester Avenue. Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Fields Corner on Dorchester Ave. Just south of the Fields Corner T stop.

Wainwright Bank and Flat Black in The Carruth

The new Flat Black Coffee Shop and Wainwright Bank are finally open in the Carruth! We checked out the bank and the employees were very nice and the ATM works well. They also have a socially progressive mission, which makes opening up an account all the better. We also visited the new Flat Black cafe inside the bank, and it was great. The coffee continues to be high quality and their pastries were excellent (word on the street is that are from Sel de la Terre). They will also be offering free wi-fi if you want to check your e-mail. It is a great addition to Peabody Square.

www.wainwrightbank.com
www.flatblackcoffeecompany.com
1906 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.825.1440
Located in Peabody Square on Dorchester Ave. Just west of the Ashmont T stop.

Have you been to Wainwright Bank & Flat Black in The Carruth? Rate it below.

Dorchester Open Studios Next Weekend

It is time again for Dorchester Open Studios! Dorchester Open Studios showcases the best artists in our neighborhood. Check out our blog entry from two years ago for a description: Dot Open Studios 2006

www.thedac.org
Dorchester Open Studios 2008 (Saturday 10.26.08 and Sunday 10.27.08)
12-5 PM

Lower Dot Locations:
Walter Baker Artists Lofts
1231 Adams Street, Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Lower Mills on Adams Street. Just north of the Milton T stop (Mattapan-Ashmont Trolley).

The Boston Home
2049 Dorchester Avenue. Dorchester
Located on Dorchester Ave. Just south of the Ashmont T stop.

Tết Trung Thu

Over a hundred people attended the first annual Tết Trung Thu - Vietnamese Harvest Festival at Dorchester Park this year. The festival begin with Vietnamese music and an opening ceremony, followed by dragon dances and traditional drums and percussion. Celebrants brought homemade lanterns or purchased some there, and after sundown they were lit and followed by a procession. Everyone also enjoyed the traditional moon cakes.

Dorchester Symphony Orchestra Debut

The Dorchester Symphony Orchestra (DSO) debuts this month at All Saints Church near Ashmont Station. The program of two symphonies including works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Hayden, is scheduled for September 20th at 7 pm.

www.dorchestersymphony.org
617.822.3979

www.allsaints.net
All Saints Church
209 Ashmont Street, Dorchester

Located on Ashmont Street. just east of the intersection of Dorchester Ave. Just northeast of the Ashmont T stop (near the northern entrance/exit).

Tết Trung Thu - Vietnamese Harvest Festival At Dorchester Park

The first annual Tết Trung Thu Festival will be held Saturday, September 13th at Dorchester Park from 6-8 pm. Tết Trung Thu is a Vietnamese traditional holiday that celebrates harvest. The celebration will include lanterns, singing, and moon cakes.

Tavolo

It's new, stylish, yet unpretentious in their attempt at Italian food for the modern eater. Aside from the chalk-artwork in the dining area, our favorite part is the bar. It hosts a large U-shaped bar made out of slate where the friendly bartenders write your names down and offers you chalk to play with your own artistic abilities. Look up and you'll see the three flat screen TVs and light fixtures made out of small drink bottles. The food is standard Italian - Erin had the Arugula pizza with prosciutto and Chris had the cheesy pasta with funghi and mortadella. They offer a build-your-own anitpasti platter which we are very excited to try next time. The cherry citrus biscotti should not be passed up, perhaps made by the same baker that does the desserts for the Ashmont Grill? We look forward to making Tavolo a regular afterwork stop. Some other perks include: espresso drinks, bar open 'til 11pm, and offer take-out.

www.tavolopizza.com
1918 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.822.1918
Located on Dochester Ave. just north of the intersection of Beale Street. Just west of the Ashmont T stop (near the southern entrance/exit).

Have you been to Tavolo? Rate it below.

Tavolo Opens August 9th

Word on the street is that Chris Douglass opens his third restaurant Tavolo tomorrow. It is located in the new Carruth Building adjacent to Ashmont Station on the red line. If the restaurant is up to Lower Dot expectations then expect a review in the next few weeks. Until then consider checking them out and let us know what you think.

News: Co-op Houses Become Popular in Lower Dot

(Photo courtesy of Chris Lovett)

Joining other urban areas such as San Francisco and Brooklyn, the Boston Globe reports that co-op houses are becoming very popular in certain neighborhoods of the Boston, including Fields Corner in Dorchester. Co-op houses are hip these days with high rents and living costs, especially with the under 35 crowd (although the article also highlights a co-op for people over 50 and one resident in The Big Top Co-op in Dorchester who has been living there for 25 years). Co-ops are essentially urban communes, where residents pool money for rent, heating, and food. The triple-decker commonly found throughout Dorchester appears to be "the" building for co-ops and many are quite able to use the small urban back yard to grow vegtables and gardens.

The Boston Globe August 2, 2008 Article: Cheaper by the Dozen

Summer Is the Time for Lower Dot Farmer's Markets...

There are two farmer's markets in Lower Dot! The Milton Village Farmer's Market (just over the bridge from Dorchester - behind the store fronts on Adams Street) takes place every Thursday from 1 - 6. The Fields Corner Farmer's Market takes place in the Orlando's Food Basket parking lot on Saturdays from 9 - noon. Check out our blog entry from two years ago: Milton Lower Mills Wharf Farmer's Market blog entry

For the Milton Lower Mills Wharf Farmer's Market: Milton Lower Mills Wharf Farmer's Market

For the Fields Corner Farmers Market: Fields Corner Farmer's Market

Wine Club at the Ashmont Grill

We finally made it to the much acclaimed "Monday Night Wine Club" at the Ashmont Grill. Wine Club offers a four-course meal paired with four wines (and on occasion beer...). We went on Portugal wines night and enjoyed a wonderful meal with Portugese flavored dishes such as bacalhau (salted codfish), clams, grilled beef, and o bolo de chocolate (decadent chocolate cake). Along with each dish is served a wine with a description. The wine flowed, Erin couldn't finish it all, but Chris did. Wine Club tries to create a social atmosphere so you may get seated with other guests, but it seemed inconsistent. (It might be nice if they gave you the choice...) Wine Club starts at 6:30pm on Mondays and costs $30.

Check out our blog entry from two years ago for a description: Ashmont Grill

www.ashmontgrill.com
555 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester
617.825.4300
Located in Peabody Square at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, Ashmont Street and Talbot Ave. Just north of the Ashmont T stop.

News: Haitian Restaurant Opens in Fields Corner

We love Haitian food, so it is great news that a new Haitian restaurant called Belle Cuisine is now open in Lower Dot. The Dorchester Reporter says that the restaurant is owned and run by Antoine Dorcena, a former Boston University cook and owner of a catering business called Leave It To Us. If the restaurant is up to Lower Dot expectations then expect a review in the next few months. Until then consider checking them out and let us know what you think.

Belle Cuisine
272 Adams Street, Dorchester
Located on Adams Street near the intersection of Adams Street and Lincoln Street. Just east of the Fields Corner T stop.

Lower Mills Library

The Lower Mills branch of the Boston Public Library has many activities going on this summer. We hope to review the library soon, but until then here is a link to their Summer Flyer. Lower Mills Library Summer Handout and Lower Mills Library July Calendar.

www.bpl.org/branches/lower.htm
617.298.7841
27 Richmond Street, Dorchester
Located on Richmond Street. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Lower Dot gets a new URL: www.lowerdot.com

Our Lower Dot blog now has a new url address! You can type "www.lowerdot.com" into your favorite browser and it will redirect you to our blog... Happy web-surfing.

Update/News: New Restaurant Coming to Lower Mills

The Dorchester Reporter has reported that two brothers originally from Ireland have purchased Donovan's Village Tavern and Restaurant and are going to convert it into "The Ledge" restaurant and bar, which will serve "standard American food, such as burgers, fish and chips and chicken, for a lunch and dinner crowd". The brothers are planning a major renovation of the establishment. Currently there are two separate entrances and rooms, one for the bar and one for the restaurant. The renovations will include making the restaurant and bar one room with one entrance, creating an outdoor patio with a seasonal bar, and bringing in a new chef. Stay tuned for updates on this...

Anh Hổng Vietnamese Restaurant

We knew of the wonders of Anh Hổng before we even moved to Dorchester. This place has perhaps the best Vietnamese food in the city (don't insult us by saying Pho Pasteur is the best around - try this place and you will never eat there again). Although the decor is not hip or trendy, it certainly is authentic and the prices are incredibly reasonable. On a cold winter day nothing beats a hot giant bowl of their phở. If it is hot out, then the Vietnamese spring rolls are a must. They are light, fresh, and served with a great peanut sauce. If you want fine dining try the bò 7 món (seven meals of beef), but just be prepared to fast for a few days before you go because this is more beef than any human should eat.

291 Adams Street, Dorchester
617.265.8889
Located on Adams Street at the corner of Park Street. Just east of the Fields Corner T stop.

Have you been to Anh Hổng? Rate it below.

Dorchester Park: Family Fun Day

The annual Family Fun Day at Dorchester Park will be held on Sunday July 13th, 2008 starting at noon. It will include a a cookout, face painting, children's games, and a softball game between the Boston Police Department District C-11 and the Dorchester Board of Trade.

www.dotpark.org
Dorchester Park
2174 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
Located on Dorchester Ave. just north of St. Gregory's Parish on Dorchester Ave. Just south or the Carney Hospital. Just west of the Cedar Grove T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley) or about 3/4 miles south of the Ashmont T stop.

Dorchester Day Parade 2008

It is time once again for the Dorchester Day Parade. For those of you that don't know about it, Dorchester Day celebrates the incorporation of Dorchester as a town in 1630. Although Dorchester became part of the city of Boston in 1870, the Dorchester Day Parade has for over a hundred years celebrated the uniqueness of the neighborhood, inviting the city to come and enjoy the festivities. It will start from Lower Mills at 1 p.m. on Sunday June 1st, 2008 and proceed north up Dorchester Ave.

Check out our review of Dorchester Day 2007:
Dot Day 2007

Our New Adventure in Blogging: The Dorchester Think Tank

Just over two years ago we started the Lower Dot blog to showcase the great things happening in our neighborhood. It was intended to highlight the best of the best. After the popularity of our first blog, we have decided to start a second Dorchester blog that will this time create a forum to highlight those things in the neighborhood that could use improvement or should be commended as examples for others to emulate. We also intend it as an interactive blog allowing people from the neighborhood to suggest things they think would make our neighborhood continue in a positive direction and perhaps a place for people investing in the neighborhood to get a better idea of the community's needs.

Features include:
-Interactive thumbs up/thumbs down ratings for each entry
-An e-mail address to contact with your ideas
-Links to local community organizations

We would like to introduce to you, the Dorchester Think Tank:
dorchesterthinktank.blogspot.com

Dot-2-Dot Cafe

We just couldn't wait to visit the newly opened Dot-2-Dot Cafe! We went on the second day they opened for brunch. Erin ate a slice of the quiche which was wonderfully flavored accompanied by a flaky crust. Chris had the special pancakes made with feta cheese, sundried tomatoes and spinach. Although the menu seemed limited on our visit, it changes daily along with the fresh baked bread made by the chef-owner. The cafe is clean and friendly, displays works by local artists on its walls, and has free wifi... a wonderful addition to Dorchester Ave.

www.dot2dotcafe.com
1739 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.938.9342
Located on the edge of Melville Park just south of St. Mark's Parish on Dorchester Ave. Just southeast of the Shawmut T stop.

Have you been to Dot-2-Dot Cafe? Rate it below.

Peabody Square on Channel 5's Chronicle - May 7th

WCVB TV's award-winning news magazine Chronicle will feature an episode about Dorchester's Peabody Square. The show will air this Wednesday, May 7, at 7:30 PM on Channel 5. Tune in for business profiles, a tour of the Carruth building, a lesson in antique timekeeping by one of the Square's official clock winders, and more.

Dot-2-Dot Opening Saturday

St. Mark's Main Streets reports that Dot-2-Dot Cafe will open on Saturday, May 3rd. It is located at 1739 Dorchester Ave. Also mentioned was that "owner Karen Henry-Garrett, a Cordon-Bleu-trained chef and local resident, will be serving up everything from coffee & pastries to cuisines from around the world, in a menu that changes daily." We hope to review it on the blog next month.

Their website its at: www.dot2dotcafe.com

The Blarney Stone

Most people in the neighborhood already know The Blarney Stone. This former Irish Pub (where Guinness allegedly was first served in America) turned hip and trendy restaurant and bar a few years ago. It is always packed on a Friday night and the reason is the great food and atmosphere. It makes up the third restaurant in what we like to refer to as Dorchester's Big Three (including dbar and the Ashmont Grill). Erin loves the crab cake sandwich and the spicy salty calamari. Chris enjoys the grilled bbq steak tips. The mini-burgers also get an honorable mention because you can taste the flavor of grill in each bite!

www.blarneystoneboston.com
1505 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Fields Corner just north of the intersection of Park Street and Dorchester Ave. Just south of the Fields Corner T stop.

Have you been to The Blarney Stone? Rate it below.

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News: Things Are Happening in Lower Mills

You may think all the new restaurants and shops are only coming to Peabody Square and Fields Corner, but Lower Mills is showing it should not be left out. The Dorchester Reporter reports that major projects are in the works for this section of the neighborhood. This includes two restaurants on the Milton side of the river. The first will be a gourmet restaurant in the first floor of the Milton Landing condos overlooking the Neponset River, while the second will be a more casual hip establishment modeled after the Ashmont Grill and the Blarney Stone located on the ground floor of a new development (pictured above) to be built on the parking lot of the storage company next to the Milton Trolley stop. This development will also include offices for UMass Boston's environmental science department. Meanwhile WinnCompanies (the company that manages The Carruth) continues to finish condominiums in the former Baker Chocolate Factory and a local developer starts work on the wooden mill buildings that sit across the street, converting them in condos and restoring the picturesque wooden footbridge over the river.

The Dorchester Reporter April 10, 2008 Article: "Historic Lower Mills is all abuzz with talk of new developments"

Osaka Shabu

Although they have not begun advertising yet, Osaka Shabu has been open about a week and we had to go check it out. We ordered beef and seafood shabu-shabu, which came with the prepared raw meats and a large plate of fresh vegetables for cooking in the boiling broth. We chose the spicy Szechuan broth, which was excellent. The inside has been recently renovated and is still waiting to be fully decorated, but the food and service was welcoming. Go try it out for yourselves!

203 Adams Street, Dorchester
617.288.8889
Located in Fields Corner just north of the intersection of Dorchester Ave. and Adams St. Just north of the Fields Corner T stop.

Have you been to Osaka Shabu? Rate it below.

News: Upcoming Food Ventures in Lower Dot

Dot-to-Dot Cafe has their sign up (see above) and has begun interior construction! It is located on Dorchester Ave. in the block just south of St. Mark's Church on the same side of the street.

The first Japanese-food eatery to serve Lower Dot: Coming very soon is a Japanese Shabu-shabu restaurant to where Chan O'Mally's once served Chinese take-out food. Under the same management, they're changing to a sit-down restaurant where diners cook their meal in boiling broth at their tables.

An independent convenience store is taking the place of the Lil' Peach on Washington Street in Lower Mills. Set to open up in a couple of months, they hope to sell some wine, Mediterranean items (olive oil, greek olives), perhaps organic food as well. They are planning to have a patio with some chairs and umbrellas.

And you may have noticed that we have expanded our blog to include the Fields Corner section of Dorchester.

Ashmont Hill Yardsale

The annual Ashmont Hill Yard Sale will be held on Saturday May 17th.

To see our blog entry from last year: Ashmont Hill Yard Sale

For more information go to the Ashmont Hill Neighborhood Association.

Easter Egg Hunt This Weekend at Dot Park

The annual Dorchester Park easter egg hunt is this Saturday (March 22, 2008) at 10 am at the tennis courts. It is great fun for children and families, and is free and open to the public.

For our blog entry from last year:
Dorchester Park Easter Egg Hunt

Upper Dot Adventure: Shanti

One of the best Indian restaurants in the city makes its home here in Dorchester! Shanti is located in the Savin Hill section of the neighborhood and offers both a great atmosphere and a fairly-priced wide-variety of cuisine. The Naan (which comes in several different types) is a must and the perfectly fried Samosas are perfectly prepared. Erin loves the wonderfully marinated Tandoori Chicken, while Chris prefers the Goat Gosht Curry, but almost everything on the menu is definitely worth a try. They have a great beer and wine selection, and the wait staff is excellent.

www.shantiboston.com
1111 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.929.3900
Located in Savin Hill at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Savin Hill Avennue. Just west of the Savin Hill T stop.

Have you been to Shanti? Rate it below.

The Carruth Near Completion

The Carruth building is near completion. The transit-oriented development will include condominiums, apartments, and retail space (see our other blog entry: The Carruth). The building held its open house on Saturday and Sunday (March 8th and 9th) where many local businesses and organizations had displays. Flat Black Coffee Company (who will have a cafe in the building) and Tavolo (a new Italian eatery in the building) handed out delicious samples for visitors and there was even a DJ. The condos were amazing inside, and if you would like to see for yourself, images are available at the building's website: www.thecarruth.com

Update: Yelp Recognizes Dot!

Our campaign was a success! We are pleased to report that Dorchester is now recognized by the popular social-networking website Yelp.com as a neighborhood of Boston. Thank you to all of you who e-mailed them demanding Dorchester be included!

At the top of their Dorchester list are such great establishments as Shanti, Mrs. Jones, McKenna's Cafe, Chef Lee's, Common Ground, and the Ice Creamsmith. There is also a separate neighborhood entry for Fields Corner. It should also be noted that now Mattapan, Roslindale, and West Roxbury are also listed.

Go to Yelp Boston's site (Yelp Boston) and click on "Neighborhood" and then on either Dorchester or Fields Corner to check it out.

Check out our original posting on this: Why Does Yelp Not Consider Dorchester A Neighborhood of Boston?

dot aht: Street Art in Dorchester

A guerrilla art movement has come to the streets of Dorchester. According to their website, the promoter of dot aht is "inviting artists to produce small pieces of art to be displayed on the streets and sidewalks of Dorchester." She makes it clear that the art should be "non-destructive" and "meant to build not to destroy."

We are intrigued by this art movement that has become commonplace in NYC and SF, and await with anticipation to see what local artists will add to the Dorchester scene.

www.dotaht.com

Welcome Back Trolley!

For over a year one of the coolest facets of our neighborhood has been missing. Due to improvements on the Ashmont-Mattapan T line, our beloved 1940s-era trolleys have been absent. These trolley's provide not only transportation from Ashmont Station to Mattapan Square, but also give the neighborhood a unique attraction and hipness. Not only do these trolley's provide Lower Dot with transportation (including Dorchester stops at Ashmont, Cedar Grove, and Butler Street, and a stop on the Milton-Lower Mills border), but they have a personal connection for us. An identical trolley graces the Embarcadero in San Francisco, (Boston donated it after the 1988 earthquake) reminding Erin of her native soil. I know we are not the only people in the neighborhood to cheer "Welcome back trolley"!


(Last photo courtesy of Peter Ehrlich)

Calling All Dot Residents... Why Does Yelp Not Consider Dorchester a Neighborhood of Boston?

The neighborhood of Dorchester's hip establishments are rapidly growing, but you wouldn't even know it was part of Boston if you regularly go to the popular user review website Yelp (www.yelp.com/boston) because it is not listed as so. After several attempts to contact Yelp about this, including a response telling us they are "working on it", nothing has been done.

This omission seems almost purposeful. Several neighborhoods of the city that offer far fewer resturants and shops than Dorchester are listed (including Dudley Square, Egleston Square, Mission Hill, South Boston, Hyde Park, etc.). On top of this, many places that are not even in Boston are listed as neighborhoods of the city, including Central and Harvard Squares (in the city of Cambridge), Coolidge Corner (in the town of Brookline), Davis Square (in the city of Somerville), Arlington Center (in the town of Arlington), and Winthrop (which is a separate town in itself), etc.

We are asking our readers to take a moment and send a comment to Yelp that Dorchester needs to be added to their list of Boston neighborhoods. This simple action will encourage more people in the city to visit Dot (because Yelp is such a widely used website by people under 40), having a positive effect on our local businesses.

NOTE: Please see the update on this entry.

Please join the campaign to add Dot to Yelp Fill out a contact form (and be sure to mention you use Yelp when you contact them).
Contact Yelp

Lower Dot for Obama

Although it seems to be close, Lower Dot appears to be voting for Barack Obama on Super Tuesday. There are numerous Obama signs on cars and homes around the neighborhood. We have seen local volunteers from "Dorchester for Obama" going door-to-door on the weekends making sure everyone shows up to the polls. Not to mention, Obama has earned the support of Lower Dot's state rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, city councilors Sam Yoon, Charles Yancy, Michael Flaherty, and congressman Michael Capuano (who represents half of Lower Dot), not to mention the always crucial Dorchester Reporter.

We will be taking our own pilgrimage to Florian Hall to vote for him. As usual don't forget to vote on Tuesday February 5!

www.barackobama.com

Dot Art Clay Station and Dot-2-Dot Collaborate on a Project

As Dot Art opens a second studio dedicated to ceramics and clay (the Dot Art Clay Station at 1782 Dorchester Avenue), there is news that they will be collaborating on a sculpture project that will be permanently installed as part of the storefront of the new Dot-2-Dot Café (the European-style coffee and sandwich café that is in the process of opening in what was a hair salon at 1739 Dorchester Avenue). The hope is that this will help create Dot-2-Dot as a Dorchester Avenue landmark and help increase the visibility of the local Dorchester art community.

Dot Art (1775a Dorchester Avenue) is the Dorchester Community Center for the Visual Arts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make exemplary visual arts education available to the community.

Donovan's Village Tavern & Restaurant

UPDATE: Donovan's Village Tavern & Restaurant soon to close. Please see our update post.

The decor is outdated and the wood paneling kitschy. There is a bar connected to the restaurant that reminds you of decades gone by, but Donovan’s Village Tavern & Restaurant is as close as you can get to diner-styled food in lower Dorchester. Not to mention it is a classic Dorchester establishment. The people who work there are incredibly nice and the prices cannot be beat! You can eat breakfast for two for under $15. Although Chris is not Irish, he certainly enjoyed the Irish breakfast and Erin thought the two-egg breakfast was excellent. Don’t come here for a hip environment or gourmet cuisine, but an awesome breakfast for a great price..

2261 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.296.2316
Located in Lower Mills just north of the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Washington St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to Donovan's Village Tavern & Restaurant? Rate it below.

Upper Dot Adventure: dbar

Although Lower Dorchester is the focus of our blog, Dorchester is a large neighborhood that has many great restaurants, stores, and recreation areas. Every once in a while we hope to highlight things in the northern part of Dorchester (Upper Dot) that we we think are cool and need some publicity. For our first Upper Dot Adventure we chose dbar on Dorchester Ave. just south of the Savin Hill neighborhood and just north of Field's Corner.

Its warm interior with deep tones sets the mood of a gourmet eating experience. Erin had the Seared Diver’s Scallops: Lemon glazed dayboat scallops, over cumin-carrot risotto, asparagus & long Island cheese pumpkin puree studded with black truffles. Chris had the evening's special duck. Dbar is a classy full-service restaurant, which turns into a nightclub/lounge after 9pm and is one of the hangout spots for Dorchester's gay community. There is also an amazing organic rooftop garden, which supplies them with fresh herbs and vegetables. We went on a fall night, but are anxious to return in better weather to enjoy their much-talked-about patio. Love it!

www.dbarboston.com
1236 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.265.4490
Located between Savin Hill and Fields Corner on Dorchester Ave, at the intersection of Freeport St. A short walk south of the Savin Hill T stop.

Have you been to dbar? Rate it below.

Future Upper Dot Adventures will include: Ba-Le Vietnamese Sandwiches, the Avenue Grille, Shanti Indian Restaurant, and more...

Peabody Square Tree Lighting 2007

With the new Carruth building towering in the background, on Saturday, Nov. 24th the annual Peabody Square Holiday Tree Lighting was held. A large group of neighbors gathered for the lighting of the tree. As usual Santa and Mrs. Clause visited via a city tour trolley. This year there was an added treat from Chris Douglass (Ashmont Hill resident and owner of the Ashmont Grill and Icarus in the South End), who was kind enough to hand out hot apple cider. Afterwards everyone from the neighborhood went to the firehouse across the street and Boston Fire supplied some tasty treats of hot soup and fresh baked bread!

Here is our write up from last year: Peabody Square Tree Lighting 2006

News: More Restuarants Opening in Lower Dot

There are two new resturants on the way in the next few months for Lower Dot!

First, there is Haven, a new art lounge and bistro at 1820 Dorchester Ave. (617.929.0299). It is the brainchild of local artist and teacher Barrington Edwards (who grew up in the neighborhood). Haven will serve light healthy fare, but Stuff@Night reports their chef is known for his "out-of-this-world cheesecake". The bistro will also serve as a stage for local artists, hosting one or two openings a month. There will also be live music, poetry, and spoken-word performances, along with artist workshops.

Second, there is Dot-2-Dot, a cafe and coffee shop at 1739 Dorchester Ave. Owner Karen Henry-Garrett is a Cordon Bleu-trained chef who ran a high-quality catering business in London for five years before moving to Dorchester. This cafe has been in the works for some time now and finally a location has been found.

Finally, the Carruth Building is coming along. The brick exterior appears to be almost finished, windows are in place, and interior construction has begun (see picture below). Signs for Flat Black Coffee Company, Tavolo, and living at the Carruth are up on the building. The Metro also reported this week that the new Wainwright Bank in the building will be its fourth branch to have green design and energy saving features.

Public Art, Green Design, and Coffee in Peabody Square

With the new Curruth Building in Peabody Square coming along, plans have begun in the redesign of the square including a new traffic configuration, unique environmentally friendly design, and an impressive piece of modern art called the Peabody Square Moon by Dorchester artist Joe Wheelwright (Depicted above).

Check out the sculpture at:
The DAC: Peabody Square Moon
Peabody Square Moon
Joe Wheelwright

Check out other Peabody Square items:
A Boston Globe article about the new location of Flat Black Coffee Company in Peabody Square:
Keeping It Fresh for Coffee Lovers in Boston Globe

A Dorchester Reporter article about the green redesign of Peabody Square:
Peabody Square Made Green Could Grow Imitators in Dorchester Reporter

Dorchester Open Studios This Weekend!

Dorchester Open Studios is this weekend! In its 20 year history, Dorchester Open Studios has been an event that showcases the best artists in our neighborhood. This year there will be a a very special presentation on Corita Kent, the world renowned artist whose work is featured on the gas tank here in Dorchester, which can be seen from the Southeast Expressway. There are several studio locations throughout Dorchester, and two here in Lower Dot.

Check out our blog entry from last year for a description: Dot Open Studios 2006

www.thedac.org
Dorchester Open Studios 2007 (Saturday 10.27.07 and Sunday 10.28.07)
12-5 PM

Lower Dot Locations:
Walter Baker Artists Lofts
1231 Adams Street, Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Lower Mills on Adams Street. Just north of the Milton T stop (Mattapan-Ashmont Trolley).

The Boston Home
2049 Dorchester Avenue. Dorchester
Located on Dorchester Ave. Just south of the Ashmont T stop.

Martinis on the Avenue: Dotini '007 - Shaken or Stirred

"Martinis on the Avenue", which is now in its third year, is an annual fund-raiser for the St. Mark's Main Streets (and Fields Corner Main Streets). $30 in advance or $35 at the door, which includes hors d'oeuvres, music, a live auction, and a cash bar featuring The Dotini, Dorchester's unofficial drink of choice!

Check out our blog entry from last year for a description: Dotini

www.smams.org/dotini_party_07.php
Martinis on the Avenue: Shaken...Or Stirred...Dotini '007
@ The Blarney Stone (Tuesday 09.18.07)
7:00 – 10:30 PM
1505 Dorchester Avenue. Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Fields Corner on Dorchester Ave. Just south of the Fields Corner T stop.

Boston Landmarks Orchestra at Dorchester Park

We packed our picnic dinner and walked to Dorchester Park for the concert on the baseball field. What a great evening; once the sun began to set behind the trees it cooled down to a comforatble temperture while the orchestra played an array of Red Sox - themed music, plus the traditional bandstand standards. Families sat on lounge chairs and on blankets clapping along or playing catch in the background.

The Carruth

Big developments are happening with the Carruth, a new building being built next to the Ashmont T station. Recently Flat Black Coffee Company (Flat Black website) announced it will be putting a new café in the building and the building has launched their website (The Carruth website). This adds to Tavolo (Tavolo website) a pizza and pasta restaurant by Chris Douglass of the Ashmont Grill and Wainwright Bank (Wainwright Bank website), a bank committed to socially-responsible and progressive practices. The new businesses are slated to open this winter.

Mrs. Jones

We've eaten at Mrs. Jones, the new soul food restaurant that has opened in Lower Mills, and the food is excellent! The fried chicken was so juicy and had a wonderfully seasoned flavor, and the sides are tasty with a slight spiciness. For dessert, try the banana pudding, which is very good with a light banana flavor and vanilla wafers mixed in. Mrs. Jones is mainly take-out, but there is a handful of counter seating near the wall and windows.

Our favorites:
Chris loves the BBQ rib dinner with mac and cheese and candied yams and Erin loves the fried chicken.

2255 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.696.0180
Located in Lower Mills just south of the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Richmond St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to Mrs. Jones? Rate it below.

Orchestra in Dorchester Park

Be sure to catch the annual performance of the Boston Landmarks Orchestra as they perform at Dorchester Park on Sunday August 12th at 6 pm. This years performance will be a Red Sox-themed show including Lifting the Curse: A Story of the Red Sox by Julian Wachner and Bill Littlefield and classic pieces by Aaron Copland, John Philip Sousa, and John Williams. The performance is free and open to the public and the rain location is the Caritas Carney Hospital on Dorchester Ave.

Rating Stars on Blog

We have added a new feature to the blog that allows for you to rate things in our neighborhood. You will notice to all the blog entries about restaurants or stores, we have added rating stars. We encourage everyone who has visited those places to rate them.

The ratings look like this...
Have you been to A Place In Our Neighborhood? Rate it below.

If you have any troubles, we have included instructions in the comments on this entry.

Peabody Square Going Green

In the Globe this Sunday there is an article about the city's plan to make the renovated Peabody Square green. It will be a model for environmentally sensitive urban planning including: special sidewalks that are permeable (to avoid storm water runoff into the Neponset RIver and Boston Harbor), extra tree plantings, wide pits to help trees absorb rainwater, and the Square's access to public transit and its new transit-oriented housing.

Check it out: Boston Globe: Square To Go Green

Milton Village Farmers Market

It is time once again for the Milton Lower Mills Farmers Market. Be sure to stop by Thursdays from 1 to 6 pm near the Milton Landing Wharf for fresh locally grown vegtables, fruits, homemade pies, and mango salsa.

Check out our blog entry from last year for a description: Milton Lower Mills Farmers Market

Early July - Mid October
Thursday 1 - 6 pm

Wharf St., Milton
Located in Milton Village (Across the river from Dorchester Lower Mills) off of Adams Street. Just south of the Milton T Stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Dorchester Day Parade

On June 3rd, once again Dot celebrated Dorchester Day! It was first celebrated in 1904 to observe the incorporation of Dorchester as a town in 1630. Although Dorchester became part of the city of Boston in 1870, Dorchester Day and the Dorchester Day Parade has for over a hundred years celebrated the uniqueness of the neighborhood, inviting the city to come and enjoy the festivities. It has also become an annual event to lure those who grew up here, but have moved to the suburbs to come back and reminise.

The weather for the most part held out (although there were some sprinkles), while watching the parade that goes on for about 4 miles from Lower Mills up Dorchester Ave. to St. Margaret's. The parade really shows the diversity of Dorchester and all that makes Dorchester great. Some of the more notable groups include the Vietnamese Community of Massachusetts (with Dragons), Dorchester People for Peace, Dot Out, Dorchester Arts Collaborative, Irish step dancers, a Cape Verdean Youth Group, a Puero Rican Dance troop, the Estrellas Tropicales dancers, Dorchester Eagles Pop Warner Football, the Boy Scouts, and Caribbean group in masquerade, and of course Little Miss Dorchester and the symbolic Mayor of Dorchester.

Ashmont Hill Yard Sale

On June 2nd, over 40 houses in the Ashmont Hill area of Dorchester had their annual Yard Sale. It was great! We picked up some rugs for three dollars and a painting of San Francisco's Lombard Street for 25 cents. The streets were packed, as many people rummaged through all of the great used items. Luckily the rain held out!

The Great Dorchester Avenue Scavenger Hunt

Would you enjoy running around Dot Ave. on a scavenger hunt looking for items on a clue sheet at local resturants and merchants. What if we said the winning group gets $500? Now we have your attention!

On Saturday May 12th, St. Mark's Area Main Street is holding a scavenger hunt from Ashmont Station to Melville Ave. It starts at the Ashmont Grill at 1:30 p.m. for a 2 p.m. sendoff and ends at 4 p.m. at the new Tony McKernan's Centre Bar. Teams can be up to four people. Registration is $5. You can register at the door.

Easter Egg Hunt in Dot

You know it is springtime when the annual Easter Egg Hunt is happening at Dorchester Park. We arrived at 10 am on the dot and kids were already running all over the place grabbing eggs. There were definitely a couple hundred children with baskets, buckets, and canvas bags in hand filling them full with plastic eggs containing candy and other goodies! There was even a designated area for children under 5. After the hunt everyone gathered on the tennis courts and took turns taking pictures with the Easter Bunny. It was fun watching all the kids running around with huge smiles as they collected their eggs.

News: New Restaurants Opening in Lower Dot

There is word on the street (mainly from the Dorchester Reporter and a new sign Chris saw today when he got his hair cut at Adian's Barbershop) that some new restaurants are coming to Peabody Square and Lower Mills.

In Peabody Sqaure there appears to be several restuarant related developments says the Dorchester Reporter. First Chris Douglass (the owner of Ashmont Grill) is opening a new hip and casual pizza and pasta restaurant in the new Carruth building (a six story eco-friendly building currently being built and opening in early 2008) near the new Ashmont station. Douglass hopes to serves a simpler and less expensive menu than the Ashmont Grill. Second, the new Wainwright Bank opening in the Carruth is planning a café inside the bank, which should certainly add a needed place to stop for coffee. Finally, St. Mark’s Main Streets is working to get a new restaurant in the old location of the Tara Pub across the street, perhaps an ethnic restaurant, which is certainly missing from the square.

From the looks of it in Lower Mills there is a new restaurant called Mrs. Jones Soul Food opening soon on Dot Ave. next to Taste of Thailand. This would be awesome because we lack any soul food in the neighborhood! Keep your eyes on this one.

A Taste of Thailand

Don't be fooled by the plain exterior and the food served in to-go containers, you can still sit down and enjoy quality authentic Thai food at a very reasonable price. Of course they have take out, but we prefer to eat in.

Our Favorites:
Erin loves the green curry and green peas and Chris likes the red curry and bamboo shoots.

tasteofthailand.blogspot.com
2257 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.296.7505
Located in Lower Mills just south of the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Richmond St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to A Taste of Thailand? Rate it below.

Snow Finally Comes to Dot...

Finally on St. Valentine's Day, Dorchester got its first real snow of 2007. It is pretty crazy that it took this long. Sadly it was coated with rain and as a result everything is made miserable by a half an inch of ice!

Coming Soon: Oscars on the Avenue

To raise money for grants to encourage business development in Peabody Square and the Ashmont neighborhood, St. Mark's Main Streets is hosting an Oscar party at the Ashmont Grill on Sunday, February 25th. It will include hors d'oeuvres and cocktails (the Dotini perhaps?), a red carpet, a Joan Rivers impersonator, and Dorchester's own Jeopardy champ Gerry Wagget hosting a movie quiz game. It is pricey ($75 in advance and $90 at the door), but will raise money for a worthy cause.

www.smams.org/oscars_on_the_avenue.php
St. Mark's Main Streets Oscars on the Avenue
Located at: The Ashmont Grill (555 Talbot Ave.) in Peabody Square at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Talbot Ave., near the Ashmont T stop.

Calling All Dot Residents... Help Tell Trader Joe's About Here!

How many of you wished we had a Trader Joe's in Lower Dot? Erin grew up in California where it seems like Trader Joe's are in every city. If you are not familiar with the store, it is a great and very resonably priced place to get natural and organic groceries. Here in the Boston area they tend to be located mostly in the suburbs (especially north and west, like Cambridge, Newton, and Needham), but we think one would do really great here, and be a popular addition to our neighborhood.

The Trader Joe's website has a contact web page for places that need new Trader Joe's and we were hoping people from our neighborhood would take a minute to fill out this form and show Trader Joe's this could be a great place to consider for a future store...

If you agree, please click here and let them know!
http://www.traderjoes.com/location_requests_form.aspx
And if you know others in the area who feel the same way please spread the word...

Streamline Antiques

Step back in time 50 years to sock hops and malt shakes or even further back to flappers and the roaring 20s... Streamline Antiques offers original items from Art Deco to the 50s from fiestaware to clocks and salt-and-pepper shakers. We visited a while back with our friend Becky and neeeded to leave so she wouldn't buy everything in the store. They also carry vintage clothing, jewelry, hand bags, pottery, and glass vases.

www.streamlineantiques.com
1168 Washington St., Dorchester
617.298.3326
Located in Lower Mills at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Washington St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to Streamline Antiques? Rate it below.

Dorchester Park

We love the feeling of walking through the woods right here in the middle of the city. One of Boston's hidden jewels is the urban forrest known as Dorchester Park. It is a great place to walk and contemplate on a cool fall evening. In the spring it is full of life and in the summer if you go at the right time you may catch an orchestra playing during the summer concert series or a ball game at the little league field that includes a replica of the famous Green Monster of Fenway Park. Hidden in the middle of all the trees are playgrounds and tennis courts. On any given day above 60 degrees you will find so many workers from the Carney Hospital enjoying their lunch or folks from the neighborhood reading their newspapers.

Peabody Square Tree Lighting

You know it is Christmas when they are lighting the city tree in Peabody Square! Many gathered at the intersection of Ashmont Street, Talbot Street, and Dot Ave. for the lighting of the tree. Santa and Mrs. Clause visited via a city tour trolley, and a quite happy man with a santa hat supplied music, hot chocolate, cookies, and was the MC of the event. Afterwards everyone from the neighborhood went to the firehouse across the street and Boston Fire supplied some tasty treats of chili, soda, and cake! It was a blast and a great community activity. We hope when they finish the Peabody Square revitalization they expand the area to host more events like this...

Common Ground Cafe

You have to try this place... It feels like you are eating sandwiches in a magical medieval village. It is dark with tables handmade out of whole trees and covered with a thatch roof. We think they serve some of the best sandwiches in Boston, and they are all made with homemade bread. The ingredients are always organic or natural, making the sandwiches extra delicious. You can also stop by their whole foods marketplace after eating to pick up organic and natural foods and products.

Our Favorites:
Chris likes the turkey reuban sandwich with a cold ginger beer and Erin loves the tuna melt.

2243 Dorchester Ave. Dorchester
617.298.1020
Located in Lower Mills on Dorchester Ave, at the intersection of Richmond St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to Common Ground Cafe? Rate it below.

Dorchester Open Studios 2006

This year's Dorchester Open Studios was great! Although Open Studios was all over Dorchester, we only visited those in our neighborhood. Here is a run-down of this year's art.

Lower Mills: Walter Baker Artists Lofts
The diversity of art was fresh and exciting. There were painters, sculptors, a jewelry and clothing designer and more... an artist who draws with his feet, and another who worked with ceramics. The open lofts were inviting and art interesting, and it was such a treat to see inside the beautiful building. This should be a DEFINITE stop for anyone exploring Dorchester Open Studios next year.

Red Dot
This brand new art gallery showcased a variety of artists. The paintings were bright, colorful and thought provoking. If you haven't stopped by this gallery yet, make it a point to do so soon!

Dot Art
This community-based art group is housed in a small building on Dorchester Ave and also the Baker Lofts Building. Their featured artists were their youth and teen artists, which was impressive to see their talent. Courses for adults and youth are offered throughout the year. You can pick up a schedule at their building.

The Ice Creamsmith

Be sure to head to the Ice Creamsmith before it closes for the winter (It closes on Thanksgiving)! We love the homemade ice cream and small-town feel when you step into the Ice Creamsmith. We've tried a bunch of their flavors, and have yet to settle on a favorite... they've all been good!

Our Favorites:
Erin loves the pumpkin ice cream and Chris loves the banana!

www.theicecreamsmith.com
2295 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
617.296.8567
Located in Lower Mills at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Washington St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to The Ice Creamsmith? Rate it below.

Coming Soon: Dorchester Open Studios

Featuring the works of over 80 artists who live and work in Dorchester! We will be checking Dorchester Open Studios out on October 21 and 22. See their website for the complete list of venues and directions. Three studios are located in Lower Dot: Dot Art (Dorchester Community Center for the Visual Arts) north of Peabody Square, Red Dot Gallery and Walter Baker Lofts, both in Lower Mills.

www.dorchesteropenstudios.org
Dorchester Open Studios
Located at: Red Dot Gallery and Walter Baker Lofts in Lower Mills at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Washington St. near the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley) and Dot Art at 1775A Dorchester Avenue north of the Ashmont T stop.

Lower Dot is for Deval

From the signs and bumber stickers around our neighborhood it is apparent that Lower Dot is voting for Deval Patrick for governor in the Democratic Primary. Plus he is the only candidate with an office in Dorchester and he doesn't live too far away in the nearby town of Milton.

We will be taking our pilgrimage to Florian Hall in Dorchester to vote for him after we get out of work that day. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday September 19th!

www.devalpatrick.com

Flat Black Coffee Company (Coffee House)

We get our caffeine fix and help out the world when we buy a cup of coffee from Flat Black! Most of their selections are organically grown, shade grown, and fair trade. In addition to being socially and environmentally conscious, their drinks are great and the atmosphere hip and relaxed. The red swivel chairs are fun, and you're in luck when the window seats are open! The baked goods are tasty, as well.

Our Favorites:
Chris loves reading his paper there with a cappuccino or a Flat Black Freeze when it's hot out, and Erin likes to stick to her basic hot or iced coffees.

www.flatblackcoffeecompany.com
1170 Washington St. Dorchester
617.298.1800
Located in Lower Mills at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, and Washington St. Just north of the Milton T stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to Flat Black Coffee Company? Rate it below.

Dotini

We made Dotinis today! It was awesome. What is a Dotini you say? It is named after our beloved Dot (Dorchester) and is created by mixing citron vodka, Chambord, lemonade, and those "famous from your childhood" Dots candies. It has been made famous by both the Ashmont Grill and "Martinis on the Avenue", which is now an annual fund-raiser for the St. Mark's Main Streets (and Fields Corner Main Streets).

www.smams.org/dotini_party_06.php
Martinis on the Avenue @ The Blarney Stone (Tuesday 09.12.06)
1505 Dorchester Avenue. Dorchester
617.436.8223
Located in Fields Corner on Dorchester Ave. Just sorth of the Fields Corner T stop.

Farmers' Market (Milton Lower Mills Wharf)

There were about a dozen farm stands located along the Neponset River and near the Milton Landing Wharf. They had great fresh vegetables and fruits grown locally, fresh baked breads, salsa, homemade pies, maple syrup, potted plants and herbs, and even hand-made pottery, which make up this farmer's market. We stopped by the Re-Vision Urban Farm booth, where since 1990 their farm/homeless shelter has been growing vegtables off Blue Hills Ave.

Our Favorites:
The Mango Salsa... mmmm! And Strawberry Rubarb Pie, fantastic!

Early July - Mid October
Thursday 1 - 6 pm

Wharf St., Milton
Located in Milton Village (Across the river from Dorchester Lower Mills) off of Adams Street. Just south of the Milton T Stop (Ashmont-Mattapan Trolley).

Have you been to the Milton Village Farmers Market? Rate it below.

Ashmont Grill

We love the Sunday brunch at the Ashmont Grill, although dinner is also excellent. It is one of our favorite restaurants, this establishment in Lower Dot has a hip atmosphere with beautiful exposed brick walls and a gourmet menu that highlights local and seasonal foods. We have yet to enjoy the garden patio seating in the back, but we can't wait to try it, along with exploring their extensive beer and wine selection at the bar.

Our Favorites:
The Huevos Rancheros is Erin's farvorite brunch item! (The soups are also really great.) Chris loves the French Toast for brunch and the Grilled Free Range Chicken Breast with sweet corn polenta cake & grilled summer squash for dinner.

www.ashmontgrill.com
555 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester
617.825.4300
Located in Peabody Square at the intersection of Dorchester Ave, Ashmont Street and Talbot Ave. Just north of the Ashmont T stop.

Have you been to the Ashmont Grill? Rate it below.

Our New Blog

Welcome to our new blog! We are going to post cool things to do, cool places to eat, and cool stores in this amazing neighborhood of Boston...

Check back here soon...