TipnTag Blog

This week we look at swimming while it’s snowing; meeting new friends on the go; tennis in a bubble; comfort food during the cold weather; and our favorite Winter brews.

The winter season allows us to break out and break in those rusty ice skates and ski boots but for those who have no interest in the traditional winter sports, you have not been forgotten.  Boston is filled with indoor sports centers where you can keep practicing those tennis strokes on the court as well as those backstrokes in the pool.  Check out the Boston Athletic Club for indoor tennis courts and enjoy a free 1-Day Pass with access to all the indoor sports offered.  For swimming, try Commonwealth Sports Club and get a 7-day free trial pass.

For those who enjoy the cool brisk feeling while running outside, this winter Boston is offering a number of races, but my ultimate favorite is the Freedom Trail Run which incorporates historical sightseeing and goes on every Saturday and Sunday.  Enjoy a great workout with occasional stops around the beautiful city of Boston this winter – you might even meet some pretty cool people. Check out the Freedom Trail Run Video Clip

Every winter our friend, Sam Adams, likes to shower us with a variety of flavor brews but this winter he has gone above and beyond.  With a wonderful mix of fruit and chocolate savors, you are guaranteed to find your beer of choice this season.  Going to a holiday party? Pick up a Winter Classics Variety pack that is sure to delight your friends.  Some flavors include the
Black & Brew which is a chocolate stout; the Chocolate Bock which has a rich and creamy taste; the Winter Lager which includes a touch of holiday spice; the Old Fezziwig Ale which is spicy and bold and considered a “big Christmas cookie” of a beer; and much more.  It also doesn’t hurt that the alcohol content in this winter’s brews is higher than the average beer, well maybe just a little.

Although there have been a few days of warm weather, who are we kidding?  Boston is known to have one of the longest winters so it’s important to find those comfort foods that will keep you warm this season.  For all things Boston, there is always Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the North End where a whole day can technically be spent taking in all three meals of the day.  Make sure to look deep between the touristy food stands for MMMac & Cheese which will prepare your order while you wait so you can be sure to get that fresh taste.  Across the bridge in Cambridge you will find another hearty, homey meal at Henrietta’s Table.  Ask for the Yankee Pot Roast, which includes braised beef alongside mashed potatoes and gravy.  To put the cold weather to rest, finish up with a rich but sweet cup of hot chocolate.  Boston offers many beautifully placed cafes all over so my suggestion is to post a question on www.tipntag.com and wait for the tips to roll in from your fellow lemurs.

Happy Holidays!

Reema Attyeh

We’re really getting into the holiday spirit here at TipnTag! And, with the recent tree lighting and opening of the ice rink on Frog Pond, Boston is decked out for the holidays.

One of our favorite parts of the holidays are all of the fun parties we get to go to, including maybe the best theme party of all, the Ugly Sweater parties! If you have one coming up and need a tacky holiday sweater in Boston, check out your local Goodwill store. Be ready to hunt for the perfect tacky sweater, but you can get one really cheap at Goodwill. Some other great and popular options include The Garment District, Urban Outfitters (if you don’t mind spending more money) and Buffalo Exchange! If you have an Ugly Sweater party planned soon, Boston’s got plenty of options to find the best holiday sweaters.

So, after you host the year’s most awesome Ugly Sweater Party, you’ll need some Christmas cards to thank your guest and wish them a happy holiday. Our Tipsters love Urban Outfitters and Barnes and Noble for their holiday cards. Urban is great for those funky, unique cards that will make your friends chuckle. B&N carries more classic holiday cards, including the UNICEF pack, so some of your purchase goes to a great cause!

And to top it all of, get your perfect holiday dessert at Cupcakory, Boston’s bakery in a truck! Cupcakory features a salted caramel cupcake that is to die for. Your holiday guests will flip for these cupcakes, so head to their website and place an order!

So now that you know some of our favorite holiday activities, tell us yours! What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Leave a comment here, on Facebook, Tweet us, or ask a question!

Are you having a hard time finding some “me” time this holiday season? This week, we got some great tips on where to go to spend some time relaxing and having fun.

If you’re looking for a new outlet, try your hand (… or foot?) at kickboxing! Sweat Box has a ton of kickboxing classes for people at any level and of any interest. Want a female only class? Or maybe hip-hop/funk boxing is more your style? Well, they’ve got both! At only $15 per class, it’s a cheap and super fun way to stay in shape this winter!

Then again, the holidays are most definitely a time for indulgence. And, what better way to indulge than by enjoying some of the best pizza that Boston has to offer? Check out Tod English’s Figs this winter for some gourmet pies. The Te Bianco, with baby spinach & tomato, the Redsox, with peppers & sausage, and the Spicy Shrimp pizza come very highly recommended by fellow Tipsters! The pies are pretty big, so be prepared to share.

And when it comes to nightlife, try something new by seeing a live hip-hop band. The Good Life bar usually has hip hop shows on various nights throughout the week. Check out their schedule before-hand to see what’s happening.  Also, don’t miss a special show tonight (12/6) at Tavern At the End of the World to see Tipster zach co’s band, kris-jin and the family dinner!

What do you do for me-time during the holidays?

After an unseasonably warm month, it’s starting to get cold again here in Boston. We used our Daily Questions this week to help prepare you for what’s sure to be a chilly winter.

First, knowing New England, you’ll be needing some rain boots for the impending harsh, cold precipitation that will be hitting Boston in the next few months. The Tannery in Cambridge has a large selection of rain boots to choose from and you may even find a matching rain coat or jacket! Check them out online or on twitter for store info and sales.

Another winter essential is having a trendy parka that won’t break your bank. And, as it turns out, there are a bunch of great spots to grab a parka. The most popular tip we received was for LIT Boutique. LIT has two locations in the North End and on Newbury Street, so they’re very easy to get to. Specializing in women’s fashion, LIT has a pretty wide range of parkas for all tastes and budgets.

So, we’ve covered outerwear… but what about a cute winter sweater for those chilly days or holiday parties? We were tipped by Sebastian that Vince is the place to go for cashmere sweaters and scarves. At Vince, you’ll find both trendy and classic looks, but be prepared to pay a small fortune. After all, it’s cashmere!

And to complete your winter outfit, you’ll need some funky, fashionable accessories. If you want to shop local, look no further than The Garment District. Known as “the alternative department store,” they’ve definitely got the funky part covered!

Where do you get all of your winter gear? Tell us to win tons of prizes!

Thanks to some pretty out there questions last week, we discovered great hidden secrets in the Boston area from food to bike pumps.

Did you know that Brookline is home to one of the best Turkish restaurants in Boston, The Brookline Family Restuarant. And, according to Tipster Sebastian, “The Iskender Kebab here is to die for… it never tastes bad, no matter what!” The Brookline Family Restaurant is open daily and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner! They also have catering, take-out and delivery. If you’re ever craving Turkish food, or want to try some, this is definitely the place to go.

And if you’re a Middle Eastern foodie, Boston’s still got a great spot to find all those traditional flavors. Just head over to the Arax Market in Watertown to find Middle Eastern food and original pita bread. Arax Market specializes in selling authentic groceries from the Middle East, Turkey, Armenia and more!

But what happens if you bike to the store and get a flat tire? If you need a bike pump in Cambridge, head over to the free pump at Elliot St. and Brattle St. in the Harvard Square Hotel parking garage! Or, if that tire pops in Boston, Landry’s Bicycles on Comm Ave near BU is the place to go to get it fixed cheap.

What secret Boston spots did you find this week?

Last week, we received a bunch of questions regarding ways to fix or learn things around Boston and we wanted to share these fixer-upper ideas.

First, we have a very important question for all of you:

When is the last time you used the word “cobbler” and weren’t referring to a dessert?

Don’t worry. Until last week, we couldn’t remember either! But thanks to The Lemur Community’s question, we’ve brought that “Wild West”-era term back to Beantown! And where can one find Boston’s best cobbler? Our Tipsters are very fond of Odessa Shoe Repair, but couldn’t decide which location is best. No matter where you are in Boston, whether in Back Bay, Downtown, or in Cambridge, Odessa Shoe Repair is nearby and just waiting to fix up your dress shoes.

Repairing shoes can be relatively easy compared to some other fix-it situations. Have you ever had a haircut gone wrong, past the point of fixing? Well, with these best hair salons in Boston, you’ll never have to worry about a bad cut. You can easily make an appointment at Revive Hair Studio, Salon Acote on Newbury or Safar Coiffures to remedy past hair disasters or prevent future ones.

The last thing we’ll help you fix up this week is your golf skills. Although it’s a bit out of season, raquela wanted to know where to take golf lessons. To practice your swing for next season, check out CityGolf Boston! They get pretty crowded, according to daddy cool, so be sure to call in advance to avoid a wait. The best part? CityGolf has an indoor facility with its own repair shop, so you can fix-up your swing and your clubs all Winter long!

Let us know what you need help fixing this weekend and we’ll find the best Boston has to offer!

The Holiday season is almost here and we, at TipnTag, are prepared to spread the holiday cheer to all of our awesome Tipsters! We’ve got a whopping THREE giveaways happening right now to spread some Lemur Love during the season of giving.

First up, we’ve got a new daily promotion and winning is as easy as becoming a Tipster:

Every week day, we’re giving $5 to NEW users who tip the daily question. Yep, you read that right, $5 to each new user EVERY WEEK DAY!

But, don’t think we’ve forgotten about our current Tipsters:

For you, we’re giving away a $50 gift card to the top daily Tipster! Just tip our daily question and get your friends to “like” your tip for your shot at winning a gift card good at over 20 locations like Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory, Best Buy and more! The tipster with the most likes on their tip will win every week day, so get tipping and invite your friends!

And last, but definitely not least, we have a giveaway for anyone and everyone on TipnTag!

Our users are eligible to win a FREE iPhone 4S simply by asking or tipping questions on the site. The catch? You need to keep asking and tipping questions on the site – the more you ask & tip, the more chances you have to win! The winner will be chosen some time in December, so stay tuned for more details.

We’re happy to spread Lemur Love to anyone and everyone, but we need your help to do it! Tip, tag and invite friends to win awesome prizes.

Keep tippin’ & taggin’!

This week, we learned about some great spots in Boston to just do something fun.

Traditionally karaoke is sung in a dark room with an instrumental CD, but Tom Boates Everybody is changing the game. They’re not a “place”, but the next time you’re in the karaoke mood, check out where Tom Boates’ live band karaoke is playing next. It’s sure to be a great time!

We also found out that Thursdays are a big night for Salsa in Boston and Ryles Jazz Club seems to be the place to go. And don’t worry if you’ve never danced the salsa before because Ryles caters to beginners! Make sure you get there early to catch the lesson before the salsa dancehall begins. Or go even earlier and get your fill of barbeque, then dance it all off!

If music and dancing isn’t your thing, try hitting up one of the many basketball pick-up courts around Beantown. At Titus Sparrow Park, it’s easy to start or join a pick-up game almost any time. And, as ipease2 tipped, it is “A great place for pickup right near the Prudential Center. Beat the 1% at your game.”

Follow all of this up with a delicious po’ boy sandwich at Redbones BBQ in Somerville. Po’ boys are traditionally a New Orleans dish with fried shrimp or oysters on a soft roll. Redbones gives a little New England twist to their po’boy… and you’ll just have to go order one to find out what it is!

We hope you all have a great weekend exploring Boston! Keep tippin’ & taggin’ and stay tuned for an exciting announcement early next week.

This week’s top 3 questions are all about places you can go on dates, or just to hang out with friends. As it gets colder, these questions will help you come up with a plan for a great first date or fun birthday dinner.

Have you ever tried to plan a friend’s birthday dinner but gave up because you didn’t know where to go? Don’t worry; you’re not a horrible friend… yet. Tipster Stefano shared his favorite dinner spot, Biagio Ristorante & Bar in Waltham. Biagio’s is known for being a great place for groups. The big dining hall is very accommodating, even if you don’t have a reservation. It does get crowded, though, so make sure you either get there early or call ahead. And, if you’re friend’s birthday is in the summer, keep Biagio’s in mind. They have an awesome roof deck that’s also great for parties!

Are big group dinners not your thing? James Rogers asked for a good place to take a girl on a first date in Boston and was tipped a bunch of great romantic restaurants. Some outstanding recommendations include Teatro for Italian food and Petit Robert Bistro for French cuisine. Teatro is a contemporary Italian restaurant in the Theater district. It’s surrounded by clubs and a movie theater so you can decide where to take your date after dinner is over.

Petit Robert Bistro, on the other hand, is a traditional & sophisticated French restaurant, but don’t let that scare you off. The prices are very reasonable and you’ll be sure to impress your date simply by bringing up French cuisine. And if you’re not a fan of the traditional dinner and a movie date, check out these unusual (and fun) date ideas!

So, now that your birthday celebrations and dinner dates are over, where can you go for a well-made latte or cappuccino? Check out the Thinking Cup in Downtown Boston. Included in the Best of Boston 2011 and Boston.com’s A-list, Thinking Cup is a great spot for an espresso right near the park. The atomosphere is very cozy and warm. And don’t forget to snap a pic of your latte foam art! It’s one of the best parts of a well-made latte.

Leave a comment and let us know you best and worst date or brithday experiences!

Over the past week, we’ve asked you all a lot of restaurant questions and found that you all are quite adventurous foodies! Our featured places this week are restaurants that feature food from all around the world, from close to home to the other side of the world. No matter what type of food you’re looking to eat this weekend, we’ve got a place for you.

Last Friday, we asked for your favorite steakhouse in Boston. The Stockyard in Brighton won your hearts, and ours. This local favorite has been serving up classic American cuisine for 40 years! The menu boasts a wide variety of American dishes with a New England twist… Just try the lobster mac & cheese! Yum!

Our next stop on this culinary world tour is China for an upscale Chinese restaurant. Formosa Taipei in Lexington  offers upscale Chinese food and serves Dim Sum daily. Now, we know what you’re thinking: What’s Dim Sum? It’s’ a style of Chinese food served in bite size or individual portions, passed around the dining hall. Think of something like a cocktail hour. It’s a really fun way to try new foods with friends! They’re also very accommodating at Formosa Taipei, so don’t hesitate to ask for your dish to be made a certain way.

Our last, and probably favorite, stop is in Boston’s North End for some authentic Italian pizza. The North End’s hidden treasure, Benevento’s, is the epitome of authentic Italian. Everything from their pasta to the sauce to the pizza is made-to-order on the spot. When your pizza comes to the table, they place it on a tin can, just like you’d find in Italy. And you MUST order the Vodka Classic pizza. It is definitely one of the highlights of the menu and will make you want to go back for more all the time!

Now that we’ve hit the US, China & Italy, tell us your favorite culinary destination! Leave a comment or tweet @tipntag!