You know her. You’ve seen her on Big Love as the respectful daughter who disagrees with her family’s ways. She was the very dumb Karen Smith in Mean Girls and she’s opposite veteran Hollywood actress Julianne Moore in her newest flick Chloe - which opens March 26. The 24 year-old sultry, blonde actress sits down with Esquire mag for their “Woman We Love” feature and there’s quite a photo spread! Classy, sexy and beautiful - Amanda Seyfried is the NEWEST Scarlett Johansson.

On how she’s staying fit (she goes nude in her new flick Chloe):

I’m on a raw-food diet. It’s intense. And sort of awful. Yesterday for lunch? Spinach. Just spinach. Spinach and some seeds.

On moving to New York City after years of living in LA for the HBO show Big Love:

I sacrificed six years in L. A. I did my job out here. I made the contacts and did the work I had to do. But I came here at eighteen. I’m out of here at twenty-four, and I feel lucky it wasn’t longer.

We’ve heard a lot about Iceland’s economy in the headlines lately but the European island country - which is just a 5 hour flight from Boston - has actually a lot of culture and history to offer. Luckily up until March 17th - as part of the multi-day cultural festival A Taste of Iceland in Boston: A Festival of Music, Film, Food & Fun Bostonians will get the chance to experience the nation’s food, traditions and culinary culture.

Chef Thorarinn Eggertsson, the owner and head chef of Orange in downtown Reykjavík (the nation’s capital) has graced Boston with his presence and will be cooking up a storm at the Rustic Kitchen at the Radisson Hotel in the Theatre District until the final day of the festival. Working closely with Chef Tom Holloway of Rustic Kitchen, Chef Thorarinn’s innovative and exquisite cuisine will be offered at the restaurant as part of a special tasting menu. The cost of the menu is $65/pp exclusive of tax and gratuity.

Chef Thorarinn features ingredients sourced locally in Iceland - such as gray duck, reindeer and salted cod.  His restaurant Orange made its way onto Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2009 Hot Tables List in a review which referred to Chef Thorarinn as “mad genius” and Orange as “packed with playful surprises” and “fun-through-dining.”

Click here to check out the menu which includes dishes like Salted Cod & Lobster along with asparagus, sweet tomatoes and artichokes; as well as their trademark dish… flying calamari. As for why it’s called “flying calamari” Well, apparently, because it does! The calamari is served in boxes hanging from huge helium balloons, so it’s literally FLYING! That’s CRAZY!

Rustic Kitchen, 210 Stuart Street, Boston: (617) 423-5700

Now you can enjoy the spirit and taste of Venice without even leaving Boston! Thanks to a new tradition over at restaurant dante you’ll be able to sip Bellinis all night like you would do if you were at Harry’s Bar in Venice where they were first invented!

You might be thinking - what is a bellini? Well, it’s an absolutely delicious champagne cocktail - made with 1/3 of a glass of champagne and 2/3 a glass of fruit puree - that originated sometime between 1934 and 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder  of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy. He called it a Bellini because the drink’s  pink color reminded Cipriani of the color of saint’s toga in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini.

restaurant dante - which is in the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge - is offering two different house-made fruit puree flavors each week at their “Bellini Bar” which starts up every Thursday and Friday night from 5-7pm. Last week there was pineapple and blood orange - this week, who knows? (You can also get the original flavor if you’re not digging the new ones.) Check it out and you’ll feel as though you’re sitting at a Venice piazza people-watching!

restaurant dante: 40 Edwin H. Land Boulevard, Cambridge.

Are you planning on getting crazy this St. Patrick’s Day? But are you not sure how you’re going to re-start your fitness routine after the beer, nachos, chicken wings and pizza of St. Patty’s Day? Well, Boston Sports Club is helping you out on this one!

In honor of next week’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday - Boston Sports Club (and New York Sports Club, too) will offer people a free day pass to one of their gyms the day AFTER the holiday. So, on March 18 only, bring a bar tab dated March 17 (that won’t be hard) to any BSC (or NYSC) location and receive a free day pass. And, this is a pretty awesome deal considering day passes usually go for about $25 a day! Let’s just attribute it to the luck o’ the irish!

Click here to find a club near you!

Tim Burton’s new flick Alice in Wonderland is kicking butt at the box office with an opening weekend which took in about $116.3 million but it’s also renewing an interest in the age-old tradition of afternoon tea.

At several points in the flick, which I thought was really entertaining and fun, the audience gets to watch as the Mad Hatter (played by Johnny Depp) and his furry friends pour tea and nosh on crumpets. Just watching them made me think about the fun process of afternoon tea and how many lovely places there are in Boston to do so!

Afternoon tea is typically served (and devoured) between 3 and 5pm. Traditionally the menu consists of loose tea (which is brewed in a teapot and served in teacups with milk and sugar or honey) and it’s accompanied by sandwiches (cucumber, egg and watercress, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with clotted cream and jam/preserves) and usually delicate cakes and pastries. The food is often served on a tiered stand and sometimes the entire course begins with a glass of champagne!

How did this all start? Well, It originated in England when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. However, nowadays, because of changes in work schedules and culture - most people don’t have a daily tea break - but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a treat once in a while!

In Boston - there are plenty of hotels, restaurants and cafes that offer “afternoon tea” and it is the perfect opportunity to take an afternoon off, relax and feel pampered! Tea is a luxurious treat and here are some of my picks for the mid-afternoon course:

• Asana at the Mandarin Oriental offers a contemporary and exotic take on the classic “afternoon” tea. The food and tea at Asana are amazing but the service itself makes you feel like a queen (or king)! Not only do you get to choose from a variety of exotic teas like vanilla rooibos, masala black tea chai and lemon verbena blend but you also can select from a huge DIVINE tray of sumptuous sweets like classic raisin scones with Devonshire cream and lemon curd, grapefruit linzer tarts or lemongrass profiteroles. Personally, I’m a huge fan of their savory sandwiches which included curry chicken salad, smoked salmon and chive or tuna tartar and served on a wonton (AMAZING). On top of all that - to highlight the deluxe hotel chain’s Asian roots - the delicious selections are served on a sushi block which is creative, innovative and fun! (Some of the savory treats are served on an asian soup spoon.) Plus, it’s VERY affordable and comes in at just $25. Also - if you have kids - this is the place for you! Younger guests get their own “miniMO” menu with peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches and homemade hot chocolate drinks for just $14. Check out the delicious menu here. The Mandarin Oriental Boston, 776 Boylston Street, Boston.

• The Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons Boston serves a more traditional take on afternoon tea. Of course, the Bristol Lounge is a glamorous and expansive space complete with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the Boston Public Garden but their afternoon tea is not to be missed! Their “Royal Tea” starts out with a beautiful glass of Kir Royale (champagne cocktail with creme de cassis) and then comes with a three-tiered stand full to the brim with scones, savory sandwiches and pastries (the gingerbread whoopie pies are lovely!). One can spend an hour or two enjoying the afternoon people-watching, sipping exotic teas and nibbling delicious treats! If the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland was thinking of tea - this is what he’d be thinking of! The children’s menu (for ages 3-12) comes in at $19 while the adult menu is $28 per person. And, if you want to snag yourself a window table - definitely call ahead ans specifically ask for a table by the window - you’ll feel like a celebrity! Check out a sample menu here. The Four Seasons Boston, 776 Boylston Street, Boston.

• The Courtyard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library is a very special place and enjoying tea there makes it even more special! Overlooking the beautiful Italianate courtyard in the BPL’s historic McKim building - the Courtyard Restaurant serves afternoon tea Wednesday thru Friday (along with lunch) and offers a lovely and affordable option to the slew of choices out there! The tea-time menu, which is just $20 per person, offers a selection of sandwiches (the apricot chicken salad is to DIE FOR), scones, tartlets and classic teas. It’s a lovely, graceful space with a beautiful view — perfect for an afternoon treat. Take a peek at their tea menu here. The Courtyard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street
  Boston.

I interviewed Jeff Kinney when he was in Boston last Friday to talk to him about his cartoon-novel “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” which follows the life of middle-schooler Greg Heffley. The book has a massive following and stayed on the New York Times Bestseller list for a whopping 41 weeks!

Anyways, as a result of the popularity of the book series - 20th Century Fox has turned it into a movie and it comes out on 3/19! Now, because of its new movie status - the book’s publishers have come out with a new version of the book - a movie diary - to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made!

I have five books to giveaway to blog readers of mine - so the first five people to comment on this blog post and tell me why they want the book - get a copy!!!

Post by: Emma Shields.

A diverse neighborhood, historically Italian and Hispanic, East Boston is now seeing an influx of cool: hipsters in their skinny jeans, young yuppies, and the ever-trendy Gay community. And it’s in the Jeffries Point neighborhood where they are setting up house. Just a few blocks from the Maverick Square T stop, Jeffries Point has lovely brownstones that look out over the harbor and the Boston skyline. There are several parks, a school, and proximity to some very cool new restaurants!

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• Ecco (107 Porter St. East Boston 02128 617-561-1112)

In the building that used to house the beloved Sablones, Ecco is a hot new martini bar and restaurant, which opened in September of ‘08. With an eclectic menu, Ecco has something for everyone, and is a great place for a date or just to go sit at the bar. Their Lobster Mac & Cheese is the perfect comfort food, and the “Fork and Knife” Caesar salad is lemony and unique. Ecco’s martini list is inventive and extensive; I highly recommend the Blood Orange Margarita.

• Scups in the Harbor (256 Marginal St. East Boston 02128 617-569-7287)

Tucked away in the Marina, Scups is a friendly and affordable brunch place. Wendy, the eccentric and outgoing owner/chef, visits each table to see how her customers are enjoying their baked eggs and breakfast sandwiches. She even knows many of her regulars by name! Scups has a stack of board games for people waiting for their food, as the kitchen is tiny and tends to run slow during the weekend brunch rush. In the summer, picnic tables are available outside with a view of the industrial marina and Boston harbor.

• 303 Cafe (303 Sumner St. East Boston, MA 02128 617-569-3001)

A hipster haven, 303 is the perfect spot to grab lunch or a casual dinner. They sell simple and fresh foods, sandwiches, smoothies, risotto and soup. Their crabcake and brie sandwich is not to be missed! In the summer, they set out tables on the sidewalk, making 303 a delightful spot for anyone, not just the Jeffries Point crowd, to enjoy lunch or a beer.

• Santarpio’s (111 Chelsea St. East Boston MA 02128 617-567-9871)

The Eastie landmark, is known around Boston as the city’s best pizza. A simple, family run place, on more nights than not there are lines around the block. Their menu is short but classic: pizza, lamb and sausage, and the restaurant itself is uber-casual. Santarpios is planning on opening another location in Peabody.

All four of these delicious and fun restaurants are in walking distance of the beautiful but under-appreciated Piers Park. You cant find a better place to appreciate the view of the Boston Harbor and Skyline! There is a sailing center, picnic tables, and in the summer, Piers Park is the host to many weddings.

Originally hailing from North Carolina, Emma Shields moved to Boston for college and lives in Somerville. She works as a social worker in Boston.

This year’s Regattabar Jazz Festival is upon us again! Thanks to the spacious and delightful jazz bar, located at the Charles Hotel - we’re able to grab dinner, some snacks or just a drink and listen to some of jazz music’s best performers…The 25th annual festival kicks off tomorrow night.

If you’re looking for a classy, glamorous and foot stomping night out on the town then this is the place for you! Some of this year’s headliners include:

Dr. Stanley Sagov & Robert Pinsky

March 5/7:30PM - $24 & 10:00PM - $22
Pianist/bandleader Stanley Sagov will be joined by world-renowned poet Robert Pinsky. Pinsky will read his poems in tandem with the music of the Remembering The Future Jazz Band, creating a unique combination of jazz and poetry.

John Scofield New Jazz Quartet

March 19 & 20/7:30PM - $28 & 10:00PM - $25
Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.

Kenny Barron

April 2 7:30PM - $25 & 10:00PM - $22 April 3 7:30PM - $28 & 10:00PM - $22
Kenny Barron’s unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms is what inspired The Los Angeles Times to name him “one of the top jazz pianists in the world”
and Jazz Weekly to call him “the most lyrical piano player of our time.”

Mike Doughty - The Question Jar Show (an acoustic evening)

April 23//7:30PM & 10:00PM - $20
The largely acoustic Sad Man Happy Man is a deliberate return to everything people love about Mike Doughty. He makes albums that simmer with verbal wit, and Sad Man Happy Man is no exception with its songs about
everything from relationship bust-ups (Doughty was going through one while he was recording it) to his astute observations about the American economy.

Newpoli

May 5//7:30PM - $15//Southern Italian Folk

For additional listings and tickets for all Regattabar shows, visit their website or call 617.395.7757.

Regattabar at the Charles Hotel • One Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

Are you headed to Paris, Madrid, Tokyo or Rio De Janeiro anytime soon and are you worried you can’t speak the language? Well don’t you worry! The Boston Center for Adult Education has the perfect class for you.

This month, the BCAE is serving up a series of language classes specifically for tourists and offered in French, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese.

These classes will teach you key phrases and expressions that will help you to travel comfortably to your new and exotic destinations! They’ll also help you by practicing real-life scenarios (think waitress/waiter and customer) as well as prepping you with some real world vocabulary that you’ll be able to use in your new surroundings.

You’ll learn how to properly introduce yourself along with words/expressions necessary for dining, shopping and sightseeing.

Check them out below:

Spanish for Travelers: Monday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM; 5 sessions starting March 8, 2010, ending April 5, 2010. Tuition: $125.00, Member Cost: $115.00. Instructor: Carlos Marin
*Required Textbook: Spanish, A Language Map (ISBN: 0-9445-0204-4).

Japanese for Travelers: Wednesday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM; 8 sessions starting March 10, 2010, ending April 28, 2010. Tuition: $195.00 Member Cost: $175.00. Instructor: Zoe Culbertson

French for Travelers: Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM; 5 sessions starting March 24, 2010, ending April 21, 2010. Tuition: $125.00, Member Cost: $115.00. Instructor: Nancy Winston

* Required Textbook: Conversational French in 7 days (ISBN # 0-8442-4467-8) and French, A Language Map (ISBN: 0-9445-0201-6).

Portuguese for Travelers: Wednesday, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM; 5 sessions starting March 24, 2010, ending April 21, 2010. Tuition: $75.00 Member Cost: $60.00. Instructor: Amanda Maciel Antunes

Reservations are necessary. Visit www.bcae.org or call the Boston Center for Adult Education at 617-267-4430 to sign up!

Here’s my boss Laura Raposa interviewing Tom Hanks at the screening of his new HBO mini-series “The Pacific” which screened last night at the JFK Library. The Governor showed up, too! Woo-hoo!