As you may recall, Bostonista suffered through Healthworks’ bootcamp a couple of months ago. It was great, but—alas—met only twice a week. Meanwhile, we hit the managing editor’s candy bowl approximately twice an hour.

With summer fast approaching, we decided to up the ante by enrolling in the four-day-a-week Ultimate Bootcamp. The program is nothing new—if you walk to work through the Common, you’ve no doubt been regularly annoyed by big groups of bootcampers doing suicides and high-knee kicks in the middle of the sidewalk—and, in fact, we’re not the first Bostonista to try it out. But, we were curious to see how it compared to our all-girl gym class.

The verdict? Healthworks is definitely harder…but Ultimate Bootcamp is way more fun. (more…)

Though I’m known to work up a mean sweat on the elliptical machine, my output pales in comparison to the struggles Puma’s 11-man Ocean Racing team will face in October, when they depart Spain for Volvo’s 10-month, 37,000-mile Ocean Race around the world.

On Monday night at the ICA, Puma threw quite the bash, including a special appearance by Salma Hayek, to unveil its new racing boat, as well as its new lifestyle and sailing clothing collections.

Upon arrival, I was faced with a crazed Hayek fan trying to enter as Bostonista’s +1. He was there, as we all were, to see his Academy Award-nominated crush crack a bottle of bubbly over the hull of il mostro (”the monster” in Italian), the gear brand’s sleek, spanking sailboat.

After ditching the Frida fanatic, it was time to survey the goods and, of course, my fellow guests. (more…)

Faithful Bostonistas-in-training know the quickest way to a new and improved look is a fresh-faced, rosy hue. And though a few of us differ on the best way to achieve said glow, this writer is sticking with her tried and true method. Namely, Kiehl’s Sun-Free Self-Tanning Formula. I’ve been a faithful slatherer for years, and only ever gotten one “you look a little orange” comment. (He clearly had no appreciation for a November tan.)

And come to think of it, it’s not just the faux-glow we heart. Several Boston staffers, guys included, can list an assortment of Kiehl’s products among their daily toilette (the Facial Feul, the Silk Groom, the Creme de Corps). Which is why we’re pleased to announce we have a new reason to head to Burlington: To shop the brand new Kiehl’s store, the company’s second free-standing outpost in New England (the first is on Newbury).

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It may only be May, but we’ve already staked our claim on a dress for the office holiday party in December. A girl likes to plan ahead! Bostonista attended Carmen Marc Valvo’s fall 2008 fashion show Friday at the Natick Collection, and after lusting after each and every sexy little number that sashayed down that runway, we’re absolutely putting our cash toward our latest frock find. (See a photo slide show from the event here.) (more…)

Finding parking on what used to be the fringes of the South End is getting harder. Last night, I had to squeeze my tiny hatchback into a dubious spot on Shawmut just before Washington. The block had multiple, vaguely conflicting parking signs, requiring a degree in logic to solve. Well, at least the Boston Traffic Authority and I interpreted them the same way, this time.

So, off to Banq. While the restaurant has an enormous belle-epoch canopy to announce its entry, actually finding an operable door was less than easy. Once you discover where it is (indicated by a small arrow below eye level for most), you’re suddenly in-the-know, and can relax sipping beer (or one of the myriad urban concoctions on the drink menu), amused by others’ foiled attempts to gain access.

But that gets old, much like the clientele, which tends toward empty nesters who just traded their Sudbury colonials for 1,000 square foot “lofts” with floor to ceiling windows and “artistic” neighbors. (more…)

Bob’s Your Uncle is one of those companies that, as true-blooded American Anglophiles, we have no choice but to love: The Fort Point-based home goods company is run by a lovely British couple! The name reflects a Briticism (meaning “everything’s fine”) that’s almost as much fun as “sod off” or “bangers and mash”! (more…)

I consider myself somewhat of an artsy person. I like art, art museums, art house films, art-rock, Art Garfunkel. Posters and prints and one or two original paintings, which were given to me as housewarming presents, hang in my apartment. My mother is a brilliant watercolor artist (with her big spring show coming up tomorrow. Go Mom!). And I’ve been known to clean out a jewelry booth or two at craft fairs like the South End Open Market (which kicks off for the season this weekend!).

Yet, until last weekend, I had never actually bought original art myself. When I did experience original art buying for the first time on Saturday, in true Bostonista fashion, I went all the way, buying not one, not two, but three fabulous pieces.

Carolyn Marsden—a friend, coworker, talented painter, kickass photographer, and all-around great gal—invited Bostonista to her show, part of Somerville Open Studios. I was sure her art would be cool. I’d seen it online and I commissioned her to make a hand-painted t-shirt for my mom’s Christmas gift. But to be completely honest, I went mainly for the camaraderie. And, because I heard there would be cupcakes. (more…)

Typically, it’s we here at Bostonista who dole out the style advice. We’ve helped you with blue cues and collar capers and even cleared up a few personal hygiene issues. Rarely are we at a loss during fashion 911s. But our current situation has us flummoxed.

Last week, one of us had reconstructive knee surgery. (We’ll spare you the visuals and vivid painkiller-induced dreams.) Being house-bound for a week was alternately horrid and therapeutic, the latter thanks to lots of TLC from the littlest Bostonista. But now that we’re up and working again, we’ve hit the biggest roadblock of all: Accessorizing a monstrous leg brace and crutches is no easy task. We have entered into precarious fashion territory a fellow editor has termed “gimp chic.”

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Currently in “the other Portland” for the wedding of my friend Emily, with whom I worked at my first job after college, in the long ago days before magazine assistantships in New York were something you won on a reality show. We’re staying at the Ace Hotel, a 79-room mecca of all things salvaged, repurposed, and reworked, located in a part of town once called “Vaseline Alley” for its concentration of gay bars. Vaseline Alley is now part of the hipstery Pearl District, a descriptor supported by the fact that within a single block, you can do all of the following: catch an indie film, pay $18 for a glass of wine, buy a pound of t-shirts for $5, and eat a knish. (more…)

After a year and a half of wedding planning, my big day is fast approaching. On the very last day of this month, I’ll be getting hitched in York Beach, Maine. I have everything bridal on the brain, so here’s my mini-reflection on events leading up to this day. (more…)