With the season’s new top-of-the-line tents, even city slickers can be happy campers. Those who want extra room will love the North Face’s Fortress 33, which has an improved tunnel design and a side door that props up for additional sleeping or storage space ($660; thenorthface.com ). For extended group expeditions, Mountain Hardwear’s Space Station makes a perfect base camp. Its domed shape minimizes wind at high altitudes and a titanium-oxide coating makes it practically impervious to water and sun damage ($4,000; mountainhardwear.com ). Eureka’s Solar Intent offers the outdoor experience with indoor amenities; its solar-powered unit charges during the day and then lights the tent’s interior at night ($300; eurekatent.com ). For adventure without the back strain, REI’s Quarter Dome UL Tent weights only 1.6 kilos; its two-door design means never having to crawl over anyone to answer late-night calls of nature ($209; rei.com ). Roughing it has never been so easy.
Hallee Berg
Hot Spot: Rendezvous Boston
Boston, once a culinary back-water thanks to its English/Irish heritages, is now one of America’s finest dining cities. Some of the best is across the Charles River in Cambridge, where you can enjoy slightly lower prices and a more casual atmosphere. Joining the list is Rendezvous, a converted Burger King amid the storefront ethnic restaurants in Central Square. Owner Steve Johnson favors Mediterranean flavors with prominent North African accents.
Ambience: Stylish–a little jazzy, even–with rich mustard and paprika colors and an airy feeling thanks to a large skylight. Dress is very casual.
First course: Try the grilled Portuguese sardines with tomato-caper vinaigrette; the vegetable antipasto with roasted eggplant pur??e is another spring delight. Potato gnocchi, currently with green garlic, baby carrots, spinach and peas, is always on the menu.
Entrees: Gascon-style duck three ways is a winner any time of year. Local seafood is also featured, including skillet-roasted skate with Moroccan spices, Meyer lemon, capers and brown butter,Cheap Christian Louboutin; saut??ed halibut with morels, favas, artichokes and pea tendrils, and a spicy fish stew.
Dessert: Who can resist warm chocolate cake with hazelnut pralines and cinnamon cream? If you can, then try the lemon-buttermilk pudding with huckleberry sauce.
Wines: French still predominate, but the list is inching toward more Italian and Spanish wines. Johnson’s primary goal is a broad selection of quality, moderately priced wines.
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