The Manual: A perfect fall weekend in Boston

By Mark Reif

Melitzanes Tiganites at Krasi Mark Reif / The Manual

I step out of the hotel into crisp fall air in the upper 50s. I’m greeted by a city coming alive, with buses and cars flooding Massachusetts Avenue, and the sun dancing off glass skyscrapers. I run along the Harvard Bridge, the Charles River shimmering underneath, with rowing teams and shells gliding like swans. Nature’s painted a vivid picture against the sky, with oranges, reds, and maroons covering the trees.

I’m in Boston for a two-day autumn adventure, where I will experience history, food, and views before winter cold sets in. Here’s how the trip unfolded.

Krasi: A Mediterranean escape of color and flavor

On a cold, rainy Boston evening, my friends and I walked to the back of Krasi, where a glass table awaited. Seated on high-rise chairs, we took in a rock and fern garden underneath the table, while ordering dish after dish from the Greek meze and wine menu. 

Each dish appeared like artwork, from the pink and brown of the Pantzarosolata (beets, Greek yogurt, crispy chickpeas, carob bread) to the orange, gold, and purple of the Melitzanes Tiganites (crispy eggplant chips, sweet potato skordalia, and pumpkin seed oil). That also included my mocktail, a watermelon/hibiscus concoction with a translucent pink shade and summer-like refreshment.

Also notable was Krasi’s perfect setting for a group meal, as the continual parade of dishes invited flowing conversation and flavor comparisons. Behind our table, the open kitchen was alive with heat and flames, matching the patrons’ talking and tasting.