Boston Weekend in Review: Harvard Art Museums, Uncorked and a Tea Dinner

Bostonians were not at a loss for things to do this weekend, as they headed out on the town to check out the new collection at Harvard Art Museums, attend a wine tasting at the Franklin Park Zoo and participate in a benefit for Nepal at L’Espalier.

The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States opened at Harvard Art Museums. Running now through August 9, the museums, which include the Fogg, Busch-Reisinger and Arthur M. Sackler Museums, now host the Vogels’ personal collection of contemporary art. Here, you may view unique works of art created by artists from the 1970s and ̓80s, the initial presentation of the couple’s donation to the museums. Creations on display are from artists Robert Barry, Lynda Benglis, Pat Steir, and Richard Tuttle. Also on display are drawings and prints by Stephen Antonakos, James Bishop, and Daryl Trivieri.

On Saturday night, Franklin Park Zoo hosted its second annual Uncorked wine tasting event. The evening featured wines from Barefoot Wine and Bubbly, Twelfth Night by Vela Wines and The Naked Grape along with food from Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, Cabot Cheese, Stephi’s in Southie, Taza Chocolate, Seasons 52 restaurant, Samuel Adams and Steel and Rye. Guests had the chance to sip a variety of wines while walking through the signature Tropical Forest Pavilion. Proceeds from Uncorked support the zoo’s education programs and conservation initiatives.

Photo Credit: L’Espalier

Yesterday, L’Espalier hosted a Tea Dinner for Nepal, which included a five-course dinner paired with Nepalese teas. For each dinner sold at the Back Bay restaurant located on Boylston Street next to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a portion was donated directly to the relief efforts. L’Espalier is the only independent restaurant in New England to receive 13 consecutive AAA five-diamond awards and has also earned 15 consecutive Forbes four-star awards. The dinner that began at 6 p.m. last night included Earl grey spritzer with lemon-honey followed by First Light Farm’s spring beet salad with compressed strawberries, pistachio, and chamomile dust. Moving right along, the second course featured East Coast halibut with New Jersey asparagus, maître gaspard, and salted April almonds while the third course delighted diners with tea smoked Long Island duck breast with wild rice porridge, roasted spiced carrot. For dessert, they noshed on dessert green tea financier with black cherries and amaretto ice cream. After dinner, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a silent auction that included original artwork, a tea trip to India, a stay at Boston’s Mandarin Oriental, and private pastry lessons.