Dottie Hottie

Dozens of knitties from the Dot and beyond decided to ditch and stitch this past Sunday in celebration of the Stitch House’s first birthday! The store was bopping with patrons and the caterers were busying with omelets and the shelves were brimming with beautiful yarns and WHERE WERE YOU?!?

If you haven’t visited the Stitch House, a veritable buffet of color and cashmere awaits you. Owner Annissa says she is constantly told her store is so cute and “it looks just like Newbury Street,” to which she can be overheard answering, “Yeah! And all of Dorchester Ave. should freaking look like this!”

The Dottie Hottie heartily agrees.

Happy First Birthday, Stitch House, you are a wonderful toddler in the playpen that is The Dot!

 Below: Dots, the perfect Dottie party favor.

Could this place be any cuter?

The Dottie Hottie is no stranger to caffeine. Although DH tries to limit the intake, it’s the upper of choice for this overtired parent. When the Hottie Household doesn’t have java on tap, here are the places where the Dottie Hottie can be found seeking a nice brew:

1.) Flat Black - The iced vanilla latte has been previously referenced as a favorite. Lately the Dottie Hottie finds any excuse to pay a visit to Lower Mills. Library books due at Lower Mills Branch? MID wants to go on the swings at Dorchester Park? Want to watch the traffic light turn from red to green on the corner of Dot Ave. and Adams? Let’s go to Flat Black!!

2.) Greenhills Bakery - Their decaf is nothing special, but it does pair nicely with a scone with Irish butter and jam (top o’ the day TO YOU!) but the frozen hot chocolate is a beautiful blend on a hot summer day. You’ll wish you never discovered it, just like the scones.

3.) McDonald’s - I know, I know. But have you tried the Iced Mocha at Mickey D’s? It’s enough to blast you across the Murphy pool and back again. Gulp and repeat.

4.) McKenna’s - Woah, that’s a deep roast.

5.) The Mud Room - The cuteness of the coffee cups with their little assortment of stickers is coupled with the cuteness of the staff here. They’re just adorable. A small Decaf Hazelnut is the best thing under $2 you can buy in Dorchester, bar none.

Who serves your favorite cup of joe in Dot?

Of course you’ve heard good things about Chris Douglas’ newest addition to Peabody Square. But here are five things you might not yet know about Tavolo:

1.) Tavolo is pronounced with the first syllable accented. It means “table” in Italian. Preggo.

2.) The Dottie Hottie’s favorite item on the menu is the meatball which is the size of a pool ball. The Dottie Hottie does not recommend trying to shoot it into the hole. It is slathered in a sweet yet tangy sauce and it is delectable, so eat it, by jove!

3.) There are sound-absorbing tiles on the ceiling. SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO SHOUT WHILE EATING. WHICH IS REALLY NICE. BECAUSE THERE IS ENOUGH NOISE POLLUTION GOING ON OUTSIDE THANKS TO THE ASHMONT T STOP CONSTRUCTION JUNCTION.

4.) This is one family friendly place. In fact, MID made herself at home. The waitstaff - who were impeccable in service and extremely kind - are still picking up all of the toys she slopped all over the floor.

5.) The bar area would be the Dottie Hottie’s favorite place in Dorchester to come and drink and watch a game. Except the DH doesn’t drink. And the DH is too ADHD to watch a game. But it’s a great atmosphere to do such things. If one does such things.

Tavolo? Grazie.

P.S. Don’t skimp on dessert. Go with the gelato.

You should really offer a disclaimer when you tell your spouse you’re going to go see about Doggie Styles. The disclaimer should probably be along the lines of, “Doggie Styles, fyi, is the name of a pet grooming shop at Peabody Square.”

A pet grooming shop that happens to be adorable! Owner Trudy MacDonald, who has a grooming certificate from Mt. Ida College, welcomes your pup (she likes and treats felines, too) to her shop of the canine couture. You’ll be wanting a new mani/pedi/shampoo/conditioning treatment for yourself when you see how spiff looks Spot. She also offers a 24 hour De-Skunk Hotline if your pup tries to make nice w/ Pepe LePieux who just isn’t havin’ it.

Doggie Styles
571 Talbot Ave.
Dorchester, MA
(Peabody Square, 2 doors down from Ashmont Grill)
www.mydoggiestyles.com
617.265.1033

Remember that “Designing Women” where Delta Burke sticks her finger into a feller’s coffee and asks, “Sugar?” The Dottie Hottie wonders if that was the inspiration for The Sugar Bowl. Because sugar in all forms will you find behind the counter of this corner ice cream/coffee shop right on the border of Dot/Southie. And most especially, you will find some sugar in the service. The employees appear to be former cheerleaders who are drumming up big business with their wide smiles, adorable accents. It feels like the Coyote Ugly of coffee shops. Without the dancing on the bar part.

While there, the Dottie Hottie sampled an ice cream sundae. The ice cream is Brigham’s (it’s made at the hospital cafeteria, right?), the fudge wasn’t spectacular. But the prices are reasonable and the shop was very clean. Haven’t tried the coffee yet, but will be back. Skim milk, one sugar, please and thank you.

The Sugar Bowl
857 Dorchester Ave.
(between Columbia Rd & Mount Vernon St)
Dorchester, MA 02125
(617)-265-9000
www.sugarbowlcafe.com