Did you know you can estimate wind speed by looking at common objects around you? As sailors, we learned this skill many years ago and it is just as handy around the city as it is at sea.
These flags beating in the breeze in front of the Algonquin Club on Commonwealth Avenue tell us that the wind is at 25-31 miles per hour. This estimate is based on the Beaufort Wind Scale which was created by Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805.
Because we live in the true windy city according to MIT. "Boston is considered to be the windiest major metropolitan area with an average wind speed of 12.5 mph (20.1 kph) while Chicago is much further down the list at 10.4 mph (16.7 kph)."
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While researching another subject, I ran across this aerial photo and recognized it as one of my favorite photography destinations, the Fenway Victory Gardens.
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Words: Penny Cherubino Photography: From the MIT Rotch Visual Collections, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States) Kepes/Lynch Collection, used under this creative commons license.
While researching another subject, I ran across this aerial photo and recognized it as one of my favorite photography destinations, the Fenway Victory Gardens.
Thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support. It doesn't cost you any more but they put a few coins in our tip jar.
Words: Penny Cherubino Photography: From the MIT Rotch Visual Collections, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States) Kepes/Lynch Collection, used under this creative commons license.
Are you planning on traveling with your dog this summer? If so, you may want to make some reservations now.
Finding accomodations that are great for you and pet friendly takes some work. Many of the places we love the best are booked up quickly.
We have our first trip of the season planned and Poppy is already packed and ready to go. (How do we tell her she is way too early?) It seems that we take more bags for her than for us.
When we travel by car, she is tucked into this travel crate to keep her safe and secure and to keep her from distacting the driver.
If you are traveling by air and hope to tuck your small dog under the seat, you need to reserve that space early as well. Most airlines limit the number of dogs allowed in the cabin.
If your dog is not a good traveler and will need a kennel or a pet sitter, that too should be booked about now if you hope to get your first choice.
Here are a few posts with more resources for traveling with dogs:
Are you planning on traveling with your dog this summer? If so, you may want to make some reservations now.
Finding accomodations that are great for you and pet friendly takes some work. Many of the places we love the best are booked up quickly.
We have our first trip of the season planned and Poppy is already packed and ready to go. (How do we tell her she is way too early?) It seems that we take more bags for her than for us.
When we travel by car, she is tucked into this travel crate to keep her safe and secure and to keep her from distacting the driver.
If you are traveling by air and hope to tuck your small dog under the seat, you need to reserve that space early as well. Most airlines limit the number of dogs allowed in the cabin.
If your dog is not a good traveler and will need a kennel or a pet sitter, that too should be booked about now if you hope to get your first choice.
Here are a few posts with more resources for traveling with dogs:
Each May, Boston celebrates the historic preservaton efforts that bring thousands of visitors to our city and make it a beautiful place to live. This years's calendar of events has been titled, "Buildings & Grounds."
In addition, you can tour neighborhoods with the preservation planners who know them best, go behind the scenes on preservation and archeology projects, and explore with guides who take on characters like Frederick Law Olmsted.
Each May, Boston celebrates the historic preservaton efforts that bring thousands of visitors to our city and make it a beautiful place to live. This years's calendar of events has been titled, "Buildings & Grounds."
In addition, you can tour neighborhoods with the preservation planners who know them best, go behind the scenes on preservation and archeology projects, and explore with guides who take on characters like Frederick Law Olmsted.
Those of you who follow our sparkling wine posts may have noticed that we seldom choose a 100% Chardonnay wine. But, we did take this recommendation at Gordon’s because it was from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal.
We took this gem from our wine rack to Provincetown to sit and sip by the sea. Note that this is a Grand Cru Champagne from the Village of Cramant. It is not a Crémant from another part of France.
And, it lived up to our expectations! It’s a blanc de blancs that is playing in a different key. Penny couldn’t place the fruit she was tasting, so she looked up reviews and then asked Ed what he thought it was. His answer was one shared by experts, pear!
This is a celebration wine, a bit more expensive ($59.99) than some of our selections, but anytime we’re in Provincetown, we want to celebrate! We sipped this bottle over a couple of days and Ed thought it got better when it had more time in the glass and longer to breath. He reminds you not to serve it too cold.
And, we’ve learned, if you’re going to have a blanc de blancs, make it one from a great importer like Neal Rosenthal.
Those of you who follow our sparkling wine posts may have noticed that we seldom choose a 100% Chardonnay wine. But, we did take this recommendation at Gordon’s because it was from one of our favorite importers, Neal Rosenthal.
We took this gem from our wine rack to Provincetown to sit and sip by the sea. Note that this is a Grand Cru Champagne from the Village of Cramant. It is not a Crémant from another part of France.
And, it lived up to our expectations! It’s a blanc de blancs that is playing in a different key. Penny couldn’t place the fruit she was tasting, so she looked up reviews and then asked Ed what he thought it was. His answer was one shared by experts, pear!
This is a celebration wine, a bit more expensive ($59.99) than some of our selections, but anytime we’re in Provincetown, we want to celebrate! We sipped this bottle over a couple of days and Ed thought it got better when it had more time in the glass and longer to breath. He reminds you not to serve it too cold.
And, we’ve learned, if you’re going to have a blanc de blancs, make it one from a great importer like Neal Rosenthal.
Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Mom to a meal out on Mother's Day, May 11, 2014.
Keep in mind that this "treat Mom to a great meal day" falls at the beginning of graduation season in Boston with Simmons College, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, Emerson College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and Berklee College of Music holding commencements that weekend. (Here's the full list of Spring 2014 Commencement Dates for planning purposes.)
If your budget is tight, take Mom out for breakfast or treat her to breakfast in bed and some lovely flowers.
For Mother's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurants with special menus and hours for May 11, 2014.
Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when people may book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can make the restaurant turn away other potential customers, so a guarantee may be needed to reserve.
OpenTable always does a great job of guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.
Boston Chefs has a list of specials for the day from their members. (That link is to the 2013 list and it will be updated closer to the date.)
As more great Boston food sites publish their recommendations, we'll post updates here! Follow us on Twitter ( @BostonZest ) for notice of those additions! Right now, here are a few recommendations from last year.
For a gathering of family members with different food preferences, it's great to know about a place like Eastern Standard where they can please the cocktail lover, the meat-and-taters brother, and the family epicure.
If you are meeting people from outside the city, you might consider La Morra in Brookline. They say, "Treat your mom for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas."
If Mom is a seafood lover, call now to secure a table at Island Creek Oyster Bar. This Kenmore Square restaurant has established itself as the best fine dining seafood restaurant in Boston. Your family will enjoy the best in seafood in a big, comfortable room with reservations and service that will make Mom feel spoiled.
And, for the best gift, let her choose something from her Wish List. Get an Amazon Gift Card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card.
Details: Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino Photo: istockphoto.com
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