bostonzest

Author: Ed

  • Poppy’s New Year’s Resolutions

    -poppy-westie-sock-thief-

    Poppy’s number one New Year’s resolution is to try to break her sock habit, but not until after her nap.

    She's made a few more resolutions, but most of them seem to involve training us to do what she wants.

    She'll Make Us Laugh More!

    Laughter is good medicine. While raising a puppy can be a lot of work, we laugh often at Poppy’s antics. I may read her the riot act for stealing my socks, but I have to suppress a giggle when I see how proudly she prances when she captures a pair. 

    She has done a great job in 2013 of keeping us well exercised, in touch with our neighbors, and part of our local dog community. And, Poppy intends to keep training us in 2014.

    Work Less, Play More, and Lower Stress Levels

    There is so much solid research on how petting animals can reduce our stress levels and even our blood pressure. Maybe that’s because we stop doing other things when we take time to cuddle or stroke our cats and dogs. Poppy doesn’t like it if I try to work on my laptop during her special time. She wants my full attention. It’s good for her and good for me. I can see she intends to make this an ongoing goal.

    Sunday Dog Thank Yous

    Poppy would also like to thank all the dogs who posed and told their stories as Sunday Dogs, this year along with all the people who visited them and said nice things about them. 

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve? We Have Suggestions!

    Are you on the hunt for a special, sparkling wine for New Year's Eve? We have our selection in our sights, but it may take some shopping around to land a bottle. However, if you're looking for inspiration, we have years of recommendations for you to consider.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee6c5d1db970d-500wi

    As our regular readers know, we begin each month with a glass of sparkling wine. Some months it's a cava from Spain for under $10, while other times we treat ourselves to a spectacular grower champagne like the Inflorescence Champagne Blanc de Noirs 2010 in the photo above. That was our New Year's Eve Wine, last year. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c38194acc970b-500wi

    Click over to our wine category and you'll find good wines at all price points that you might consider for this holiday.

    We have our favorites like the lovely Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we've been enjoying for years.

    To us, Bollinger makes the quintessential Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and delightful. So, as we go off to find our bottle of holiday cheer, we'll leave you with the words of Lily Bollinger who said of Champagne:

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

    Cheers!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 in Boston
    Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!
    Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over

  • Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve? We Have Suggestions!

    Are you on the hunt for a special, sparkling wine for New Year's Eve? We have our selection in our sights, but it may take some shopping around to land a bottle. However, if you're looking for inspiration, we have years of recommendations for you to consider.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee6c5d1db970d-500wi

    As our regular readers know, we begin each month with a glass of sparkling wine. Some months it's a cava from Spain for under $10, while other times we treat ourselves to a spectacular grower champagne like the Inflorescence Champagne Blanc de Noirs 2010 in the photo above. That was our New Year's Eve Wine, last year. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c38194acc970b-500wi

    Click over to our wine category and you'll find good wines at all price points that you might consider for this holiday.

    We have our favorites like the lovely Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we've been enjoying for years.

    To us, Bollinger makes the quintessential Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and delightful. So, as we go off to find our bottle of holiday cheer, we'll leave you with the words of Lily Bollinger who said of Champagne:

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

    Cheers!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 in Boston
    Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!
    Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over

  • What’s Open in Boston New Year’s Eve and Day & MBTA Schedules 2013 – 2014

     

    This is an outdated post. Click the link below for the latest information:

    What's Open in Boston New Year's Eve and Day & MBTA Schedules 2015 – 2016 plus Parking, Trash & More

     

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve December 31, 2013 and New Year's Day, January 1, 2014.

    Update: 1.1.14

    From the CIty of Boston website

    Screen Shot 2014-01-01 at 1.55.39 PM

    What's closed? Do I have to feed the parking meters? What about street sweeping? Are the liquor stores and packies open? When do I put out my trash? And, what changes are there to the MBTA schedules? We have the answers for you, all organized in one post!

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901cbe1ee8970b-800wi

    Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but with the crowds expected for First Night, others, especially those in the hospitality business, stay open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.

    Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2014 – New Year's Day

    Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Here's a link to our post on restaurants that are open for the celebration: Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 and New Years Day in Boston

    Convenience stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    More after the ad…

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Make your own holiday wish come true. Find the gift you really want on Amazon! And, by starting from here, you'll be supporting BostonZest and keeping the information flowing your way.


    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

    Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works from the Recycling & Trash Holiday Collection Schedule:

    New Years Trash Collection

    Monday, December 30, 2013, 6am – Saturday, January 4, 2014, 5pm

    • "Monday and Tuesday December 30th and 31st: Regular trash and recycling for all sections of the City.
    • Bay Village Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Lower Roxbury, Mission Hill, North End, South End, and Sections of Back Bay: regular schedule, no delays.
    • Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, South Boston, West Roxbury: Delayed a day on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    • *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

    MBTA Schedule Changes for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day-

    MBTA has full information up on their events page. (If you are coming to this post after the holiday, that page will have changed.)
     
    Here are the important points for New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 2013
    • The Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines will run on a modified weekday schedule
    • The Siver Line will run on a weekday schedule
    • The Commuter Rail will run on a modified weekday schedule – the last trains out are listed here
    • Buses, trackless trolleys, and Express buses will run on a regular weekday schedule 
    • Boats: Charlestown will operate a regular weekday schedule; others a modified weekday schedule
    • The Ride will operate on a regular weekday schedule with extended hours until 2:30 a.m.
     
    Here are the important points for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2014
    • The Silver, Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines will run on Sunday Schedule
    • Some Commuter Rail lines will run on a Sunday schedule. Fairmount, Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, and Needham will not operate.
    • Buses will run on a Sunday schedule with a long list of buses not operating. Check those here.
    • Boats will not operate
    • The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
    For more information call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © iStockphoto 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • What’s Open in Boston New Year’s Eve and Day & MBTA Schedules 2013 – 2014

     

    This is an outdated post. Click the link below for the latest information:

    What's Open in Boston New Year's Eve and Day & MBTA Schedules 2015 – 2016 plus Parking, Trash & More

     

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve December 31, 2013 and New Year's Day, January 1, 2014.

    Update: 1.1.14

    From the CIty of Boston website

    Screen Shot 2014-01-01 at 1.55.39 PM

    What's closed? Do I have to feed the parking meters? What about street sweeping? Are the liquor stores and packies open? When do I put out my trash? And, what changes are there to the MBTA schedules? We have the answers for you, all organized in one post!

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901cbe1ee8970b-800wi

    Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but with the crowds expected for First Night, others, especially those in the hospitality business, stay open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.

    Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2014 – New Year's Day

    Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Here's a link to our post on restaurants that are open for the celebration: Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 and New Years Day in Boston

    Convenience stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    More after the ad…

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Make your own holiday wish come true. Find the gift you really want on Amazon! And, by starting from here, you'll be supporting BostonZest and keeping the information flowing your way.


    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

    Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works from the Recycling & Trash Holiday Collection Schedule:

    New Years Trash Collection

    Monday, December 30, 2013, 6am – Saturday, January 4, 2014, 5pm

    • "Monday and Tuesday December 30th and 31st: Regular trash and recycling for all sections of the City.
    • Bay Village Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Lower Roxbury, Mission Hill, North End, South End, and Sections of Back Bay: regular schedule, no delays.
    • Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, South Boston, West Roxbury: Delayed a day on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    • *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

    MBTA Schedule Changes for New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day-

    MBTA has full information up on their events page. (If you are coming to this post after the holiday, that page will have changed.)
     
    Here are the important points for New Year's Eve, Tuesday, December 31, 2013
    • The Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines will run on a modified weekday schedule
    • The Siver Line will run on a weekday schedule
    • The Commuter Rail will run on a modified weekday schedule – the last trains out are listed here
    • Buses, trackless trolleys, and Express buses will run on a regular weekday schedule 
    • Boats: Charlestown will operate a regular weekday schedule; others a modified weekday schedule
    • The Ride will operate on a regular weekday schedule with extended hours until 2:30 a.m.
     
    Here are the important points for New Year's Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2014
    • The Silver, Red, Orange, Blue, and Green lines will run on Sunday Schedule
    • Some Commuter Rail lines will run on a Sunday schedule. Fairmount, Greenbush, Kingston/Plymouth, and Needham will not operate.
    • Buses will run on a Sunday schedule with a long list of buses not operating. Check those here.
    • Boats will not operate
    • The RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
    For more information call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © iStockphoto 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Christmas Cheer to All from BostonZest

    -holiday-wreath-

    Wishing you the happiest of holidays with a beautiful wreath designed by the Garden Club of the Back Bay volunteers. 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Christmas Cheer to All from BostonZest

    -holiday-wreath-

    Wishing you the happiest of holidays with a beautiful wreath designed by the Garden Club of the Back Bay volunteers. 

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Blogs as a New Form of “Grandma’s Cookbook”

    It's that time of year, when we all become nostalgic for the foods that are a part of our childhood holiday memories. If you're like me, you have a file of fading, stained, but treasured recipes from your past. 

     -recipe-file-old-grease-stained-recipe-cards-

    Earlier this year, I ran across a very interesting online comment from the author of Taste the Rainbow. She explained that her blog was a way of "…passing down years of recipes to my family." 

    It's a great idea. In the past, I've turned to sites that have traditional versions of recipes in order to recreate the flavors of some of my favorite Rhode Island foods like clam cakes & chowder, clear clam chowder, or journey cakes.

    -recipe-file-old-community-family-cookbooks-

    I have some recipe books that were created by family and friends that did the same thing a decade ago. I want to make more of those foods I remember from another time. And, I'll try to resist making too many changes to "improve them." 

    -recipe-file-old-grease-stained-recipe-cards- (1)

    Do you or your family use a blog to collect and share family recipes? Or, have you found a blog that does a great job of sharing the food that you remember from your part of the country or culture? If you do, send us an email and some of those could become BostonZest Friday Links in 2014.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Clear, Rhode Island Clam Chowder: Updated from the Archives with Recipe Links
    Vegetable Literacy Is Our Friday Link
    Two Takes on Dressing for 23 Degrees in Boston

  • Blogs as a New Form of “Grandma’s Cookbook”

    It's that time of year, when we all become nostalgic for the foods that are a part of our childhood holiday memories. If you're like me, you have a file of fading, stained, but treasured recipes from your past. 

     -recipe-file-old-grease-stained-recipe-cards-

    Earlier this year, I ran across a very interesting online comment from the author of Taste the Rainbow. She explained that her blog was a way of "…passing down years of recipes to my family." 

    It's a great idea. In the past, I've turned to sites that have traditional versions of recipes in order to recreate the flavors of some of my favorite Rhode Island foods like clam cakes & chowder, clear clam chowder, or journey cakes.

    -recipe-file-old-community-family-cookbooks-

    I have some recipe books that were created by family and friends that did the same thing a decade ago. I want to make more of those foods I remember from another time. And, I'll try to resist making too many changes to "improve them." 

    -recipe-file-old-grease-stained-recipe-cards- (1)

    Do you or your family use a blog to collect and share family recipes? Or, have you found a blog that does a great job of sharing the food that you remember from your part of the country or culture? If you do, send us an email and some of those could become BostonZest Friday Links in 2014.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Clear, Rhode Island Clam Chowder: Updated from the Archives with Recipe Links
    Vegetable Literacy Is Our Friday Link
    Two Takes on Dressing for 23 Degrees in Boston

  • December 23rd Celebration: Night of the Radishes

    Did you know that December 23rd is Noche de Rábanos or Night of the Radishes in some regions of Mexico? It's a time of celebration with displays of elaborately carved radishes. 

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    Photo by Travis S.

    Yes, this photo shows some of the little ones we know and love, but the main sculpture is made from giant radishes (they can be more than 6 pounds) grown for this purpose. More photos of fabulous carvings here.

    I remember carving radishes into roses and pointy floral designs to decorate cold cut trays for my parents holiday parties. I remember discovering the trick of cutting petals all around and then dropping the radishes into ice water so the petals would swell and open like a flower.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e891d25a7970d-800wi

    We might have forgotten this holiday except that over the years our original discovery of this holiday and a post we did on carving radishes keep popping up this week in the list of favorite pages of BostonZest readers.

    For more about radishes in general, here's a post, "Radishes, Fireball to French Breakfast!," with more information about this sunny, snappy veggie. 

    It's fun to learn about other cultures and how they celebrate. We'll soon be out looking at the ice carvings around Boston. Have you ever adopted a cultural event just because it appealed to you?

    Here is every tool you might ever need to carve radishes or any other vegetable. Or, how about whittling? That just takes a pen knife or here's a kit with everything you need.

    International Culinary Carving Set 80 Piece, Wood Case

     

     

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: by Travis S. Used under creative commons license. Here's his photostream on this topic.

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.