bostonzest

Category: Events

  • Fenway Studios 2016 Open Studios Is This Weekend, November 12th & 13th

    You are invited behind these historic doors this weekend to visit a fabulous example of purpose-built architecture and a fascinating community of artists that make up Fenway Studios.

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    It is an event we look forward to each year. Rather than trying to visit each floor and each artist, we try to spend some quality time with just a few and then a few different artists the next year.

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    Here is a list of the artists who will be taking part in this year's event. And, with the event coming just before Thanksgiving, this community is asking visitors to help the larger community. They say, 

    "The Open Studios committee also uses this event as an opportunity to solicit donations to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Visitors are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, which the artists then deliver to GBFB. 
    Click here to find out more about the GBFB’s most needed items."

     

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Where to Dine Out on Thanksgiving in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page

    It's time to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal at one of the Boston area's great restaurants on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

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    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    We feature these holiday reservation reminders early so our readers can get a head start and grab a reservation at a worthy spot. We'll keep adding updates as more places announce their intentions to open and menus.

    Boston Area Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this means some excellent choices including:

    Master Lists of Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

    The reservation site Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Here are a few places we recommend:

    • La Voile on Newbury Street always plans a special meal for the neighbors who love this small French charmer.
    • Bistro du Midi always serves a wonderful meal. And, if you want lighter fare, their Café will be open at 11 a.m.
    • A lower cost option with very good food would be Petit Robert on Columbus Avenue in the South End. ( In addition to holiday fare, they are also offering their full menu .)
    • Chef Jackie Robert will also be offering a value menu at his Ma Maison on Cambridge Street in Beacon Hill.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you're meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few options we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu:

    • Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square will be open all day starting with breakfast and will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 1-8 p.m.
    • L'Espalier in the Back Bay will showcase the harvest from Chef McClelland's Apple Street Farm and will offer a three-course prix fixe menu or, for a special holiday treat, a degustation menu.
    • Fairsted Kitchen in Brookline is offering family style meal packages serving 2-8 or more people and these may be reserved for dining in or to go.
    • Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge
    • Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay comes with a view which can sometimes come in handy when you are looking for topics of conversation!

    Boston Chefs also has a listing for Thanksgiving Feasts To Go.

    A Few Places with Their Regular Menus Available

    Many restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be open. You can check the Twitter account @bostonchinatown for more details. 

    Some chain restaurants will also offer their regular menus. But we urge you to consider celebrating with local restaurants or at least local chains with good food like Davio's in Boston and Chestnut Hill when you make each dining decision. 

    We'll post updates in this space as other Boston resources post their lists and choices. 

    Update 11/12/16 Eater Boston has set up their map of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. We're sure Rachel Leah Blumenthal will do her usual great job of keeping this growing list updated.

    Update 11/14/16 Boston Magazine has its recommendations.

     

     Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

  • Where to Dine Out on Thanksgiving in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page

    It's time to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal at one of the Boston area's great restaurants on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019b0095cbcf970c-500wi

    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    We feature these holiday reservation reminders early so our readers can get a head start and grab a reservation at a worthy spot. We'll keep adding updates as more places announce their intentions to open and menus.

    Boston Area Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this means some excellent choices including:

    Master Lists of Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

    The reservation site Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Here are a few places we recommend:

    • La Voile on Newbury Street always plans a special meal for the neighbors who love this small French charmer.
    • Bistro du Midi always serves a wonderful meal. And, if you want lighter fare, their Café will be open at 11 a.m.
    • A lower cost option with very good food would be Petit Robert on Columbus Avenue in the South End. ( In addition to holiday fare, they are also offering their full menu .)
    • Chef Jackie Robert will also be offering a value menu at his Ma Maison on Cambridge Street in Beacon Hill.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you're meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few options we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu:

    • Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square will be open all day starting with breakfast and will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 1-8 p.m.
    • L'Espalier in the Back Bay will showcase the harvest from Chef McClelland's Apple Street Farm and will offer a three-course prix fixe menu or, for a special holiday treat, a degustation menu.
    • Fairsted Kitchen in Brookline is offering family style meal packages serving 2-8 or more people and these may be reserved for dining in or to go.
    • Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge
    • Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay comes with a view which can sometimes come in handy when you are looking for topics of conversation!

    Boston Chefs also has a listing for Thanksgiving Feasts To Go.

    A Few Places with Their Regular Menus Available

    Many restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be open. You can check the Twitter account @bostonchinatown for more details. 

    Some chain restaurants will also offer their regular menus. But we urge you to consider celebrating with local restaurants or at least local chains with good food like Davio's in Boston and Chestnut Hill when you make each dining decision. 

    We'll post updates in this space as other Boston resources post their lists and choices. 

    Update 11/12/16 Eater Boston has set up their map of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. We're sure Rachel Leah Blumenthal will do her usual great job of keeping this growing list updated.

    Update 11/14/16 Boston Magazine has its recommendations.

     

     Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

  • Marlborough Street Jack-O-Lanterns Ready for Halloween: Today In Boston!

    Here are a few of the interesting Jack-O-Lanterns waiting for Halloween celebrants along Marlborough Street in the Back Bay. Remember, part of this street and other streets around the city will be closed to traffic tonight! Details here.

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    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    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: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Back Bay Houses (.Org) Expands and Wins a Preservation Award.
    Halloween Humor at 5 Commonwealth Avenue: Today In Boston! – BostonZest

  • Marlborough Street Jack-O-Lanterns Ready for Halloween: Today In Boston!

    Here are a few of the interesting Jack-O-Lanterns waiting for Halloween celebrants along Marlborough Street in the Back Bay. Remember, part of this street and other streets around the city will be closed to traffic tonight! Details here.

    IMG_0796

    IMG_0829

    IMG_0824

    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    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: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Back Bay Houses (.Org) Expands and Wins a Preservation Award.
    Halloween Humor at 5 Commonwealth Avenue: Today In Boston! – BostonZest

  • Scarier by the Day, Halloween Decor at 130 Commonwealth Avenue: Today In Boston!

    Each day a bit more Halloween fright has been added to this front yard at 130 Commonwealth Avenue.

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    "But I love Halloween, and I love that feeling: the cold air, the spooky dangers lurking around the corner." Evan Peters

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    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    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: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Roses for Sarmiento

  • Veterans Day: What’s Open or Closed in Boston Plus MBTA, Trash & Parking Info for 2017

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Veterans Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules. This resource page has been updated for this year, Saturday, November 11, 2017. 

    * PLEASE NOTE the City Says: "Friday, November 10 - Veterans Day
    City offices closed. Sunday parking rules in effect. BCYF Community Centers are closed. Boston Public Libraries are open, but will close on Saturday, November 11."

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    (Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library) Photo created: 1877 – 1900 (approximate)

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open

    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.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with most Banks closed. But we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open, so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    Boston Parking: The City says, "On Sundays, City holidays, and observed holiday dates, you can park for free, but all other parking regulations are still enforced."

    Street Sweeping: The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Boston Trash Collection:

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

    MBTA Veterans Day 2017 Schedule has not been published: It may be that, with the new improved website, the holiday summary updates the MBTA has made available in the past will no longer be done. 

    This year November 11th falls on a Saturday. We can guess few things about the schedule. From the printed schedules we were able to access on the new site, it looks like the Subways will run on a Saturday schedule. 

    We checked a number of Bus schedules and those that included holiday information were running on a Saturday Schedule.

    Commuter Rail schedules do not include any mention of Veterans Day and refer you to the website which does not have any Veterans Day information.

    Ferry schedules do not mention Veterans Day.

    The Ride information no longer mentions holidays.

    For additional information on routes, schedules, fares, and more, the MBTA says, "Please call (617) 222-3200 for support, or for our Deaf or Hard of Hearing: customers TTY (617) 222-5146 …" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information for Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12:00 p.m., or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Used under creative commons license

  • Veterans Day: What’s Open or Closed in Boston Plus MBTA, Trash & Parking Info for 2017

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Veterans Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules. This resource page has been updated for this year, Saturday, November 11, 2017. 

    * PLEASE NOTE the City Says: "Friday, November 10 - Veterans Day
    City offices closed. Sunday parking rules in effect. BCYF Community Centers are closed. Boston Public Libraries are open, but will close on Saturday, November 11."

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019b005fae72970d-500wi

    (Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library) Photo created: 1877 – 1900 (approximate)

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    Restaurants, bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

    Liquor stores: Open

    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.

    Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with most Banks closed. But we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open, so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    Boston Parking: The City says, "On Sundays, City holidays, and observed holiday dates, you can park for free, but all other parking regulations are still enforced."

    Street Sweeping: The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Boston Trash Collection:

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

    MBTA Veterans Day 2017 Schedule has not been published: It may be that, with the new improved website, the holiday summary updates the MBTA has made available in the past will no longer be done. 

    This year November 11th falls on a Saturday. We can guess few things about the schedule. From the printed schedules we were able to access on the new site, it looks like the Subways will run on a Saturday schedule. 

    We checked a number of Bus schedules and those that included holiday information were running on a Saturday Schedule.

    Commuter Rail schedules do not include any mention of Veterans Day and refer you to the website which does not have any Veterans Day information.

    Ferry schedules do not mention Veterans Day.

    The Ride information no longer mentions holidays.

    For additional information on routes, schedules, fares, and more, the MBTA says, "Please call (617) 222-3200 for support, or for our Deaf or Hard of Hearing: customers TTY (617) 222-5146 …" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information for Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12:00 p.m., or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Used under creative commons license

  • Halloween Humor at 5 Commonwealth Avenue: Today In Boston!

    Over the next few days, we're going to point out some of the great Halloween decorations in our area. Today's spotlight is just steps from the Public Garden at 5 Commonwealth Avenue.

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    "Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative." Judy Gold

    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    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: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Roses for Sarmiento
    Sunday Is Leif Erikson Day, Discover his Boston Statue!
    Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend

  • Halloween Humor at 5 Commonwealth Avenue: Today In Boston!

    Over the next few days, we're going to point out some of the great Halloween decorations in our area. Today's spotlight is just steps from the Public Garden at 5 Commonwealth Avenue.

    CHE_1876

    CHE_1594

     

    CHE_1602

    "Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative." Judy Gold

    About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.

    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: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Roses for Sarmiento
    Sunday Is Leif Erikson Day, Discover his Boston Statue!
    Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend