Category: Boston:101

We Love June in Boston!

June is often the most gentle and gracious time of year in Boston. I really enjoy being here this month. This valentine to June in our adopted hometown was inspired by a conversation over on Trip Advisor. The crew there were collecting things that were happening during the month. My two cents worth was to let everyone know why Ed and I think June in Boston is so special.

Most of the graduations are over. Just UMass Boston on June 1st and MIT on the 8th remain. Then, the locals and smartest of visitors have the city to themselves.

The greenery is glowing. The city seems to take a deep breath and relax. There is just something special about this lull before the July 4th activity that makes it a sweeter place.

It's a month to picnic and sit and read by the river. The weather is often the most comfortable of the year. Don't get me wrong. I love the rest of the year too, but June is special.

What's on your June fun-in-Boston shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 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.

May 31, 2012
UBER: On-Call Car Service in Boston

This year, we added one more option to our car-free lifestyle. UBER offered a discounted $40 introductory package on Gilt City Boston and we bought it. Since then, we've treated ourselves to a few UBER rides and are ready to recommend it to you at today's Friday Link.

Test Drives!

Our first trip was to the preview opening of the Gardner Museum. It seemed like a festive event and our schedule for the day was heavy, so to enjoy more time exploring the museum, we decided to take a ride there and then on to our next destination.

We used the UBER iPhone app to request a car. We watched the app as the photo of the driver who had accepted our request popped up, then followed his movement on a map as he approached from about seven minutes away. Unlike a taxi, we knew where he was and that he was really on his way to our location. When he arrived out front, he called to let us know.

We enjoyed a couple of hours exploring the new and old spaces at the Gardner, had a meal at Cafe G, and then pulled up the UBER app and requested a ride to our next destination. This time, our driver hit some traffic and called to say he'd be a few minutes longer. He arrived, quicker than expected, and called to tell us he was in front of the door.

Another evening, we tested the service on a rain-soaked trip through rush hour and baseball traffic to an event in the Fenway area. Each time, we've been happy that we were in the care of a completely professional, attentive driver whose only concern was making our day a bit better and getting us calmly and safely to our destination.

Last week we found a perfect use of UBER– a pick up from a medical procedure. For Penny, it was an appointment at Mass Eye and Ear that left her dilated eyes half-blind in the blazing sun. Rather than fumble around trying to find a cab, she called UBER. Her driver, Sal arrived in minutes, handed her into his clean, comfortable car, found a way out of the traffic jam surrounding the hospital area, and even offered to assist her into our building.

For Us, It's Worth the Price!

Yes, UBER costs a bit more than a taxi. But, it costs less than a scheduled car service for trips like these. The cars are clean, the drivers professional, and we enjoy the difference.

Since we don't own a car and usually walk, take the MBTA, use Zipcars, or rentals, UBER fits nicely into our transportation scheme. We look forward to using UBER in the other cities, like New York, where it's also available.

DISCOUNTS!!

This UBER link will give you a $10 credit to get you started and they will also send a reward our way.

And, if you click on the Zipcar box over to the left, you can get a driving credit to start you off when you join and we'll also have some Zip added to our account.

What's on your fun-in-Boston shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 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.

May 25, 2012
What’s Open on Memorial Day 2012 in Boston & MBTA Schedule Changes
UPDATE: Here's a link to our latest post on "What's Open and Closed on Memorial Day in Boston + MBTA Schedules, Parking, Trash & More"

Here's a run-down of what's open and what's closed in Boston and the MBTA schedules for Memorial Day–Monday, May 28, 2012.

We publish these reminders a couple of weeks before a holiday to give our readers a nudge to finalize their holiday plans. This is the first big weekend of the summer. Get going on some fun plans! And, plan your shopping for adult beverages because this is one of those Blue Law holidays!

Out on or along the Charles River is a great place to spend a holiday!

Restaurants, bars: Open

Convenience stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

Liquor stores: Closed (See this page from the Secretary of State)

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 both Banks and the stock markets in the U.S. closed. Some international markets are open.

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

Street Sweeping: The city site says: "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

More information after this ad

Save storage space with these collapsible coolers. Perfect for small city homes. We have an older version of the Arctic Zone 30 model, and it's amazing at keeping things chilled. We not only use it for picnics but also grab it to go grocery shopping.

Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works covering May 28, 2012 states:

"Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.

*If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

MBTA Schedule Changes: Here is their press release as of 05/16/12. Note the Special Commuter Rail trains operating for a special event at Gillette Stadium.

"The MBTA announced its service schedule for Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012.
- The Red, Orange, Blue, and Green Lines will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Buses and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Express bus service will not operate.
- The Silver Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- The Commuter Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule.
- Special event Commuter Rail trains will be operating to Gillette Stadium for the 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship. For more information, click here.
- Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown to Long Wharf will operate on a weekend schedule.
- Commuter boat service between Hingham/Hull and Boston will not operate.
- Quincy commuter boat to Long Wharf and Logan Airport will operate on a Sunday schedule. Due to the Sunday schedule, there will not be a 10:15 P.M. trip made on Monday, May 28, 2012.
- THE RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule."
For more information:
Go to www.MBTA.com Contact the MBTA Customer Communications Department at (617) 222-3200, TTY: (617) 222-5146.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo:© 2010 Penny Cherubino
May 16, 2012
Wine Doggie Bags: Bring the Rest of That Bottle Home

We took home our first 'Doggie Bag" of wine recently. Achieving one of our BostonZest milestones gave us a reason to enjoy a small celebration. So, we treated ourselves to an Uber ride to Hamersley's Bistro and instead of a glass of sparkling wine, we decided to share a bottle of an old favorite, Argyle Brut, over a long lazy meal.

Alas, as much as we were enjoying the food and the good company at the bar, the early, early start to the day caught up with us and we realized we were only going to make it through two courses. Finishing the bottle was also going to be out of the question.

So, we asked our bartender, Mark, to bag it up for us to take home. He laughingly suggested that we blog about it. But, he added a serious note that he is always happy to bag a bottle and have his customers drive home safely.

As with every aspect of the service at Hamersley's, this task was performed in a completely professional manner. Mark found a cork that fit the bottle snuggly, sealed it in one of the bags that the state requires, printed and attached a copy of the receipt for the wine and the meal we had with it, and put it into a take out carry bag along with part of the remainder of Penny's chicken entre.

There are a few rules you have to follow in order to take the remainder of a bottle of wine with you from a restaurant. Since regulations do change over time, here's a link to the state's The Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission regulations on the topic.

Getting comfortable with asking for a wine doggie bag opens the whole wine list as a regular option. If you see an old favorite, a great value, a hard to find wine, or your server has a great suggestion, you can try it without feeling you have to finish the bottle.

Wines by the glass are wonderful and many places work hard to make those choices exciting and a good match for their food. But, those same places put a lot of work into the rest of the wine list and usually have some real treasures by the bottle.

Driving wasn't an issue for us. We clicked on our Uber app and another limo arrived quickly to drive us home. We'll tell you more about this new twist on car service soon. In the meanwhile, click on this UBER link, for a discount on your first ride and to send a few Uber miles our way too.

Love wine? Join our Our Sparkling Resolution

Check Out: Our Wine List

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here's, The Food Lover's Guide to Wine– the latest addition to our wine reference shelf. Here's our review of this book.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

May 3, 2012
Jazz Week 2012, April 27 to May 6: Our Friday Link

The sound of Jazz will be in the air around Greater Boston for the next ten days as we celebrate Jazz Week 2012. In addition to many ticketed events, you'll find lots of opportunites to enjoy free or low cost events.

Boston resident and Jazz musican David Bond on sax (above) says, “Boston is such a vibrant community because of the students, and because of the concerts, and Jazz Week is a perfect way of promoting it."

JazzBoston says, "In observance of UNESCO's November 10 decision to proclaim April 30 of each year as International Jazz Day, JazzBoston has adopted an international theme for its 6th annual presentation of Jazz Week throughout the Greater Boston area this spring. For 10 days from April 27 to May 6, Jazz Week '12 International will put the spotlight on the cultural diversity that gives the Greater Boston jazz scene its unique flavor. Hundreds of talented musicians, both home grown and from around the world, will perform in over 90 venues in and around the city, and special cross-cultural collaborations will highlight the power of jazz to create unity from diversity."

What's on your Jazz shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: courtesy of David Bond
Screen Shot: courtesy of JazzBoston

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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

April 27, 2012
Artu’s Roasted Lamb & Eggplant Sandwich: A Boston Essential

The "Agnello Arrosto" or rotisserie leg of lamb with marinated eggplant sandwich at Artu in the North End and on Beacon Hill is one of those menu items that you really should try if you want to understand the range of Boston food options.

"Agnello Arrosto" or rotisserie leg of lamb with marinated eggplant sandwich at Artu

After some sandwich chatter on Chowhound, we stopped by the bar at Artu on Prince Street and ordered this Boston classic. It's one of those old favorites that slipped off our mental menu list.

This side of the sandwich showed the lamb better.

This experience gave us the idea of changing our Food: Best Bites category to Food: Best Bites & Boston Essentials. We'll be covering more area classics, like this, in the months ahead. It will give us a perfect excuse to forgo the new and visit old favorites.

If you are new to Artu, you should know that they have a reputation for making customers happy by letting them customize their food when possible. The Chowhounds have added things like provolone, roasted pepper, and broccoli rabe to their Artu selections.

What you get if you go for the straight-off-the-menu version is a soft grinder-style roll, filled with a pile of thinly sliced lamb off the rotisserie, moistened with a bit of au jus, and covered with strips of slightly spicy, marinated eggplant.

Add a nice big pour of a Primitivo or Chianti and you have a great meal.

Related posts: More of our Food: Best Bites & Boston Essentials.

What's on your Amazon shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Artu (North End)

6 Prince Street, Boston, MA 02113 (map & reviews)

(617) 742-4336

Artu (Beacon Hill)

89 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114 (map & reviews)

(617) 227-9023

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We reserve the right to edit ads out of comments.

April 25, 2012
Mei Mei Street Kitchen: Food Truck Tracking

As these rolling restaurants expand their reach and numbers throughout the Boston area, we’re Food Truck Tracking– here's a profile of one of the newest additions to the food truck scene. -The BostonZest Team!

Name: Mei Mei Street Kitchen

Do you want to be the first kid on the block to try a new food truck? We do, so we were on hand for their first lunch service! Tell us what you think when you try the food from this team.

Truck Description: Bright White Truck with Yellow and Blue Graphics

Founding Team: Mei, Andy & Irene Li. (click on a photo for a larger version)

What’s on the Menu: They call it, "…Creative Chinese-American cuisine made from locally sourced, sustainable ingredients."

Drinks: Bottled water or Crimson Berry Iced Tea

Known for/must try/signature dish: It's early days, but we're betting they will have a problem taking the Beef and Cheese Dumplings w/soy-vinegar sauce off the menu. We returned for seconds.

They say: "We pride ourselves on serving humanely raised meat and some of the most creatively delicious street food out there. Handmade braised beef dumplings with red wine and cheese, yes please! Mac & cheese with Chinese spiced pork, enough said. Steamed pork belly bun with crispy crackling, seasonal pickles, sesame chili aioli and local apple hoisin sauce? Yup, we’ll treat you right. "

Nice Touch: They'll try to have something vegetarian on the menu every day. We noticed their careful attention to the needs of those with restricted diets. The counter has liquid sweetener to mix into your iced tea. And, there's a big bottle of Sriracha for those who want a bit more heat.

Philosophy/Mission: "Grow well, eat well, be well: It’s what we want for ourselves, our family, our business, and our guests." Here's what they are doing to back up these words.

History: They tell us, "We’ve taken food we have eaten and loved as children in the past, added modern elements and experiences of the present, and also incorporated practices that fit with our vision of how to do business for a sustainable future. With Andy’s many years in fine dining management, Mei’s experience as a successful entrepreneur and MBA, Irene’s time living on a farm and working as a line chef and our combined love of good times and great eats, we have crafted a deeply personal venture that we hope you’ll enjoy as much as we do."

Here's Steve Leibowitz ready to order another round.

Regulars say: We ran into Steve Leibowitz from www.hubfoodtrucks.com who works at Northeastern and was all smiles after his first Mei Mei meal. "I think it's fantastic!" he said. "I had the Beef & Cheese Dumplings and they were great." A friend of his, who had the same thing, offered the perfect description, "It’s like prime rib in a dumpling!”

And, a customer named Lisa went up to the truck and ordered, "One of Everything!"

Did you know? "Mei Mei" is Chinese for "little sister" and the founders are Andy and his Mei Meis.

They were treating customers to some wonderful French green tea macarons.

Order and Pick up routine: Step up near the back of the truck, next to the menu board, to order and pay. Pick up is on the other side of the window near the front door. They'll call your name when your food is ready.

Payment: Cash, Major Credit Cards, and LevelUp

Website: www.meimeiboston.com

Twitter: @meimeifoodtruck

Facebook: Meimeisk

Pinterest: Mei Mei Street Kitchen

Since the city food truck schedule is not up-to-date, right now, here's where to find Mei Mei!

For more of our Food Truck/Street Food coverage: click here. Or, anytime you visit BostonZest, you can click on the Food Truck/Street Food tab at the top of the page.

Link: Boston Food Truck Location Map

What's on your environmentally responsible shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

April 23, 2012
Thanks to Faithful Trustees

In big ways and small they preserve our heritage by caring for historic properties.

"These old buildings do not belong to us only, they belong to our forefathers and they will belong to our descendants unless we play them false. They are not in any sense our own property to do with as we like with them. We are only trustees for those that come after us." William Morris

What's on your Boston historic tour shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

April 21, 2012
Edible Boston Spring 2012 Issue

Have you picked up your copy of the Spring 2012 Issue of Edible Boston yet?

I look forward to each new issue of this quarterly collection of great writing, wonderful photography, locavore lessons, and down-to-earth philosophy. I learn something from every article.

This time, publisher Ilene Bezahler and her team have shined their spotlight on those who produce our local food and on those who want to be our next generation of farmers but need the land to do it.

Describing this issue, Ilene says, "… you will read about a young generation who wants to farm, wants to help provide us with local produce but are struggling with how to afford to do it. And about dairy farmers who are committed to keeping their farms full service dairies in their families’ tradition."

You can also read the magazine at their website. If you do that, I suggest you filp through the full print edition so you will see one of the tastiest group of advertisers around. Please support these people who make it possible for us to have this great publication.

We are a small local business too. So, if you do have to shop for something online, remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Screenshot: Courtesy of Edible Boston

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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

April 20, 2012
Financial District, Milk & Kilby: Where to Find Food Trucks

As these rolling restaurants expand their reach and numbers throughout the Boston area, we’re Food Truck Tracking– checking out some of their favorite nesting spots, and what you’ll find when you get there. -The BostonZest Team!

Financial District, Milk & Kilby

Location: Walk across the street to the traffic island at the intersection of Milk & Kilby and order up. (map)

MBTA LINK: Close to State Street, Downtown Crossing, and Aquarium T-Stops.

More info @ Boston Food Truck Schedule

How many trucks? One or two-at-a-time are scheduled here with different trucks on different days and each day of the week. This spot has trucks Tuesdays through Fridays.

Who's scheduled here? Go Fish!, Cupcakory, Momogoose, Roxy's Grilled Cheese, Kick**s Cupcakes, Froyo Truck, Redbones Barbeque, Bon Me

What we had: Fish & Chips, Miso Seared Salmon Rice Paper Wrap with ginger/wasabi dressed Asian Greens, Radish and sesame shiitake mushrooms and lemonade from Go Fish. For dessert, we shared a Lemon and a Salted Caramel Cupcake from the Cupcakory.

Update: Go Fish is no longer servign up food on the Boston Streets.

Hours and dates: No mornings here. This spot has trucks Tuesdays through Fridays.

Tips: Figure out what side of the hulking advertising sign is the order line and which is the waiting-for-pick up line. We almost cut the line by mistake because we approached from the wrong side.

Where to Eat: The wonderful Norman B. Leventhal Park at Post Office Square is just a block away. As the weather warms, they'll have cushions and books you can borrow at lunch time. And, 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM, June through August they have a summer music program. There's even free WIFI if you want to surf while you eat.

Three blocks to the East is the Greenway with benchs and some tables and chairs. Beyond that is the HarborWalk.

Where to eat inside! The nearest spot on cold or rainy days is South Station, about half a mile from these trucks.

Restrooms: South Station. And, you can always use Universal Hub's Guide to Boston Restrooms to add a few other places if you know of them.

Bonus points for: Making the best use yet of an unattractive traffic island. Now, if one of the nearby businesses whose employees enjoy this food truck spot would add a bit of greenery and maybe a couple of tables, this could be a pocket park!

For more of our Food Truck/Street Food coverage: click here. Or, anytime you visit BostonZest you can click on the "Food Truck/Street Food" tab at the top of the page.

Link: Boston Food Truck Location Map

Did you know you can buy groceries from Amazon? Have them ship what you need and have more time to check out food trucks.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Ed & Penny 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We reserve the right to edit ads out of comments.

April 17, 2012