Category: Boston:101

Boston Resident Parking Permits for Rental Cars Available Online

Once upon a time (just a short time ago), you had to go to city hall to obtain a resident parking permit for a rental car. We learned that you can now apply and get a permit online so we tried it for our recent Provincetown trip. If you don't own a car, like us, and plan a few fall weekends away, this new service may come in handy.

We rented this Passat with New Jersey plates. Once we had the car, we went online to the city's page for "Resident Parking Permits for Rental Cars," read the instructions, filled out the form, faxed a copy of our rental contract, proof of residencey (our cable bill), and the confirmation of our application to the city. They emailed a copy of our permit which we printed and put in the car's rear window.

Better, But Can Be Improved

This is much easier but still way behind the times. You should be able to carry out the entire process by email. You can grab a pdf of a cable, utility, or tax bill. The rental company probably sent you a copy of the rental via text or email. And, the city should be able to accept those forms via email.

What's more, they should be able to handle a simple transaction like this 24/7. We applied on a Saturday morning and had to wait until Monday to get our permit. That left us vunerable to parking tickets and ticked off neighbords over the weekend. Our solution was to leave a rear window note – explaining that the car was a rental belonging to a resident – along with a copy of our confirmation of applying for the permit.

If the mayor's hot line can operate 24/7 so can many more city services.

The city says,

"At this time, the new system is not available weekends and residents who pick up their vehicles after 3 PM will not be able to go online for a temporary permit.

These residents are eligible to have "Resident Parking Only" tickets cancelled by forwarding a proof of residency at their Boston address and a copy of the vehicle rental agreement to the Office of the Parking Clerk."

Thanks to everyone who hops 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.

What's on your Fall Shopping List? Click here for Fall Season Savings over at Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 BostonZest

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.

September 27, 2013
Boston Resident Parking Permits for Rental Cars Available Online

Once upon a time (just a short time ago), you had to go to city hall to obtain a resident parking permit for a rental car. We learned that you can now apply and get a permit online so we tried it for our recent Provincetown trip. If you don't own a car, like us, and plan a few fall weekends away, this new service may come in handy.

We rented this Passat with New Jersey plates. Once we had the car, we went online to the city's page for "Resident Parking Permits for Rental Cars," read the instructions, filled out the form, faxed a copy of our rental contract, proof of residencey (our cable bill), and the confirmation of our application to the city. They emailed a copy of our permit which we printed and put in the car's rear window.

Better, But Can Be Improved

This is much easier but still way behind the times. You should be able to carry out the entire process by email. You can grab a pdf of a cable, utility, or tax bill. The rental company probably sent you a copy of the rental via text or email. And, the city should be able to accept those forms via email.

What's more, they should be able to handle a simple transaction like this 24/7. We applied on a Saturday morning and had to wait until Monday to get our permit. That left us vunerable to parking tickets and ticked off neighbords over the weekend. Our solution was to leave a rear window note – explaining that the car was a rental belonging to a resident – along with a copy of our confirmation of applying for the permit.

If the mayor's hot line can operate 24/7 so can many more city services.

The city says,

"At this time, the new system is not available weekends and residents who pick up their vehicles after 3 PM will not be able to go online for a temporary permit.

These residents are eligible to have "Resident Parking Only" tickets cancelled by forwarding a proof of residency at their Boston address and a copy of the vehicle rental agreement to the Office of the Parking Clerk."

Thanks to everyone who hops 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.

What's on your Fall Shopping List? Click here for Fall Season Savings over at Amazon.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 BostonZest

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.

September 27, 2013
Where to Park and Dine Around Symphony Hall 2013 Edition
Readers and friends who have tickets for the Pops or Boston Symphony Orchestra always ask us, "Where can we dine around Symphony Hall?" And, once the conversation is open, it's followed by, "Where can we park?"

Please add your favorite spots for dining and parking around this area in the comments below. And, if you try one of our suggestions, let us know how it worked for you.

(Postcard image circa 1901-1907 from the Boston Public Library Collection.)

Here's our primer for a great visit to the BSO or Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

We say, make dining and parking a joint decision. Our first suggestion is always to leave the car at home or at a park & ride and take the MBTA to the concert.

But, if you must have a car at hand, the Prudential Center is our favorite parking place to recommend in the city. It has its own exit off the Mass Pike. It's connected to mass transit, has taxis available at the doors, and there's a great choice of dining options within the complex. And, best of all, Google estimates that Symphony Hall is a 6-minute walk down Huntington Avenue. (map )

Update 04.09.14: When this topic was discussed over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, regular contributor Ting clued us in on the special Prudential Center parking discount for those attending Symphony Hall, Berklee, Huntington Theater, Jordan Hall,and other events. Details here.

Prudential Options

If a splurge is on the menu, L'Espalier is the star of the show and has valet service. If a mini-splurge is more in line with your budget, reserve a seat in their Salon for a glass of wine and a bite before the concert, or dessert and a cheese course afterward. The restaurant is accessible from inside the Prudential Center via the Mandarin Hotel.

Woody's Grill & Tap

It's a six minute walk from Symphony to 58 Hemenway Street and Woody's Grill & Tap. It had been years since we'd been there but we wandered in recently with our friends Liz & Mick and enjoyed an excellent meal. The pizzas were as great as always but excellent appetizers and salads shined and will have us coming back often. Try the grilled asparagus!

Newbury Street

Park at the Pru and dine on Newbury Street. After dinner you can even walk to Symphony by reentering the Prudential Center and making part of your walk to the concert through their climate controlled corridors.

Since we walk all over the city, we would consider a few of the restaurants on Newbury close to symphony. La Voile is a great choice for French Bistro food.

And, we love to stop into Tapeo for a few tapas at the bar or a table full of choices to share with a group of friends.

Another Great Choice is Brasserie JO

We also recommend that concert goers consider a Boston gem that's often overlooked – Brasserie JO at The Colonnade Hotel. This place always comes through with French flair, great service, and a good meal. It's also a short walk on that same map, because it's across from the Prudential Center.

We love their bar to have a glass of wine and a light meal. And, after the concert, this is a wonderful place for a memorable dessert. They have a way with chocolate sauce!

(Waiting for unreserved seats for the Friday afternoon concert circa 1950 from the BPL collection)

Ethnic Options for less formal dining

If you want an ethnic meal or a quick bite before the show, we have a few favorites to recommend.
- Moby Dick – our friend Francine Crawford pointed us to this little gem. It's one of her favorite pre-concert spots.
- Pho Basil on Massachusetts Avenue does Thai and Vietnamese food and pleases us with both cuisines. Here's a post on some of the dishes we really enjoy at Pho Basil.
- Lucy Ethiopian Cafe is across the street from Symphony and is fun and delicious. But, give this choice a bit more time. The pace of this cafe's warm hospitality and made-to-order food is a bit slower than many places. They also have wonderful coffee and a selection of desserts for after the show.
- India Samraat on Massachusetts Avenue between Commonwealth and Marlborough is a bit further away but still within walking distance, especially if you park near Newbury Street. This is a restaurant we enjoy sharing with friends. (Update 04/09/14: sadly this favorite of ours has closed. We miss the food and the family.)
- Chili Duck, right across Boylston from the Pru, is a hidden gem and another great spot if you're meeting the gang.
- Symphony Sushi , (Update 09/22/13) reader Rob Marais (a long time member of the BostonZest community) added this to the list down in the comments section. " I'd also suggest Symphony Sushi around the corner from Huntington on Gainesborough St, it's solid sushi and a nice option for those looking for a light dinner before a Symphony Hall concert."
Other resources and opinions

"Where to dine for Symphony?" is a question routinely asked of the crew over on Chowhound's Boston board. Here are a couple of recent conversations with some options that we haven't tried yet.
Here are maps to help you find more options:

Other parking around Symphony Hall

Other restaurants around Symphony Hall

If this type of information is helpful to you, consider saying thank you by starting your next Amazon shopping trip from here. They have the things you want including Boston Pops and BSO music and a full line of MP3 Downloads.

Details:
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4557 (map)
(617) 266-2378

www.bso.org‎

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
September 20, 2013
Where to Park and Dine Around Symphony Hall 2013 Edition
Readers and friends who have tickets for the Pops or Boston Symphony Orchestra always ask us, "Where can we dine around Symphony Hall?" And, once the conversation is open, it's followed by, "Where can we park?"

Please add your favorite spots for dining and parking around this area in the comments below. And, if you try one of our suggestions, let us know how it worked for you.

(Postcard image circa 1901-1907 from the Boston Public Library Collection.)

Here's our primer for a great visit to the BSO or Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

We say, make dining and parking a joint decision. Our first suggestion is always to leave the car at home or at a park & ride and take the MBTA to the concert.

But, if you must have a car at hand, the Prudential Center is our favorite parking place to recommend in the city. It has its own exit off the Mass Pike. It's connected to mass transit, has taxis available at the doors, and there's a great choice of dining options within the complex. And, best of all, Google estimates that Symphony Hall is a 6-minute walk down Huntington Avenue. (map )

Update 04.09.14: When this topic was discussed over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, regular contributor Ting clued us in on the special Prudential Center parking discount for those attending Symphony Hall, Berklee, Huntington Theater, Jordan Hall,and other events. Details here.

Prudential Options

If a splurge is on the menu, L'Espalier is the star of the show and has valet service. If a mini-splurge is more in line with your budget, reserve a seat in their Salon for a glass of wine and a bite before the concert, or dessert and a cheese course afterward. The restaurant is accessible from inside the Prudential Center via the Mandarin Hotel.

Woody's Grill & Tap

It's a six minute walk from Symphony to 58 Hemenway Street and Woody's Grill & Tap. It had been years since we'd been there but we wandered in recently with our friends Liz & Mick and enjoyed an excellent meal. The pizzas were as great as always but excellent appetizers and salads shined and will have us coming back often. Try the grilled asparagus!

Newbury Street

Park at the Pru and dine on Newbury Street. After dinner you can even walk to Symphony by reentering the Prudential Center and making part of your walk to the concert through their climate controlled corridors.

Since we walk all over the city, we would consider a few of the restaurants on Newbury close to symphony. La Voile is a great choice for French Bistro food.

And, we love to stop into Tapeo for a few tapas at the bar or a table full of choices to share with a group of friends.

Another Great Choice is Brasserie JO

We also recommend that concert goers consider a Boston gem that's often overlooked – Brasserie JO at The Colonnade Hotel. This place always comes through with French flair, great service, and a good meal. It's also a short walk on that same map, because it's across from the Prudential Center.

We love their bar to have a glass of wine and a light meal. And, after the concert, this is a wonderful place for a memorable dessert. They have a way with chocolate sauce!

(Waiting for unreserved seats for the Friday afternoon concert circa 1950 from the BPL collection)

Ethnic Options for less formal dining

If you want an ethnic meal or a quick bite before the show, we have a few favorites to recommend.
- Moby Dick – our friend Francine Crawford pointed us to this little gem. It's one of her favorite pre-concert spots.
- Pho Basil on Massachusetts Avenue does Thai and Vietnamese food and pleases us with both cuisines. Here's a post on some of the dishes we really enjoy at Pho Basil.
- Lucy Ethiopian Cafe is across the street from Symphony and is fun and delicious. But, give this choice a bit more time. The pace of this cafe's warm hospitality and made-to-order food is a bit slower than many places. They also have wonderful coffee and a selection of desserts for after the show.
- India Samraat on Massachusetts Avenue between Commonwealth and Marlborough is a bit further away but still within walking distance, especially if you park near Newbury Street. This is a restaurant we enjoy sharing with friends. (Update 04/09/14: sadly this favorite of ours has closed. We miss the food and the family.)
- Chili Duck, right across Boylston from the Pru, is a hidden gem and another great spot if you're meeting the gang.
- Symphony Sushi , (Update 09/22/13) reader Rob Marais (a long time member of the BostonZest community) added this to the list down in the comments section. " I'd also suggest Symphony Sushi around the corner from Huntington on Gainesborough St, it's solid sushi and a nice option for those looking for a light dinner before a Symphony Hall concert."
Other resources and opinions

"Where to dine for Symphony?" is a question routinely asked of the crew over on Chowhound's Boston board. Here are a couple of recent conversations with some options that we haven't tried yet.
Here are maps to help you find more options:

Other parking around Symphony Hall

Other restaurants around Symphony Hall

If this type of information is helpful to you, consider saying thank you by starting your next Amazon shopping trip from here. They have the things you want including Boston Pops and BSO music and a full line of MP3 Downloads.

Details:
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4557 (map)
(617) 266-2378

www.bso.org‎

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
September 20, 2013
Where to Park and Dine Around Symphony Hall 2013 Edition
Readers and friends who have tickets for the Pops or Boston Symphony Orchestra always ask us, "Where can we dine around Symphony Hall?" And, once the conversation is open, it's followed by, "Where can we park?"

Please add your favorite spots for dining and parking around this area in the comments below. And, if you try one of our suggestions, let us know how it worked for you.

(Postcard image circa 1901-1907 from the Boston Public Library Collection.)

Here's our primer for a great visit to the BSO or Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

We say, make dining and parking a joint decision. Our first suggestion is always to leave the car at home or at a park & ride and take the MBTA to the concert.

But, if you must have a car at hand, the Prudential Center is our favorite parking place to recommend in the city. It has its own exit off the Mass Pike. It's connected to mass transit, has taxis available at the doors, and there's a great choice of dining options within the complex. And, best of all, Google estimates that Symphony Hall is a 6-minute walk down Huntington Avenue. (map )

Update 04.09.14: When this topic was discussed over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, regular contributor Ting clued us in on the special Prudential Center parking discount for those attending Symphony Hall, Berklee, Huntington Theater, Jordan Hall,and other events. Details here.

Prudential Options

If a splurge is on the menu, L'Espalier is the star of the show and has valet service. If a mini-splurge is more in line with your budget, reserve a seat in their Salon for a glass of wine and a bite before the concert, or dessert and a cheese course afterward. The restaurant is accessible from inside the Prudential Center via the Mandarin Hotel.

Woody's Grill & Tap

It's a six minute walk from Symphony to 58 Hemenway Street and Woody's Grill & Tap. It had been years since we'd been there but we wandered in recently with our friends Liz & Mick and enjoyed an excellent meal. The pizzas were as great as always but excellent appetizers and salads shined and will have us coming back often. Try the grilled asparagus!

Newbury Street

Park at the Pru and dine on Newbury Street. After dinner you can even walk to Symphony by reentering the Prudential Center and making part of your walk to the concert through their climate controlled corridors.

Since we walk all over the city, we would consider a few of the restaurants on Newbury close to symphony. La Voile is a great choice for French Bistro food.

And, we love to stop into Tapeo for a few tapas at the bar or a table full of choices to share with a group of friends.

Another Great Choice is Brasserie JO

We also recommend that concert goers consider a Boston gem that's often overlooked – Brasserie JO at The Colonnade Hotel. This place always comes through with French flair, great service, and a good meal. It's also a short walk on that same map, because it's across from the Prudential Center.

We love their bar to have a glass of wine and a light meal. And, after the concert, this is a wonderful place for a memorable dessert. They have a way with chocolate sauce!

(Waiting for unreserved seats for the Friday afternoon concert circa 1950 from the BPL collection)

Ethnic Options for less formal dining

If you want an ethnic meal or a quick bite before the show, we have a few favorites to recommend.
- Moby Dick – our friend Francine Crawford pointed us to this little gem. It's one of her favorite pre-concert spots.
- Pho Basil on Massachusetts Avenue does Thai and Vietnamese food and pleases us with both cuisines. Here's a post on some of the dishes we really enjoy at Pho Basil.
- Lucy Ethiopian Cafe is across the street from Symphony and is fun and delicious. But, give this choice a bit more time. The pace of this cafe's warm hospitality and made-to-order food is a bit slower than many places. They also have wonderful coffee and a selection of desserts for after the show.
- India Samraat on Massachusetts Avenue between Commonwealth and Marlborough is a bit further away but still within walking distance, especially if you park near Newbury Street. This is a restaurant we enjoy sharing with friends. (Update 04/09/14: sadly this favorite of ours has closed. We miss the food and the family.)
- Chili Duck, right across Boylston from the Pru, is a hidden gem and another great spot if you're meeting the gang.
- Symphony Sushi , (Update 09/22/13) reader Rob Marais (a long time member of the BostonZest community) added this to the list down in the comments section. " I'd also suggest Symphony Sushi around the corner from Huntington on Gainesborough St, it's solid sushi and a nice option for those looking for a light dinner before a Symphony Hall concert."
Other resources and opinions

"Where to dine for Symphony?" is a question routinely asked of the crew over on Chowhound's Boston board. Here are a couple of recent conversations with some options that we haven't tried yet.
Here are maps to help you find more options:

Other parking around Symphony Hall

Other restaurants around Symphony Hall

If this type of information is helpful to you, consider saying thank you by starting your next Amazon shopping trip from here. They have the things you want including Boston Pops and BSO music and a full line of MP3 Downloads.

Details:
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4557 (map)
(617) 266-2378

www.bso.org‎

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library
September 20, 2013
The Swan Boats Take Off to Winter Quarters

Last Sunday was the final day for Swan Boat rides around the Public Garden Lagoon. This week, the Paget family and their crew have been packing up these Boston treasures and transferring them to their winter quarters.

Here, the team packs up the benches. It looked like this truck would take the rest of the load. And, all of us will miss the lovely serene sight of the Swan Boats gliding through the park.

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: © 2013 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 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.

September 19, 2013
The Swan Boats Take Off to Winter Quarters

Last Sunday was the final day for Swan Boat rides around the Public Garden Lagoon. This week, the Paget family and their crew have been packing up these Boston treasures and transferring them to their winter quarters.

Here, the team packs up the benches. It looked like this truck would take the rest of the load. And, all of us will miss the lovely serene sight of the Swan Boats gliding through the park.

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: © 2013 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 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.

September 19, 2013
The Swan Boats Take Off to Winter Quarters

Last Sunday was the final day for Swan Boat rides around the Public Garden Lagoon. This week, the Paget family and their crew have been packing up these Boston treasures and transferring them to their winter quarters.

Here, the team packs up the benches. It looked like this truck would take the rest of the load. And, all of us will miss the lovely serene sight of the Swan Boats gliding through the park.

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: © 2013 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 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.

September 19, 2013
Boston Public Library Mobile App: Our Friday Link

Penny is a heavy user of the Boston Public Library (BPL). She downloaded the new BPL Mobile App the day it was announced and has been using it and raving about it ever since!

When we get ready to go for a walk, she can do a quick check to see if any of the books on our "borrowed shelf" are due. And, with a couple of touches, she can check "renew it" if eligible.

Anytime we are near the library, she can open the app and, in one touch, see if she has any "holds" that are ready for pick up.

When a friend recommends a book, she can do a search to see if the library has a copy and put it on hold or add it to her "personal bookshelf" to borrow at a future date.

It's a well-designed, efficient, and very useful app and a welcome addition to the Boston Public Library's outstanding array of digital services.

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: © 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

The BPL Goes Mobile

September 13, 2013
Boston Public Library Mobile App: Our Friday Link

Penny is a heavy user of the Boston Public Library (BPL). She downloaded the new BPL Mobile App the day it was announced and has been using it and raving about it ever since!

When we get ready to go for a walk, she can do a quick check to see if any of the books on our "borrowed shelf" are due. And, with a couple of touches, she can check "renew it" if eligible.

Anytime we are near the library, she can open the app and, in one touch, see if she has any "holds" that are ready for pick up.

When a friend recommends a book, she can do a search to see if the library has a copy and put it on hold or add it to her "personal bookshelf" to borrow at a future date.

It's a well-designed, efficient, and very useful app and a welcome addition to the Boston Public Library's outstanding array of digital services.

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: © 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

The BPL Goes Mobile

September 13, 2013