Category: Boston:101

What’s Open or Closed on Presidents’ Day in Boston & MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More
Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Presidents' Day and the MBTA schedule changes, plus information on Boston trash pick-up and parking information for February 20, 2017.

We publish these resource pages early to assist you in planning your holidays. We'll keep updates coming as new information is published. Follow us on Twitter to learn about updates.

Restaurants, bars: Open

Convenience stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose

Liquor stores: 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.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United States closed. Some international markets are open. In recent years, we've noticed some banks keep some branches open at unexpected times so check with your own bank.

Parking, Boston trash, and MBTA after the ad.

This weekend is a great time to start your tax preparation. Step one, order your software by following this link to Amazon.You can even download some versions right from the Amazon Download Store. Shopping Amazon from here keeps information like this coming your way.

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

Boston Trash and Recycling:

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 Schedule for Presidents' Day, February 20, 2017, is not published as of this writing. Here's what happened last year to help you with planning.

For a short time before the holiday, a complete list of schedule changes will appear at this link.

Briefly:
- Blue, Orange, Red, Green and Mattapan Lines will operate a Saturday schedule.
- Silver line will operate a weekday schedule.
- Commuter Rail trains will operate a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a Saturday schedule. Check this link for bus routes that will not operate. (Note: this link will only work up until the holiday.)
- Hingham, Hull, and Charlestown Boat Service will operate a regular weekday schedule.
- THE RIDE will operate a Saturday schedule, but contact your local RIDE contractor for details.
For more information on routes, schedules, and fares, contact the MBTA at 617-222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or check the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com.

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: ©2017 Penny Cherubino
February 15, 2017
Dutchess Poppy Says, Time to Get Your Dog License for 2017

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Here is something you need to put on the to-do list of your human servants.

GET YOUR 2017 DOG LICENSE

In Boston it's so simple even a human can do it. I nagged a bit when I spotted the envelope from Inspectional Services in the mail pile, sat Penny down at her computer, and I already have an official 2017 dog tag from the city.

License

Because I already had all my information in the system, the city sent a reminder to my staff. But, this year, it arrived early in February instead of late March or April. Good work dog license crew.

My new tag arrived in a week!

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done online.

Should you require an updated rabies vaccination before you can apply for a license, there are a few low-cost rabies clinics scheduled. Here's the list. Or you can Download 2017 Boston Rabies Clinics.

Staff Training on Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, g-r-o-w-l at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going during a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

Let Your Sunday Dog Take the Lead

February 12, 2017
Dutchess Poppy Says, Time to Get Your Dog License for 2017

Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

Here is something you need to put on the to-do list of your human servants.

GET YOUR 2017 DOG LICENSE

In Boston it's so simple even a human can do it. I nagged a bit when I spotted the envelope from Inspectional Services in the mail pile, sat Penny down at her computer, and I already have an official 2017 dog tag from the city.

License

Because I already had all my information in the system, the city sent a reminder to my staff. But, this year, it arrived early in February instead of late March or April. Good work dog license crew.

My new tag arrived in a week!

Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done online.

Should you require an updated rabies vaccination before you can apply for a license, there are a few low-cost rabies clinics scheduled. Here's the list. Or you can Download 2017 Boston Rabies Clinics.

Staff Training on Leash Laws

Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, g-r-o-w-l at them.

One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

Dog Parks

I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester.

Emergency Services

The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going during a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

Questions?

If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

Get to know all of the wonderful Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
Photography: © 2013-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

Let Your Sunday Dog Take the Lead

February 12, 2017
Blooming Snowdrops Are Ready for Spring Instead of Snow

As a rule, I look for snowdrops, signs of daffodils, and crocuses around Valentine's Day. Something made me check my favorite spots for early sighting this weekend. Here's what I saw.

Snowdrops in bloom in January.

Daffodil sprouts breaking through the mulch in a protected sunny spot. The grassy crocus sprigs that are usually nearby in this garden were not evident as of today.

With snow flurries possible tomorrow night, these early bloomers may have a cold night or two.

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino

January 30, 2017
Blooming Snowdrops Are Ready for Spring Instead of Snow

As a rule, I look for snowdrops, signs of daffodils, and crocuses around Valentine's Day. Something made me check my favorite spots for early sighting this weekend. Here's what I saw.

Snowdrops in bloom in January.

Daffodil sprouts breaking through the mulch in a protected sunny spot. The grassy crocus sprigs that are usually nearby in this garden were not evident as of today.

With snow flurries possible tomorrow night, these early bloomers may have a cold night or two.

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino

January 30, 2017
Public Garden Lagoon Ice Mystery, Perhaps We’ve Found an Answer

Our daily walks often take a group of friends and their dogs on a loop around the lagoon in the Boston Public Garden. Over the past couple of weeks with the freeze/thaw cycles, we've all noticed a growing number of ice fragments scattered across the lagoon and wondered about their origin.

As the ice sparkled in the sun, another garden visitor speculated it might be a beautiful art installation. He had a point. It was stunning in this light.

There were areas of the lagoon that had a lot of these ice fragments and other sections that were free of them.

This area near the wall seemed to have some new fragments being pushed out from the ice sheet.

Theories were discussed each time we circled the pond. Was someone tossing these chunks onto the ice? We all agreed there were far too many for that explanation. Spray from duck and geese landings? Aliens?

We came home and set to researching this phenomenon. In the process, we found the site Lake Ice and learned more about ice on lakes and ponds than we could have ever imagined.

Our ice mystery might be brash ice. The ice glossary at Lake Ice describes this as, "… loose small pieces of ice floating in water or the same in refrozen form. The term is normally used with arctic ice but it applies to lake ice. It is common to see isolated pieces of thicker ice in a new, ice sheet. Usually these pieces are reasonably close to an ice edge."

Any ideas? Let us know.

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: © 2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Growing Fond of the Boston Public Garden Fence

The Witch Hazel Thinks It's Spring!

January 20, 2017
Public Garden Lagoon Ice Mystery, Perhaps We’ve Found an Answer

Our daily walks often take a group of friends and their dogs on a loop around the lagoon in the Boston Public Garden. Over the past couple of weeks with the freeze/thaw cycles, we've all noticed a growing number of ice fragments scattered across the lagoon and wondered about their origin.

As the ice sparkled in the sun, another garden visitor speculated it might be a beautiful art installation. He had a point. It was stunning in this light.

There were areas of the lagoon that had a lot of these ice fragments and other sections that were free of them.

This area near the wall seemed to have some new fragments being pushed out from the ice sheet.

Theories were discussed each time we circled the pond. Was someone tossing these chunks onto the ice? We all agreed there were far too many for that explanation. Spray from duck and geese landings? Aliens?

We came home and set to researching this phenomenon. In the process, we found the site Lake Ice and learned more about ice on lakes and ponds than we could have ever imagined.

Our ice mystery might be brash ice. The ice glossary at Lake Ice describes this as, "… loose small pieces of ice floating in water or the same in refrozen form. The term is normally used with arctic ice but it applies to lake ice. It is common to see isolated pieces of thicker ice in a new, ice sheet. Usually these pieces are reasonably close to an ice edge."

Any ideas? Let us know.

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: © 2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Growing Fond of the Boston Public Garden Fence

The Witch Hazel Thinks It's Spring!

January 20, 2017
Morning 5K with Hill Work on Boston Common’s Historic Beacon Mall- Then and Now!

I've been trying for an early morning 5K (3.1 miles) walk these days. My path is a loop that runs along Commonwealth Avenue from Massachusetts Avenue to the top of the Common (across from the State House) and back. You could jump in anywhere along this path and loop around to where you began to walk or run a 5K.

As you can see, a lot of people use the hill, officially called the Beacon Mall, for early morning exercise and as a walking commuter route. Thankfully this path had been clear and salted since the weekend storm.

Looks like back in the day [ca. 1873–1877], Bostonians would "take the air" and perhaps their "daily constitutional" along this path. (Lithograph from The Boston Public Library Collection)

Here's an 1865 photo from the top looking down from the Boston Public Library Collection.

Here is what it looked like as walkers and runners enjoyed the balmy day on Wednesday.

Look how lush and shady the Beacon Mall was in 1892! (Photo from the Boston Public Library Collection)

You can map any loop you like on Google maps. Just set the walking option and watch the mileage add up to something around 3.1 miles. My loop looks something like this.

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino

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Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

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January 13, 2017
What’s Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018 in Boston Plus Trash, Parking & MBTA Links & More
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 15, 2018. We are updating these resource pages rather than creating a new one each year.

Updated January 3, 2018

Free at Last sculpture, by Sergio Castillo is located on Marsh Plaza, Boston University (Photo by Peter H. Dreyer from the Boston City Archives )
- 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 both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.
- Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.
- Boston Public Libraries closed.
- BCYF Community Centers are closed.
Free Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

If you're looking for something to do on this holiday, the MFA has a full schedule of special events and invites the community to visit for free that day.

Boston Trash and Recycling:

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.

Street Cleaning:

The city says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night. On the weekends, we sweep some streets at night. Please always check posted street sweeping signs for information. If you still have questions, please contact 311."

Parking:

"Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
City offices closed. Sunday parking rules in effect."

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

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2018:

The MBTA no longer publishes holiday schedule in an easy to use format. You must now go to their website and click around to find the information.

For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Communications Department at 617-222-3200, (TTY 617-222-5146) or go to www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: (Photo by Peter H. Dreyer from the Boston City Archives )used under creative commons license Some rights reserved

Related articles

A Few of Our Favorite Kitchen Gifts
January 6, 2017
What’s Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2018 in Boston Plus Trash, Parking & MBTA Links & More
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 15, 2018. We are updating these resource pages rather than creating a new one each year.

Updated January 3, 2018

Free at Last sculpture, by Sergio Castillo is located on Marsh Plaza, Boston University (Photo by Peter H. Dreyer from the Boston City Archives )
- 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 both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.
- Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.
- Boston Public Libraries closed.
- BCYF Community Centers are closed.
Free Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

If you're looking for something to do on this holiday, the MFA has a full schedule of special events and invites the community to visit for free that day.

Boston Trash and Recycling:

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.

Street Cleaning:

The city says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night. On the weekends, we sweep some streets at night. Please always check posted street sweeping signs for information. If you still have questions, please contact 311."

Parking:

"Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
City offices closed. Sunday parking rules in effect."

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

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2018:

The MBTA no longer publishes holiday schedule in an easy to use format. You must now go to their website and click around to find the information.

For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Communications Department at 617-222-3200, (TTY 617-222-5146) or go to www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: (Photo by Peter H. Dreyer from the Boston City Archives )used under creative commons license Some rights reserved

Related articles

A Few of Our Favorite Kitchen Gifts
January 6, 2017