Category: Boston:101

  • Lucy Stone’s Wisdom for Women’s History Month

    The next time you walk by the Boston Women's Memorial, think about the words of wisdom these and other women of Boston have left behind for us.

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    Ed took this great photo of Lucy Stone with Abigail Adams in the background at the beginning of one of last month's snowstorms. We saved it to remind our readers that March is National Women's History Month.

    Here are three quotes from Lucy Stone (1818-1893):

    "I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere. Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of my sex."

    "I think, with never-ending gratitude, that the young women of today do not and can never know at what price their right to free speech and to speak at all in public has been earned." 

    "Now all we need is to continue to speak the truth fearlessly, and we shall add to our number those who will turn the scale to the side of equal and full justice in all things." 

    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  

  • Lucy Stone’s Wisdom for Women’s History Month

    The next time you walk by the Boston Women's Memorial, think about the words of wisdom these and other women of Boston have left behind for us.

    IMG_3505 copy

    Ed took this great photo of Lucy Stone with Abigail Adams in the background at the beginning of one of last month's snowstorms. We saved it to remind our readers that March is National Women's History Month.

    Here are three quotes from Lucy Stone (1818-1893):

    "I expect to plead not for the slave only, but for suffering humanity everywhere. Especially do I mean to labor for the elevation of my sex."

    "I think, with never-ending gratitude, that the young women of today do not and can never know at what price their right to free speech and to speak at all in public has been earned." 

    "Now all we need is to continue to speak the truth fearlessly, and we shall add to our number those who will turn the scale to the side of equal and full justice in all things." 

    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  

  • The Ritual of Tai Chi Returns to the Public Garden, a Sure Sign of Spring Weather

    It made me so happy to see these neighbors doing Tai Chi in the Public Garden this weekend.

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    "If there were a ritual dance of the androgyne, Tai chi as performed by this master could be that dance. It is neither a masculine dance nor a feminine dance. It has the strength and grace of both." June Singer

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: 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. Photo Tales & Quotes 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 Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

  • The Ritual of Tai Chi Returns to the Public Garden, a Sure Sign of Spring Weather

    It made me so happy to see these neighbors doing Tai Chi in the Public Garden this weekend.

    IMG_2248 copy

    "If there were a ritual dance of the androgyne, Tai chi as performed by this master could be that dance. It is neither a masculine dance nor a feminine dance. It has the strength and grace of both." June Singer

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: 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. Photo Tales & Quotes 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 Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

  • Sunday Horse, Winston! Your Support Is Needed to Keep Our Mounted Patrol

    It was such a pleasure to see Winston and his mounted Park Ranger adding a highly visible degree of protection to our parks.

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    Watching this pair interact with park visitors proved what great ambassadors the mounted patrol and their most attractive horses are for our parks. Each year The Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit have to raise enough money to keep this program going.

    If you want to see this program continue, visit their webpage and make a donation. Stay informed about their activities by following their facebook page

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    Our Greyhound pal Marley really enjoyed her first encounter with one of these very much larger-than-her critters.

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    Judging by Marley's reaction, we suspect she has a big crush on Winston. She watched him intently until he disappeared from her view.

     

    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  

  • Make This Un-decorate Weekend! Time to Take Down the Holiday Brownery

    We usually start nagging you to take down your holiday decorations before Valentine's Day but considering the weather, we waited until this holiday weekend to post our plea this year. 

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    It is way past time to take down those crinkly, brown greens that went up in December. 

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    Instead of festive, they now look depressing.

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    This goes for the parks department too. Although why anyone would think this lovely bridge needs to be hung with dead stuff is beyond me. If you can't take down holiday decorations in a timely manner, don't put them up.

     

    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  

  • Make This Un-decorate Weekend! Time to Take Down the Holiday Brownery

    We usually start nagging you to take down your holiday decorations before Valentine's Day but considering the weather, we waited until this holiday weekend to post our plea this year. 

    IMG_2144 copy

    It is way past time to take down those crinkly, brown greens that went up in December. 

    IMG_2150 copy

    Instead of festive, they now look depressing.

    IMG_2171 copy

    This goes for the parks department too. Although why anyone would think this lovely bridge needs to be hung with dead stuff is beyond me. If you can't take down holiday decorations in a timely manner, don't put them up.

     

    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  

  • Who Are the Men Depicted in These Profiles on Boston’s Statue of Alexander Hamilton?

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    You may have walked by the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall dozens of times. Did you ever wonder who the three men are in the bas-relief profile on the base? 

    According to the Smithsonian Museum's database of outdoor sculpture, they are (from right to left) George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

    Here are a few tidbits you may not know about this statue of Alexander Hamilton.

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    • This sculpture has been located between Arlington and Berkeley Streets on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall since 1865. 
    • It's one of the few surviving works by Dr. William Rimmer, whose father claimed to be Louis XVII, heir to the French throne. 
    • In the book, A Guide to Public Art in Greater Boston, Marty Carlock says Rimmer's interest in anatomy led him to a career in medicine which he practiced for a few years. Rimmer became a full-time sculptor at age forty-five.

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    • This is the only sculpture carved from stone on the Mall. Since Rimmer was self-taught, he used his own technique to create it. According to Public Art Boston, this technique makes the sculpture "particularly fragile and difficult to maintain."
    • The Friends of the Public Garden have taken on the responsibility for restoring and then providing annual maintenance of the artwork in The Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
    • To help The Friends pay for this work, you can contribute to the Henry Lee Conservation Fund.

    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: © 2008-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Who Are the Men Depicted in These Profiles on Boston’s Statue of Alexander Hamilton?

    IMG_2002 copy

    You may have walked by the statue of Alexander Hamilton on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall dozens of times. Did you ever wonder who the three men are in the bas-relief profile on the base? 

    According to the Smithsonian Museum's database of outdoor sculpture, they are (from right to left) George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.

    Here are a few tidbits you may not know about this statue of Alexander Hamilton.

    IMG_6684 - Version 2

    • This sculpture has been located between Arlington and Berkeley Streets on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall since 1865. 
    • It's one of the few surviving works by Dr. William Rimmer, whose father claimed to be Louis XVII, heir to the French throne. 
    • In the book, A Guide to Public Art in Greater Boston, Marty Carlock says Rimmer's interest in anatomy led him to a career in medicine which he practiced for a few years. Rimmer became a full-time sculptor at age forty-five.

    CHE_7131 - Version 22015-04-26Alexander Hamilton-spring-bbs-cover-short-© 2014 Penny Cherubino copy

    • This is the only sculpture carved from stone on the Mall. Since Rimmer was self-taught, he used his own technique to create it. According to Public Art Boston, this technique makes the sculpture "particularly fragile and difficult to maintain."
    • The Friends of the Public Garden have taken on the responsibility for restoring and then providing annual maintenance of the artwork in The Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
    • To help The Friends pay for this work, you can contribute to the Henry Lee Conservation Fund.

    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: © 2008-2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • 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. 

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    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