Category: Boston:101

Where to Dine in Boston on Easter, April 5, 2015

Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This is one of the big days for dining out, and popular restaurants will fill their tables for Sunday, April 5, 2015 quickly.

First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings.

Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well.

Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

Gayot lists favorite Easter brunches at places like Henrietta's Table in Cambridge.

Next, places we picked from these lists (we'll add more as we learn about particular offerings)

Bistro du Midi recently added brunch to their weekly offering but that menu will not be available on Easter. However, you may want to try some other weekend. For Easter they have a three course Prix Fixe menu. And, you can plan a walk through the Public Garden after your meal.

Craigie on Main is offering both an Easter Prix Fixe menus and special additions to their regular menu for Passover.

To meet up with family who don't want to come into the city, consider AKA Bistro in Lincoln. We're happy to see that they're offering their regular brunch menu in addition to some Easter specials. The nearby deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is the perfect place to walk off your brunch and take Easter photos.

Update: 03/17/15

Dante Restaurant is one of those delightful places offering their regular a la carte menu with special additions for Easter according to their listing on Boston Chefs.

Update: 03/22/15

One of our favorite spots in Boston, Coppa Enoteca has announced that they will provide an a la cart option as well. Boston Chefs says, "Spend Easter with Coppa in the South End and their menu of shareable Italian dishes. Reservations are recommended. Seatings from: 11:00am-8:00pm.s

Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place.

One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

Opting Out of Easter

If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

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
Photo: from iStockphoto.com

March 13, 2015
Where to Dine in Boston on Easter, April 5, 2015

Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This is one of the big days for dining out, and popular restaurants will fill their tables for Sunday, April 5, 2015 quickly.

First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings.

Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well.

Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

Gayot lists favorite Easter brunches at places like Henrietta's Table in Cambridge.

Next, places we picked from these lists (we'll add more as we learn about particular offerings)

Bistro du Midi recently added brunch to their weekly offering but that menu will not be available on Easter. However, you may want to try some other weekend. For Easter they have a three course Prix Fixe menu. And, you can plan a walk through the Public Garden after your meal.

Craigie on Main is offering both an Easter Prix Fixe menus and special additions to their regular menu for Passover.

To meet up with family who don't want to come into the city, consider AKA Bistro in Lincoln. We're happy to see that they're offering their regular brunch menu in addition to some Easter specials. The nearby deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is the perfect place to walk off your brunch and take Easter photos.

Update: 03/17/15

Dante Restaurant is one of those delightful places offering their regular a la carte menu with special additions for Easter according to their listing on Boston Chefs.

Update: 03/22/15

One of our favorite spots in Boston, Coppa Enoteca has announced that they will provide an a la cart option as well. Boston Chefs says, "Spend Easter with Coppa in the South End and their menu of shareable Italian dishes. Reservations are recommended. Seatings from: 11:00am-8:00pm.s

Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place.

One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

Opting Out of Easter

If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

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
Photo: from iStockphoto.com

March 13, 2015
Shake Shack on Newbury Street

We ran into a friend and her dog across the street from the new Shake Shack on Newbury Street a day after the grand opening. She asked where we were going for lunch and was surprised when we pointed to the burger place. "This is going to be a terrible thing for my diet," she said.

Her whole family visit Shake Shack when they travel to see family in New York – now she has one a block from home. And, I know how she feels. I admit we went twice during opening week.

We told you about our love for Shake Shack in Harvard Square. A menu check for this location shows that they offer beer and wine in addition to a great soft drink selection. And, the Shake Shack team has created special concretes (a blended ice cream drink) for the neighborhood.

We dined-in on Newbury, but we can't wait to try out the patio (complete with a dog parking station) or to gather a bunch of dog walking pals and have a bench lunch on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The Collins Memorial is only a quarter mile from Shake Shack and makes a great place to gather a group for lunch or snacks.

We were among the guests welcomed by Scott, the general manager, as he worked his way around the dining room on both visits. Merchants along the street have told us he has also stopped by to say hello to his neighbors.

We may have to add a few miles a week to our walking goals but it will be worth it to have regular Shake Shack lunches. And, because it will make our Back Bay neighbors Jim and Jennifer Hill so happy when they hear it, we get to tell people Shake Shack on Newbury is, "Right across from KitchenWares and Reflections!"

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Our Improved Dog Boot Drying Hack

The Hope of Spring …

Snow, Freeze, Thaw, Freeze, Snow in the Back Bay – BostonZest

March 12, 2015
Shake Shack on Newbury Street

We ran into a friend and her dog across the street from the new Shake Shack on Newbury Street a day after the grand opening. She asked where we were going for lunch and was surprised when we pointed to the burger place. "This is going to be a terrible thing for my diet," she said.

Her whole family visit Shake Shack when they travel to see family in New York – now she has one a block from home. And, I know how she feels. I admit we went twice during opening week.

We told you about our love for Shake Shack in Harvard Square. A menu check for this location shows that they offer beer and wine in addition to a great soft drink selection. And, the Shake Shack team has created special concretes (a blended ice cream drink) for the neighborhood.

We dined-in on Newbury, but we can't wait to try out the patio (complete with a dog parking station) or to gather a bunch of dog walking pals and have a bench lunch on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The Collins Memorial is only a quarter mile from Shake Shack and makes a great place to gather a group for lunch or snacks.

We were among the guests welcomed by Scott, the general manager, as he worked his way around the dining room on both visits. Merchants along the street have told us he has also stopped by to say hello to his neighbors.

We may have to add a few miles a week to our walking goals but it will be worth it to have regular Shake Shack lunches. And, because it will make our Back Bay neighbors Jim and Jennifer Hill so happy when they hear it, we get to tell people Shake Shack on Newbury is, "Right across from KitchenWares and Reflections!"

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Our Improved Dog Boot Drying Hack

The Hope of Spring …

Snow, Freeze, Thaw, Freeze, Snow in the Back Bay – BostonZest

March 12, 2015
Ready or Not the Snow & Ice Will Fall

This Commonwealth Avenue building set out some sacrificial boards to take the brunt of the snow slide to come.

Elsewhere, on the avenue, this stairway was damaged. We passed when emergency crews were pumping water out of the basement.

A few doors away, a banister was taken out by a seriously large icicle.

Here are a few pieces of the ice that did that damage.

Meanwhile, over on Newbury Street, we expected this snow formation to be short lived, but it survived for a few days last week.

Ed suggested that maybe we should all be wearing hard hats.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Our Improved Dog Boot Drying Hack

The Hope of Spring …

A Hand Warmer Has Been Added to My Boston Winter Equipment

March 10, 2015
Ready or Not the Snow & Ice Will Fall

This Commonwealth Avenue building set out some sacrificial boards to take the brunt of the snow slide to come.

Elsewhere, on the avenue, this stairway was damaged. We passed when emergency crews were pumping water out of the basement.

A few doors away, a banister was taken out by a seriously large icicle.

Here are a few pieces of the ice that did that damage.

Meanwhile, over on Newbury Street, we expected this snow formation to be short lived, but it survived for a few days last week.

Ed suggested that maybe we should all be wearing hard hats.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Our Improved Dog Boot Drying Hack

The Hope of Spring …

A Hand Warmer Has Been Added to My Boston Winter Equipment

March 10, 2015
What Is Evacuation Day (Saint Patrick’s Day) and What’s Open & Closed & MBTA Schedules?
This year, Evacuation Day (which most people admit is just an excuse for Saint Patrick's Day revelry) falls on a Tuesday – March 17th. City and state workers in Suffolk County no longer have this as a holiday. City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County will be open. But, because of the parade and the drinking of the green beer, there will be a few adaptations around the city.

I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the event to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.

Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
- What are your traditions for his yearly festival of all things Irish?
- Who makes your favorite brown bread or Irish soda bread? Scones?
- Are you going to the parade on Sunday 03/15/15? Note that the route has been shortened and the MBTA has not announced what service they will offer to and from the event. You can check this link to see if they update their events page.
- Will you be wearin' the green? (Here's a post on where to buy or rent all sorts of Wearin' of the Green gear!)
- Here's The Onion's Salute to the Saint Patrick's Day Celebations here and elsewhere. (Warning! It's an Auto Start Video with sound.)
About your holiday questions …

According to the Secretary of State's website,

"Evacuation Day – March 17th
(Suffolk County only, state and municipal offices are open)"

The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays. Therefore, there's no change in parking regulations or trash pick up.
- Update: 03.10.15 As Kate from Boston on Budget pointed out in her comment below, some years the city has tweeted out free parking notices on this holiday. We'll update with details if we find that happens.
- Here's the official word on that:
Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. There has been no announcement regarding this that we could find this year.

Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Download MBTA St Patrick's Day Parade schedule.

We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.

Update 03/13/15:

Here's a link to and text of the City of Boston Traffic Advisory.

"The City of Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015, in South Boston. The parade will begin at 1 PM on West Broadway at Dorchester Avenue, will continue to East Broadway, and end at Farragut Road.

View Map of Route

The St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will also take place in South Boston on Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Runners will proceed from West Sixth Street at F Street onto Dorchester Street, right onto East Broadway, down and around the Farragut Statue at Day Boulevard, to East Broadway, right onto West Broadway, left onto E Street, left onto West Sixth Street, ending at the Boys and Girls Club at #230 West Sixth Street.

To accommodate the two events, staging/dispersal and clean-up, drivers should expect the following roads to be closed to vehicular traffic. Streets effected by the parade will close no later than 12 PM and streets effected by the road race will close no later than 10 AM.
- Broadway, from Dorchester Avenue to Farragut Road
- On intersecting streets from Dorchester Avenue through Farragut Road, vehicular traffic will not be allowed to cross Broadway
- Dorchester Avenue, in the vicinity of Gillette Park and Andrew Square
- Old Colony Avenue, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street
- Farragut Road, from Columbia Road to Shore Road/East First Street
- All race route streets while the runners make their way to the finish line
Due to a combination of snow and Resident Parking Only restrictions, parking in the neighborhood is limited. Additional parking restrictions that will be implemented temporarily to support Sunday’s events are as follows.

“Tow Zone, No Stopping, Boston Police Special Event Sunday”
- Dorchester Avenue: Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue (Staging Area)
- Old Colony Avenue: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street (Staging Area)
- West Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
- East Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Street to Farragut Road
- Farragut Road: East side (park side), from Columbia Road to Shore Road /East First Street (Dispersal area)
- West Sixth Street: Southwest side, from Dorchester Avenue to F Street
- F Street: Southeast side (odd side – Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street
People coming into Boston to attend these events are kindly asked to take the MBTA. Information on service may be found at www.MBTA.com. For a faster return trip, the MBTA advises riders to purchase a round-trip rather than a one-way ticket."

Related Posts:

Irish Breakfast at the Squealing Pig

Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day

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

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny Cherubino
March 9, 2015
What Is Evacuation Day (Saint Patrick’s Day) and What’s Open & Closed & MBTA Schedules?
This year, Evacuation Day (which most people admit is just an excuse for Saint Patrick's Day revelry) falls on a Tuesday – March 17th. City and state workers in Suffolk County no longer have this as a holiday. City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County will be open. But, because of the parade and the drinking of the green beer, there will be a few adaptations around the city.

I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the event to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.

Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?
- What are your traditions for his yearly festival of all things Irish?
- Who makes your favorite brown bread or Irish soda bread? Scones?
- Are you going to the parade on Sunday 03/15/15? Note that the route has been shortened and the MBTA has not announced what service they will offer to and from the event. You can check this link to see if they update their events page.
- Will you be wearin' the green? (Here's a post on where to buy or rent all sorts of Wearin' of the Green gear!)
- Here's The Onion's Salute to the Saint Patrick's Day Celebations here and elsewhere. (Warning! It's an Auto Start Video with sound.)
About your holiday questions …

According to the Secretary of State's website,

"Evacuation Day – March 17th
(Suffolk County only, state and municipal offices are open)"

The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays. Therefore, there's no change in parking regulations or trash pick up.
- Update: 03.10.15 As Kate from Boston on Budget pointed out in her comment below, some years the city has tweeted out free parking notices on this holiday. We'll update with details if we find that happens.
- Here's the official word on that:
Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. There has been no announcement regarding this that we could find this year.

Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Download MBTA St Patrick's Day Parade schedule.

We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.

Update 03/13/15:

Here's a link to and text of the City of Boston Traffic Advisory.

"The City of Boston’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2015, in South Boston. The parade will begin at 1 PM on West Broadway at Dorchester Avenue, will continue to East Broadway, and end at Farragut Road.

View Map of Route

The St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will also take place in South Boston on Sunday beginning at 11 AM. Runners will proceed from West Sixth Street at F Street onto Dorchester Street, right onto East Broadway, down and around the Farragut Statue at Day Boulevard, to East Broadway, right onto West Broadway, left onto E Street, left onto West Sixth Street, ending at the Boys and Girls Club at #230 West Sixth Street.

To accommodate the two events, staging/dispersal and clean-up, drivers should expect the following roads to be closed to vehicular traffic. Streets effected by the parade will close no later than 12 PM and streets effected by the road race will close no later than 10 AM.
- Broadway, from Dorchester Avenue to Farragut Road
- On intersecting streets from Dorchester Avenue through Farragut Road, vehicular traffic will not be allowed to cross Broadway
- Dorchester Avenue, in the vicinity of Gillette Park and Andrew Square
- Old Colony Avenue, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street
- Farragut Road, from Columbia Road to Shore Road/East First Street
- All race route streets while the runners make their way to the finish line
Due to a combination of snow and Resident Parking Only restrictions, parking in the neighborhood is limited. Additional parking restrictions that will be implemented temporarily to support Sunday’s events are as follows.

“Tow Zone, No Stopping, Boston Police Special Event Sunday”
- Dorchester Avenue: Both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue (Staging Area)
- Old Colony Avenue: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to C Street (Staging Area)
- West Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
- East Broadway: Both sides, from Dorchester Street to Farragut Road
- Farragut Road: East side (park side), from Columbia Road to Shore Road /East First Street (Dispersal area)
- West Sixth Street: Southwest side, from Dorchester Avenue to F Street
- F Street: Southeast side (odd side – Boys & Girls Club side), West Sixth Street to Bowen Street
People coming into Boston to attend these events are kindly asked to take the MBTA. Information on service may be found at www.MBTA.com. For a faster return trip, the MBTA advises riders to purchase a round-trip rather than a one-way ticket."

Related Posts:

Irish Breakfast at the Squealing Pig

Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day

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

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny Cherubino
March 9, 2015
Get Ready for Amtrak’s “All Aboard” for Dogs & Cats

It was just a couple of weeks ago when we asked you to "Lend Your Support to Allowing Dogs & Cats on Amtrak." The good news is that the bill we asked you to support has passed. While the bureaucrats slowly set up the program, you can get your companion animals ready to be great passengers.

Train on Local Trains

Our Poppy is a subway pro. We take her on the MBTA often enough to keep her acclimatized to the noise, crowded conditions, and movement of the trains. But, as someone who has ridden trains along the Northeast corridor, I know that the motion of those trains is not exactly the same as subway sways.

Commuter rail photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

Under MBTA pet guidelines, your dog or cat is already welcome aboard the Commuter Rail. Pick a destination where you and your dog can have some fun and plan a day trip this spring.

How about Salem as a first trip? It's a fairly short, half hour ride with lots to do when you get there. (In summer, there is also a ferry to Salem which can be a great way to get a dog ready for boat rides.)

If that works out, you could try Newburyport for the next destination – it takes a little more than an hour to reach and should be a good test.

It would be a good idea for us to get Poppy used to riding in her Sherpa Pet Carrier because we usually travel off-peak on the subway and can hold her in a lap or in our arms.

CapeFLYER Is Pet Friendly

If a trip to Cape Cod is more to your liking, you and your dog or cat can ride the CapeFLYER to one of its stops, once the train resumes for the summer season. Pets ride free aboard this popular service. And, I have to wonder if the pet option is one of the reasons it was an immediate success.

Acela photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

New York, Portland, and Philadelphia Here We Come!

Once we are allowed to take Poppy with us, we'll be on board for three of our favorite car-free destinations: New York City, Philadelphia, and Portland, Maine.

Downeaster photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism

The Downeaster to Portland should be one of the first test routes considering how dog-friendly that city happens to be. And, we look forward to spending more time in New York and Philadelphia.

Where will you go by train with your favorite companion animal?

Get to know all of our 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: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: istockphoto for the traveling dog image. Trains are courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Tourism used under this creative commons license.

March 8, 2015
Do You Have a Question for BostonZest?

We're making BostonZest readers our Friday Link today. BostonZest began in 2004 because so many of our friends and neighbors had been asking us questions about Boston. We started this website with some of those answers and a decade later we're still adding to it. We love questions from readers and today we're reminding you to send them our way.

Sharing Readers' Favorites

The current version of BostonZest has more than 2,500 posts on dozens of topics. When we look at our readers' favorites, we find that many of the ones read over and over answer specific questions. What's going on in March? How do I deal with crystallized honey? Where can I find a Winter Farmers' Market Schedule?

We've begun to feature some of our readers' favorite posts like Boston Area Commencement Dates, Spring 2015. You'll often see these on Wednesdays. We'll keep a popular post at the top of our page for a day and send a link to our followers on Twitter. (By the way, our list of colleges grew as readers provided information on their schools.)

Answering Your Questions

We love to answer questions sent to us by readers. Sometimes they are follow-up questions on something we have posted – like a conversation we had about artichokes last summer. In our first post on the topic, reader Mich Connors commented on the difficulty in pairing wine with artichokes and asked a question about the seasonality of the crop.

That gave us the opportunity to do a second interview with the farmer in the article and share how they grew a fall crop of artichokes in a follow-up post.

So, ask your questions or share an answer. You can send us an email, add a comment or question on any post or follow us on Twitter. (Just put @BostonZest in your tweet and we'll get it.)

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: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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What's Happening Around Boston in March 2015

Then & Now: Icicles in Boston Plus How & When They Form

Okey-Dokey Artichokey!

March 6, 2015