Category: Friday Links

Building Provincetown: An Addictive History of the Town Buildings and Vessels

On our last trip to Provincetown, we really enjoyed looking up our favorite buildings on the fabulous Building Provincetown website. If you're fortunate enought to be visiting the town this summer, be sure to bookmark this site before you go and have fun learning more about the history of the buildings and vessels you'll see around the town.

Here's a screenshot from the entry for Angel Foods in the East End. It was one of many, many addresses we looked up and learned about. Naturally, we checked out all the places where we've rented, shopped, or dined. And, sprinkled throughout are historic photos that we have really enjoyed seeing. (See this entry for 265-267 Commercial Street.)

We could spend many words telling you about this site, but since someone has already done a great job of that in Provincetown Magazine, we'll just link to their piece.

From Alden Street to Young’s Court: A Living History of Provincetown’s Built Environment

A book will follow the website and we can't wait to add it to our collection.

Here are links to Building Provincetown's author David Dunlap's other books.

From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship

On Broadway

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Screen shot from Building Provincetown

Related articles

Provincetown Harbor Beach Public Access Points

Provincetown in Early Spring

Ilona Heads To Provincetown

July 25, 2014
Building Provincetown: An Addictive History of the Town Buildings and Vessels

On our last trip to Provincetown, we really enjoyed looking up our favorite buildings on the fabulous Building Provincetown website. If you're fortunate enought to be visiting the town this summer, be sure to bookmark this site before you go and have fun learning more about the history of the buildings and vessels you'll see around the town.

Here's a screenshot from the entry for Angel Foods in the East End. It was one of many, many addresses we looked up and learned about. Naturally, we checked out all the places where we've rented, shopped, or dined. And, sprinkled throughout are historic photos that we have really enjoyed seeing. (See this entry for 265-267 Commercial Street.)

We could spend many words telling you about this site, but since someone has already done a great job of that in Provincetown Magazine, we'll just link to their piece.

From Alden Street to Young’s Court: A Living History of Provincetown’s Built Environment

A book will follow the website and we can't wait to add it to our collection.

Here are links to Building Provincetown's author David Dunlap's other books.

From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship

On Broadway

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Screen shot from Building Provincetown

Related articles

Provincetown Harbor Beach Public Access Points

Provincetown in Early Spring

Ilona Heads To Provincetown

July 25, 2014
A Summer Weekend Walk Down Bay State Road

One of our favorite, shady, summer walks is down Bay State Road which runs along the Charles River Esplanade and Commonwealth Avenue to the west of Back Bay. We are making this historic district our Friday Link today.

Street trees provide some shade and the lovely buildings preserved by the Bay State Road/Back Bay West Architectural Conservation District give you lots of details to enjoy.

Many of the former private residences have been taken over by Boston University, so this is a land of red signs showing the use of many of the buildings. This time of year, there are a few students around and a little bit of car traffic. It's just enough to keep you from feeling that you are in an isolated area.

Our Westie Poppy loves benches and BU has sprinkled a few pocket parks along the street. We picked a shady one to stop for a drink of water and a break.

A collection of contemporary sculpture gives you another reason to visit this area. Some pieces have interpretive plaques nearby.

Here's the one for the sculpture above.

The architecture along Bay State Road gets much less attention than some other historic districts, but there are important buildings by renowned architects. This is the Weld Mansion designed in 1900 by William York Peters of the Peters and Rice architectural firm.

You are just one block over from Commonwealth Avenue and all the food shops and services that grew up along this area to serve the student population. And there are bridges to the Esplanade if you'd like to cross over and have a picnic on the river bank.

You'll also find picnic tables in back of Marsh Chapel. We've used these for an impromptu Sunday brunch with friends.

Remember that by late August, the students will be back. This will still be a beautiful street, but it won't have the quiet calm it has in mid-summer.

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

July 18, 2014
A Summer Weekend Walk Down Bay State Road

One of our favorite, shady, summer walks is down Bay State Road which runs along the Charles River Esplanade and Commonwealth Avenue to the west of Back Bay. We are making this historic district our Friday Link today.

Street trees provide some shade and the lovely buildings preserved by the Bay State Road/Back Bay West Architectural Conservation District give you lots of details to enjoy.

Many of the former private residences have been taken over by Boston University, so this is a land of red signs showing the use of many of the buildings. This time of year, there are a few students around and a little bit of car traffic. It's just enough to keep you from feeling that you are in an isolated area.

Our Westie Poppy loves benches and BU has sprinkled a few pocket parks along the street. We picked a shady one to stop for a drink of water and a break.

A collection of contemporary sculpture gives you another reason to visit this area. Some pieces have interpretive plaques nearby.

Here's the one for the sculpture above.

The architecture along Bay State Road gets much less attention than some other historic districts, but there are important buildings by renowned architects. This is the Weld Mansion designed in 1900 by William York Peters of the Peters and Rice architectural firm.

You are just one block over from Commonwealth Avenue and all the food shops and services that grew up along this area to serve the student population. And there are bridges to the Esplanade if you'd like to cross over and have a picnic on the river bank.

You'll also find picnic tables in back of Marsh Chapel. We've used these for an impromptu Sunday brunch with friends.

Remember that by late August, the students will be back. This will still be a beautiful street, but it won't have the quiet calm it has in mid-summer.

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

July 18, 2014
Happy July 4th 2014 from the BostonZest Team

For those of you who didn't see the fireworks in person last night, we offer some outstanding photos of past fireworks as our Friday Link. Enjoy!

These fireworks photos are by H.Powers and used under this creative commons license.

Head over to the H.Power's photostream to see his outstanding photography.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: by H.Powers and used under this creative commons license.

July 4, 2014
Happy July 4th 2014 from the BostonZest Team

For those of you who didn't see the fireworks in person last night, we offer some outstanding photos of past fireworks as our Friday Link. Enjoy!

These fireworks photos are by H.Powers and used under this creative commons license.

Head over to the H.Power's photostream to see his outstanding photography.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: by H.Powers and used under this creative commons license.

July 4, 2014
How Much Money Have You Saved with Your Boston Public Library Card?

My Boston Public Library (BPL) card is old and grey! In the years since I moved to Boston, the cards have become brightly colored. But, I'm proud of my old, grey card. Because of it, I have saved thousands of dollars and hours of time. We are making the BPL library card our Friday Link.

I have a shelf in our living room reserved for the library materials I have out-on-loan. The only time you'll find that shelf empty is when we're going away and I have returned all my library goodies.

Right now, I'm auditioning Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries. This is the seventh cookbook I've borrowed this year. With each book, I have an opportunity to sit and really decide how this would fit into an overcrowded food reference library.

Does it offer enough new material that I don't already have in other books?

Are the recipes ones that I will use and recommend to my friends and readers?

Does the writing and photography offer inspiration?

Should I sell or donate another book and buy this one to take its place on the shelf?

Of course, reference books on the topics I write about are only part of the savings.

I use the electronic resources, download audiobooks, get help from librarians in specialized subjects, and use the digital books, photos, and maps the BPL offers to learners from Boston and beyond. I also attend educational programs, exhibits, and public meetings at the BPL.

How much money have I saved? I don't really know but I would estimate that the figure is substantial. What's more, using a shared resource is good for the environment. Using digital resouces is even better.

The BPL is a money-saving, green resource and should be promoted and protected by all who use and love this system of free lifetime learning.

Don't have a BPL card? Look what you're missing! Here's how to get one!

What's on your Artistic Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Arts & Craft needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

June 27, 2014
How Much Money Have You Saved with Your Boston Public Library Card?

My Boston Public Library (BPL) card is old and grey! In the years since I moved to Boston, the cards have become brightly colored. But, I'm proud of my old, grey card. Because of it, I have saved thousands of dollars and hours of time. We are making the BPL library card our Friday Link.

I have a shelf in our living room reserved for the library materials I have out-on-loan. The only time you'll find that shelf empty is when we're going away and I have returned all my library goodies.

Right now, I'm auditioning Nigel Slater's Kitchen Diaries. This is the seventh cookbook I've borrowed this year. With each book, I have an opportunity to sit and really decide how this would fit into an overcrowded food reference library.

Does it offer enough new material that I don't already have in other books?

Are the recipes ones that I will use and recommend to my friends and readers?

Does the writing and photography offer inspiration?

Should I sell or donate another book and buy this one to take its place on the shelf?

Of course, reference books on the topics I write about are only part of the savings.

I use the electronic resources, download audiobooks, get help from librarians in specialized subjects, and use the digital books, photos, and maps the BPL offers to learners from Boston and beyond. I also attend educational programs, exhibits, and public meetings at the BPL.

How much money have I saved? I don't really know but I would estimate that the figure is substantial. What's more, using a shared resource is good for the environment. Using digital resouces is even better.

The BPL is a money-saving, green resource and should be promoted and protected by all who use and love this system of free lifetime learning.

Don't have a BPL card? Look what you're missing! Here's how to get one!

What's on your Artistic Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Arts & Craft needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

June 27, 2014
That Mystery Sign on Richmond Street in the North End.

Admit it! You've stood on Richmond Street in the North End and tried to figure out what the neon tubes used to spell out on this sign.

Seeing the other side and the address of the building helped us figure it out.

Yes, it does say "One O Eight Richmond."

We were curious about what it looked like back in the day and went searching and found a beautiful photo on Nicola108's photostream. We did try to contact the copyright owner to ask if we could use the photo here but did not get a response. So, we are honoring the copyright and providing a Friday Link to the photo.

108 Restaurant & Lounge

We found a few clippings in the Boston Globe in the 1970s for the 108 Restaurant and Lounge. From employment ads for staff to a full review in Anthony Spinazzola's "Let's Eat Out" column.

In 1994, the Boston Board of Appeal granted permission to change the occupancy from "Restaurant and storage to eight apartments." They included the proviso: "Any exterior changes subject to desing [sic] review by BRA." Maybe that's why the sign is still there, no one knew how to do a desing review!

Perhaps a few longtime residents can tell us more about 108 Richmond. We love these tales of our city.

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 Ed Cherubino

June 20, 2014
That Mystery Sign on Richmond Street in the North End.

Admit it! You've stood on Richmond Street in the North End and tried to figure out what the neon tubes used to spell out on this sign.

Seeing the other side and the address of the building helped us figure it out.

Yes, it does say "One O Eight Richmond."

We were curious about what it looked like back in the day and went searching and found a beautiful photo on Nicola108's photostream. We did try to contact the copyright owner to ask if we could use the photo here but did not get a response. So, we are honoring the copyright and providing a Friday Link to the photo.

108 Restaurant & Lounge

We found a few clippings in the Boston Globe in the 1970s for the 108 Restaurant and Lounge. From employment ads for staff to a full review in Anthony Spinazzola's "Let's Eat Out" column.

In 1994, the Boston Board of Appeal granted permission to change the occupancy from "Restaurant and storage to eight apartments." They included the proviso: "Any exterior changes subject to desing [sic] review by BRA." Maybe that's why the sign is still there, no one knew how to do a desing review!

Perhaps a few longtime residents can tell us more about 108 Richmond. We love these tales of our city.

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 Ed Cherubino

June 20, 2014