"Miles on the MBTA" is our Friday Link as we welcome new residents to Boston and try to remind others of the great resources we have to make life better in Boston.
Miles is covering miles and miles of MBTA (and other area mass transit) routes and reviewing the routes and the stations.
Over on Reddit Boston, there are a lot of questions about the best ways to commute. Those readers should take a look at what Miles has compiled.
Add Miles on the MBTA to your daily reading list, follow him on Twitter or Facebook, and get to know more about getting around Boston carfree!
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 Screenshot from Miles on the MBTA
"Miles on the MBTA" is our Friday Link as we welcome new residents to Boston and try to remind others of the great resources we have to make life better in Boston.
Miles is covering miles and miles of MBTA (and other area mass transit) routes and reviewing the routes and the stations.
Over on Reddit Boston, there are a lot of questions about the best ways to commute. Those readers should take a look at what Miles has compiled.
Add Miles on the MBTA to your daily reading list, follow him on Twitter or Facebook, and get to know more about getting around Boston carfree!
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 Screenshot from Miles on the MBTA
Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2017. We'll also keep up with parking information, trash schedules, and changes to MBTA schedules. This is now a permanent page that we'll update from year-to-year.
All information is updated as of 08/30/17
Rather than an end to summer, we call Labor Day the beginning of the golden days of summer that last well beyond the Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd is this year's date.)
We feature these reminders well before a holiday (especially big ones like this) to give you a nudge to finalize your holiday plans. Follow along on Twitter (@bostonzest) or bookmark this page to check back. We'll update as information comes to us.
Restaurants, Bars: Open
Convenience stores: Open
Supermarkets: Open
Liquor stores: Open
Retail stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners wish to open.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and thePostal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.
Financial Services: In general, as the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.And, check with your bank, they might have some offices open.
The city press release advises,"The student move-in process at Boston’s colleges and universities will significantly impact local streets and parking."
"Students and their families are asked to plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. Drivers are asked to allow for extra time and to pay extra attention to all posted signs."
Street Sweeping:The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."
Boston Trash Collection:
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.
Subway, Commuter Rail, Buses, and The Ride will operate on a Sunday schedule.
The Hingham and Hull boats will operate on a Sunday schedule.
The Charlestown boat will operate on a Weekend schedule.
For additional, specific information on routes, schedules, and fares, please contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit www.mbta.com.
If information like this from BostonZest is helpful to you, support us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from one of the Amazon ads on our site or by Clicking here to go to the Amazon home 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!
Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2017. We'll also keep up with parking information, trash schedules, and changes to MBTA schedules. This is now a permanent page that we'll update from year-to-year.
All information is updated as of 08/30/17
Rather than an end to summer, we call Labor Day the beginning of the golden days of summer that last well beyond the Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd is this year's date.)
We feature these reminders well before a holiday (especially big ones like this) to give you a nudge to finalize your holiday plans. Follow along on Twitter (@bostonzest) or bookmark this page to check back. We'll update as information comes to us.
Restaurants, Bars: Open
Convenience stores: Open
Supermarkets: Open
Liquor stores: Open
Retail stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners wish to open.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and thePostal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.
Financial Services: In general, as the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.And, check with your bank, they might have some offices open.
The city press release advises,"The student move-in process at Boston’s colleges and universities will significantly impact local streets and parking."
"Students and their families are asked to plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. Drivers are asked to allow for extra time and to pay extra attention to all posted signs."
Street Sweeping:The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."
Boston Trash Collection:
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.
Subway, Commuter Rail, Buses, and The Ride will operate on a Sunday schedule.
The Hingham and Hull boats will operate on a Sunday schedule.
The Charlestown boat will operate on a Weekend schedule.
For additional, specific information on routes, schedules, and fares, please contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit www.mbta.com.
If information like this from BostonZest is helpful to you, support us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from one of the Amazon ads on our site or by Clicking here to go to the Amazon home 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!
Boston has a wonderful array of parks and a few of them are dog-friendly. These are the places we love to go to sit on a bench or spread out a blanket and spend a bit of time enjoying dog watching, one of our favorite pastimes.
Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront is a great destination for this game. You'll see dog walkers with packs in tow.
People running with their dogs.
Frisky frolickers like this little bit of a dog who was the fastest pup in the park during our visit. Zoom! Zoom!
Dogs and people who disagree on the direction of their stroll.
Pauses for sniffs while the person on the other end of the leash enjoys the view.
Great people watching, boat watching, airplane watching
Shady spots under the arbor
Walls and steps as extra seating
Great photo subject like dogs, boats, architecture, and skylines
This is a great activity for hot days when moving around is taxing on everyone. And remember that the trip to a cooler waterfront location can be made on the MBTA with your dog – outside of rush hour.
June is a great time to take a ride with your dog if this will be a new experience. As you can see in the photo above, off-peak hours often find the trains fairly empty.
Our Poppy has all the details about riding the T here:
Boston has a wonderful array of parks and a few of them are dog-friendly. These are the places we love to go to sit on a bench or spread out a blanket and spend a bit of time enjoying dog watching, one of our favorite pastimes.
Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront is a great destination for this game. You'll see dog walkers with packs in tow.
People running with their dogs.
Frisky frolickers like this little bit of a dog who was the fastest pup in the park during our visit. Zoom! Zoom!
Dogs and people who disagree on the direction of their stroll.
Pauses for sniffs while the person on the other end of the leash enjoys the view.
Great people watching, boat watching, airplane watching
Shady spots under the arbor
Walls and steps as extra seating
Great photo subject like dogs, boats, architecture, and skylines
This is a great activity for hot days when moving around is taxing on everyone. And remember that the trip to a cooler waterfront location can be made on the MBTA with your dog – outside of rush hour.
June is a great time to take a ride with your dog if this will be a new experience. As you can see in the photo above, off-peak hours often find the trains fairly empty.
Our Poppy has all the details about riding the T here:
Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston and the MBTA schedules for Memorial Day – Monday, May 30, 2016.
We publish these reminders before a holiday to give our readers a nudge to finalize their holiday plans. This is the first big weekend of the summer. Get going on some fun plans! And, plan your shopping for adult beverages because this is one of those Blue Law holidays!
Will you stay in the city or enjoy a holiday weekend at a great beach house like these on the harbor in Provincetown? Or will you put the boat in the water and get out on your favorite bay?
Restaurants, bars: Open
Convenience stores: Open
Supermarkets: Open
Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Plan ahead if you need wine, beer, or spirits for your holiday event.
City, Town, State, and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergencyservices are available.
Financial Services:As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the U.S. closed. Some international markets are open.
Boston Parking:You don't have to feed the meters on Monday. Other parking rules apply. Street Sweeping:The city site says: "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 311 for exact details."
More information after this ad
Save storage space with these collapsible coolers. Perfect for small city homes. We had many years of use from an older version of the Arctic Zone 30 model. It was amazing at keeping things chilled. We not only used it for picnics but also grabbed it to go grocery shopping.
Boston Trash Collection
The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to thecity site and look up your specific addressin order to get information.
Now's the time to plan where you'll park for Marathon weekend, so your car doesn't end up on a flatbed! And, be warned, the city does tow every car left in the way of the racers. When you move your car, think ahead.
If you normally park on the streets along the route of the weekend races, you may want to begin looking for spaces off the route. If you can do without your car for a few days, consider stashing it in a safe spot before everyone else has the same idea. And, remember, the bike lanes on Massachusetts Avenue eliminated more than 70 spaces, so finding on-street parking will be more difficult than ever.
Here's a Google map that locates public parking facilities using the Boston Marathon Finish Line as the central point.
And, if you'll need your car on Monday, you should make sure it's on the side of the Marathon route where you can reach it and get to your planned destination.
Saturday, April 16, 2016 – The B.A.A. 5K, Invitational Mile, and Relay Challenge
Again, this year, there are weekend races prior to Monday's marathon.
Thousands of runners are expected to compete in the 5K (3.1 mile) race two days prior to the 120th Boston Marathon. The 5K race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. by the Boston Common and cover a route through parts of the Back Bay ending back at the Common. Here's a link to the B.A.A. 5K course map.
Plus, there are the Invitational Mile races that will also be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) For details, including streets impacted by this event, go to B.A.A. Invitational Mile.
Now's the time to plan where you'll park for Marathon weekend, so your car doesn't end up on a flatbed! And, be warned, the city does tow every car left in the way of the racers. When you move your car, think ahead.
If you normally park on the streets along the route of the weekend races, you may want to begin looking for spaces off the route. If you can do without your car for a few days, consider stashing it in a safe spot before everyone else has the same idea. And, remember, the bike lanes on Massachusetts Avenue eliminated more than 70 spaces, so finding on-street parking will be more difficult than ever.
Here's a Google map that locates public parking facilities using the Boston Marathon Finish Line as the central point.
And, if you'll need your car on Monday, you should make sure it's on the side of the Marathon route where you can reach it and get to your planned destination.
Saturday, April 16, 2016 – The B.A.A. 5K, Invitational Mile, and Relay Challenge
Again, this year, there are weekend races prior to Monday's marathon.
Thousands of runners are expected to compete in the 5K (3.1 mile) race two days prior to the 120th Boston Marathon. The 5K race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. by the Boston Common and cover a route through parts of the Back Bay ending back at the Common. Here's a link to the B.A.A. 5K course map.
Plus, there are the Invitational Mile races that will also be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.) For details, including streets impacted by this event, go to B.A.A. Invitational Mile.
Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Patriots' Day, and the MBTA schedules for – Monday, April 18, 2016. Plus, tips and information on getting around Boston, parking, marathon issues, trash pickup, and other aspects of this day in the city.
We will update this post as more of the 2016 information become available. Follow us on Twitter where we'll announce updates.
Until official information is published by the city and state, here are links to their pages from 2015.
Patriot Samuel Adams statue was moved to Dock Square in the 1920s. Photo by Leslie Jones courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.
Patriots' Day is a Massachusetts State Holiday Only.
Financial Services: Banks may open if they wish. All markets are open.
Federal Offices and Facilities are open: This includes the Postal Service.
Closed: Massachusetts City, Town, State Operations: This includes Schools, Libraries. Only emergency services are available.
Boston Parking
One of the most common questions we get is about street sweeping on Patriots' Day. Here's the page from the city website with the answer. It says:
"Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."
You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. Many more streets than in the past will be cleared of parked cars to accommodate the Boston Marathon and Patriots' Day activities.
Be sure to check your car in the days leading up to the marathon to be certain it is not in a tow-away zone for the event. Here's how you can sign up for parking alerts and tow alerts.
Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for Marathon Weekend 2016
The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to thecity site and look up your specific addressin order to get information.
MBTA Marathon Monday Schedule:
You can see full details on their events page through April 18th, 2016. If you would like to see a copy after that day, we have made a pdf of the information: Download MBTA Patriots' Day
Tips:
Buy your fares in advance with a Charlie Card or Charlie Ticket to avoid waiting in line on Monday.
The MBTA advises, "For the safety of our customers, Copley Station will be closed for the entire day on April 18, 2016."
Due to crowds, they don't allow bikes "on any MBTA vehicles on Patriots' Day."
Check T-Alerts for the most up-to-date service information.
Marathon Monday 2016 MBTA Quick Look …
Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver Line service will run a "regular weekday schedule." (See the MBTA page for special service notes on the Silver and Green Lines.)
The Red, Orange, Blue, and Green line will have, "… rush-hour levels of service before and after the race."
Commuter Rail trains "… will operate a "regular weekday schedule."
"Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a weekday schedule …"
"Some bus routes will be detoured due to the Marathon and other Patriots' Day race events. The approximate time for most street closures is 8:00 a.m. through 6:30 p.m." (See the MBTA page for special service notes.)
Commuter Boats "… will operate a regular weekday schedule."
"THE RIDE will operate a regular weekday schedule."
"Customers should note that all MBTA parking garages will be pay-on-entry and cash-only on Patriots' Day, April 18, in order to ensure all customers exit in a timely manner. Due to heavy parking demand, some MBTA parking garages and lots may fill more quickly than normal. Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot should plan accordingly."
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