Category: Places

The Smallest Thaw Brings out the Picnickers

The courtyard at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square is a very popular place for outdoor dining on warm days year-round. But, I didn't expect to find people using it this week. I was wrong. Even the smallest thaw brings out the picnicker in many of us.

It looks like someone planned for the thaw and cleared a small section of the patio. Just a few days before, I took this photo of the opposite patio from where the women were lunching.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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March 5, 2015
What’s Happening Around Boston in March 2015

Time to start a new month of information to share with visitors and locals. What are your favorite March activities in Boston? This year, I think watching snow melt will be high on the list of many Bostonians.

(Photo by Raymond Larose used under this creative commons license be sure to check his photography blog.)

On Sunday, March 1st, head to Chinatown for the Lion Dance celebration from 10am to 5pm. That's always fun and most of the businesses in that neighborhood are small family run places that could use our support. What's more, you can be entertained, feast, and do your grocery shopping in one afternoon.

March Tips on Trip Advisor

Over on the Boston Trip Advisor Forum, Destination expert, forgotmypword started a conversation on this topic back in December when someone asked about hotel rates this month.

"St Patrick's Day (March 17) is a popular time to visit Boston. The parade is the 15th. On top of that, there is a large convention. The Seafood Expo/seafood processors convention is from the 15th-17th and is expecting 18,000 attendees."

And, I've begun my monthly topic about, What's Going on in March 2015 Around Boston. As the regular volunteers who answer questions on that space share their ideas, you will find topics that we never cover on BostonZest and things to do that are beyond our interests.

Do you remember Diamond Jim's Piano Bar at the Lenox hotel? It will reappear for one weekend in March.

Who are all these People? (or, Conventions in Town in March)

Here are the numbers on conventions and large meetings that will impact hotel prices and in some cases make dinner reservations harder to find in certain areas of the city.

From March 12th -14th, a meeting will be held at the Hynes with 6,000 in attendance. But the rest of the big events are out in the Seaport district and won't be noticed by most locals and visitors except in restaurants.

From the 15th -17th, 18,000 visitors at BCEC and the 28th to the 31st there are two events in that area with a total of 18,000 attendees.

If you need a restaurant reservation for those dates, make it now.

March Events

There is always a lot of information about St. Patrick's Day in Boston but in the North End, St. Joseph's Day, March 19th is important because all the bakeries make Zeppole di San Giuseppe in honor of the day. These are delightful fried pastries filled with cream and cherries. Seen above is our favorite at Modern Pastry.

You could go from Modern to Maria's and so on down the streets tasting different versions. These are also made by bakeries throughout the area this time of year. Please share your favorite spots for Zeppole.

The parade is on Sunday the 15th. This is one day when we avoid using the MBTA since it's usually full of people going to and from that event.

Sometime during the month, you could support an Irish Pub by enjoying an Irish Breakfast. The one above is from Sonny's Pub in Adams Village.

Or, you can buy Irish soda bread from an area bakery. It Looks like we're going to have to do a lot of walking this month with all these seasonal offerings. You can honor the Irish while you walk. Here's a link to the Irish Heritage Trail.

Your Turn

We hope you'll join in and make this a conversation here. Add your comments below or follow us on Twitter and send your ideas to us there. Just put @BostonZest in your message and we'll get it.

Who's next?

What are your favorite March pastimes?

What events are you planning to attend this month?

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino or as marked below photo

February 27, 2015
Snow, Freeze, Thaw, Freeze, Snow in the Back Bay

It has been a very photographic February with the cycle of snow, freeze, thaw, and freeze we've endured. Ed said it was as if Mother Nature wanted to add a fresh coat of makeup to the snow piles so they wouldn't look dirty.

Icicles added a touch of frosting to the Victorian townhouses along Commonwealth Avenue.

On Newbury Street, some took on the look of waterfalls.

On Boylston Street, the stonework and icicles set off one another beautifully.

Here's a view of icicles from inside one of the glass crossovers at Copley Place.

Bacchante does not seem to mind the snow at all and just continues to dance in the Courtyard of the Boston Public Library.

As much as we may complain about the endless snow and cold, it's hard to resist photographing the way it changes our neighborhood.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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First Look Inside The Boston Library's Astonishing, Colorful Renovation

February 26, 2015
Colorful, Bright, New Community Workspace at the Boston Public Library

What a difference a renovation makes. The second floor of the Johnson Building at the Boston Public Library (BPL) in Copley Square has been transformed in spectacular before-and-after fashion.

Last week, I took a tour of the changes with Michael Colford, Director of Library Services. He is understandably proud of the look, convenience, and user friendliness of this renovation.

I choose these bar seats along the arched window overlooking Boylston Street as my favorite spot.

Michael pointed out that the library’s circulating nonfiction collection is located here. Amid the book stacks holding 200,000 books is a community reading area and places for individual and group work. This will be a lively section of the building where conversations will take place. The McKim building will provide quiet space for those who prefer a place to work without distractions.

Lower book shelves open up the area allowing the light from the windows and from many new fixtures to provide a bright and welcoming workspace. I was also happy to see some of the materials like the lovely Windsor chairs reconditioned, recycled, and fitting beautifully into the new setting.

And still, there are spots where you can get off by yourself for a bit of quiet texting.

Lots of new electrical outlets also give you a place to charge up your phone, laptop or tablet.

There are new airport-style restrooms on the floor and multi-function water fountains with a separate station to fill your water bottle. And, yes, water bottles are allowed in this section of the library.

Along with the new look, you will also find some changes in the way the library and librarians communicate with patrons. The bookshelves will be marked not only in traditional Library of Congress Classification fashion, but also with signs and banners that let you know, for example, that this section houses books on Politics and Law.

When the flow of traffic at the information desk allows, librarians will move around the floor to answer questions and assist patrons as they search for materials. The openness of the new design will allow staff members to see when they are needed back at the desk.

Digital displays around the floor will highlight items from the BPL's renowned Collections of Distinction. This will remind patrons of all the resources, beyond the books on the shelves, that are available to them within the walls of this building.

A press release from the BPL explained that service kiosks like this one (now found in other parts of the library and branches as well), "are part of the library’s upgraded pay for print system and have several features, including the introduction of paying for printing via standard credit and debit cards. Boston Public Library cards will now store up to $21 for use on the system."

Along with opening this floor last Saturday, the Boylston Street entrance has also reopened. A corridor has been built for library visitors to move through the first floor where work on the next phase of this renovation continues. For those of us who are in the habit of using that entrance, this is most welcome.

I look forward to using this workspace, both when I need a change from my home office and when I want to collaborate with friends and associates on a project.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino, Patron using the kisoh courtesy of the BPL

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February 23, 2015
Spread a Little Local Love for the Rest of Valentine’s Month

For the past week, there's been a lot of social media talk about getting out and supporting the local businesses who have been so badly hurt by the recent weather. We're adding our two cents to this message.

Pawsh Dog Boutique and Salon has toys for your four-footed valentines.

If you don't want to lose the small owner-operated businesses that are one of the best aspects of the Boston area, please get out of your homes and spend some money. Figure out what you need, or want to do, and then how you can do that with a local business.

We made the rounds of a few of our favorite shops this week. We restocked our wine rack at Bauer Wines on Newbury Street. They have a great selection of sparkling wines for your Valentine weekend celebrations.

At KitchenWares, Jim Hill says it's a great time to bring in your knives to be sharpened. He was telling us that some customers drop them off before heading away to warmer climes and pick them up upon return to Boston.

While we were there talking about the service, a local chef was picking out a new knife from their fine selection. He told us he had just had his very hard carbon steel knives sharpened at the shop and was very pleased. (Ed once gave me a knife for Valentines Day and I still smile when I use it.)

Onion Soup from Petit Robert Bistro

This week we had food delivered from a couple of local restaurants. Our meal from Petit Robert Bistro could have been a special Valentine's Day supper. We shared an assortment of pâtés, roast chicken, beef Bourguignon, tart tatin, and chocolate mousse.

Because we always think about how a menu item will travel before we order, our choices for delivery arrived in lovely condition. If you don't want to go out to dinner over the weekend, consider having a meal delivered.

However, we hope to get out and dine-in at some of our favorites. There are some foods like the Petit Robert onion soup and profiterole above that are better ordered and eaten at the restaurant. What's more, this will give you the opportunity to provide a tip for a member of the waitstaff who has been hurt by slow days and snow days.

If what you need is not local or if you are one of our readers from another part of the world, BostonZest is also a local business. When you are going to buy from one of the businesses that advertise here or pay us commission, we appreciate your support.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

February 13, 2015
Does a Sculptor Think About Snow?

Since February is Black History Month, Ed and I have been photographing subjects that help us think about this aspect of Boston's past. The sculpture of slave and poet Phillis Wheatley on the Boston Women's Memorial has long been one of my favorite photographic models. (Click on the photo for a larger view.)

At the dedication ceremony, memorial sculptor Meredith Bergmann said,

“External, legal freedom was denied to Phillis Wheatley. But she sought the inner freedom that enabled her to write and here she makes her pedestal a desk.”

I've read Bergmann's proposal for the memorial so I know how much thought she put into the smallest details of this artwork. But, I wonder if she considered how serene Phillis would seem with snowdrifts wrapping her and her desk? Did she plan for the light to outline this young face against the misty haze of winter trees?

Planned or not, the result can be stunning in the right light and, on one of our rare partly sunny days last week, I found that light.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino

February 9, 2015
Gordon Parks Exhibition & MFA Open House for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

A very special and timely exhibition, Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott, will open tomorrow at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA). In addition, the MFA has announced a free open house on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The MFA Says:

Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott (January 17–September 13, 2015) traces Parks’ return to his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas and then to other Midwestern cities, to track down and photograph each of his childhood classmates. On view in the MFA’s Art of the Americas Wing, the exhibition’s 42 photographs were from a series originally meant to accompany a Life magazine photo essay—but for reasons unknown, the story was never published. The images depict the realities of life under segregation in 1950—presenting a rarely seen view of everyday lives of African-American citizens in the years before the Civil Rights movement began in earnest.

We Say:

This has been on our calendar since we first read about it. We have so much to learn from this multi-talented man.

Make this exhibition more enjoyable by doing your homework before attending.

The MFA gives you some tools for learning about an exhibition like this on it's website. We often rely on the press releases they send out to understand why a particular subject was selected and about the people and organizations that make an exhibition possible. Here's a link to the press release for Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott.

For each of its exhibitions, the MFA sets up a page that gives the details and often adds some resources that allow you to learn a bit about the topic before you attend. For this exhibition, they have a slideshow that lets you preview a few of the images and a short video by the curator, Karen Haas.

The museum has also announced the publication of the book Common Wealth: Art by African Americans in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

And, if you want to attend the exhibition at a time when there is something special scheduled around the topic, you'll find a "More Events" button near the top of that page.

We've also taken advantage of the Boston Public Library's resources on Gordon Parks and are reading some of his poetry and his memoir.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino, And screenshots courtesy of the MFA

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January 16, 2015
Where to Dine Valentine’s Day 2015 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston
Start early if you want to plan a Valentine's Day meal that your loved one will remember.

This year, February 14th falls on a Saturday.

That gives you the opportunity to plan a romantic weekend or one day with your true love and a couple more meals with friends close to your heart. A quiet dinner at home on the big night and a lovely Sunday brunch at a favorite spot is another option.

Some of you enjoy trying the special holiday menus at your favorite spots. Others avoid dining out on days like this unless they can order off the regular menu. And, this year, we noticed more places offering that alternative.

This is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so expect many special prix fixe menus. Also, don't be surprised if you have to leave a credit card to guarantee a reservation and a cancellation fee.

Have a Chocolate Lover to Impress?

Consider a visit to the Café Fleuri Chocolate bar where you can offer your love a choice of 25 different chocolate desserts.

A perfectly ordinary afternoon turned into a romantic memory when Ed and I shared this giant profiterole at Petit Robert in the South End.

When a Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner Is on the Menu…
- Open Table has a list of restaurants, and note if they have a special menu or if their regular menu is available.
- Boston Chefs has a list with some information at this link.
- Most Romantic Tables In Town from UrbanDaddy
Reservations at wonderful, romantic restaurants go quickly. But, we have lots of ideas for all types of celebrations for budgets of all sizes. Today, we'll address where to dine. There are more ideas on some of our past Valentine posts. These are from other times, so check for details with the places mentioned.

Updates will appear here as we find lists of ideas from reliable resources:

From last year, here's The Cambridge Day guide to an Interesting Valentines Day

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Romantic Dining in Boston with a Foreign Travel Theme (Some of our favorite restaurants offer an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music, and food all bring you to another land.)

Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common (A Romantic but inexpensive date.) And, now you can also skate at the Boston Harbor Hotel and slip into the bar for a glass of champagne after that hand holding exercise.

Need some Valentine's Day gift ideas? Click over to Amazon and do some planning, and if you do buy something there, they'll put a few coins in our tip cup.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photo: top photo from iStockphoto.com, Chocolate Bar photo from Cafe Fleuri.

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January 13, 2015
Then & Now: Filene’s Corner Holiday Decorations #Throwbackthursday

Sometime around 1954, photographer Leslie Jones documented the holiday decorations on many of the major downtown Boston department stores. Here are two of his photos of the corner of the Filene's building.

This photo with the tree as the focal point can be found at this link.

Here's the same view earlier this month. The canopy that held the tree is being renovated.

In this shot (found at this link), the two bottom bells of the Filene's carillon can be seen.

Here's a similar view today. While many things have changed, the flag for E.B. Horn Jewelers (founded in 1839) can be seen across Washington Street in both.

The Filene's Building

Bostonian's have a habit of clinging to old descriptions of places so, for a few more years, this will be known as the Filene's Building. It recently reopened after being empty and under construction since 2006. The current owners are referring to it as the Burnham Building.

Edward Filene commissioned this building for his department store in 1911-1912. It was designed by architect Pierce Anderson of D.H. Burnham & Company, the firm named for the renowned Midwest architect Daniel Burnham.

For PBS Masterpiece fans, Burnham also designed Selfridge & Co. Department Store, in London.

And, for twitter followers of Max Grinnel (@theurbanologist), Anderson was the architect for the Marshall Field and Company building in Chicago. Thus, we have another Chicago/Boston connection.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo today, © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino. Historic photos: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. (Used under creative commons license.)

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December 18, 2014
Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2014 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2015
Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place!

This is an outdated post. Click below for the link to:

Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2015 & New Year's Day Brunch 2016

And, this year we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2015 with friends and family around a brunch table.

We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.
- Are you looking for a place to ring in 2015 with a happy crowd?
- Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
- Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration?
- Is a walk to view the ice sculptures and skating on the Frog Pond more your style?
We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like.

Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's celebrations at area restaurants.

You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.

The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.

We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.

We Do Recommend!

There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputation on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and, for that kindness, we've put them at the top of this list.
- Eastern Standard, next door, is doing the same. Regular menu, great wine list, craft cocktails.
- Coppa Enoteca will close from 3-5 on the 31st to prepare for a three-course Chef's menu – $55 per person.
- Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
- Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
- Brasserie JO has a special menu but alway provides great food in a relaxed atmosphere, and their desserts are a party in themselves.
Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

New Year's Day Brunch

Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 AM to come up with our recommendations.
- Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day.
- Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar will be open with their great brunch menu.
To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo: iStockphoto.com

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