Category: Very inexpensive or FREE!

Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series
Some of our favorite summer "appointments" are with the talented musicians performing as part of the Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series that opened on Wednesday afternoon.

As you can see from this 2008 photo, we've been enjoying this summer series for a long time.

Here are the details for this year's series:

Time and Place: Wednesdays and Fridays in June, July, and August, the courtyard at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street, will feature music selections from a variety of influences, from jazz and folk to classical and contemporary music. Concerts are held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. through August 28. All concerts are free and last approximately one hour.

Sponsors and Other Information: The Concerts in the Courtyard series is co-sponsored by Deloitte and the Boston Public Library Foundation. During the Wednesday evening concerts, light refreshments will be available for purchase. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside to the Commonwealth Salon.

June Concerts
- Aliya Cycon Project, Wednesday, June 3, 6 p.m. Cycon uses her reverence for the Arabic tradition to highlight her unique voice in compositions and performances.
- Neha, Friday, June 5, 12:30 p.m. A singer, composer, and pianist, Neha’s style is a mix of musical personalities, including jazz, folk, blues, pop, and her mother’s classical Indian musical background.
- Nicolás Castañeda Group, Wednesday, June 10, 6 p.m. Nicolás Castañeda Group is a project based on contemporary Colombian music.
- Patrick Coman, Friday, June 12, at 12:30 p.m. Patrick Coman merges barroom shuffles with the sounds of his native Oklahoma.
- ChoroBop, Wednesday, June 17, 6 p.m. ChoroBop’s repertoire is based on the roots of Brazilian choro, jazz, and contemporary music influences.
- Akiko Kobayashi, Friday, June 19, 12:30 p.m. Akiko Kobayashi performs as both a soloist and a chamber musician at renowned national and international festivals.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. Wambura Mitaru is a passionate singer and songwriter from Nairobi who blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, and sounds from her African background.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, June 26, 12:30 p.m. Properly Unprepared is a five-piece jazz combo that plays classics by artist such as Miles Davis along with more contemporary jazz.
July Concerts
- Felipe Abad, Wednesday, July 1, 6 p.m.
- Handel & Haydn Society, Friday, July 3, 12:30 p.m.
- Honeysuckle, Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.
- Cocek! Brass Band, Friday, July 10, 12:30 p.m
- Charles Overton, Wednesday, July 15, 6 p.m.
- Women in World Jazz, Friday, July 17, 12:30 p.m.
- Damn Tall Buildings, Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Friday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m.
- Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Intensive Community Program, Friday, July 31, 12:30 p.m.
August Concerts
- The Wiles, Wednesday, August 5, 6 p.m.
- Kevin Harris Project, Friday, August 7, 12:30 p.m.
- MIXCLA, Wednesday, August 12, 6 p.m.
- Hiroya Tsukamoto, Friday, August 14, 12:30 p.m.
- The Ivy Age, Wednesday, August 19, 6 p.m.
- Thompson-Lamb-Panitch Folk Trio, Friday, August 21, 12:30 p.m.
- Ludovica Burtone, Wednesday, August 26, 6 p.m.
- Handel and Haydn Society, Friday, August 28, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2008-2014 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Market Report: 2015 Summer Farmers Markets "One Every Day of the Week"

Market Report: Summer Farmers Markets Opening Dates 2015

Best Bite: Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar
June 5, 2015
What’s Happening in June 2015 Around Boston
We always call June the quiet month and our favorite month in Boston. Most of the students are gone, the big summer tourist season is a few weeks away, the city is filled with fresh blooms, the temperatures are usually moderate, and we can enjoy a staycation in our favorite city.

(Giant allium in June in the Boston Public Garden.)

Events and Holidays in June

Dragon Boat Festival, June 13-14: The Dragon Boat Festival takes place along the Charles River and is a fun spectator event. You can pack a picnic and take a nice long walk along the river bank or set out a blanket and let the fun pass by your spot.

June 18th is International Picnic Day: We include International Picnic Day only because we think of June as picnic month, so pick your own day to celebrate al fresco dining in one of your favorite Boston Spots.

Father’s Day is June 21st: Taking Dad out for Father's Day does not seem to be as popular at taking Mom out in May. But there will be a few places offering special menus and later this month we'll have a post with a few recommendations.

Summer Solstice is June 21st: While this may not be given its proper due as a holiday, we recognize it and there will be a few celebrations around the area.

(Dragon Boat Festival: Our favorite team is Wellness Warriors.)

Conventions

Here are a couple of happenings that will impact hotel pricing and availability.

Graduation Season ends with MIT’s Commencement on June 5th. That makes June a much better time to travel to Boston.
- June 6-8 will see a convention with an estimated 15,000 on hand
- June 13-17 will see three conventions with just under 10,000 estimated attendees
What Are Your Favorite June Pastimes?

Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to our upcoming post with some of the things we are looking forward to doing.

Some of our favorite summer "appointments" are with the talented musicians performing as a part of the Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series that opened on Wednesday June 3rd. We'll have more about those in an upcoming post.

And, for a wider list of event including those things we don't enjoy, recommend, or even think about, head over to this link on the Boston TripAdvisor forum where a group of volunteers with much wider tastes add to a conversation that Penny begins each month.

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: © 2011-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Petie Prances & Kicks Up His Heels with the Joy of Spring

Patio & Picnic Season Means More Dining Out Options

DCR's Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015
June 2, 2015
What’s Happening in June 2015 Around Boston
We always call June the quiet month and our favorite month in Boston. Most of the students are gone, the big summer tourist season is a few weeks away, the city is filled with fresh blooms, the temperatures are usually moderate, and we can enjoy a staycation in our favorite city.

(Giant allium in June in the Boston Public Garden.)

Events and Holidays in June

Dragon Boat Festival, June 13-14: The Dragon Boat Festival takes place along the Charles River and is a fun spectator event. You can pack a picnic and take a nice long walk along the river bank or set out a blanket and let the fun pass by your spot.

June 18th is International Picnic Day: We include International Picnic Day only because we think of June as picnic month, so pick your own day to celebrate al fresco dining in one of your favorite Boston Spots.

Father’s Day is June 21st: Taking Dad out for Father's Day does not seem to be as popular at taking Mom out in May. But there will be a few places offering special menus and later this month we'll have a post with a few recommendations.

Summer Solstice is June 21st: While this may not be given its proper due as a holiday, we recognize it and there will be a few celebrations around the area.

(Dragon Boat Festival: Our favorite team is Wellness Warriors.)

Conventions

Here are a couple of happenings that will impact hotel pricing and availability.

Graduation Season ends with MIT’s Commencement on June 5th. That makes June a much better time to travel to Boston.
- June 6-8 will see a convention with an estimated 15,000 on hand
- June 13-17 will see three conventions with just under 10,000 estimated attendees
What Are Your Favorite June Pastimes?

Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to our upcoming post with some of the things we are looking forward to doing.

Some of our favorite summer "appointments" are with the talented musicians performing as a part of the Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series that opened on Wednesday June 3rd. We'll have more about those in an upcoming post.

And, for a wider list of event including those things we don't enjoy, recommend, or even think about, head over to this link on the Boston TripAdvisor forum where a group of volunteers with much wider tastes add to a conversation that Penny begins each month.

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: © 2011-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Petie Prances & Kicks Up His Heels with the Joy of Spring

Patio & Picnic Season Means More Dining Out Options

DCR's Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015
June 2, 2015
Documenting the Longfellow Bridge Project

This week's Friday Link is the Longfellow Bridge construction progress Flicker photostream created and curated by photographer Sarah Bourne.

Here's a Longfellow cover shot that Penny did for a Back Bay Sun assignment in 2011.

Sarah has reserved the copyright to her photos. Because we try to always honor a photographer's wishes, we can't use one of her photos here. But, be assured, this collection is a great record with wonderful photos showing the progress month-to-month.

A tip of the hat to Adam Gaffin over at Universal Hub (UH) for bringing this collection to the attention of his readers. Not only is UH the best place for breaking news, but it also shares some great Boston features that might be overlooked if not for this invaluable site.

Thanks to Sarah for her great work. Please take the time to click through the stages of construction and the seasonal changes along the river.

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

Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

Petie Prances & Kicks Up His Heels with the Joy of Spring

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

May 29, 2015
Documenting the Longfellow Bridge Project

This week's Friday Link is the Longfellow Bridge construction progress Flicker photostream created and curated by photographer Sarah Bourne.

Here's a Longfellow cover shot that Penny did for a Back Bay Sun assignment in 2011.

Sarah has reserved the copyright to her photos. Because we try to always honor a photographer's wishes, we can't use one of her photos here. But, be assured, this collection is a great record with wonderful photos showing the progress month-to-month.

A tip of the hat to Adam Gaffin over at Universal Hub (UH) for bringing this collection to the attention of his readers. Not only is UH the best place for breaking news, but it also shares some great Boston features that might be overlooked if not for this invaluable site.

Thanks to Sarah for her great work. Please take the time to click through the stages of construction and the seasonal changes along the river.

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

Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

Petie Prances & Kicks Up His Heels with the Joy of Spring

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

May 29, 2015
Waiting for Swan Boat Rides on Memorial Day Weekend

The line of people waiting to start their summer season with a Memorial Day Weekend Swan Boat ride in the Boston Public Garden went off the dock, up the path, and out of sight.

We hope this weekend has been a great start to summer for all our readers. Here's a link to our Memorial Day resource page:

What's Open and Closed on Memorial Day 2015 In Boston + MBTA Schedules with Parking Trash & More.

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

May 25, 2015
Waiting for Swan Boat Rides on Memorial Day Weekend

The line of people waiting to start their summer season with a Memorial Day Weekend Swan Boat ride in the Boston Public Garden went off the dock, up the path, and out of sight.

We hope this weekend has been a great start to summer for all our readers. Here's a link to our Memorial Day resource page:

What's Open and Closed on Memorial Day 2015 In Boston + MBTA Schedules with Parking Trash & More.

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

May 25, 2015
DCR’s Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015
Our Friday Link today will take you to the DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) site for Universal Access to State Recreation facilities. And, we wanted to let you know that DCR is holding an Accessible Recreation Fair on May 30, 2015.

More and more citizens and visitors are asking about ways they can enjoy many of the places the Boston area has to offer with friends or family members who have different levels of mobility or other issues that require some special support.

You can see the cover of the department's current brochure on the program above. You can download a copy here. Download DCR accessbroch or from the state site at this link.

The brochure covers categories of what they call experiences that will be right for a wide range of abilities.

It charts what is available by park within regions.

And, it covers what you can do at each place.

Accessible Recreation Fair
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015

Time: 10am – 3pm

Place: Artesani Park/Herter Park, 1231 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA (map)

Cost: Free!

Information / Registration: 617-626-1294

They say: "Come join DCR’s Universal Access Program and a host of other regional adaptive recreation organizations for a fun-filled day! Enjoy scenic views of the Charles River and social connections! Sign up for summer programs such as sailing, kayaking, hiking and more!"
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
Images: Courtesy of DCR

Related articles

Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

Boston's Number One Taxi

Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend
May 22, 2015
DCR’s Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015
Our Friday Link today will take you to the DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) site for Universal Access to State Recreation facilities. And, we wanted to let you know that DCR is holding an Accessible Recreation Fair on May 30, 2015.

More and more citizens and visitors are asking about ways they can enjoy many of the places the Boston area has to offer with friends or family members who have different levels of mobility or other issues that require some special support.

You can see the cover of the department's current brochure on the program above. You can download a copy here. Download DCR accessbroch or from the state site at this link.

The brochure covers categories of what they call experiences that will be right for a wide range of abilities.

It charts what is available by park within regions.

And, it covers what you can do at each place.

Accessible Recreation Fair
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015

Time: 10am – 3pm

Place: Artesani Park/Herter Park, 1231 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA (map)

Cost: Free!

Information / Registration: 617-626-1294

They say: "Come join DCR’s Universal Access Program and a host of other regional adaptive recreation organizations for a fun-filled day! Enjoy scenic views of the Charles River and social connections! Sign up for summer programs such as sailing, kayaking, hiking and more!"
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
Images: Courtesy of DCR

Related articles

Changes in Boston Dog Licensing for 2015

Boston's Number One Taxi

Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend
May 22, 2015
North Bennet Street School’s “Made by Hand: an exhibit of extraordinary craftsmanship”

The North Bennet Street School is a Boston treasure where students follow their hearts and make their career dreams come true. From May 18th to the 29th, 2015 the school presents, "Made by Hand: an exhibit of extraordinary craftsmanship." (details below)

At this event, you can view dozens of one-of-a-kind objects created by North Bennet Street School students and alumni.

If you've been following along with us for the past decade, you know that this BostonZest team is a big fan of fine craftsmanship. We admit to having a fascination with this magical place and the people who make it so special. Here are a few examples of what to expect.

Title: Spice Cabinet Artist: Chris Anderson, Materials: walnut, holly, black locust, red cedar

Title: Samurai Chain Mail Bracelet Artist: John Gifford, Materials: 18-karat yellow gold

Title: 1580 Gasparo Da Salo (copy) Artist: Julia Felix, Materials: Ebony, Bosnian Maple, European Spruce

Title: The Robin and the Wren, Artist: Becky Koch, Materials: cave paper, goat skin

QUICK FACTS:

Once again, we must thank the information team at NBSS for putting together this great quick facts guide for our readers.

Event title: “Made by Hand: an exhibit of extraordinary craftsmanship”

Where: Windgate Gallery, North Bennet Street School, 150 North Street, Boston MA 02109

When: weekdays, May 18 through May 29, 2015 (closed Tuesday, May 19), and Saturday May 23

Hours: weekdays, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. (Friday, May 29, 8:00am – noon.) Saturday 9:00am – 4:30pm

Admission: Free

Handicap Access: Yes

Reservations: Not required for the main exhibition. Pre-arranged guided tours of the school available, provided reservations are made at least one day in advance.

Parking: Limited street parking (metered) and discounted parking at the Parcel 7 garage –http://www.nbss.edu/about/the-boston-area/visit/index.aspx#

Nearest T stop: Haymarket (Orange, Green lines)

Directions: via Google maps – http://goo.gl/maps/97sY4

More exhibition details: http://www.nbss.edu/about/news/student-and-alumni-exhibit2015/index.aspx
More about NBSS full-time programs and workshops: http://www.nbss.edu

In conjunction with the annual exhibition, a limited number of daily guided tours will be offered beginning Wednesday, May 20th. Tours must be scheduled at least one day in advance. For reservations, contact Chris Jankowski at 617-227-0155, x170 and cjankowski@nbss.edu.

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover this amazing place full of very talented people.

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: Courtesy of North Bennet Street School

May 15, 2015