Category: Very inexpensive or FREE!

Love Those South End Fences

As a fan of traditional architecture, different parts of Boston attract me with their delightful details. The South End is rich in wonderful buildings filled with outstanding design elements. But as I walk there, my eye is constantly seeking out the rows of cast iron fences marching along the streets.

Fences, like the one in Ed's photo above, have an unmistakable strength and dignity and seem to unite buildings into strings of neighbors. With the brick sidewalks, they give you a sense of time and place.

A big thank you to The South End Historical Society for helping to restore and preserve this trademark in their neighborhood.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Ed Cherubino

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July 21, 2012
Archaeology Dig on Your Bucket List? Here’s Your Chance…

The City of Boston Archaeology Program is asking for volunteers to help them sort through items found on the Boston Common. We think this will fascinate some of our readers so we're making this our Friday link.

They say, "This week's goals are to finish cataloging the 2012 Boston Common Men's Comfort Station and sorting of the 95 boxes of artifacts from previous excavations on the Common. With some luck and lots of volunteer help, we could have one of the most important archaeological collections in the City in organized and stable conditions. Interested in volunteering at the lab?"

If you are, click here to send an email to Joseph Bagley, the city archaeologist.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screengrab from the City of Boston Archaeology Facebook page

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 20, 2012
Wine Cork as Chopstick Rest

I walked into the kitchen to find my favorite wooden chopsticks drying on the counter. Ed had them resting on the cork from the wine we had with dinner. Brilliant! From now on, I'll grab a cork every time I grab chopsticks!

Do you save wine corks? Do you recycle them? Have secret uses for them? Please share in the comment section below!

A Champagne cork has a built-in groove for the chopsticks.

But, you can use any cork!

And, if you want to make a lasting set, you could trim a sliver off each cork with a serrated knife (watch your fingers) so the corks have a flat side. That would work even better. You might also choose corks from bottles of wine you've opened on special occasions to remember those events.

We've also cut corks in half on the diagonal to use as wedges to keep doors open at rental homes or to prevent tables from wobbling. I still recall the amazed look on a waiter's face the time we asked for a cork and a steak knife to solve their tippy table issue.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 18, 2012
Framing the Square

Copley Square seen through the frame of the doors at the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library.

Here are a few of the books on Boston architecture that Penny relies on to research her newspaper columns on architecture. Remember, when you Shop Amazon Gold Box with New Deals Every Day from here, you support this site and keep the Zest coming your way.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 14, 2012
Step On It – Boston’s Sidewalk Scavenger Hunt

Today we're linking to a WalkBoston event coming up on July 21st. You have one week to sign up and get ready.

Step On It – Boston's Sidewalk Scavenger Hunt is an opportunity for turning a walk with friends into an adventure in how much you really know about Boston.

You put together a team, check in at 2:20 pm on the 21st at the designated location, pick up your sheet of sidewalk clues, and set out to find 15 secret objects. By 4 pm, you return to the starting point to see if you've won and enjoy sharing hunt stories with other teams.

Full details here, then sign up here.

It sounds like a great way to enjoy a summer afternoon with friends in the city while becoming better acquainted with a great organization. WalkBoston is the one group that stands up for walkers, first and foremost, in this city.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 13, 2012
North End Waterfront: Our Friday Link

When we want to know what's happening in the North End or Waterfront area, we click over to NorthEndWaterfront.com.

For Locals

If you live in or near the neighborhood, it is essential reading. Or, if you are simply devoted fans of the area and want to know all the details of new restaurants, festivals, people and places, it's a perfect daily visit. For example, here's a link to the 2012 Feast Schedule.

If you live in a different neighborhood, it's good to see the issues that these neighbors face and how they are dealing with them. Sharing information between Boston's distinct communities can be powerful.

For Visitors to Boston

When we visit a new place, Penny will read the local papers and community websites. This gives us a sense of what's going on around us as we walk the streets and sit in the cafes.

For anyone who wants to make the North End an important part of their Boston visit, this is one site to research before you arrive. You'll find listings of Attractions and Tours plus maps showing WiFi hot spots, parking, and restaruants.

We admit to being a bit addicted to the site. We subscribe to the site's RSS feed, follow it on Twitter, and Facebook. We are great admirers of the dedication and skill that Matt Conti puts into this site and hope you will click over, explore, and find that you enjoy it too.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 6, 2012
Take a July 4th Revolutionary Stroll in the Heart of Boston

While you're waiting for the concert and fireworks, consider taking a stroll to visit some of the people who led the battle for independence.

In addition to George Washington, you'll also find statues honoring Revolutionary heroes Colonel Thomas Cass, and Tadeusz Kościuszko in the Boston Public Garden.

The Commonwealth Avenue Mall has three important figures from the Revolutionary War: Alexander Hamilton, General John Glover, and Abigail Adams.

And, of course, the Freedom Trail is the perfect hop-on-hop-off path that honors the people and places that played a leading role in what we celebrate today!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 4, 2012
Friday Links to Free Music!
Summer in Boston is full of opportunities to enjoy free and low-cost concerts. Today, we're linking to some of the free ones but we invite you to add links to other low cost options in the comments section.
Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above.

Shannon Selig (photos above) opened the Prudential Center Lunchtime Concert series on Tuesday. This free concert series is part of the Berklee Summer in the City program.

Keep your eye on Shannon and get out and see her whenever you can. She's piling up awards and we think this young singer/songwriter has a very bright future. These and few additional photos of this concert are in our Smug Mug gallery.

Berklee Summer in the CIty

Berklee will be treating us to music at dozens of locations in and outside the city. If you get out to one of the concerts be sure to pick up the Berklee Summer in the City brochure. It features concerts by series, by location, by date and featured artists. You can also find the information on line here.

Boston Public Library Courtyard

Bacchante and Infant Faun are dancing on water in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library. Mark your calendars! The popular, free, Friday lunchtime concert series has returned to the courtyard and continues through the end of August. Here's a link to details of the full schedule.

Hatch Shell Concert Series 2012

In 1939, the trustees of Maria E. Hatch’s estate entered into an agreement to give the Commonwealth of Massachusetts $300,000 to build a concertorium, or music shell, on the Storrow Memorial Embankment in Boston. It would be a memorial to her bother, Boston real estate auctioneer, Edward Hatch.

The agreement was very specific as to the use of the structure. It would be for “musical and artistic purposes… of general public interest and entertainment, except, however, that it shall not be used for sectarian, political or controversial purposes.” Here's this year's list of musical presentations!

More Series at More Locations

Boston: City Hall Plaza and Christopher Columbus Park Series

Boston: Boston Harbor Hotel Free Entertainment Series on Rose Wharf

Boston: Downtown Crossing Street Music Series

Boston: Post Office Square Summer Lunch Concert Series

Cambridge: Regattabar Courtyard Series with Berklee College of Music

Cambridge: Club Passim/Berklee Summer Concert Series at Kendall Square and Harvard Square

Okay, we have the list started. Add your favorite free, or low-cost, summer concerts in the comments.

Related Posts: For our Friday link collection click here.

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Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
June 15, 2012
What’s Open on July 4th, 2012 in Boston & MBTA Schedules

Here's a run-down of what's Open & Closed in Boston on Monday, July 4th, 2012 and changes to MBTA schedules.

This is an old post. Here's a link is the 2015 resource page for July 4th:

What's Open on July 4th, 2015 in Boston, Parking, Trash & MBTA Schedules

We publish these reminders before a holiday to help you make your plans, and we update the information as more official word is released. Follow us on Twitter to be notified of updates. Or, scroll down to the bottom of this post and subscribe to the comment feed to receive email notice of updates.

Photo: John Schinker used under this creative commons license. Here's a link to his wonderful July 4th photostream!

Restaurants, bars: Open

Convenience stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose.

Liquor stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities: Closed. This includes: Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a "Bank Holiday" with both banks and the stock markets in the United States closed. Some international markets are open. Also, some banks may open certain branch offices– often those inside supermarkets. Check with your own financial institution for details.

Photo: John Schinker used under this creative commons license.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. There will be some temporary parking restrictions and some street closures in the areas surrounding the Charles River Esplanade on July 4th.

Street Sweeping: The city 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."

Boston Trash: from the city's site, "Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4 | 7am – Saturday, July 7, 2012 | 5pm. Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in South Boston, Allston, Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury AND your trash and recycling is normally collected on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

Here are some of our related posts about July 4th, the Charles RIver, and the Esplanade

    How to Get to the Esplanade from Boston

    Once Grand, Now Unnoticed

    Charles River Clean Up Boat Update

MBTA Schedule Changes

Here's a link to the information released by the MBTA. With all the special schedules for the tall ships in addition to the July 4th schedule changes, we feel you need to look at the original material.

Remember! Fare increases and some changes to MBTA services including The Ride are "effective July 1, 2012." Check www.MBTA.com in advance to be certain the bus, or train, and the stop that you intend to use is still available.

Save storage space with these collapsible coolers. Perfect for small city homes. We have an older version of the Arctic Zone 30 model, and it's amazing at keeping things chilled. We not only use it for picnics, but grab it to go grocery shopping.

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Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: By John Schinker used under this creative commons license. Here's a link to his wonderful July 4th photostream!

June 12, 2012
Dragon Boat Weekend in Photos!
The Boston Dragon Boat Festival participants could not have imagined a better weekend than this one. And, we were very happy to have had two perfect days to capture photos for an upcoming project.
Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above. All photos © 2012 The Cherubinos, all rights reserved.

The time trials used to determine the seed order for the final races were held on Saturday. It was fun to watch the boats set up, start, and the teamwork onboard each dragon boat. We also enjoyed seeing the pre-race workouts and coaching. And, the people who are part of this sport.
Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above.

On Saturday, we walked back to Boston with Sheryl Mendlinger a member of the Wellness Warriors team. You'll see a lot of this crew and their pink boat in the photos. They won our hears and our cheers!

"It’s a cancer team for men & women– all cancers. And, we paddle on the Charles River,” Sheryl told us. “It’s just phenomenal! It’s one thing having to go through cancer, it’s another thing being on a team where you’re out there and you feel physically alive again.”
Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above.

Sunday was race day and the day of a culture festival on the banks of the Charles. It's an event that we highly recommend. And, if you're looking for a new obsession in life, we recommend dragon boats. The looks on the faces of almost everyone taking part in this sport make you want to try it.

We've put a full album of photos in our gallery over at SmugMug. The folks over there take care of all our photo printing and can put a photo on a full line of items from postcards to mousepads. We do our part and let them do theirs!

Here are the photos from the Saturday time trials.

Here are the photos from Sunday, Race day with a few of our favorites from the festival.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino, all rights reserved. Use requires written permission.

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.
June 11, 2012