bostonzest

Category: Resources

  • Reserve Now for Thanksgiving 2015 Dining Out in Boston

    It's time to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal at one of the Boston area's great restaurants on Thursday, November 26, 2015.

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    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    We publish these holiday reservation reminders early so that our readers can get a head start and grab a reservation at a worthy spot. We'll keep adding updates as more places announce their intention to open and menus.

    Which Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving?

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this means some excellent choices including:

    Master Lists of Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving.

    The reservation site Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Here are a few that we can recommend from the long Open Table list.

    • La Voile on Newbury Street always plans a special meal for the neighbors who love this small French charmer.
    • Bistro du Midi always serves a wonderful meal. And, if you want lighter fare, their Café will be open at 11 a.m.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you're meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And, they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few options we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu:

    • Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square will be open all day starting with breakfast and will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 1-8 p.m.
    • L'Espalier in the Back Bay will showcase the harvest from Chef McClelland's Apple Street Farm and will offer a three course prix fixe menu or, for a special holiday treat, a degustation menu.
    • Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge
    • Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay comes with a view!
    • One recommendation for a lower cost option with good food would be Petit Robert in Boston.

    A Few Places with Their Regular Menus Available

    Many restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be open. You can check with the Twitter account @bostonchinatown for more details. Update: See Eater Boston's list on this topic below.

    Some chain restaurants will also offer their regular menus.

    Davio's in Boston and Chestnut Hill 

    The Capital Grille Boston, Chestnut Hill, and Burlington

    We'll post updates in this space as other Boston resources post their lists and choices. 

     Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

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  • Veterans Day 2015 What’s Open or Closed in Boston Plus MBTA, Trash & Parking Info

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Veterans Day, information on Boston trash collection, parking meters, and MBTA schedules for Wednesday, November 11, 2015.

    This page is out of date. We have created an ongoing resource page for the Veteran's Day holiday at this link. We update that one each year with any new information that becomes available. 

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    Robert Gould Shaw memorial is cleaned on 2/12/1934 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

    This year, November 11th falls on a Wednesday, giving a few lucky folks a break in the middle of the week.

    We publish these reminders before each holiday to help you make the most of your time off!

    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 are 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 most Banks closed. But, we are noticing that some banks are keeping some branches open, so check with your own institution.

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    Boston Parking: The City says, "City of Boston parking meters are free on Sundays and legal holidays and no time limit is enforced. All other parking regulations, including rush hour restrictions at meters, remain in effect."

    Street Sweeping: 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 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. 

    The MBTA has posted its Veterans Day Schedule.

    The system will operate on a weekday schedule. You will find Complete Details Here. (But, only for a few days before and after the holiday.)

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, "please call the MBTA Customer Service Center at 617-222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)" or contact them at www.mbta.com.

    And, if you have to work: Holiday Pay Information for Retail Establishments from the Secretary of State.

    "Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12 noon, or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll."

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a Birthday or Wedding Gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection. Used under creative commons license

  • Selfies by Photographer Leslie Jones from the Historic BPL Collection

    If you think selfies are something new, think again. It's just the word selfie that's newly recognized. Among the approximately 34,000 images in the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library (BPL) are hundreds of photos, both serious and fun-loving, that Leslie Jones (1886-1967) took of himself.

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    This one looks the most like the selfies we see today. His notes only enable curators to date it as between 1934 – 1956 and it is one of his more serious and formal portraits. 

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    He seemed just as likely to set up a spoof like this one from 1938 showing him and his camera in a horse suit.

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    Here's a photo from 1930 showing him in the darkroom where he must have spent many hours developing, dodging, burning, and cropping his photos. When you think about the catalog of work he produced, remember this was all done on film.

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    This photo from 1929 is titled, "Prof. Leslie R. Jones with his Graflex camera." I wonder what he would have thought of the mobile phones with built in cameras after years of lugging this monster around. And, remember, his selfie stick was likely a heavy duty tripod.

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    From 1927-1928, here is "Leslie Jones and "Smut" showing some tricks, New London, N.H." He was clearly a dog person with lots of photos of his canine family members and many more of himself with family, friends, and fellow photographers. 

    As they have time and resources, the BPL keeps adding to their digitized collection from throughout the library. The Leslie Jones Collection, in particular, has fascinated me for years and, in part, inspired my work photographing the architecture of Boston's Back Bay and Beacon Hill neighborhoods to document the way they look in our time. 

    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 Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

  • Beef Chili Recipe with Sweet Potatoes from Leite’s Culinaria

    For today’s Friday Link, we are sending you to a shredded beef chili recipe with sweet potatoes from one of Penny’s favorite food sites, Leite’s Culinaria.

    Leite's Culinaria

    It caught Penny’s eye and had her saving the recipe because it sounds a lot like one of our favorite chili dishes from Main Streets Market & Cafe in Concord, MA. We always order a bowl of their chili when we visit that charming town. They call theirs, Main Streets Own Beef Chili, and describe it as lightly sweet with butternut squash and no beans.

    Tested Recipes!

    One of the reasons Penny loves Leite’s Culinaria is because their recipes are tested by cooks like us. You get to read their comments and that gives you ideas to use as you make the recipe. This site also has a great following so you will see comments from readers as well. And, if an answer is needed, the writer comes back to reply. 

    We think this is a perfect dish for a cool evening on the roof deck with friends. We hope you enjoy trying it too.

    And, if you love the site and would like to add another cuisine to your repertoire, Penny also loves David Leite’s cookbook, The New Portuguese Table.  

     

    What’s on your Food Lover’s shopping list?

      

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: Screenshot from Leite’s Culinaria. 

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  • “The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science” Is for Cooks of All Skill Levels

    Since I preordered The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, I've had some time to dig into this massive 1,000 page resource for cooks of all levels.

    And, don't be scared off by the term science. “It’s a book about learning the basic science behind food and the basic techniques behind cooking and how to apply those to your own food to make it better,” author J. Kenji Lopez-Alt told the Boston Globe.

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    Soon after I received my hardcover version, I bought The Food Lab's Kindle Edition so I could read it on the go in all those situations where I have to sit and wait. 

    IMG_4775 - Version 22015-10-18small-the-food-lab-cookbook-hardcover-kindle-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    In the interest of full disclosure, Kenji was one of the editors during the years I wrote for Serious Eats. We worked for the same team and I learned a lot from his Food Lab column over there.

    I also fell madly in love with his dogs from the weekly photos of them working hard around Serious Eats Headquarters. That said, our readers know I don't recommend books or other products that have not made a positive difference in my life. 

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    Here's the 30-minute minestrone from the book.

    Why I like The Food Lab

    I learn things from this man. He takes the time to do the testing and research to come up with the path to a great cooking result. Then, he tells you how you can adapt it for your own needs and resources.

    The thoughtfulness starts right inside the covers where that often empty space has conversion charts you'll find yourself flipping to all the time as you work in the kitchen.

    Kenji is a guide rather than a dictator. And, he clearly loves food and cooking. That comes through in every page. He admits that he is not perfect in the kitchen and shares funny stories about his experience with exploding blenders and weaning his wife from her favorite Ikea knife.

    He creates recipes but he also teaches techniques. For example, there is a section on how to make creamy vegetable soups without a recipe. When an appropriate opportunity arises, he'll have a section on knife skills for a particular task. If an ingredient is important and deserves a primer, he'll provide one. In the soup and stew section he has one on onions. (With our recent cold snap, I've been spending time in his Soup and Stews section.)

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    23+soups+152+experiment  

    You'll find dozens of kitchen tips throughout the book. With these and charts, graphs, illustrations, and photographs, he communicates with people the way they learn best. 

    It will take me a while to read this book from cover to cover, but that is something I intend to do. (And, it's why I carry the Kindle edition on my phone.) There is a lot of goodness in these pages and I'm going to take my time and let all this knowledge simmer into my work in the kitchen.

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    Upcoming Boston Appearances

    Kenji will be in Boston starting on Saturday. You can meet him at the following events. 

    BOSTON: THE BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL

    • The book festival event actually changed to 12:30"
    • Copley Square

    Kenji will be presenting his book at The Boston Book Festival, followed by a Q&A session and a book signing.

    ALLSTON, MA: BURGERS AND FRIED CHICKEN AT ROXY'S GRILLED CHEESE

    • Roxy's Grilled Cheese

    Kenji will be teaming up with his buddies from American Burger Revival for a burger and fried chicken sandwich pop-up at Roxy's Grilled Cheese in Allston. Stop by to have some tasty burgers from Richard Chudy and Sam Monsour, and Kenji's kimchi-brined double-fried hot chicken sandwiches, Animal-style fries, and more!

    No tickets necessary.

    Books will be on sale and he'll be signing and chatting with guests all night.

    BOSTON: THE CHICKEN LAB AT THE KIRKLAND TAP AND TROTTER

    • The Kirkland Tap and Trotter

    Kenji will be joining his friend Chef Tony Maws at Kirkland Tap and Trotter for a southern fried chicken feast! Come join them for the best fried chicken in town, to chat, and to get your books signed.

     What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photos: Courtesy of J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (the one with the Kindle by Penny Cherubino)

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  • Furnish the Future Needs Your Gently Used Furniture

    Furnish the Future will find a new home for your gently used furniture, and they will have Gentle Giant Moving Company pick it up for you on November 10 & 11, 2015. But, you only have until October 29th to reserve a pick up for your donation to their pick up list.

    Furniture Drive Flyer 2015 jpg

    Furnish the Future is a partnership of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and Gentle Giant Moving Company. 

    If you would like to promote this project you can download a copy of the flyer above at this link.

    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
    Artwork courtesy of Furnish the Future

  • Furnish the Future Needs Your Gently Used Furniture

    Furnish the Future will find a new home for your gently used furniture, and they will have Gentle Giant Moving Company pick it up for you on November 10 & 11, 2015. But, you only have until October 29th to reserve a pick up for your donation to their pick up list.

    Furniture Drive Flyer 2015 jpg

    Furnish the Future is a partnership of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and Gentle Giant Moving Company. 

    If you would like to promote this project you can download a copy of the flyer above at this link.

    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
    Artwork courtesy of Furnish the Future

  • What’s Open & Closed in Boston on Columbus Day 2017 Plus Trash, Parking, MBTA Schedules & More.

    Here's an updated (on 09/18/17) rundown of what's open and closed in Boston on Columbus Day and changes to MBTA schedules for October 9, 2017. Should additional information become available, we'll also update you on parking, street sweeping, traffic alerts, road closures, parades, and trash collection.

    A few items are highlighted in yellow because the updated information has not been published as of yet. Follow us on Twitter or bookmark this page and return to check for more updates. 

    We feature these reminders before each holiday to help our readers make plans and then feature the information on the holiday. This is a permanent resource page that will be updated annually.

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    This is one of those holidays when, for a lot of people, it's "business as usual." Even the stock market is open. But, if you have the day off, you might enjoy a visit to Opening Our Doors 2017 in the Fenway Cultural District. 

    What's Open?

    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 are 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 most Banks closed. But each year more banks decide to keep a few branches open. Check with your own bank. 

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    Boston Parking: City website says, "Free parking at all city meters. All other rules apply.

    Street Sweeping: City website says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Boston Trash Collection:

    The city of Boston no longer provides a simple paragraph that explains the trash schedule. Now everyone has to go to this page and enter their address in a box to find out when their trash will be picked up during holiday weeks.

    Traffic Alerts/Road Closures: More will be added as we find them:

    MBTA Columbus Day Schedules 2017

    The MBTA schedule changes for Columbus Day, Monday, October 9, 2017, has not been published. The new website does not have a link to find that information. ( We did send a request for an update to the T. We never received a reply.)

    Last year the system ran pretty much on a Weekday Schedule.

    You can Download MBTA Columbus Day 2016 announcement in a pdf form. 

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit them at: www.mbta.com.

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: Courtesy of The Fenway Cultural District 

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  • What’s Open & Closed in Boston on Columbus Day 2017 Plus Trash, Parking, MBTA Schedules & More.

    Here's an updated (on 09/18/17) rundown of what's open and closed in Boston on Columbus Day and changes to MBTA schedules for October 9, 2017. Should additional information become available, we'll also update you on parking, street sweeping, traffic alerts, road closures, parades, and trash collection.

    A few items are highlighted in yellow because the updated information has not been published as of yet. Follow us on Twitter or bookmark this page and return to check for more updates. 

    We feature these reminders before each holiday to help our readers make plans and then feature the information on the holiday. This is a permanent resource page that will be updated annually.

    Screen Shot 2017-09-18 at Monday September 18 201710.15.19 AM

    This is one of those holidays when, for a lot of people, it's "business as usual." Even the stock market is open. But, if you have the day off, you might enjoy a visit to Opening Our Doors 2017 in the Fenway Cultural District. 

    What's Open?

    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 are 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 most Banks closed. But each year more banks decide to keep a few branches open. Check with your own bank. 

    Stock market: Open, as are international markets.

    Boston Parking: City website says, "Free parking at all city meters. All other rules apply.

    Street Sweeping: City website says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Boston Trash Collection:

    The city of Boston no longer provides a simple paragraph that explains the trash schedule. Now everyone has to go to this page and enter their address in a box to find out when their trash will be picked up during holiday weeks.

    Traffic Alerts/Road Closures: More will be added as we find them:

    MBTA Columbus Day Schedules 2017

    The MBTA schedule changes for Columbus Day, Monday, October 9, 2017, has not been published. The new website does not have a link to find that information. ( We did send a request for an update to the T. We never received a reply.)

    Last year the system ran pretty much on a Weekday Schedule.

    You can Download MBTA Columbus Day 2016 announcement in a pdf form. 

    For additional information on routes, schedules, and fares, contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit them at: www.mbta.com.

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: Courtesy of The Fenway Cultural District 

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  • Boston Public Library’s Digital Magazine Service

    These days, I'm spending more time reading magazines because I discovered the Boston Public Library’s digital magazine service.

    BPL digital magazine

    It's another one of the free services included in your Boston Public Library Card. Once you finish the steps to get started with the service, you can browse the newsstand and read the latest issue and a few of the back issues right on your desktop or laptop. 

    If you want to read on your mobile device, you can download the appropriate app and have reading material on hand wherever you are. 

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    I love the option to be notified when a new issue of a favorite magazine is available. I'm using that service for the New Yorker and Saveur right now. This week I enjoyed all the cartoons and a few of the articles in the New Yorker. 

    When they announced this service, the Library said,

    "Boston Public Library now provides library cardholders free access to popular magazines via a digital magazine service, making more than 100 popular English and Spanish language magazines instantly available. The online resource Zinio offers the ability to check out and download titles like National Geographic, ESPN the Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers. Zinio features complete, full-color magazines with intuitive navigation, keyword article search, and interactive audio and video elements.

    “Boston Public Library is pleased to offer this new resource,” said Michael Colford, Director of Library Services. “It is a convenient, free, no-waiting option that appeals to avid magazine readers as well as those who prefer to consume their news and information in digital form.”

    Cardholders can reach the service via the “collections” section of the Boston Public Library website. Library users log in with their Boston Public Library card and then create a library collection account and a Zinio.com reader account. In addition, users have the option of downloading a Zinio app."

    If you don't have a Boston Public Library Card, get one. You might not know that you qualify for a BPL card. 

    Here's the official word on who is eligible:

    "You are eligible for a library card if you are:

    • a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    • a Massachusetts property owner
    • commute to Massachusetts for work
    • residing in Massachusetts while attending school
    • a resident of temporary housing in Massachusetts
    • Library users from outside Massachusetts may apply for a research card for the purpose of using Research Library materials (in-library use only)."

    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 Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino, Screen shot from the Boston Public Library website.