Category: Resources

  • Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2013

    DSC_6028 - Version 22011-04-18-runners-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's how to track a friend or any runner competing in the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2013.

    UPDATE: Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2016

    • You can check the BAA site for those who finished before the explosions.
    • Google.org has activated its Person Finder. There you can enter the name of the person you are trying to locate or add information that you have about someone others might be seeking. If you were part of the race and are safe, you can add your status.
    • You can call the City of Boston Hotline for families trying to locate loved ones, 617-635-4500.
    • From @notifyBoston: "Information & resource center open today, 9am, Park Plaza Castle. Latest City details: http://ow.ly/k6J4C " (map)

    The rest of the tracking information on this page no longer applies!

    The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Website explains:

     The B.A.A. will post split times to its website during the race. This feature, complete with search access directions, will not show up on their official site until race day.

    To learn how to Track a Boston Marathon Runner, Click Here then select, “Q: How can family members at home track me in the Boston Marathon?” 

    Mobile Phone Alert System

    The Boston Athletic Association also has set up the "AT&T Athlete Alert Program." It allows you to receive updates on a runner’s progress. Here’s how to sign-up!   

    DSC_5768 - Version 22011-04-18-hall-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Where are the Leaders & Crowd Favorites?

    For a rough idea of where the race leaders are, in relation to your viewing position, watch the sky for the helicopters that hover above them.

    For favorites, you must rely on the roar of the crowd as they approach. Or, you can track your favorite by using the mobile alert system.

    Related Posts: A collection of tips for Marathon weekends

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2013

    Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend 2013

    What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day 2013

    Work Out on a Public Parcourse along the Charles River

    How to Get to the Esplanade from Boston

    Do you have enough memory for all the photos you'll want to shoot at the Boston Marathon? Do you need a new camera for the race? Begin your shopping by Click here to check the prices at Amazon on great items like Transcend SDHC Flash Memory Cards

    This Canon PowerShot G15 camera  will give you what you need to take stills and video the event. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras.  And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed Shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR to and we just added Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:
    Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Website     
    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011 Penny 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 comments 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 out of comments.

  • Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2013

    DSC_6028 - Version 22011-04-18-runners-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's how to track a friend or any runner competing in the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2013.

    UPDATE: Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2016

    • You can check the BAA site for those who finished before the explosions.
    • Google.org has activated its Person Finder. There you can enter the name of the person you are trying to locate or add information that you have about someone others might be seeking. If you were part of the race and are safe, you can add your status.
    • You can call the City of Boston Hotline for families trying to locate loved ones, 617-635-4500.
    • From @notifyBoston: "Information & resource center open today, 9am, Park Plaza Castle. Latest City details: http://ow.ly/k6J4C " (map)

    The rest of the tracking information on this page no longer applies!

    The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Website explains:

     The B.A.A. will post split times to its website during the race. This feature, complete with search access directions, will not show up on their official site until race day.

    To learn how to Track a Boston Marathon Runner, Click Here then select, “Q: How can family members at home track me in the Boston Marathon?” 

    Mobile Phone Alert System

    The Boston Athletic Association also has set up the "AT&T Athlete Alert Program." It allows you to receive updates on a runner’s progress. Here’s how to sign-up!   

    DSC_5768 - Version 22011-04-18-hall-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Where are the Leaders & Crowd Favorites?

    For a rough idea of where the race leaders are, in relation to your viewing position, watch the sky for the helicopters that hover above them.

    For favorites, you must rely on the roar of the crowd as they approach. Or, you can track your favorite by using the mobile alert system.

    Related Posts: A collection of tips for Marathon weekends

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2013

    Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend 2013

    What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day 2013

    Work Out on a Public Parcourse along the Charles River

    How to Get to the Esplanade from Boston

    Do you have enough memory for all the photos you'll want to shoot at the Boston Marathon? Do you need a new camera for the race? Begin your shopping by Click here to check the prices at Amazon on great items like Transcend SDHC Flash Memory Cards

    This Canon PowerShot G15 camera  will give you what you need to take stills and video the event. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras.  And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed Shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR to and we just added Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:
    Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) Website     
    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011 Penny 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 comments 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 out of comments.

  • When Saint Patrick’s Day, Evacuation Day (March 17, 2013) Falls on a Sunday…

    This year, Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday so I'm curious – will city and state workers in Suffolk County be off on Monday, will City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County shut down, and will parking, trash, and liquor sales be impacted for the day? You'll find the answers below.

    For the latest information go to our 2015 Post on this topic.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e890b7b2970c-800wi

    I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the weekend date to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.

    Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

    6a00e54fc42bb888340112796f2a3328a4-800wi

    About your holiday questions

    According to the Secretary of State's website,

    "All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday."

    A call to the Secretary of State's office confirmed that State Government no longer shuts down on Evacuation Day. State offices will be open.

    The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays that change parking regulations or trash pick up, but the meters are free on Sunday anyway (details here), and there is no trash pick up scheduled. A call to city hall confirmed that it will be open on Monday!

    Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. Here's the city's press release from last year. And, Boston.com reported that Police Superintendent William Evans said they would be doing the same this year. 

    Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Here's the list. (This link will disappear after the holiday.)

    We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.

    Update: 03.16.13Here's the City Traffic Advisory to St. Patrick's Day Events.

    Related Posts:

    Irish Breakfast at the Squealing Pig

    Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day

    What's on your Amazon shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny  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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • When Saint Patrick’s Day, Evacuation Day (March 17, 2013) Falls on a Sunday…

    This year, Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday so I'm curious – will city and state workers in Suffolk County be off on Monday, will City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County shut down, and will parking, trash, and liquor sales be impacted for the day? You'll find the answers below.

    For the latest information go to our 2015 Post on this topic.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e890b7b2970c-800wi

    I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the weekend date to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.

    Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

    6a00e54fc42bb888340112796f2a3328a4-800wi

    About your holiday questions

    According to the Secretary of State's website,

    "All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday."

    A call to the Secretary of State's office confirmed that State Government no longer shuts down on Evacuation Day. State offices will be open.

    The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays that change parking regulations or trash pick up, but the meters are free on Sunday anyway (details here), and there is no trash pick up scheduled. A call to city hall confirmed that it will be open on Monday!

    Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. Here's the city's press release from last year. And, Boston.com reported that Police Superintendent William Evans said they would be doing the same this year. 

    Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Here's the list. (This link will disappear after the holiday.)

    We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.

    Update: 03.16.13Here's the City Traffic Advisory to St. Patrick's Day Events.

    Related Posts:

    Irish Breakfast at the Squealing Pig

    Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day

    What's on your Amazon shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny  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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • When Saint Patrick’s Day, Evacuation Day (March 17, 2013) Falls on a Sunday…

    This year, Saint Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday so I'm curious – will city and state workers in Suffolk County be off on Monday, will City Hall and the State offices in Suffolk County shut down, and will parking, trash, and liquor sales be impacted for the day? You'll find the answers below.

    For the latest information go to our 2015 Post on this topic.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e890b7b2970c-800wi

    I do know that a lot of people will be taking advantage of the weekend date to come to Boston. Questions about where to stay, which Irish Pub to visit, and how to get around the city have popped up over on the Boston Trip Advisor forum. It looks like visitors are coming here from all over the country and especially from Ireland.

    Do you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day?

    6a00e54fc42bb888340112796f2a3328a4-800wi

    About your holiday questions

    According to the Secretary of State's website,

    "All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday."

    A call to the Secretary of State's office confirmed that State Government no longer shuts down on Evacuation Day. State offices will be open.

    The day is not listed on Boston's list of holidays that change parking regulations or trash pick up, but the meters are free on Sunday anyway (details here), and there is no trash pick up scheduled. A call to city hall confirmed that it will be open on Monday!

    Basically, everything is open. But, in the past, the city has asked South Boston liquor stores and bars to cut off sales early. Here's the city's press release from last year. And, Boston.com reported that Police Superintendent William Evans said they would be doing the same this year. 

    Some MBTA routes in South Boston will be changed because of the parade. Here's the list. (This link will disappear after the holiday.)

    We'll update as press releases come out from around the city.

    Update: 03.16.13Here's the City Traffic Advisory to St. Patrick's Day Events.

    Related Posts:

    Irish Breakfast at the Squealing Pig

    Matt Murphy's Pub Saves the Day

    What's on your Amazon shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2008-2011 Penny  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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • March Is Zeppole Season

    Ready, set, let the drooling begin because the Zeppole di San Giuseppe are ready to float off the trays at your favorite Italian bakery. And, to us, if they aren't light and airy, they don't meet the test. After all, they are named for the famous airships!

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e86d3acf4970d-800wi

    The very best are filled to order like this one from Modern Pastry in Boston's North End. 

    But, while we remind you about these each year, we want to know where your favorites are sold. 

    What is your source for Zeppole and what style do you love? Add your thoughts in the comments below, Tweet it to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestion to this post as an update.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • March Is Zeppole Season

    Ready, set, let the drooling begin because the Zeppole di San Giuseppe are ready to float off the trays at your favorite Italian bakery. And, to us, if they aren't light and airy, they don't meet the test. After all, they are named for the famous airships!

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e86d3acf4970d-800wi

    The very best are filled to order like this one from Modern Pastry in Boston's North End. 

    But, while we remind you about these each year, we want to know where your favorites are sold. 

    What is your source for Zeppole and what style do you love? Add your thoughts in the comments below, Tweet it to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestion to this post as an update.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • March Is Zeppole Season

    Ready, set, let the drooling begin because the Zeppole di San Giuseppe are ready to float off the trays at your favorite Italian bakery. And, to us, if they aren't light and airy, they don't meet the test. After all, they are named for the famous airships!

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e86d3acf4970d-800wi

    The very best are filled to order like this one from Modern Pastry in Boston's North End. 

    But, while we remind you about these each year, we want to know where your favorites are sold. 

    What is your source for Zeppole and what style do you love? Add your thoughts in the comments below, Tweet it to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestion to this post as an update.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • It’s Irish Soda Bread Season!

    Every March, Irish Soda Bread starts showing up everywhere. We've seen it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Markets. But, we prefer the versions from a few favorite area bakeries.

    Where do you buy your favorite Irish breads? Tell us in a comment below or send us an email and we'll add your ideas as an update.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834014e60460637970c-800wi

    Clear Flour Bread had both white Soda Bread with raisins and traditional whole wheat brown bread (above) last weekend. They hope to have it Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through St. Patrick's Day. We recommend getting there early before they run out of the day's supply. And, call ahead on weekdays to see if they happen to have some.

    Clear Flour Bread, 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446 (map & reviews) Phone: 617.739.0060

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b429b9970b-500wi

    Any time of year, you can find a full line of exceptional Irish Breads at Greenhills Irish Bakery in Adams Village, Dorchester. They add caraway seeds to their Irish Raisin Soda Bread (above). It tastes just like the recipe Penny learned to make with her Irish cousins.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b42a69970b

    They also make this Irish Brown Soda Bread that's perfect with meals, a Treacle Soda Bread for those with a sweet tooth, and Irish Barm Brack – a raisin yeast bread. 

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, 780 Adams St, Dorchester, MA (map & reviews) Phone: 617- 825-8187 ‎ 

    DSC_2563 - Version 22013-03-06-irish-soda-bread-trader-joes-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We even took one for the team and taste-tested this "Trader Joe's Blarney Scone Irish Soda Bread." It was not a superlative version but, that said, soda breads are forgiving and there was none left a day later. 

    Over on the Boston Chowhound board, a couple of trusted hounds recommended Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge and Keltic Krust in West Newton as their favorite spots for soda bread. 

    (Update: Keltic Krust closed in 2014)

    Tomorrow, we'll help you learn to make your own soda bread with a great collection of recipes, one of Ed's all time favorite carbo-loading versions, and a great video that shows the technique for Brown Bread that no recipe can completely capture!

    (Update: Here's a link to that post. Irish Soda Bread Recipe Collection.)

    Related Posts:

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, Adams Village Dorchester

    Clear Flour Bread– Clearly Artisan, Clearly Charming…

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2011- 2013 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.

  • It’s Irish Soda Bread Season!

    Every March, Irish Soda Bread starts showing up everywhere. We've seen it at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Markets. But, we prefer the versions from a few favorite area bakeries.

    Where do you buy your favorite Irish breads? Tell us in a comment below or send us an email and we'll add your ideas as an update.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834014e60460637970c-800wi

    Clear Flour Bread had both white Soda Bread with raisins and traditional whole wheat brown bread (above) last weekend. They hope to have it Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through St. Patrick's Day. We recommend getting there early before they run out of the day's supply. And, call ahead on weekdays to see if they happen to have some.

    Clear Flour Bread, 178 Thorndike St., Brookline, MA 02446 (map & reviews) Phone: 617.739.0060

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b429b9970b-500wi

    Any time of year, you can find a full line of exceptional Irish Breads at Greenhills Irish Bakery in Adams Village, Dorchester. They add caraway seeds to their Irish Raisin Soda Bread (above). It tastes just like the recipe Penny learned to make with her Irish cousins.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016763b42a69970b

    They also make this Irish Brown Soda Bread that's perfect with meals, a Treacle Soda Bread for those with a sweet tooth, and Irish Barm Brack – a raisin yeast bread. 

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, 780 Adams St, Dorchester, MA (map & reviews) Phone: 617- 825-8187 ‎ 

    DSC_2563 - Version 22013-03-06-irish-soda-bread-trader-joes-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We even took one for the team and taste-tested this "Trader Joe's Blarney Scone Irish Soda Bread." It was not a superlative version but, that said, soda breads are forgiving and there was none left a day later. 

    Over on the Boston Chowhound board, a couple of trusted hounds recommended Hi-Rise Bread Company in Cambridge and Keltic Krust in West Newton as their favorite spots for soda bread. 

    (Update: Keltic Krust closed in 2014)

    Tomorrow, we'll help you learn to make your own soda bread with a great collection of recipes, one of Ed's all time favorite carbo-loading versions, and a great video that shows the technique for Brown Bread that no recipe can completely capture!

    (Update: Here's a link to that post. Irish Soda Bread Recipe Collection.)

    Related Posts:

    Greenhills Irish Bakery, Adams Village Dorchester

    Clear Flour Bread– Clearly Artisan, Clearly Charming…

     

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: © 2011- 2013 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.