Ed produced a training video showing how to make a great bow for the Garden Club of The Back Bay's Wreath Week fund raising event. It was intended for them to use to train volunteers, but they decided to share it with everyone.
If you've always wanted to make a great bow for your holiday wreath or a special gift, this video will make it easy for you to use wired ribbon to create the bow of your dreams! And, listen when Margaret tells you that twisting that wire tight is the key– it is!
We'd like to thank Margaret Pokorny for her great presentation and for letting us share her expertise with our readers.
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Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on New Year's Day and the MBTA schedules for New Year's Eve December 31, 2011, and New Year's Day January 1, 2012, and Monday January 2, 2012 when the holiday is officially celebrated under state law. This year we have a three day weekend!
Some businesses close early on New Year's Eve but with the crowds expected for First Night, others (especially those in the hospitality business) stay open. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 31st.
Here's what we've learned about January 1st, 2012 New Year's Day and Monday the 2nd.
Restaurants, bars: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Convenience stores:Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Supermarkets: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Retail stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
Liquor stores: Are allowed to open if the owners choose
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.
More after this message…
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Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.
Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works from the Recycling & Trash Holiday Collection Schedule for Monday, January 2 – Saturday, January 7, 2012 says: "Delay trash and recycling pickup 1 day only if you live in Allston, Brighton, Dorcheser, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain***, Mattapan, Roslindale, or West Roxbury.
***If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."
MBTA Service Schedule for New Year’s Weekend. The MBTA says…
"Saturday, December 31, 2011 – New Year’s Eve
FREE SERVICE AFTER 8 PM COMPLETE SCHEDULE AVAILABLE BELOW
The MBTA is providing extra transit services throughout the First Night festivities and will be offering FREE service after 8:00 p.m. Extra MBTA Police will patrol the system to assist with crowd control and safety.
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. Additional trains will operate and provide rush-hour levels of service throughout the evening from 3:00 p.m. until approximately 2:00 a.m. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Commuter Rail Service on New Year’s Eve will operate on a Saturday schedule with extended extra service provided.
THESE ARE THE LAST COMMUTER RAIL TRAINS TO OPERATE. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ALTERNATIVE SERVICES AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS MUST ARRIVE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME.
OUTBOUND FROM NORTH STATION
Fitchburg Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Fitchburg
Haverhill Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Haverhill
Lowell Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Lowell
Rockport Line:
1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. Departure to Rockport*
Newburyport:
12:45 a.m. Departure to Newburyport
*There will be a Newburyport connection at Beverly for the 2:00 a.m. Rockport train.
OUTBOUND FROM SOUTH STATION
Providence Line:
12:45 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. Departure to Providence
Franklin Line:
12:45 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. Departure to Forge Park
Greenbush Line:
1:00 a.m. Departure to Greenbush
Middleboro/Lakeville Line:
1:10 a.m. Departute to Middleboro
Needham Line:
1:00 a.m. Departure to Kingston
Kingston Line:
1:05 a.m. Departure to Kingston
Worcester/Framingham Line:
1:00 a.m. to Worcester
Commuter Boat and Ferry • Inner Harbor Ferry will operate a normal Weekend schedule. • Rowes Wharf/ Hingham Shipyard and Logan Airport (Hull) will not operate. • Quincy Fore River Shipyard to Long Wharf will operate on normal Saturday schedule.
THE RIDE will operate extended hours until 2:30 a.m.
Parking As a way to manage traffic volume, customers are urged to pay upon entering the parking garages.
Sunday, January 1, 2012 – New Year’s Day
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Inner Harbor Ferry and Commuter Boat services will not operate. • THE RIDE will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Monday, January 2, 2012 – New Year’s Day Observed
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Buses, Silver Line, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Rowes Wharf/ Hingham Shipyard and Logan Airport (Hull) will not operate. • Quincy Fore River Shipyard to Long Wharf will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Inner Harbor Ferry will operate on Weekend schedule. • THE RIDE Service will not offer subscription service. Customers should contact their contractors for service information.
For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the MBTA Customer Communications Department at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: istockphoto.com
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Time to make your reservations for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day dining in Boston.
New Year's Eve, this year, is on a Saturday night and the New Year's holiday will officially be celebrated on Monday, so you have a long weekend to dine and enjoy the Boston restaurant scene.
Tell us what you plan to do and share some of your best New Year's Eve Dining experiences in the comment section.
What's your goal in finding a place to dine in Boston on New Year's Eve 2011? Are you looking for a place to ring in 2012 with a happy crowd? Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration?
We fall into the food-loving quiet celebration group, and we'll tell you about some places where that's possible. Plus, we'll give you links to find the places where you can celebrate in a more organized fashion.
But, you can put a time into the reservation box and see what's available. Remember, many places have specific seatings, special prix fixe menus for occasions like this, and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.
On the Boston Chefs site, there's a list of member restaurants with details about their menu offerings for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. There are plans for some great brunches on the 1st and that can be a wonderful time to gather friends to toast the start of 2012.
East Coast Grill is always fun. On New Year's Eve they plan, "a special heaven or hell prix fixe dinner menu." On Sunday they're offering a three course prix fixe brunch.
Either Toro or Coppa would also be a wonderul choice to start the new year with great food. Both have special menus for the 31st, and bunch and dinner on the 1st. Both should be lively.
The team at Upstairs on the Square in Cambridge really knows how to throw a party. Their New Year's Eve Fete will be a four-course holiday menu followed by a New Year's Brunch and dinner the next day.
Hamersley's Bistro was the site of one of our most memorable New Year's Eve celebrations. They say, "We are offering a four-course prix fixe menu for $125 per person with a champagne toast included at dessert time. Ring in the New Year at Hamersley's!"
La Morra in Brookline– chef Josh Ziskin says, "La Morra will serve an exquisite 4-course traditional Italian meal with options for each course for $85 and a wine pairing for an additional $45 per person."
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.
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Here's a run-down of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2011 and on Monday, December 26th when the holiday is officially celebrated in Massachusetts. Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve as well. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.
Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while looking for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and come back often.
*Note: Update 12.9.11- a bill is moving through the Massachusetts legislature that could change this December 26th closing of liquor stores. See a well-reported story about that in the Salem News. Check back here for updates to this status.
Update 12.21.11- Liquor stores may open on Monday, December 26th, if they choose. The Governor has signed the bill allowing this to happen.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. The Tow Lot will be open Monday – Friday 7am-10:30 pm, Saturdays 9 am- noon, and it is closed on all city holidays. That means it's closed on the 26th. (I would also call before going on Christmas Eve.)
Boston Trash Collection: The city says, "Trash & recycling collection will be delayed by 1 day for all neighborhoods."
Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.
(MBTA information after this message.)
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Here's the MBTA Christmas Weekend Service Schedule. (Updated 12.21.11) The MBTA says…
"Sunday, December 25, 2011 – Christmas Day
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red Line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a regular Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular Sunday schedule except the Mount Wachusett Ski Trains to and from Fitchburg, which will not operate. • Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will not operate. • Hingham, Quincy, and Hull commuter boat service will not operate. • THE RIDE Service will operate on a modified holiday schedule.
Monday, December 26, 2011 – Christmas Observed
• Blue, Orange, Green, and Red line trains, buses, and trackless trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule. • Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. • Inner Harbor Ferry service from Charlestown and Long Wharf will operate on a regular Weekend schedule. • Hingham and Hull commuter boat service will not operate. • Quincy ferries will operate on a Weekend Schedule. • THE RIDE Service will not offer subscription service. Customers should contact their contractors for service information.
For additional information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the MBTA Customer Communications Department at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (hearing impaired TDD 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
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.
Readers and friends who have tickets for one of the Boston Pops Holiday Concerts are already asking, "Where can we dine around Symphony Hall?" And, once the conversation is open, it's followed by, "Where can we park?"
Please add your favorite spots for dining and parking around this area in the comments below. And, if you try one of our suggestions, let us know how it worked for you.
Here's our primer for a great visit to the BSO or Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.
We say, make dining and parking a joint decision. Our first suggestion is always to leave the car at home or at a park & ride and take the MBTA to the concert.
But, if you must have a car at hand, the Prudential Center is our favorite parking place to recommend in the city. It has its own exit off the Mass Pike. It's connected to mass transit, has taxis available at the doors, and there's a great choice of dining options within the complex. And, best of all, Google estimates that Symphony Hall is a 6-minute walk down Huntington Avenue. (map)
Prudential Options
For wonderful food and great service at a reasonable price, we send friends to Sel de la Terre on Boylston Street for pre-concert dining. If you're driving, simply enter any Prudential parking area or use the restaurant's valet parking service.
You could even return for dessert and post-concert conversation and then have the valet bring the car around. Please, call the restaurant to confirm the details, especially if you're reading this months from now.
If a splurge is on the menu, L'Espalier is right next door and shares that valet service. If a mini-splurge is more in line with your budget, reserve a seat in their Salon for a glass of wine and a bite before the concert, or dessert and a cheese course after. Both restaurants are accessible from inside the Prudential Center via the Mandarin Hotel.
Newbury Street
Park at the Pru and dine on Newbury Street. After dinner you can even walk to Symphony by reentering the Prudential Center and making part of your walk to the concert through their climate controlled corridors.
Since we walk all over the city, we would consider a few of the restaurants on Newbury close to symphony. La Voile is a great choice for French Bistro food.
And, we love to stop into Tapeo for a few tapas at the bar or a table full of choices to share with a group of friends.
Another Great Choice is Brasserie JO
We also recommend that concert goers consider a Boston gem that's often overlooked– Brasserie JO at The Colonnade Hotel. This place always comes through with French flair, great service, and a good meal. It's also a short walk on that same map, because it's across from the Prudential Center.
Ethnic Options for less formal dining.
If you want an ethnic meal or a quick bite before the show, we have a few favorites to recommend.
Moby Dick – our friend Francine Crawford pointed us to this little gem. It's one of her favorite pre-concert spots.
Lucy Ethiopian Cafe is across the street from Symphony and is fun and delicious. But, give this choice a bit more time. The pace of this cafe's warm hospitality and made-to-order food is a bit slower than many places. They also have wonderful coffee and a selection of desserts for after the show.
India Samraat on Massachusetts Avenue between Commonwealth and Marlborough is a bit further away but still within walking distance, especially if you park near Newbury Street. This is a restaurant we enjoy sharing with friends.
Chili Duck, right across Boylston from the Pru, is a hidden gem and another great spot if you're meeting the gang.
Other resources and opinions:
"Where to dine for Symphony?" is a question routinely asked of the crew over on Chowhound's Boston board. Here are a couple of recent conversations with some options that we haven't tried yet.
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Details: Symphony Hall 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4557 (map) (617) 266-2378
With or without a Boston area college graduation in your family, you'll likely need to coordinate your dining and travel plans around the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies. We're running this a bit early, because so many readers have been making their way to last year's post.
Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 11th and 12th, and scarce May 18th through 21st when 11 schools, including BU and BC, will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 24th and MIT June 8th– each of these schools is large enough to have an impact on its own. Harvard can also interfere with traffic as they move busloads of people from one place to another around event time.
To help you plan your dining options in May and early June, here are the dates of the major commencement ceremonies for your 2012 calendar.
If you know of a college or university graduation date that we missed, send us a comment.
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