Category: City Life

That Mystery Sign on Richmond Street in the North End.

Admit it! You've stood on Richmond Street in the North End and tried to figure out what the neon tubes used to spell out on this sign.

Seeing the other side and the address of the building helped us figure it out.

Yes, it does say "One O Eight Richmond."

We were curious about what it looked like back in the day and went searching and found a beautiful photo on Nicola108's photostream. We did try to contact the copyright owner to ask if we could use the photo here but did not get a response. So, we are honoring the copyright and providing a Friday Link to the photo.

108 Restaurant & Lounge

We found a few clippings in the Boston Globe in the 1970s for the 108 Restaurant and Lounge. From employment ads for staff to a full review in Anthony Spinazzola's "Let's Eat Out" column.

In 1994, the Boston Board of Appeal granted permission to change the occupancy from "Restaurant and storage to eight apartments." They included the proviso: "Any exterior changes subject to desing [sic] review by BRA." Maybe that's why the sign is still there, no one knew how to do a desing review!

Perhaps a few longtime residents can tell us more about 108 Richmond. We love these tales of our city.

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: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

June 20, 2014
Public Restrooms: Waterfront, Christopher Columbus Park

After a recent picnic in Christopher Columbus Park, we decided a restroom visit was next on our agenda for the day.

We stopped to chat with two women with two lovely dogs and one of the women was on her way to the restroom at the Marriott – not the Marriott's restroom on the second floor, but a public restroom with its own separate entrance right before the hotel doors. Just at the end of Tia's outdoor bar, we added a yellow arrow to the photo above to show you the spot with public restrooms.

While writing a newspaper column, Penny had called the Greenway staff to ask about public restrooms in that area and was told they had a number of places just off the Greenway that had been arranged. Some of those were related to buildings and hotels.

Here's a peek at this area and you can find a full map here.

Wicked Good Guide To Boston Restrooms

Join the hunt and post your finds and ratings for restrooms in the Boston area over at the Universal Hub's (UH) updated "Wicked Good Guide to Boston Restrooms." Adam Gaffin and the mighty UH crew have started the list and welcome new additions. Thanks for the resource Adam, we keep adding your guide to our posts on specific rest rooms and naturatlly we'll add the ones we document to your database.

Where do you go when you have to go? Do you have a secret spot? Have you found your way to the nicest restroom in town? Where is the worst one around? That and more is being collected over at UH for all who need it.

Here's your opportunity to tell the world where to go!

Some restrooms are well equipped; others are not. Here's what you need just in case. Pulling a bandana from your pocket to dry your hands will make you the envy of everyone standing under a hand dryer. You can also find dozens of other uses for these great cotton squares. From dog decoration to sweatbands, they're handy to have.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2014 Ed Cherubino, Screengrab courtesy of Universal Hub

Related articles

Lobsters at Tia's on the Waterfront

RUFF Dog Park Proposal for the Greenway

A Columbus Day Salute to the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park

June 13, 2014
Public Restrooms: Waterfront, Christopher Columbus Park

After a recent picnic in Christopher Columbus Park, we decided a restroom visit was next on our agenda for the day.

We stopped to chat with two women with two lovely dogs and one of the women was on her way to the restroom at the Marriott – not the Marriott's restroom on the second floor, but a public restroom with its own separate entrance right before the hotel doors. Just at the end of Tia's outdoor bar, we added a yellow arrow to the photo above to show you the spot with public restrooms.

While writing a newspaper column, Penny had called the Greenway staff to ask about public restrooms in that area and was told they had a number of places just off the Greenway that had been arranged. Some of those were related to buildings and hotels.

Here's a peek at this area and you can find a full map here.

Wicked Good Guide To Boston Restrooms

Join the hunt and post your finds and ratings for restrooms in the Boston area over at the Universal Hub's (UH) updated "Wicked Good Guide to Boston Restrooms." Adam Gaffin and the mighty UH crew have started the list and welcome new additions. Thanks for the resource Adam, we keep adding your guide to our posts on specific rest rooms and naturatlly we'll add the ones we document to your database.

Where do you go when you have to go? Do you have a secret spot? Have you found your way to the nicest restroom in town? Where is the worst one around? That and more is being collected over at UH for all who need it.

Here's your opportunity to tell the world where to go!

Some restrooms are well equipped; others are not. Here's what you need just in case. Pulling a bandana from your pocket to dry your hands will make you the envy of everyone standing under a hand dryer. You can also find dozens of other uses for these great cotton squares. From dog decoration to sweatbands, they're handy to have.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2014 Ed Cherubino, Screengrab courtesy of Universal Hub

Related articles

Lobsters at Tia's on the Waterfront

RUFF Dog Park Proposal for the Greenway

A Columbus Day Salute to the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park

June 13, 2014
Oblivious to the Beauty Around Her in the Public Garden

This woman, in the Boston Public Garden, seemed oblivious to the beauty around her. She sat down next to this bed of Giant Allium.

All around her, people were using phones and cameras to capture the beauty of the flowers and the park.

She pulled her shawl over her head to shade her phone for better viewing and spent the next half hour or so tapping away in her own electronic world.

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: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

June 9, 2014
Oblivious to the Beauty Around Her in the Public Garden

This woman, in the Boston Public Garden, seemed oblivious to the beauty around her. She sat down next to this bed of Giant Allium.

All around her, people were using phones and cameras to capture the beauty of the flowers and the park.

She pulled her shawl over her head to shade her phone for better viewing and spent the next half hour or so tapping away in her own electronic world.

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: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

June 9, 2014
Parker House Boston Cream Pie, To Go Please!

Boston Cream Pie comes up as a frequent topic on Trip Advisor’s Boston Board.

Visitors see this as a bucket list taste of Boston. I added my two cents to a recent conversation, where someone planning a visit asked if it was possible to get a piece of pie without eating a full meal at the Parker House. However, I decided that more research was needed.

Ed, Poppy, and I took a walk to the Parker House and found the gift shop that was reputed to sell the pie to go. It’s called Morsel’s and is located next to the 60 School Street (map) entrance to the Omni Parker House.

As you may know, the Parker House is said to have invented this creation. It’s so popular, that they have it ready to go in the coffee/gift shop attached to the hotel. It’s priced at $8, at the time of this post.

It was not on display when I went in, but signs in the window said they sold it, so I asked the woman behind the counter. She asked how many I wanted. “One,” I replied, and she went to a refrigerator to get the dessert.

“And, how many forks?” She tucked the two requested forks and a supply of napkins into a small bag that was perfect for carrying the cake in its protective, domed container. She was charming and had obviously mastered “Boston Cream pie to go” hospitality.

We took our Parker House Boston Cream Pie to the Brewer Fountain Plaza (map) on the Boston Common for tasting.

This famous confection was lighter than you might expect with a nice moist cake, moist cream filling, and a good chocolate coating. Ed liked the addition of coconut to the sides. The portion was large enough for the two of us to happily share. And, we cleaned the container right down to the last flakes of coconut.

How does it compare to our favorite version of this dessert from Flour Bakery? We still rank Flour’s version as our #1 in this area. Their non-traditional addition of coffee syrup makes for an even moister cake.

But, the Parker House Boston Cream Pie will be a welcome snack when we are looking for a sweet downtown. And, we’re happy that those who come to eat it as a part of their Boston experience are going to enjoy a very good version of this historic dessert.

By the way, if you’re one of our readers from out of the area or a baker who would like to recreate this classic, the Parker House has shared their recipe. Download Parker House Boston Cream Pie Recipe.

Related Post:

Flour Bakery’s Boston Cream Pie, A Big Hit!

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: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

10 Tips for Shepherd’s Pie

A Taste of History

Flour Has Sandwiches … I Knew That!

June 5, 2014
Parker House Boston Cream Pie, To Go Please!

Boston Cream Pie comes up as a frequent topic on Trip Advisor’s Boston Board.

Visitors see this as a bucket list taste of Boston. I added my two cents to a recent conversation, where someone planning a visit asked if it was possible to get a piece of pie without eating a full meal at the Parker House. However, I decided that more research was needed.

Ed, Poppy, and I took a walk to the Parker House and found the gift shop that was reputed to sell the pie to go. It’s called Morsel’s and is located next to the 60 School Street (map) entrance to the Omni Parker House.

As you may know, the Parker House is said to have invented this creation. It’s so popular, that they have it ready to go in the coffee/gift shop attached to the hotel. It’s priced at $8, at the time of this post.

It was not on display when I went in, but signs in the window said they sold it, so I asked the woman behind the counter. She asked how many I wanted. “One,” I replied, and she went to a refrigerator to get the dessert.

“And, how many forks?” She tucked the two requested forks and a supply of napkins into a small bag that was perfect for carrying the cake in its protective, domed container. She was charming and had obviously mastered “Boston Cream pie to go” hospitality.

We took our Parker House Boston Cream Pie to the Brewer Fountain Plaza (map) on the Boston Common for tasting.

This famous confection was lighter than you might expect with a nice moist cake, moist cream filling, and a good chocolate coating. Ed liked the addition of coconut to the sides. The portion was large enough for the two of us to happily share. And, we cleaned the container right down to the last flakes of coconut.

How does it compare to our favorite version of this dessert from Flour Bakery? We still rank Flour’s version as our #1 in this area. Their non-traditional addition of coffee syrup makes for an even moister cake.

But, the Parker House Boston Cream Pie will be a welcome snack when we are looking for a sweet downtown. And, we’re happy that those who come to eat it as a part of their Boston experience are going to enjoy a very good version of this historic dessert.

By the way, if you’re one of our readers from out of the area or a baker who would like to recreate this classic, the Parker House has shared their recipe. Download Parker House Boston Cream Pie Recipe.

Related Post:

Flour Bakery’s Boston Cream Pie, A Big Hit!

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: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

10 Tips for Shepherd’s Pie

A Taste of History

Flour Has Sandwiches … I Knew That!

June 5, 2014
Dining around Boston on Father’s Day, June 15, 2014

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Dad to a meal out on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15, 2014.

Would your Dad love to get his hands on some great Island Creek Oysters at Row 34?

For Father's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurant suggestions.

Open Table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.

Boston Chef's has a special list from their members.

Updates:

06.05.14- Chowhound conversation: Outdoor lunch, Father's Day, Metro West

Our Picks:

Row 34 in the Fort Point Neighborhood. Wouldn't Dad love to slurp a few Island Creeks or Row 34 oysters? And, match those beauties with the perfect brew from one of the taps or the current cask beer?

Here's more on what we enjoyed at Row 34.

Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway may seem to be just for the meat lovers in the clan, but they put out some great veggies and a tray of hot and cold scoops (as they call them) with a remarkable farm salad that will put a smile on any one with a preference for vegetarian fare. And, remember to order the crazy-good biscuits. (You may want to treat Dad to a doggie bag of them for the rest of the week!) Check out our Sweet Cheeks posts:

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

How about simple Italian-American food in a very comfortable setting. We suggest Artu in the North End or on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. Here's one of our favorite menu items.

If you'd like to treat Dad to something really special, consider the ultimate hamburger at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Hotel. Lunch there for just the two of you, some quiet afternoon, could be a great IOU if you can't be together on the 15th. Here's what we wrote about that burger.

Another great spot to share a meal, any day of the week, is Coppa in the South End. You can even top off your meal with a quick shopping trip to South End Formaggio across the street. We always do! And, that will let you create a super take-home gift that Dad can help select. Need more convincing? Take a look at:

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Coppa Italian Grinder: A Best Bite

Coppa- A First Look

And, if you're thinking of an adventure in the South End, how about a guided tour of the food trucks gathered at the SOWA Open Market each Sunday. No resevations needed! Check out:

SOWA Market: Where to Find Food Trucks!

Photo of Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton Rhode Island courtesty of that great resouce for finding all the dining traditions Boston has to offer, Hidden Boston.

Our final suggestion is a trip down memory lane. Take Dad someplace where he used to take you if you have an old favorite that survives to this day. For Penny, this might be Evelyn's Drive-In. For Ed, The Bubbling Brook in Westwood. This day would be about remembering and laughing as much as about the food.

And, for the best gift, let Dad choose something from his Wish List. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card. And, if he doesn't shop online, offer to sit with your Dad and take him on an Amazon shopping trip.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Evelyn's courtesy of Hidden Boston.

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.

June 3, 2014
Dining around Boston on Father’s Day, June 15, 2014

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Dad to a meal out on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15, 2014.

Would your Dad love to get his hands on some great Island Creek Oysters at Row 34?

For Father's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurant suggestions.

Open Table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.

Boston Chef's has a special list from their members.

Updates:

06.05.14- Chowhound conversation: Outdoor lunch, Father's Day, Metro West

Our Picks:

Row 34 in the Fort Point Neighborhood. Wouldn't Dad love to slurp a few Island Creeks or Row 34 oysters? And, match those beauties with the perfect brew from one of the taps or the current cask beer?

Here's more on what we enjoyed at Row 34.

Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway may seem to be just for the meat lovers in the clan, but they put out some great veggies and a tray of hot and cold scoops (as they call them) with a remarkable farm salad that will put a smile on any one with a preference for vegetarian fare. And, remember to order the crazy-good biscuits. (You may want to treat Dad to a doggie bag of them for the rest of the week!) Check out our Sweet Cheeks posts:

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

How about simple Italian-American food in a very comfortable setting. We suggest Artu in the North End or on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. Here's one of our favorite menu items.

If you'd like to treat Dad to something really special, consider the ultimate hamburger at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Hotel. Lunch there for just the two of you, some quiet afternoon, could be a great IOU if you can't be together on the 15th. Here's what we wrote about that burger.

Another great spot to share a meal, any day of the week, is Coppa in the South End. You can even top off your meal with a quick shopping trip to South End Formaggio across the street. We always do! And, that will let you create a super take-home gift that Dad can help select. Need more convincing? Take a look at:

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Coppa Italian Grinder: A Best Bite

Coppa- A First Look

And, if you're thinking of an adventure in the South End, how about a guided tour of the food trucks gathered at the SOWA Open Market each Sunday. No resevations needed! Check out:

SOWA Market: Where to Find Food Trucks!

Photo of Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton Rhode Island courtesty of that great resouce for finding all the dining traditions Boston has to offer, Hidden Boston.

Our final suggestion is a trip down memory lane. Take Dad someplace where he used to take you if you have an old favorite that survives to this day. For Penny, this might be Evelyn's Drive-In. For Ed, The Bubbling Brook in Westwood. This day would be about remembering and laughing as much as about the food.

And, for the best gift, let Dad choose something from his Wish List. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card. And, if he doesn't shop online, offer to sit with your Dad and take him on an Amazon shopping trip.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Evelyn's courtesy of Hidden Boston.

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.

June 3, 2014
Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL
One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
- Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
- KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
- Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
- The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
- Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
- Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.
The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts. The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:
- Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
- Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
- Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
- Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
- Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
- Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
- Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
- The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
- Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
- Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
- The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
- American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 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: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
May 30, 2014