bostonzest

Category: City Life

  • Saluting Public Safety Dogs

    During the next couple of weeks, we will see more of the area's public safety dogs in action. We'd like to dedicate this week's Sunday Dog feature to all of these canines and their human partners.

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    This beauty is one of the officers of the Massachusetts State Police Force in a photo from their Facebook Page. While at ease in this photo, these dogs are very serious when they are on the job.

    Tips for Interacting with Public Safety Dogs

    First and foremost, understand that this is not a pet and that the dog and the handler may have important tasks to perform. Even if it looks like they are just standing around, don’t distract them.

    Should the handler acknowledge you, don’t approach without specific permission.

    Never approach a K-9 team from the rear. Make a wide circle around them, stay calm and relaxed, and don’t make any quick movements. These dogs are protective of their partners.

    You should not touch or offer a treat to a working K-9 without specific permission from his or her teammate.

    Always follow the handler’s instructions. These teams are there to protect you and others and to keep the situation under control. They may have information that you lack, so show respect and do as the officer asks.

    These teams will be on duty trying to keep Boston safe during this busy spring event season. Let's hope no one makes more work for them.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of Massachusetts State Police

    Related articles
    Top 10 Dog Park Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe & Happy
    Time to Make Sure Your Dog Is Licensed and Counted
    2/3rd's Of People Surveyed Take Their Dog with Them In the Car on Trips

  • What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day – Monday, April 21, 2014

    Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Patriots' Day, and the MBTA schedules for – Monday, April 21, 2014. Plus, tips and information on getting around Boston, parking, marathon issues, trash pickup, and other aspects of this day in the city.

    UPDATE: This is an old post. Here's a link for: What's Open in Boston on Patriots' Day – Monday, April 18, 2016 + Parking, Trash & MBTA Schedule Changes

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e91bd4d5970c-400wi

    On three occasions, General John Glover and his “amphibious” regiment of Marblehead fishermen saved the American Revolution.    

    Patriots' Day is a Massachusetts State Holiday Only.

    The City of Boston is updating a box of information on this page.

    Open:
    Restaurants, Bars, Convenience Stores, Supermarkets, Retail Stores, Liquor Stores

    Financial Services: Banks may open if they wish. All markets are open. 

    Federal Offices and Facilities are open: This includes the Postal Service.

     

    Closed:
    Massachusetts City, Town, State Operations: This includes Schools, Libraries. Only emergency services are available. 

     

    Boston Parking

     

    One of the most common questions we get is about street sweeping on Patriots' Day. Here's the page from the city website with the answer. It 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."

     

    You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. Many more streets than in the past will be cleared of parked cars to accommodate the Boston Marathon and Patriots' Day activities.

     

    Be sure to check your car in the days leading up to the marathon to be sure it is not in a tow-away zone for the event. Here's how you can sign up for parking alerts and tow alerts.

     

    PARKING ADVISORY AND STEET CLOSING SCHEDULE

     

    From the city's site: Download City of Boston Traffic and Parking Advisory Boston Marathon (2014).

     

    Parking and No-Tow alerts

     

    Here's our latest post with tips for local parking on this holiday–

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend (2013)



    Boston Trash Collection (Click here for what the city says)


    “Patriots Day Week
     Monday, April 21 | 6am – Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 5pm
     
    No Delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End

    Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay.”

    MBTA information after the BostonZest Amazon Selection of the Day. 

     

    If this information helps you, reward us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from BostonZest. Here are the latest versions of the cameras we'll use to photograph the Boston Marathon plus our favorite camera bag. Click over to the video on the Tamrac Velocity series of camera bags, and you'll see why we love it.

         

    Note: 2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Info is at this link.

    2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Schedule:

    You can see full details on their events page through April 21st. If you would like to see a copy after that day, we have made a pdf of the information: Download MBTA Patriots' Day, Boston Marathon 2014.

     Tips:

    • Buy your fares in advance with a Charlie Card or Charlie Ticket to avoid waiting in line on Monday.  
    • The MBTA advises, "For the safety of our customers, Copley and Arlington Stations will be CLOSED for the entire day on April 21, 2014."
    • Due to crowds, they don't allow bikes "on any MBTA vehicles on Patriots' Day."

    Marathon Monday 2014 Quick Look

    Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver Line service will run a "regular weekday schedule." (See the MBTA page for special service notes on the Silver and Green Lines.)

    Commuter rail trains will operate on their "regular weekday schedule."

    "Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a "regular weekday schedule." "Some bus routes will be diverted …" (See the MBTA page for special service notes.)

    Commuter Boats will operate a "regular weekday schedule."

    "THE RIDE will operate a regular weekday schedule."

    Complete details on all changes are at: Official MBTA Information for Marathon Monday 2014

    MBTA PARKING

    "Customers should also note that all MBTA parking garages will be pay-on-entry and cash-only on Patriots' Day, April 21, 2014, in order to ensure all customers exit in a timely manner. Due to heavy parking demand, some MBTA parking garages and lots may fill more quickly than normal. Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot should plan accordingly."

    Official 2014 Boston Marathon information:

    www.bostonmarathon.org

     

    Related Posts:

     

    Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2014

     

    Routes for Visiting Runners

     

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2014

     

    Views from Hereford Street 2009

    Do you have enough memory for all the photos you'll want to shoot of the spring blooms? Do you need a new camera for the season or as a gift? Begin your shopping by Click right here to check the prices at Amazon on great items like Sandisk memory cards .

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photo: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

  • What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day – Monday, April 21, 2014

    Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Patriots' Day, and the MBTA schedules for – Monday, April 21, 2014. Plus, tips and information on getting around Boston, parking, marathon issues, trash pickup, and other aspects of this day in the city.

    UPDATE: This is an old post. Here's a link for: What's Open in Boston on Patriots' Day – Monday, April 18, 2016 + Parking, Trash & MBTA Schedule Changes

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e91bd4d5970c-400wi

    On three occasions, General John Glover and his “amphibious” regiment of Marblehead fishermen saved the American Revolution.    

    Patriots' Day is a Massachusetts State Holiday Only.

    The City of Boston is updating a box of information on this page.

    Open:
    Restaurants, Bars, Convenience Stores, Supermarkets, Retail Stores, Liquor Stores

    Financial Services: Banks may open if they wish. All markets are open. 

    Federal Offices and Facilities are open: This includes the Postal Service.

     

    Closed:
    Massachusetts City, Town, State Operations: This includes Schools, Libraries. Only emergency services are available. 

     

    Boston Parking

     

    One of the most common questions we get is about street sweeping on Patriots' Day. Here's the page from the city website with the answer. It 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."

     

    You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. Many more streets than in the past will be cleared of parked cars to accommodate the Boston Marathon and Patriots' Day activities.

     

    Be sure to check your car in the days leading up to the marathon to be sure it is not in a tow-away zone for the event. Here's how you can sign up for parking alerts and tow alerts.

     

    PARKING ADVISORY AND STEET CLOSING SCHEDULE

     

    From the city's site: Download City of Boston Traffic and Parking Advisory Boston Marathon (2014).

     

    Parking and No-Tow alerts

     

    Here's our latest post with tips for local parking on this holiday–

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend (2013)



    Boston Trash Collection (Click here for what the city says)


    “Patriots Day Week
     Monday, April 21 | 6am – Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 5pm
     
    No Delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End

    Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay.”

    MBTA information after the BostonZest Amazon Selection of the Day. 

     

    If this information helps you, reward us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from BostonZest. Here are the latest versions of the cameras we'll use to photograph the Boston Marathon plus our favorite camera bag. Click over to the video on the Tamrac Velocity series of camera bags, and you'll see why we love it.

         

    Note: 2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Info is at this link.

    2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Schedule:

    You can see full details on their events page through April 21st. If you would like to see a copy after that day, we have made a pdf of the information: Download MBTA Patriots' Day, Boston Marathon 2014.

     Tips:

    • Buy your fares in advance with a Charlie Card or Charlie Ticket to avoid waiting in line on Monday.  
    • The MBTA advises, "For the safety of our customers, Copley and Arlington Stations will be CLOSED for the entire day on April 21, 2014."
    • Due to crowds, they don't allow bikes "on any MBTA vehicles on Patriots' Day."

    Marathon Monday 2014 Quick Look

    Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver Line service will run a "regular weekday schedule." (See the MBTA page for special service notes on the Silver and Green Lines.)

    Commuter rail trains will operate on their "regular weekday schedule."

    "Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a "regular weekday schedule." "Some bus routes will be diverted …" (See the MBTA page for special service notes.)

    Commuter Boats will operate a "regular weekday schedule."

    "THE RIDE will operate a regular weekday schedule."

    Complete details on all changes are at: Official MBTA Information for Marathon Monday 2014

    MBTA PARKING

    "Customers should also note that all MBTA parking garages will be pay-on-entry and cash-only on Patriots' Day, April 21, 2014, in order to ensure all customers exit in a timely manner. Due to heavy parking demand, some MBTA parking garages and lots may fill more quickly than normal. Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot should plan accordingly."

    Official 2014 Boston Marathon information:

    www.bostonmarathon.org

     

    Related Posts:

     

    Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2014

     

    Routes for Visiting Runners

     

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2014

     

    Views from Hereford Street 2009

    Do you have enough memory for all the photos you'll want to shoot of the spring blooms? Do you need a new camera for the season or as a gift? Begin your shopping by Click right here to check the prices at Amazon on great items like Sandisk memory cards .

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photo: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

  • What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day – Monday, April 21, 2014

    Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Patriots' Day, and the MBTA schedules for – Monday, April 21, 2014. Plus, tips and information on getting around Boston, parking, marathon issues, trash pickup, and other aspects of this day in the city.

    UPDATE: This is an old post. Here's a link for: What's Open in Boston on Patriots' Day – Monday, April 18, 2016 + Parking, Trash & MBTA Schedule Changes

    6a00e54fc42bb888340168e91bd4d5970c-400wi

    On three occasions, General John Glover and his “amphibious” regiment of Marblehead fishermen saved the American Revolution.    

    Patriots' Day is a Massachusetts State Holiday Only.

    The City of Boston is updating a box of information on this page.

    Open:
    Restaurants, Bars, Convenience Stores, Supermarkets, Retail Stores, Liquor Stores

    Financial Services: Banks may open if they wish. All markets are open. 

    Federal Offices and Facilities are open: This includes the Postal Service.

     

    Closed:
    Massachusetts City, Town, State Operations: This includes Schools, Libraries. Only emergency services are available. 

     

    Boston Parking

     

    One of the most common questions we get is about street sweeping on Patriots' Day. Here's the page from the city website with the answer. It 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."

     

    You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. Many more streets than in the past will be cleared of parked cars to accommodate the Boston Marathon and Patriots' Day activities.

     

    Be sure to check your car in the days leading up to the marathon to be sure it is not in a tow-away zone for the event. Here's how you can sign up for parking alerts and tow alerts.

     

    PARKING ADVISORY AND STEET CLOSING SCHEDULE

     

    From the city's site: Download City of Boston Traffic and Parking Advisory Boston Marathon (2014).

     

    Parking and No-Tow alerts

     

    Here's our latest post with tips for local parking on this holiday–

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend (2013)



    Boston Trash Collection (Click here for what the city says)


    “Patriots Day Week
     Monday, April 21 | 6am – Saturday, April 26, 2014 | 5pm
     
    No Delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End

    Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day

    *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay.”

    MBTA information after the BostonZest Amazon Selection of the Day. 

     

    If this information helps you, reward us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from BostonZest. Here are the latest versions of the cameras we'll use to photograph the Boston Marathon plus our favorite camera bag. Click over to the video on the Tamrac Velocity series of camera bags, and you'll see why we love it.

         

    Note: 2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Info is at this link.

    2014 MBTA Marathon Monday Schedule:

    You can see full details on their events page through April 21st. If you would like to see a copy after that day, we have made a pdf of the information: Download MBTA Patriots' Day, Boston Marathon 2014.

     Tips:

    • Buy your fares in advance with a Charlie Card or Charlie Ticket to avoid waiting in line on Monday.  
    • The MBTA advises, "For the safety of our customers, Copley and Arlington Stations will be CLOSED for the entire day on April 21, 2014."
    • Due to crowds, they don't allow bikes "on any MBTA vehicles on Patriots' Day."

    Marathon Monday 2014 Quick Look

    Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver Line service will run a "regular weekday schedule." (See the MBTA page for special service notes on the Silver and Green Lines.)

    Commuter rail trains will operate on their "regular weekday schedule."

    "Buses and trackless trolleys will operate a "regular weekday schedule." "Some bus routes will be diverted …" (See the MBTA page for special service notes.)

    Commuter Boats will operate a "regular weekday schedule."

    "THE RIDE will operate a regular weekday schedule."

    Complete details on all changes are at: Official MBTA Information for Marathon Monday 2014

    MBTA PARKING

    "Customers should also note that all MBTA parking garages will be pay-on-entry and cash-only on Patriots' Day, April 21, 2014, in order to ensure all customers exit in a timely manner. Due to heavy parking demand, some MBTA parking garages and lots may fill more quickly than normal. Customers planning to park in an MBTA garage or lot should plan accordingly."

    Official 2014 Boston Marathon information:

    www.bostonmarathon.org

     

    Related Posts:

     

    Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2014

     

    Routes for Visiting Runners

     

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2014

     

    Views from Hereford Street 2009

    Do you have enough memory for all the photos you'll want to shoot of the spring blooms? Do you need a new camera for the season or as a gift? Begin your shopping by Click right here to check the prices at Amazon on great items like Sandisk memory cards .

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photo: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

  • Is Riding on the MBTA Good for Your Balance?

    On a recent subway ride, a charming young woman offered me her seat. I thanked her and explained that I often choose to stand on the T to improve my balance. I wonder if other people hanging onto poles and straps on buses and subways realize that they may be improving their health and toning their body?

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    Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.

    More attention is being paid to the importance of improving balance as a part of our daily exercise. Here's one from WebMD. Author Carol Sorgen wrote, "Balance, or core training, is not new,' says Kevin Steele, PhD, an exercise physiologist and vice president of sports and marketing for 24 Hour Fitness, headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. 'Physical therapists and athletic trainers have used these techniques for years.'"

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401348681d6da970c-800wi

    Other aspects of city life can also make you healthier. We've written a few articles on this in the past. Here are two posts from this site.

    City Living is Exercise! (Part One)

    City Living is Exercise! (Part Two)

    Even though Ed and I walk most places, we also use mass transit where we often have to stand and balance. I wear a Fitbit One and have daily goals of 10,000 steps, three flights of stairs, 30 minutes aerobic, and a good night's sleep that are automatically recorded. While I don't reach those objectives everyday in cold weather, I will exceed them often as the weather improves.

    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: Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.   

  • Is Riding on the MBTA Good for Your Balance?

    On a recent subway ride, a charming young woman offered me her seat. I thanked her and explained that I often choose to stand on the T to improve my balance. I wonder if other people hanging onto poles and straps on buses and subways realize that they may be improving their health and toning their body?

    9903088963_0dd6d1d726_z

    Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.

    More attention is being paid to the importance of improving balance as a part of our daily exercise. Here's one from WebMD. Author Carol Sorgen wrote, "Balance, or core training, is not new,' says Kevin Steele, PhD, an exercise physiologist and vice president of sports and marketing for 24 Hour Fitness, headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. 'Physical therapists and athletic trainers have used these techniques for years.'"

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401348681d6da970c-800wi

    Other aspects of city life can also make you healthier. We've written a few articles on this in the past. Here are two posts from this site.

    City Living is Exercise! (Part One)

    City Living is Exercise! (Part Two)

    Even though Ed and I walk most places, we also use mass transit where we often have to stand and balance. I wear a Fitbit One and have daily goals of 10,000 steps, three flights of stairs, 30 minutes aerobic, and a good night's sleep that are automatically recorded. While I don't reach those objectives everyday in cold weather, I will exceed them often as the weather improves.

    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: Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.   

  • Is Riding on the MBTA Good for Your Balance?

    On a recent subway ride, a charming young woman offered me her seat. I thanked her and explained that I often choose to stand on the T to improve my balance. I wonder if other people hanging onto poles and straps on buses and subways realize that they may be improving their health and toning their body?

    9903088963_0dd6d1d726_z

    Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.

    More attention is being paid to the importance of improving balance as a part of our daily exercise. Here's one from WebMD. Author Carol Sorgen wrote, "Balance, or core training, is not new,' says Kevin Steele, PhD, an exercise physiologist and vice president of sports and marketing for 24 Hour Fitness, headquartered in San Ramon, Calif. 'Physical therapists and athletic trainers have used these techniques for years.'"

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401348681d6da970c-800wi

    Other aspects of city life can also make you healthier. We've written a few articles on this in the past. Here are two posts from this site.

    City Living is Exercise! (Part One)

    City Living is Exercise! (Part Two)

    Even though Ed and I walk most places, we also use mass transit where we often have to stand and balance. I wear a Fitbit One and have daily goals of 10,000 steps, three flights of stairs, 30 minutes aerobic, and a good night's sleep that are automatically recorded. While I don't reach those objectives everyday in cold weather, I will exceed them often as the weather improves.

    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: Photo by Alan Light used under this creative commons license.   

  • Easter Dining in Boston 2014 (This year It Falls on Marathon Weekend 4/20/14)

    Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This year, Easter falls on April 20th and that is Marathon weekend in Boston. This may be the year to plan your holiday gathering for a location outside of the city center.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e602c6dd6970c-800wi

    First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings:

    Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

    The number of places listed will increase as we near the date, so do check back if you don't see one you like.

    Next, a few places we picked from these lists:

    The Blue Room in Cambridge is offering a special version of their Sunday Buffet. There is parking in the area and it is just far enough from the fray in Boston for a relaxing meal.

    La Morra in Brookline is a great place to meet up outside the city. This is one of the few days a year when they serve brunch. Here's what they say about their Easter offering, "Join us for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas for $35."

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place. 

    One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

    If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

    UPDATES:

    Zagat's list: 10 Best Bets for Easter Brunch in Boston. 04/08/14

    Here's a list of great lamb dishes for Easter from Eater.  3/29/13

    From BostInno's Lisa DeCanio: Dyed Eggs & Ham: 9 Go-To Easter Brunches in Boston

    Opting Out of Easter

    If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

    We know a lot of runners will be looking for places to load up on carbs the day before the race. We suggest they make their way to the North End for some great Italian food.

    Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. 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 too, and we just added a Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

  • Easter Dining in Boston 2014 (This year It Falls on Marathon Weekend 4/20/14)

    Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This year, Easter falls on April 20th and that is Marathon weekend in Boston. This may be the year to plan your holiday gathering for a location outside of the city center.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e602c6dd6970c-800wi

    First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings:

    Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

    The number of places listed will increase as we near the date, so do check back if you don't see one you like.

    Next, a few places we picked from these lists:

    The Blue Room in Cambridge is offering a special version of their Sunday Buffet. There is parking in the area and it is just far enough from the fray in Boston for a relaxing meal.

    La Morra in Brookline is a great place to meet up outside the city. This is one of the few days a year when they serve brunch. Here's what they say about their Easter offering, "Join us for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas for $35."

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place. 

    One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

    If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

    UPDATES:

    Zagat's list: 10 Best Bets for Easter Brunch in Boston. 04/08/14

    Here's a list of great lamb dishes for Easter from Eater.  3/29/13

    From BostInno's Lisa DeCanio: Dyed Eggs & Ham: 9 Go-To Easter Brunches in Boston

    Opting Out of Easter

    If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

    We know a lot of runners will be looking for places to load up on carbs the day before the race. We suggest they make their way to the North End for some great Italian food.

    Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. 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 too, and we just added a Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

  • Easter Dining in Boston 2014 (This year It Falls on Marathon Weekend 4/20/14)

    Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This year, Easter falls on April 20th and that is Marathon weekend in Boston. This may be the year to plan your holiday gathering for a location outside of the city center.

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    First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings:

    Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

    The number of places listed will increase as we near the date, so do check back if you don't see one you like.

    Next, a few places we picked from these lists:

    The Blue Room in Cambridge is offering a special version of their Sunday Buffet. There is parking in the area and it is just far enough from the fray in Boston for a relaxing meal.

    La Morra in Brookline is a great place to meet up outside the city. This is one of the few days a year when they serve brunch. Here's what they say about their Easter offering, "Join us for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas for $35."

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place. 

    One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

    If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

    UPDATES:

    Zagat's list: 10 Best Bets for Easter Brunch in Boston. 04/08/14

    Here's a list of great lamb dishes for Easter from Eater.  3/29/13

    From BostInno's Lisa DeCanio: Dyed Eggs & Ham: 9 Go-To Easter Brunches in Boston

    Opting Out of Easter

    If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

    We know a lot of runners will be looking for places to load up on carbs the day before the race. We suggest they make their way to the North End for some great Italian food.

    Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. 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 too, and we just added a Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com