Category: Editorial Page

Ways to Report Pedestrian Dangers & WalkBoston “Ped 101” Advocacy Training
The BostonZest team are walkers. We don't own a car. We use mass transit, if we must, but most of the time we get where we need to be as pedestrians. Naturally, we really notice the failures to ensure pedestrian safety on the part of our city and state authorities. We try to be advocates for pedestrians and now we have a few tips for you on how you can join us.

Report Transportation Dangers

The City of Boston has set up a mapping system where you can report safety issues in the transportation system. We have already used this to mark intersections where traffic gridlocks, where walk lights don't last long enough, and where walk lights are missing.

You can also consult this map to find places where you might want to exercise a bit more caution as you travel. (You might also take a look at this map that shows where accidents have already been reported by police.) Both are part of the city's Vision Zero program.

If your concern needs a more immediate correction, use the 311 system by calling 311 on your phone, reporting the problem on the 311 phone app, sending a tweet to @BOS311, or reporting through the website.

WalkBoston Pedestrian Advocacy Training Programs

To learn more about how you can become a better defender of pedestrians, consider attending one of the Ped101 training sessions.

WalkBoston says:

"This session is helpful if you're interested in learning about:
- walkability, urbanism & the associated lingo (what's a "tight turning radius"?),
- making neighborhoods safer for people walking & running,
- how you can advocate for change in your own community."
Take advantage of this opportunity to stand up for those who walk around the city.

Additional Reading: Make Walking THE Priority where you will find a link to a thoughtful piece on the mistaken priority system used by our transportation planners and a much better priority approach.

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

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Artwork: courtesy of the City of Boston and WalkBoston

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January 29, 2016
Happy Holidays from the BostonZest Team

Happy Holidays to all our readers. And, a big thank you to everyone who has added elegant, tasteful decoration to our daily walks around the city.

This time of year, we enjoy seeing the bows and garland on wrought iron fences and railings.

Beautiful doorways wearing wreaths as seasonal accessories.

In honor of the firefighters.

Both private homes and public buildings, like the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, celebrate the season with artistic flair. We hope you'll find the time to take a walk in your neighborhood to enjoy the scene while it's fresh and beautiful.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 24, 2015
Happy Holidays from the BostonZest Team

Happy Holidays to all our readers. And, a big thank you to everyone who has added elegant, tasteful decoration to our daily walks around the city.

This time of year, we enjoy seeing the bows and garland on wrought iron fences and railings.

Beautiful doorways wearing wreaths as seasonal accessories.

In honor of the firefighters.

Both private homes and public buildings, like the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, celebrate the season with artistic flair. We hope you'll find the time to take a walk in your neighborhood to enjoy the scene while it's fresh and beautiful.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 24, 2015
Gifting a Great Bottle of Wine

Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!

Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shop deliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.

Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:

Nino Franco Rustico: A Wine for Holiday Gifts & Celebrations

Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."

Nino Franco Rustico is one of many great value wines we've covered as we toast the 1st of each month with a glass of bubbles.

That Special Gift

You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"

This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.

As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.

Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 18, 2015
Gifting a Great Bottle of Wine

Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!

Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shop deliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.

Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:

Nino Franco Rustico: A Wine for Holiday Gifts & Celebrations

Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."

Nino Franco Rustico is one of many great value wines we've covered as we toast the 1st of each month with a glass of bubbles.

That Special Gift

You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"

This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.

As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.

Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 18, 2015
Clarendon Street Trees Announce, “We’re Goin’ to the Chipper and We’re Gonna Be Recycled!”

Worry not if you see empty tree pits along Clarendon Street between Commonwealth and Beacon (map). As always, The Garden Club of the Back Bay is on the job protecting the trees in this neighborhood and beyond.

Sixteen trees on these blocks will be removed. Here's what the sign on that tree says.

Or as they said in the letter The Garden Club of the Back Bay sent us:

"Dear Neighbors,

In the next few weeks the Garden Club of the Back Bay and the City of Boston will begin the first phase of a project to improve the streetscape of Clarendon Street. As many of you have noticed, the trees on the two blocks between Beacon and Commonwealth have been in steady decline due to salt sensitivity and are now mostly dead, and an eyesore. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to remove the trees and the Garden Club has agreed to replant all 16 locations with very handsome, large Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ specimen trees in the spring of 2016. These trees are ancient, immune to most urban tree problems, are not salt sensitive, and have beautiful fall color. They will be interesting to you and to all the children using the Playground every day.

This is a big project, but Clarendon Street is an important entrance portal in to the Back Bay and should be beautiful. The Garden Club hopes you will help us fund this work. Tree sponsorships are $2,500 per tree and include plaques which can be installed on the tree fences. What a nice holiday, birthday, or anniversary present! All donations of any size are welcome and needed so we may complete this work in the spring. Contributions are completely tax deductible.

We hope you will consider contributing. We want you to know our plans in advance of the chainsaws arriving! Your checks can be made to the Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to M. Pokorny, 384 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02115. You may also donate with a credit card on our website, www.gardenclubbackbay.org – just press the Donate button and we will acknowledge your contribution right away.

If you have any questions: mpok384@verizon.net.

Clarendon Street Committee: Jackie Blombach, Jolinda Taylor, Claire Corcoran,
Sherley Smith, Catherine Bordon, Maureen O’Hara, Francine Crawford,
Margaret Pokorny"




Ed and I took a few photos of the condition of some of the maples before they were cut down.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

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December 4, 2015
Clarendon Street Trees Announce, “We’re Goin’ to the Chipper and We’re Gonna Be Recycled!”

Worry not if you see empty tree pits along Clarendon Street between Commonwealth and Beacon (map). As always, The Garden Club of the Back Bay is on the job protecting the trees in this neighborhood and beyond.

Sixteen trees on these blocks will be removed. Here's what the sign on that tree says.

Or as they said in the letter The Garden Club of the Back Bay sent us:

"Dear Neighbors,

In the next few weeks the Garden Club of the Back Bay and the City of Boston will begin the first phase of a project to improve the streetscape of Clarendon Street. As many of you have noticed, the trees on the two blocks between Beacon and Commonwealth have been in steady decline due to salt sensitivity and are now mostly dead, and an eyesore. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to remove the trees and the Garden Club has agreed to replant all 16 locations with very handsome, large Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ specimen trees in the spring of 2016. These trees are ancient, immune to most urban tree problems, are not salt sensitive, and have beautiful fall color. They will be interesting to you and to all the children using the Playground every day.

This is a big project, but Clarendon Street is an important entrance portal in to the Back Bay and should be beautiful. The Garden Club hopes you will help us fund this work. Tree sponsorships are $2,500 per tree and include plaques which can be installed on the tree fences. What a nice holiday, birthday, or anniversary present! All donations of any size are welcome and needed so we may complete this work in the spring. Contributions are completely tax deductible.

We hope you will consider contributing. We want you to know our plans in advance of the chainsaws arriving! Your checks can be made to the Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to M. Pokorny, 384 Marlborough St, Boston, MA 02115. You may also donate with a credit card on our website, www.gardenclubbackbay.org – just press the Donate button and we will acknowledge your contribution right away.

If you have any questions: mpok384@verizon.net.

Clarendon Street Committee: Jackie Blombach, Jolinda Taylor, Claire Corcoran,
Sherley Smith, Catherine Bordon, Maureen O’Hara, Francine Crawford,
Margaret Pokorny"




Ed and I took a few photos of the condition of some of the maples before they were cut down.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Protecting the Very Sensitive Toes of a Famous Boston Elm with FlexiPave

Then and Now: Back Street Was Once the Shoreline of the Charles

December 4, 2015
Universal Hub, When You Need to Know What’s Happening in Boston Right Now!

If you want news that really matters to your life in Boston, you need to know about Universal Hub.

I have shortcuts to get to UH, as many fans call it, on every computer in the home, my iPhone and iPad. It's usually the first site I visit each morning. And, when I want to know what's going on: why traffic is stopped on Storrow Drive or why I'm hearing helicopters or non-stop sirens, I call up Adam Gaffin's @universalhub timeline on Twitter.

What's more, much of this hard work is done with a good dose of fun whenever possible. Some of the world's greatest punsters have been known to participate in a string of punny comments that will have you moaning in that good way that only bad puns can create.

Mainstream Media Failure

A few times this week, I've turned off the local news because more and more of these programs have become promotional vehicles for the station or the network. Or, they are filled with stories, from who knows where, about things that have no impact on your life. Why? Because they have video and because they are really about entertainment rather than news.

Instead of a half hour of news, you get three minutes of news, endless sports blather, and lots of hype. They just take the feed from the network to fill the time. If I want local news, I have to turn to sites like UH.

Support Universal Hub

As with many other sites, Universal Hub is supported by advertising, affiliate programs, and contributions.

Last year Adam added a link that asks readers,

"Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) donation."

You'll find the place to click by scrolling down in the right hand sidebar. The next time you get a great, timely, local answer to your question, "What's going on right now in Boston?" click the link and drop a few coins in the UH tip jar.

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
Screengrab from Universalhub.com

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August 14, 2015
Universal Hub, When You Need to Know What’s Happening in Boston Right Now!

If you want news that really matters to your life in Boston, you need to know about Universal Hub.

I have shortcuts to get to UH, as many fans call it, on every computer in the home, my iPhone and iPad. It's usually the first site I visit each morning. And, when I want to know what's going on: why traffic is stopped on Storrow Drive or why I'm hearing helicopters or non-stop sirens, I call up Adam Gaffin's @universalhub timeline on Twitter.

What's more, much of this hard work is done with a good dose of fun whenever possible. Some of the world's greatest punsters have been known to participate in a string of punny comments that will have you moaning in that good way that only bad puns can create.

Mainstream Media Failure

A few times this week, I've turned off the local news because more and more of these programs have become promotional vehicles for the station or the network. Or, they are filled with stories, from who knows where, about things that have no impact on your life. Why? Because they have video and because they are really about entertainment rather than news.

Instead of a half hour of news, you get three minutes of news, endless sports blather, and lots of hype. They just take the feed from the network to fill the time. If I want local news, I have to turn to sites like UH.

Support Universal Hub

As with many other sites, Universal Hub is supported by advertising, affiliate programs, and contributions.

Last year Adam added a link that asks readers,

"Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) donation."

You'll find the place to click by scrolling down in the right hand sidebar. The next time you get a great, timely, local answer to your question, "What's going on right now in Boston?" click the link and drop a few coins in the UH tip jar.

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
Screengrab from Universalhub.com

Related articles

Welcome Luke's Lobster to Boston

Canoe Racing on the Charles: 1930s Marathon Style

Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée, Love at First Sip!

August 14, 2015
Coming Soon, Giant Government Center Billboard!

I've heard people ask, "Why did they build the new headhouse for the Government Center MBTA Station so high?" And, my answer has been, to make sure the billboards can be seen from far and near.

I wonder how many sides will be covered and how many different ads the MBTA will sell on this billboard stand? I hope they are priced high enough to help reduce the MBTA's debt.

Universal Hub posted an aerial view and the readers added their thoughts earlier this month.

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: © 2015 Penny Cherubino

June 11, 2015