bostonzest

Category: Editorial Page

  • Newbury Street 60% Off… the Sidewalk?

    IMG_5583 - Version 22012-08-07-taking-over-the-sidewalks-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Between illegal sidewalk signs and open doors, pedestrians are forced to walk in the tree pits on Newbury Street. 

    We didn't catch one in this photo, but if you're really unlucky, you can also have the fun of dodging a speeding bike on this obstacle course.

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    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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  • Newbury Street 60% Off… the Sidewalk?

    IMG_5583 - Version 22012-08-07-taking-over-the-sidewalks-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Between illegal sidewalk signs and open doors, pedestrians are forced to walk in the tree pits on Newbury Street. 

    We didn't catch one in this photo, but if you're really unlucky, you can also have the fun of dodging a speeding bike on this obstacle course.

    What's on your shoe shopping list? Shop Amazon's own Endless shoe store and support this site! It won't cost you anymore but Amazon will put a few coins in our tip jar!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Parasols Are Poppin' up All Over…
    The Summer Office
    No Passengers Allowed…
    Boston Trash Can Improvement Society At Work
    Enhanced by Zemanta

  • Newbury Street 60% Off… the Sidewalk?

    IMG_5583 - Version 22012-08-07-taking-over-the-sidewalks-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Between illegal sidewalk signs and open doors, pedestrians are forced to walk in the tree pits on Newbury Street. 

    We didn't catch one in this photo, but if you're really unlucky, you can also have the fun of dodging a speeding bike on this obstacle course.

    What's on your shoe shopping list? Shop Amazon's own Endless shoe store and support this site! It won't cost you anymore but Amazon will put a few coins in our tip jar!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Parasols Are Poppin' up All Over…
    The Summer Office
    No Passengers Allowed…
    Boston Trash Can Improvement Society At Work
    Enhanced by Zemanta

  • Greenough Lane, Then and Now….

    PMC_2982 - Version 22012-05-18-greenough lane- norht end-boston-charter park-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Today, we nominate Charter Street Park and Greenough Lane (map) in the North End as a delightful pocket of serenity. Ever since we met Lynn Schweikart author of Peaceful Places Boston, we've been taking note of places to nominate for her consideration in a future edition. 

    Running through Charter Street Park is Greenough Lane. Early records of Boston’s streets listed this as Greenough's Alley. In 1732, it was called Greenough’s Lane, which changed to Greenough's Avenue in 1848. Finally, the apostrophe "s" was dropped and it has been Greenough Lane, since 1858.

    6055542735_84472b148d

    From the BPL collection used under this creative commons license.

    As we were researching Greenough Lane, we came across this Henry Blaney sketch of the scene as it stood in July 1891. It is part of the Boston Public Library Collection. 

    We'd also like to encourage our readers to stand up for and protect a few of these little gems. We need a few places where you can sit and enjoy nature without organized events, street performers, or other diversions planned by all the sad, little, busy minds who need constant distraction to keep from thinking.

    Discover more peaceful places here and around the country. And, please nominate your favorite pockets of serentity for one of our upcoming posts.

    For those who read us from other parts of the country, the publisher has some peaceful books for other cities.  

    Peaceful Places: Boston: 121 Tranquil Sites in the City and Beyond

    Peaceful Places: Chicago: 119 Tranquil Sites in the Windy City and Beyond

    Peaceful Places: San Francisco: 100+ Tranquil Sites in The City and the Greater Bay Area

    Peaceful Places: Los Angeles: 100+ Sites for Tranquility Across the City of Angels

        

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Cover art © 2012 Lynn Schweikart 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • We Love June in Boston!

    DSC_4790 - Version 32012-05-20-boston-public-garden-peaceful- june-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    June is often the most gentle and gracious time of year in Boston. I really enjoy being here this month. This valentine to June in our adopted hometown was inspired by a conversation over on Trip Advisor. The crew there were collecting things that were happening during the month. My two cents worth was to let everyone know why Ed and I think June in Boston is so special.

    Most of the graduations are over. Just UMass Boston on June 1st and MIT on the 8th remain. Then, the locals and smartest of visitors have the city to themselves.

    The greenery is glowing. The city seems to take a deep breath and relax. There is just something special about this lull before the July 4th activity that makes it a sweeter place.

    It's a month to picnic and sit and read by the river. The weather is often the most comfortable of the year. Don't get me wrong. I love the rest of the year too, but June is special.

    What's on your June fun-in-Boston shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Pride: 40 Years of Protest & Celebration

    This year's Boston Pride Week (June 1-10, 2012) is the perfect opportunity to visit the art gallery at the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE). On view, right now, is Pride: 40 years of Protest & Celebration.

    Contrast (1)

    (Photo courtesy of the History Project)

    This is a joint project between the (BCAE) and The History Project. Drawn from The History Project’s archive, the exhibition traces the development of Pride in Boston from a sparsely attended protest to a massive celebration drawing hundreds of thousands of participants each June.

    The pieces displayed in the exhibition, showcase the immense cultural and political changes that have affected New England’s LGBTQ communities over the decades. 

    JoelBenjamin Pride 1

    (Photo by Joel Benjamin)

    Accompanying Pride: 40 Years of Protest & Celebration will be Fierce Pride: 1992, an exhibition of portraits taken during the 1992 Pride Celebration by Photographer Joel Benjamin. These never-before-exhibited portraits reflect the rich diversity of LGBTQ communities and the role of Pride in creating a safe space for self-expression.

    IMG_5196 - Version 22012-05-25-Pride, 4o years of pride- bcae-© 2011 Penny Cherubino   DSC_5100 - Version 22012-05-25-Pride, 4o years of pride- bcae-© 2011 Penny Cherubino   IMG_5202 - Version 22012-05-25-Pride, 4o years of pride- bcae-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Click on any image to see a larger version.

    As photographers, we are grateful when organizations like BCAE open their gallery space to photographic art. And, we applaud collections and archives like those compiled by The History Project that save and share the work across time.

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    Details:

    Boston Center for Adult Education 
    122 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 (map)
    Phone: (617) 267-4430 

    www.bcae.org

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © Courtesy of BCAE 

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • A Sunday Dog Salute to Geese Wranglers at Work

    DSC_4447 - Version 22012-05-03-geese-dogs-boston-public-garden-canada-geese-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Recently, we had the opportunity to photograph two geese dogs and their human teammates at work in the Boston Public Garden. They were trying to make Canada Geese understand that the lagoon is not a place to settle down for the summer. 

    If you should see this pair with their yellow vests off-leash in this park, please understand that they are there to do an important job. They are trained to voice commands and obey instantly when asked to stop, stay, or change their position.

    DSC_4436 - Version 22012-05-03-geese-dogs-boston-public-garden-canada-geese-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    One of their handlers works on the lagoon from a kayak and the other (the woman in the yellow jacket) stays along the shore. The dogs work both in and out of the water. 

    PMC_2504 - Version 22012-05-03-geese-dogs-boston-public-garden-canada-geese-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The object of the game is to keep the birds from feeling safe in this park without hurting them. This is called site aversion by the GeesePeace model program. 

    PMC_2535 - Version 22012-05-03-geese-dogs-boston-public-garden-canada-geese-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    "You can take a break, I've got this one," said one dog to the other!

    These pups were working so hard we never did get their names. If you are in a park where you see Border Collies working on geese control, please keep your own dog on leash and away from them. These herders move very fast and it would be easy to get in their way. They might also tempt your dog to chase them.

    PMC_2540 - Version 22012-05-03-geese-dogs-boston-public-garden-canada-geese-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We were worn out just watching them as we said so long to two very tired dogs.

    Thanks to this team and the Friends of the Public Garden for making the park a cleaner and safer place to walk. And, thanks to other teams working in other parks, golf courses, and open spaces. It will take a sustained and combined effort to undo the human mistakes that caused the overpopulation of these birds.

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

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    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Thanks to Faithful Trustees

    PMC_0476 - Version 32012-04-07-commonwealth-avenue-boston-garden-architecture-© 2011 Penny Cherubino
    In big ways and small they preserve our heritage by caring for historic properties.

    "These old buildings do not belong to us only, they belong to our forefathers and they will belong to our descendants unless we play them false. They are not in any sense our own property to do with as we like with them. We are only trustees for those that come after us."  William Morris

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

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 Penny  Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Edible Boston Spring 2012 Issue

    Have you picked up your copy of the Spring 2012 Issue of Edible Boston yet? 

    Edible Boston spring2012

    I look forward to each new issue of this quarterly collection of great writing, wonderful photography, locavore lessons, and down-to-earth philosophy. I learn something from every article.

    This time, publisher Ilene Bezahler and her team have shined their spotlight on those who produce our local food and on those who want to be our next generation of farmers but need the land to do it.

    Describing this issue, Ilene says, "… you will read about a young generation who wants to farm, wants to help provide us with local produce but are struggling with how to afford to do it. And about dairy farmers who are committed to keeping their farms full service dairies in their families’ tradition."

    You can also read the magazine at their website. If you do that, I suggest you filp through the full print edition so you will see one of the tastiest group of advertisers around. Please support these people who make it possible for us to have this great publication. 

    We are a small local business too. So, if you do have to shop for something online, remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Screenshot: Courtesy of Edible 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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Our Friday Link

     Enc screenshot

    Living in Boston, you think you know all about the Emerald Necklace, the glorious string of parks created by Frederick Law Olmsted between 1878 and 1896. But, how many of these parks have you explored? This spring, we suggest you pick a section of the necklace that you haven't visited and spend some time there. 

    The Emerald Necklace Conservancy site has a wealth of information about the parks. Explore their site and then get out and see the parks in person.

    Slowly, even these treasured places are being destroyed by special interest groups who insist on having passive areas and natural open spaces chopped up to create dedicated spaces for one type of park user. 

    Enjoy them while you can before every inch is filled with playgrounds, ball fields, tennis courts, statues, memorials, and special gardens. Olmsted knew the value of passive places and time spent with nature. It's sad that many who admire his work today don't understand that concept.

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

    Details:

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

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.