Tag: MA

  • Documenting the Longfellow Bridge Project

    This week's Friday Link is the Longfellow Bridge construction progress Flicker photostream created and curated by photographer Sarah Bourne.

    Longfellow progress

    Here's a Longfellow cover shot that Penny did for a Back Bay Sun assignment in 2011.

    Sarah has reserved the copyright to her photos. Because we try to always honor a photographer's wishes, we can't use one of her photos here. But, be assured, this collection is a great record with wonderful photos showing the progress month-to-month.

    A tip of the hat to Adam Gaffin over at Universal Hub (UH) for bringing this collection to the attention of his readers. Not only is UH the best place for breaking news, but it also shares some great Boston features that might be overlooked if not for this invaluable site. 

    Thanks to Sarah for her great work. Please take the time to click through the stages of construction and the seasonal changes along the river.

    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  

  • Parked Cars Gather Maple Fruit

    Yes, those winged-seeds that some people call helicopters, whirligigs, or noses (because they opened them up and put them on their noses as kids) are actually "samaras," the fruit of the maple tree. 

    DSC_5863 - Version 22015-05-18-maple-showers-may-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you park under a fruitful maple this time of year, you may have a harvesting job to do before you move your car. [Hint: Removing samaras can be a lot more fun if you first stick one to your nose – we won't tell.]

    Today, the Norway Maple that dumped this mother lode is considered an invasive species and is no longer planted as a street tree. 

    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  Ed Cherubino  

  • Parked Cars Gather Maple Fruit

    Yes, those winged-seeds that some people call helicopters, whirligigs, or noses (because they opened them up and put them on their noses as kids) are actually "samaras," the fruit of the maple tree. 

    DSC_5863 - Version 22015-05-18-maple-showers-may-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you park under a fruitful maple this time of year, you may have a harvesting job to do before you move your car. [Hint: Removing samaras can be a lot more fun if you first stick one to your nose – we won't tell.]

    Today, the Norway Maple that dumped this mother lode is considered an invasive species and is no longer planted as a street tree. 

    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  Ed Cherubino  

  • DCR’s Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015

    Our Friday Link today will take you to the DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) site for Universal Access to State Recreation facilities. And, we wanted to let you know that DCR is holding an Accessible Recreation Fair on May 30, 2015.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.32.31 AM

    More and more citizens and visitors are asking about ways they can enjoy many of the places the Boston area has to offer with friends or family members who have different levels of mobility or other issues that require some special support. 

    You can see the cover of the department's current brochure on the program above. You can download a copy here. Download DCR accessbroch or from the state site at this link.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.35.39 AM

    The brochure covers categories of what they call experiences that will be right for a wide range of abilities.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.36.05 AM

    It charts what is available by park within regions. 

    Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at Friday, April 24, 20159.48.57 AM

    And, it covers what you can do at each place. 

    Accessible Recreation Fair

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
    • Time: 10am – 3pm 
    • Place: Artesani Park/Herter Park, 1231 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA (map)
    • Cost: Free!
    • Information / Registration: 617-626-1294  
    • They say: "Come join DCR’s Universal Access Program and a host of other regional adaptive recreation organizations for a fun-filled day! Enjoy scenic views of the Charles River and social connections! Sign up for summer programs such as sailing, kayaking, hiking and more!"
     

    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
    Images: Courtesy of DCR

  • DCR’s Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015

    Our Friday Link today will take you to the DCR (Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation) site for Universal Access to State Recreation facilities. And, we wanted to let you know that DCR is holding an Accessible Recreation Fair on May 30, 2015.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.32.31 AM

    More and more citizens and visitors are asking about ways they can enjoy many of the places the Boston area has to offer with friends or family members who have different levels of mobility or other issues that require some special support. 

    You can see the cover of the department's current brochure on the program above. You can download a copy here. Download DCR accessbroch or from the state site at this link.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.35.39 AM

    The brochure covers categories of what they call experiences that will be right for a wide range of abilities.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-22 at Wednesday, April 22, 201511.36.05 AM

    It charts what is available by park within regions. 

    Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at Friday, April 24, 20159.48.57 AM

    And, it covers what you can do at each place. 

    Accessible Recreation Fair

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
    • Time: 10am – 3pm 
    • Place: Artesani Park/Herter Park, 1231 Soldiers Field Road, Brighton, MA (map)
    • Cost: Free!
    • Information / Registration: 617-626-1294  
    • They say: "Come join DCR’s Universal Access Program and a host of other regional adaptive recreation organizations for a fun-filled day! Enjoy scenic views of the Charles River and social connections! Sign up for summer programs such as sailing, kayaking, hiking and more!"
     

    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
    Images: Courtesy of DCR

  • Market Report: 2015 Summer Farmers Markets “One Every Day of the Week”

    We are so happy that the Copley Square Farmers Market is open for the season. That's the home market for the BostonZest team and where we pick up lots of news from the farms. But, we also receive press releases, newsletters, and correspond with farm friends year-round to gather news for readers like you.

    Today, we'll tell you about the "One Every Day of the Week" farmers market campaign over in Cambridge.

    Farmers_markers_poster_summer_2015 copy 2

    For years, we've pointed out that if you live in the central area of Boston, you have access to a farmers market seven days a week. The City of Cambridge has made a campaign of that fact to support the fresh, local food producers. If you'd like a copy of the poster, you can download one here. Download Farmers_Markets_poster_summer_2015

    If the option for a particular day is not within walking distance from your home, it will be easy to reach by public transportation. That makes for a very lively, fresh, local food scene in and around Boston.

    Since we shop at many area markets, we took the idea and information from Cambridge's poster and added the other markets we frequent.

    • Sunday: Charles Square, Cambridge
    • Monday: Boston Public Market, Blackstone Street and Central Square, Cambridge
    • Tuesday: Copley Square, South Station/Dewey Square, and Harvard University Farmers Market, Cambridge
    • Wednesday: Boston Public Market, Blackstone Street; Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA); Davis Square, Somerville; and Charlestown
    • Thursday: South Station/Dewey Square, Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street), Brookline/Coolidge Corner, Mission Hill/Roxbury, Brigham Circle, and East Boston/Central Square
    • Friday: Copley Square and Charles Square, Cambridge
    • Saturday: Union Square, Somerville; Cambridgeport, Cambridge; Roslindale/Adams Park; and Egleston, Jamaica Plain

    For exact dates, maps, and other details on these markets check our post:

    Summer Farmers Markets Opening Dates 2015

    We'll do our best to keep you informed with a series of Market Reports throughout the season. And, we welcome your tips and suggestions. Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to this post as an update.

    Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers Market posts.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Market Report: 2015 Summer Farmers Markets “One Every Day of the Week”

    We are so happy that the Copley Square Farmers Market is open for the season. That's the home market for the BostonZest team and where we pick up lots of news from the farms. But, we also receive press releases, newsletters, and correspond with farm friends year-round to gather news for readers like you.

    Today, we'll tell you about the "One Every Day of the Week" farmers market campaign over in Cambridge.

    Farmers_markers_poster_summer_2015 copy 2

    For years, we've pointed out that if you live in the central area of Boston, you have access to a farmers market seven days a week. The City of Cambridge has made a campaign of that fact to support the fresh, local food producers. If you'd like a copy of the poster, you can download one here. Download Farmers_Markets_poster_summer_2015

    If the option for a particular day is not within walking distance from your home, it will be easy to reach by public transportation. That makes for a very lively, fresh, local food scene in and around Boston.

    Since we shop at many area markets, we took the idea and information from Cambridge's poster and added the other markets we frequent.

    • Sunday: Charles Square, Cambridge
    • Monday: Boston Public Market, Blackstone Street and Central Square, Cambridge
    • Tuesday: Copley Square, South Station/Dewey Square, and Harvard University Farmers Market, Cambridge
    • Wednesday: Boston Public Market, Blackstone Street; Cambridge Center (Kendall MBTA); Davis Square, Somerville; and Charlestown
    • Thursday: South Station/Dewey Square, Kendall Square (500 Kendall Street), Brookline/Coolidge Corner, Mission Hill/Roxbury, Brigham Circle, and East Boston/Central Square
    • Friday: Copley Square and Charles Square, Cambridge
    • Saturday: Union Square, Somerville; Cambridgeport, Cambridge; Roslindale/Adams Park; and Egleston, Jamaica Plain

    For exact dates, maps, and other details on these markets check our post:

    Summer Farmers Markets Opening Dates 2015

    We'll do our best to keep you informed with a series of Market Reports throughout the season. And, we welcome your tips and suggestions. Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to this post as an update.

    Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers Market posts.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Our Favorite May 2015 Activities and Events

    May is one of those months when we like to get out and enjoy our city and perhaps schedule a few day trips or short getaways to places around the area. After this winter, we have worked to get our assignments ahead and will now take some time off to enjoy spring. 

    CHE_8136 - Version 22013-06-21-back-bay-garden--© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    We already gave you the lowdown on What's happening around Boston in May 2015. That post puts the month into a planning perspective for you. This one is about our faves.

    When if comes to events, we tend to enjoy the quieter side of the happenings roster. Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum on May 10th is more our style. It is the only day you are allowed to picnic on the grounds and they now have a small fleet of food trucks available for the event. 

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    Food Truck Season

    Speaking of food trucks, by May it's normally warm enough to dine al fresco and that means we can do more food truck sampling. The city seems to have lost interest in supporting this great aspect of Boston. So rather than recommend you use the city's site, we suggest you depend on Steve Leibowitz's site, Hub Food Trucks.

    One of our favorite food truck spots is near the fountain at the Christian Science Plaza. It's listed as Belvidere on the schedules. In addition to more trucks and more choices, it has great seating for eating and fun people watching. Here's a link to the Hub Food Trucks schedule.

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    Community Gardens

    It's planting and sprucing up season at community gardens throughout the area. We always plan a walk and photo shoot in the Fenway Victory Gardens in May. Here are some scenes from a past walk. From the Boston Natural Areas Network, here's a community garden locator.

    For Other Tastes

    Over on TripAdvisor's Boston Forum, Penny starts a monthly conversation on what's happening in Boston. The local volunteers who answer questions for visitors and share information among themselves add their favorites to that discussion. If you prefer big organized events, sports, and celebrity events to our quieter tastes, you may find great ideas at this link.

    What's your favorite pastime or event in May? 

    Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll add your suggestions to this post as an update.

    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: © 2012-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • We Toast the Month of May with Nino Franco Faive Rosé Brut

    This month, we’ll toast the start of another calendar page and say “Happy New Month” with a Faive Rosé Brut from the wonderful family at Nino Franco

    CHE_6996 - Version 22015-04-21-Faive-Rose-brut-nino-franco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    In reading some of the great reviews of this wine, we found someone who agrees with our sparkling wine philosophy.

    Charles Scicolone, a wine consultant that the New York Times called “The Maestro of Italian Wines,” includes Nino Franco Faive Rosé in a list of some of his favorite sparklers,

    “Most of us think of sparkling wine as something that should only be drunk on special occasions or at Christmas and New Years, but I don’t agree. Sparkling wine can be enjoyed all year round and I especially like it in the summer and always with food.”

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d0773125970c-800wi

    Last October, we first tasted this sparkling wine along with others from the Nino Franco line at Brix Wine Shop. At the tasting, we added a couple of bottles to our order because we have friends who we suspect will love this wine and we wanted to have some on hand when they visit. 

    Then, we opened a bottle at home and had it with food and without sharing our attention with some of our all time favorite Proseccos. We discovered that we love this Nino Franco wine for a whole set of different reasons. We added a few bottles to our next order from Brix to be sure to have some for our pals despite dipping into the supply from time to time.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-21 at Tuesday, April 21, 20159.41.56 AM

    Rosé as a Rite of Spring

    We browsed our wine rack to pick a sparkler for May and remembered the strawberry notes and clean dry finish of the Faive. It seemed a perfect choice. Others agree.

    Wine & Spirits 2013: “More red than rosé, this has the dark flavor of pomegranate …. There’s something oddly refreshing in it, a quirky rosé to chill for the beach, to serve with grilled shellfish.” 

    Independent Wine Review: “This “Faive” Rosé bubbles on across an impressive length. Drier than most rosé sparkling wines made in the Prosecco zone of production and purer in flavour.”

    Sommelier’s Choice: “In many ways a wine that defies classification (not legally permitted to be labelled Prosecco, drier than most rosé sparkling wines made in the Prosecco zone of production and purer in flavour and made differently to rosé Champagne) this “Faive” Rosé Spumante is defined by flavours of strawberries, wild raspberries and freshly picked nectarines. Almost completely dry and underpinned by an ever-present but subtle and nicely integrated mousse, this “Faive” Rosé bubbles on across an impressive length.”

    Charles Scicolone: “The wine is light salmon in color, with good bubbles, nice red fruit and a hint of pear.”

    Tidbits About Faive Rosé Brut

    Pronunciation: Fie-EE-vay

    Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

    ABV: 12%

    Importer’s serving suggestions: Faive should be enjoyed from the first spring days, over the summer until late autumn. Serve with small appetizing bites ranging from cheese, to lightly steamed shrimp and cheese straws.

    What Does the Name Mean?

    Faive: from the Venetian dialect, are the small gilded red tongues of flame and sparks rising towards the sky from a great fire, lightly and freely carried by the wind.

    It certainly sparked some smiles around here. Happy new month!

    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 & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino with the bottle alone courtesy of Nino Franco.

  • We Toast the Month of May with Nino Franco Faive Rosé Brut

    This month, we’ll toast the start of another calendar page and say “Happy New Month” with a Faive Rosé Brut from the wonderful family at Nino Franco

    CHE_6996 - Version 22015-04-21-Faive-Rose-brut-nino-franco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    In reading some of the great reviews of this wine, we found someone who agrees with our sparkling wine philosophy.

    Charles Scicolone, a wine consultant that the New York Times called “The Maestro of Italian Wines,” includes Nino Franco Faive Rosé in a list of some of his favorite sparklers,

    “Most of us think of sparkling wine as something that should only be drunk on special occasions or at Christmas and New Years, but I don’t agree. Sparkling wine can be enjoyed all year round and I especially like it in the summer and always with food.”

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b8d0773125970c-800wi

    Last October, we first tasted this sparkling wine along with others from the Nino Franco line at Brix Wine Shop. At the tasting, we added a couple of bottles to our order because we have friends who we suspect will love this wine and we wanted to have some on hand when they visit. 

    Then, we opened a bottle at home and had it with food and without sharing our attention with some of our all time favorite Proseccos. We discovered that we love this Nino Franco wine for a whole set of different reasons. We added a few bottles to our next order from Brix to be sure to have some for our pals despite dipping into the supply from time to time.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-21 at Tuesday, April 21, 20159.41.56 AM

    Rosé as a Rite of Spring

    We browsed our wine rack to pick a sparkler for May and remembered the strawberry notes and clean dry finish of the Faive. It seemed a perfect choice. Others agree.

    Wine & Spirits 2013: “More red than rosé, this has the dark flavor of pomegranate …. There’s something oddly refreshing in it, a quirky rosé to chill for the beach, to serve with grilled shellfish.” 

    Independent Wine Review: “This “Faive” Rosé bubbles on across an impressive length. Drier than most rosé sparkling wines made in the Prosecco zone of production and purer in flavour.”

    Sommelier’s Choice: “In many ways a wine that defies classification (not legally permitted to be labelled Prosecco, drier than most rosé sparkling wines made in the Prosecco zone of production and purer in flavour and made differently to rosé Champagne) this “Faive” Rosé Spumante is defined by flavours of strawberries, wild raspberries and freshly picked nectarines. Almost completely dry and underpinned by an ever-present but subtle and nicely integrated mousse, this “Faive” Rosé bubbles on across an impressive length.”

    Charles Scicolone: “The wine is light salmon in color, with good bubbles, nice red fruit and a hint of pear.”

    Tidbits About Faive Rosé Brut

    Pronunciation: Fie-EE-vay

    Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc

    ABV: 12%

    Importer’s serving suggestions: Faive should be enjoyed from the first spring days, over the summer until late autumn. Serve with small appetizing bites ranging from cheese, to lightly steamed shrimp and cheese straws.

    What Does the Name Mean?

    Faive: from the Venetian dialect, are the small gilded red tongues of flame and sparks rising towards the sky from a great fire, lightly and freely carried by the wind.

    It certainly sparked some smiles around here. Happy new month!

    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 & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino with the bottle alone courtesy of Nino Franco.