Tag: Massachusetts

  • Esplanade Concerts of the Past – Enjoy Your July 4th!

    8050397488_57c85824c2

    Once upon a time, a concert on the Esplanade looked like this. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    8050396712_089f011c86

    Another view of some serious music fans in their Sunday best. (Also, courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    5553757585_4b171a54f6_z

    This shows one of the earlier concert stages, said to be from the summer of 1930. Here's our post with all three of the Esplanade concert stages. (This photo is from the Boston Public Library's Collection.)

    If you're out and about in Boston on July 4th, we have a resource page that tries to answer the questions you may have about: what's open and closed, parking, restaurants, trash pick up, and MBTA schedules

    We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday and hope you have tomorrow off, giving you a long weekend to make it even better!

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library used under this creative commons license.   

    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.

  • Esplanade Concerts of the Past – Enjoy Your July 4th!

    8050397488_57c85824c2

    Once upon a time, a concert on the Esplanade looked like this. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    8050396712_089f011c86

    Another view of some serious music fans in their Sunday best. (Also, courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    5553757585_4b171a54f6_z

    This shows one of the earlier concert stages, said to be from the summer of 1930. Here's our post with all three of the Esplanade concert stages. (This photo is from the Boston Public Library's Collection.)

    If you're out and about in Boston on July 4th, we have a resource page that tries to answer the questions you may have about: what's open and closed, parking, restaurants, trash pick up, and MBTA schedules

    We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday and hope you have tomorrow off, giving you a long weekend to make it even better!

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library used under this creative commons license.   

    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.

  • Esplanade Concerts of the Past – Enjoy Your July 4th!

    8050397488_57c85824c2

    Once upon a time, a concert on the Esplanade looked like this. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    8050396712_089f011c86

    Another view of some serious music fans in their Sunday best. (Also, courtesy of the Boston Public Library Leslie Jones Collection.)

    5553757585_4b171a54f6_z

    This shows one of the earlier concert stages, said to be from the summer of 1930. Here's our post with all three of the Esplanade concert stages. (This photo is from the Boston Public Library's Collection.)

    If you're out and about in Boston on July 4th, we have a resource page that tries to answer the questions you may have about: what's open and closed, parking, restaurants, trash pick up, and MBTA schedules

    We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday and hope you have tomorrow off, giving you a long weekend to make it even better!

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library used under this creative commons license.   

    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.

  • At The Market: Strawberry Season!

     CHE_8116 - Version 22013-06-18-bz-shopping-copley-bob-oppenheim-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The scent of strawberries is in the air at local farmers' markets, this week, and shoppers all seem to have a basket or two or three among their selections. We captured our friend Bob Oppenheim buying his berrys at the Atlas Farm Stand during Tuesday's Copley Square market.

    DSC_5524 - Version 22013-06-19-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We purchased these beauties from Hamiltion Orchards. Is it possible for berries to have terroir? Whatever the secret, Barbara Hamilton and her crew grow some delicious berries. We ask her every market when her blueberries will be coming. 

    If pick-your-own is on your agenda, you can start checking your favorite places to see if they've opened their strawberry fields for the season.

    CHE_8121 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The big displays of garden plants are slowly being replaced with harvested greens and vegetables. If you are thinking of adding some herbs to your life, this is the time to buy the plants.

    CHE_8090 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Strawberries, hakurei turnips, fennel, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic scrapes, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok choi, chard, small onions with green tops, snap peas, sweet peas, herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils – many farms will stop bring plants to market when they have enough produce to fill their stands. 

    Coming Soon!

    After strawberry season comes blueberry season. I start looking for the first blues about July 4th. 

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Strawberry Season!

     CHE_8116 - Version 22013-06-18-bz-shopping-copley-bob-oppenheim-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The scent of strawberries is in the air at local farmers' markets, this week, and shoppers all seem to have a basket or two or three among their selections. We captured our friend Bob Oppenheim buying his berrys at the Atlas Farm Stand during Tuesday's Copley Square market.

    DSC_5524 - Version 22013-06-19-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We purchased these beauties from Hamiltion Orchards. Is it possible for berries to have terroir? Whatever the secret, Barbara Hamilton and her crew grow some delicious berries. We ask her every market when her blueberries will be coming. 

    If pick-your-own is on your agenda, you can start checking your favorite places to see if they've opened their strawberry fields for the season.

    CHE_8121 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The big displays of garden plants are slowly being replaced with harvested greens and vegetables. If you are thinking of adding some herbs to your life, this is the time to buy the plants.

    CHE_8090 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Strawberries, hakurei turnips, fennel, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic scrapes, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok choi, chard, small onions with green tops, snap peas, sweet peas, herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils – many farms will stop bring plants to market when they have enough produce to fill their stands. 

    Coming Soon!

    After strawberry season comes blueberry season. I start looking for the first blues about July 4th. 

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Strawberry Season!

     CHE_8116 - Version 22013-06-18-bz-shopping-copley-bob-oppenheim-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The scent of strawberries is in the air at local farmers' markets, this week, and shoppers all seem to have a basket or two or three among their selections. We captured our friend Bob Oppenheim buying his berrys at the Atlas Farm Stand during Tuesday's Copley Square market.

    DSC_5524 - Version 22013-06-19-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We purchased these beauties from Hamiltion Orchards. Is it possible for berries to have terroir? Whatever the secret, Barbara Hamilton and her crew grow some delicious berries. We ask her every market when her blueberries will be coming. 

    If pick-your-own is on your agenda, you can start checking your favorite places to see if they've opened their strawberry fields for the season.

    CHE_8121 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The big displays of garden plants are slowly being replaced with harvested greens and vegetables. If you are thinking of adding some herbs to your life, this is the time to buy the plants.

    CHE_8090 - Version 22013-06-18-Copley-square-framers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Strawberries, hakurei turnips, fennel, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic scrapes, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok choi, chard, small onions with green tops, snap peas, sweet peas, herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils – many farms will stop bring plants to market when they have enough produce to fill their stands. 

    Coming Soon!

    After strawberry season comes blueberry season. I start looking for the first blues about July 4th. 

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Brookline & Belmont Markets Open Today

    20110707-160211-(market-scene)-(brookline-massachusetts)-(shopping-stillmans) (2)

    Brookline Summer Farmers' Market

    Long before every neighborhood was setting up a farmers' market for locals, the Town of Brookline was supporting fresh and local food every Thursday afternoon in summer at the Brookline Summer Farmers' Market. It will run each Thursday from now until October 31st. Hours are from 1 pm to dusk.

    Last year, a winter market was set up in the Arcade building, making this town the year-round envy of many of its neighbors.

    We've told you about the joys of this market before both here and on Serious Eats. Plan a Thursday afternoon in Coolidge Corner, and you'll discover many food related joys!

    20100610IMG_3021 - Version 2 (1)

    Belmont Farmers' Market

    Also, today from 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., you can enjoy meeting a great group of vendors on opening day of the Belmont Farmers' Market. We're going to put a trip to Belmont on our market shopping list because we really enjoyed this market the last time we were there.

    DSC_4799 - Version 22013-05-31-reds-best-seafood-seta-cooler-markets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Market Tip of the Week

    Chef Seta Dakessian from Seta’s Mediterranean Foods (shown above) with Jason Tucker from Red's Best seafood at the Copley Sq. Market, suggests bringing a cooler to your farmers’ market, especially if you're buying fresh fish!

    Farm & Market Tidbits…

    Genevieve Stillman from Stillman Farm reports, "We are harvesting lettuce, chard, beets, arugula, mesclun, turnips, onions, strawberries, snap peas, and more. Of course, we'll have plants at the markets for the coming month too! I've been enjoying freshly snipped herbs in all my salads, as well as edible flowers."

    Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers' Market Manager, said, "I've always liked a good dilly bean. Now I can get them at the market from our new vendor Maine Homestead! There are so few commercial picklers in New England that sell at farmers markets. I think we're really lucky to have them here with us on Tuesdays." 

    Peter Ward, Central Square Farmers' Market Manager said, "Great to see Chef Steve Johnson of Rendezvous – a regular at the market – back shopping this season."

      
    CHE_7853 - Version 22013-06-04radish-kolrabi-beets-lettuce-chiveflowers-bok choi-rhubarb-Keown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Mushrooms, green garlic, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok Choi, chard, snap peas, chive flowers (love those- break them up in your salads,) herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils.

    Coming Soon!

    Strawberries are about to star at all our markets.

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Brookline & Belmont Markets Open Today

    20110707-160211-(market-scene)-(brookline-massachusetts)-(shopping-stillmans) (2)

    Brookline Summer Farmers' Market

    Long before every neighborhood was setting up a farmers' market for locals, the Town of Brookline was supporting fresh and local food every Thursday afternoon in summer at the Brookline Summer Farmers' Market. It will run each Thursday from now until October 31st. Hours are from 1 pm to dusk.

    Last year, a winter market was set up in the Arcade building, making this town the year-round envy of many of its neighbors.

    We've told you about the joys of this market before both here and on Serious Eats. Plan a Thursday afternoon in Coolidge Corner, and you'll discover many food related joys!

    20100610IMG_3021 - Version 2 (1)

    Belmont Farmers' Market

    Also, today from 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., you can enjoy meeting a great group of vendors on opening day of the Belmont Farmers' Market. We're going to put a trip to Belmont on our market shopping list because we really enjoyed this market the last time we were there.

    DSC_4799 - Version 22013-05-31-reds-best-seafood-seta-cooler-markets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Market Tip of the Week

    Chef Seta Dakessian from Seta’s Mediterranean Foods (shown above) with Jason Tucker from Red's Best seafood at the Copley Sq. Market, suggests bringing a cooler to your farmers’ market, especially if you're buying fresh fish!

    Farm & Market Tidbits…

    Genevieve Stillman from Stillman Farm reports, "We are harvesting lettuce, chard, beets, arugula, mesclun, turnips, onions, strawberries, snap peas, and more. Of course, we'll have plants at the markets for the coming month too! I've been enjoying freshly snipped herbs in all my salads, as well as edible flowers."

    Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers' Market Manager, said, "I've always liked a good dilly bean. Now I can get them at the market from our new vendor Maine Homestead! There are so few commercial picklers in New England that sell at farmers markets. I think we're really lucky to have them here with us on Tuesdays." 

    Peter Ward, Central Square Farmers' Market Manager said, "Great to see Chef Steve Johnson of Rendezvous – a regular at the market – back shopping this season."

      
    CHE_7853 - Version 22013-06-04radish-kolrabi-beets-lettuce-chiveflowers-bok choi-rhubarb-Keown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Mushrooms, green garlic, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok Choi, chard, snap peas, chive flowers (love those- break them up in your salads,) herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils.

    Coming Soon!

    Strawberries are about to star at all our markets.

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Brookline & Belmont Markets Open Today

    20110707-160211-(market-scene)-(brookline-massachusetts)-(shopping-stillmans) (2)

    Brookline Summer Farmers' Market

    Long before every neighborhood was setting up a farmers' market for locals, the Town of Brookline was supporting fresh and local food every Thursday afternoon in summer at the Brookline Summer Farmers' Market. It will run each Thursday from now until October 31st. Hours are from 1 pm to dusk.

    Last year, a winter market was set up in the Arcade building, making this town the year-round envy of many of its neighbors.

    We've told you about the joys of this market before both here and on Serious Eats. Plan a Thursday afternoon in Coolidge Corner, and you'll discover many food related joys!

    20100610IMG_3021 - Version 2 (1)

    Belmont Farmers' Market

    Also, today from 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., you can enjoy meeting a great group of vendors on opening day of the Belmont Farmers' Market. We're going to put a trip to Belmont on our market shopping list because we really enjoyed this market the last time we were there.

    DSC_4799 - Version 22013-05-31-reds-best-seafood-seta-cooler-markets-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Market Tip of the Week

    Chef Seta Dakessian from Seta’s Mediterranean Foods (shown above) with Jason Tucker from Red's Best seafood at the Copley Sq. Market, suggests bringing a cooler to your farmers’ market, especially if you're buying fresh fish!

    Farm & Market Tidbits…

    Genevieve Stillman from Stillman Farm reports, "We are harvesting lettuce, chard, beets, arugula, mesclun, turnips, onions, strawberries, snap peas, and more. Of course, we'll have plants at the markets for the coming month too! I've been enjoying freshly snipped herbs in all my salads, as well as edible flowers."

    Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers' Market Manager, said, "I've always liked a good dilly bean. Now I can get them at the market from our new vendor Maine Homestead! There are so few commercial picklers in New England that sell at farmers markets. I think we're really lucky to have them here with us on Tuesdays." 

    Peter Ward, Central Square Farmers' Market Manager said, "Great to see Chef Steve Johnson of Rendezvous – a regular at the market – back shopping this season."

      
    CHE_7853 - Version 22013-06-04radish-kolrabi-beets-lettuce-chiveflowers-bok choi-rhubarb-Keown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    In Season, Right Now!

    Mushrooms, green garlic, salad mix, lettuce, arugula, radishes, beets, scallions, kolrabi, rhubarb, bok Choi, chard, snap peas, chive flowers (love those- break them up in your salads,) herbs, hot house tomatoes, and honey. Plus, you'll find annuals, herbs, and vegetable plants.

    Get Some Before It's Gone!

    Green garlic, garlic scrapes, pea tendrils.

    Coming Soon!

    Strawberries are about to star at all our markets.

    Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

    We heard talk about some early hothouse tomatoes. Curtis Stillman said Stillman's Farm would soon have kale and their first peas.

    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: ©2013 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 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.

  • At The Market: Central Square Cambridge Market Visit

    DSC_4669 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    With the Central Square Farmers' Market (Mondays, Noon to 6 pm, map to the location), we combine errands and fun. We can buy fresh, local food at the market and ethnic food elsewhere in the square. We also see some of the area's finest chef's shopping at this location.

    DSC_4683 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We are also big fans of Hi-Rise Bread Company. Their presence at this market saves a trip across the city to their Concord Avenue or Harvard Square locations.

    DSC_4696 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Friends shopping with us indulged in a tasting of a full range of maple syrup grades from Nutting Farm and bought a jar of maple cream. That cream has also made a hit with Ed's sweet tooth. 

    DSC_4701 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Hutchins Farm is certified organic and had lettuce on their stand that looked like a work of art.

    IMG_6333 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Parker Farm is proud to give shoppers the details of their growing practices. They had a nice selection of greens including Asian favorites like: pea tendrils, bok choy, and pac choy. 

    IMG_6331 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    These turnips from Parker Farm make a great raw addition to seasonal salads.

    DSC_4704 - Version 22013-05-27-central-square-cambridge-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    More bread (Ed's favorite farmers' market shopping) was available from Hearth Artisan Bread from Plymouth. 

    DSC_4676 - Version 22013-05-27-lobster-rolls-no-mayo-RI-CT-style-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Tomorrow we'll tell you about our the lobster roll supper we had with lobster from Chis Manning from C & C Lobster & Fish. 

    Make sure you stop by the manager's tent and say hello to Market Manager Peter Ward. He's always on top of what's in the market, what's coming up next, and what you should get before it's gone for the season.  

    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: ©2013 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 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.