Blog

  • What’s Open on Labor Day in Boston, Plus Parking, Trash & MBTA Information

    Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2017. We'll also keep up with parking information, trash schedules, and changes to MBTA schedules. This is now a permanent page that we'll update from year-to-year.

     All information is updated as of 08/30/17

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    Rather than an end to summer, we call Labor Day the beginning of the golden days of summer that last well beyond the Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd is this year's date.)

    We feature these reminders well before a holiday (especially big ones like this) to give you a nudge to finalize your holiday plans. Follow along on Twitter (@bostonzest) or bookmark this page to check back. We'll update as information comes to us.

    Restaurants, Bars: Open

    Convenience stores: Open

    Supermarkets: Open

    Liquor stores: Open

    Retail stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners wish to open.

    City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

    Financial Services: In general, as the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open. And, check with your bank, they might have some offices open.

    Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. (Be sure to check these parking restrictions for the big college move-in areas on the city's site.)

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    Yes, it's the big Move-In Weekend!

    Traffic Advisory for College Move-Ins 2017

    The city press release advises, "The student move-in process at Boston’s colleges and universities will significantly impact local streets and parking."

    "Students and their families are asked to plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. Drivers are asked to allow for extra time and to pay extra attention to all posted signs."

    Street Sweeping: The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Boston Trash Collection:

    The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

    MBTA 2017 Labor Day Schedule Changes

    MBTA Service Schedule for Labor Day 2016 can be found at this link through the holiday.  The headline on the MBTA site was concise. 

    Screen Shot 2017-08-30 at Wednesday  August 30  20176.22.49 AM

    Download MBTA Labor Day Schedule

    MBTA 2017 Labor Day Service Quick Look:

    Subway, Commuter Rail, Buses, and The Ride will operate on a Sunday schedule.

    The Hingham and Hull boats will operate on a Sunday schedule.

    The Charlestown boat will operate on a Weekend schedule.

    For additional, specific information on routes, schedules, and fares, please contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit www.mbta.com.

    If information like this from BostonZest is helpful to you, support us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from one of the Amazon ads on our site or by Clicking here to go to the Amazon home page.  

    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  

  • Gettin’ Harder to Find a Place to Hang Your Hat in Boston …

    This week brought news that the number of homes for sale in Boston is down, while the prices for those homes listed are up.

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    It's hard to find a place to hang your hat, but this cowhand has picked a fence on Marlborough Street to stake a claim. 

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    A day later, that claim was left hangin' by a string.

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    Two days later, an eviction had taken place.

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Gettin’ Harder to Find a Place to Hang Your Hat in Boston …

    This week brought news that the number of homes for sale in Boston is down, while the prices for those homes listed are up.

    IMG_0073

    It's hard to find a place to hang your hat, but this cowhand has picked a fence on Marlborough Street to stake a claim. 

    IMG_0122

    A day later, that claim was left hangin' by a string.

    IMG_0248

    Two days later, an eviction had taken place.

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Reacquainting Ourselves with Aquitaine Boston

    Aquitaine Boston is the latest on what we're happily calling our "Sand Pail List" of long-time Boston-area restaurants we're looking forward to visiting this summer. In this case, it's the recently reopened Aquitaine that has undergone a charming redo. (In case you missed it, here's The Boston Sun report on the reopening.)

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    We love welcoming bar spaces and opted for two seats right at the front windows with a people watching view of the street. 

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    Light, bright, and classy is certainly the new theme of the room.

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    This menu does a nice job of living up to the spirit of the Aquitaine region of France. Traditional favorites of the area like duck, mushrooms, truffles, foie gras, apples, and walnuts all appear among the offerings. 

    Penny's lunch choice (photo above) was the "Duck Confit Presse with Duck Rillette, Dijon Mustard, Gruyere Cheese, on Pan au Levain." This was a great sandwich. Balance of the few ingredients and just enough pressing and grilling made it memorable. 

    IMG_2811

    Ed is a fan of Salade Nicoise. The one he ordered for lunch was described as, "Ventresca Tuna, Shaved Fennel, Nicoise Olives, Golden Egg, Haricot Verts, Green Herb Vinaigrette."

    IMG_9092

    We each found an old favorite on the sparkling wines by the glass menu. Ed opted for Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut with the traditional Champagne blend. Penny went the rosé, cabernet franc route with Louis de Grenelle Saumur. 

    It was such a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere that we lingered over a scrumptious Apple Tart with creme fraiche while chatting with others at the bar.

    IMG_9170

    It's good the have this corner open and filled with life again. The reopening of Aquitaine shows the importance of restaurants and active retail shops to a streetscape.  

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Disclosure: The Boston Sun is one of our freelance writing and photography clients.

  • Reacquainting Ourselves with Aquitaine Boston

    Aquitaine Boston is the latest on what we're happily calling our "Sand Pail List" of long-time Boston-area restaurants we're looking forward to visiting this summer. In this case, it's the recently reopened Aquitaine that has undergone a charming redo. (In case you missed it, here's The Boston Sun report on the reopening.)

    IMG_2813

    We love welcoming bar spaces and opted for two seats right at the front windows with a people watching view of the street. 

    IMG_9099-COLLAGE

    Light, bright, and classy is certainly the new theme of the room.

    IMG_9136

    This menu does a nice job of living up to the spirit of the Aquitaine region of France. Traditional favorites of the area like duck, mushrooms, truffles, foie gras, apples, and walnuts all appear among the offerings. 

    Penny's lunch choice (photo above) was the "Duck Confit Presse with Duck Rillette, Dijon Mustard, Gruyere Cheese, on Pan au Levain." This was a great sandwich. Balance of the few ingredients and just enough pressing and grilling made it memorable. 

    IMG_2811

    Ed is a fan of Salade Nicoise. The one he ordered for lunch was described as, "Ventresca Tuna, Shaved Fennel, Nicoise Olives, Golden Egg, Haricot Verts, Green Herb Vinaigrette."

    IMG_9092

    We each found an old favorite on the sparkling wines by the glass menu. Ed opted for Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut with the traditional Champagne blend. Penny went the rosé, cabernet franc route with Louis de Grenelle Saumur. 

    It was such a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere that we lingered over a scrumptious Apple Tart with creme fraiche while chatting with others at the bar.

    IMG_9170

    It's good the have this corner open and filled with life again. The reopening of Aquitaine shows the importance of restaurants and active retail shops to a streetscape.  

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Disclosure: The Boston Sun is one of our freelance writing and photography clients.

  • We Finally Met the Famous Westie Puppy Skye!

    The past month, everyone has had the same question when they see us out walking, "Have you met Skye, yet?" There is nothing like a new puppy to generate excitement among the neighborhood dog walkers.

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    Then one day, we spotted this adorable Westie puppy and asked, "Is that Skye?"

    Skye and her person must have been on the other end of the questioning because when we introduced our girl, "We know all about Poppy." was the reply.

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    Skye spent a few minutes asking Poppy some questions and trying to get our little Duchess to play. As usual, her highness declined but did allow a round of sniffs.

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    Skye was in one of those adorable, one-ear-up-one-ear-down phases. But she was talkative and a little cuddle bug. After Penny was given permission, this little sweetie was picked up for a good snuggle. Then Poppy took notice! (Hey, no stealing my people!)

    She was named for the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland and we look forward to learning more about her as this little neighbor grows up under the watchful eyes of her fan club.

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    Here is our Poppy at Skye's age with her favorite Kong toys!

    We ran into Skye again and her person said that Ms. Skye is now a fan of goat cheese in a Kong Extreme! Poppy recommended this for times when a dog girl has to stay home alone and might get bored enough to HOWL! We wrote about that toy in this post:

    Special Toys for Special Purposes

    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 & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • The Lawn Is Brown and the River Is Green!

    On a walk this week, we passed the Muddy River and saw this contrast in colors.

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    The lawn in the small park at Charlesgate East is dry and brown, while the surface of the Muddy River running alongside is emerald green.

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    What the specific growth on the river's surface is, we don't know. But this page from the Charles River Watershed Association does give some alerts for some types of blooms. In the past, there have been potentially toxic blooms on the Muddy.

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • The Lawn Is Brown and the River Is Green!

    On a walk this week, we passed the Muddy River and saw this contrast in colors.

    IMG_9805

    The lawn in the small park at Charlesgate East is dry and brown, while the surface of the Muddy River running alongside is emerald green.

    IMG_9808

    What the specific growth on the river's surface is, we don't know. But this page from the Charles River Watershed Association does give some alerts for some types of blooms. In the past, there have been potentially toxic blooms on the Muddy.

    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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Do You Have a Great Farmers Market Plan & Kit? Tools We Use & Love!

    Today's "Friday Link" post will take you to some of our favorite farmers market toolkit items.

    IMG_6651 - Version 42013-07-23-blueberries-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Bring Cash

    Ones, fives, tens, and quarters. The farmers will love you, and you'll shop faster! Each year, more stands take credit cards, but they tend to be the ones with higher priced items like meat and specialty foods. And, cash is fast, a bonus for you and your fellow shoppers.

    IMG_9068

    My farmers market cash comes with me in a special accordion credit card wallet. Ones are on one side, fives on the other, with tens and twenties in the card slots. For ease in recognizing denominations, tens are folded in fourths and twenties in thirds. Change is in its separate compartment and my "Market Share" cards are in the outside window. 

    IMG_9076

    Bring Bags and Containers 

    Also bring what you'll need to tote your fresh food home. For example, I bring plastic containers for berries and cherry tomatoes. It ensures they arrive home in perfect condition. 

    We love the Sterilite Ultra-Seal Food Storage Containers for transporting food home in our backpacks. They are strong, the seal is tight, they don't leak, and they are lightweight. We prefer glass for long term storage or for any hot food, but these plastic ones are perfect for protecting fragile items. 

    Remember, a local farmer doesn't grow and pick fruit and vegetables to make them perfect for shipping, they grow and pick them to make them perfectly delicious. You also save the farm the expense of the bags and baskets and help the environment.

      A1LJ-q+veLL._SL1500_

    Keep it Cold 

    Bring an ice pack or a small cooler. It can hold all your shopping or just perishables like meat, fish, cheese, and eggs. We have a few favorite items for this task. The Arctic Zone Ultra High-Performance Expandable Double Capacity Lunch Pack is perfect for a fish or meat purchase.

      81nwt4vyhZL._SL1500_

    We recently discovered and adore these ice sheets. You can wrap this around a product or lay it on top of a bag of items that need refrigeration. 

    Carry with Ease

    We walk to markets and have always used backpacks to lug things home. This season, we decided we needed lighter versions for visits to farmers markets, since we now buy a wider selection of products there than in years past. 

    91x60gM9RgL._SL1500_

    For marketing, we are using two of these lightweight Outlander backpacks. Penny likes hers so much that you'll often see her wearing it this summer. Many times, she has the second one tucked inside so, if the day brings on serendipitous shopping, Ed can share the load.

    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: © 2013-2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Do You Have a Great Farmers Market Plan & Kit? Tools We Use & Love!

    Today's "Friday Link" post will take you to some of our favorite farmers market toolkit items.

    IMG_6651 - Version 42013-07-23-blueberries-farmers-market-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Bring Cash

    Ones, fives, tens, and quarters. The farmers will love you, and you'll shop faster! Each year, more stands take credit cards, but they tend to be the ones with higher priced items like meat and specialty foods. And, cash is fast, a bonus for you and your fellow shoppers.

    IMG_9068

    My farmers market cash comes with me in a special accordion credit card wallet. Ones are on one side, fives on the other, with tens and twenties in the card slots. For ease in recognizing denominations, tens are folded in fourths and twenties in thirds. Change is in its separate compartment and my "Market Share" cards are in the outside window. 

    IMG_9076

    Bring Bags and Containers 

    Also bring what you'll need to tote your fresh food home. For example, I bring plastic containers for berries and cherry tomatoes. It ensures they arrive home in perfect condition. 

    We love the Sterilite Ultra-Seal Food Storage Containers for transporting food home in our backpacks. They are strong, the seal is tight, they don't leak, and they are lightweight. We prefer glass for long term storage or for any hot food, but these plastic ones are perfect for protecting fragile items. 

    Remember, a local farmer doesn't grow and pick fruit and vegetables to make them perfect for shipping, they grow and pick them to make them perfectly delicious. You also save the farm the expense of the bags and baskets and help the environment.

      A1LJ-q+veLL._SL1500_

    Keep it Cold 

    Bring an ice pack or a small cooler. It can hold all your shopping or just perishables like meat, fish, cheese, and eggs. We have a few favorite items for this task. The Arctic Zone Ultra High-Performance Expandable Double Capacity Lunch Pack is perfect for a fish or meat purchase.

      81nwt4vyhZL._SL1500_

    We recently discovered and adore these ice sheets. You can wrap this around a product or lay it on top of a bag of items that need refrigeration. 

    Carry with Ease

    We walk to markets and have always used backpacks to lug things home. This season, we decided we needed lighter versions for visits to farmers markets, since we now buy a wider selection of products there than in years past. 

    91x60gM9RgL._SL1500_

    For marketing, we are using two of these lightweight Outlander backpacks. Penny likes hers so much that you'll often see her wearing it this summer. Many times, she has the second one tucked inside so, if the day brings on serendipitous shopping, Ed can share the load.

    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: © 2013-2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino