About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2017, plus information on: trash collection, parking, MBTA schedule changes, and whatever else we were able to gather to answer your Chrismas week questions.
Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.
Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while searching for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and come back often.
City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed:This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.
Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. When we have official hours for the Tow Lot over the holiday, we'll update this section. Call before going on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Financial Services: 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.
Trash Collection & Recycling
Boston Trash Collection for Christmas: The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now must go to thecity site and look up your specific addressin order to get information.
The MBTA no longer publishes schedule information before each holiday
For information, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."
For information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call MBTA Customer Support at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (TTY 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.
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!
About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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!
Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area?
There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation! More than ever, family and friends are gathering in area restaurants on holidays like this, which means spots at your favorites may be gone if you wait too long.
Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.
What's Open on Christmas Eve?
There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.
The legendary team from L'Espalier normally offers a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu.
La Morra in Brookline is an ideal spot to meet friends or family from that side of the Boston area. They are offering family style dining, "sharing traditional dishes of Piedmont."
Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel has a four-course prix fixe menu set for the 24th.
At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Christmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option.
Coppa Enoteca is one of our favorites and is offering their version of this tradition.
Dante in Cambridge will present Chef Dante de Magistris' version of the feast with other menu items available.
Grotto was one of the first to present this holiday tradition. They tell us that it will be a nightly special every night in December!
Which Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?
Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.
In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th.
Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal.
Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.
But you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.
Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area?
There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation! More than ever, family and friends are gathering in area restaurants on holidays like this, which means spots at your favorites may be gone if you wait too long.
Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.
What's Open on Christmas Eve?
There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.
The legendary team from L'Espalier normally offers a prix fixe Christmas Eve menu.
La Morra in Brookline is an ideal spot to meet friends or family from that side of the Boston area. They are offering family style dining, "sharing traditional dishes of Piedmont."
Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel has a four-course prix fixe menu set for the 24th.
At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Christmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option.
Coppa Enoteca is one of our favorites and is offering their version of this tradition.
Dante in Cambridge will present Chef Dante de Magistris' version of the feast with other menu items available.
Grotto was one of the first to present this holiday tradition. They tell us that it will be a nightly special every night in December!
Which Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?
Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.
In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th.
Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal.
Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.
But you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.
"The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character." Albert Schweitzer
About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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!
"The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character." Albert Schweitzer
About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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!
George Washington crossing the snowy scene in the Public Garden this morning.
"Snow isn't just pretty. It also cleanses our world and our senses, not just of the soot and grime of a Fife mining town but also of a kind of weary familiarity, a taken-for-granted quality to which our eyes are all too susceptible." John Burnside, Scottish Writer
About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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!
George Washington crossing the snowy scene in the Public Garden this morning.
"Snow isn't just pretty. It also cleanses our world and our senses, not just of the soot and grime of a Fife mining town but also of a kind of weary familiarity, a taken-for-granted quality to which our eyes are all too susceptible." John Burnside, Scottish Writer
About Today in Boston: We keep hearing that people miss our cover photos that ran for years in the Back Bay Sun. That assignment was to provide a photo that showed what the week was like in the neighborhood. Often the photos illustrated favorite quotations. Today in Boston is an occasional offering to our BostonZest readers featuring photos along the same theme but taken wherever we happen to be.
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!
Living with a dog, there are a few things we are really happy to have around. Since it's the time of year for gifting, we want to share these ideas with you.
Pawz Dog Boots
Poppy gets a lot of attention in her little red boots. (Or "Ruby Slippers" as one woman on Newbury Street called them. We like that term and have adopted it.)
The photo above is from Poppy's first day wearing Pawz Water-Proof Dog Boots. She accepted them right away and gave them a good workout as she experienced her first measurable snowfall as a wee pup!
Since they do wear out, you can even give these as a thank you gift to another pup who is a good pal to your dog.
Has someone hosted you and your dog in the past and perhaps is going to welcome you this holiday season? What could be a better appreciation gift to your host or hostess and a reliable cover to protect their furniture or bedding from accidental wetness?
Mambes are not inexpensive but they are worth the price and would be great to have at any regular destination. We take a twin size one when we travel to cover the sofa in our apartment or hotel room and to put down the center of the bed at night to make a safe place for Poppy.
Headlamp
Trying to hold a flashlight while examining a pet's ear, paw, or mouth is frustrating. You need two hands for the job and an assistant to distract the critter if possible. These headlamps allow you to direct the light where your eyes are focused. You will find dozens of other uses for them when you are doing DYI or crafts. We also find them useful when taking Poppy for a last walk of the night on a dark beach.
When you have a dog that eats with gusto, you may find yourself with spills and frustration as the pup chases the dish around the floor. For years we used sticky mats to hold the bowl to a tray. Then we found the ezpz line of silicone placemat and bowl combinations. Poppy's favorite is the ezpz Happy Bowl – One-piece silicone placemat + bowl, shown above.
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. She accepted them right away and gave them a good workout as she experienced her first measurable snowfall as a wee pup!
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