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Edible Boston’s Winter 2015 Issue Is Available

For me, the sure sign that the seasons are changing is the arrival of my review copy of Edible Boston.

This issue’s cover is another fabulous Michael Piazza photo of a fermentation pot by potter Jeremy Ogusky. Inside, you’ll learn how this man has spearheaded a local fermentation movement. From sauerkraut to kimchi, we are all eating more fermented foods and this article features some of the ways we can learn more about this age-old food preservation method.

Farmer’s Diary

I always turn to John Lee’s Farmer’s Diary. I love having this point of view from someone who spends their days on the farm and thinking about the present and future of farming. I had the great pleasure of interviewing John Lee for Serious Eats a while back and was so impressed with the thoughful and intelligent approach he takes to the farming life.

This issue, he will tell you a bit about the “50 x 60” New England Food Vision – a goal of supplying 50% of our food Requirements by 2060.

Cookbook Review

This issue also contains a timely Cookbook round up. For holiday giving or for yourself, it contains a great selection of titles.

You’ll meet another issue full of food makers, food growers, and food curators. And, the ads will give you lots of great ideas for holiday gifting. Of course, a gift subscription to Edible Boston itself would be the perfect holiday gift for anyone who is a lover of fresh, local food, and the people who bring it our way.

Support publisher, Ilene Bezahler and her talented team

First, pick up a copy of Edible Boston at one of these locations. In fact, pick up two copies and share one with a food loving friend or leave it where someone might discover it among lesser publications and become a new fan.

May I suggest that you let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine and grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. Also, if you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about them, link to them, follow them, retweet their tweets, like them on facebook, and in general, spread the word about this great asset to our community.

And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe over on their website!

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Covershot: Courtesy of Edible Boston

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November 21, 2014
Confused Plants and More November Foliage

This geranium ground cover is confused about the season and was putting out blooms earlier this week. When I mentioned this to a garden expert, she said she's seen a lot of strange plant behavior this fall.

What have you spotted?

While elsewhere around the city the fall foliage is still putting on a show.

Yes, I do love to take photos of the big picture like this statue of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall with his backdrop of yellow and organge.

But, my favorite shots are of leaves as they gather in natural groups on surfaces like this granite. I enjoy the shapes and shades of individual leaves and their ever changing colors.

Or, when the family of leaves from one tree fall in profusion onto a surface like this evergreen hedge.

Are you a big picture or close up leaf lover?

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

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November 20, 2014
Do You Have a Signature Dish that You Bring to Food Gatherings?

Do you have a signature dish? Is there something that you are often asked to bring to a potluck or holiday meal? Or, are you trying to think about what you might take to an upcoming event?

I've been considering my tabouli with chickpeas. It is best made ahead. It will be a complete protein for vegetarians, a boon to those trying to eat fewer calories, and it's delicious.

Food Gathering Season

We are about to step into the season of food gatherings. Thanksgiving dinners, potluck suppers, cookie swaps, open houses, Hanukkah celebrations, Feasts of the Seven Fishes, Christmas meals, and New Years rites all have food traditions that we follow.

Today, many of these events are cooperative efforts. While a few hosting families may insist on doing the whole thing, more often than not, an offer to bring something will be met with a sigh of relief.

Our friend Bob Oppenheim is assigned the vegetable side dishes for his family’s holiday table. He jokes that this is because the vegetables are the most work. But, it may also be that dishes like his roasted root vegetables have become a favorite among the folks at these events with even fussy eaters finding something they love in the mix.

Here's our post: Roasted Root Vegetables: Treasure for the Busy Cook

What's Your Talent?

If you’ve mastered artisan bread baking, you could bring the bread and rolls for the meal. If you’ve preserved the foods from your garden, you might offer a relish tray of pickles and chutneys.

In my family, Uncle Freddie brought the pies. He was a great baker and his raisin pie was legendary. Not every cook is a good baker, so pies and cakes are often delegated to those with a talent for sweets.

Contributions for Non-Cooks

Dessert offerings are also a great choice for someone who doesn’t cook. Those who don’t cook at all often know the best places to shop for very good prepared foods. A pie, cake, or tray of cookies is relatively easy to transport, even on the MBTA, and is one less task for the hostess.

Another option for the non-cook to offer is a cheese platter or a large wedge of a special cheese. One reason I often suggest a large wedge instead of an assortment is that it can make for a great presentation, even after a few people have feasted on it. And, it's easier to pack up and put away in good condition after the meal. I would suggest something like Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Moliterno al Tartufo, or a wheel of a semi-soft cheese.

Let us know what you're asked to bring or love to bring to food gatherings.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2009-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino with the Cabot Clothbound Cheddar Cheese photo courtesy of Cabot Creamery.

November 18, 2014
What’s Open in Boston on Thanksgiving 2014, Plus MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More
UPDATE: What's Open in Boston on Thanksgiving 2015, Plus MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More

What's open in Boston on Thanksgiving, 2014? What's closed?

Do I have to feed the parking meters? What about street sweeping? Are the liquor stores and packies open? When do I put out my trash? And, what changes are there to the MBTA schedules?

We have the answers for you, all organized on one post that we'll update as new information comes our way.

Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Thanksgiving, November 27, 2014.

We post these rundowns early, when we notice our readers looking for the information on older posts. Because it's early, we will update as new information is announced. So, bookmark this page and check back. We'll send out notice of updates on Twitter.

Restaurants, bars: Many will be open, check for special hours and menus. Here's our post on where to dine out on Thanksgiving.

Convenience stores: Many are open, check for special hours

Supermarkets: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws" (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Retail stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Liquor stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. International markets are open.

City, Town, State, and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.

Parking & Street Sweeping

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

Street Sweeping: The city says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

Trash Collection & Recycling

Boston Trash Collection for Thanksgiving week – The city says:

"Thursday, November 27, 6am – Saturday, November 29, 2014, 5pm

No trash or recycling collection will take place in all sections of the City on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27th)

Thanksgiving week: Regular collection schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in all sections of the City.

Regular trash collection schedule in the North End, Beacon Hill, Bay Village, Chinatown, Fenway South End, Mission Hill. Section of Roxbury, who have trash collection on Tuesday and Friday, no delay

Thursday and Friday recycling and trash collection delayed a day in Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, South Boston, Jamaica Plain*, West Roxbury, Roslindale, Mattapan, and Hyde Park.

*If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week [Monday, Thursday], Thursday collection day is cancelled. Back Bay, Roxbury and your trash and recycling is picked up on Monday and Thursday, Thursday’s collection is also cancelled, not delayed

MBTA information after the Ad from Amazon!

More information after these camera deals from Amazon. Order today and you'll be ready to record memories this holiday season. When you shop Amazon from here, you keep information like this coming your way!

MBTA Schedule Changes

Here is the link to the MBTA schedule changes. This link will change sometime after the holiday. We have created a PDF version of the page for the weekend that you can download if you wish.

Download MBTA Thanksgiving 2014

Here's a quick summary, but check the site or the PDF for details.
- Wednesday November 26th will have normal Wednesday subway, bus, and Commuter Rail schedules with extra Silver Line service to and from Logan Airports.
- Thanksgiving November 27th will have subways including the Silver Line on a Sunday schedule. Buses will run on a Sunday schedule with some routes not operating. Commuter Rail will run on a Sunday Schedule so some routes will not operate.
- Friday November 28th will have the Red, Orange, and Blue lines on a Friday Schedule and the Green Line on a Saturday Schedule. The Silver line will have extra service. Commuter Rail will run on a Friday schedule.
Special Plymouth Service:

The Commuter Rail will provide special seasonal weekend trains to Plymouth on the Old Colony Line during the weekends prior to Thanksgiving on Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, as well as November 22 and 23. Details here.

For further information, check with the MBTA Customer Communications Department at 617-222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit them at: www.mbta.com.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino
November 17, 2014
Tips for Dealing with Uncontrolled Dogs
City neighbors can fall on two sides of a great dog divide. One group controls their dogs on short legal leashes, while the other group’s dogs are off-leash or uncontrolled on illegally long leashes. You’ll know the second group by the often recited cry, “Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” as their uncontrolled dog runs up to you.

But, He’s Friendly …

Yes, your dog may be friendly, but you don’t know what you would need to know about the people or dogs around you to make a long leash or off-leash decision. Trailing the equivalent of one or two car lengths behind your dog, you can’t control what is happening or communicate with people around her.
- A dog being approached may be reactive when on the leash like the one in the illustation above. (It's from the Boston Public Library's 19th Century American Trade Card Collection.)
- Or, your healthy pup may be bouncing toward a dog about to share a contagious disease.
- The person may be out for a quiet dog walk after surgery or injury and may not want your dog exciting their pup.
- Or, the dog may be old and frail and the person with the animal could be worried sick that one fall might be fatal. For years, I walked with a lovely, elderly Afghan named Crystal who was game for a walk but very wobbly. Her friends would form a protective circle around Crystal whenever we saw an uncontrolled dog near her.
What's Legal in Boston?

The city website lays out the rules in detail, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” And, a Boston city ordinance is specific about the length of a legal leash saying that your dog must be, “… effectively restrained by a chain or leash not exceeding ten (10') feet in length.”

Your leash length and style should be determined by the size, temperament, and successful training of your dog. Short leashes are needed on crowded sidewalks and in places where you are likely to encounter the fools who don’t control their dogs properly.

Tips on Dealing with Uncontrolled Dogs

Since the problem is the human on the other end of a retractable leash or carrying the leash around their neck, I try not to get angry at the dog. I treat it like an unaccompanied stray. I also put little stock in anything the trailing person is saying. I don’t consider someone who routinely breaks the law as a reliable source of information.
- Protect Your Dog: Step between your dog and the approaching one. If you have a second person with you, one of you can make a U-turn with your dog while the other deals with the problem.
- Give a Command: Step into your strongest alpha dog pose, stand erect, and use your deepest, firmest voice (along with hand signals) and command the approaching dog to stop and sit! I’ve surprised myself at how often this works.
- “Please Control Your Dog:” By now, the person should be close enough for you to take a deep breath and ask them, as politely as you can, to please leash or control their dog.
- Don't get into a debate or discussion with the scofflaw. They will be sure they are right and you are over-reacting.
- Just walk away and remember what Mark Twain was famous for saying, “Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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Words: Penny Cherubino (previously published as one of her City Paws newspaper columns)

Illustration courtesy of the Boston Public Library's 19th Century American Trade Card Collection (used under this creative commons license. )

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November 16, 2014
North Bennet Street School Open House in Their New Facility

We've told you about the open houses held at North Bennet Street School in the past. This Boston treasure trove is a place that turns dreams into reality. We have November 14 & 15 marked on our calendars because we can't wait to see the new facility at 150 North Street.

They say:

"Aspiring furniture makers, bookbinders, carpenters, jewelry makers – or those merely curious about the process of making beautiful things by hand – are invited to a special behind-the-scenes look at one of America's oldest schools of craftsmanship during a two-day open house at North Bennet Street School’s new facility at 150 North Street in Boston's historic North End."

We say:

This is a great way to spend some time meeting people who have gone after their dreams. Who knows, a door may open for you and you'll become a student. Or, perhaps you'll decide to explore one of the fine crafts they teach at a workshop or short course.

Or, you may decide to put someone's feet on the path to their dream with a North Bennet Street School gift certificate as a holiday gift.

Everything You Need to Know to Visit

As always, when the school provides us with information for an upcoming event, they think of all the little details that make it easy for our readers to get there and enjoy their visit.

Who: North Bennet Street School

What: Annual Open House and Open Studios

Where: 150 North Street, Boston, MA 02109 (North End, just off the Rose Kennedy Greenway)

When: Friday, November 14, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm; Saturday, November 15, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cost: FREE

Handicap Access: Yes

Parking: Limited street parking (metered) and discounted parking at the Parcel 7 garage – http://www.nbss.edu/about/the-boston-area/visit/index.aspx#

Nearest T stop: Haymarket (Orange, Green lines)

Directions: via Google maps – http://goo.gl/maps/97sY4

More Open House details: www.nbss.edu/openhouse

More about NBSS full-time programs and workshops: http://www.nbss.edu

Contact: 617-227-0155 and admissions@nbss.edu

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: by Maureen Cotton, Courtesy of North Bennet Street School

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November 14, 2014
November Foliage in the Heart of Boston

This weekend, we took a few fall foliage shots to mark the progress of the leaf peeping season in Boston.

Here's the scene along the Muddy River at Charlesgate East. The former Charlesgate Hotel (designed by artchitect J. Pickering Putnam and built in 1901) provides an exuberant background for the foliage and adds to the refections in the river.

Along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the statues pop against a palette of green and muted color.

When the sun peeks through, it makes a pretty place to walk and notice the changing scene. This one was taken on November 10th.

The canopy of trees still offers a tunnel of shade for walkers. This time of year, shades of color add to the effect.

It has been a less than spectacular foliage season in this area with some trees going from green, to brown, to bare without putting on their annual show of color.

But visitors, who thought they'd miss all color by coming to Boston in mid-November, still have a bit of a treat in store.

Last year was far more colorful as we showed you in the photos used in this earlier post:

What's Happening Around Boston in November 2014

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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November 13, 2014
A Tow up the Charles River Cost $4 in 1886

Today, this 1886 receipt for towing a boat from the Craigie Bridge to Cambridge is listed on eBay for more than twenty times what it cost for the tow.

On September 11th, 1866, Captain Fred W. Stedman used the steam tow boat "Mattie Sargent" to tow the John Tara up river. Unlike other rivers that spurred upstream commerce, the Charles was not easlily navigable by large boats in its early days.

Oysters Blocked the Way

A very early description of the Charles by William Wood was reported in D. Hamilton Hurd's History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

While some locals did take a gastronomic approach to eat away the problem, the needed dredging didn't happen. And, as bridges spanning the river were added, the river became even less welcoming to large boats.

Once, oysters were plentiful in the Charles, but the damming of the river and filling in of the marshlands have changed the character of the wetland making it unsuitable to sustaining an oyster population today. In 2008, the Massachusetts Oyster Project planted 150,000 oysters at the mouth of the river. There, the brackish waters and tidal flow might nuture an oyster bank to help filter the water coming into Boston harbor from the Charles.

The Charles River Basin that we know today is a man-made creation. Author Karl Haglund opens the introduction to his book, Inventing the Charles River, with a quotation that is very descriptive of the change.

"Today the Charles at Boston… Does not appear actually to flow at all. It is more like a great mirror held to the city's most favoring profile." David McCord, 1948

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Post Card: "Man and woman dressed in historical costume, man eating oysters." from the Boston Public Library Collection used under creative commons license.

November 10, 2014
What’s Your Sunday Dog’s Hobby?

A recent tale from Karen B. London, PhD, columnist for The Bark and a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, was the basis for one of my recent City Paws newspaper columns.

London was working with Tucker, an eight-month-old German Shepherd puppy, who was totally enthralled with sniffing. Once she found that sniffing made Tucker happy, she designed opportunities for training and bonding that worked with a sniffer.

Remember Dash, Our Dashing South End Sunday Dog! He was a sniffer and was attending classes at the Animal Rescue League to follow his passion.

So, What’s Your Dog’s Bliss?

“For many dogs the fun and happiness is all about treats, and lots of exercise outside,” London wrote. “For others, it’s a tennis ball or nothing. Most love the opportunity to chew on bones and other dog-safe items intended for this purpose. A few simply want lots of loving—petting, massage and the opportunity to be up on the bed at nap time and at night.”

For Our Westie Poppy, bliss is playing with squeaky toys inside or sitting on a bench outside. Our little pup would squeak a toy non-stop for an hour if her human companions could stand it. Outside, if you ever see us swaying from side to side as we walk down Commonwealth Avenue Mall, it’s because Poppy is trying to encourage us to take a break and sit on a bench for a while. She loves bench time.

Diggers, Herders, and Retrievers

My terriers have not had a lot of opportunity to take up digging as a hobby because they’ve never had time alone outside. But, when we conduct pre-adoption home visits for Westies or Cairns, we warn prospective guardians with fenced yards that a terrier left alone out there will find a way under a fence. Digging is in their DNA and is a hobby they would love to explore.

From a harborside deck in Provincetown, I’ve watched people use a ball launcher to fling a target as far as possible for their relentless retrievers. The dogs have a merry chase. They gallop through the shallows and swim for yards to fetch their prize only to beg to do it again and again and again.

Follow Their Bliss!

As you think about fall adventures and holiday gifts for your dog, follow Dr. London’s example and figure out what you can do to really make your dog happy. Then, use that happiness to bond with and train your pal.

We'd love to hear about what your dog does for a hobby and what puts a wag in that tail and a grin on that face!

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

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2011-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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November 9, 2014
The Book “Dirty Old Boston” Is Our Friday Link

Thumbing through our review copy of Dirty Old Boston: Four Decades of a City in Transition, one of the first photos I spotted was one we had used recently right here on BostonZest for our post: Where Is This Lion? Fun with Historic Photos!

If you love our posts that include photography from Boston's rich history, you could fill a rainy afternoon paging through Dirty Old Boston. We used this photo as a clue to one of our Attention to Detail searches were you have to try to remember where you saw an architectural detail.

Dirty Old Boston author Jim Botticelli used it as one example of the faces and places of Boston in the 1950s. His caption:

"All he wants are his two front teeth. Posing with the Stowe Lion on Columbus Avenue. South End, 1950s. Photos by Leslie Jones."

The book is divided by decades from the 1940s to the 1980s and is full of the people, places, events, and changes that left their mark on each era.

Here's Part of the Publisher's Description

"Rich and compelling, Dirty Old Boston chronicles the people, streets, and buildings from the postwar years to 1987. From ball games to dive bars, and amidst an ever-changing skyline, Dirty Old Boston captures some of the city’s most dramatic and tumultuous events including the wholesale razing of neighborhoods, Boston’s busing crisis, and the continual fight for affordable housing.

Photographs—assembled from family albums, student projects, institutional archives, and professional collections—reveal Boston as seen from the streets. What emerges is a narrative of a city tearing down and rebuilding, protesting and celebrating, fading and thriving. Illuminating Boston’s singular tenacity and spirit, Dirty Old Boston presents our proud moments and doesn’t shy away from our growing pains. Raw and beautiful, this book is an important and evocative tribute to the city and its people."

The Hancock Tower is shown under construction on one page and after (photo above) with the caption,"Slabs of plywood already plague I.M. Pei's design. Back Bay, 1973. Courtesy National Archives"

A Book to Share

My copy already has page after page tagged with Post-it flags marking sections I want to share with others. In fact, there are so many photos that I want to share with my friend Linda Cox, that I'm going to have to plan a long coffee hour just to talk about them. We both love historic photos.

Sharing the fun of exploring this book with others who love this city and learning from some of the people who have lived here through these decades will be half the fun of having it. It contains many photos from private collections that even a historic photo geek like me has never had the opportunity to view.

Some pages will hit emotional hot buttons. I found myself running my finger across the photo of Max Kaiserman at his newsstand in Copley Square where I used to buy my morning papers. It's that kind of book – one that will bring back memories for some and show others what was here before they were.

Dirty Old Boston: Four Decades of a City in Transition will also make a wonderful holiday gift for any fan of this city and its history.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: Courtesy of Union Park Press and Dirty Old Boston: Four Decades of a City in Transition.

November 7, 2014