bostonzest

Tag: Back Bay

  • The Dumbest Shoe Choice of the Past Week – Fashion as King …

    This weekend, as I jumped over puddles on poorly drained corners and climbed over unshoveled snowbanks on others, I spotted this fashionista slowly falling back to the rear of her large group as they moved en mass down Boylston Street. Let's hope she doesn't have to walk on any of the less maintained residential streets of the city.

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    "Fashion as King is sometimes a very stupid ruler." E. T. Bell

    As a total non-fashionista, my favorite winter shoe is this Waterproof Merrell Siren Hiking Boot. 

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: 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. Photo Tales & Quotes 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!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Cape Dame Resting in Provincetown

  • The Dumbest Shoe Choice of the Past Week – Fashion as King …

    This weekend, as I jumped over puddles on poorly drained corners and climbed over unshoveled snowbanks on others, I spotted this fashionista slowly falling back to the rear of her large group as they moved en mass down Boylston Street. Let's hope she doesn't have to walk on any of the less maintained residential streets of the city.

    IMG_2103 copy

    "Fashion as King is sometimes a very stupid ruler." E. T. Bell

    As a total non-fashionista, my favorite winter shoe is this Waterproof Merrell Siren Hiking Boot. 

    About Photo Tales & Quotes: 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. Photo Tales & Quotes 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!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Cape Dame Resting in Provincetown

  • Best Real Estate Buy! Cozy City Nest

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    In real estate, location, location, location is everything. This cozy city nest is nestled between the Back Bay and Beacon Hill with 360-degree views of the Boston Public Garden.

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    The owner will let it go for peanuts.

    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: © 2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Best Real Estate Buy! Cozy City Nest

    IMG_2025 copy

    In real estate, location, location, location is everything. This cozy city nest is nestled between the Back Bay and Beacon Hill with 360-degree views of the Boston Public Garden.

    IMG_1969 copy

    The owner will let it go for peanuts.

    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: © 2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas …

    "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
    Ev'rywhere you go …"

    IMG_5374 copy

    But especially at 131 Commonwealth Avenue! (map)

    And, as a special holiday gift for those who love to know more about the history of buildings like this, here's a link to this building on the award-winning site, BackBayHouses.org.

    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!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

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  • What’s Open in Boston on Thanksgiving, Plus MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More! Our Updated Resource Page

    What's open in Boston on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23, 2017? 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 in one post that we'll update each year as new information comes our way.

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    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Thanksgiving 2017

    We feature 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"

    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, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Trash Collection & Recycling

    Boston Trash Collection for Thanksgiving week – 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. 

    (Note that trash pick-ups scheduled for Thanksgiving day in our neighborhood have been cancelled with pickup resuming on the next normally scheduled day.)

    MBTA Information After the Ad from Amazon!

    More information after these deals from Amazon. When you shop Amazon from here, you keep information like this coming your way!

     

    MBTA Thanksgiving 2017 Schedule has not been published:

    It seems with the new improved website this information is no longer available.

    For further information call an MBTA Customer Support Representative at 617-222-3200 or 800-392-6100, TTY 617-222-5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Sat/Sun from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM."

    We can guess few things about the schedule. From the printed schedules we were able to access on the new site, it looks like the Subways will run on a Sunday schedule. 

    We checked a number of Bus schedules and those that included holiday information were running on a Sunday Schedule. Check your specific line by going to this link, clicking on the line, and then on the paper schedule pdf, if there is one.

    Commuter Rail schedules – go to this link, click on your line, and check if there is an updated pdf link to a paper schedule that included holiday information.

    Ferry schedules do not mention Thanksgiving Day.

    The Ride information no longer mentions holidays.

    The MBTA has published their Thanksgiving schedule. Here is the link to the MBTA schedule changes for holidays. This link will change sometime before and after the holiday. We have created a PDF version of the page for the 2016 weekend that you can download, if you wish. 

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: iStockphoto

  • What’s Open in Boston on Thanksgiving, Plus MBTA Schedule Changes, Parking, Trash & More! Our Updated Resource Page

    What's open in Boston on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23, 2017? 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 in one post that we'll update each year as new information comes our way.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019b00b45df2970d-500wi

    Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Thanksgiving 2017

    We feature 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"

    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, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

    Trash Collection & Recycling

    Boston Trash Collection for Thanksgiving week – 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. 

    (Note that trash pick-ups scheduled for Thanksgiving day in our neighborhood have been cancelled with pickup resuming on the next normally scheduled day.)

    MBTA Information After the Ad from Amazon!

    More information after these deals from Amazon. When you shop Amazon from here, you keep information like this coming your way!

     

    MBTA Thanksgiving 2017 Schedule has not been published:

    It seems with the new improved website this information is no longer available.

    For further information call an MBTA Customer Support Representative at 617-222-3200 or 800-392-6100, TTY 617-222-5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Sat/Sun from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM."

    We can guess few things about the schedule. From the printed schedules we were able to access on the new site, it looks like the Subways will run on a Sunday schedule. 

    We checked a number of Bus schedules and those that included holiday information were running on a Sunday Schedule. Check your specific line by going to this link, clicking on the line, and then on the paper schedule pdf, if there is one.

    Commuter Rail schedules – go to this link, click on your line, and check if there is an updated pdf link to a paper schedule that included holiday information.

    Ferry schedules do not mention Thanksgiving Day.

    The Ride information no longer mentions holidays.

    The MBTA has published their Thanksgiving schedule. Here is the link to the MBTA schedule changes for holidays. This link will change sometime before and after the holiday. We have created a PDF version of the page for the 2016 weekend that you can download, if you wish. 

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: iStockphoto

  • Where to Dine Out on Thanksgiving in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page

    It's time to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal at one of the Boston area's great restaurants on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

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    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    We feature these holiday reservation reminders early so our readers can get a head start and grab a reservation at a worthy spot. We'll keep adding updates as more places announce their intentions to open and menus.

    Boston Area Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this means some excellent choices including:

    Master Lists of Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

    The reservation site Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Here are a few places we recommend:

    • La Voile on Newbury Street always plans a special meal for the neighbors who love this small French charmer.
    • Bistro du Midi always serves a wonderful meal. And, if you want lighter fare, their Café will be open at 11 a.m.
    • A lower cost option with very good food would be Petit Robert on Columbus Avenue in the South End. ( In addition to holiday fare, they are also offering their full menu .)
    • Chef Jackie Robert will also be offering a value menu at his Ma Maison on Cambridge Street in Beacon Hill.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you're meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few options we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu:

    • Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square will be open all day starting with breakfast and will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 1-8 p.m.
    • L'Espalier in the Back Bay will showcase the harvest from Chef McClelland's Apple Street Farm and will offer a three-course prix fixe menu or, for a special holiday treat, a degustation menu.
    • Fairsted Kitchen in Brookline is offering family style meal packages serving 2-8 or more people and these may be reserved for dining in or to go.
    • Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge
    • Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay comes with a view which can sometimes come in handy when you are looking for topics of conversation!

    Boston Chefs also has a listing for Thanksgiving Feasts To Go.

    A Few Places with Their Regular Menus Available

    Many restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be open. You can check the Twitter account @bostonchinatown for more details. 

    Some chain restaurants will also offer their regular menus. But we urge you to consider celebrating with local restaurants or at least local chains with good food like Davio's in Boston and Chestnut Hill when you make each dining decision. 

    We'll post updates in this space as other Boston resources post their lists and choices. 

    Update 11/12/16 Eater Boston has set up their map of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. We're sure Rachel Leah Blumenthal will do her usual great job of keeping this growing list updated.

    Update 11/14/16 Boston Magazine has its recommendations.

     

     Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

  • Where to Dine Out on Thanksgiving in the Boston Area: Our Updated Resource Page

    It's time to make Thanksgiving dinner reservations, especially if you want to enjoy your holiday meal at one of the Boston area's great restaurants on Thursday, November 23, 2017.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019b0095cbcf970c-500wi

    Most places have special menus and sometimes set seatings for major holidays. Many will require a deposit or credit card number to place a reservation. 

    We feature these holiday reservation reminders early so our readers can get a head start and grab a reservation at a worthy spot. We'll keep adding updates as more places announce their intentions to open and menus.

    Boston Area Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

    Hotel restaurants are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, this means some excellent choices including:

    Master Lists of Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

    The reservation site Open Table is maintaining a list of restaurants with Thanksgiving menus. Listings include a price and information on offerings beyond traditional holiday fare. Remember, there are many more restaurants open that day. Put a time and number of guests into the system to see exactly what is available.

    Here are a few places we recommend:

    • La Voile on Newbury Street always plans a special meal for the neighbors who love this small French charmer.
    • Bistro du Midi always serves a wonderful meal. And, if you want lighter fare, their Café will be open at 11 a.m.
    • A lower cost option with very good food would be Petit Robert on Columbus Avenue in the South End. ( In addition to holiday fare, they are also offering their full menu .)
    • Chef Jackie Robert will also be offering a value menu at his Ma Maison on Cambridge Street in Beacon Hill.

    Open Table even includes some places outside the city if you're meeting up with family and friends who live in the suburbs. And they can help you find a place to enjoy the holiday meal if you'll be away for the long weekend.

    Bostonchefs.com has some information on its members' offerings. For example, here are a few options we'd consider if we were looking for a great menu:

    • Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square will be open all day starting with breakfast and will serve Thanksgiving dinner from 1-8 p.m.
    • L'Espalier in the Back Bay will showcase the harvest from Chef McClelland's Apple Street Farm and will offer a three-course prix fixe menu or, for a special holiday treat, a degustation menu.
    • Fairsted Kitchen in Brookline is offering family style meal packages serving 2-8 or more people and these may be reserved for dining in or to go.
    • Harvest in Harvard Square, Cambridge
    • Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay comes with a view which can sometimes come in handy when you are looking for topics of conversation!

    Boston Chefs also has a listing for Thanksgiving Feasts To Go.

    A Few Places with Their Regular Menus Available

    Many restaurants in Boston's Chinatown will be open. You can check the Twitter account @bostonchinatown for more details. 

    Some chain restaurants will also offer their regular menus. But we urge you to consider celebrating with local restaurants or at least local chains with good food like Davio's in Boston and Chestnut Hill when you make each dining decision. 

    We'll post updates in this space as other Boston resources post their lists and choices. 

    Update 11/12/16 Eater Boston has set up their map of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. We're sure Rachel Leah Blumenthal will do her usual great job of keeping this growing list updated.

    Update 11/14/16 Boston Magazine has its recommendations.

     

     Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography:  istockphoto.com

  • Sunrise Spotlights the Architecture: Today In Boston!

    Each morning the angle of the sun points out a different building or architectural detail with its selective spotlight.  

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    "I like that time is marked by each sunrise and sunset whether or not you actually see it." Catherine Opie (Fine art photographer)

    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!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2016 Penny Cherubino  

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