Tag: Cambridge

  • Easter Dining in Boston 2014 (This year It Falls on Marathon Weekend 4/20/14)

    Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This year, Easter falls on April 20th and that is Marathon weekend in Boston. This may be the year to plan your holiday gathering for a location outside of the city center.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e602c6dd6970c-800wi

    First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings:

    Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

    The number of places listed will increase as we near the date, so do check back if you don't see one you like.

    Next, a few places we picked from these lists:

    The Blue Room in Cambridge is offering a special version of their Sunday Buffet. There is parking in the area and it is just far enough from the fray in Boston for a relaxing meal.

    La Morra in Brookline is a great place to meet up outside the city. This is one of the few days a year when they serve brunch. Here's what they say about their Easter offering, "Join us for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas for $35."

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place. 

    One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

    If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

    UPDATES:

    Zagat's list: 10 Best Bets for Easter Brunch in Boston. 04/08/14

    Here's a list of great lamb dishes for Easter from Eater.  3/29/13

    From BostInno's Lisa DeCanio: Dyed Eggs & Ham: 9 Go-To Easter Brunches in Boston

    Opting Out of Easter

    If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

    We know a lot of runners will be looking for places to load up on carbs the day before the race. We suggest they make their way to the North End for some great Italian food.

    Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras. And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed Shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR too, and we just added a Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

  • Easter Dining in Boston 2014 (This year It Falls on Marathon Weekend 4/20/14)

    Those in the know already have reservations for Easter brunch and dinner. This year, Easter falls on April 20th and that is Marathon weekend in Boston. This may be the year to plan your holiday gathering for a location outside of the city center.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834014e602c6dd6970c-800wi

    First up, the list of places that organize information about Easter reservations and special offerings:

    Open Table seems to have the most complete information, and you can click right through to make reservations. They also give you some idea of prices and special menus. And, you'll find a few places that are offering their regular menus as well. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of offerings from their member chefs and restaurants.

    The number of places listed will increase as we near the date, so do check back if you don't see one you like.

    Next, a few places we picked from these lists:

    The Blue Room in Cambridge is offering a special version of their Sunday Buffet. There is parking in the area and it is just far enough from the fray in Boston for a relaxing meal.

    La Morra in Brookline is a great place to meet up outside the city. This is one of the few days a year when they serve brunch. Here's what they say about their Easter offering, "Join us for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas for $35."

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when some people would try to book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can cause the restaurant to turn away other potential customers and makes the venues require a deposit to hold a place. 

    One thing we would look for, if we were dining out on a holiday, is a place that is offering its regular menu for the day. That's always a plus for us. We're not fans of special menus.

    If you know of places where the regular menu will be served, let us know. If it's a place we can recommend, we'll add it to our list. And, we'll add updates and links to this post as we find them. Check back here or follow us on Twitter to learn about updates!

    UPDATES:

    Zagat's list: 10 Best Bets for Easter Brunch in Boston. 04/08/14

    Here's a list of great lamb dishes for Easter from Eater.  3/29/13

    From BostInno's Lisa DeCanio: Dyed Eggs & Ham: 9 Go-To Easter Brunches in Boston

    Opting Out of Easter

    If this holiday stuff is really not part of your life, this is a great day to go ethnic. Chinatown will be wide open and filled with great menu options. Your neighborhood Indian, Korean, Chinese, or Persian restaurant will be happy to feed you. And, most BBQ and Pizza places do not have Easter menus.

    We know a lot of runners will be looking for places to load up on carbs the day before the race. We suggest they make their way to the North End for some great Italian food.

    Sign-up for the comment feed or follow us on Twitter for a notice, if we add updates to this page.

    Don't miss an Easter photo opportunity. This Canon PowerShot G15 camera will give you what you need to take stills and video of your Easter celebration. Canon's G series is our all-time favorite for everyday cameras. We own the G10 and G11. They're a little bigger than the compacts most people use, but let you shoot with automatic settings or easy-to-use manual controls that please the many pros who use them as second cameras. And, if you are ready to turn pro, follow our lead. Ed Shoots with the Nikon D7000 Digital SLR too, and we just added a Nikon D600 to our camera fleet and are extremely happy with the performance it has delivered.

       

    Details:

    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Photos: from iStockphoto.com

  • Frostbite Sailing on the Charles River

    On Sunday, the view from our roof deck included a few frostbite sailors on the Charles River.

    PC2_2226 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

     

    PC2_2245 - Version 22014-03-02-frostbite-sailing-mit-chalrles-river© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There were two groups of boats from MIT Sailing putting in some really early season practice. The limited area of open water made the race course short with the turns close together. 

    PC2_2235 - Version 32014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    It was certainly a day when you wanted to keep the boat right side up. They did have a supervising boat nearby but I'd want a dry suit if I were out there.

    PC2_2248 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-walker-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    While the sailors were prepared and had a rescue boat nearby, this fool walking on the river was going to cost the city the price of a Full Technical Rescue by the Boston Fire Department and EMTs, if the ice gave way. 

    Thanks to Universal Hub for having us on the alert for frostbite sailing with this recent post. You'll find some a lively conversation on the topic over there.

    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: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

  • Frostbite Sailing on the Charles River

    On Sunday, the view from our roof deck included a few frostbite sailors on the Charles River.

    PC2_2226 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

     

    PC2_2245 - Version 22014-03-02-frostbite-sailing-mit-chalrles-river© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There were two groups of boats from MIT Sailing putting in some really early season practice. The limited area of open water made the race course short with the turns close together. 

    PC2_2235 - Version 32014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    It was certainly a day when you wanted to keep the boat right side up. They did have a supervising boat nearby but I'd want a dry suit if I were out there.

    PC2_2248 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-walker-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    While the sailors were prepared and had a rescue boat nearby, this fool walking on the river was going to cost the city the price of a Full Technical Rescue by the Boston Fire Department and EMTs, if the ice gave way. 

    Thanks to Universal Hub for having us on the alert for frostbite sailing with this recent post. You'll find some a lively conversation on the topic over there.

    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: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

  • Frostbite Sailing on the Charles River

    On Sunday, the view from our roof deck included a few frostbite sailors on the Charles River.

    PC2_2226 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

     

    PC2_2245 - Version 22014-03-02-frostbite-sailing-mit-chalrles-river© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There were two groups of boats from MIT Sailing putting in some really early season practice. The limited area of open water made the race course short with the turns close together. 

    PC2_2235 - Version 32014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    It was certainly a day when you wanted to keep the boat right side up. They did have a supervising boat nearby but I'd want a dry suit if I were out there.

    PC2_2248 - Version 22014-03-02-MIT-Charles-river-frostbite-sail- river-walker-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    While the sailors were prepared and had a rescue boat nearby, this fool walking on the river was going to cost the city the price of a Full Technical Rescue by the Boston Fire Department and EMTs, if the ice gave way. 

    Thanks to Universal Hub for having us on the alert for frostbite sailing with this recent post. You'll find some a lively conversation on the topic over there.

    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: © 2014 Penny Cherubino  

  • Valentine’s Day 2014 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston

    Enjoying a Valentine's Day Dinner that is as perfect as this lovely scene takes some planning.

    IStock_000018981722Small

    UPDATE: This is an outdated post. Here is the 2015 version of this information!

    This year, February 14th falls on a Friday and that gives you the opportunity to plan a romantic weekend or one day with your true love and a couple more meals with friends close to your heart. 

    Some of you enjoy trying the special holiday menus at your favorite spots. Others avoid dining out on days like this unless they can order off the regular menu. Be on the lookout for special menus beyond that one official day. We noticed a few on the lists below that have special menus for the 14th throught the 16th. 

    This is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so expect many special prix fixe menus and don't be surprised if you have to leave a credit card to guarantee a reservation.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901bdf4a14970b-800wi   6a00e54fc42bb88834017eeadcdf63970d-800wi

    We love sharing food and Coppa is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon nibbling and sharing plates of delicious offerings like the meatballs and asparagus above. Coppa has a special prix fixe menu on the 14th but seems to be back to normal for the rest of the weekend, so you might reserve for Saturday night or Sunday brunch or dinner.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a5110c9366970c-800wi

    Ed loves a great burger but is very particular about what he considers great. Taking him to lunch at the Bristol Lounge for one of his favorite burgers in Boston would be a great Valentine treat in his eyes. You have to think about what that person you love would really like for the highlight of their Valentine's meal.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834015390dc00cf970b-800wi

    Do you have a chocolate lover to satiate? A perfectly ordinary afternoon turned into a romantic memory when Ed and I shared this giant profiterole at Petit Robert in the South End.

    When a Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner Is on the Menu… 

    Reservations at wonderful, romantic restaurants go quickly. But, we have lots of ideas for all types of celebrations for budgets of all sizes. Today, we'll address where to dine. There are more ideas on some of our past Valentine posts. These are from other times, so check for details with the places mentioned.

    Update: 02.12.14 Here's Cambridge Day's Guide to an Interesting Valentine's Day

    Related Posts:

     

    Sophisticated Pink Sparklers for Valentine's Day

    Your Special Place, Free Romance for Valentine's Day

    Valentine's Day Live Performances at Half Price

     

    Eight Tips on Buying Jewelry for Valentine’s Day from an Expert

     

    Romance at the Gardner Museum – Valentine's Weekend Destination. 

     

    Romantic Dining in Boston with a Foreign Travel Theme (Some of our favorite restaurants offer an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music, and food all bring you to another land.)

     

    Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common (A Romantic but inexpensive date.) And, now you can also skate at the Boston Harbor Hotel and slip into the bar for a glass of champagne after that hand holding exercise.

    Need some Valentine's Day gift ideas? Click over to Amazon and do some planning, and if you do buy something there, they'll put a few coins in our tip cup.  

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photo: iStockphoto.com

  • Valentine’s Day 2014 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston

    Enjoying a Valentine's Day Dinner that is as perfect as this lovely scene takes some planning.

    IStock_000018981722Small

    UPDATE: This is an outdated post. Here is the 2015 version of this information!

    This year, February 14th falls on a Friday and that gives you the opportunity to plan a romantic weekend or one day with your true love and a couple more meals with friends close to your heart. 

    Some of you enjoy trying the special holiday menus at your favorite spots. Others avoid dining out on days like this unless they can order off the regular menu. Be on the lookout for special menus beyond that one official day. We noticed a few on the lists below that have special menus for the 14th throught the 16th. 

    This is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so expect many special prix fixe menus and don't be surprised if you have to leave a credit card to guarantee a reservation.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901bdf4a14970b-800wi   6a00e54fc42bb88834017eeadcdf63970d-800wi

    We love sharing food and Coppa is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon nibbling and sharing plates of delicious offerings like the meatballs and asparagus above. Coppa has a special prix fixe menu on the 14th but seems to be back to normal for the rest of the weekend, so you might reserve for Saturday night or Sunday brunch or dinner.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a5110c9366970c-800wi

    Ed loves a great burger but is very particular about what he considers great. Taking him to lunch at the Bristol Lounge for one of his favorite burgers in Boston would be a great Valentine treat in his eyes. You have to think about what that person you love would really like for the highlight of their Valentine's meal.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834015390dc00cf970b-800wi

    Do you have a chocolate lover to satiate? A perfectly ordinary afternoon turned into a romantic memory when Ed and I shared this giant profiterole at Petit Robert in the South End.

    When a Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner Is on the Menu… 

    Reservations at wonderful, romantic restaurants go quickly. But, we have lots of ideas for all types of celebrations for budgets of all sizes. Today, we'll address where to dine. There are more ideas on some of our past Valentine posts. These are from other times, so check for details with the places mentioned.

    Update: 02.12.14 Here's Cambridge Day's Guide to an Interesting Valentine's Day

    Related Posts:

     

    Sophisticated Pink Sparklers for Valentine's Day

    Your Special Place, Free Romance for Valentine's Day

    Valentine's Day Live Performances at Half Price

     

    Eight Tips on Buying Jewelry for Valentine’s Day from an Expert

     

    Romance at the Gardner Museum – Valentine's Weekend Destination. 

     

    Romantic Dining in Boston with a Foreign Travel Theme (Some of our favorite restaurants offer an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music, and food all bring you to another land.)

     

    Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common (A Romantic but inexpensive date.) And, now you can also skate at the Boston Harbor Hotel and slip into the bar for a glass of champagne after that hand holding exercise.

    Need some Valentine's Day gift ideas? Click over to Amazon and do some planning, and if you do buy something there, they'll put a few coins in our tip cup.  

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photo: iStockphoto.com

  • Valentine’s Day 2014 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston

    Enjoying a Valentine's Day Dinner that is as perfect as this lovely scene takes some planning.

    IStock_000018981722Small

    UPDATE: This is an outdated post. Here is the 2015 version of this information!

    This year, February 14th falls on a Friday and that gives you the opportunity to plan a romantic weekend or one day with your true love and a couple more meals with friends close to your heart. 

    Some of you enjoy trying the special holiday menus at your favorite spots. Others avoid dining out on days like this unless they can order off the regular menu. Be on the lookout for special menus beyond that one official day. We noticed a few on the lists below that have special menus for the 14th throught the 16th. 

    This is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so expect many special prix fixe menus and don't be surprised if you have to leave a credit card to guarantee a reservation.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901bdf4a14970b-800wi   6a00e54fc42bb88834017eeadcdf63970d-800wi

    We love sharing food and Coppa is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon nibbling and sharing plates of delicious offerings like the meatballs and asparagus above. Coppa has a special prix fixe menu on the 14th but seems to be back to normal for the rest of the weekend, so you might reserve for Saturday night or Sunday brunch or dinner.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a5110c9366970c-800wi

    Ed loves a great burger but is very particular about what he considers great. Taking him to lunch at the Bristol Lounge for one of his favorite burgers in Boston would be a great Valentine treat in his eyes. You have to think about what that person you love would really like for the highlight of their Valentine's meal.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834015390dc00cf970b-800wi

    Do you have a chocolate lover to satiate? A perfectly ordinary afternoon turned into a romantic memory when Ed and I shared this giant profiterole at Petit Robert in the South End.

    When a Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner Is on the Menu… 

    Reservations at wonderful, romantic restaurants go quickly. But, we have lots of ideas for all types of celebrations for budgets of all sizes. Today, we'll address where to dine. There are more ideas on some of our past Valentine posts. These are from other times, so check for details with the places mentioned.

    Update: 02.12.14 Here's Cambridge Day's Guide to an Interesting Valentine's Day

    Related Posts:

     

    Sophisticated Pink Sparklers for Valentine's Day

    Your Special Place, Free Romance for Valentine's Day

    Valentine's Day Live Performances at Half Price

     

    Eight Tips on Buying Jewelry for Valentine’s Day from an Expert

     

    Romance at the Gardner Museum – Valentine's Weekend Destination. 

     

    Romantic Dining in Boston with a Foreign Travel Theme (Some of our favorite restaurants offer an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music, and food all bring you to another land.)

     

    Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common (A Romantic but inexpensive date.) And, now you can also skate at the Boston Harbor Hotel and slip into the bar for a glass of champagne after that hand holding exercise.

    Need some Valentine's Day gift ideas? Click over to Amazon and do some planning, and if you do buy something there, they'll put a few coins in our tip cup.  

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photo: iStockphoto.com

  • “Food Spot” Conversation Is Our Friday Link

    One of the best area food conversations this week is over on the Chowhound Boston Board. It's titled, "Best non-restaurant food spots in Boston (or other "foodie" recommendations)" and includes a few of our favorite spots.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834010536a3ae21970b-800wi

    James Hook & Company was on the list. This place has been our traditional source for holiday lobsters and the Dungeness crabs we love for our occasional crab feasts.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff2084f1970d-800wi

    No list of great Boston area food purveyors would be complete without mentioning Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and the South End Formaggio. A visit to our cheese corner will give you a sampling of the cheeses we've enjoyed from these shops. 

    And, Formaggio is also a starting point when we're inspired to explore the food of a specific region with friends. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee910273a970d-500wi

    A Chowhound regular, 9lives, added Polcari's in the North End to the list and reminded me how long it's been since I've spent an afternoon popping in and out of shops in that neighborhood. 

    Hop over to this conversation and read the growing list of places you may love or may not have explored lately. Add your own two cents if you wish or just see what others have to say.

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

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2008-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • “Food Spot” Conversation Is Our Friday Link

    One of the best area food conversations this week is over on the Chowhound Boston Board. It's titled, "Best non-restaurant food spots in Boston (or other "foodie" recommendations)" and includes a few of our favorite spots.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834010536a3ae21970b-800wi

    James Hook & Company was on the list. This place has been our traditional source for holiday lobsters and the Dungeness crabs we love for our occasional crab feasts.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff2084f1970d-800wi

    No list of great Boston area food purveyors would be complete without mentioning Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and the South End Formaggio. A visit to our cheese corner will give you a sampling of the cheeses we've enjoyed from these shops. 

    And, Formaggio is also a starting point when we're inspired to explore the food of a specific region with friends. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee910273a970d-500wi

    A Chowhound regular, 9lives, added Polcari's in the North End to the list and reminded me how long it's been since I've spent an afternoon popping in and out of shops in that neighborhood. 

    Hop over to this conversation and read the growing list of places you may love or may not have explored lately. Add your own two cents if you wish or just see what others have to say.

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

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2008-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino