Tag: August

Here’s to August and Old Friends, Westport Rivers RJR Brut Cuvée
Look what we found at Boston Public Market, Westport Rivers Brut Cuvée RJR 2007 – an old friend that still has its sparkle!

We visited this winning Massachusetts winery more than 15 years ago and still have fond memories of sitting outside with our last Westie Maggie toasting each other in full view of thriving grape vines.

Wandering through Boston Public Market last week, we discovered a great selection of Massachusetts wines including those from Westport Rivers.

Their RJR Brut Cuvée is mostly Pinot Noir. This sparkler became our favorite all those years ago and it’s nice to know how easy it is to find, today.

What to expect from the Award winning 2007 Westport Brut RJR:
- “Fine bubbles and a gentle mousse”
- “Notes of brioche, flint, Granny Smith apple peel, and candied lemon”
- “Rich, grippy mouthfeel with youthful acidity”
- “Long, clean finish”
- “Hints of ginger and savory tangerine”
Here’s to the Russell family that’s worked so hard to bring us consistently outstanding wines.

For more information on their wines, visit Westport Rivers Winery (online & in person) and be sure to stop by The Massachusetts Farm Wineries and Growers booth at Boston Public Market.

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post: Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

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

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August 1, 2016
Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series
Some of our favorite summer "appointments" are with the talented musicians performing as part of the Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series that opened on Wednesday afternoon.

As you can see from this 2008 photo, we've been enjoying this summer series for a long time.

Here are the details for this year's series:

Time and Place: Wednesdays and Fridays in June, July, and August, the courtyard at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street, will feature music selections from a variety of influences, from jazz and folk to classical and contemporary music. Concerts are held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. through August 28. All concerts are free and last approximately one hour.

Sponsors and Other Information: The Concerts in the Courtyard series is co-sponsored by Deloitte and the Boston Public Library Foundation. During the Wednesday evening concerts, light refreshments will be available for purchase. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside to the Commonwealth Salon.

June Concerts
- Aliya Cycon Project, Wednesday, June 3, 6 p.m. Cycon uses her reverence for the Arabic tradition to highlight her unique voice in compositions and performances.
- Neha, Friday, June 5, 12:30 p.m. A singer, composer, and pianist, Neha’s style is a mix of musical personalities, including jazz, folk, blues, pop, and her mother’s classical Indian musical background.
- Nicolás Castañeda Group, Wednesday, June 10, 6 p.m. Nicolás Castañeda Group is a project based on contemporary Colombian music.
- Patrick Coman, Friday, June 12, at 12:30 p.m. Patrick Coman merges barroom shuffles with the sounds of his native Oklahoma.
- ChoroBop, Wednesday, June 17, 6 p.m. ChoroBop’s repertoire is based on the roots of Brazilian choro, jazz, and contemporary music influences.
- Akiko Kobayashi, Friday, June 19, 12:30 p.m. Akiko Kobayashi performs as both a soloist and a chamber musician at renowned national and international festivals.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. Wambura Mitaru is a passionate singer and songwriter from Nairobi who blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, and sounds from her African background.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, June 26, 12:30 p.m. Properly Unprepared is a five-piece jazz combo that plays classics by artist such as Miles Davis along with more contemporary jazz.
July Concerts
- Felipe Abad, Wednesday, July 1, 6 p.m.
- Handel & Haydn Society, Friday, July 3, 12:30 p.m.
- Honeysuckle, Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.
- Cocek! Brass Band, Friday, July 10, 12:30 p.m
- Charles Overton, Wednesday, July 15, 6 p.m.
- Women in World Jazz, Friday, July 17, 12:30 p.m.
- Damn Tall Buildings, Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Friday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m.
- Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Intensive Community Program, Friday, July 31, 12:30 p.m.
August Concerts
- The Wiles, Wednesday, August 5, 6 p.m.
- Kevin Harris Project, Friday, August 7, 12:30 p.m.
- MIXCLA, Wednesday, August 12, 6 p.m.
- Hiroya Tsukamoto, Friday, August 14, 12:30 p.m.
- The Ivy Age, Wednesday, August 19, 6 p.m.
- Thompson-Lamb-Panitch Folk Trio, Friday, August 21, 12:30 p.m.
- Ludovica Burtone, Wednesday, August 26, 6 p.m.
- Handel and Haydn Society, Friday, August 28, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2008-2014 Penny Cherubino

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Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series
Some of our favorite summer "appointments" are with the talented musicians performing as part of the Boston Public Library’s 2015 Concerts in the Courtyard Series that opened on Wednesday afternoon.

As you can see from this 2008 photo, we've been enjoying this summer series for a long time.

Here are the details for this year's series:

Time and Place: Wednesdays and Fridays in June, July, and August, the courtyard at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street, will feature music selections from a variety of influences, from jazz and folk to classical and contemporary music. Concerts are held on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. through August 28. All concerts are free and last approximately one hour.

Sponsors and Other Information: The Concerts in the Courtyard series is co-sponsored by Deloitte and the Boston Public Library Foundation. During the Wednesday evening concerts, light refreshments will be available for purchase. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved inside to the Commonwealth Salon.

June Concerts
- Aliya Cycon Project, Wednesday, June 3, 6 p.m. Cycon uses her reverence for the Arabic tradition to highlight her unique voice in compositions and performances.
- Neha, Friday, June 5, 12:30 p.m. A singer, composer, and pianist, Neha’s style is a mix of musical personalities, including jazz, folk, blues, pop, and her mother’s classical Indian musical background.
- Nicolás Castañeda Group, Wednesday, June 10, 6 p.m. Nicolás Castañeda Group is a project based on contemporary Colombian music.
- Patrick Coman, Friday, June 12, at 12:30 p.m. Patrick Coman merges barroom shuffles with the sounds of his native Oklahoma.
- ChoroBop, Wednesday, June 17, 6 p.m. ChoroBop’s repertoire is based on the roots of Brazilian choro, jazz, and contemporary music influences.
- Akiko Kobayashi, Friday, June 19, 12:30 p.m. Akiko Kobayashi performs as both a soloist and a chamber musician at renowned national and international festivals.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. Wambura Mitaru is a passionate singer and songwriter from Nairobi who blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, and sounds from her African background.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, June 26, 12:30 p.m. Properly Unprepared is a five-piece jazz combo that plays classics by artist such as Miles Davis along with more contemporary jazz.
July Concerts
- Felipe Abad, Wednesday, July 1, 6 p.m.
- Handel & Haydn Society, Friday, July 3, 12:30 p.m.
- Honeysuckle, Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.
- Cocek! Brass Band, Friday, July 10, 12:30 p.m
- Charles Overton, Wednesday, July 15, 6 p.m.
- Women in World Jazz, Friday, July 17, 12:30 p.m.
- Damn Tall Buildings, Wednesday, July 22, 6 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Friday, July 24, 12:30 p.m.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, July 29, 6 p.m.
- Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras' Intensive Community Program, Friday, July 31, 12:30 p.m.
August Concerts
- The Wiles, Wednesday, August 5, 6 p.m.
- Kevin Harris Project, Friday, August 7, 12:30 p.m.
- MIXCLA, Wednesday, August 12, 6 p.m.
- Hiroya Tsukamoto, Friday, August 14, 12:30 p.m.
- The Ivy Age, Wednesday, August 19, 6 p.m.
- Thompson-Lamb-Panitch Folk Trio, Friday, August 21, 12:30 p.m.
- Ludovica Burtone, Wednesday, August 26, 6 p.m.
- Handel and Haydn Society, Friday, August 28, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2008-2014 Penny Cherubino

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Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL
One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
- Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
- KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
- Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
- The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
- Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
- Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.
The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts. The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:
- Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
- Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
- Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
- Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
- Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
- Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
- Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
- The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
- Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
- Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
- The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
- American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
May 30, 2014
Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL
One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
- Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
- KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
- Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
- The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
- Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
- Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.
The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts. The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:
- Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
- Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
- Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
- Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
- Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
- Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
- Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
- The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
- Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
- Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
- The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
- American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
May 30, 2014
Friday Links to Free Music!
Summer in Boston is full of opportunities to enjoy free and low-cost concerts. Today, we're linking to some of the free ones but we invite you to add links to other low cost options in the comments section.
Click on any small photo to see a larger version in the space above.

Shannon Selig (photos above) opened the Prudential Center Lunchtime Concert series on Tuesday. This free concert series is part of the Berklee Summer in the City program.

Keep your eye on Shannon and get out and see her whenever you can. She's piling up awards and we think this young singer/songwriter has a very bright future. These and few additional photos of this concert are in our Smug Mug gallery.

Berklee Summer in the CIty

Berklee will be treating us to music at dozens of locations in and outside the city. If you get out to one of the concerts be sure to pick up the Berklee Summer in the City brochure. It features concerts by series, by location, by date and featured artists. You can also find the information on line here.

Boston Public Library Courtyard

Bacchante and Infant Faun are dancing on water in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library. Mark your calendars! The popular, free, Friday lunchtime concert series has returned to the courtyard and continues through the end of August. Here's a link to details of the full schedule.

Hatch Shell Concert Series 2012

In 1939, the trustees of Maria E. Hatch’s estate entered into an agreement to give the Commonwealth of Massachusetts $300,000 to build a concertorium, or music shell, on the Storrow Memorial Embankment in Boston. It would be a memorial to her bother, Boston real estate auctioneer, Edward Hatch.

The agreement was very specific as to the use of the structure. It would be for “musical and artistic purposes… of general public interest and entertainment, except, however, that it shall not be used for sectarian, political or controversial purposes.” Here's this year's list of musical presentations!

More Series at More Locations

Boston: City Hall Plaza and Christopher Columbus Park Series

Boston: Boston Harbor Hotel Free Entertainment Series on Rose Wharf

Boston: Downtown Crossing Street Music Series

Boston: Post Office Square Summer Lunch Concert Series

Cambridge: Regattabar Courtyard Series with Berklee College of Music

Cambridge: Club Passim/Berklee Summer Concert Series at Kendall Square and Harvard Square

Okay, we have the list started. Add your favorite free, or low-cost, summer concerts in the comments.

Related Posts: For our Friday link collection click here.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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June 15, 2012