Tag: courtyard

  • Where to Dine on Mother’s Day, May 10th 2015 Around Boston

    Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Mom to a meal out on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2015.

    Keep in mind that this "treat Mom to a great meal day" falls at the beginning of graduation season in Boston with Northeastern, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and Berklee College of Music holding commencements that weekend. (Here's the full list of Spring 2015 Commencement Dates for planning purposes.)

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    If your budget is tight, take Mom out for breakfast or treat her to breakfast in bed and some lovely flowers.

    For Mother's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurants with special menus and hours for May 10, 2015.

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when people may book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can make the restaurant turn away other potential customers, so a guarantee may be needed to reserve.

    OpenTable always does a great job of guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of specials for the day from their members. 

    As more great Boston food sites publish their recommendations, we'll post updates here! Follow us on Twitter ( @BostonZest ) for notice of those additions! 

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    Our picks and, for us, al la carte Menus Get Our Nod

    Bistro Du Midi has a prix fixe menu in their formal dining room but there are also offering an al la carte menu in the Cafe. With the Swan Boats and Public Garden across the street, this can be a wonderful choice for lunch and a stroll and family photos in a beautiful setting. 

    Lineage in Brookline is also on the a la carte option plan. Boston Chefs says, "Lineage will be open early for brunch and dinner this Mother's Day, offering up a special a la carte brunch menu, as well as, their regular dinner menu."

    The Red Dory in Tiverton, RI: Like many Bostonians, we are long time fans of chef Steve Johnson and miss his food and smiling face at Rendezvous in Central Square. If a road trip to a waterfront destination would make your Mother's day perfect, head to his new place, the Red Dory. We asked about his Mother's Day plans and he wrote, "Open M'sDay/no special menu except many recent seasonal updates + including Sunday Tapas supplemental menu – Cheers!"

    For something different take Mom out on Saturday. Would she enjoy afternoon tea at the Courtyard restaurant inside the Boston Public Library? They say, "Join us for a special Saturday opening for Mother's Day! Enjoy our Afternoon Tea Menu complete with savory tea sandwiches and sweet confections from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm."

    For a gathering of family members with different food preferences, it's great to know about a place like Eastern Standard where they can please the cocktail lover, the meat-and-taters brother, and the family epicure.

    If you are meeting people from outside the city, you might consider La Morra in Brookline. 

    If Mom is a seafood lover, call now to secure a table at Island Creek Oyster Bar. This Kenmore Square restaurant has established itself as the best fine dining seafood restaurant in Boston. Your family will enjoy the best in seafood in a big, comfortable room with reservations and service that will make Mom feel spoiled. 

    We also love the Island Creek Team spot out in the Fort Point neighborhood, Row 34. Here's our post on this great addition to the city's dining scene.  

    And, for the best gift, let Mom choose something from her Wish List. Get an Amazon Gift Card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card.

    Details:
    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photo: istockphoto.com

  • The Smallest Thaw Brings out the Picnickers

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    The courtyard at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square is a very popular place for outdoor dining on warm days year-round. But, I didn't expect to find people using it this week. I was wrong. Even the smallest thaw brings out the picnicker in many of us.

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    It looks like someone planned for the thaw and cleared a small section of the patio. Just a few days before, I took this photo of the opposite patio from where the women were lunching.

     

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Snow, Freeze, Thaw, Freeze, Snow in the Back Bay

    It has been a very photographic February with the cycle of snow, freeze, thaw, and freeze we've endured. Ed said it was as if Mother Nature wanted to add a fresh coat of makeup to the snow piles so they wouldn't look dirty. 

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    Icicles added a touch of frosting to the Victorian townhouses along Commonwealth Avenue.

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    On Newbury Street, some took on the look of waterfalls.

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    On Boylston Street, the stonework and icicles set off one another beautifully.

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    Here's a view of icicles from inside one of the glass crossovers at Copley Place.

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    Bacchante does not seem to mind the snow at all and just continues to dance in the Courtyard of the Boston Public Library.

    As much as we may complain about the endless snow and cold, it's hard to resist photographing the way it changes our neighborhood. 

    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!

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    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Special Saturday Concerts July 28th in the Library Courtyard

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    The Boston Public Library Courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy some fine music. Tomorrow, there will be three, one hour-long concerts for you. We're making this series our Friday Link and turning over the keyboard to the concert organizers for details.

    "Saturday, July 28, 11:00 am. – Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble
    Since its inception in 2000, the Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble has presented diverse programs from the chamber music repertoire for wind and string instruments. Each member of the Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble brings a high level of musical artistry to the group, and they are quickly becoming known throughout the Boston area as outstanding musicians.

    Saturday, July 28, 12:30 p.m. – The Brant Grieshaber Trio
    A consummate band leader, soloist, and sideman, Brant Grieshaber performs all over New England, from the Maine Music Society to the Beantown Swing Orchestra, and from the Beehive to Johnny D's. He's shared the stage with jazz giants such as Grammy nominee Bill Frisell, James Carter, and Charlie Hunter.

    Saturday, July 28, 2:00 p.m.  – Annie Sharkey
    Annie Sharkey began her career in musical theater in New York City. She has been a vocalist in the Boston area for over 25 years in various venues, including Broadway, cabaret, top forty, original rock, an oldies show band, and as a vocalist for the Winiker Orchestras.

    The Boston Public Library’s regular Friday afternoon concert series features music that ranges from jazz to classical and from folk to funk at 12:30 p.m., each week, through August 31. For more information, visit www.bpl.org/concerts."

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    Details:


    Boston Public Library, Copley Square (map)

    700 Boylston Street
    Boston, MA 02116
    (617) 536-5400

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

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Special Saturday Concerts July 28th in the Library Courtyard

    PMC_5005 - Version 22012-06-29-library-couryard-copley square- boston-massachusetts-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The Boston Public Library Courtyard is the perfect place to enjoy some fine music. Tomorrow, there will be three, one hour-long concerts for you. We're making this series our Friday Link and turning over the keyboard to the concert organizers for details.

    "Saturday, July 28, 11:00 am. – Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble
    Since its inception in 2000, the Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble has presented diverse programs from the chamber music repertoire for wind and string instruments. Each member of the Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble brings a high level of musical artistry to the group, and they are quickly becoming known throughout the Boston area as outstanding musicians.

    Saturday, July 28, 12:30 p.m. – The Brant Grieshaber Trio
    A consummate band leader, soloist, and sideman, Brant Grieshaber performs all over New England, from the Maine Music Society to the Beantown Swing Orchestra, and from the Beehive to Johnny D's. He's shared the stage with jazz giants such as Grammy nominee Bill Frisell, James Carter, and Charlie Hunter.

    Saturday, July 28, 2:00 p.m.  – Annie Sharkey
    Annie Sharkey began her career in musical theater in New York City. She has been a vocalist in the Boston area for over 25 years in various venues, including Broadway, cabaret, top forty, original rock, an oldies show band, and as a vocalist for the Winiker Orchestras.

    The Boston Public Library’s regular Friday afternoon concert series features music that ranges from jazz to classical and from folk to funk at 12:30 p.m., each week, through August 31. For more information, visit www.bpl.org/concerts."

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

    Details:


    Boston Public Library, Copley Square (map)

    700 Boylston Street
    Boston, MA 02116
    (617) 536-5400

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

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • The Seafood Grille at The Waterford Inn, Provincetown

    Sometimes, we don't feel like leaving the East End of Provincetown, where we usually stay– even for a meal. Then, we're happy to have a place like the Seafood Grille at the Waterford Inn open for lunch. 

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    We had the fish tacos and loved them.

    They have tables inside, in the courtyard, and on a small sidewalk patio out front. There is also a second floor, covered deck that will often have live music. This is also a quieter part of town if you want to take a break from the busy center of town.

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    They do a good job with fried scallops too!

    These photos are from our spring vacation. By now, both the town and the restaurant will be bustling and the perfect spot for people watching as you dine. We couldn't find a website for the restaurant, so we linked to the reviews over on Trip Advisor. As you'll see, we are not the only ones who like the newest menu options in this spot. 

    Related Posts: Here's a link to the rest of our Provincetown posts.

    The Seafood Grille at The Waterford Inn

    ‪386 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657-2319‬ (map)

    508-487-6400

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    Details:

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

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • 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.

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    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  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.