Tag: January 20

National Cheese Lover’s Day – Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The Massachusetts Cheese Guild sent us a reminder that today is National Cheese Lover's Day. The BostonZest team is made up of cheese lovers, so today is a day for us! We even have a separate category, Food: Cheese for our cheese coverage.

Because we live a freelance lifestyle, we often eat our main meal of the day in the afternoon and enjoy a plate of cheese with a bit of something else and a glass of wine for our evening bites.

We also find ourselves shopping for great cheese in Boston's wonderful ethnic markets. Above is a collection of foods we purchased in Watertown's Middle Eastern neighborhood. A trip there will always include string cheese and feta.

Smith’s Country Cheese at the Brookline Farmers' Market

Crystal Brook Farm goat cheese lunches at the Copley Farmers' Market

We love supporting Massachusetts cheeses at area farmers' markets. Both of those above are members of the Massachusetts Cheese Guild. Here's a link to the other local cheese artisan producers who have joined to provide mutual support and education about our state's cheese products.

Artisan Cheese Trail

The guild also has created their Artisan Cheese Trail, a map for you to explore the possibilities in person. We highly recommend that you pop over and explore the guild's site. You'll find cheesemakers to visit from Westport to Williamstown and beyond.

Explore New Cheeses

One of the truly great things about cheese is that a good shop will let you taste a bit before you buy. If you avoid the precut and shrink wrapped, you will not have to be afraid to try a new cheese.

You might discover that there are some blue cheeses you love and some you don't. We had that happen with a friend who didn't think he'd like the blue cheese his partner adored. Until our cheese tasting adventures put one on his plate with a slightly different flavor note.

If this day speaks to your soul, set out from here to explore more Massachusetts Cheeses in particular, and different cheeses from your current favorites in general.

Here are other posts from our Cheese Collection!

What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese. These make wonderful gifts for a cheese lover. And, when you shop Amazon from here, they put some coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar photo courtesy of Cabot Cheese.

January 20, 2015
What’s Open in Boston & MBTA Schedules Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20, 2014. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

This is an outdated post. You'll find the information for 2016 at this link.

Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

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

Boston Trash and Recycling:

The City website says,

"Martin Luther King Week-Monday, January 20, 6am – Saturday, January 25, 2014, 5pm
- No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End
- Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day
- *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay. Report Missed Pickup"
Street Cleaning: 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."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2014:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link.
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved
January 8, 2014
What’s Open in Boston & MBTA Schedules Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20, 2014. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

This is an outdated post. You'll find the information for 2016 at this link.

Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

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

Boston Trash and Recycling:

The City website says,

"Martin Luther King Week-Monday, January 20, 6am – Saturday, January 25, 2014, 5pm
- No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End
- Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day
- *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay. Report Missed Pickup"
Street Cleaning: 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."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2014:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link.
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved
January 8, 2014
What’s Open in Boston & MBTA Schedules Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20, 2014. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

This is an outdated post. You'll find the information for 2016 at this link.

Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

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

Boston Trash and Recycling:

The City website says,

"Martin Luther King Week-Monday, January 20, 6am – Saturday, January 25, 2014, 5pm
- No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End
- Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day
- *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay. Report Missed Pickup"
Street Cleaning: 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."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2014:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link.
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved
January 8, 2014