BostonZest

The Incredible Shrinking Wreath

It would be wonderful if someone invented a holiday wreath that would begin large and gloriously full when put up in December, and right about now would begin to shrink. By Valentine's Day, instead of dry, brown, shedding Christmas decorations, we could watch as they go POOF and disappear!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

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Happy New Year 2012!

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential." Ellen Goodman (Pulitzer prize winning columnist, author, speaker)

What did you do last year that really makes you happy when you think about it? What Bucket List items are on your schedule for 2012?

Here's a link to some of Ellen Goodman's books. We hope she makes more of her earlier work available on Kindle.

 

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Ellen Goodman's site is www.ellengoodman.com

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: © 2011 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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

Phone Book Attack: Here's an Opt-Out Link

Last weekend, Back Bay homes had piles of unwanted phone books dumped on their front steps. The photo above is a single family home, so you can imagine how many were left at buildings with 40 or 60 apartments. 

How do Bostonians feel about this topic?

Click over to Universal Hub, and read the comments on the post, Our annual mid-winter ritual: The rotting of the abandoned phone books. Adam Gaffin also links to his 2008 and 2009 phone book conversations.

This week he took a poll. We got two different phonebooks yesterday - which to toss in the recycling? Go over and add your vote!

Did you know that you can opt-out of having phone books delivered to your home?

In response to complaints, the Association of Directory Publishers has set up an opt-out program at this site, www.yellowpagesoptout.com. We're making this site our Friday Link!

You do have to register, and then you can opt-out of the phone books from those businesses that belong to this group. We were able to elimate three deliveries with one visit.

Of course, if you live in a multi-family home, you will have to encourage your neighbors to join you in the opt-out effort.

 

Wider Pilot Progam Underway

The good news is that Brookline and Cambridge are working with the Product Stewardship Institute and Catalog Choice on a pilot opt-out project. The test will make it possible for residents to stop the delivery of unwanted phone books, catalogs, coupons, and credit card solicitations. It will also measure the number of requests and program efficiency. The Product Stewardship Institute will issue a project report in the fall of 2012.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving from BostonZest

We have had many reasons to be thankful this year. Among them are our wonderful readers, commentators, supporters, retweeters, facebook likers, Amazon shoppers, and everyone who spreads the word about our posts. 

We hope all of you have reason to be thankful and that by next Thanksgiving your list of blessings doubles!

You can thank us by starting all your Amazon shopping from BostonZest. Just click on any Amazon banner or a link like this one, shop as usual, and they'll put some change in our tip jar.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino (Front steps of a townhouse in Boston's South End. It looks welcoming, doesn't it?)

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille, Our First Taste

We had a serendipitous lunch at the Rowes Wharf Sea Grille a week ago, and enjoyed both the food and the service. As we explore more of the harbor walk this summer, this will be our go-to spot for a rest and a quick bite.

Sushi Grade Yellowfin Tuna Niçoise

Our intention was to wander down the Greenway and try one or two of the food carts. We should have done our homework, because the best of the carts were not there on a Sunday. What's more, the park was awash in imposed music and a childish event that prevented us from enjoying the space.

By the time we reached the Boston Harbor Hotel, I was at the limit of my noise tolerance and needed some peace and quiet. On the other side of this grand hotel, we found not only beautiful harbor views in a tranquil setting, but the Sea Grille. We had been hearing good things about it. We checked a menu and took a table for two.

A glass of a good Prosecco washed away any lingering disappointment from our walk in the park. My soft shell crab over a bed of snappy corn salsa and Ed's salad Niçoise with seared yellowfin tuna made us almost forgive the Greenway and give thanks that we ended up in a highly civilized room overlooking Boston Harbor.

The service was indulgent– exactly what you'd expect from a hotel restaurant in a property "listed by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “World's Best Places to Stay.” 

This table was set for afternoon tea.

We also plan to try the afternoon tea at the Sea Grille. From what we saw at the tables near us, and what we've heard from fellow tea lovers, it's one that we'd enjoy. 

Related Posts: More Food & Drink from BostonZest

Afternoon tea is a wonderful way to spend quality time and enjoy great conversation with friends. You can go out or have your own event at home or in some lovely, tranquil setting. Here's a perfect book to learn all about it.

Afternoon Teas: Recipes, History, Menus

and the most extravagant picnic hamper!

The Picnic Time Windsor Picnic Basket, Service for 4

 

Details:

Rowes Wharf Sea Grille

Boston Harbor Hotel

70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 (Map & Reviews)

Phone: 617-856-7744 

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: Tuna © 2011 Ed Cherubino, Tea Table © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Memorial Day Task....Make your Summer Bucket List

Memorial Day means different things to different people and many of us have our own Memorial Day traditions.  

We like to stay in town and enjoy the peace and quiet that comes when most of the students are gone and many neighbors are away opening up summer cottages or dashing off to weekend destinations.

And, with all the quiet, it's fun to plan your summer the way you did when you were back in school. Remember when each Memorial Day would find you on the phone with friends deciding what the summer adventures would be.

Since Memorial Day is about remembering, I decided to look back on the people, events and activities that still make me smile when I think about them. A few of them can never be recreated. But, some would make a great Bucket List to enjoy before Old Man Winter comes back again and fills my summer bucket with ice.

What's on my summer list?

We used to do a lot of sailing, and I'd like to get out on the water again this year.

While I read a lot for work, I plan to read a bunch of books just for pleasure.

My little elderly dog adores sitting on park benches and watching the world go, by so I'm planning more bench time this year. (I'll bring my book and read while she watches.)

Tomorrow I'll sit quietly and add a few more fun items to the roster. 

What's on your summer bucket list?

Looking for summer reading? Here are some top picks from Amazon. I'm reading:

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough and a friend just recommended

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto

 

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Words: Penny  Cherubino
Sailboat Photo: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Bucket photo: iStockphoto.com

 

 

 

Do You Stop for Chuggers?

I watched a pair of particularly agressive street fundraisers, or as they're better known chuggers, work a corner on Newbury Street today. This poor guy was walking along, listening to his tunes, when she did her little walking backwards dance in front of him until he pulled out his earbuds and listened to her.

Meanwhile, her partner nearly walked the man in the white shirt into a van and forced him to walk in the tree pit to get past without hearing a sales pitch.

I can't understand why anyone would give personal information to someone on the street. And, from what I read here, these people may work for fundraising companies that take a cut of any money you donate.

How far do they have to go before they meet Boston's standards for agressive panhandling?

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino