BostonZest

Why are the MBTA escalators running all the time?

 
Here's a money saving tip for the T, find a way to turn off your escalators when no one is using them. Yes, I know, it isn't just the T, but we all know how cash strapped our transit system is.

This thought came to me over the weekend as we were waiting for a train in an almost empty station - quiet except for the drone and clank of the escalator.

A quick web search showed that other environmentally-minded people have had the same thought, including Beth Daley of the Boston Globe. Over on "The Green Blog" she asked, "Can we go greener by turning off the escalator?" 

Daley mentioned a story on Next American City by Jeffrey Hill. In "Taken for a Ride, The insanity of escalators," he examined the same question. 

Have you experienced escalators that only operate when needed? If so, tell us where and maybe tell the MBTA so they can find out how to save a big pile of money.

Here are a couple of books to help you save on energy costs and become more self sustaining. Remember to support this site by beginning all you Amazon shopping here. That helps us keep BostonZest coming your way.

Details:

Writer: Ed Cherubino

Photo: By Justin Russell Here's his site: www.justinrussell.com. and here is his flickr photo stream http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinrussell/

(Used under creative commons license)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinrussell/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Farmstead – Cheese Excellence on Providence's East Side

A recent day trip to Providence included a stop at the Farmstead cheese shop in Wayland Square. Our friends David and Peter spent some time in Providence last summer and told us we had to visit this food-find. Thanks guys, for the wonderful tip. This place should be on everyone's Providence itinerary. 

Farmstead is the cheese shop. Next door, is their bistro, La Laiterie at Farmstead. We were headed to Al Forno for dinner, so we didn't try the restaurant this trip but will next time. David and Peter did dine there, and said it was not to be missed. 

We spotted the Twig Farm Square and asked whether they had the Twig Farm Tomme. They grabbed a new wheel from their cheese cave and opened it for us. They also had a perfect piece of Ascutney Mountain, so we decided that a Vermont tomme-stlye cheese tasting would be a perfect late night treat. (It was amazing but more about that in another post.) 

The selection of cheese, bread, cured meats, and related products was carefully chosen. The service was excellent, knowledgeable, and accommodating. This place was everything we want in a local food shop.

 

And if you want the ultimate ham and cheese, they were hand-carving slices from this beauty.

Click here for more of our posts on the subject of cheese.

We audition books around here, because we live in a very tiny space with books everywhere. We only had the Boston Public Library's copy of "Mastering Cheese" one day, when we ordered one of our own. We're currently taking the course; chapter-by-chapter, and with each page learn a little more about this fascinating food. 

Details:
Farmstead
186 Wayland Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 ( Map & Reviews )
Phone: 401-274-7177 
www.farmsteadinc.com

 
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

Boston Area Commencement Dates Spring 2010

With or without a Boston area college graduation in your family, you need to plan your dining and travel plans around the area’s large commencement ceremonies. We're running this a bit early because so many people are making their way to last year's post.

 
Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 14th through the 17th and scarce May 22nd to the 27th. This year Harvard and MIT commencements are a week apart. While this avoids a blockbuster weekend at the end of the graduation season, each of those schools is large enough to have an impact on its own.

To help you plan your dining options in May and early June, here are the dates of the major commencement ceremonies for your calendar.

Send us a comment if you know of a college or university graduation date that we missed.

• Northeastern University - May 7, 2010
• Berklee College - May 8, 2010
• Emmanuel College - May 8, 2010
• Simmons College - May 14, 2010
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy - May 14, 2010
• Boston Conservatory - May 14, 2010
• Babson College - May 15, 2010
• Bentley University - May 15, 2010
• Fisher College - May 15, 2010
• Boston University - May 16, 2010
• Emerson College - May 17, 2010
• Lesley University - May 19, 2010
  
• Suffolk University - May 22, 2010
• New England Conservatory - May 23, 2010
• Tufts University - May 23, 2010
• Boston College - May 24, 2010
• Harvard University - May 27, 2010
• North Shore Community College - May 27, 2010
• The New England College of Optometry - May 28, 2010
• New England Law - May 28, 2010
• Northeastern School of Law - May 28, 2010
• Boston College Law School - May 28, 2010
• Boston Architectural College - May 29, 2010
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - June 4, 2010

Here's The BostonZest Amazon Selection of the Day

The perfect gift for a graduate!

Details:

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: iStockphoto.com

What's Open on Christmas and MBTA Schedules 2009

Here's a run-down of what is open in Boston on Christmas December 25, 2009. And remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve as well. Call before you leave if you plan to visit a business on the 24th

Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while looking for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter and come back often.

Restaurants, bars: A few will be open- check for special hours and menus and take a look at our piece on where to dine for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/12/christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-dining-in-boston-2009.html

Convenience stores:  Some will be open, check for special hours

Supermarkets: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Retail stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

Liquor stores: Closed due to Massachusetts "Blue Laws"

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.

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

Boston Trash Collection: Only those with Friday collections will have a delay with their next collection on 12/26/09 in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Chinatown, Fort Hill, Financial/Leather, North End, Roxbury/Mission Hill and South End.

Charlestown no delay.

Friday collections delayed one day in: South Boston, Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain.

And finally, sections of Jamaica Plain that have trash collection 2 times per week will have no delay, regular trash & recycling schedule. If your trash & recycling is collected one day a week in Jamaica Plain, trash and recycling is delayed a day.

Here's the source of this information:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/sanholidays.asp

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both banks and the stock markets in the United State closed. Some international markets are open.

MBTA Schedule Changes 

Update 12.21.09- the MBTA has released the following information this morning.

The MBTA holiday service schedule for December 24-25 includes the following changes to assist travelers:  

Thursday, December 24

• To ensure prompt and convenient service to and from Logan Airport, the Silver, Red, Orange, Blue and Green lines will operate with additional service during peak travel periods.   
• Buses, Commuter Rail, RIDE Paratransit Service, and Inner Harbor Ferry will operate on a regular weekday schedule.  
• Hingham Commuter Boat service: The 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. departures from Rowes Wharf to Hingham will be substituted with departures at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The last boat departs Rowes Wharf at 7:00 p.m.
• Quincy and Hull Commuter Boat service to Logan Airport and Long Wharf:  The 5:30 p.m. departure from the Aquarium dock will be substituted with a 2:30 p.m. departure making stops at Hull and Quincy.  The 11:15 a.m. and 1:25 p.m. trips departing Long Wharf will stop in Hull and Quincy.   The last boat departs the MBTA dock at Long Wharf at 6:50 p.m. making stops in Hull and Quincy  

Friday, December 25

• Blue, Orange, Green and Red Line trains, Buses and Trackless Trolleys, and Commuter Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Please Note:  Fairmount Line, Needham Line, and Stoughton Line will not operate.
• All Inner Harbor Ferry and Commuter Boat services will not operate.  THE RIDE will operate on a modified schedule.    

For more information call the T Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200, (TTY) 617-222-5146 or visit the MBTA website.

The MBTA holiday service schedule for December 24-25 includes the following changes to assist travelers:  

Thursday, December 24