BostonZest

Single Stream Recycling Throughout Boston - July 1, 2009

Boston residents can recycle more items starting tomorrow, July 1, 2009. And, they can do it without sorting different items into different bins.
 
You can use your old blue bin until the city delivers a large, wheeled cart to your building.

You no longer have to separate papers from bottles, cans, plastics, and other items. Just put everything in the one container.

And, you can shift a few more items from your trash barrel to your recycling bin. The new recyclables include: cardboard/spiral cans (potato chip, coffee, nut cans, etc) and rigid plastics (laundry baskets, buckets, toys, etc.)

The City of Boston's Recycling site says, "Recycle more! As of July 1, 2009, Boston residents no longer have to separate paper and cardboard from cans and bottles. Instead, they may mix all recyclable materials together in one large container. The City will be delivering large wheeled recycling carts to residences with one to six units. Carts will be delivered neighborhood by neighborhood between June 2009 and June 2010."

Details:
(photo: from istockphoto.com)

Complete recycling information may be found at:
City of Boston recycling page
http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/curbside.asp

On Vacation in Boston - Exploring the Fenway

The BostonZest team leaders are on vacation in Boston. We've been doing Boston vacations for years.

 

Long before the term "staycation" came about, we'd spend some of our down time enjoying the city, catching up on new restaurants, revisiting old favorites, and taking day trips to explore the area. We'll share what we're up to, as the days click by.

Trattoria Toscana

One of the first "Old Favorite" restaurants we visited was Trattoria Toscana in the Fenway.  We've reported on this little gem before. http://www.bostonzest.com/2008/05/trattoria-tosca.html

This visit we found the food, service, and warmth met Toscana's high standards.

Back Bay Fens

If you're new to this area and looking for more to explore, we suggest a walk around the Back Bay Fens.

In the photo above, you see a visitor ready to enter the Kelleher Rose Garden. This is very close to Trattoria Toscana. During rose season, we visit anytime we're nearby.

While the Fens was originally created by Frederick Law Olmstead, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy provides information on more recent changes to the area.

"Noted landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff added new features such as The Kelleher Rose Garden and ball fields, employing the more formal landscape style popular in the 1920s and 1930s."

On the Conservancy site, you'll find maps and details on other attractions in this area.

http://www.emeraldnecklace.org/parks/back-bay-fens/

Here's a handy book to have in your pocket as you explore.

Fenway Victory Gardens

Walking to the Fens from the Back Bay, stop and enjoy the Fenway Victory Gardens on the bank of the Muddy River. Established in 1942, this organization claims the title of "America's Oldest Victory Gardens."

More information and maps are available on the garden's website:

www.fenwayvictorygardens.com

Details:

Trattoria Toscana
130 Jersey Street, Boston, MA 02215
(between Park Drive & Queensberry Street)
(617) 247-9508

A Pawsh Pet First Aid Workshop

Pawsh Dog Boutique and Back Bay Veterinary Clinic teamed up this week to present a Pet First Aid seminar for their clients and neighbors.

Beth Waisburd, DVM used Pawsh's own spokesdog, Balki as her model. Nearly 40 dog lovers were in attendance. They learned the basics of caring for pets in an emergency.

(Below: Dr. Waisburd demonstrates how to find a pulse on a dog.)

Topics included, CPR, choking, bleeding, heatstroke, seizures and poisoning. Perhaps the most important lesson learned was what Dr. Waisburd called, "What you see is not what you get."

She described instance after instance, when a dog seemed fine right after an emergency but became desperately ill within a short time because of hidden injuries or systemic problems.

She said that most of the emergency procedures she described should be done on the way to a veterinary clinic or hospital. She urged anyone who does perform emergency first aid on a pet to contact a veterinary professional immediately to discuss follow-up care.

She followed her presentation with a very lively question and answer session. People asked about tick removal, deodorizing a skunked dog, itchy dogs, first aid supplies to have on hand and how to avoid some of the common contagious canine diseases and parasites. 

Hosting the session, in their Gloucester Street shop were Nancy and Mike Maida and their Boston Terrier Balki. Mike said, "We had a great turnout for the event and Dr. Waisburd provided some very helpful first aid tips.  We hope to have more events like this in the future and continue to be a valuable neighborhood resource."

I agree with Mike.  We all learned quite a bit. In fact, we'll be inviting Dr Waisburd to repeat some of her best tips in upcoming "Sunday Dog" pieces.

We'd also like to know how many of our readers would be interested in attending a 4-hour course to become certified in Pet First Aid. Leave a comment or click the "email me" button to let me know if you might want to take a course this fall. If there is enough interest we'll work with Pawsh to organize it.

Details:
Pawsh Dog Boutique & Salon
31 Gloucester Street, Boston MA

www.pawshboston.com

Back Bay Veterinary Clinic

324 B Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115

www.backbayvet.com

Sunrise Over the Charles River

(Photo © 2009, Mick Timony, all rights reserved, used with permission)

This Saturday's photo of the week, "Sunrise Over the Charles River" is from photographer Mick Timony.

When I saw this, I realized how seldom we see sunrise photos of the river. Perhaps Boston photographers are not early risers.

This is a beautiful shot. The reflections and the floating bird add a soft rhythm to the quiet landscape.

Details:

Mick Timony's Photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timony/

Here's his blog
http://timony.com/mickzblog/

Federation of Mass Farmers Markets - Our Friday Link

The Boston area farmers' market season is in full bloom. At the Federation of Mass Farmers Markets website you'll find all the information you need on area markets.

Redesigned for this season, the Federation's site is a resource for shoppers, farmers, and host communities.

Click on the shopper's button and you can find a market near you with information on location, dates, hours, vendors, and products. You can sign up for email reminders of market days and an email newsletter with the latest information as the season progresses.

The Federation is a non-profit whose mission is, "...to partner with farmers, consumers, and communities to foster, enhance and sustain farmers market in Massachusetts in order to improve regional farm viability, consumer nutrition, and community social and economic development."

If this mission is important to you, we encourage you to support the Federation's work with your contributions.

You can do that this weekend by visiting a restaurant taking part in the second annual Mass Farmers' Market Strawberry Dessert Festival.  You enjoy a a fresh flavored dessert and a portion of the proceeds supports the federations' work.

You'll find a list of participating restaurants here:
Strawberry Dessert Festival Restaurants

Commission Approved Landmark Designation for The Esplanade

On Tuesday, June 23, the Boston Landmarks Commission voted unanimously to designate the Charles River Esplanade a Boston Landmark. 

The designation now goes to Mayor Menino, who has fourteen days to approve it, reject it, or not comment.  Unless the mayor rejects it, the proposal goes to the City Council, which has a month to consider it.
 
The Boston Preservation Alliance spearheaded the campaign to get the Esplanade designated a landmark, collecting an unprecedented 850 signatures on the petition.

Sarah D. Kelly, executive director of the Alliance, said, “The designation will insure preservation of the most important historic features of the parkland while allowing for necessary maintenance and improvements.” 

Beacon Hill resident and longtime Esplanade advocate Linda Cox, who served as spokesperson for the petitioners, said, “This is a big step forward for the Esplanade.  It will now enjoy the same status and the same level of protection as other beloved parks in Boston.”

Here is the original post from May 26, 2009 where the Alliance answered questions about the reasons for landmark status.

http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/05/esplanade-landmark-commission-hearing-tonight.html

What's Open on July 4th in Boston & MBTA Schedules

Here's a run-down of what is open in Boston on July 4th and changes to MBTA schedules for July 4, 2009.

This is an old post. Here's a link is the 2015 resource page for July 4th:

What's Open on July 4th, 2015 in Boston, Parking, Trash & MBTA Schedules

 

We publish these reminders about ten days before a holiday to help our readers make their holiday plans.

We recommend traveling into Boston by the MBTA. Bus, subway, and commuter rail will be free after 10:30 pm. More MBTA schedule details are listed below.

(Photo From iStockphoto.com)

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 State closed. Some international markets are open.

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

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Save storage space with these collapsible coolers. Perfect for small city homes. We have an older version of the Arctic Zone 30 can model and it is amazing at keeping things chilled. We not only use it for picnics but grab it to go grocery shopping.

 

     

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Boston Trash Collection: The announcement from Public Works covers July 3, 2009 since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year.

No Delays throughout the city. For confirmation you can check the site.

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

MBTA: Encouraging folks to take the T on July 4, MBTA General Manager Grabauskas shared the T’s plan. “As in past years, we are increasing service throughout the system; and to ensure customers get to their destination safely and on time, T personnel and Transit Police officers will be deployed throughout the system assisting customers,” said Grabauskas. 

• Blue, Green, Orange, and Red Lines will operate on an enhanced schedule providing extra service for customers heading to and from the Esplanade.  
• Commuter rail trains will operate on a Saturday schedule with all of the last trains, but one, departing at 11:45 p.m. (approximately 45 minutes after the fireworks display ends).
• The sole exception is Train #1173 to Newburyport, which will depart North Station at 11:15 pm.
• Bus service will operate on a Sunday schedule with extra bus service on key routes serving the Esplanade area.
  
• Bicycles are not allowed on the MBTA July 4th between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. inbound or after 4 p.m. outbound.
• Special RIDE shuttle vans will be available to carry persons with disabilities between the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary parking lot and the Esplanade.  This service will start at 8:00 a.m. and run through 6:30 p.m. for transportation to the seating area reserved for persons with disabilities.  Return service will be available at the conclusion of the event.  Note:  There will be no extra charge for this shuttle, nor will there be any fare charged for service as customers depart the Esplanade.
  
• Those who use THE RIDE for other destinations should call the service directly about the July 4th.
• Hingham commuter boat will not operate
• Hull Commuter boat will not operate
• Quincy commuter boat services to Long Wharf and Logan Airport will operate on a Saturday schedule.
• The Charlestown Navy Yard to Long Wharf water shuttle will operate on a weekend service schedule.
• For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules and fares, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TDD 617-222-5146) or log onto the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com."