BostonZest

MBTA's "My Charlie" - Our Friday Link

 

On Thursday, the MBTA announced that we can now manage our CharlieCards on line. By midday, the initial problems accessing the system were over, and I could set up an account for our family. We are mass transit users. We have CharlieCards for ourselves and a "guest" card that we load for friends visiting the area.

Here's a direct link to the MyCharlie Account Center.

I put all three cards on the system and have added value to one card and a monthly link pass to another. We won't be using the recurring pass purchase option because we have done the math and some months, travel or vacations make weekly passes a better deal.

So far, everything seems to be working well. The idea of no longer waiting in line at fare machines makes my day. I always seem to be behind someone inserting five dollars in quarters or struggling to figure out the system.

Now, I'll be able to click over to MyCharlie Account Center a couple of days before the 1st and load up our cards. Remember the fare is not added to the cards until 5:00 am the next morning so use a fare machine if you need to use your CharlieCard on the day of the purchase.

What do you read on the T? The Kindle makes reading while riding enjoyable.

There are limitations on what you can do with this system, but these are clearly explained on the site.  Here is a summary of what you should know from the MBTA press release.

"The MBTA now offers customers the option to create a MyCharlie Account. Setting up a MyCharlie Account online and registering a CharlieCard provides customers with the option to set up recurring monthly pass purchases eliminating visits to fare vending machines; reload value onto their CharlieCard; and receive for free "No Worries Protection". Additional features of on-line technology include:

Recurring pass purchases - will be automatically charged to credit card five days prior to the end of the month.

Updating CharlieCard with latest online purchase(s) - Online purchases entered on or before midnight will be available for uploading to your CharlieCard after 5:00 a.m. the next day. To ensure fare is available for immediate use, customers must tap CharlieCard at a Fare Vending Machine, a subway Fare Gate, or at a standing or handheld Green Line Ticket Validator. CharlieCards can also be updated at T sales offices at Back Bay, Downtown Crossing, Harvard, North Station and South Station or at any retail location that sells CharlieCards.

Additional Cards - can be added for family members in various denominations.

Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card - MyCharlie Account members are protected. Customers can report CharlieCard as lost/stolen or damaged by calling 1-888-844-0355. The CharlieCard will be blocked from further use and the pass or stored value remaining at that time will be transferred onto a new CharlieCard and mailed to a customer. Lost, stolen or damaged CharlieCard replacements are processed and mailed within 24 hours. 3 - 5 business days for delivery."

Brookline Farmers' Market - Thursday is Market day

My latest report for Serious Eats Market Scene was about the Brookline Farmers' Market.

 

Brookline is a very busy market with a wide selection of products. I try to get there a few times each summer. Click here for my full report on Serious Eats.

The day I was there I saw an unusual market sight. At the Cook's Farm Orchard stand were two generations of the Cook family. Normally you are greeted by either Marge Cook or her son Simeon. 

Brookline shoppers were treated to double smiles from the two of them working together selling their wonderful pies, sweet bread, granola and (my husband Ed's favorite) oatmeal raisin cookies.

 

This is another market were you can taste the wonderful chocolate flavors from Taza Chocolate. There were two new flavors on offer in Brookline. Taza describes these as:

"Cacao Puro is a rustic dark chocolate. And Yerba Mate, scented with mate leaf, is smooth and grassy."

Details:

Brookline Farmers' Market

Coolidge Corner, Centre Street West Parking Lot off Beacon Street

Thursdays 1:30 pm to dusk.

Brookline Market website

A Diva Of A Salad From Kimball Fruit Farm

This salad starring tiny "Diva cucumbers" and an assortment of cherry tomatoes from Kimball Fruit Farm wins awards in both the flavor and healthy eating category.

 

I bought some Diva cucumbers, and tomatoes on Saturday at the Cambridgeport Farmers' Market and we devoured them over the weekend. When I saw the Kimball sign at the Newton Farmers' Market yesterday; I stopped for more.

This salad is another one of my slice and mix "recipes." When products are this good, I don't want to do anything to hide their freshness. I sliced the cucumbers into rounds the size of a quarter. (Yes, they are really that tiny- about an inch wide and 4.5 inches long.)

I cut the tomatoes in halves, quarters, and slices depending on their size and shape. I dressed the salad with flaked sea salt, fresh ground pepper, a tablespoon of seasoned rice vinegar and a handful of sliced scallions.

That was it! Oil was not invited to this party. We used our oil allotment for the evening on a lovely piece of fresh buratta cheese.

Want to learn to ad lib in the kitchen? Here's the book to lead the way. My salad would fit in her chapter on "Whack and Toss Salads."

Details:

Kimball Fruit Farm

Farm Stand

184 Hollis Street (Rt. 122), Pepperell, MA

www.kimballfruitfarm.com

Farmers' Markets where you'll find Kimball

UpStairs On The Square Still A Well Rounded Favorite

UpStairs on the Square was one of our early selections for our local dining vacation this year. Amid new places, we take the time to revisit the Boston area restaurants where we first learned the difference between ordinary and exceptional dining. (Update 2017: Upstairs on the Square is among the great restaurants we have lost in recent years.)

 

There was nothing ordinary about this shrimp taco. It was bursting with flavor and textures. It was seasonal and a perfect summer lunch. Week to week, they'll offer you options that will perk up your interest and your taste buds.

They also have a few dependable favorites, like their "Sirloin Cheeseburger on Buttered Potato Roll with Gruyere, Niman Ranch Bacon & Cucumber Pickles." This is one of the few places where Ed will have a burger and enjoy it.

When we first met UpStairs, it was "UpStairs at the Pudding" and was housed in the Hasty Pudding building a few streets over. We adored lunch or brunch on their garden deck. They do have patio seating at the new location, but we must admit we still miss that hidden garden surrounded by Cambridge homes and businesses.

Since the move, we've adopted their Monday Club Bar as our comfort zone. It's a fun, irreverent, colorful, and welcoming space.

The wine selection at UpStairs deserves more mention that it receives. We often find great values and unexpected gems on the list.

On our last visit, it was a very reasonably priced bottle of Soter Beacon Hill sparkling pinot noir.  It was perfect with my shrimp. Thanks to a great selection of wines by the glass, Ed switched to a big to match his burger.

What's on your food lover's shopping list?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

Details:

(Photos: ©2009 Penny Cherubino)

UpStairs on the Square is now gone but this post may bring back memories for others who loves this spot.
91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

www.upstairsonthesquare.com

Plan Your Boston Weekend Early In The Week

Does Monday find you wishing you had done something more interesting over the weekend? Don't sit and fret. Instead, start planning now for your next weekend in Boston.

Here are a couple of reminders of books that we've reviewed that will help you plan a great weekend adventure.

Discovering the Boston Harbor Islands- A Guide To The City's Hidden Shores

Author Christopher Klein introduces you to the history, geography, flora, fauna, special features, and current amenities on thirty-one Boston Harbor Islands.

In the pages of this book, you'll meet the people and hear the stories that form the history of the islands. You'll gain a new appreciation for the important role the harbor islands played in creating the city we know.

Here's a link to our full review.

Review of Boston Harbor Islands- A Guide To The City's Hidden Shores

The second book is for dog lovers looking for adventures to share with their dogs.

Best Hikes with Dogs: Boston & Beyond

This is the book to use to plan for treks into the parks and conservation areas with canine companions. 

Author, Jenna Ringelheim and her dog Tasman, spent more than a year exploring parks, reservations, woodlands, and conservation areas to select the 50 trails for the book.

Here's a link to our full review and an interview with Jenna.

Link to our review of Best Hikes with Dogs.

As a bonus for Kindle and iPhone users, this book is now available on the Kindle.

That means that if you buy the Kindle edition and download the free Amazon Kindle app for your iPhone, you can keep this book on your phone. That way it will be ready to take you away on a hike when you are out and about.

Here's the link to the Kindle Edition.

 

Meet Eddie Our Sunday Dog

We met Eddie and his person Lisa on a walk. He's a wrestling partner for Stanley the Bulldog who starred as Sunday Dog last week.

Lisa says, "He is a 10 month old rescue mutt who loves to walk up and down the Comm Ave mall and visit all the people and dogs he sees.  He loves to wrestle with dogs of any size."

Eddie is also a friendly, warm pup who looks up at Lisa with eyes filled with love and gratitude for rescuing him. 

We've dubbed mixed breeds as "Adorables" with generous gene pools. Whatever his ancestors added to his mix, we thank them. He is a great little dog with a big heart.

The other day we met another one of Eddie's pals and hope to set up a photo shoot to have you meet a third dog in this chain of friends.

We may have finally found a great substitute for the little tin folding cup we use to give our Maggie Mae a drink when we are out and about.

Madelene, a friend from Florida just bought this cup for her Westie, Meggi.  Now we have something to recommend to everyone who wants to know where to get Maggie's water dish. (Ours came from L.L Bean many years ago and is no longer made.)

Peek-A-Bee

This shot was taken with my Canon G10. This is the camera I always have with me. You can't get the shot if you don't have a decent camera on hand.

My working camera is the Nikon 200 - here is the newest version of that one with my favorite lens.