BostonZest

Busy Bows in Copley Square

Spend a few moments watching or trying to photograph the wreaths on Trinity Church, and you understand why Copley Square has had it's own scooterdude sailing around the park.

I hope these bows are well attached, because they were really whipping around in the wind.

If and when winter arrives, remember to plan your walks in Boston around wind speed in Copley Square.

Are your boots ready for winter? If not, stop by Amazon's own shoe store, endless.com. And, by clicking over from here before you buy, you'll be supporting BostonZest because endless will put some coins in our tip jar. And, it's free shipping, free return, just like your other favorite shoe sites.

Details:
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.

Boston Area Commencement Dates Spring 2012

This is an old post here is an updated page with the current information!

Boston Area Commencement Dates for Spring Impact Hotel Prices, Availability, Restaurant Reservations and More.

With or without a Boston area college graduation in your family, you'll likely need to coordinate your dining and travel plans around the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies. We're running this a bit early, because so many readers have been making their way to last year's post.

Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 11th and 12th, and scarce May 18th through 21st when 11 schools, including BU and BC, will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 24th and MIT June 8th– each of these schools is large enough to have an impact on its own. Harvard can also interfere with traffic as they move busloads of people from one place to another around event time.

 

To help you plan your dining options in May and early June, here are the dates of the major commencement ceremonies for your 2012 calendar.

 

If you know of a college or university graduation date that we missed, send us a comment.

 

• Northeastern University - May 4, 2012
• MGH Institute of Health Professions- May 10, 2012
  
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Commencement (B) - May 11, 2012
• Berklee College - May 12, 2012
• Emmanuel College - May 12, 2012
• Boston Conservatory - May 12, 2012
  
• Fisher College - May 12, 2012
• Emerson College - May 14, 2012
• Mass College of Art and Design- May 18, 2012 
• Simmons College - May 18, 2012
• Bentley University - May 19, 2012
• Lesley University - May 19, 2012
• Babson College - May 19, 2012
• Suffolk University - May 20, 2012
• Boston University - May 20, 2012
• Brandeis University- May 20, 2012
• New England Conservatory - May 20, 2012
• Tufts University - May 20, 2012
•  The New England College of Optometry - May 20, 2012
• Boston College - May 21, 2012
• Harvard University - May 24, 2012
• North Shore Community College - May 24, 2012
• New England Law Boston - May 25, 2012
• Northeastern University School of Law - May 25, 2012
• Boston College Law School - May 25, 2012
• Boston Architectural College - May 26, 2012
• University of Massachusetts Boston - June 1, 2012
• North Bennet Street School - June 1, 2012
  
•  Massachusetts Institute of Technology - June 8, 2012

 

 

 Thanks to everyone who supports us by beginning your Amazon shopping from here. It doesn't cost you anymore but when you click on an Amazon link like this one, they put a few coins in our tip cup.

The perfect gift for a graduate!

 

 

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: iStockphoto.com

Taza Chocolate For Great Gifting!

Isn't it fun to introduce friends and family to great local products like Taza Chocolate? What would Cyber Monday be without a sale? We had an email that Taza is on sale today. (20% off your entire order with details on their home page while the offer lasts.) Update: The sale is over but TAZA is still a great gift giving solution!

Our latest favorite flavor is the Ginger Chocolate Mexicano. But, we have to have some Salted Almond and Vanilla on hand. So, for a gift package, consider the Chocolate Mexicano Sampler. That way, if your giftee hasn't had the chance to taste Taza at an event, a farmers' market, on a factory tour, or at the retail shop in Somerville, they can still try a range of favorites.

There are more Cyber Monday Deals over on Amzon, and they last all week!

 

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 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.

Tips on Caring for a Sick Dog

Taking care of a sick dog is not easy. We know because Miss Maggie Mae has been giving her devoted nursing staff a workout recently.

In the photo above, she was suffering from an upset tummy at a rental apartment in Provincetown. Fortunately, we had her little kit bag with all of her medications and a supply of Puppy Piddle Pads with us. 

We were able to reduce the stress, for all three of us, by using a few strategies we've learned over the years.

1. Piddle pads can be used to prevent stains on furniture, floors, or carpets. We always use our own blankets and towels to protect rental home surfaces, but this time we added a layer of absorbent, disposable piddle pads. They made clean up quick and easy. And, by stacking them, we were able to quickly remove the soiled one and keep Maggie cleaner and more comfortable.
2. We also had a few washable moistureproof pads with us that we use on the seat of rental cars, Zipcars, and inside her dog crate. Whatever happens on the ride, from spilled water to wet feet, the car is protected. At home, they make good protection on sofas or our bed when Maggie isn't feeling well, and we want to keep her close.
3. Vomiting or diarrhea can cause dehydration. And, here's a link that shows you how to tell if your dog is dehydrated. Remember, dyhydration is always an emergency, but it's a situation that can be remedied quickly at an animal hospital. 
4. Keeping a pet hydrated when she doesn't want to drink is always an issue, but you can buy unflavored Pedialyte at almost any grocery or drug store. We used a baby's medicine doser to put liquids into Maggie's mouth. Once there, she'd swallow them.
5. Tempting a finicky appetite can be hard. In recovery mode, most vets recommend a bland diet. We used poached chicken and rice. When our little girl refused even that tasty treat, we managed to get her eating with some baby food that contained just chicken and chicken broth. 

Related Posts: Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Here are the specific products we use and a great reference book that we keep at home. It's actually by one of our Back Bay neighbors, veterinarian Jake Tedaldi, D.V.M.

OUT! Dog Training Pads with Moisture Lock, 50-Count is the best deal.

Washable Moistureproof Pads

What's Wrong with My Dog: A Pet Owner's Guide to 150 Symptoms and What to Do About Them

 

Details:
Words: Penny 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 People at Winter Farmers' Markets

Last Sunday, we saw lots of smiles at the SOWA Winter Farmers' Market. Vendors like Silverbrook Farm have moved inside at 485 Harrison Avenue through the end of April 2012.

To the North, the Somerville Winter Farmers' Market will be open today and each Saturday through May 26, 2012 at the Armory for the Arts at 191 Highland Avenue.

Related Posts:

Check out all our "Local Food/Farmers' Market" posts

Check out Penny's Market Scene reports over on Serious Eats

Thanks to everyone who shops Amazon from here. It helps keep BostonZest coming your way.

Details:
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.

Society of Arts & Crafts: Our Friday Link

Earlier this week, we stopped into the Society of Arts and Crafts at 175 Newbury Street. This is one of our favorite spots on Newbury Street. And, it's today's Friday Link.

(Share your favorite local businesses with other readers. And, if you can provide a link to the website or map to find your choice of a great place to shop for holiday gifts, please add it in the comment section below.)

They've been in business on the street for more than 100 years. And, the work of more than 250 artists and master craftspeople is sold through this shop. About half of these are from this region. 

You'll find an ever changing assortment of gifts for everyone at a wide range of prices. Here are just a few of the selections we found there this week.

At home, these wonderful felted scarfs curl themselves into roses. When you wear them, they become a sculptural frame for you. 

There's another way to shop local when you do decide to buy from a site like Amazon. That is to begin that shopping at a local business like BostonZest. When you click through to Amazon from here, they pay us a commission on everything you buy. That helps to support the people who produce the information you find here. 

The Craftsman and the Critic: Defining Usefulness and Beauty in Arts and Crafts-era Boston

The Arts and crafts movement

Contemporary American Folk Art: A Collector's Guide

Details:

Society of Arts & Crafts

 www.societyofcrafts.org

175 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116 (map)

(617) 266-1810

 

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photos: ©2011 Penny & Ed 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.

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