BostonZest

Boston Public Library Mobile App: Our Friday Link

Penny is a heavy user of the Boston Public Library (BPL). She downloaded the new BPL Mobile App the day it was announced and has been using it and raving about it ever since!

When we get ready to go for a walk, she can do a quick check to see if any of the books on our "borrowed shelf" are due. And, with a couple of touches, she can check "renew it" if eligible.

Anytime we are near the library, she can open the app and, in one touch, see if she has any "holds" that are ready for pick up.

When a friend recommends a book, she can do a search to see if the library has a copy and put it on hold or add it to her "personal bookshelf" to borrow at a future date.

It's a well-designed, efficient, and very useful app and a welcome addition to the Boston Public Library's outstanding array of digital services.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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At The Market: Cheese from Local Farms

Artisan cheese is another reason to visit farmers' markets. 

Cheesemakers like Smith's Farmstead Cheese, Narragansett Creamery, Crystal Brook Farm, Ruggles Hill Creamery, Fiore di Nonno, and Foxboro Cheese are among the cheese options you can find at Boston area farmers' markets. 

Crystal Brook Farm offers a delightful goat cheese picnic lunch. The day we took this photo each bag included a container of their goat cheese with olive oil and herbs de Provence, french bread, trail mix, a plate, napkin, knife, and a dollar-off coupon for the next purchase. 

In season right now!

This is the height of the harvest season. The stone fruit selection is glorious, the vegetables overflow their bins, and you enjoy each bite knowing this-or-that will soon be gone.

Get Some before it's gone! 

Berries, stone fruit, heirloom tomatoes, and local honey – we've begun stockpiling our favorite from Foppema's Farm for winter.

Coming Soon!

Mums for fall planting, herbs for window sills, pumpkins, winter squash, late season apples.

Follow all of our Local Food/Farmers' Market  and At The Market reports.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Extruded Pasta at Coppa: A Best Bite

Coppa tweeted about their extruded pasta this weekend and just thinking about the dish that we've enjoyed a couple of times over the past month made my mouth water. That would seem to qualify it for a best bite.

 

They said, "#rigatoni from our pasta extruder. Come in tonight to for handmade pasta that's as fresh as it gets! pic.twitter.com/8Yalf9uMKw."

We say: You can taste the pasta. The flavor of the pasta, its texture and shape are important elements of the dish. Ours was sauced with Brambly Farm pork ragu, sage, and pecorino. However, this kitchen has an ever-changing menu so you may be tempted by a different combination. Don't resist that temptation. 

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino, naked rigatone from Coppa's tweet.

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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Welcome to Boston! Register to Vote for Fall Elections 2013

Here are the dates and deadlines for the Fall 2013 elections. If you are new to Boston or will be registering to vote for the first time, you have until 8 pm on October 16, 2013 to register for the November 5, 2013 election. 

(The deadline for the Preliminary Boston Mayoral/Municipal Election on September 24th has already passed.)

 

Election November 5, 2013: Including the election of a Mayor and City Council Members in Boston from Boston Elections Department.

• October 16, 2013- 8:00 p.m. Last hour and day for registration of voters for Municipal Election.
• November 5, 2013- 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. -- ELECTION DAY.

Related Post: The Voter Registration Jury Duty Myth – If you're reluctant to register to vote because you think it will make you more likely to be called for jury duty, we've already researched that idea and learned that it is a myth. 

Related Post: Sick of Political and Polling Phone Calls? Change your outgoing message to ours!

Where to Register in Boston
The Boston Elections Department is located in room 241 at Boston City Hall and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except on city holidays.

Election Department contact information:
Room 241 Boston City Hall
Telephone: 617.635.3767
Email: [email protected]

You can download forms at: www.cityofboston.gov/elections and that link is information central for all matters about voting in Boston.

Details on Voter Registration

Complete information, including the identification documents you need and other ways to register to vote, can be found at the Elections Page at the Secretary of State's office.

Follow BostonZest on Twitter for any updates.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

 Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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Warrior Sunflowers

Once in a while, you find a sunflower with attitude. We spotted these "Warrior Sunflowers" in a South End Community Garden and couldn't resist sharing them.

Towering over the people who tend them, standing up to wind, and not ready to bow their heads, they face the city streets with courage. They look dangerous and have earned our respect. 

It's one more side of this sunny plant that we told you about in last week's "At the Market" report.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

 Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Sunday Dog, Boomerang – Doctor of Therapy!

I didn’t know that a dog could actually become a doctor, but after meeting Boomerang, I’m convinced that this little guy really knows his stuff!

At just six years old, he’s already an experienced, certified Therapy Dog with a very busy schedule. Dr. Boomerang sees psychiatric and heart patients at Tufts, holds individual therapy sessions at nearby schools, and stops to see residents of an assisted living facility – where he’s a BIG favorite.



It’s not surprising that a Miniature Schnauzer has found such success in this vital and demanding profession. The breed is often described as intelligent, alert, and friendly – all qualities you’d expect in a good doctor. Throw in spirited, obedient, and fearless, and they’re also traits that make for a loving companion.



Whenever Boomerang is not making rounds, this energetic terrier loves to wind down by going for a walk. And, there’s nothing better after a long stroll than a treat, or two!



We love your technique, Boomerang! That has to be worth extra.



Thanks for the smiles, Boomerang, they’re just what the doctor ordered. You really are a great Therapy Dog!

More photos of Boomerang and many of our other Sunday Dogs are available for purchase as prints or on merchandise over in our photo galleries on Smugmug.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

 Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Everyone Will Be Buzzing about Edible Boston's Fall 2013 Issue

Buzzing because the Fall 2013 issue of Edible Boston shines its spotlight on bees and beekeepers.

Features this time introduce you to: people who curate and sell honey, beekeepers, recipes that celebrate honey, urban beekeeping, restaurant beekeeping, why bees are important to us, and even "From Bees to Beer."

And, of course, there are a few more topics covered and enough resource lists to make this copy a keeper.

And, as always, the writing is from uber talented people like Brian Samuels and Leigh Belanger. The photography of Creative Director Michael Piazza is a visual class for anyone who loves to photograph people and food. Even the letter from publisher Ilene Bezahler is something I look forward to reading.  

This month, she asks an imporant question, "Might the valuable lessons we've learned from the Local Food Movement be translated into more of our daily interactions?"

Yes, Ilene, perhaps they can – as long as we have people like you pose these questions.

How do you support the remarkably talented team at Edible Boston?

May I suggest that you:

• Let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine.
• Grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. (Here's where you'll find copies of Edible Boston)
• If you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about Edible Boston and link to them.
• Follow them on twitter, retweet their tweets.
• Like them on Facebook.
• Spread the word about this great asset to our community.
• And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can become an Edible Boston Member over on their website!

You can also buy the Edible cookbook – Edible: A Celebration of Local Foods or find more local food in The Boston Homegrown Cookbook.

  

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Artwork: Courtesy of Edible Boston

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 add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.