BostonZest

Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL

One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
 

• Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
• KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
• Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
• Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
• The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
• Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
• 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
• Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds  of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.

The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts.  The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:

• Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
• Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
• Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
• Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
• Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
• Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
• Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
• Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
• Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
• Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
• Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
• Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
• The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
• Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
• Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
• The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
• American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 12:30 p.m.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino  

Tenoch Mexican Restaurants & Food Truck

Tenoch Mexican is adding a bit of south of the border flair to the food options in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with their new 3 Lewis Street, Boston location. (map)

The menu lets you build your own meal with options for platos, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas all with your choice of fillings including a vegetable option. Plus more wonderful choices from enchiladas to tamale. A sample menu is here. But, there was much more on offer at the North End location.

For lunch, we decided on a plato of carnitas, salsas, beans, and rice along with ...

three tacos filled with lamb in barbacoa sauce. (Ours were sans cilantro. You can have them add as much as you like.)

With Christopher Columbus Park so close, we opted for a bit of waterfront dining on a gorgeous spring day. You might choose a table on the Greenway or a seat along the Boston HarborWalk.

There's a Tenoch Food Truck, Too!

Photo by Matt Conti from the most wonderful hyperlocal resource NorthEndWaterfront.com

Tenoch Móvil is on the road around Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington as of this date. You can get updates on the current schedule on twitter @TenochMexican.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, and Matt Conti for the Tenoch Móvil with permission of NorthEndWaterfron.com.

At the Market Report: What's for Sale at Early Spring Farmers' Markets

Thanks to winter markets, wholesale customers, farm stands, and CSA's, we are seeing more ready to eat produce at early spring farmers' market. Here are some of what we saw at the Copley Farmers' Market during the past two weeks. 

Organic asparagus and scallions from Siena Farms.

Rhubarb (above) and potatoes (below) from Foppema's Farm.

 

And, there were some new vendors this year. 

 

RI Mushroom Company had gorgeous, golden oyster and shiitake mushrooms. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

River Rock Beef was on hand with their Grass Fed beef cuts. We bought a hanger steak.

 

And, of course, the specialty food folks were on hand with their wonderful products. From Crystal Brook Farm's goat cheese ...

... to Fastachi's selection of artisan roasted nuts and nut products. We're addicted to their roasted almonds.

Here's what we bought on opening day at Copley this year. On Friday, we arrived too late for tomatoes and cucumbers from Atlas Farm. They were sold out before we arrived. With early spring markets, it's good to arrive at opening if you're hoping for scare crops like those.

Starters, Annuals, and Herb Plants, too!

Mint plants from Foppema's.

Many sage varieties from the Herb Lyceum at Gilson's.

Boston Public Market on the Greenway (North End)

We stopped by opening day of the new location for the former City Hall Farmers' Market. It is now called the The Boston Public Market on the Greenway and is located a few steps from the MBTA Haymarket Station in front of the building that will become The Boston Public Market. (Map)

 

We may have missed out on tomatoes at Friday's Copley Square Market, but Freitas Farm had both medium salad tomatoes and the lovely baskets of cherry tomatoes shown above.

Updates from Other Food Lovers:

Here's a great photo report on the opening of the Union Square Market in Somerville from that great resource Somerville Beat.

Here's a Boston Chowhound Conversation on Late May Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, and CSAs

Our Related Posts:

Summer Farmers' Markets Opening Dates 2014

Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers' Market posts.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

Memorial Day: Make a Summer Bucket List!

This holiday marks the unofficial start of summer and heralds the best month of the year* in Boston. It's the perfect day to make a Summer 2014 Bucket List of places you want to go and things you want to do in the warmer months.

It could be something as simple as slowing down as you walk around the city to enjoy beautiful gardens and floral displays like this one.

 Perhaps you want to take an art class or just get out and draw or paint.

Or, you might want to make reservations to visit your favorite places.

Make your list, check it twice, and get out and enjoy summer in Boston.

* By the way, for us, the best month of the year in Boston is June. Most of the students are gone, there are few conventions or events, and the tourists have not yet arrived in droves. It's a great time to stay in the city and enjoy it as if you were a vistor. That's the top item on our Summer Bucket List and we plan to check it off with a big smile.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

Scotties Posing Pretty in Provincetown

An old friend once said that getting more than one dog to pose for the camera is like trying to keep Jell-O® on a shelf. True, for the most part, unless you run into this pair of Scottish Terriers who pose on request.

At first it seems like a normal two dog situation. One would look at me, the other was more interested in his paw.

But then their people said a magic word and they sat, side by side, and locked eyes on me and my camera.

They even do a perfect terrier tippy head for a different magic word.

I have to admit, the side view was caught by accident when another dog came near. They looked, but they did not move. Good dogs!

Do you have magic words to grab your dogs attention?

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

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Words:  Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

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The MFA Memorial Day Open House - Free Admission May 26, 2014

This is the weekend to kick off summer in Boston and the Museum of Fine Arts invites you to include a free visit with plenty of color and entertaiment to the festivities.

 Here are a few of the details the MFA provided:

"The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), celebrates Memorial Day with free admission for all on Monday, May 26, 2014. From 10 am to 4:45 pm, visitors are invited to celebrate a “Season of Color in the Americas” with a fun-filled day of vibrant music and colorful activities. In honor of the holiday, a 55-piece US Coast Guard Band will perform a selection of patriotic songs and American Standards at the Museum’s historic Huntington Avenue entrance on Bank of America Plaza. Later, performance art by Venezuelan artists Nascimento/Lovera brings together local hip-hop artists and a Brazilian drum troupe with the Coast Guard ensemble. Inside, families can feel the rhythm of Latin American culture through Cha-Cha dance workshops and dance along (or learn how to dance) to Latin American beats with Edwin Pabon y Su Orquesta and Riobamba of Pajaritos. For visitors who love classic American show tunes..." Read more here.

 Hope you have a wonderful weekend and perhaps take advantage of a free visit to the MFA.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screenshot courtesy of the Musuem of Fine Arts 

Clarendon Street Food Truck Move

The food truck parking spot that was located on Clarendon Street (between Newbury and Boylston) has shifted across Boylston Street next to Trinity Church.

This is probably a good move since it's closer to Copley Square's benches, lawns, and fountain for dining spots. We highly recommend this general area for visitors who would like to try a few trucks. There are three parking spaces surrounding Copley Square with up to five trucks at busy times.

Here is the city's food truck link.

In addition to this spot, you'll also find as many as three trucks right behind the Copley Fairmont Hotel on Trinity Place and one truck on the Boylston Street side of the Boston Public Library near the MBTA station.

We highly recommend a visit to Steve Leibowitz's Hub Food Truck site for the most complete and up-to-date coverage of the area food truck scene. 

Here's a link to our Food Truck/Street Food coverage.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino