BostonZest

What's Open in Boston on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day 2017, Plus Parking, Trash, & More

Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston on Christmas, December 25, 2017, plus information on: trash collection, parking, MBTA schedule changes, and whatever else we were able to gather to answer your Chrismas week questions.

Remember, many businesses close early on Christmas Eve. Call before you leave, if you plan to visit a business on the 24th.

Welcome to all of you who have found BostonZest.com while searching for this information. We hope you'll look around at the other resources we provide, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and come back often.

Restaurants, bars: Some will be open. Check for special hours and menus and take a look at our piece on Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2017 Around Boston. 

Convenience stores: Some will be open. Check for special hours.

Supermarkets: Closed due to "Massachusetts "Blue Laws" on Christmas Day, December 25th.

Retail stores: Closed due to "Massachusetts "Blue Laws" on Christmas Day, December 25th.

Liquor stores: Closed due to "Massachusetts "Blue Laws" on Christmas Day, December 25th.

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service. Only emergency services are available.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. When we have official hours for the Tow Lot over the holiday, we'll update this section. Call before going on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

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.

Trash Collection & Recycling

Boston Trash Collection for Christmas: The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now must go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

The MBTA no longer publishes schedule information before each holiday

For information, call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or visit the MBTA website."

For information on MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call MBTA Customer Support at (617) 222-3200 or 1-800-392-6100 (TTY 617-222-5146)," or visit the MBTA website.

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 Cherubino  

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We have traveled with dogs for years and know a few things about that topic that we have passed along to you in past posts. But here's a link to a guide by someone who knows way more about dogs on the road than we do. Amy Burkert lives on the road with her husband and two large dogs.

She also writes about it on her Go Pet Friendly site. So click over and pick up some hard earned knowledge before you set off on that road trip to Grandma's house for the holidays.

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

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

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Sunday Dog Assignment: Make Holiday Reservations Now!

Columbus Day weekend is the perfect time to make travel reservations, if you have companion animals. 

Whether your furry pals are traveling with you or staying with friends for the holidays, make whatever reservations you will need as soon as possible.

Pet sitter and boarding kennel schedules can fill up fast for the holiday season. Airlines limit the number of pets in the cabin and pet-friendly lodgings might have no vacancies, if you wait too long.

Poppy usually travels with us and is packed and ready to go at a moments notice when we find a vacancy at one of our favorite vacation spots that welcome our whole family of three. 

Friends & Family Deserve Notice Too

Even informal agreements with family, friends, and other pet lovers for care while you travel should be arranged well in advance to ensure a visitor will fit with their holiday plans. If you’re counting on Mom or Dad to take Fluffy while you are away, check now to see if that feline visitor is welcome this year.

We often meet dogs in the parks who are “grandpups” visiting their “grandparents.” If you have a family member or friend who shares your pet care values and is willing to take your place while you travel, you’re fortunate.

We've covered this topic many times before, both here and in other publications. Here are a couple of BostonZest posts with tips and more advice on boarding or traveling with your dog. 

Is Your Sunday Dog Traveling for the Holidays? Reserve Now! Plus 8 more Tips

This "Sunday Dog" Loves to Travel

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

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino and traveling dog from istockphoto.

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Boston Area Commencement Dates for Spring 2020 Impact Hotel Prices, Availability, Restaurant Reservations and More

Due to the pandemic we have not updated this post. We hope we will be able to do that for the class of 2022!

With or without a spring 2020 Boston area college graduation in your family, you'll likely need to coordinate your dining and travel plans around the commencement ceremonies. We have set up this page as a permanent resource and update it as we find new information.

Our list also helps visitors to Boston understand why hotel rooms are so expensive and restaurant reservations so scarce on some dates in May. The local destination experts on travel websites are busy answering questions about the cost of visits to our city.  

Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 9th, 10th and 11th with Mother's Day and 5 commencements, and scarce May 15th through 18th when 17 schools – including Boston University, Tufts University, and Boston College – will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 28th and MIT May 29th – 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 2020 calendar. 

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

April 25, 2020

• Wentworth Institute of Technology - April 25, 2020

May 1, 2020 - May 3, 2020

• Northeastern University - May 1, 2020
• Eastern Nazarene College - May 2, 2020

May 8, 2020 - May 11, 2020

• Berklee College - May 9, 2020
• Boston Conservatory - May 9, 2020
  
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy - May 9, 2020
• Emerson College - May 10, 2020
• Mother's Day - May 10, 2020
• MGH Institute of Health Professions - May 11, 2020

May 15, 2020 - May 18, 2020

• New England Law Boston - May 15, 2020
• Simmons University - May 15, 2020
• Suffolk University - May 15-17, 2020 Commencement Weekend
• Babson College - May 16, 2020
  
• Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology - May 16, 2020
• Bentley University - May 16, 2020
  
• Emmanuel College - May 16, 2020
• Fisher College - May 16, 2020
• Hellenic College Holy Cross - May 16, 2020
• Lasell College - May 16, 2020
• Lesley University - May 16, 2020
• Boston University - May 17, 2020
• Brandeis University - May 17, 2020
• The New England College of Optometry - May 17, 2020
• New England Conservatory - May 17, 2020
• Tufts University - May 17, 2020
• Boston College - May 18, 2020

May 21, 2020 - May 24, 2020

• Bunker Hill Community College - May 21, 2020
• Northeastern University School of Law - May 21, 2020
• Boston Architectural College - May 22, 2020
  
• Boston College Law School - May 22, 2020
  
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design - May 22, 2020

May 28, 2020 - May 31, 2020

• Harvard University - May 28, 2020
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - May 29, 2020
• North Bennet Street School - May 29, 2020
• University of Massachusetts Boston - May 29, 2020

June 12, 2020 - June 14, 2020

• Cambridge College - June 14, 2020 

 

Thanks to everyone who supports us by beginning their Amazon shopping from here. It doesn't cost you any more, 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 is an Amazon Gift Card 

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: iStockphoto.com

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What's Open on Labor Day in Boston, Plus Parking, Trash & MBTA Information

Here's a rundown of what's open and what's closed in Boston on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2017. We'll also keep up with parking information, trash schedules, and changes to MBTA schedules. This is now a permanent page that we'll update from year-to-year.

 All information is updated as of 08/30/17

Rather than an end to summer, we call Labor Day the beginning of the golden days of summer that last well beyond the Autumnal Equinox (September 22nd is this year's date.)

We feature these reminders well before a holiday (especially big ones like this) to give you a nudge to finalize your holiday plans. Follow along on Twitter (@bostonzest) or bookmark this page to check back. We'll update as information comes to us.

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Liquor stores: Open

Retail stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners wish to 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: In general, 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. And, check with your bank, they might have some offices open.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply. (Be sure to check these parking restrictions for the big college move-in areas on the city's site.)

Yes, it's the big Move-In Weekend!

Traffic Advisory for College Move-Ins 2017

The city press release advises, "The student move-in process at Boston’s colleges and universities will significantly impact local streets and parking."

"Students and their families are asked to plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition. Drivers are asked to allow for extra time and to pay extra attention to all posted signs."

Street Sweeping: The City says, "On City holidays, we suspend street sweeping during the day, but we still sweep streets at night."

Boston Trash Collection:

The city has changed the way it publishes the schedule for holidays so that you now have to go to the city site and look up your specific address in order to get information. 

MBTA 2017 Labor Day Schedule Changes

MBTA Service Schedule for Labor Day 2016 can be found at this link through the holiday.  The headline on the MBTA site was concise. 

Download MBTA Labor Day Schedule

MBTA 2017 Labor Day Service Quick Look:

Subway, Commuter Rail, Buses, and The Ride will operate on a Sunday schedule.

The Hingham and Hull boats will operate on a Sunday schedule.

The Charlestown boat will operate on a Weekend schedule.

For additional, specific information on routes, schedules, and fares, please contact the MBTA at (617) 222-3200, TTY 617-222-5146, or visit www.mbta.com.

If information like this from BostonZest is helpful to you, support us by beginning all your Amazon shopping from one of the Amazon ads on our site or by Clicking here to go to the Amazon home page.  

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: © 2015 Penny &  Ed Cherubino  

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Boston Area Commencement Dates, Spring 2016

With or without a Spring 2016 Boston area college graduation in your family, you'll likely need to coordinate your dining and travel plans around the commencement ceremonies. We're running this very early because so many readers have been making their way to last year's post. 

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.

Our list also helps visitors to Boston understand why hotel rooms are so expensive and restaurant reservations so scarce on some dates in May. The local destination experts who guide Boston visitors over on Trip Advisor are busy answering questions about the cost of visits to our city.  

Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 6th through 9th with Mother's Day and 6 commencements, and scarce May 19th through 23rd when 14 schools, including Tufts University and Boston College, will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 26th and MIT June 3rd – 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 2016 calendar. 

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

• Wentworth Institute of Technology- April 23, 2016
• Northeastern University - May 6, 2016
• Berklee College - May 7, 2016
• Eastern Nazarene College - May 7, 2016
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy - May 7, 2016
  
• Emerson College - May 8, 2016
• MGH Institute of Health Professions - May 9, 2016
• Babson College - May 14, 2016
• Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology - May 14, 2016
• The Boston Conservatory - May 14, 2016
• Emmanuel College - May 14, 2016
• Fisher College - May 14, 2016
• Boston University - May 15, 2016
• Lasell College- May 15, 2016
• The New England College of Optometry - May 15, 2016
• Mass College of Art and Design - May 19, 2016
• Boston Architectural College - May 20, 2016
• New England Law Boston - May 20, 2016
• Simmons College - May 20, 2016
• Wheelock College - May 20, 2016
• Bentley University - May 21, 2016
• Bunker Hill Community College - May 21, 2016
• Hellenic College Holy Cross - May 21, 2016
• Lesley University - May 21, 2016
• Brandeis University - May 22, 2016
• New England Conservatory - May 22, 2016
• Suffolk University - May 22, 2016
• Tufts University - May 22, 2016
• Boston College - May 23, 2016
• Harvard University - May 26, 2016
• Boston College Law School - May 27, 2016
• Northeastern University School of Law - May 27, 2016
• University of Massachusetts Boston - May 27, 2016
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology - June 3, 2016
• North Bennet Street School - June 3, 2016
• Cambridge College- June 5, 2016
• Wentworth Institute of Technology- August 21, 2016

Thanks to everyone who supports us by beginning their 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 is an Amazon Gift Card 

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: iStockphoto.com

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What's on Your Spring Dog Adventure List?

In my mind, I've been thinking about the places I've missed and want to visit once the snow clears and the temperatures become more inviting for long outside adventures. 

I was looking through past Sunday Dog posts for ideas when I came across these photos of our pal Greer from last March. She loves a good roll in the snow.

These were taken just after she and Poppy joined four of us for a lunch on the Common. While there was snow on the ground, it was warm enough for dining outside. I look forward to meeting up with some of our regular dog walking pals and having a bench picnic or taking a table at a place that accommodates dogs near their patio.

Beach Walks are also high on our family list. Poppy, as a puppy, had a dangerous habit of eating sand. We hope that as her third birthday approaches, she will prance down the beach, head up, and tail wagging. The delivery trucks and noisy construction crews that are her fear trigger seldom appear on the sand.

So what's on your list. We'd love to feature some of your favorite dog destinations in upcoming Sunday Dog pieces. 

Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email and we'll expand the list.

Spring Conditioning

As you meet friends and extend your dog walks as the weather improves, remember that both you and your dog may need to ease into the extra exercise. If your walks have been short over the winter, don’t take on a five mile stroll around the city without watching to see if your team is up to the distance.

Paws that were covered in boots for months may be tender, so check them both on the road and after walks. Sudden heat may be too much for puppies or senior dogs. Make sure you give any dog showing signs of fatigue a break. And, put a bottle of water near your leash since the season for carrying water for our dogs will soon be upon us.

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

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 20113-2014 Penny Cherubino

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