Next Sunday (August 7) the city plans to shut down Newbury Street to traffic for one day only, offering a pedestrian-friendly street free of traffic from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The idea is being borrowed from other pedestrian-friendly cities like Paris where the Champs-Élysées is now closed one day per month to cars.
The city is promoting the event using the hashtag #OpenNewbury on Twitter.
Source: welovebeantown.com
Back in 2013, in honor of the death of DOMA, three small heart shaped locks were shackled to the ugly chain link fence over the Massachusetts Turnpike on Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay.
Since the summer of 2013, many more locks have been added and now the chain link fence is covered by several hundred padlocks; each presumably to symbolize and commemorate relationships here in Boston. Some of the locks have names, dates, or quotes written on them, which you can read if you look closely. 
Are you a chocolate lover or do you know someone who is? The Back Bay Chocolate Walking Tour may be the perfect gift to give or daytime date if you want to mix things up a bit from the typical dinner and a movie.
The Back Bay Chocolate Tour is a 2.5 hour walk that encourages you indulge in some of the tastiest treats available in the Back Bay, while your guide provides tips on tasting, buying and storing high-quality chocolate.
The Back Bay Chocolate Tour takes place each Saturday morning starting at 10:15 and currently GoldStar.com is offering 50% off through the end of January. You can learn more about The Back Bay Chocolate Tour here and you can get those 50% off tickets from GoldStar.com here. And you can read what Yelpers have to say about the tour here.
Source: SKIDMORE OWINGS MERRILL & CBT
Little more than a week after The Boston Globe told us that the Hancock Tower would now be called 200 Clarendon, the same newspaper reports that Manulife Financial Corp which owns John Hancock intends to add a third high-rise to the Back Bay skyline. The proposed building would replace an existing 9-story building at 380 Stuart Street with a new 26-story building with a distinctive curved glass facade. For more details read the Boston Globe article here.
Photo courtesy of SELECT Oyster Bar
I don’t typically write about restaurants I’ve yet to visit but my interest is definitely piqued with the recent opening of SELECT Oyster Bar in the Back Bay. I couldn’t be happier to learn that Chef Michael Serpa is using this tiny new space in a Victorian Brownstone on Gloucester Street in the Back Bay to feature local seafood. This all may sound quite similar to one of Boston’s perennial favorite seafood restaurants located in the North End, Neptune Oyster, but that would make sense since Serpa was previously the Executive Chef at Neptune Oyster.
The new restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Sunday with lunch service starting soon. If you’ve been to SELECT already do tell by leaving a comment along with some of your first impressions.
For more information visit their website selectoyster.com.
Average condo sales prices per square foot
Select image to enlarge
Last week Curbed Boston posted this image from the Collaborative Companies which shows the average condo sales prices per square foot in a number of Boston neighborhoods and surrounding towns.
Laura Ahmes-Gollinger from the Collaborative Companies explains in the post how this is impacting younger would-be buyers and renters,”The effect of this migration causes a gentrification of these neighborhoods as these new buyers (and renters) demand the residential infrastructure necessary to support their live/work/play convenient urban lifestyles. Somerville is a great example of this with the huge foodie scene, extension of the green line in planning, and the major plans for development and residential housing that we will see in the coming years. In contrast, foreign buyers and empty-nesters will continue to live in the heart of the city and are willing to pay high prices for these amenity-rich, full-service, maintenance-free lifestyles.”
The map makes Southie still look like a deal – that is if you can still find any since inventory is snapped up in hours. You can read the full article here.
Posted in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Boston, Cambridge, South End
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy
More restaurant gossip continues to be passed my way but unlike most whispers this is about two well known places outside of the South End. My contacts and connections outside the South End aren’t as strong but the source has proven to be quite reliable in the past so I thought I would pass it along to all you foodies.
Rumors are circling that Via Matta & TICO may close.
One of Boston’s favorite chefs is Michael Schlow. He may be best known for his former restaurant, Radius, which closed last year, but I’ve recently been told two of his restaurants in the Back Bay, Via Matta and TICO, may soon meet a similar fate. I don’t know Michael nor do I have any connections to verify these rumors. However, if true these establishments would be Michael’s second and third restaurant closings in 2014; following the closure of Barrio Cantina earlier this year in the Fenway.
Last week The Boston Globe reported that The Four Seasons will manage a second hotel and residential building that will be built on the Christian Science Plaza campus.
The project will be the city’s tallest residential building at 699 feet tall and will include 180 luxury condos on the top 40 floors and a 200+ room hotel on the first 20 floors.
More details about the plans that also include restaurant space, lounges / bars and a health club are to follow. More here.
Supah model / Tom Brady’s main squeeze, Gisele Bundchen, just posted this photograph of her stepping out from her Back Bay home to play in the snow along Boston’s Commonwealth Avenue Mall on her Instagram account. Even in a blizzard this woman is beautiful.
Posted in Back Bay, Pop Culture
Tagged Back Bay, BosGuy, Boston Guy, Photography, Pop Culture
Last week I mentioned that Back Bay Harry’s would open later this week in this post. Starting Friday at 5pm you can check out this place first hand but tonight I stopped in at the restaurant as Back Bay Harry’s welcomed a lot of industry types and media to check out this new restaurant on the corner of the Back Bay and South End. Below are some photos from tonight’s celebration. Let me know if you end up visiting Back Bay Harry’s and tell me what you think about the new space and Chef Santos’ food.
Chef Jason Santos was in good spirits while he directed the capable crew who were busy feeding a lot of hungry guests who had come out to see the new restaurant on the eve of its opening.
The friendly crowd was in good spirits and seemed to enjoy the opening party, while they drank from Back Bay Harry’s spacious bar. The photo below gives you an idea of what to expect from the newly designed dining room which has lots of booths that look very comfortable.
Back Bay Harry’s 142 Berkeley Street – Boston, MA
Tables and chairs are in place at the newly remodeled restaurant, Back Bay Harry’s, located on the Back Bay / South End line, and rumors suggest an opening later next week. For those unfamiliar with the new restaurant opening in the space formerly home to Geoffrey’s, Back Bay Harry’s is a hip, casual restaurant and bar. Harry Collings (Back Bay Harry) has teamed up with local celebrity chef, Jason Santos, the man behind Gargoyles (closed in 2011), Abby Lane and Blue Inc. Together they have worked hard to keep their menu affordable with main plates ranging $18-$22 and offering less expensive options with salads, sandwiches and pizzas; perfect bar fare.
The newly redesigned bar which was moved to the opposite side of the restaurant and runs along Stanhope Street seats approximately 60 both at the bar and in surrounding high tops; all with great views of televisions if you want to watch a game. Look for fun weekend bar food specials, featuring some of Santos’ favorite items as well as a vibrant cocktail menu to sate your thirst while you nibble on snacks and appetizers, that range from $4-$12. 
You can like Back Bay Harry’s page on Facebook or check back at their website backbayharrys.com to see when they finally open, but as I mentioned previously look for an opening later next week. Back Bay Harry’s is located at 142 Berkeley Street on the South End / Back Bay line.
Earlier this summer I sat down and talked to Harry Collings (owner of the soon to open Back Bay Harry’s). At the time he had hoped they would be able to open by the end of September. Unfortunately the restaurant / bar has yet to open but the work inside is coming together and it appears if this location will be opening very soon. Last week the final remnants of Geoffrey’s Cafe came down and a new awning and sign was installed to the exterior.
Stay tuned for more to come shortly.
Depicted above is a beautiful photograph of the Christian Science Plaza in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston. Photo credit goes to Stamatis Ky who took this picture earlier this week.
While Boston’s unfriendly reputation is sometimes deserved there are a number of groups that have made a concerted effort to help people connect – like Opus Affair. This group defines themselves as a “community of artists and friends” who meet monthly for cocktails around Boston and each month Opus Affair attracts a large, friendly group worth checking out.
Some come for networking, others come for fun, but each monthly gathering is informal and very social. No plans tonight? Check out Opus Affair’s monthly get together. This month they will be at Forum in the Back Bay on Boylston Street.
Opus Affair at Forum Boston at 755 Boylston Street @ 6PM
More details about tonight’s get together is available here.
Mark Thursday night in your calendar and come down to the Back Bay to partake in Back Bay Night Out.
BBNO – Thursday, Sept 12
With the vacuum created by the now defunct, Fashion Night Out, Back Bay On Display will host Back Bay Night Out. In addition to some great shopping opportunities, The Shops of the Prudential will host the movie, The Great Gatsby, in the South Garden.
More information is available on the Back Bay on Display Facebook page.
Back Bay On Display is a series of fall and winter events designed to draw visitors, shoppers and diners to Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.
BosGuy 