Category Archives: Boston

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This map published by Ungentry shows that back in 1990 rentals in Boston were fairly reasonable in most of the city.  Ten years later you can see rents inching upward in Back Bay, Beacon Hill and the North End, but the rest of Boston’s downtown neighborhoods seem to remain fairly reasonable.  However, by 2010 you can see the extent of gentrification in Boston and how it had moved beyond the city’s historically pricey neighborhoods to places like the South End, Fort Point Channel, Southie and even Eastie.

You can read more about the findings, how this compares to average incomes by neighborhood in this recent article by BostInno.

Earlier this month RISE – Boston’s only after hours dance club – announced they would close at the end of April.  While I’ve not been in a long time, I’m sorry to see Boston’s only after hours club close.

When RISE initially opened in 1998, I remember going there and having fun.  It proved to be a great alternative to Chinatown for “cold tea”. I hope another club will open for Boston’s 20-somethings, but with Boston’s anemic nightlife and the threat of late night MBTA service ending, it seems unlikely.  Should you like to venture to RISE for one last hurrah, check out their Facebook page for details. They have lined up a series of “Final Parties”.

RISE Facebook Page

With news that the Park Plaza Hotel will close and is planning a massive remodeling of more than 1,000 rooms, Curbed Boston last week wrote about 16 different hotel projects, which would add 3,745 more hotel rooms to Boston.

Some of these hotels will be located in the Seaport, Financial District and Back Bay, but many appear to be in communities that are underserved and would benefit tremendously.  Some of these include:

– 175 room boutique hotel in Allston’s mega project, Boston Landing.
– 156 room hotel by the Broadway MBTA station in Southie.
– 200 room hotel by AC Hotel by Marriott by the South End’s Ink Block.

You can read the full article to see where all sixteen properties have been proposed in Curbed Boston here.

Boston Design Week kicks off later this week, running through Sunday, March 29th.  Boston’s second annual Design Week includes more than 80 events (most free to attend).   Are you contemplating a remodel or looking for fresh ideas and have an appreciation for good design? You may want to check out Boston Design Week – March 19 – 29, 2015.

Here are a few programs that have caught my eye, but to see the full list of events visit the Boston Design Week calendar.

Refresh: Design Intervention
Sunday, March 22nd 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Is there something “off” about your living room but you can’t figure out what? Join interior designer Steven Favreau at The Ink Block in Boston’s South End ​for an afternoon of apartment therapy and Ink-Tini’s.  The event is free but space is limited so you need to RSVP.  More details about the program and to RSVP are available here.

Modern Interiors for Men
Tuesday, March 24th 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Listen to top interior designers for a panel discussion on how to design for men, moderated by HGTV’s Taniya Nayak. New York based designers Antonino Buzzetta and Eddie Lee will join Boston designers Dennis Duffy and Christine Tuttle. Enjoy canapes and an open bar as you network with design professionals. More details about the program and to purchase tickets link here.

AD 20/21 Gala Preview 
Thursday, March 26th 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The design print fair remains open through Sunday, March 29th

The AD20/21 Gala Preview helps to support and celebrate Boston Design Week. The gala affords you the opportunity to enjoy delicious food, wine and music, and to be among the first to see this year’s show. Attendees receive a complimentary catalog and re-admission throughout the weekend.  More details about the program and to purchase tickets link here.

Boston Pride announced today that they will be marching in the 114th annual South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the first time this Sunday, March 15th.

In 1995, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the organizers of the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade had a constitutional right to exclude LGBT organizations and individuals from participating in the annual parade.  That decision led many to boycott the tradition and in recent years prominent sponsors like Samuel Adams ended their relationship with parade organizers.

Twenty years later, Boston Pride and the LGBT community will be marching proudly in the parade, alongside OUTVETS, a group that formed last year and represents openly gay veterans.  My only regret is that our late, former Mayor Menino who was behind that initial challenge in 1995 did not live to see this and participate in the parade.

You can read more about this here.

Have you heard the rumor mill grinding away, regarding news that Mario Batali who is about to open his new Boston restaurant, Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca, is now looking for the perfect location for his chain, Eataly?  Should Batali secure a location in Boston this would be the third Eataly in the US for the gigantic Pan-Italian retailer.

Eataly Boston is Very Close to Becoming a Reality via EaterBoston

Eataly may be coming to Boston via The Boston Globe

While I only know what I have read in the local papers that first published these rumors earlier this week, I wanted to point out my 2015 Restaurant Predictions, which Eater Boston published on my behalf, here.