Source: Dear World
Although I will not be home for the 118th Boston Marathon, like many people my thoughts will be with everyone attending, volunteering and especially running in tomorrow’s marathon.
I’ve always been proud of my home city but never more so than in the days that followed last year’s marathon. #BostonStrong
Its marathon weekend in Boston and because of last year’s bombings it seems like the rest of the world will turn their eyes to Boston come Monday. It feels strange not to be in the city this weekend which I would imagine is quickly filling to capacity. Typically the Boston Marathon draws more than half a million spectators and more than 25,000 runners, but this year is anything but typical. This year the Boston Marathon has an estimated 36,000 runners, and I would assume even more spectators.
If you are in town this weekend be certain to check out the Boston Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Auditorium (Friday 12-7 pm; Saturday 9am – 7pm; and Sunday 9am – 6pm. Nearly every athletic, fitness and nutrition firm you can imagine sets up booths to educate and sell their products. Vendors have special sales for the expo and there are usually some pretty cool freebies.
Earlier today Boston Pride announced the five musical acts will headline the Boston Pride Festival on Saturday, June 14th from noon to 6pm at Boston’s City Hall Plaza. This year’s entertainment includes: Mary Lambert, A Great Big World, Alex Newell, JD Samson & Men , and Jeanie Tracy.
4/15/2014 Update: I was contacted by an employee of The Trophy Room who confirmed the Saturday Block Party will indeed take place as in past years outside the Chandler Inn.
With Fritz no longer at the corner of Chandler and Berkeley, I’m wondering if the unofficial block party that typically follows the parade on Saturday will still take place there. Last year AIDS Action Committee (the beneficiary of the Saturday block party) merged with Fenway Health so I’m unsure of the status of that event. Anyone happen to know?
Just a few blocks from the South End in Roxbury (near the Ruggles T station) is Feldco Development’s, Tremont Crossing. The large mixed use development spans 8 acres near the Melnea Cass Blvd / Tremont Street intersection.
The project includes nearly 1 million square feet (SF); 438,275 SF of retail, 300 residential units, 200 hotel rooms, 233,784 SF of office space, 37,520 SF of museum space and 1,502 parking spaces. I’m not sure when construction begins but this is a massive project. The space has yet to secure a hotel but last week BJ’s Wholesale announced that they would lease 90,000 SF at Tremont Crossing. If the lease is signed BJs new store (and I believe the first in the city) would open in the spring of 2017. I’m curious to see who else might come to this development as it could make for a viable alternative to the overly congested South Bay shopping center.
More about Tremont Crossing here.
This decision tree from Jaquelyn Leahy was posted on curbed boston earlier this week and I thought it was brilliant. Much better than Boston.com’s neighborhood survey that I posted yesterday. Moreover, this is fairly spot on – unfortunately it only includes the Boston’s downtown neighborhoods.
Here’s an awesome map of late-night T ridership this past weekend, including which stations handled thousands of riders. If you are going out tonight or later this weekend don’t forget that the MBTA is now open until 3:00 AM so go out and have fun.
The Boston Globe has an excellent article about development in Boston, in their article, How Tall Will a New BRA Go?. In the article Paul McMorrow writes, “Boston likes to call itself a world-class city, but it often approaches new buildings with a small-town Puritan attitude. Residents hunt down bold architecture and tall buildings for sport. And developers in Boston have learned that the best way to get a new building through City Hall is not by selling ambition, but by blending in and giving in to loud, critical voices.”
The Boston Globe article goes on to ridicule the BRA and the permitting process that it describes as a ‘reflexive opposition to height’. Let’s see what the new mayor of Boston does with the BRA. Thus far, Mayor Walsh has raised eyebrows with his comments about extending hours at bars and keeping the MBTA running until 3:00 AM. I’d be open to having him raise height limits; especially for projects looking to span the Mass Pike.
Posted in Boston
Last week The Boston Globe created a highly unscientific but still fun survey to take that then suggests the neighborhood best suited to your personality. Surprisingly, I got Beacon Hill. I had thought I might be more likely to get the Leather District, Fort Point Channel or Seaport (if not my actual n’hood – The South End). While I do like Beacon Hill, I’m not inclined to spend time on the Boston Common or dine on Charles Street, as the response suggests. Bored at work? Give the survey a try.
Boston is a beautiful city that is rich in history and culture and has a lot to offer. Above is a photograph of my neighborhood, South End, from last spring looking down West Springfield Street with the Christian Science Church dome off in the distance in Back Bay.
The Steven Cohen Team, a South End Real Estate Specialist, recently shared their annual report and I found some of the information eye-opening. It made me feel for new residents or wanna-be residents who are doing their best to try and save to buy a place here in Boston.
Source: http://www.linksmart.co, CNBC, 2012 data.
You may click on the chart to enlarge and read it better. I have to admit I was surprised to read that my neighborhood, South End, median price per square foot is $710 (fourth most expensive neighborhood in Boston). The most expensive neighborhood according to linksmart is Midtown $880; followed by Back Bay $836; Beacon Hill $795; and The Waterfront rounded out the top 5 at $708.
With median condo prices in the South End at $650,000, a 20% down payment check would be $130,000. Anyone who doesn’t think that is an issue falls into the category of “very fortunate”. How can Boston work to ensure that those who have invested in property don’t lose value in their homes while working to help make this city more affordable and more welcoming for everyone; not only those who command 6-figure salaries?
Boston Magazine reported last week that an app called Spot will soon become available here in Boston. Spot claims it operate like “the Airbnb of the parking industry.” The creator behind Spot, Braden Golub, says the app is still in the development stages but the premise is those who own or rent a parking space can post availability of their space through this app, offering it to other people while they are not using it. Conversely, those in search of a space can use the app to find the parking space that will best fit their needs.
To subscribe or to learn more, visit Spot’s website, here.
The Boston Public Library (BPL) said earlier this week that they would offer a new service to all members that will operate much like Netflix, allowing you to stream movies, television shows, music and audio books.
The BPL said that all titles are available for simultaneous access and will have no waiting periods with new content being added weekly. Leveraging the service called “Hoopla” users can download up to 10 titles per month with checkout times ranging from three days to three weeks. The service has an automatic return to ensure there are no late fees. This new, free-streaming media network is accessible to anyone that has a card to the Boston Public Library.
Don’t have a library card? Register online to get your eCard today.
I love the BPL and make a concerted effort to limit my book purchases to our city’s sole remaining LGBT Bookstore, Calamus Bookstore, so this new service makes me very happy. I hope it not only entices current members to leverage this new service but also brings more people to the library.
To sign up or learn more, click here.
The MBTA rolls out their late night service on a trial basis starting tonight. The service will extend to MBTA trolleys, subways and 15 key bus routes. The last Red, Orange, Blue and Green Line trains will depart downtown stations at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and approximately 1 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights.
This past weekend The Boston LGBT Film Festival had their kick-off preview party at Post 390 in the Back Bay. The film festival that is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year has an impressive line up of LGBT films you may want to check out.
Conversations at the preview party indicated there is a lot of excitement from the festival supporters for the opening night film, To Be Takei, which will screen at the ICA on Thursday, April 3rd.
Other films guys might want to check out include The 10 Year Plan on April 4, The Circle on April 5, Lilting on April 6 and Boys on April 12.
If you are a movie buff, mark the dates on your calendar and visit the official Boston LGBT Film Festival website to learn more and get your tickets, www.bostonlgbtfilmfest.net.
Screenings will occur at The Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square, Institute of Contemporary Art in the Seaport District, Museum of Fine Arts in the Fenway, Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, and Paramount Center in the Theater District. Get your tickets here.
Believe it or not, June is not that far away and the Boston Pride Committee late last week announced that the 2014 Pride Celebrations theme will be: Be yourself, change the world.
Boston’s Pride Committee wants you to nominate this year’s 2014 Parade Marshals. The Parade has two categories: Grand Marshal and Honorary Marshal, which is only given posthumously.
I’m still not certain who I’ll nominate for the 2014 Parade Marshal. I would love it to be someone with ties to Boston, but that isn’t a prerequisite and for that reason, I’m contemplating Michael Sam because of his brave decision to come out. However, I’m not 100% decided on this.
I will nominate the late, Nelson Mandela for Honorary Marshal. Despite his inaction to help prevent the spread of AIDS when he led South Africa he ultimately came around to champion prevention and education efforts and he certainly was true to himself and changed the world.
Submit nominations by emailing the nominees name and contact information, along with how they best represent this year’s theme, to Nominations@BostonPride.org. The deadline to send a nomination is April 15th.
Two years ago Future Boston Alliance called for Bostonians to come together and bring about a cultural renaissance in the city. One of the most common requests was to have the T run later. Not only does lack of public service at night have a chilling effect on nightlife businesses but it also hurts a workforce that is increasingly operating 24-hours a day.
Future Boston plans on throwing events to encourage late night ridership and supporting the MBTA and they are looking to help raise $35,000 to support the Late Night Service and promote accessibility and access for residents.
If you can’t donate to their crowdfunding campaign, then watch this video and spread the word and encourage others to take advantage of the late night service.
BosGuy 