Tag Archives: Boston

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.

MBTA Late Night Schedule

Holy cow, the times are definitely changing.  In the wake of a storm of negative publicity over Boston Beer Company  (the manufacturer of Sam Adams beer) announced that they will not participate in the upcoming South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

More here.

Late last year The MBTA announced they would resume late night service, running all subway trains and the 15 most popular bus routes until 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday as part of a one year test to see if there is sufficient demand.

Today the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority reported Gov. Patrick will make an announcement at 10 a.m. tomorrow about when the MBTA late-night service begins.

Hold the press. Did you see the article in the Boston Herald today? Of course you didn’t – which is why I’m here to point it out to you.  They are reporting that Mayor Marty Walsh, is advocating for a “late night task force” to help reshape the city’s nightlife — with a mandate to look at 3:30 a.m. closings.

The article mentions that the group will look to create a pilot program in the Seaport District to test extending the closing time of bars and restaurants, possibly easing into it by allowing establishments to serve alcohol until 2:30 a.m. but stay open until 3:30 a.m.  The staggered closings could help avoid the crush of people who file out into the streets at 2 a.m.  This comes just months after the MBTA announced they will launch a pilot extending weekend service back to 3 a.m.

It goes without saying that I’m in favor of this and hope it can also help struggling restaurants and bars who may now be able to collect more revenues by staying open longer.  Now if we can do something about those pesky liquor licenses I think we might actually be able to foster a nightlife that would allow more gay bars to open.

You can read the article here.

For the first time in Boston’s history, organizers of South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade said they wold invite the LGBT group, MassEquality, to walk in their parade.  The deal is being brokered by incoming Mayor Marty Walsh, but it includes an important caveat: MassEquality, cannot wear T-shirts or hold signs that include the word gay or refer to sexual orientation.  My reaction to the deal, “Are you kidding me? Is this 1994?“

The time for keeping quiet has passed.

This would have been an interesting offer back in 1994 when then incoming Mayor Tom Menino was speaking as an advocate (for the first time) for the LGBT community, but the times have changed.  Parade organizers steadfast refusal and isolation of the LGBT community casts an ugly shadow on their event and this latest ‘offer’ does little to improve their image or that of their Irish heritage.

MassEquality issued their response shortly after the Boston Globe published the story, which you can read here, but I think is summed up in this quote from their response, “LGBT people should not have to silence who they are to celebrate other parts of their identities.“

What do you think?

Real estate agents, those selling homes and snobs will rejoice that Boston has the fifth highest median housing prices in the United States; behind San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and New York City.

At least that is what I learned last Wednesday when I was reading The Boston Globe.  Analysts with HSH.com apparently calculated how much buyers would need to earn to afford the principal and interest payment on a median-priced home in their market.   

While I am happy that property in Boston is so valuable, providing more affordable housing is something I think is essential to this city.

What are your thoughts?