Tag Archives: Boston

Flashback Friday

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 2 comments

Flashback FridayThe Boston Phoenix 1966 – 2013 

This may not truly be a flashback in the sense that the shuttering of The Boston Phoenix happened so recently, but I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that The Boston Phoenix is no more; ceasing all publications approximately one month ago after publishing a free weekly paper in the city since 1966.

The Phoenix, as I called it, was a well recognized alternative weekly paper that was popular with college students and regularly reported on the city’s music scene, politics and local happenings.

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Kenmore Square’s unfriendly crosswalk signal

Posted on April 11, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston crosswalkMy guess is that some Boston University students are laughing themselves silly after modifying this crosswalk sign in Kenmore Square.

Rather than seeing the more traditional “stop” signal when it isn’t safe to walk, some well placed electrical tape makes the signal a bit more emphatic.

While inappropriate, I confess I love it when this happens.  It always gives me a chuckle. Yes, I’m that juvenile.

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Design Museum Boston: Street seats challenge

Posted on April 10, 2013 | Leave a comment

Design Museum BostonLast September the Design Museum Boston issued a challenge to design an iconic bench or ‘street seat’ that was also socially and environmentally conscious for the Fort Point Channel neighborhood in Boston.

172 entries from 23 countries were submitted.  Models of all designs are currently on display at 1/8th their size at the museum. On Saturday, April 27th the Design Museum Boston will unveil 20 of these innovative bench designs in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood as part of their newest, public exhibit.  The museum encourages the public to vote on their favorite bench and the designer with the most votes will receive the “People’s Choice” award.

Street seat models are on display at the Design Museum Boston at Factory 63 at 63 Melcher Street, Boston – Monday thru Friday 9-5pm / Saturday 10-4pm.

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Boston Marathon next Monday

Posted on April 9, 2013 | 2 comments

Boston MarathonNext Monday is the running of the 117th Boston Marathon.  As with Easter, the Marathon is another one of those events I automatically associate with the spring season and look forward to each year.

In advance of the marathon is the Boston Marathon Sports & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Auditorium; starting this weekend on Friday from 2-7pm and Saturday & Sunday from 9:00am – 6:00pm. 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.

About the Boston Marathon (Source: Wikipedia)
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events. It is one of the five World Marathon Majors.

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AIDS Walk and Run Boston is Sunday, June 2nd

Posted on April 9, 2013 | 1 comment

AIDS Action CommitteeAlthough it is still weeks away, I wanted to give a shout out to The AIDS Action Committee which is working with individuals, teams and corporations to help fund raise for this year’s AIDS Walk and Run on Sunday, June 2nd.

This year is the 28th anniversary of this walk.  Will you be participating in the Walk this year? Put the date in your calendar and talk to your friends about coming down to the DCR Hatch Shell.

You may sign up to run, walk or volunteer by linking here.

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Karmin to headline Boston Pride

Posted on April 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston PrideBoston Pride announced the pop duo Karmin will be headlining the Boston Pride Festival being held on Saturday, June 8th from noon to 6pm at Boston’s City Hall Plaza.  Karmin actually formed here in Boston back in 2010 when the Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan met at Berklee College of Music.

Out of curiosity if you are going to attend Boston’s Pride Festival, will you attend the party at Government Center? I’ve never attended, preferring the “unofficial” block party in the South End at Fritz. Although after last year’s fiasco with the drink tickets at the South End Block Party my love for that party has been somewhat tainted, hopefully they can fix that this year.

Will you go to see Karmin or attend the unofficial S.E. Block Party?

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Rainbow over Boston

Posted on April 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Rainbow taken by Jennifer WalshAround this time yesterday a large, vibrant rainbow could be seen spanning much of downtown Boston.  Coincidence this occurred as the Boston Red Sox were spanking the New York Yankees in their first game of the 2013 MLB season?  I think not.

Thanks to Jennifer Walsh who took the photo and Universal Hub for sharing it

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Boston’s bacon and beer festival

Posted on March 30, 2013 | Leave a comment

boston bacon beer festivalIn just over a month Boston’s popular bacon and beer festival will take place (Saturday May 4th) at the House of Blues in Fenway.  Proceeds will go to support the hunger relief organizations Lovin’ Spoonfuls and Community Servings.

The 2012 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival was a week-long event that included a harbor cruise and an art show.  Get more details about this year’s event by joining their mailing here.

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Flashback Friday

Posted on March 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

old corner bookstore bostonHere are three photographs of one of Boston’s oldest commercial buildings taken at different times in the last century. This building was built in the early 1700s and eventually became the headquarters of Ticknor & Fields, the publisher of the first editions of The Scarlet Letter, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Walden. But most Bostonians know and refer to this building as The Old Corner Bookstore or the Globe Corner Bookstore even though it is currently a Chipotle.

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Boston Globe’s Munch Madness Final Four

Posted on March 28, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Globe Munch MadnessThe Boston Globe’s annual restaurant tournament modeled after the NCAA’s spring basketball tournament bracket, brings together 64 restaurants that are divided roughly between contestants from the previous year and new entrants.

After more than a week, the 2013 Munch Madness has moved into the Final Four, pitting Craigie on Main vs. Hungry Mother and Gaslight vs. Oleana.  Who will survive and go on to the finals?

Cast your vote today. Voting for the Final Four ends on Friday, March 29th.

VOTE HERE2013 Munch Madness

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DOMA justice rally in Boston

Posted on March 27, 2013 | 1 comment

DOMA Justice RallyYesterday, the US Supreme Court heard arguments about California’s notorious Proposition 8.  Today, the Justices will hear arguments for and against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  While the court may not want to make a major national ruling on whether America’s gays and lesbians have a right to marry, the American public has doubled down with both sides arguing their points passionately.  Mayor Menino once again showed his support for the Gay and Lesbian community addressing the crowd and asking to have the Gay Pride flag fly in Government Center.DOMA Justice Rally

While it will be several months before we have a ruling from The Court, DOMA justice rallies were organized around the country.  Here in Boston a loud and upbeat crowd braved the cold winds in Government Center to show their support for greater acceptance and equality.

DOMA Justice Rally in Boston

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Flashback Friday

Posted on March 22, 2013 | 1 comment

Jimmy's HarborsideIn recent years, much of Boston’s development has happened in what is now referred to as Boston’s Seaport District – located between the financial district and Southie.  This area had long been under utilized, which is hard to imagine considering its prime location, but the image of of Northern Ave with Jimmy’s Harborside (shown above) has been replaced by Liberty Wharf, which opened in 2012 with several new restaurants, meeting space and fantastic views of Boston harbor.  Across the street, a 2-story building and parking lot has been replaced with apartments, office space and a hotel (as shown in the photo below).Liberty Wharf

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2013 Munch Madness

Posted on March 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Globe Munch MadnessThe Boston Globe’s annual restaurants tournament, Munch Madness, modeled after the NCAA’s spring basketball bracket has started again. Sixty-four restaurants have been plotted in the Globe’s restaurant bracket but only one can win.  Make your picks now – voting for round 1 starts today, March 20th and runs though March 21st.

Link Here To Cast Your Vote

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Flashback Friday

Posted on March 15, 2013 | 3 comments

Flashback FridayDo you remember this advertising campaign from Prince?

Prince is one of those companies that I have much sentimentality for. It was started in Boston in the early part of the last century when three Sicilian immigrants started this pasta company at 92 Prince Street in the North End. One of those three founders was my great grandfather, Gaetano LaMarca.

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Do you Uber

Posted on March 14, 2013 | 3 comments

Uber BostonUber is a car / taxi service that you download as an app to your phone and now services more than 30 cities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.  

The beauty of Uber is how easy it is to request a driver in the form of a taxi, town car or SUV but what I really appreciate is  the direct billing and the ability to track the vehicle that is coming to pick you up.  By contrast if you try to call for a taxi in Boston you are likely to spend several minutes waiting for someone to pick up who speaks to you rudely and then evades your question on when the cab might appear.  More often than not, I have to call back once or twice to find out if a cab is coming.

The irony is that our dumb taxi industry in Boston could easily undercut Uber by providing some of these same services (e.g. gps tracking of your reserved taxi).  But in lieu of innovating, Boston Cab Dispatch made news earlier this week when the BBJ reported they were suing Uber.  I hope the courts side with Uber because the taxis in Boston while far better than they use to be still leave a lot to be desired. 

More about Uber Boston here

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