Tag Archives: South End

Whale mural on Planet Storage building in the South End

Posted on April 23, 2015 | Leave a comment

public art, Tyson Andree, ink blockThe whale mural that has been visible from the Planet Self Storage building along Boston’s Southeast Expressway since the early 1990s has disappeared from view on I-93 ever since the Troy Boston residential building was erected.  According to a recent story in The Boston Globe, a fourth whale is going to be added to Planet Self Storage building.  The additional whale still won’t be visible to those on the highway but rather will face the Ink Block.

The developer behind the Ink Block, National Development, has commissioned Brookline graffiti artist, Tyson Andree, to spray-paint the new mural on a 15-foot-high by 68-foot-long section of Planet Self Storage’s northern wall, facing the Ink Block. The project should be finished by this weekend.

Leave a comment

Posted in Art & Film, South End, SoWa

Tagged , , , ,

Banyan to open in space formerly home to Hamersley’s Bistro

Posted on March 31, 2015 | Leave a comment

Rebecca Roth, South End restaurantEarlier today Eater Boston reported that Rebecca Roth Gullo (Owner) and Seth Yaffe (General Manager) of The Gallows South End – will name their new restaurant, Banyan.

Banyan will open later this year in the space formerly home to Hamersley’s Bistro located on the corner of Clarendon Street and Tremont Street.

It was previously reported that Banyan would serve contemporary Asian cuisine with a focus on small plates. While I applaud Rebecca and Seth on opening a new restaurant, I’m not particularly interested in seeing anymore small plate menus.  I am starting to equate “small plate” with “spending a fortune and leaving hungry”. However, Rebecca has proven time and again that she knows how to run and manage a successful restaurant so I’ll be watching with curiosity.

Leave a comment

Posted in Dining, South End

Tagged , , ,

GTI Properties looks to convert SoWa church into apartments

Posted on March 19, 2015 | 4 comments

GTI PropertiesThe Boston Herald is reporting that new plans from GTI Properties have resurfaced for the Jesuit Urban Center which was shuttered in 2007.  GTI’s latest round of plans for the church, which was built back in 1858 and the adjoining property, would  call for 54 one- to three-bedroom apartments in the former Church of the Immaculate Conception and four townhome-style units in what they are calling an attached “Link Building”.   Back in 2013 GTI filed a letter of intent for the property to include 62 rental units but nothing ever came of it.  This new letter to the BRA is the first in more than a year.

 

4 Comments

Posted in South End, SoWa

Tagged , , ,

South End Buttery celebrates 10 years of business

Posted on March 11, 2015 | 1 comment

South End ButteryIt is hard to believe that it was ten years ago this April The South End Buttery opened on the corner of Shawmut and Union Park Street.  The corner coffee shop now has two locations in addition to expanding into neighboring space to create a restaurant and bar as well as a take out prepared foods market.  To celebrate this milestone anniversary The South End Buttery has lined up several events you may want to check out.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 6:00 — 8:00 p.m.
– Wine, Beer and Hors d’oeuvres
– Chef Demonstrations
– Samples of New Prepared Market Foods
– Prepared Foods Discount

Thursday, March 12, 2015, 6:00 — 8:00 p.m.
– Wine, Beer and Hors d’oeuvres
– Cake and Cookie Decorating Lessons
– Discount Coupon on Next Custom Cake Order
– Samples of New Prepared Market Foods
– Prepared Foods Discounts

Friday, March 13, 2015, 6:00 — 8:00 p.m.
– Wine, Beer and Hors d’oeuvres
– Cooking Demonstrations
– Samples of New Prepared Market Foods
– Prepared Foods Discounts

Saturday, March 14, 2015, 10:00 AM — 6:00 p.m.
– Equator Coffees Specialty Roast samples all day
– Love Grain Pancake Samples w/ Mimosas (10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.)
– Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Samples with their Hot Sauces and Equator Coffees Jaguar Espresso Shakes (1:00 p.m. — 3:00 p.m.)
– Valicenti Organico artisanal pasta tasting (4:00 — 6:00 p.m.)
– Love Grain, Jeni’s and Valicenti Organico and Buttery Prepared Foods Discounts will be available all day

1 Comment

Posted in South End

Tagged , ,

Taste of the South End: Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Posted on February 26, 2015 | Leave a comment

TOSE, AIDS Action, AAC, South End restaurantsI previously wrote about this fun annual tasting that raises money for the AIDS Action Committee of MA, but I wanted to give one more shout out for those of you who may have been contemplating attending but had yet to buy tickets.

Taste of the South End, Tuesday March 3, 2015

More than 40 of the neighborhood’s restaurants will share tempting bites that range from the savory to the sweet.  In addition there will be plenty to drink and entertaining cooking demonstrations from some of the neighborhood’s most admired chefs.   If you have any questions about this social South End event, feel free to reach out to me.  Otherwise, grab tickets while they last.  Here is a quick video from a Taste of the South End from a few years back. 

Leave a comment

Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Dining, Philanthropy, South End, Video

Tagged , , , , ,

Marriott hotel may open at Ink Block in 2017

Posted on February 8, 2015 | 1 comment

Marriott at Ink Block South EndThe developers behind the South End Ink Block, National Development, recently unveiled an image of a proposed 200 room AC Hotel by Marriott, a brand that targets Gen X and Millennials.  According to National’s PR machine, the hotel will have a contemporary feel that will blend in with the four adjacent buildings.

Based on drawings that I’ve seen previously of the Ink Block development, the hotel building looks like it would be on the corner of Albany and Traveler Streets. The article (linked below) indicates this property would open in early 2017.

More details here.

 

1 Comment

Posted in South End

Tagged , ,

Taste of the South End tickets now on sale

Posted on February 3, 2015 | Leave a comment

TOSE, AIDS Action, AAC, South End restaurantsSince 1995 local restaurants have come together to share some of their most tempting plates to help raise awareness and money for the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts. This year more than 40 restaurants from the South End will converge for the Taste of the South End on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Get your tickets before the event sells out. You can find more details about the program can on their website here.  Tickets for the 2015 Taste of the South End are on sale now!

Leave a comment

Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Dining, South End

Tagged , , , ,

Boston Magazine: A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well in the South End

Posted on January 30, 2015 | Leave a comment

A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well in the South End, Christopher HughesRead Boston Magazine’s article penned by Christopher Hughes, A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well in the South End. Hughes, the magazine’s online food editor, asked Ken Oringer (Clio, Uni & Toro) and Top Chef season 10 winner Kristen Kish to share their favorite South End spots.

The article really illustrates how lucky South End residents are, showcasing a wide variety of options.  If you are curious where Oringer and Kish go for cocktails and / or cuisine check out the article. My only surprise – even though I agreed with many of their choices – was how many other options we have in this tiny neighborhood that went unmentioned.

How can anyone overlook such neighborhood gems like Formaggio with their superior selection of cheeses and meats or Brix with their unique selection of small vintage wineries?  Restaurants and bakeries like South End Pita, Orinoco, Elephant Walk and Render Coffee add color and options that most neighborhoods would kill to have but the South End has such a rich collection it is easy to forget all the markets, restaurants, bakeries and cafes crammed into this tiny n’hood.

Leave a comment

Posted in Cocktails, Dining, South End

Tagged , ,

Cafe Quattro opening in the South End

Posted on January 29, 2015 | Leave a comment

Pizza, pizzeria, boston, south endBoston Restaurant Talk reports that Cafe Quattro, a popular Italian / Pizzeria with Beacon Hill residents will reopen in the South End.

Apparently the popular restaurant lost its lease in Beacon Hill after the landlord essentially forced them out to make room for a larger upscale restaurant.  Beacon Hill’s loss is the South End’s gain.  Cafe Quattro will reopen at 817 Harrison Avenue on the corner of East Springfield Street.  The owners were scheduled to go before the licensing commission this week (not sure if the weather has delayed that meeting). One hopes they will be opening soon.

About Cafe Quattro: We serve a wide array of sandwiches, panini, wraps, and pizza, as well as cappuccino, espresso, latte, and coffee.  Our breads are baked especially for us and delivered daily.  Our thin crust pizza is hand tossed and made to order, using fresh dough.  Pizza is available by the slice, small personal pies, or 20″ Large pies each made in the old fashioned Italian-American tradition.

Leave a comment

Posted in Dining, South End

Tagged , , ,

SnowMyGod: Images from Boston’s South End

Posted on January 27, 2015 | 3 comments

Eat your heart out local television broadcasters.  Sergio stepped out today to check out the neighborhood.  While this may not be as large a storm as initially predicted it is still packing quite a punch.  Below are images Sergio snapped earlier today.

View of Washington Street South End

View of Washington & Waltham Street in the South End, Boston

View of Tremont Street in the South End Boston

View of Tremont & Clarendon Street in the South End, Boston

View of Union Park and Tremont Street in the South End Boston

View of Union Park from Tremont Street in the South End Boston

View of Shawmut Street and Union Park in the South End Boston

View of Shawmut Street and Union Park in the South End Boston

View of Waltham Street in the South End, Boston

View of Waltham Street in the South End, Boston

3 Comments

Posted in Boston, South End, Video

Tagged , , ,

46 Wareham revised to include more commercial space

Posted on January 25, 2015 | Leave a comment
Factory at 46 Wareham Street

46 Wareham Street South End

According to the Boston Courant, a new plan has been filed for 46 Wareham, a building in the South End that the Holland Companies would like to renovate and develop.  This past summer the Holland Companies suggested modernizing the under utilized structure to create a 6-story, 42 residential unit building that would include ground floor space for a commercial unit.  Opposition from some community activists who did not want to lose the commercial space and pointed to zoning laws that supported their arguments forced the developers to go back to the drawing board.

The Holland Companies hopes their revised proposal addresses the zoning concerns by reducing the number of residential units to 36 and increasing the commercial space by making the first two levels of the building available for commercial use (some 20,000 square feet). The developers feel that the long term viability of this project hinges on it being a mixed use development.

Leave a comment

Posted in South End, SoWa

Tagged , , ,

Whole Foods South End opens Friday, Jan 9th

Posted on January 5, 2015 | Leave a comment

Whole Foods South End Ink BlockIt appears as if Whole Foods at the Ink Block in the South End will be open for business starting Friday, January 9th at 10:00 AM.  Local chefs will be making appearances the opening weekend including the likes of Joanne Chang-Myers.

Parking is available at the new grocery store and tours are even available this week to get a sneak peek at the newest (and largest) Whole Foods to open in Boston. You can follow them on Twitter for more updates @WFM_SouthEnd. Whole Foods South End Ink Block

Leave a comment

Posted in South End, SoWa

Tagged , , ,

South End restaurant update: Elephant Walk open

Posted on December 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

South End Restaurant newsDespite the fact that I’m currently in Brazil, friendly tips from readers continue to help me keep you posted about life in the South End.  Just as I was the first to share with you news about BoMA’s closing earlier this year, I’m happy to  be the first to let you know the Elephant Walk South End quietly opened their doors for business this past Sunday evening.  News of their opening came to me from two readers, Dave & Owings, who happened to be walking by the restaurant Sunday evening.

While the restaurant has not noted the opening on their website or facebook, and they are not taking reservations on Opentable.com yet, look for these updates in the days that follow.  I will be in Brazil through the holidays so at this point I have no further details to offer, but if you do check out Elephant Walk let me know your thoughts about the décor, menu and food.

Congratulations to the owners of Elephant Walk.  I want to welcome them to the neighborhood and wish them much success. 

Elephant Walk – 1415 Washington Street – (617) 247-1500

Leave a comment

Posted in Dining, South End, SoWa

Tagged , , , ,

New South End restaurant will serve small plates with “international flavors”

Posted on December 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

Rebecca Roth, South End restaurantEarlier this month UniversalHub and EaterBoston shared news about the new restaurant that Rebecca Roth and Seth Yeffe (from Gallows South End) will open in the space that was formerly occupied by Hamersley’s Bistro.

According to information learned from a licensing board hearing the new restaurant will serve small plates and shared dishes that have Asian and Mediterranean flavors.  Sounds delicious but it will need to be with the new Barcelona South End tapas restaurant only steps away.  While I think most miss seeing Gordon working behind his kitchen, Rebecca is as savvy as she is sweet and one can assume the restaurant will be a popular destination for South End residents when it opens in 2015.

Leave a comment

Posted in Dining, South End

Tagged , , ,

Ink Block in Boston’s South End now renting

Posted on December 13, 2014 | 1 comment

Ink Block, South End residential development, Boston Herald BuildingEarlier this week I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Ted Tye, Managing Partner at National Development, the firm behind the South End’s Ink Block.   In their temporary office across from the Ink Block, he showed me their plans for the new development and hinted at more news to share after the new year.

Ink 1 & 2 will open Feb 1, 2015 and are offering 1 month free rent for all 1 year leases and 6 weeks free rent for all 18 month leases. 

Whole Foods is scheduled to open in just a few weeks but Ted was mum about giving an exact opening date in January.  Don’t worry about the bad weather since 100+ parking spots are reserved for the store.  In addition the Ink Block will offer cool amenities including: underground connectivity to Whole Foods so one needn’t go outside in bad weather; a new gym; pool and outdoor function space to enjoy and host parties.  Also look for a new Hubway station and parking for a couple of ZipCars.

When speaking to the team at National Development they were keen to impress upon me their desire to leverage their commercial space for new restaurants (non-chains) that can provide more affordable dining options.  They want restaurants because they would like to have tenants that will be open after normal business hours to avoid having the block go dark and to encourage more pedestrian traffic.

1 Comment

Posted in South End, SoWa

Tagged , , ,