Amy recounts an incident on the Mass. Ave. bridge during the July Fourth Pops concert that renews your faith in at least part of humanity.

OK, Christopher's of Maynard got the most votes at today's Chowderfest. You want my opinion? The heat got to too many people. I'm sorry, Farmer Brown and his wife, Mrs. Brown, above, had the best chowder today (if you discount Turner Fisheries, which is in the "Hall of Fame" and so ineligible for votes). No, I'd never heard of them before, either and Farmer Brown runs a farm stand in Middleton, not a restaurant, but they know from chowder.

Of course, I can't clam up about the annual event on City Hall Plaza:

Joe Driscoll took photos (such as the above) of last night's Charles River fireworks from the Hancock.

Garreyf photographed the reflections of the fireworks on the Hancock and the river.

Ben Ostrander posts fireworks photos from the Mass. Ave. bridge.

More photos.

Fireworks over Albemarle Field in Newton on the Fourth.

Via BostonMaggie: Sen. John Kennedy reads the Declaration of Independence in 1957:

BostonZest shoots a big flag on Comm. Ave. in the Back Bay.

Dick Cheney to visit Boston on the Fourth; and you know that means roads all over the place will be shut down.

What? Oh, phew, he's just using it to slice a mutant July Fourth cake, not Michael Flaherty.

Earlier:
The mayor gave me a cupcake.

Sandcastlematt was at the Somerville fireworks the other night.

Sushiesque photographed the Charles River fireworks. So did Teenytinyturkey. And Ebzsalserohym videoed the finale:

Jason Feifer says it's all fun and games until the fireworks set off a car alarm on your street.

Zolok: The pyrotechnics seemed really a lot closer to the Bikini Atoll tests this year.

Garrett LeSage reports on a drunken brawl on the way home on the T:

... Profanity was flying like only a Southie could say it. (Think of "Good Will Hunting".) It probably could have easily turned riot level; lots of people were worked up about the fight. A few brave individuals stepped in, thankfully, and forcefully shoved most of the misbehaving drunk kids off the train. ... police later came and investigated the matter. There was a report of a knife, too ... and I somehow suspected that we weren't the only part of the train (or only train for that matter) that had a fight like this. Some people got messed up pretty bad; they’re going to need stitches.

Riding the MBTA during holidays usually winds up like this… and that's exactly why I chose to leave my real gear and take my pocket camera instead. ...

Karl reports on a Southie celebration that ended suddenly when the Irish immigrant who owned one of the condos in a triple decker locked him and several other people out for discussing the differences between Australian and American politics.

T. ponders the meaning of the Fourth as Filipina-American. The Duck ponders the meaning of the Fourth as an impending Canadian-American:

... This is one of those weird weeks where my 'nationality' gets a little confusing. My parents typically have a party on July 4th- one that includes a giant cake with a red maple leaf in it. ...

Wayne Braverman declares watching the Pops on TV a horrible experience.

Down in Texas, Katie celebrates her last Fourth as a Texan - she's moving to our Fair Hub next month.