Back Bay

Love that frozen water

By adamg - 2/21/21 - 9:31 pm

FALLING THROUGH THE ICE, CHARLES RIVER

Lucas Brunelle is part of a small (very small) fraternity of people who try to bike on the Charles River in the winter. Yesterday, he got out on the ice in Brighton and pretty promptly fell through thin ice and into the water.

Today, more people joined him on the river, but on two feet and further downstream by the Esplanade. Thanks to the folks who sent us photos and comments, if for no other reason that we now know there are two divergent schools of thought about people who go out on the Charles on days like today: Read more.

Green Line again a mess; another trolley in distress

By adamg - 2/19/21 - 9:05 pm

The MBTA reports 20-minute delays on the Green Line due to "a train with a mechanical problem approaching Copley eastbound."

This comes a few hours after the Green Line was completely stopped after a trolley lost its pantograph at Park Street.

Pandemic deja vu: Boston Pride canceled again

By adamg - 2/19/21 - 1:04 pm

Boston Pride announced today that it's once again canceled its annual Pride festival and parade due to Covid-19, although on a slightly hopeful note: Read more.

Emerald bridges in the Emerald Necklace

By adamg - 2/16/21 - 8:50 am

Through March 13, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy is lighting up several bridges in the park system, from dusk until 9 p.m.

The Pru and its sugar-frosted halo

By adamg - 2/9/21 - 9:04 am

Prudential building through snow-covered trees

Matthew Ireland snapped the Pru through the snow-frosted trees of the Southwest Corridor Park at Holyoke Street after the snow stopped on Sunday.

Ad:

Three busted for hotel-based drug sales

By adamg - 2/6/21 - 9:23 pm

DEA agents and Boston Police arrested three men at the Allston DoubleTree Hotel Thursday as part of an effort to break up a drug ring selling meth, cocaine and fentanyl, Live Boston reports. Read more.

We could get heavy, wet snow tomorrow, so heed Dr. Paul Dudley White's advice

By adamg - 1/31/21 - 4:20 pm

On Jan. 10, 1957, a news photographer captured Dr. Paul Dudley White, then 70, shoveling snow along what looks to be Storrow Drive, where, later, a 17-mile bike and pedestrian path would be named in his honor. Read more.

OK, who let the Leverett Circle genie out this time?

By adamg - 1/31/21 - 12:24 pm

Plume of smoke or water vapor rises above Storrow Drive

Shamus hopes the genie is in a good mood at least.

Zoning board approves cannabis shop on Boylston Street in Back Bay; says it can open on Sundays

By adamg - 1/26/21 - 1:00 pm

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved a proposed marijuana mart at 829 Boylston St., between the Apple Store and the Walgreens, across from the Mandarin Oriental. Read more.

Dorchester man admits he opened fire on police during the rioting and looting following the May 31 demonstration

By adamg - 1/25/21 - 4:55 pm

John Boampong, 37, of Dorchester has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges related to the way he responded to police officers demanding he drive away from the Arlington Street area by shooting at them repeatedly early on June 1, the US Attorney's office reports. Read more.

Leicester man charged as being crude and lewd at Back Bay station

By adamg - 1/23/21 - 11:18 am

Transit Police report arresting Tyler Logan, 28, of Leicester, after he allegedly stared at a woman at the Orange Line fare gates while doing things a grown man shouldn't be doing in public, around 9 p.m. on Tuesday. Read more.

Developer wants to add five new floors to a row of three-story buildings on Boylston Street in the Back Bay

By adamg - 1/23/21 - 10:55 am

Developer would add floors to these Boylston Street buildings

Going up? The buildings that would get taller.

A Florida-based developer wants to raise the height of four buildings on Boylston Street between Fairfield and Exeter streets, to add new residential, office and retail space. Read more.

Hatch Shell is lit

By adamg - 1/22/21 - 10:23 pm

Peter Cheung took in the first night of Hatched, a four-week long "multi-sensory winter illumination experience" at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade: Read more.

Hotel on Huntington Avenue sure does get around

By adamg - 1/22/21 - 9:36 am

Hotel in Sacramento that's really the Midtown Hotel in Boston

Something familiar about this Sacramento scene.

Charles Dennison IV was watching an episode of "Mr. Mayor" that involves a trip to Sacramento when he noticed an oddly familiar "Sacramento" hotel.

Roughly similar view from Google that will help you place it. Wonder if the Sacramento hotel is also slated to be replaced?

Old South Church bell to ring at 5:30 p.m. in memory of Covid-19 victims

By adamg - 1/19/21 - 12:43 pm

Old South Church in the Back Bay will participate in the national Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID-19 this afternoon by tolling the Great Tower Bell. It's part of a national commemoration.

Old South Church member and MIT mathematician David Vogan will ring the 2,000-lb. bell, which sits at the top of the church's 246-foot tower.

Shuttered Hynes could echo with music as Berklee resumes classes this month

By adamg - 1/19/21 - 10:45 am

Berklee College of Music has rented 17 rooms at the Hynes Convention Center for students to use in a socially distanced sort of way for classroom and ensemble use. Read more.

Before two-alarm Back Bay fire, firefighters were kept busy with flaming trash, Christmas trees and wreaths

By adamg - 1/11/21 - 11:42 am

Firefighters putting out burning trash, trees and a wreath in the Back Bay

One resident had a front-row seat to watch Boston firefighters put out three burning Christmas trees, one wreath and a bed frame at Marlborough Street and Charlesgate East at 8:58 p.m. yesterday.

It was one of numerous outdoor fires set by somebody roaming Back Bay alleys last night before a two-alarm fire erupted on Beacon Street at Exeter Street around 10:15 p.m. - possibly the result of one of the arsonist's outdoor fires.

Somebody was running around Back Bay alleys lighting trash on fire, might be to blame for fire in Beacon Street building

By adamg - 1/10/21 - 9:46 pm

295-297 Beacon St. during the fire. Photo by BFD.

Somebody who spent Sunday night setting trash and Christmas trees on fire in Back Bay alleys may have sparked what turned into a two-alarm fire at 295-297 Beacon St. at Exeter Street. Read more.

Back Bay bald eagle bops along the Charles

By adamg - 1/10/21 - 1:27 pm

Noah Jakimo spotted our national symbol cruising along the river between Mass. Ave. and the BU Bridge this morning.

Two chefs to team up on Italian seafood place in the Back Bay

By adamg - 1/7/21 - 11:00 am

The Boston Sun reports chefs Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette are whipping up an Italian seafood restaurant on Newbury Street between Fairfield and Gloucester streets. They already have a deal to buy the liquor license from the former Uno on Boylston Street.