A group of Boston food bloggers recently dined at Lucia Ristorante at 415 Hanover St. for a polenta dinner, enjoying a selection of dishes, touring the kitchen and spending time with owner Donato Frattaroli. Megan of Delicious Dishings starts off, In Boston’s North End, way down Hanover Street, stands Lucia Ristorante in the same place [...]
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Neighborhood Council Objects to Lucca Restaurant’s Valet Parking Request on Hanover Street
The North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council, NEWNC, voted 7-2 to oppose a valet parking permit application by Lucca Restaurant at 226 Hanover Street. At the council meeting held on March 12, 2012, Lucca owners and the operator, City Valet Inc., presented their case to have valet parking spaces in front of their restaurant. Currently, [...]
NEWRA Zoning, Licensing & Construction Committee Issues March 2012 Update
Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee Report March 8, 2012 The ZLC Committee met on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, in the Mariners House, 11 North Square. ZLC Committee meetings will be held in the Mariners House through 2012. Current Applications 139-143 Richmond Street (aka 188 North Street), David Veo, has filed an application with the Boston [...]
North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association Supports Lucca Restaurant Valet Parking Application and New North St. Sandwich Shop
The voting results from the May 8, 2012 membership meeting of the North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association, NEWRA are shown below. This information is courtesy of NEWRA’s ZLC and executive officers. Lucca Restaurant Valet Parking – 236 Hanover St. Lucca has filed an application with the Boston Transportation Department for a valet parking permit. [...]
Customer Cannoli Conundrum at Mike’s
A Worcester customer gets consumer columnist, Mike Lipka, to investigate the pricing display policy at Mike’s Pastry. The Worcester Telegram reports: “Is it legal for a store to have absolutely no prices shown? There is no way to know what you will be spending beforehand. I own a retail store and cannot imagine not pricing [...]
Winter 2012 Restaurant Week Runs March 18-23 & 25-30
It’s time for Winter Restaurant Week! The annual event is scheduled for two weeks starting Sunday, March 18 and running through Friday, March 30 (excluding Saturday, March 24). The prix fixe options are a 2-course lunch for $15.12, 3-course lunch for $20.12 and three-course dinners for $33.12. Drinks, tax and tip are not included. Click [...]
Overnight Commercial Trash Pickups Debated at City Council Hearing
A City Council hearing on overnight commercial trash pickup brought out many North End and Downtown Boston residents complaining about being woken up in the middle of the night. Contrasting testimony was also submitted by hauling companies that expressed concerns about safety and traffic issues with daytime pickups. The hearing was held at City Hall [...]
Travel Channel Features North End’s Italian Ice and Gelato
Bobby Eustace from Polcari’s Coffee serves up Italian Ice to the Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmem who then heads over to Caffe Paradiso to see Antoinette and Adrianna DeStefano. (Watch the full clip.) Also, see Maria’s Pastry in a separate Travel Channel clip with the Top 5 Highlights in Boston. H/T to Matt Black for emailing [...]
Hanover St. Redesign Project Ideas Presented by Northeastern Engineering Students
Video: Northeastern’s “Essential Engineering” team presents Hanover Street Re-Design ideas at a neighborhood meeting held on February 15, 2012 at the Nazzaro Community Center in the North End.
Commercial Trash Pick Up Hearing Scheduled at City Hall on February 27
An announcement from City Councilor At-Large, Felix Arroyo: We have heard from constituents throughout the City who are awoken at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning by the sounds of garbage trucks in their neighborhood. Under current state law, the City of Boston can regulate the times for residential trash pick up, but CANNOT regulate the [...]
“My Cousins Place” Receives Unanimous Support from Neighborhood Council for Hanover St. Coffee Shop
The North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council, NEWNC, voted unanimously, 8-0, to approve the application for a coffee shop at 396 Hanover St., formerly occupied by Contrada’s Coffee Shop. The applicants are Daniel D’Elia and Ralph Verrocchi d/b/a ”My Cousins Place,” to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeal to change the allowed use from “store [...]
Neighborhood Council, NEWNC, Votes 4-3 in Support of Sandwich Shop at 139-45 Richmond St. (aka 188 North St.)
The North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council, NEWNC, voted 4-3 to support a change in allowed use for a new sandwich shop at 139-145 Richmond St. The storefront and access to the shop is at 188 North St. along the Freedom Trail. The application was filed with the Zoning Board of Appeal by David Veo [...]
Police Blotter: Caffe Graffiti Loses Chairs & Marijuana Arrest at Hanover & Commercial Streets
Highlights from this week’s District A-1 Boston Police Journal Log: Poss. Cl D (marijuana) with intent to distribute 02/04/12 6:00pm Male suspect arrested at Hanover and Commercial Streets for Possession of Cl D marijuana with intent to distribute. Larceny 02/08/12 3:00pm -7:15am Cross St. restaurant (Caffe Graffiti) reports an unknown person stole 36 locked outdoor [...]
Kobe Bryant Goes to Dolce Vita and Actually Speaks Italian!
Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant, was seen twice this week at Dolce Vita Ristorante on Hanover St. The Boston Herald captures this photo with happy owner Franco Graceffa. It turns out that Kobe is fluent in Italian having lived in the old country as a child. See the full photo and article at the Boston [...]
Flash Report From Residents’ Association Meeting (NEWRA) on February 9, 2012
Requests by Contrada’s on Hanover St., Nick Varano’s Famous Deli on Cross St. and 9 Noyes Pl. all receive supportive votes from NEWRA members. The City’s Environmental Chief also communicates with the neighborhood.
North End is the Heart of Boozeton Per Bostonography Liquor License Maps
If liquor is the lifeblood, then the North End would be the heart of Boston as graphically shown by the map-making geniuses at Bostonography.com. Using liquor license data compiled by the Boston Business Journal, Bostonography’s Tim Wallace created a density heat map of Boston and surrounding areas, entitled Boozeton, Massachusetts. The Boston liquor license density [...]
Photos: North End Restaurants Host CityFeast 2012 – Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes
Five North End restaurants held a special benefit dinner on Sunday night to support the Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. The annual event, CityFeast – Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes, is organized by Carla Agrippino Gomes of Antico Forno and Terramia with joint participation from Lucca’s Matt and Sean Williams, Taranta’s Jose Duarte and [...]
Globe Travel: North End vs. Federal Hill
This week’s Boston Globe travel section compares the offerings found in the Little Italy section of Boston versus Providence. Yes, it’s the North End against Federal Hill. These competition articles are interesting, but like the endless cannoli debates, there is no rule saying you can’t have more than one! Here is the headline rundown: Parking: [...]
Speculating on Caffe Graffiti and the Future of the Cross Street Plaza
North Enders have noticed that Caffe Graffiti has been closed so far in January with no activity other than the Christmas tree blowing around on the ground in its outdoor seating area. Now, Boston dining scene websites are speculating it may be more than just a seasonal closing. While other restaurants simply close for a [...]
Soprano’s “Vito”, Joe Gannascoli, Creates Best Selling Sandwich at Pauli’s on Salem Street
When actor Joe Gannascoli came into Pauli’s North End shop, owner Paul Barker did not know his best selling sandwich was about to be created. Joe played the character Vito from The Sopranos and said to Paul, “I will make you famous.” “The Vito” sandwich is made of chicken cutlets, imported ham, provolone cheese, roasted [...]
Governing’s “The Boss of Boston” Highlights the Mayor’s Daily Travels Through the North End
Governing’s Zach Patton shadows Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and gives the rundown in a piece entitled, The Boss of Boston, that appears in the January edition. The article contains several references to the Mayor’s favorite (and not) places in the North End. Below are three neighborhood-related excerpts: Tom Menino needs a haircut. The longtime [...]
2012 Boston Wine Festival Kicks Off And Runs Through March
The 2012 Boston Wine Festival kicked off this week at the Boston Harbor Hotel, located at Rowes Wharf. The annual event runs through March 30th. See their website for a calendar of events and how to purchase tickets. January is a big month for wine in Boston as the World Trade Center in the Seaport [...]
Boston Valet Parking Crackdown: 719 Inspections in Past Month
It is past time to get serious about enforcing valet parking regulations in the City of Boston, says Thomas T. Tinlin, Commissioner of the Boston Transportation Department. A surge of complaints documented in recent media articles and attention from the city’s watchdog group has resulted in a major response by city officials. In an interview [...]
Wounded Warrior Project Fundraiser Set For January 19, 2012
No tickets or reservations required, open to everyone. If you can’t make it and would still like to contribute please make checks payable to Wounded Warrior Project and mail to Olivia Scimeca 21 Cleveland Place #5 Boston, Mass 02113 or you can donate online here.
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Ristorante Damiano Re-Opens as Carmelina’s North End on Hanover Street
The latest news on Hanover Street is this week’s opening of Carmelina’s North End restaurant at 307 Hanover Street. It’s actually a re-opening of Ristorante Damiano by owner and chef Damien DiPaola. In a Facebook posting, he says, It was alot of fun doing “Piattini” for three years at Damiano, and we did it with [...]
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Poll Results: You Will Shop at the Public Food Market
In one of the most lopsided polls we’ve had, the proposed Boston Public Food Market saw huge support with 63% of respondents expected to be frequent shoppers and another 32% occasional visitors. Only 6% of voters said they won’t use it. Good news for the bidders! Related article: Boston Public Market Request for Proposal Issued
Eliot School Family Council Fundraiser at Vinoteca di Monica – Tickets Available For January 25, 2012
An Evening for Education to Support the Eliot School Please join the community in supporting The Eliot School’s continued success to be the BEST public school in Boston. On Wednesday, January 25th at 6:30 pm, the Mendoza Family of Monica’s Restaurant is hosting a special four course wine pairing dinner at Vinoteca di Monica to benefit the school. The [...]
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Persuasive Reviews of Pizzeria Regina From the Eliot School’s 3rd Grade
Who knows pizza better than anyone? Kids, of course. Let the experts in the 3rd grade class at the Eliot School convince you that the North End’s Pizzeria Regina is the best. In case you missed the previous posts, catch up on the first and second set of writings by the class.
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FinComm Investigates Valet Parking Enforcement
The Boston Finance Commission has launched an investigation regarding the enforcement of valet parking violations at restaurants and hotels. The investigation comes after multiple problems were reported in the recent Globe article. Valet parking enforcement involves crossover responsibilities from three city agencies, the Transportation Department (BTD), Police Department (BPD) and the Mayor’s Office of Consumer [...]
North End Restaurants Sponsor CityFeast “Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes”
Sunday, January 29, 2012 6:00 p.m. Boston’s North End Please join us for a five-course dinner with wine pairings at your choice of one of Boston’s exclusive North End restaurants. Proceeds benefit Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. Tickets: $150*. *$100 of the ticket price is tax-deductible. CityFeast Co-Hosts Carla Gomes, Antico Forno and Terramia [...]
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