Memorials are tricky. You’ve probably heard of the troubles with the proposed memorial for Eisenhower. The most successful examples are, of course, Lincoln’s, Washington’s and the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Finding a name on that wall—hard to do when the 58,000 of them are not arranged alphabetically—brings that fallen soldier to life for Read More…
It has been 135 years since Thomas Edison patented his first incandescent light bulb. Such an inventive guy would be delighted with what is taking place in urban lighting as incandescent bulbs are phased out. And phasing out incandescent lighting is not a Communist plot, as some would have it. Technology has been moving so Read More…
This is the season in which Boston should look its best. Trees are fully leafed out. Window boxes have been filled. Front gardens have been tended. We are celebrating summer. When the city doesn’t look its best it rankles Bostonians’ souls. And they complain to me. Why are certain institutions, businesses, or homeowners so inconsiderate Read More…
We were returning home when a thick mist began to morph into raindrops. Evening darkness was falling upon the neighborhood. Plastic garbage bags and boxes were haphazardly strewn at doorways in anticipation of the next morning’s trash collection. Something bright red, discarded on a garbage pile, caught my eye. I first guessed that it was Read More…
If corporations are people, they can be just as infuriating, illogical and unhelpful as people can be—you know, people like Boston drivers and some acquaintances that one keeps at arms’ length. Corporations are hard to keep at arm’s length. A friend of mine has a landline. It rang repeatedly for no reason. The choices the Read More…
Some Boston Public Schools are effective and beloved by their students and those students’ parents. They are coveted but oversubscribed, so it is hard to get your child into one. The Eliot in the North End and Charlestown’s Warren/Prescott are good examples. The Hurley School in the South End is also an effective, coveted school. Read More…
An interesting topic came up with a recent buyer of mine purchasing on the Waterfront. She asked me, “Why are the prices always dropping on the Waterfront when I am getting out bid over asking price in the South End and Back Bay?” A very interesting and compelling statement from an educated, high end and Read More…
Spring is definitely here so downtown residents’ inclinations turn to gardening. Digging in dirt, planting flowers, doing a bit of pruning and scooping up the winter’s detritus, all on a sunny day, is satisfying after hugging the fire all winter. Back Bay’s magnolias and Beacon Hill’s pears are gone, but they provided weeks of enjoyment Read More…
The following commentary relates to a pending application by Regina Pizzeria, 11 1/2 Thacher St., to add “cordials” to its existing malt and wine license. The establishment has an existing license to close at 2:00 am, but normally operates to 11:30 pm (Sun-Thu) and 12:30 am (Fri-Sat). This application will be presented to both neighborhood Read More…
The Cape will suffer an economic downturn this summer. Fewer people can take a vacation. The reason: it seems that half the citizens of Boston are running for office. They must stay in the city and campaign. This is occurring just when we thought we could come up for air after the 2012 campaign in Read More…
By now, you’ve probably heard of Arkansas State Representative Nate Bell who tweeted “I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they had an AR-15 with a hi-capacity magazine?” By now, you’ve also heard the answer: “none.” I called Nate Bell and left a message on his voicemail. I Read More…
The electronic signs over the expressway and interstate this weekend flashed in sequence: “We are one Boston.” “Thank you to all.” We’ve had 9/11 when planes flew out of Boston into New York’s twin towers. We’ve had the Boston Strangler(s). We’ve had the Great Molasses Flood. The anarchist bombing of a North End fire station. Read More…