News Briefs

New Meter Rates in Effect

The Boston Transportation Department is reminding residents that updates to the City’s parking meter fees went into effect on Monday, July 1, continuing Boston’s efforts to reduce congestion, increase the availability of parking and reinvest funding into transportation infrastructure.

The revised fees build off of the learnings from the two-year performance parking pilot program in the Back Bay and South Boston Waterfront, two areas with the highest parking demand in Boston. Taking a different approach in each neighborhood, the City adjusted meter rates and observed the impact on parking availability. The pricing approach taken in the Back Bay, where the City applied a consistent price over a larger area, showed the most positive results, as double-parking decreased by 14 percent, and illegal parking decreased by an average of 22 percent. During this pilot, on average a parking space was available on every block.

New prices locally include:

•Back Bay – the current $3.75 per hour will remain.

•Fenway/Kenmore will go up to $2.50.

•South Boston waterfront will stay at $3.75 per hour except on D Street, which will be $2.50.

•Parking meters in Beacon Hill and the South End will move to $2 per hour.

•Motorcycle parking on Newbury, Exeter, Gloucester, Boylston and Fairfield Streets will be 50 cents per hour at all stalls.

Dorothy Curran Wednesday Night Concerts Return July 17

The Dorothy Curran Wednesday Night Concert Series returns from July 17 to August 14 for another great season of outdoor music to entertain music fans of all ages on City Hall Plaza with a tribute to Chicago, the classic soul of Charlie Thomas’ Drifters, an evening of Motown funk, and the grand finale featuring the legendary Tavares. Now celebrating 47 years as Boston’s longest-running outdoor concert series, these performances feature exciting entertainment for music lovers of all ages.The series is presented by Mayor Walsh in partnership with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment.  The media sponsor is WROR 105.7 with sponsorship support from Capital One and Polar Beverages.  All shows begin at 7 p.m.

The series kicks off July 17 with Total Access, a tribute to the band Chicago. 

Back Bay Happenings

•The Boston Planning and Development Agency will hold an Urban Renewal meeting for the Central Business District: Boylston-Essex Urban Renewal Area on Monday, July 15, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Revere Hotel, 200 Stuart St. and will discuss updates and the future of the district.

• Free admission to MFA for BPL cardholders in June: As part of the Toulouse-Lautrec and the Stars of Paris exhibition partnership with the Boston Public Library, throughout the month of June 2019, BPL cardholders can sample MFA membership by presenting their library cards at any ticket desk to receive free admission to the Museum (for two adults and up to six kids per visit) and a 10-percent discount in the Toulouse-Lautrec and the Stars of Paris exhibition shop (eCards not valid). BPL cardholders can also reserve discounted passes to the Museum year-round through local BPL branches. These passes provide admission for two people at $10 each. This program is sponsored by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library.

• The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay is holding an abutters meeting for a proposed expansion of 28 Exeter St. on July 15. Contact NABB for more information.

South End Dates

•SoWa First Friday

The artists of SoWa Artists Guild invite you to visit SoWa First Friday, free and open to the public! More than 80 artists’ studios at 450 Harrison Avenue in the SoWa Art + Design District in the South End of Boston will be open from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.  You’ll meet artists and experience a wide variety of original contemporary art that is available for you to browse and buy. MBTA Orange line to New England Medical Center, then Silver line outbound to Union Park Street. Parking is available. For more information, please visit http://www.sowaartists.com and http://facebook.com/SoWaArtistsGuild.

•The SoWa Open Market will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.

•The East Berkeley Neighborhood Association (EBNA) has ended its spring meetings. The EBNA has changed its meeting time for the fall, now meeting on the first Tuesday of the month instead of the third Tuesday. They will meet next on Sept. 3.

•Festival Betances by IBA will be taking place this month on July 20-21 at Villa Victoria. This year, all of the headlining vocalists at the festival will be Latina women, serving as a continuation of IBA’s “Latinas En Foco/Latinas In Focus” arts series that is showcasing the diversity and talent of Latina female performers. Artists involved in this year’s Festival include Michelle Brava, Gisselle, Karla Rivera and more.

The festival will go from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, and from 1-8 p.m. on Sunday, July 21. The annual parade will take place at 1 p.m. on July 20. The strangest and most fun experience in the South End – the greased pole competition – will take place on July 21 at 1:30 p.m.

•The Friends of Hayes Park will have their annual summer picnic in the park on July 11, at 5:30 p.m. There will be burgers and hot dogs provided, and entertainment from Wayne Potash and the Music Fun Band. Bring family, friends and a favorite dish to share. Sponsors include Cambridge Trust and Sprogis & Neale Real Estate.

Fenway Times

•The Peterborough Senior Center holds bingo at 12:30 and a Tech Café at 11 a.m. every Wednesday. Come play bingo and meet new people, or can get help with your phone or tablet/computer.

•Summer Fitness Series at Symphony Park

Free, age-strong fitness classes at Symphony Park, located at 39 Edgerly Road in the Fenway.

Join your neighbors for these classes, sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Boston Public Health Commission, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, with support from the Mission Hill Fenway Neighborhood Trust. All classes take place in the park at 10:00 a.m.; in event of rain, classes will be held at 100 Norway Street:

Chair Yoga: Tuesdays, June 4 – September 24

Tai Chi: Thursdays, June 6 – July 25th

Red Sox Home Games:

7/12 vs. Dodgers at 7:10pm

7/13 vs. Dodgers at 7:15pm

7/14 vs. Dodgers at 7:08pm

7/15 vs. Blue Jays at 7:10pm

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