POLICE BEGIN COORDINATED PATROLS
The Boston Police announced this week at the South End Forum’s Opiate Working Group that a coordinated patrol effort is underway in the Mass/Cass and surrounding South End areas – an effort that includes arrests when warranted and a loving push toward recovery services as well.
Dep. Supt. Winifred Cotter said the effort began about three weeks ago and includes coordination between three Boston Police Districts, BU Police, BU Security, Transit Police, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Deputies and the State Police.
“We’re all working together to make the area safer and a better place to come to,” she said.
Some of the actions include “sweeping” the neighborhoods with lights on in the mornings to get people to move on.
It also includes arresting people.
“A lot of people are getting locked up if they have warrants or are selling drugs,” she said. “We can’t arrest our way out of the problem; we know that. We also can’t let people run all over us down here. We’re just trying to move people in a loving and compassionate way in the right direction.”
Other efforts include “sectioning” people who have overdosed in public places routinely, a legal effort that can have a judge send them away for a while to get sober.
Other efforts include using the Drug Unit to come down in the early mornings to catch the numerous drug dealers that are trying to sell to Methadone Clinic patients who are coming and going for treatment nearby.
BOSTON LANDMARKS DENIES DOOR
The Boston Landmarks Commission denied without prejudice the installation of a larger door opening on Tamworth façade and accessibility ramp at the BYMCU building on 48 Boylston St.
At a hearing held on Tuesday, July 25 the St. Francis House that occupies the building proposed enlarging a door on Tamworth Street to allow for a 10-gallon container to fit through for better trash removal.
The door itself is not original to the building but Commissioner Richard Yeager said that the brick arching is something worth saving. In the proposed drawing, the door was kicked out to the side to widen it – breaking through the brickwork.
“To cut to the chase – we denied it without prejudice but we gave them the option to come back and work with a different plan.”
NEW MURAL FOR ESPLANADE
The Boston Landmarks Commission passed with provisos a temporary mural to be placed on the Bowker Overpass that sits above the major pathway that runs along the Charles River Esplanade.
The area right now is home to a lot of graffiti and is not in good shape according to Commissioner Richard Yeager.
In an effort with the Massachusetts Department of Recreation (DCR) and the Esplanade Association, Now + There along with artist Silivia Lopez Chavez are proposing to place a temporary mural that reflects the nearby waterfront and activities.
The mural will remain up for one year with an option to renew for a second year. After it is done Now + There will strip it back down to the concrete.
Commissioner John Freeman said that he recently witnessed Now + There do a test run on a mural that was installed in the South End. He said, “They put a test mural up and erased it to show how it works and let me tell you it works like a charm.”
Right now the application is proposing soda blasting the paint off but Todd Satter the preservation planner for the City said it could cause etching in the concrete. The Commission suggested that while testing they begin with a milder solution and work up stronger until they find a method that works.
Yeager said that they are generally in favor of this project moving forward but wanted to make it clear that it is a one-off. He said, “We don’t want to create a precedent that you can just start painting on concrete.”
He added, “We want to make it clear that they don’t have the rights to future murals.”
Freeman added that while the mural design can change it should be noted that it shouldn’t include any trademarks or text images.
SHIPPY’S WINE AND SPIRITS COMING
The Boston Licensing Board granted permission for an all alcohol license to be operated as Shippy’s Wine and Spirits at 842 Beacon St. in Audubon Circle. The location will not have a walk in cooler and will not have sales of nips, kegs, or lottery tickets.
This comes after neighborhood feedback was wary of opening another liquor store in the area that might cater towards the younger college students.
The 1,000 square foot store will have a closing time of 11 p.m. It is located in the storefront that once housed Superb Bicycle shop, next to the Audubon Bar & Grill.
COMM AVE BRIDGE IMPACTS
Stuck in traffic all day? This is probably one of the reasons why.
The 2017 Construction Shutdown for the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Replacement Project began on the morning of July 26 and will continue through 5 a.m. on Monday, August 14.
Please note the following impacts below.
For Pedestrians and Bicyclists:
- Pedestrians and bicyclists will have full access across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on the westbound side throughout construction.
- Bicyclists heading north and south between Mountfort/Essex Street and the BU Bridge will follow a minor detour route.
- There will be additional Hubway stations on Commonwealth Avenue during the shutdown
For Drivers:
Commonwealth Avenue Users:
- Commonwealth Avenue (between Packard’s Corner and Kenmore Square) will be closed to vehicular through traffic (local access only) from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14. Access will be maintained for businesses and abutting properties.
- See the “Commonwealth Avenue Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
Boston University (BU) Bridge Users:
- The BU Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
- See the “Boston University (BU) Bridge Closure Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
I-90 (Mass Pike) Users:
- From 9:00 PM on July 28 to 5:00 AM on August 7:
o I-90 between the Allston Interchange and the Beacon Street Overpass in Boston will be reduced to two lanes in both directions during peak hours (additional lane closures during off-peak hours, see below).
o The I-90 Eastbound on-ramp from Cambridge Street/Soldiers Field Road will be closed.
o The I-90 Westbound Exit 20 off-ramp to Brighton/Cambridge will be closed intermittently.
- I-90 Off-Peak Lane Reductions:
o Weekdays, July 28 – August 1 (during I-90 eastbound shift):
- 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM: one eastbound lane open and two westbound lanes open
o Weekdays, August 2 – August 7 (during I-90 westbound shift):
- 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM: one westbound lane open and two eastbound lanes open
o Weekends (9:00 PM on Friday to 5:00 AM on Monday):
- one eastbound and two westbound lanes open, or one westbound and two eastbound lanes open
- See the “I-90 (Mass Pike) Ramp Closures Detour” on the Traffic Management page.
For MBTA Green B Line Users:
- The Green B Line will be replaced with shuttle buses between Babcock Street and Blandford Street Stations from 9:00 PMon July 26 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
- See the Green Line pageon the project website.
For MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak Users:
- The Commuter Rail Framingham/Worcester Line will operate regular service on weekdays.
- On weekends (July 29-30 and August 5-6), service will terminate at Boston Landing, where customers can take a shuttle to Reservoir on the Green Line D branch.
o Extra Green Line trains will run from Reservoir to Park Street to accommodate Commuter Rail passengers.
o There is no scheduled direct shuttle service provided between Boston Landing and Yawkey, Back Bay, or South Station.
o There will be service between Boston Landing and Yawkey Station only related to the Red Sox games (7/29, 7/30, 8/5, 8/6). This service will be inbound from Boston Landing to Yawkey three hours before the start of each game and outbound with a departure 30 minutes after the conclusion of the ballgame.
o See the Commuter Rail page on the project website.
- Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited Line will be replaced by shuttle buses between South Station and Albany, NY for the weekends of July 29-30 and August 5-6.
For MBTA Bus Users:
- MBTA Bus Routes CT2 and 47 will be detoured from the normal routes from 7:00 PM on July 27 to 5:00 AM on August 14.
- See the MBTA Bus pageon the project website.
- Route 57 Bus will operate its normal route.
NESOP TO LEAVE KENMORE
The New England School of Photography announced Tuesday, July 25 that they will be leaving the once grungy Kenmore Square location for Waltham this October.
The new location will be at 274 Moody St., the current home for The Center for Digital Arts.
This past October the developers Related Beal purchased nine buildings in Kenmore Square from Boston University. Although no current plans have been set, Related Beal has plans of renovating the entire area – including the current building NESOP is located in.
The professional photographic training school founded in 1968 has been located in Kenmore Square since 1972 after a short stint on Boylston Street.
Now that Boston University and NESOP have plans on moving, this might be the final time miss-shelved students will be able to call the traffic-congested corner of Boston home.
SOUTH END NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
The South End National Night Out will take place at the Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO) courtyard on Aug. 1, 5-8 p.m.
Please join and celebrate CSTO’s 21st year of hosting the neighborhood safety event. There will be community service awards, food, entertainment, a cook out and inflatables for kids.
SALSA IN THE FENWAY
Join the Fenway CDC’s free Salsa class to learn a generic style of Salsa, a flowing fun social dance danced to Latin Salsa music, and popular throughout the world. Although this class is for beginners, salsa dancers of all levels are welcomed to attend.
The salsa class will be held on Friday, July 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1340 Boylston St., 9th Floor, Boston.
The event is free for members and $5 with pre-registration for non-members. Visit the FenwayCDC.org to learn more.
FENWAY MOVIE NIGHT
Moana Movie Night in the Victory Gardens will be held on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Back Bay Fens.
WALK FOR RENEWABLES
On Tuesday, August 1, everyone is invited to take part of the Walk for Renewables from the Boston Public Library (Dartmouth Street entrance) to the Fountain at the Christian Science Church Plaza from Noon to 1 p.m.
Dogs on leash, decorated strollers, and bathing suits for kids are optional. Participants are asked to wear navy, black or green t-shirts. Free water and lemonade will be provided.
The event is hosted by Boston Clean Energy Coalition, which includes Mothers Out Front, Sierra Club, HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team) and the Green Committee of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay.
ROMEO & JULIET ON THE COMMON
The 2017 Free Shakespeare on the Common presents Romeo & Juliet directed by Allegra Libonati. Performances are free and open to the public.
The play will run through Aug. 9 at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. Performances will run Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 7 p.m. (Off Mondays). There will be one 3 p.m. matinee performances on Saturday, August 5.
The play Romeo & Juliet proves that the power of love triumphs over divisions and differences.
Free Shakespeare on the Common is made possible each year through a combination of grants, sponsorships, and donations collected through the Friends Section program, which consists of lawn chairs set in front of the stage.
Individuals can reserve a chair at a performance with a donation of $60 to $75 per chair, with all proceeds going directly towards the costs of production. Online reservations can be made in advance.
ROOTS: A NIGHT OF LIVE STORYTELLING IN THE GARDEN
Join PRX Podcast Garage and the Trustees for a night of live storytelling in the iconic Berkeley Community Garden in the South End.
The event will take place on Weds., Aug. 16, 6-9 p.m. at 500 Tremont St.
The evening will begin by meeting neighbors and guided storytelling, followed by a live performance of personal stories on the theme of “Roots.” Bring a picnic dinner with snacks available for sale. Free and open to all. No dogs allowed in the garden.
BPL CONCERTS IN THE COURTYARD
Boston Public Library’s Concerts in the Courtyard series continues this month and runs through Wednesday, Aug. 30, showcasing a variety of artists and musical genres in the library’s iconic Italianesque courtyard at the Central Library in Copley Square, located at 700 Boylston Street. Concerts are held on Weds. at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 12:30 p.m.; the performances are free and last approximately one hour.
Concerts will be moved to the newly renovated Rabb Hall in the event of inclement weather. Concerts in the Courtyard are generously supported by Deloitte.
July schedule:
- BEARD, Wednesday, July 26, 6 p.m. As musicians raised in the legacy of Berklee College of Music, their primary purpose as BEARD is to impact their audience through genre-defying progressive folk, fusing together traces of jazz, Americana, classical, R&B, and rhythms influenced by world music.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, July 28, 12:30 p.m. Properly Unprepared is a five-piece jazz combo, consisting of two alumni and two current students from King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, and an alumnus from Foxboro High School. This Concert in the Courtyard performance is underwritten by Brookline Bank.
August schedule:
- Harshitha Krishnan, Wednesday, August 2, 6 p.m.
- Kenn Morr Band, Friday, August 4, 12:30 p.m.
- Sleeping Lion, Wednesday, August 9, 6 p.m.
- Boston Philharmonic, Friday, August 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Venezuelan Project, Wednesday, August 16, 6 p.m.
- Night Tree, Friday, August 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Abby Carey, Wednesday, August 23, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Amber Olivia Kiner, Wednesday, August 30, 6 p.m.
‘WAITING FOR GODOT’ TO CLUB CAFE
“Waiting for Godot” by Dave Hanson and directed by Paula Plum will be playing at Club Café in the Bay Village for select times throughout the month of July. The show features Gabriel Graetz, Robert Orzalli and Lauren Elias.
This madcap, laugh-filled love letter to the theater and hysterical homage to Samuel Beckett’s classic drama makes its Boston debut after critically acclaimed runs in both New York and London.
According to The New York Times, it is witty, wise, and endearing, this is a show for theater lovers and haters alike.
Club Café is located at 209 Columbus Ave., in Boston. Audience members receive 20 percent off their total food bill at Club Café. In addition donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at each show for local charities.
All tickets for all shows are pay-what-you-can. For tickets and more information visit www.hubtheatreboston.org.
SYMPHONY PARK CONCERTS
Fenway Civic Association and the Friends of Symphony Park in collaboration with Berklee College of Music and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department are delighted to bring the return of summer concerts to Symphony Park.
All concerts start at 5:30 p.m. and are fair weather only. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy musical entertainment with neighbors.
These events are free and open to the public. Symphony Park is located at 39 Edgerly Road at the corner of Edgerly Road and Norway Street in the East Fenway.
List of performers is as follows:
August 1: Alea
ADULT NIGHT AT RINGGOLD PARK
The Friends of Ringgold Park thought it’d be nice to hold a few adult Tuesdays in the park. The group is proposing the second Tuesday of July, August and September. The idea is to mix and mingle with neighbors – meet new friends and connect with old friends.
The next one is tentatively set for Aug. 8, from 7-8 p.m. in the Park.
TITO PUENTE CONCERT SERIES
Created in honor of Latin music icon, Tito Puente, this series is celebrating 11 years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks.
This series is sponsored in part by Berklee College of Music, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Zumix, Hyde Square Task Force, and Sociadad Latina.
Free salsa lessons led by MetaMovements at select concerts.
- Thursday, August 3, 7 p.m.
O’Day Playground, South End
Conjunto Barrio
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN THE FENS
National Night Out will be held on Aug. 9, from 4–7:30 p.m. between Jersey St. & Kilmarnock St. More details are to come.
SOWA MARKET THEME PARTIES
Boston’s largest outdoor market is in full swing, with the SoWa Open Market now bringing 100+ artisans, 50+ local farmers and food makers, a dozen iconic food trucks, craft beers, live music, and good vibes every weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through October.
As part of the weekly beer garden and food truck bazaar, attendees will be able to enjoy themed dishes from food truck favorites on seven special weekends throughout the summer alongside tasty beers and ciders from top local breweries.
“The SoWa Beer Garden and Food Truck Bazaar is a great place every Saturday and Sunday and the family friendly block parties make weekends in the SoWa Arts & Design District even more fun,” said Aaron Cohen, Founder of Eat Boston. “I look forward to bringing back the popular Boston Lobster Party and Tacopocalypse and many more themed parties throughout the summer.”
To kick off the themed block party series by Eat Boston, more than 20 food trucks will gather at the SoWa Open Market on Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th for a Backyard BBQ followed up by additional themed block parties throughout the summer, including:
- Oyster, Oyster Block Party
Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6
Shuck’em, suck’em, and slurp’em down.
- Grilled Cheese & Mac and Cheese & Steak and Cheese & Beer Festival
Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10
When the worlds of cheese and beer collide. Don’t miss this exclusive festival!
- Sausage Fest
Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 16
From brats, dogs, wursts and craft beer – is there anything better?
UNION PARK EVENTS
The Union Park Neighborhood Association (UPNA) announced its upcoming social events throughout the rest of the year. Some of the events include:
- Sunday Aug. 13, Sept. 10, (5-7 p.m.), Evening in the Park, Union Park.
- Saturday, October 7 (rain date October 8), 8 – 5 p.m., Pictures in the Park, Union Park.
- Sunday, October 8, 1-6 p.m., Crime Walk, City of Boston.
- Friday, December 1, 6-8 p.m., Holiday Party, Benjamin Franklin Institute.
OLD DOVER POLLS FOR NEW MEETING DAY
Old Dover Neighborhood Association may not be meeting this summer, but there are some decisions to be made.
Old Dover President Ken Smith has sent out a letter this week to poll the Association’s members about meeting on a different day.
Last year, Old Dover switched its meeting date to the third Tuesday of every month, but that wasn’t working out so great. The new options are the first Tuesday of the month, or the second Tuesday of the month. Those with an opinion should e-mail Old Dover at [email protected].
MASSPORT AIRPLANE NOISE COMPLAINT LINE
Residents who are being disturbed by airplane noise are encouraged to call the MassPort Noise Hotline 24 hours a day. The phone number is (617) 561-3333.
SUMMER MOVIES AT THE PRU
The Prudential Center in the Back Bay announced the line up for this summer’s free outdoor movies. Family-friendly movies shown under the stars, the Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival is a great summer night out. Entertainment, children’s activities and giveaways will start at 6 p.m.. All movies will start every Saturday at sundown. Rain dates will be held the following Tuesday. Picnic blankets and beach chairs are welcome. Spend just $10 and receive discounted parking in the Prudential Center Garage. Closed captioning will be provided for all movies.
2017 Movie Schedule:
July 29: Finding Dory
August 5: Moana
August 12: The Little Mermaid
August 19: Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)
August 26: The Secret Life of Pets
SOUTH END DATES
- Mayor Martin Walsh announced that there will a free Summer Block Party at Peters Park on Thursday, July 27, from 5-7 p.m. There will be food, music, games and resources.
- Summer Jazz with Pat Loomis returns, the Friends of the South End Library summer jazz and blues concerts by the fabulous Pat Loomis and his Friends have been booked. The dates are all Tuesdays, August 1, August 15 and August 29. Stay tuned for the details.