The venerable Palace Spa, 419 Washington Street in Brighton Center, is seeking a license to sell beer and wine. It’s not clear if this is for retail sales or on-premise consumption. These days the place is an amalgam of convenience store, cigar shop and keno hall. They will present their plans to the Brighton Allston Improvement Association tonight at 7PM. As always, the meeting will be at the Elks, 326 Washington Street, Brighton. The rest of the agenda is here, although the presentation by Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly for a possible development on Chestnut Hill Avenue has been canceled. Still up, a preliminary discussion for an apartment building at 1650 Commonwealth Avenue, currently the home of a gas station and Cumberland Farms.
Different name, same fights
The owners of the Tavern in the Square, former home of the Kells, found itself in the same position as their predecessor, explaining a series of violent incidents to the Licensing Board. Adam at Universal Hub has the details.
Naked to get Thai makeover
The Bangkok Bistro wants to move to the site that Naked Pizza occupied for a few months and has been empty since early last year, except for a short stint as Elizabeth Warren’s local campaign office. Right now the restaurant operates in Cleveland Circle, the proposed location is 344 Washington Street in Brighton Center.
Other than that, it looks to be one of the quieter meetings at the BAIA this Thursday, with only a presentation from the Allton Brighton Community Development Corp. and the monthly report from the BPD. More meeting details here.
ADDITION: I omitted that at-large city councilor and possible mayoral candidate Felix Arroyo will also be speaking at the meeting.
Russian restaurant hearing delayed
The plans for a 450-seat Russian restaurant at 14-20 Linden Street are on hold for now, at least until the owners meet with Allston Civic Association and the BPD. The Zoning Board of Appeal deferred yesterday’s schedule hearing to May 7, according to Adam at UH.
This expansion almost certainly would require approval from the Licensing Board.
Da or nyet? Russian club seeks permit for 450-seat restaurant
The ever-evolving Russian Benevolent Society at 14 Linden Street, Allston wants to become a 450-seat restaurant and lounge with live entertainment, as well as adding a patio that would accommodate 90 patrons. It started out as a private social club, but has gone from that to serving the public three days a week, and last year to a seven-day-a-week operation. Apparently there was a steam room in the building as of 2010, but no mention if this is still part of the operation. The hearing will be Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30AM before the Zoning Board of Appeal in City Hall.
Cleveland Circle bar cited for overcrowding, serving a minor (no, not Mary Ann’s)
A visit by the BPD on March 1 to the City Side bar turned up 35 more patrons on the second level than the 95 allowed, along with a very drunk guy who was using someone else’s canceled Mexican passport as an ID. Violations issued, expect a hearing at the Licensing Board in the future.
Overheard at Mary Ann’s: “You know half of this bar is underage tonight”
The above quote was addressed to police during an inspection shortly after midnight on Friday, February 22 at Mary Ann’s, the preferred watering hole of the underage, especially at Boston College. Mary Ann’s has been around a long time. Apparently it was established shortly after BC was founded 150 year ago, and the party hasn’t stopped. Among the 261 patrons present (61 over capacity) were fourteen people who gained entrance with fake ID’s, or ones borrowed from people who don’t look like them. Violations issued, hearings will be scheduled before the Licensing Board.
Drink deeper and later, in Allston but nowhere else
Union Square’s Deep Ellum today received permission to extend its operating hours, allowing it to serve food and alcohol until 2AM from the current 1AM. They will also be be allowed to keep their outdoor patio open until 11PM during warm weather.
With this decision and the one allowing the Avenue Bar and Grill to join the 2AM bar brigade, the Licensing Board has established that it will approve the latest close possible for any bar in the Harvard Avenue area of Allston, as long as it can claim that it is run responsibly.
Why just Allston? There are plenty of bars in Brighton that are run well and have to turn off the taps at 1AM.
Why was the South Boston Dominos Pizza denied when it asked to sell and deliver pies until 3AM, but the one in Allston approved?
South Allston doesn’t vote in local elections. North Allston, Brighton and South Boston do.
More room needed for all those underage drinkers
The Joshua Tree, which is looking to increase its capacity and was recently named one of Boston’s 25 worst bars, today had to explain why there was an underage BU student on premises, Corona in hand. Universal Hub has the story. This isn’t the first time a visit from the authorities has uncovered underage drinking.
Like Allston needs more douchebags
The Joshua Tree, recently named number 5 on a list of Boston’s douchiest bars, wants to crowd even more bros into the place. They will make their case for a bigger capacity Thursday, October 4 at the BAIA’s monthly meeting.
Also on the agenda will be planned changes to MBTA bus routes relating to the New Balance development, a presentation on moving the BC trolley stop to the center of Commonwealth Avenue, and a proposed yogurt shop for the former Naked Pizza at 433 Washington Street in Brighton Center.
New liquor store, Mexican restaurant seek support
The Brighton Allston Improvement Association’s September meeting is crammed with stuff, including a major presentation for the redevelopment of the old Cleveland Circle movie theater, a new liquor store at 1550 Commonwealth Avenue, and a Mexican restaurant up the road at 1620. More information here, the meeting will be held this Thursday night at 7 PM at the Elks in Brighton Center.
Patron passes out on table
Tuesday the Licensing Board will hear what some local watering holes have to say in response to the following:
Tavern in the Square in Allston was hit with a charge of serving a 64-ounce pitcher of beer to only one person. This is violates the law that limits one person from being given more that two drinks at a time, and is also basically unenforceable by bar staff.
Around the corner on Harvard Avenue, Wonder Bar got nabbed for an employee on patron assault and serving a minor.
And Myong Dong, a Korean restaurant and bar also on Harvard Avenue, will have to explain why they served so much booze to a patron he passed out on the table. The place was also cited for overcrowding. Well, obviously, if the place was that packed, the table was the only place to sleep it off.
Shocked, shocked: drunks in a bar on NYE
Brighton Beer Garden is up for a violation hearing this Tuesday, March 6 at 10 AM in City Hall. Seems they had a hell of a New Year’s party, with officers finding lots of tipsy patrons thanks to an open bar. Neither is allowed, this is Boston, thank you.