The annual “Rock the Village” bash, which hits all the fashion and music notes of Allston, was attended by 250 people last Thursday night.
March 13, 2012
It ain’t cheap to join the grid
The ever-rising price of heating oil led me to check into switching to gas. Since I do not have service now, National Grid will have to run a line. The cost? $1900 for the first one hundred feet. So why do they charge only $1300 in Brookline, Arlington, Newton and Watertown? And Nstar will do it for free in Cambridge.
March 13, 2012
Burritos for nothing
Boloco is giving away burritos today until 8 PM to benefit the Playmakers program, which trains people who are helping kids deal with some pretty tough circumstances. Stop by their restaurant at 1940 Beacon Street in Cleveland Circle.
March 13, 2012
Round of MBTA hearings over, another plan in the works
Last night’s hearing was attended by about 200 people, with more than 30 speaking against the cuts and fare increases (There were more, but I left after I spoke, at #29). It was a mix of people who seem to have made the rounds to many of the hearings and local residents, along with local State Senator Will Brownsberger and State Representatives Kevin Honan and Michael Moran. It received additional coverage on NECN. Neither of the T’s proposal’s got any support, and it looks like they are looking to develop alternatives, if you read to the end of the Boston.com story above. Whatever plan they devise, it will likely only resolve the system’s budget woes for the short-term, given its heavy debt load and the increasing demand on its service.
March 12, 2012
It didn’t start with the Beanpot
The battle between Boston College and Harvard has been going on a while, at least since Harvard decided in 1893 that a Jesuit degree was not enough when it came to applying to law school.
March 11, 2012
Shubow Park
This small bit of green space at the intersection of Chiswick Road and Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton is up for some planning and improvements. Fronted by Temple B’nai Moshe, it is named for Rabbi Joseph Shubow, its first rabbi. Neighbors can get involved at a public meeting Tuesday, March 13 at 6:30PM at the Hamilton School, 198 Strathmore Road.
March 11, 2012
If you ran the T
The MAPC (click the link for their very long and boring title) has created a calculator that lets you decide how the MBTA should balance its budget. Senator Will Browsberger has linked to an array of facts, figures, data and debt schedules that will engage transit geeks and make everyone else’s eyes glaze over. Read it all while you wait for the 57.
March 11, 2012
Another Allston weekend on Twitter
@michaelvanburen: Am I the only person who washes their hands (even rinses) their hands in the men’s bathroom at the model cafe in Allston?
Yes.
@zbilsob: I love basement shows. #allston
@hampshire matt: love walking past asian restaurants in Allston seeing 50 Asians in them and 1 hipster eating by himself. #atleasthewasthereb4itwascool
March 9, 2012
64, 501, 503: attend the hearing on bus cutbacks
http://youtu.be/O92ZbSAftuI?t=22s
The above routes are on the chopping block in the MBTA’s plan to contend with its deficit. There is a public hearing this coming Monday, March 12 from 5:30 to 7:30PM at the Veronica Smith Senior Center, 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue in Brighton Center. Show up, raise your voice, wave your Charlie Card. The MBTA needs to hear how much we need these bus lines.
March 8, 2012
Who are you wearing?
The annual “Rock the Village” fashion and music mash-up will be held tonight at the Brighton Music Hall on Brighton Avenue. Doors open at 8 PM, models hit the catwalk at 11PM, and your $12 ticket benefits the Allston Village Main Streets program. Expect a mix of what you can see along Harvard Avenue and hear in basements across South Allston.
March 8, 2012
1501, Charing Cross Road?
http://youtu.be/7BKcExKy1Fc
Tonight’s meeting will give neighbors a look at the plans for the city-owned property at 1501 Commonwealth Avenue. The report on Boston.com contains no explanation for the name, “Charing Cross,” which seems an attempt at…what? So people can imagine they are buying a condo above a quaint British bookshop?
The project as described looks pretty good, and will bring some life to a stretch of the avenue that sorely needs it. Let’s hope the city will make good use of the $50,000 developer contribution to improve the shabby median across from the site, and the $25,000 that is pledged to Ringer Park. One question that I did not see answered was what are the income levels for the eighteen apartments designated as affordable.
March 8, 2012
Two weeks later, still no clue in BC student disappearance
The family of Franco Garcia has not given up hope or the search.
March 8, 2012
Someone is going to hell
Nothing is sacred anymore. A woman told the District 14 police that her wallet was stolen from a pew while she was in the chapel at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.
March 7, 2012
Pick your park design
March 7, 2012
Another Harvard vs. Allston dispute
Harvard wants the school’s Allston Education Portal, which provides educational services for about one hundred local children as well as programming for adults, to stay where it is. Neighbors would rather it be moved to allow for a better overall use of the site. McDonald’s was able to rebuild their Western Avenue restaurant pretty fast, Harvard ought to be able to move their center into another location without too much disruption.
March 5, 2012
Local kids can summer in Maine
The Harvard Allston Partnership announced $100,000 worth of grants to local organizations, including the West End House Summer Camp.
March 4, 2012
Weekend Twitter round-up
Tweets from #Allston:
Jessica Keefe @JessKeefe
House party. Sofa on the front lawn. It’s covered in glitter. #allston
Retweeted by Allston Rat City
Derek Veile @DerekVeile
I’ve been seeing empty bud light platinum bottles all over Allston. Guess I’m not the only one who has discovered this great invention
Elana Lockshin @lonnilock127
@JCP_96 church!!! The nuns were so good ! #jaykay this place in allston
swillyswills (Shane Williams) http://twitter.com/swillyswills
woke up to this beautiful face @ Allston, MA http://t.co/EUta7u3K
Editorial comment: Swilly, if you woke up to this, your night was worse than you thought.
Allston Rat City
mrdirkadirka: A drunk girl just peed on her friend’s leg in the bushes near my apartment…and I’m not the slightest bit surprised. Just another Saturday night shit show
Drunk girls are the biggest problem facing us in today’s society.
Allston Rat City
coma-pony: 88 Gardner Street: Do y’all know how to use a stove?! This is at least the 3rd time I’ve seen firetrucks outside of your place….
March 4, 2012
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.
March 3, 2012
Where else would they put it?
Nstar is going to rebuild the transformer on Electric Avenue, starting next week, according to the Hobart Park Neighborhood Association.
View Larger Map
March 3, 2012
Don’t give them an inch
Every five years, Massachusetts town and city officials are required to go for a walk. Specifically, they have to make sure that the markers that designate town lines are in place. Adam at Universal Hub has a neat photo of a marker being checked out on the Newton/Boston line, a map that includes the Bigelow Street are circa 1896, and a link to more photos. Nowadays we rely on things like overnight parking restrictions and resident parking to know what side of the border we are on.