tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49804137632003486302024-02-06T21:08:46.293-05:00Both Ends of DudleyFrom Roxbury to Cambridge and back by bike, on foot, and sometimes on the Number 1 bus.Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-42184577711026303942013-04-03T16:11:00.000-04:002013-04-04T16:39:13.613-04:00Before I Die Installed in Roxbury<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"<i>Before I Die</i> is a global art project that invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public space. This project was started by Candy Chang on an abandoned house in New Orleans after she lost someone she loved," according to <a href="http://beforeidie.cc/">the project's website.</a>
Today, with the help of YouthBuild Boston and with the blessing of owner Nuestra Comminidad, yours truly installed <i>Before I Die</i> at the corners of Washington and Bartlett Streets in Roxbury.
The irony is that, Bartlett Yard, as this community has known it for several years, will die as an eyesore and environmental hazard and be reborn into a vibrant arts space. Before it dies, come and write your aspirations and become part of that rebirth. If you can't make it to Roxbury, check for more pictures on the <a href="http://beforeidie.cc/site/roxbury-boston/">Before I Die page devoted to this installation</a>.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ968E8JoNXs3QEKe5F6md9XgAWG9um8PsDXBOqXcRTauyXR_m1bdV5vzw4Z9ZzjqizaEuCz-5L5bl86OlZWnQcnXl7tokXpMniIuwGbPc3rafYFvz9uNk8T_O_DHzo614sVGcL9kIzJY/s1600/before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ968E8JoNXs3QEKe5F6md9XgAWG9um8PsDXBOqXcRTauyXR_m1bdV5vzw4Z9ZzjqizaEuCz-5L5bl86OlZWnQcnXl7tokXpMniIuwGbPc3rafYFvz9uNk8T_O_DHzo614sVGcL9kIzJY/s640/before.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corner of Washington and Bartlett before installation.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR0qG9zksuzWGjvL89YQ_vIc0_KPFrpgqQjOp8LFa1Sp3PffSvWMQVotU83kFwD2PDjisG1Xkv8uiWvZgpEDtLjRj-YiCWY80xxPVcZBWvVQIWkEpuXZ_uqQ3LOfwzoj3sR_N9vmCU-k/s1600/beginning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYR0qG9zksuzWGjvL89YQ_vIc0_KPFrpgqQjOp8LFa1Sp3PffSvWMQVotU83kFwD2PDjisG1Xkv8uiWvZgpEDtLjRj-YiCWY80xxPVcZBWvVQIWkEpuXZ_uqQ3LOfwzoj3sR_N9vmCU-k/s640/beginning.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figuring out how they'll mount the panels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGyCZJXnDV0FhwBwR88lpSx9JyD2-1MAtDzxHgrER2buZVsdG5NVQjXi_PNkJ8B4aH3a6QygEQeiMRnDDkqnfig-P9riNbj7NQsr1zisJtvoFwuteVWlUm466EUmesK1sPRXwCBDeBN0/s1600/getting+boards+in+place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGyCZJXnDV0FhwBwR88lpSx9JyD2-1MAtDzxHgrER2buZVsdG5NVQjXi_PNkJ8B4aH3a6QygEQeiMRnDDkqnfig-P9riNbj7NQsr1zisJtvoFwuteVWlUm466EUmesK1sPRXwCBDeBN0/s640/getting+boards+in+place.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Chavez, YouthBuild Boston <i>Director of Project Development & Management </i>shows the trainees how it's done.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnRCvAcCXMCsOVdlXTf-i9UuCvz14MB2XaAAczhE_aBjAC1lzE36ecY5VMrjhzifEwiHl1k3BGKHNmBwTm7JdQZRJ1n14sbxaSPYy9VjFl3t2zIKPB_og5Vj1z8dr-ofSjvwPrn-te10/s1600/youthbuild+first+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnRCvAcCXMCsOVdlXTf-i9UuCvz14MB2XaAAczhE_aBjAC1lzE36ecY5VMrjhzifEwiHl1k3BGKHNmBwTm7JdQZRJ1n14sbxaSPYy9VjFl3t2zIKPB_og5Vj1z8dr-ofSjvwPrn-te10/s640/youthbuild+first+board.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Securing the panels.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDF_IWjhz75w284hKg2h_R0WHYSYqlChfKVsIauqXO6Ts1AeQXSPy5Kpu2LuSf2DSHjqM4Ua9GRL0AHEIjxqUO85Hl-4TtBXOPxSfqlypIQhuhjRLYzkQ_0srZ4RsdTPGt3ndpj5gabPQ/s1600/first+words.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDF_IWjhz75w284hKg2h_R0WHYSYqlChfKVsIauqXO6Ts1AeQXSPy5Kpu2LuSf2DSHjqM4Ua9GRL0AHEIjxqUO85Hl-4TtBXOPxSfqlypIQhuhjRLYzkQ_0srZ4RsdTPGt3ndpj5gabPQ/s640/first+words.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First panel and aspirations by passing MassArt students</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cH9bLoYKoKG98Cyzcofsrb7PL9QYR8MFJov3xXNsG738Eq-y5iitukZpUL2u6PSMRSM_V4q6YyTcuIO4_lVZ-jrTUgl1bAhUg_SqBAcZmfP_rzTib8JFDO0r5TjcvigLCrywxkch1YY/s1600/carlos+at+bid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cH9bLoYKoKG98Cyzcofsrb7PL9QYR8MFJov3xXNsG738Eq-y5iitukZpUL2u6PSMRSM_V4q6YyTcuIO4_lVZ-jrTUgl1bAhUg_SqBAcZmfP_rzTib8JFDO0r5TjcvigLCrywxkch1YY/s640/carlos+at+bid.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlos with his contribution</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVxS-cDkUKOedVyqjl3BjaVIUrOaojpcVRcGE8QCSblUiXriMFjugnWRutuozZdxVCCMLEl8Qo8yc4iThlxra4QXMuReroy6ceh_WRKiZq0klvA_ag5mlC-z36GXXpk-jWRJWePQLLA/s1600/more+stenciling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljVxS-cDkUKOedVyqjl3BjaVIUrOaojpcVRcGE8QCSblUiXriMFjugnWRutuozZdxVCCMLEl8Qo8yc4iThlxra4QXMuReroy6ceh_WRKiZq0klvA_ag5mlC-z36GXXpk-jWRJWePQLLA/s640/more+stenciling.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stenciling the title.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YouthBuild crew and Mark Matel, Bartlett Yard Project Manager, (holding stencil).</td></tr>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-84792741700244591022013-02-28T12:40:00.000-05:002013-02-28T14:33:58.590-05:00'Alchemist' Gagged at MIT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A medical mask to thwart the spread of the flu virus that plagued Boston before this winter's snow and deep freezes?<br />
Or a statement on <a href="http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/40347463044/prosecutor-as-bully">MIT's reticence</a> during the prosecution of Aaron Swartz?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plensa's 'Alchemist' gagged during the snowstorm of February 8.</td></tr>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-24609478504375906832013-02-27T16:46:00.000-05:002013-03-28T15:10:35.187-04:00My Night at Aga's<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><a href="http://theroxburian.blogspot.com/"> The Roxburian recently wrote about the importance<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>of supporting local businesses</a> and that intention, coupled with curiosity and
the need for adventure, found me, a woman old enough to be someone's grandma,
throwing dollar bills at gyrating female tuckus and drinking more than is
salubrious at Aga's Highland Tap in Dudley Square.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>A small, innocuous, rectangular-shaped building
on the corner of Eliot and Washington Streets, Aga's was "Established
Since 1947" according to its sign. A few years ago, Aga's painted
"Bikini Bar" in massive lettering on the side of the building
facing Melnea Cass, piqueing the sensibilities of neighborhood watchdogs (and
no doubt soon-to-be-across-the-street neighbor HBI, Inc). The lettering
was removed.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>My original plan had been to check out the
"Bikini Bar" with a visibly pregnant friend (bars serve
soft drinks, too) who was also in need of adventure but she found her adventure
abroad before we got the chance. Finally, one night last October, my friend D
and I enjoyed cultural attractions at both ends of Boston: a Martin McDonough
play at the Charlestown Working Theatre followed by drinks and, um, dancing
at Aga's.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Like The Roxburian, I'd been, at first, a
little intimidated and frightened by the prospect of Aga's. I imagined a
dark, dingy place, the air fogged blue with dense smoke from cigarettes of all
types and levels of legality, and heavily tattooed (ha! like that means
anything anymore!) glowering ganstas with their guns resting on the bar by
their beers; vicious drug dealers doing lines off the bellies of their women;
one-eyed pirates with knives between their teeth and assault rifles on their
backs and ...well, you get the picture. But the more I <i>really</i> thought
about it, the more I realized that some of Boston's very best bars over the
years were "dives", places that may have appeared to be scary but that
were in reality great spots to hang out. The Blue Sands, the Rat, and others,
the memories of which have been smothered by copious consumption of their wares,
are some that spring to mind. Anyway, how bad could Aga's be, really?<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>One clue that assumptions and reality are often
divergent was that, walking past the bar on warm evenings, the bouncer was
sometimes sitting on a stool<span style="font-size: small;"> just outside</span> the door reading a book.<i> </i>I'm not a
fan of stereotypes (except, it seems, about <a href="http://ggstem.wordpress.com/">grandmothers)</a> but I've worked in bars and in most cases it was rare that
any of the doormen would read anything more than a newspaper when things were
quiet. Turns out that Nathan, the book-reading bouncer, is a really nice
guy - former Marine currently apprenticed to become an electrician and working
nights to make a little extra dough. Good-bye, one-eyed pirates with
knives.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>So on the night of the big adventure, we travel from
the dark humor of McDonough, to the deadly quiet of Dudley (the safest place in
Boston after sundown because <i>no one is there</i>). Nathan greets us at the door and
requests a five dollar cover charge. The bar is against the wall on the right
<span style="font-size: small;">as you enter </span>and to the left there are a couple of chairs and tables and then a small dance
floor. There are two male customers, the bartender, two women who turn
out to be the dancers, Nathan, and D and me. And that's it. All night,
and it’s a Saturday, people come and go but D and I are the only ones there for
longer than 20 minutes and at no time in the evening are there ever more than
five customers, total, in the bar. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>At
one point, there’s a latino guy with his buddy and girlfriend. Later in the night, a distinguished looking
black man in a velvet jacket with a massive cross hanging around his neck rushes
past Nathan and through the door leaving a trail of scent in his wake. Alice
refuses to serve him and prods Nathan to get “The Reverend” out of the
bar. A<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>white guy who looks like an
undercover cop comes in for a few minutes and chats with Alice at the end of
the bar. She tells me that he’s a “friend of the bar” around the same time
she’s telling me that the City doesn’t like Aga’s. A couple of single black guys come and go. Most
of the night it is just D and me with the dancers, the bartender, the bouncer. Good-bye, vicious
drug-dealers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>The dancers are Vi<span style="font-size: small;">s</span>a and Trina, both youngish,
one black, one white and they take turns moving on the dance platform<span style="font-size: small;"> in bikinis. </span>During breaks between sets, they throw on tee
shirts and shorts. Their dancing is uninspired. Trina appears bored, almost sullen, and
stares at herself in the mirror behind the bar as she moves<span style="font-size: small;"> as if she</span> is dancing for herself<span style="font-size: small;"> - o</span>r to avoid thinking about the eyes on her. Occasionally, when there are male customers
in the bar, she will “accidentally” pop a nipple from her bikini top. The red,
glassy squint of Visa’s eyes hint that she’s got a good buzz on. Her dancing is more of a get down on all
fours, thrusting, humping, and grinding her fifi in your direction kind of
thing. I am happier talking to them than seeing them dance and in my
mortification for both of them, I shower them with dollar bills – ones, fives,
even tens. It becomes a very expensive
night - atypical in my dive experience. D and I buy them <span style="font-size: small;">one </span>drink each (they warn us that Alice will get mad if they have more) and chat with
them, between their dances, about work, life, dreams and goals. Trina says that she manages a store during
the day. Visa, when asked if she had so
much money she could do whatever she wants, says she would have a butt augmentation. Goodbye, assault weapons. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>The <span style="font-size: small;">women</span>’s dance sets and breaks are managed by
owner and bartender, Alice, <span style="font-size: small;">a post middle-aged </span>woman whose Greek immigrant father-in-law was the
original Aga, whose daughter does the books and whose son sometimes help out with the business. She lets Trina or Visa know that a break is over and it’s time to
dance again. The raunchiest hip-hop music booms from loud speakers and petit<span style="font-size: small;">e</span> Alice,
gray hair peaking out from beneath her hat, knows all the words and sings alon<span style="font-size: small;">g </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(i</span>ma<span style="font-size: small;">gine your gr<span style="font-size: small;">andmother mouth<span style="font-size: small;">ing, <span style="font-size: small;">"</span>you a fine muth<span style="font-size: small;">a</span>fucka won<span style="font-size: small;">tch<span style="font-size: small;">a</span> ba<span style="font-size: small;">ck</span> that ass up"<span style="font-size: small;">)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>while mixing drinks, and keeping track of dances and breaks
and money coming in, mostly from D and I who over-order and over-tip Alice
(even though she’s over-charging us) because we think she’s so
cute and funny and atypical and the place is so diverting. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span>Goodbye, glowering ganstas.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>When we first arrive and are getting to know
Trina, and Visa, and Alice, and Nate, D says, “We have to make a documentary
about this place.” I am thinking the same thing. Over the course of the night, (after several
beers, then Jack and cokes, then shots of whatever) occasionally, while D is
talking to Trina or Visa and I<span style="font-size: small;"> am</span> talking to Alice or Nate, D will lean over and say in my ear, “we are sooo
lucky”. Not because we are drunk at an
off-the-beaten-track bar but because we do<span style="font-size: small;"> not</span> have to dance there - we have
educations and economic resources and people who care about us and would help
us out before we would have to dance at Aga’s. Still, we are determined, before the hangovers
set in, that we will frequent Aga’s,
that we will become regulars there; we will make a documentary about the
place and its history; we will support Alice and Nate and Trina and Visa in the
only way that we can – by putting dollars in their pockets<span style="font-size: small;"> - </span>or bik<span style="font-size: small;">inis</span>. Beyond that,
whether they use those dollars to buy butt augmentations or get tattoos or earn a plumber’s
license is not really up to us or within our control.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Fear of the unknown alchemi<span style="font-size: small;">sed into melancholy<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and what we had hoped would be an adventure became more of the<span style="font-size: small;"> s<span style="font-size: small;">ame<span style="font-size: small;">, all over again<span style="font-size: small;">: <span style="font-size: small;">ordinary people trying to get by in the only ways they <span style="font-size: small;">know how. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;">W</span>alking home and the next day and even now all I can think is <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="font-size: small;">it would be great to</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="uficommentbody"> find a way to turn <span style="font-size: small;">A</span>ga's, which is really a cute little building in a great location, from a 'bikini
bar' to a burgers n beer <span style="font-size: small;">joint</span> or even better - a <a href="http://www.wallyscafe.com/">Wall<span style="font-size: small;">y<span style="font-size: small;">'s II</span></span></a></span></span>. <span style="font-size: small;">K</span>eep <span style="font-size: small;">N</span>athan on the door<span style="font-size: small;">. A</span>lice can still pour and
sing all the lyrics to every filthy gansta rap song you've ever heard, and <span style="font-size: small;">T</span>rina
and <span style="font-size: small;">V</span>isa can<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>waitress<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Aga's team</span> would make more money and the neighborhood would gain a local business<span style="font-size: small;"> that just about eve<span style="font-size: small;">ryone would be eager to support.</span></span></span></span></div>
Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com62128 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02119, USA42.331735599999988 -71.08182820000001816.809701099999987 -112.39042220000002 67.853770099999991 -29.773234200000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-90679874602669785442013-02-14T12:29:00.001-05:002013-02-14T12:29:47.987-05:00Bucking the Trend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In my neighborhood, I've seen car parking space savers in June, for chrissakes,
so this sign on Highland Ave. adjacent to a freshly shoveled spot was a ray of civic-minded sunshine.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFuYOgRyKDu0KBo0Q6FtYyBS8QbE7C_zynYnpa5E8ys03yOWRd97j93FppwFKwhNNiHQZJYxUvi61hdT2TQGYiMpMQV6sk_u8_-I7QTejOtkgIbIHwkRTIRBM7J_YNxJSevTJ848rZpI/s1600/buckingthe+trend.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFuYOgRyKDu0KBo0Q6FtYyBS8QbE7C_zynYnpa5E8ys03yOWRd97j93FppwFKwhNNiHQZJYxUvi61hdT2TQGYiMpMQV6sk_u8_-I7QTejOtkgIbIHwkRTIRBM7J_YNxJSevTJ848rZpI/s640/buckingthe+trend.JPG" width="640" /></a>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-7257682677706933632013-02-08T12:52:00.000-05:002013-02-08T12:52:53.911-05:00Ghost TownOn a usual Friday at 8:15 a.m., the streets of Boston would be bumper-to-bumper and curb-to-curb with car traffic. Not this morning.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huntington Ave., north/eastbound</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huntington Ave., south/westbound</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longwood Avenue, eastbound</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longwood Avenue, westbound</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LkUyzgff6-xYx7liFO0kz81nuua9kC3Sp8vupOYY9FKLZHUMrpYo4Iy1IMmjqjnNidh_Zkr4N0Lfxk1D9blAG7epcu6ShYIUZnbmcCFwLEmt9ZL06JWSDbf1g1IWbrNK4CRXUYAbWIk/s1600/columbus+ave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LkUyzgff6-xYx7liFO0kz81nuua9kC3Sp8vupOYY9FKLZHUMrpYo4Iy1IMmjqjnNidh_Zkr4N0Lfxk1D9blAG7epcu6ShYIUZnbmcCFwLEmt9ZL06JWSDbf1g1IWbrNK4CRXUYAbWIk/s1600/columbus+ave.jpg" height="477" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbus Ave/Roxbury Crossing at 8:15 a.m.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc1bkBaBpDUPsQwf09wQwKLwBomYVXuTuOip39D9pL_3FhWYWKmNFCRtG5A1rLkmjCWBbMoSKJHngqXywAK6zV9cXA9kiIN0d8Eu_txGxnRrGpKBpzj5fLUVoxrWHNz97FMpP5bOweNA/s1600/roxxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc1bkBaBpDUPsQwf09wQwKLwBomYVXuTuOip39D9pL_3FhWYWKmNFCRtG5A1rLkmjCWBbMoSKJHngqXywAK6zV9cXA9kiIN0d8Eu_txGxnRrGpKBpzj5fLUVoxrWHNz97FMpP5bOweNA/s1600/roxxing.jpg" height="477" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxbury Crossing. That's salt, not snow on the ground.</td></tr>
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<br />Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-1727580985303895272012-10-05T14:20:00.001-04:002012-10-05T18:46:24.600-04:00Fenway Enfolds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><small><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=evans+way+park&aq=&sll=42.338324,-71.098436&sspn=0.001713,0.002956&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=evans+way+park&ll=42.337993,-71.0982&spn=0.006852,0.011823&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=42.337823,-71.097831&panoid=FOnvQ75WR88a62lByLEVfw&cbp=12,301.93,,0,0&cid=15203888141572951028" style="color: blue; text-align: left;"></a></span><br /></small></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back in December, <a href="http://blog.shiftboston.org/2011/12/city-council-approves-fenway-cultural-district-proposal">the Fenway won</a>
the city wide competition to be the first state recognized cultural
district in Boston. In March, the Massachusetts Cultural Council announced the Fenway Cultural District as one of the first State-designated cultural districts in the State - a distinction which would send funds and tourism
their way. With the MFA, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, MassArt, and
the BSO, among other institutions in their district, how could they not
win? Today people from architectural firm <a href="http://www.perkinswill.com/">Perkins + Will</a> were in </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><small><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=evans+way+park&aq=&sll=42.338324,-71.098436&sspn=0.001713,0.002956&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=evans+way+park&ll=42.337993,-71.0982&spn=0.006852,0.011823&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=42.337823,-71.097831&panoid=FOnvQ75WR88a62lByLEVfw&cbp=12,301.93,,0,0&cid=15203888141572951028" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Evans Way Park</a>, the park between MassArt and the Gardner Museum, </span> <span style="font-size: small;">assembling a fabric installation called "Fenway Enfolds" in anticipation of the bigger-than-usual annual celebration <a href="http://fenwayculture.org/?p=66">Opening Our Doors</a> on Monday. </span></small></span></div>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-71526928329913823992012-10-04T14:34:00.001-04:002012-10-04T14:34:17.373-04:00Commonwealth Avenue Mall Apples<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBD5Pi7PNqAM9AED0apojrhyPcrYa3WKU6W-M2GsWhsRWeaBPicJfyso0jvGvQf9QLbc1hyphenhyphenoL8uota43w3g-bBojOHqhaJxYqjdt23zwpiZmc7tRoQC7Ll9Hi2Pqjgk_UPK_jVlAnb5c/s1600/comm+ave+apple+tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBD5Pi7PNqAM9AED0apojrhyPcrYa3WKU6W-M2GsWhsRWeaBPicJfyso0jvGvQf9QLbc1hyphenhyphenoL8uota43w3g-bBojOHqhaJxYqjdt23zwpiZmc7tRoQC7Ll9Hi2Pqjgk_UPK_jVlAnb5c/s1600/comm+ave+apple+tree.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple tree on Commonwealth Avenue</td></tr>
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Food foragers take note: Roxbury may have the <a href="http://roxlog.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-apple-orchard-of-melnea-cass.html">remnants of apple orchards scattered throughout the neighborhood</a> but Back Bay has a productive apple tree, too, at the corner of Mass. and Comm. Aves. This one looks like they are Red Delicious variety and they proved to be red - but not as delicious as the Roxbury Russett. We ate these in a yummy compote with local garden plums and quince.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apples from the apple tree at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Comm. Ave.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLjL-1joATyWINLx8GqioaEPr_D0CYWeiuEI2WRE4t1aolHm1-M6Iu2uwvWjRSnfMJWPk5jPuAcpoLzZ_nq0dCxs2N_plBsOF2aCHFvyL5TT7R1zXgcV2VLQa3OixvTYO9Gao95x6WXc/s1600/inside+red+delish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLjL-1joATyWINLx8GqioaEPr_D0CYWeiuEI2WRE4t1aolHm1-M6Iu2uwvWjRSnfMJWPk5jPuAcpoLzZ_nq0dCxs2N_plBsOF2aCHFvyL5TT7R1zXgcV2VLQa3OixvTYO9Gao95x6WXc/s1600/inside+red+delish.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside an apple from the Commonwealth Mall</td></tr>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-87499519481419726332012-10-02T18:28:00.001-04:002013-03-18T13:59:29.711-04:00Snakes in Roxbury<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
No, I'm not writing about Diane Wilkerson or the Roxbury Neighborhood Council, which has failed to file legitimizing documents with the Secretary of State for at least five years now yet continues to raise and disburse funds. To whom and for what those funds are disbursed remains a mystery because the organization is operating without legitimizing documentation. (Working journalists: please take note and investigate. Be sure to interview all of the people who have been kicked off the council for expressing their dissenting views).<br />
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This is more interesting than them. As I was leaving for work this morning I was delighted to note that a nest of snakes had slithered up a lily stalk and were hanging out on a rose calyx, basking in the warmth of the late morning sun. I counted seven - or eight - heads. They were so intertwined, it was hard to tell how many there were.<br />
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-62657930679239409222012-09-20T17:15:00.000-04:002012-10-12T18:01:27.618-04:00The Apple Orchard of Melnea Cass Boulevard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A corner of Parcel 8, at the junction of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street, currently serves as the staging area for roadworks happening around the city. There are piles of bitumen and gravel and slabs of deconstructed road. And there are also <strike>8-10</strike> about 5 apple trees, some heavy with fruit, lining the edge of the chain link fence on Melnea Cass.<br />
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Though it looks like there may be more than one variety, I was only able to reach the apples from one tree. Mindful that the fruit of trees rooted in the raw materials for asphalt may not be healthy in anything more than a tiny dose, I sampled only one - which was difficult because it was absolutely delicious. Both tart and sweet, and also super crunchy, it was the best apple I've tasted for years. These <strike>don't seem russett-y enough to be</strike> are definitely the legendary Roxbury Russett, the oldest apple variety in the U.S. and thus qualify as heirloom varieties.<br />
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Much of this area of Roxbury was once flush with orchards - one of the reasons Orchard Gardens got its name. Maybe as a part of <a href="http://www.growbostongreener.org/gbg/">Grow Boston Greener</a> or the city's urban farming initiatives, these are trees that could be nurtured and maintained. After all, what grows greener than a fruit tree that could well be over 100 years old? And maintaining what we already have might sometimes make more sense than starting from scratch. As the city looks to make Melnea Cass more friendly to pedestrians and forms of transportation other than the car, preserving the Melnea Cass apple orchard might be a worthy part of that plan.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeKmNVhRna9sHDRA4XqD6iLFgQkrLgw1CPAZbHja0CqzgE4Du73Y4Cr4hlH7bUGfZDoyD_SIP1L-LxtkB9S7aCOCd6K34IzNidS7Ib9XqHLdOhAazDWQ0RfnNIJo1d0iZ9iKCwbSExUg/s1600/roxbury+russett%253F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeKmNVhRna9sHDRA4XqD6iLFgQkrLgw1CPAZbHja0CqzgE4Du73Y4Cr4hlH7bUGfZDoyD_SIP1L-LxtkB9S7aCOCd6K34IzNidS7Ib9XqHLdOhAazDWQ0RfnNIJo1d0iZ9iKCwbSExUg/s640/roxbury+russett%253F.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roxbury Russet apples picked from the old trees at the corner of Melnea Cass and Washington. Delicious!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYDvpvxPA5xwQVcG4yJ6V4tc_QhHaxrQuyn3KbwllgLETZgcBTf8QtSPAtfJnwbVDyRmeyAa8KjCLtoJoWdrEeD09XvSxiEKitMaNrvPzarTsL2PB2_e2bCt09scxzu6FefLelWR20Ng/s1600/app+asphalt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYDvpvxPA5xwQVcG4yJ6V4tc_QhHaxrQuyn3KbwllgLETZgcBTf8QtSPAtfJnwbVDyRmeyAa8KjCLtoJoWdrEeD09XvSxiEKitMaNrvPzarTsL2PB2_e2bCt09scxzu6FefLelWR20Ng/s1600/app+asphalt.JPG" /></a></div>
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-6394128909142123402012-09-10T18:03:00.000-04:002013-03-03T13:05:02.563-05:00Do You Know How Clean Your Air Is? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ccDzyHiwDuNY5p3k95P2hyphenhyphenEkCRZzsLMwHFsi8k_cWIinhLe2TAU5kiSBgw-CIDARAToRhEisksDv7IVHuUmNm88UOkF7zO9du3ahVLEM4JRQmXSqQ4NAi_xI1ri0qwpOpaj9DwcnSYg/s1600/airbeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ccDzyHiwDuNY5p3k95P2hyphenhyphenEkCRZzsLMwHFsi8k_cWIinhLe2TAU5kiSBgw-CIDARAToRhEisksDv7IVHuUmNm88UOkF7zO9du3ahVLEM4JRQmXSqQ4NAi_xI1ri0qwpOpaj9DwcnSYg/s640/airbeat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dudley Square does. Check out the Boston Hazecam on the Airbeat site.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYfuc5o-Ima87uZNzaDxo8zvGac-cjVGHYdi2EPoT9GGNLiJRmRc7iwhgcyyL2mqPnSbrOsTMHxWvU293aCOBylk30dkcI-pFxmAtcrzgxsC5y4MM22CwKlCzRzB8z3HqEa2LJII9Soo/s1600/airbeat.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYfuc5o-Ima87uZNzaDxo8zvGac-cjVGHYdi2EPoT9GGNLiJRmRc7iwhgcyyL2mqPnSbrOsTMHxWvU293aCOBylk30dkcI-pFxmAtcrzgxsC5y4MM22CwKlCzRzB8z3HqEa2LJII9Soo/s1600/airbeat.tiff" /></a></div>
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<br />
The above screen grab is from the website of the Roxbury air monitoring system <a href="http://airbeat.org/">Airbeat</a> located on <strike>Warren Street</strike> Harrison Ave, adjacent to Dudley Station.<br />
<br />
From its website: <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica; font-size: small;">"AirBeat is a pilot project sponsored by the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) specifically for the community of Roxbury. If AirBeat proves successful in Roxbury, it could become a recipe for addressing air pollution issues in many urban areas across the country.<br />
<br />
AirBeat is one of many pilot projects funded by the EPA under a program called <a href="http://www.epa.gov/empact" target="_blank">Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking</a> (EMPACT). The purpose of EMPACT is to make timely environmental information available to communities in a format that is useable and easy to understand. In the past, this information was usually technical and took weeks or months to become publicly available. However, with the advent of new technologies and the Internet, environmental data can be made available to the public within minutes or hours. This allows people to make informed, day-to-day decisions about their lives that can protect their health and the environment."</span></div>
Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-67072501622786022462012-08-21T16:52:00.001-04:002012-08-21T16:52:29.447-04:00Dance in Paradise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-82891481865038474152012-08-17T13:31:00.000-04:002012-09-25T13:11:45.382-04:00Live Webcam of Ferdinand's Demolition/Construction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The BRA and Multivista Construction have a <a href="https://mds.multivista.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=webcampub.page&wcpp=fd0fba14-1325-4bc6-bdff-3bfd8d5d1483">live web cam running very cool high resolution video</a> of the demolition of the Ferdinand's building and construction of the Dudley Municipal Office Building.
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Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-84276906488531675332012-08-07T23:17:00.000-04:002012-08-07T23:45:58.170-04:00Urban Safety 101<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In the second episode of Mad Men, Sally, playing astronaut with her little brother, wears a full length plastic dry-cleaning bag over her head and torso. Her mother Betty calls her over, and viewers with a 21st century bias might presume it's to yell at the kid to get the plastic bag off her head. But the setting is the early 1960's, when smoking was still good for you and driving while drunk commonplace and tolerated. Housewife Betty's complaint is about the dry-cleaned clothes that had been in the bag. "If those clothes are dirty, young lady," she scolds, "You'll be punished." and then takes a drag off her cigarette.<br />
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Signs posted in the last year or so around the neighborhood remind me of that Mad Men episode because often the sentiment that seems so obvious, isn't. Everything has its time and place context so non-city residents will leave the GPS on the dashboard and the laptop in the back seat because it's what they do back home in the village/town/suburb/attached garage. And when they come to the track meets at the Reggie Lewis gym - or to shop in the Back Bay - they need a warning label - like the ones now found on many plastic bags.<br />
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Going by the numbers of people who walk around flashing their iphones or with their earbuds in or headphones on, non-city dwellers aren't the only ones who need some urban safety schooling. There's no guarantee that abiding by the below list <i>won't</i> get us mugged but the Cambridge Police advise the following among other things: <br />
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt;">Be aware of your surroundings at all times and trust your instincts. <br />
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt;">Always walk with a friend or in a group when possible. <br />
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt;">Walk with confidence. Keep your head up to observe your surroundings and don't look down at the ground. <br />
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt;">If
you feel you are being followed, show you are suspicious – turn to look
at the person. It sends a clear message that you will not be taken by
surprise. <br />
</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 10pt;">Do not wear ear buds, headphones, or listen to music or talk on a phone when walking alone. </span></li>
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The bit about talking on the phone surprised me. I always used to feel a
little safer if I was walking home late at night talking to someone on
the phone as if that connection to another person would protect me. I suppose it makes sense that chatting on a phone diverts attention from
our surroundings so we become easier targets.<br />
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My favorite urban safety advice comes from the police force at my place of employment:<br />
<br />
"The safety and security of the ...community... is the combined responsibility of the entire community. Safety is a two‐way street and the community must take precautions to protect itself.<br />
...Each of you must assume a personal responsibility by taking precautions to prevent yourself<br />
from becoming a victim. The more people looking out for one another, the more effective we<br />
will be at protecting the community."</div>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-76849440812391254022012-07-19T18:17:00.000-04:002012-07-19T18:17:52.414-04:00Nice Rack<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmMxOH49H9cp1zEZe3ytqUV0CRxHCDm-J6Ggvlhga-hW-pooIrYHqf-4tLC_cXz_XaEakQ0ZFM71CedH_0bA3s7HnagUz9SvhlS7PtdgdwoD_1IGlrNmYdqwy4DG2pPhkZuv9ebBQXwg/s1600/lock+rack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmMxOH49H9cp1zEZe3ytqUV0CRxHCDm-J6Ggvlhga-hW-pooIrYHqf-4tLC_cXz_XaEakQ0ZFM71CedH_0bA3s7HnagUz9SvhlS7PtdgdwoD_1IGlrNmYdqwy4DG2pPhkZuv9ebBQXwg/s640/lock+rack.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lock rack, corner of Tremont and Parker streets </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I wasn't sure this lock would work as a bike rack so I tested it and it does but this one is more about aesthetics than volume.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH69D2TgP6Z266HTWCAin-YDo3dVrcjWNj-hSakhhfxREyK_QASlMvt5od72MEOeZsP5_XE-9OjKIPqBFS3BBomAkbzBni2hhNzYUcILV8UNkkCkiGYSjdAnU9M1LrwcTLh4hCogQ72E/s1600/tube+of+paint+rack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxH69D2TgP6Z266HTWCAin-YDo3dVrcjWNj-hSakhhfxREyK_QASlMvt5od72MEOeZsP5_XE-9OjKIPqBFS3BBomAkbzBni2hhNzYUcILV8UNkkCkiGYSjdAnU9M1LrwcTLh4hCogQ72E/s1600/tube+of+paint+rack.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tube of paint rack at MassArt</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWD4kd4_0DxN3b-RFn38m4lOhMJxDz2F7kC-wzCVmhALZpEOuBuiYSBKiaAt26UDVANcSbwgN4CUY-82B3qzBEn9tmedRapgo-TdsoNBRsUTsgbESo9NCjGYSm_ko4v_NeMITAmOr2CA/s1600/SMFA+rack.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWD4kd4_0DxN3b-RFn38m4lOhMJxDz2F7kC-wzCVmhALZpEOuBuiYSBKiaAt26UDVANcSbwgN4CUY-82B3qzBEn9tmedRapgo-TdsoNBRsUTsgbESo9NCjGYSm_ko4v_NeMITAmOr2CA/s640/SMFA+rack.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School of the Museum of Fine Arts rack</td></tr>
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<br />
And then there is Cambridge where entire car parking spaces are removed and sidewalks expanded to provide for much needed bike parking.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hcXUxdcj-4FPAmfxH_1zH_zEfpDuUWJ4m2OtDOcnjwA0RZUqnbisLypzNh9Y6Zx4pOj6KdArmGhMcbceZ5ju0QX0VkR9piZTj44xl1rJ-kKzFOSrZDbi-8wuvgtJ39TzrDatiZMMZjw/s1600/cambridge+bike+sidewalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hcXUxdcj-4FPAmfxH_1zH_zEfpDuUWJ4m2OtDOcnjwA0RZUqnbisLypzNh9Y6Zx4pOj6KdArmGhMcbceZ5ju0QX0VkR9piZTj44xl1rJ-kKzFOSrZDbi-8wuvgtJ39TzrDatiZMMZjw/s1600/cambridge+bike+sidewalk.JPG" /></a></div>
</div>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-83895152417022387582012-07-15T08:56:00.000-04:002012-07-20T16:09:11.135-04:00From the Bastille to Dudley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "Let Them Eat Cake" Cake, complete with tiny guillotine and disembodied head.</td></tr>
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Not very surprising that at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day">fête de quatorze juillet</a>, there should be a "let them eat cake" cake, extolling the virtues of liberté, égalité, fraternité. What this picture misses is that the tiny head at the base of the bloodied-with-frosting guillotine is that of Mitt Romney, who has an entitlement mentality similar to that of Louis XVI and a sensitivity to the plight of working people in the US which mirrors the approach of Marie Antoinette.<br />
<br />
More specifically and locally, Romney is the dude who, as governor of Massachusetts, <a href="http://www.baystate-banner.com/archives/stories/2004/June2404-2.htm">reneged in 2004 on a promise to develop Ferdinand's in Dudley Square</a>, condemning a generation of young people to unemployment and the geographical heart and soul of Boston to a decade of further blight with his let-them-eat-cake attitude. He insulted the intelligence of every person in metro Boston with the folderol that he could relate to "urban" populations because as a graduate student he and his wife had lived in <i>West Roxbury</i>, conflating and confusing two neighborhoods which, though historically the same, now embrace very different demographics. Ironically and sadly, any true West Roxbury resident (or conversely, schmuck with a basic knowledge and understanding of this city) would be very quick to make the distinction between the two neighborhoods, underscoring Romney's double-edged sleaze sword. </div>
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M. de Lafayette, au secours, au secours!</div>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-15147451734715584592012-07-12T07:35:00.000-04:002012-07-12T09:32:10.217-04:00Mystery Pooper Prompts Posters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The layout of the title and image on this poster made me think, crap! Some guy is pooping in his neighbor's yard?! Turns out it's the guy's dog who's pooping and the guy who isn't picking it up. Given that his image has been plastered on street poles for a couple of months now, I doubt his dog will be pooping in this quadrant of the neighborhood anytime soon. Nor has anyone come forward, it seems, to collect the reward. My money says the "mystery pooper" is an exceptionally entitled student who moved out in May and left the poop as a token of the esteem in which he held his temporary housing and neighborhood.<br />
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</div>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-91439508225134865002012-07-11T08:37:00.000-04:002012-08-21T21:11:33.554-04:00Development in Dudley: the Scorecard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7h7X8eQwlQ9eNaT-f8qxbpovWcZQApxqxDlKYQpZY-2TaT_EqDzt1pX8_9RRoe_l5lN1HRQNcjzgMheG3IFdnLonOsGTlcxkG9_IQDNR6Rlvuo8ct1uYkw0CfCiQ_CKn6UeB7OoOuN4/s1600/Dudley+Developments.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7h7X8eQwlQ9eNaT-f8qxbpovWcZQApxqxDlKYQpZY-2TaT_EqDzt1pX8_9RRoe_l5lN1HRQNcjzgMheG3IFdnLonOsGTlcxkG9_IQDNR6Rlvuo8ct1uYkw0CfCiQ_CKn6UeB7OoOuN4/s640/Dudley+Developments.tiff" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the map to expand it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
Several developments and improvements, massive and small, planned within less than a mile of Dudley Square and slated to be created over the next few years, are both exciting and overwhelming to district residents. With the right massaging, the geographical heart of the city may go from myocardial infarction to pulsing with positive and vibrant activity once again. Here is a list of these potential improvements and developments, some already underway, some in very early evolution. <br />
<br />
Ferdinand's/Dudley Square Office Facility will provide 150,000 square feet of administrative office with ground-floor retail, according to the <a href="http://www.dudleyvision.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dudley Vision website.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sasaki.com/">Sasaki Associates</a> is the designer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bwsc.org/PROJECTS/Construction/dudley/dudley.asp"></a><a href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/transportation/melnea/">Melnea Cass Boulevard Design Project</a> which will incorporate principles from the <a href="http://bostoncompletestreets.org/about/">Complete Streets</a> initiative intends, in part, to "create a sense of “place” that will make people slow down and stop in the area.
Create a pedestrian friendly, people oriented environment; Increase density of foot
traffic rather than car traffic.
Provide safe and pedestrian friendly crossings between Parcel 9 and Parcel 10.
Investigate new “urban mall” concepts in which businesses are oriented to the street
and outdoor space, with café seating contributing to a lively public realm," says the Design Project website. <br />
<br />
Parcel 9, currently called <a href="http://www.melneahotelandresidences.com/learn.htm">Melnea Hotel and Residences</a><br />
Team: <a href="http://www.urbanicaboston.com/index.html">Urbanica, Inc</a> / <a href="http://www.nadaaa.com/">NADAAA</a><br />
Current program: <br />
87,200 sf hotel<br />
22,000 sf retail<br />
3700 sf meeting room<br />
63200 sf of 52 residential units<br />
46,900 of below garage with 139 spaces<br />
Pyramid Group is working as partner in charge of finding a hotel brand. Developers will keep retail small, around 1000-1500 square feet, to keep it viable and are striving for the new European style boutique hotel where sleeping quarters are podlike and work is done in shared common spaces, according to <span class="title">Kamran Zahedi of Urbanica. </span><br />
<br />
Parcel 10, <a href="http://www.madison-park.org/about-us/madison-tropical-llc-parcel-10-response-rfp">Madison Tropical</a><br />
Team: Tropical Foods Market/Madison Park Development Corp. <br />
Estimated cost: $44,000,000<br />
Current program: <br />
residential: 66 units<br />
office: 11,000 sf<br />
retail: 22,000 sf<br />
supermarket: 35,000 sf<br />
This is a opportunity for the specialty foods store, Tropical Foods, which draws thousands of shoppers from throughout New England, to expand and Madison Park Dev. Corp. to build more housing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nuestracdc.org/properties/60%22">Bartlett Place</a><br />
This week, the 8.5 acre former site of the MBTA's service and parking garages, has been serving as base camp and crew parking for the Bullock/McCarthy vehicle <a href="http://www.universalhub.com/2012/sandra-bullock-set-shop-dudley-week">The Heat</a>. <br />
Team: Windale Development Company and Nuestra Communidad Development Corp.<br />
Estimated cost: $137,000,000<br />
Current Program: <br />
commercial uses 40,000-70,000 sf<br />
housing 313 units<br />
Intention is to create an "urban village": Windale President Arnold Johnson.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ncaaa.org/parcel3.html">Parcel 3</a>, currently
called Tremont Crossing, on Tremont Street across from Boston Police
headquarters will be "truly mixed use" space with a "strong cultural and
educational edge" according to partner <a href="http://www.ncaaa.org/seniorstaff.html">Barry Gaither</a>. It will become the new home of <a href="http://www.ncaaa.org/visitncaaa.html">The National Center of Afro-American Artists</a> as well as the <a href="http://www.ncaaa.org/ncaaa_elsfa.html">Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts</a><br />
Team: Gaither/Jeffrey Feldman/<a href="http://www.stullandlee.com/">Stull and Lee</a><br />
Current program includes:<br />
large format retail 500,000 square feet<br />
smaller retail 50,000 sf<br />
office 200,000 sf<br />
museum/cultural facilities including performance space 58,000 sf<br />
market rate multifamily residential 200,000 (240 units)<br />
Estimated cost: $300-$320 million<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bwsc.org/PROJECTS/Construction/dudley/dudley.asp">Dudley Square Sewer Separation Project</a>
is intended "to reduce pollution levels in Boston harbor" and this work
in Dudley Square is a priority because of the redevelopment plans in
the area, according to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission's website.
The project encompasses an area between Melnea Cass Boulevard,
Washington Street, Circuit and Whiting Streets, and Albany Street and
includes a few blocks in Highland Park.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-27/yourtown/31245771_1_retail-space-office-space-three-story-project">A three story office building with ground floor retail</a> is planned for the corner of Taber and Warren Streets, diagonally across from Ferdinand's.<br />
<br />
The MBTA is making several improvements to the <a href="http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/t_projects/default.asp?id=19480">Dudley Square Station</a>. <br />
<br />
Roxbury Community College will get <a href="http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-04/yourtown/31288765_1_life-sciences-renovations-higher-education">$20 million</a> to renovate, modernize, and boost its science center.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.powahouse.org/">Powahouse</a> and net energy gain <a href="http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthoritynews.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/charetteFlierHighlandPark_v1.jpg">E+</a> housing will be adding to housing stock and cutting carbon emissions with their vanguard projects. Powahouse has a completion goal of August 2012 and is fully occupied. E+ is in the pre-construction phase and looking for buyers.<br />
<br />
</div>
<a href="http://www.urbanedge.org/dev-projects.php?subcode=j-square-redev">Jackson Square Redevelopment Initiative</a>
</div>
Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-3396519204191212002012-07-02T16:02:00.000-04:002012-07-06T20:53:28.619-04:00Shooting in Dudley, Hollywood Style"<strike>Untitled Female Buddy Cop Project</strike>" (<strike>that's the temporary formulaic name, kids, so look for something different at the box office</strike>)
"The Heat" starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy will be filming in and around Dudley Square, July 5- July 12, from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.<br />
<br />
From July 5-10, crews will be shooting at the old B-2 police station. It's a good use for the abandoned station and a better-than-usual mode of "shooting" (drugs not guns) in Dudley. When a scene from "The Town" was filmed down the street in Highland Park, the production company provided free lead and asbestos remediation to the homeowner for use of his house. Similarly, the city has saved money on the B-2 demo since scores of yards of waste were removed from the site gratis, again by the film's production company. <br />
<br />
The rest of the shooting will be in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Call the locations department at 617-237-2645 with any issues about deliveries or accessibility.<br />
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This movie is already cracking me up and not just because the hysterically funny bridesmaid is in it. The neighborhood explodes this time of year with fireworks. Good luck locking down the set for sound, all you third assistant directors. Unless, of course, noisy, smokey, big-bang/no beauty fireworks are part of the scene and then you are in exactly the right place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8i7DSun2MpCa1JJ0RC_FhfPj41vsspEXx0OlTqNJnd74YUbDm907hm-2E0zQSwy8rNpxZXQujn0c6bHkWVlUCkRsHdFmcV630JeDZekILks6O_T7HUColxI5JKX98SD4-swQ5IEwvS8/s1600/paint+and+shrubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8i7DSun2MpCa1JJ0RC_FhfPj41vsspEXx0OlTqNJnd74YUbDm907hm-2E0zQSwy8rNpxZXQujn0c6bHkWVlUCkRsHdFmcV630JeDZekILks6O_T7HUColxI5JKX98SD4-swQ5IEwvS8/s1600/paint+and+shrubs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrubs and new paint...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkNNuFNK2tXnqMMehMkR-kIQnBFEAzowTaRvvjjcrAJXGtMSTzWjMTMofSy_I-_Zz4zxk2wOGlCt3otJj3TMV2VE-K6PbEDTly9Sp0GXNsmZU4zk9yGWy9G99mJ3efgnMbM04LRMAbCY/s1600/B-2+movie+version.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkNNuFNK2tXnqMMehMkR-kIQnBFEAzowTaRvvjjcrAJXGtMSTzWjMTMofSy_I-_Zz4zxk2wOGlCt3otJj3TMV2VE-K6PbEDTly9Sp0GXNsmZU4zk9yGWy9G99mJ3efgnMbM04LRMAbCY/s1600/B-2+movie+version.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...make the old B-2 station look so good...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyxJ4-AAo2vyEuzPk7gTObkVAY-P3RZX0tTh3S0BSyI16FnDodJyJqTur3JWEJNGdN1m432UYj9A6izOhQ_k896DIsNzzqS07tcibCjLxpzgl2os8eMfZcl_4AJOofIZ2v40ia_RsklA/s1600/where's+the+police+station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyxJ4-AAo2vyEuzPk7gTObkVAY-P3RZX0tTh3S0BSyI16FnDodJyJqTur3JWEJNGdN1m432UYj9A6izOhQ_k896DIsNzzqS07tcibCjLxpzgl2os8eMfZcl_4AJOofIZ2v40ia_RsklA/s1600/where's+the+police+station.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...there may be some confusion about which is the new police station. This sign should probably read "Real Police Station".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com4135 Dudley St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA42.32792 -71.08423642.3264525 -71.0867035 42.329387499999996 -71.08176850000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-45279569880063554612012-06-23T12:06:00.000-04:002012-07-19T16:32:18.250-04:00Call to Prayer, Call for Respect<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A muezzin at the neighborhood <a href="http://isbcc.org/">mosque</a> has begun singing the call to prayer which is quite lovely broadcast above the din of the traffic at Roxbury Crossing. I just happened to hear it when leaving the Reggie Lewis Center one Saturday and another time on a Friday when playing hookie from work.<br />
<br />
The call doesn't bother me - it adds beauty and cultural interest to the area - but the lack of notice about it does. During construction and when <a href="http://roxlog.blogspot.com/search?q=Islamic+Cultural+center">they first opened</a>, the cultural center and mosque was the neighborhood's best friend forever. There was nothing they wouldn't do for us and little they wouldn't promise. They were going to invite us to prayer meetings - interdenominational and otherwise. They would have a room open and available to the community for community meetings. They were planning all kinds of activities (for children, for women, for families) in which they would include the neighborhood. Traffic wouldn't be a problem because, since they're just a block away from the Roxbury Crossing T stop, they'd strongly encourage use of public transport.<br />
<br />
Like some other institutions in the neighborhood, once they got what they wanted, the physical neighborhood to which they belong ceased to exist for them.
Traffic is exacerbated and parking for local residents not-existent as believers flock to the area for major services. The room available for community meetings has a substantial price tag, $200(!) last time we checked, hardly affordable for small volunteer based, no-income community groups. This neighborhood has a very robust listserv, which includes mosque members, but I've seen no invitations to or even announcements about prayer groups - interdenominational or otherwise - or mosque activities or events. And for those of us on the unplugged side of the digital divide, there have been no fliers posted in the neighborhood to let families know about the treasure trove of children's activities offered at the center.<br />
<br />
Though some of us are curious about Islamic culture we may be shy and hesitant to intrude on unfamiliar cultural ground so invitations to visit are necessary. One example of a welcoming neighborhood institution was St. Margaret's Convent. It not only made a meeting room available for free to the community, but also held free community meetings regularly in one of the public spaces in the convent and members of the convent participated actively in neighborhood affairs.
That the Islamic center is also a religious institution makes the lapse in communication and lack of follow through on promises even more upsetting. I understand that "thou shalt not take advantage of or ignore your neighborhood" is not one of the Five Pillars but Zakat, or charity, is. We don't want a portion of their income - we'd just like them to honor their word and make a meeting room available to us for free and let us know what's going on - invite us to events, let us know about opportunities. Be the good neighbor they told us they would be.<br />
<br />
Salaam alaikum.<br />
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Update, 19 July 2012<br />
Though St. Margaret's Convent supplied a meeting room (and tea and cookies) for free for community meetings, the now defunct Fort Hill Civic Association donated $500. annually to the sisters' mission in Haiti, according to a former FHCA co-chair.</div>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-23454865814514219042012-04-30T19:03:00.001-04:002012-05-01T08:06:11.651-04:00Magazine Street Ped Bridge Looking Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ80BABBH8kYwcZLFKPxQ0wrrP0QWIOGORmfIzO-DU65TYwgwJFsHpkiWjj0LAWQeAtKF5A2oekUe-i-y_tic1Dj5Eb2Y7m4CefrmL5ahVEauoAFPkXwcYBnSJzanQ4tZSl1cdsB26Zlo/s1600/steve+and+steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ80BABBH8kYwcZLFKPxQ0wrrP0QWIOGORmfIzO-DU65TYwgwJFsHpkiWjj0LAWQeAtKF5A2oekUe-i-y_tic1Dj5Eb2Y7m4CefrmL5ahVEauoAFPkXwcYBnSJzanQ4tZSl1cdsB26Zlo/s1600/steve+and+steve.jpg" /></a></div>
Steve and Steve, of S&R Corporation based in Lowell, MA, take a moment to pose in front of the new <a href="http://www.blogger.com/massdot.state.ma.us/charlesriverbridges/MagazineBeachPedestrianBridge.html">Magazine Street pedestrian footbridge</a> in Cambridge which they've been building. They're "waiting on parts", they said, to finish the construction which should be completed in "a few weeks".Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-32069356649385204602012-04-28T08:42:00.001-04:002012-04-28T08:42:22.054-04:00Lots to Do in Dudley TodayQuick! Out of bed and by 9 a.m. down to the <a href="http://www.dudleystreetschool.org/">Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School</a> at 6 Shirley Street to plant 16 trees with
<a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=q6kvh8cab&v=001RTSvD7iYYABk5pPg8MO9VJn__8i8qkjGHPPj96FfmY9ULd0rrqoX5bOZqabjPiC9QpY8A_TTjktI0LXE93VIyObv2QhLdy5Kw8dn8Qe5JfjfvG6fJgBsamh1PoAK3XryAqAQUkLFVZc%3D">BNAN</a>, <a href="http://www.rainforestmaker.org/lawyer-attorney-1685589.html">Lawyers Accountable To The Earth (LATTE)</a>, <a href="http://www.growbostongreener.org/gbg/">Grow Boston Greener (GBG)</a>, and the Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School. Bring a hat, water, gloves, sturdy shoes and dress appropriately. BNAN will supply the tools and the training. While in that neck of the woods, maybe take a quick stroll through the grounds of the <a href="http://www.shirleyeustishouse.org/index.asp">Shirley-Eustis House</a> and help polish it up a bit.<br />
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Then, quick! Off Highland Park to spruce it up as part of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.cityofboston.gov/ons/bostonshines/">Boston Shines</a>.
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Ok, now time to celebrate <i>Our Dudley Day</i> at Hibernian Hall between 11 and 4, featuring a Scavenger Hunt, Memory Day (those old timey pictures should be fun), Self-Guided Walking Tour, and refreshment all sponsored by <a href="http://www.discoverroxbury.org/#/tours-events/4537500250">Discover Roxbury</a>,<a href="http://www.dudleysquare.org/"> Dudley Square Main Streets</a>, <a href="http://www.historicboston.org/">Historic Boston, Inc.</a>, Madison Park Development Corp., Nuestra Communidad, <a href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/landmarks/">City of Boston Landmarks Commission</a>, City of Boston Property and Construction Management Department, and <a href="http://www.lib.umb.edu/node/38">Healey Library Archives</a> at UMass Boston.Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-42431602638831295712012-04-27T09:03:00.000-04:002012-04-27T09:26:24.594-04:00(One of) The Most Important Thing(s) Taught at Harvard. Absolutely Free.<a href="http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~jfrieden/">This guy</a> mentions it (brilliantly), as does <a href="http://harry-lewis.blogspot.com/">this guy</a>. <a href="http://marjoriegarber.com/">This woman</a> has been heard to intimate it in her classes. And so has <a href="http://www.hds.harvard.edu/people/faculty/dav%C3%ADd-carrasco">this profe</a>.
And <a href="http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/#/people/alex-krieger.html">this prof</a>, too. <a href="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Epolisci/?Page=JanFeldman.php">This woman's</a> entire syllabus is predicated on it.
It may simply be part of the Harvard undergrad <a href="http://www.generaleducation.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do">philosophy</a> but it's available to anyone, anywhere who wants to do the reading and thinking and writing and discussing and self-critical evaluation necessary to acquire it. One of the most significant things being taught at Harvard that you can learn for absolutely free is the importance of <i>informed</i>, <i>thoughtful</i>, <i>engaged</i>, civic participation.<br />
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And now they've made some <a href="http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k77982&pageid=icb.page498373">library data available</a> to the masses, the task, though not less onerous for your average Iseut, may be better supplied.Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-40644094370970191402012-04-26T07:48:00.000-04:002012-04-26T08:45:07.861-04:00Shine it Up, Dudley!This Saturday, take broom in hand (the city will provide it, and bags and t-shirts and gloves but <a href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/bostonshines/register.asp?type=Individual%22">let them know you're coming</a>) and <a href="http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/bostonshines/">shine up Dudley</a>. Pictures below are of the people who came to clean and green the square in 2011.
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautifyin' Dudley Square</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breanna Jackson, 14; Madisen W. E. Wood, 12; Ryen Wood, 13; Amanda Carville, 23; Amber Nasiatka, 19; Adam Becotte, 14 of the United Parish Church Youth Group of Winchendon, MA </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joyce Stanley, Roxbury resident and Director of Dudley Square Main Streets; Randy Garry, owner of Tropical Foods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-42822316682616835052012-04-19T07:46:00.002-04:002012-04-19T21:09:34.153-04:00Emmanuel College in Roxbury?According to a neighborhood activist, <a href="http://www.emmanuel.edu/">Emmanuel College</a> is the latest prospective buyer for <a href="http://www.ssmbos.com/">St. Margaret's Convent</a> in Highland Park. Emmanuel would retain the property's use as a <a href="http://emmanuel.edu/About_Emmanuel/Public_Relations_and_Communications/Government_and_Community_Relations/Proposed_Retreat_and_Living-Learning_Center_on_Fort_Hill.html">retreat center</a>. Up to 40 students would occupy the property, alcohol use and private vehicles would be prohibited at the site and a shuttle service would connect it to the Emmanuel campus. The site would also become a regular stop on the Emmanuel PD patrols.Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980413763200348630.post-10809324900361263412012-04-12T21:45:00.000-04:002012-04-12T21:45:10.320-04:00Dear DoctorDear Doctor-In-Training and Doctor,<br />
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I've no doubt you're wicked smaht. You obviously have been able to memorize all those body parts in A and P and those chemical equations in organic and inorganic really well and now have become a doctor or a fetus doctor (not a doctor for fetuses but an embryonic doctor, a doctor-in-development), a fellow. However, when it comes to human interaction, which some cultures and a growing body of research suggest can have a significant impact on health, a nose pickin', ass scratchin', lungi hockin' troglodyte scores higher marks. (I've never had to spell 'lungi' before so I don't know if that's right).<br />
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Check this out: when you are in a consulting room with me, I should have your full and undivided attention. That means no Pavlovian response to the phone in your pocket, no quick text check to chuckle over some lame quip by another fetus doctor/trog, no tappety-tap response while I'm listing my symptoms. You look like a total shithead as you wipe the my-friends-and I-are-so-clever smile off your face and turn your attention back to me all Suzie Serious and Connie Concern. Flip the switch! I'm a doctor! Flip the switch! I can play with my friends on social networks while I'm with a patient! Flip the switch! I think I can multi-task! Flip that switch all you want, fetus doctor, you come off as an insult to all the good doctors out there. And a douchebag.<br />
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Similarly, Ms Attending Physician with the great shoes: I understand you have to call radiology to get my test results while I sit here half naked. No problem. But you really <i>do not</i> have to listen for 10 minutes (I had nothing to do so I watched the clock and am not exaggerating) while the person on the other end regales you with tales of her Caribbean cruise or spawn's first steps or vaginal discharge or whatever she's on about. It's pretty obvious from where I'm sitting, half naked and a foot away from you, that she's not talking about work. And don't look at me, roll your eyes and shrug. Seriously?! You're a muckety-muck at a prestigious hospital in Boston and you can't deal with a simple case of phone logorrhea? Here's how it's done: you interrupt the person on the other end of the line with, "hey, sorry, but <i>I'm with a patient right now</i>. Let's talk later." See how easy that was?<br />
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I've had some human and humane interactions with some amazing doctors. I've been seeing my gynecologist for 20 years and she knows me inside <i>and</i> out. (Yup, I wrote that). Oops, never mind. She's a nurse practitioner. Ok. I <i>love</i> my dentist. Love him. My <i>dentist</i>. That's how good he is. My dermatologist is a charming old Boston blue blood, nice person and great doctor. <br />
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The sad irony in the above bad interactions which were painfully, humiliatingly, stunningly real is that both practitioners are women. Just goes to show that even nurturing "instincts" (if they exist at all) can be educated right out of people by our "best" medical schools. Or maybe some people just don't have what it takes to be a decent doctor.<br />
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With all the respect you deserve,<br />
your patient<br />
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p.s. If you're looking for me, I put my clothes on and ran away (far, far away) while you were on the phone/FB. <br />
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<br />Iseuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10984554292202850865noreply@blogger.com0