Beacon Hill

Found on Beacon Street, just across from the Public Gardens. And yes, the flowers are inside the sneakers.

Moonscape

The Steaming Kettle

ETA: Sorry folks! It's been a busy few days and I didn't have a chance to look up the background on this one when I posted it. I'll be a better blogger in the future, I promise! ;)

The 200 pound Steaming Kettle was cast in 1873 and put in place over a teashop. The Oriental Tea Company had a contest to guess the capacity of its new Kettle. (The correct answer was 227 gallons, 2 quarts, 1 pint and 3 gills. The grand prize was a chest of premium tea.) In 1967, the Kettle was moved from 57 Court St. to 63-65 Court St. The Kettle is fed steam continuously from the building's boiler room. Today, a Starbucks occupies the retail space below.

The kettle is located just outside of the Government Center T stop (City Hall Plaza) - at the intersection of Court St and Tremont.

Post Office Square

I left work late tonight (because I was chatting, not because I was working) and the sun was starting to set. The play of the light and the shadows on the buildings in the Financial District caught my attention.

Chacarero

The lunch line at Chacarero. Chacarero is every restaurateurs dream - they serve only one item and don't hurt for business! In case you're wondering what a chacarero is, here's the description off their site:

A Chacarero is a traditional Chilean sandwich. It begins with homemade bread, that we make fresh daily. The main ingredient is either tender grilled steak or chicken (or both). Then with your main ingredient, we add steamed green beans, which gives it that authentic Chilean touch, Muenster cheese and fresh tomatoes. After that, we add an avocado spread, salt, pepper & our secret hot recipe to complete the sandwich.

The girls I work with will sometimes wait in line for theirs, but not when they have face to face meetings or interviews after - apparently there's enough garlic in this sandwich to warrant both brushing your teeth AND using mouth wash.

This line was already long on my way to get lunch (not from here!), and it was even longer on my way back. The line is often equally long for dinner after work. It always makes me laugh to see people in their gym clothes, fresh out of Boston Sports Club across the street, and lining up to get their sandwich!

Stop and smell the flowers

The Boston Flower Show was this past weekend, and Whit stopped by to say hello to her roomie who organized the event. This was one of her favorite arrangements, but Leyre and I really loved this photo here.

Waiting patiently?

This bakery has the most delicious pastries and sandwiches and bread and everything else! It's just down the street from my apartment in Jamaica Plain, and this is the fewest number of dogs I've ever seen waiting outside on a weekend morning!

Make way!

There was a lot going on on the Common today. Heaps of people all over! I took a walk through the Common and the Public Gardens and back, and this was by far my favorite shot of the day! It's hard not to love Make Way For Ducklings!

Lollygagging

These three girls walked half the length of Boylston Street like this - arms linked and giggling the entire way. The woman who was with them (on the right in red) was walking impatiently in front of them, asking them to pay attention and walk faster. It was beautiful weather today!

World Water Day

Today is World Water Day...but there's no water here! No swan boat rides in the Public Gardens today! I don't know if this was intentionally drained, or if the water has evaporated. Just weeks ago it was frozen over and there were people ice skating on it. In just a few more weeks, tourist will be lining up on the green dock to the right of the photo, waiting to ride around the pond on the pedal-powered boats!

First day of Spring

Today was the first full day of Spring, and it certainly didn't feel like it! These poor guys thought it was safe to come out during our few days of 50+ degrees, but then got slammed with snow and freezing rain for two days.

Four years ago today...

I live in Jamaica Plain, which is easily one of the most socially aware neighborhoods in the city. There are a number of houses in the area with "Impeach Bush" signs planted in their front yards, there are bumper stickers promoting equality on nearly every other car on the street, and there are posters like this advertising protests of all types on a regular basisa. In the past week, heaps of these stickers and related posters have cropped up all over the neighborhood.

Anyone need a bank?

This is between the Financial District and Downtown Crossing. Any bank you need - Citizens, Bank of America, or Wainwright. If you need TD Banknorth or Sovereign, well..they're just a block further down the street!

What's left of it

Well, they had to put all that snow somewhere, right? This is in front of Fairmont Copley Plaza - made (unfortunately) infamous by the Sept 11th bombers that had stayed there prior to heading for the airport.

Did he ever return? No he never returned!

This is a long one, because I can't post about the T (and specifically the Orange Line in Jamaica Plain) without singing Charlie on the MTA! The song was adopted as a drinking song - probably by many - at a bar where I went to college in DC. We still request it whenever we're there! On with the song....

Let me tell you the story
Of a man named Charlie
On a tragic and fateful day
He put ten cents in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the MTA

Charlie handed in his dime
At the Kendall Square Station
And he changed for Jamaica Plain
When he got there the conductor told him,
"One more nickel."
Charlie could not get off that train.

Chorus:
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn'd
He may ride forever
'neath the streets of Boston
He's the man who never returned.

Now all night long Charlie rides through the tunnels
the station
Saying, "What will become of me?
Crying How can I afford to see
My sister in Chelsea
Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

Charlie's wife goes down
To the Scollay Square station
Every day at quarter past two
And through the open window
She hands Charlie a sandwich
As the train comes rumblin' through.

As his train rolled on
underneath Greater Boston
Charlie looked around and sighed:
"Well, I'm sore and disgusted
And I'm absolutely busted;
I guess this is my last long ride."

{this entire verse was replaced by a banjo solo}
Now you citizens of
Boston,
Don't you think it's a scandal
That the people have to pay and pay
Vote for Walter A. O'Brien
Fight the fare increase!
And fight the fare increase
Vote for George O'Brien!
Get poor Charlie off the MTA.

Downtown Crossing

Downtown Crossing is the shopping district that is...well, right downtown. In the past it had been regarded as high end shopping, but lately has been the place that many turn to for discount shopping. This little fruit/veggie stand is in the corner of the old Filene's building, and is always packed.