Back Bay

Gina Tomaine photographed the sneakers at the Copley Square memorial.

The New York Daily News reports that, like any good Bostonian in need of explosives, Tamarlan went up to New Hampshire, where he bought the biggest, baddest, "barely legal" fireworks kit from which to extract gunpowder - and the store threw in a second kit absolutely free. It's the same store, the News adds, that sold fireworks to the guy who tried blowing up Times Square a few years ago.

Meanwhile, WBZ reports on the mysterious Misha, who may have steered him toward a more radical worldview.

The T announced the news tonight.

Lost in all the other news last week was the fate of Back Bay residents forced out of their homes because their apartments and condos were located in a crime scene. One of them, Mike the Mad Biologist, wants to know why the city basically ignored these residents:

Where was the Back Bay community liaison during all of this, especially on Monday night and Tuesday when affected residents desperately needed assistance and verifiable information? If she was unavailable (i.e., displaced herself; hopefully not injured in the blasts), why were other liaisons not dispatched on a temporary basis? Indeed, why were not other liaisons dispatched for a day or two regardless? ...

I've never heard of a disaster situation where elected officials and their surrogates weren't on the ground. As I've written before, this is Rascal King 101. The sheer incompetency is staggering.

Meanwhile, the city has set up staggered times today for residents and businesses in the crime-scene zone to go back in.

Although Copley station remained shut tonight, Alex Mellion notes:

The lights are on again at Copley! What an awesome thing to finally see!

Phelan Canney looked out the window this evening.

RedSox223 photographed the Pru from the Charles:

The FBI plans to formally turn Boylston Street in Copley Square back to the city in a ceremony at 5 p.m., the mayor's office announces:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will present Mayor Menino with a commemorative American flag that has flown at half-staff over the Boston Marathon Finish line in a ceremony that will turn Boylston Street back over to the City of Boston.

After that, the city will start a five-step process to return the street to normal:

As this plan commences we will be respectful with all memorials and other personal effects left at the scene. The Boston Police Department will return personal items secured at the scene that have not been retained as evidence by the FBI. The items that are now part of a memorial to victims at the intersection of Boylston and Berkeley Streets will be temporarily relocated to Copley Square Park as will other items from other memorial sites around the area. As we respect the need for people to continue to express their support for the victims and our city we will place large message boards in the vicinity of the area to allow people to record their thoughts and reflections.

Details from the US Attorneys's office, which puts the injury toll at more than 200, in addition to the three people killed by the bombs last Monday. If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life in prison. He was formally charged in his hospital room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The FBI affidavit, below, has additional details on the government's allegations for both the bombings and the events after MIT Officer Sean Collier was murdered.

No specific time or date set; depends on the FBI releasing the area as a crime scene.

The items that are now part of a memorial to victims at the intersection of Boylston and Berkeley Streets will be temporarily relocated to Copley Square Park as will other items from other memorial sites around the area. As we respect the need for people to continue to express their support for the victims and our city we will place large message boards in the vicinity of the area to allow people to record their thoughts and reflections.

Brian D'Amico attended an interfaith service at Boylston and Berkeley this morning.

Copyright Brian D'Amico.

Masstreehugger spotted this guy and his contraption in the Public Garden today.

MassDOT alerts us. Can the opening of Copley Square be far behind?

Cherie L. King photographed a sign on Newbury Street this morning.

Ben Heyman took this photo of a Charles River sunset a couple weeks ago, but it somehow seems fitting today.

Shortly before 7 p.m., a hearse left the state medical examiner's office on Albany Street, headed toward a Wilmington funeral home with the body of Sean Collier, the MIT police officer ambushed Thursday night. Albany Street was lined with Boston police officers showing their last respects. As the hearse pulled out, a commander went on the radio: "Present! Arms!"

Fred Somers notes that while most of us were enjoying the Sox game or just the day, investigators were still combing Boylston Street for clues.

An outraged citizen posts a photo of a ticketed car on Comm. Ave. in the Back Bay this morning:

Really Boston? The morning after the lock down? So many cars this early morning w these on. As a resident of this city I'm appalled. (My car is parked in my own private spot but I'm still enraged to see these.) please forgive parking violations this week.

Neal Gaffey photographed therapy dogs walking through the crowd in the Back Bay this morning. That's Liberty and Independence in the foreground.

Bloomberg interviews Chris Bauman, whose brother Jeff had his legs blown off by one of the Marathon bombs, and who, despite heavy sedation, managed to give investigators a lead to the identity of one of the suspects.

The FBI says it is looking for two men in connection with the deadly bombs planted along the Marathon route on Boylston Street: One in a white cap, one in a dark cap. The man in the white cap was last seen heading outbound on Boylston.

Both are to be considered "armed and dangerous," the FBI says.

Gov. Patrick and Mayor Menino announced today that Kenneth Feinberg will serve as administrator of One Fund Boston, which is collecting donations to help the victims of Monday's bombings.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, more than $7 million had been committed to the fund by corporate partners and 5,000 individual donors, they added.

The Comfort Dogs are at the First Lutheran Church in the Back Bay. Boston Magazine has background and info on hours.

Little sticky notes appeared all over Davis Square this morning. Photo by Dave Frost.

Newbury Street near Mass. Ave. Photo by Cherie L. King.

BU Today reports she was Lingzi Lu, a graduate student in statistics and mathematics. Her friend and fellow BU grad student, Danlin Zhou was seriously injured.

Aaron Tang was watching and photographing the Marathon from his office when the first explosion went off. He's posted a set of photos, some taken seconds after the blast.

Meanwhile, Ethan Long reports on being inside Forum when the second bomb went off right outside:

Brian D'Amico was walking around Copley Square tonight when he saw these folks who had just gone out and bought some food for the police and National Guard members patrolling the area.

UPDATE: One of the people, Mary Adamczyk, tweets:

Glad we could help out. In those bags were homemade chili, cornbread, chips, water and chocolates. We fed 50 people!

Photo copyright Brian D'Amico.