Tamas K-L got to the Head of the Charles finish line this morning before the regatta started.
Charles River
The man, who appeared to be in his 40s, had no identification on him, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports, adding his body was recovered on the Boston side of the river.
A preliminary examination of the body did not reveal an obvious cause of death; the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will attempt to determine the cause and manner of his death.
Bettlebrox spotted this novel craft in the Charles today:
It wasn't very fast, I passed it while cycling along the river and I last I saw of it was when it went under Harvard Bridge (Mass Ave Bridge)
Posted under this Creative Commons license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.
In addition to the usual ducks and geese, a heron patrolled the water just beneath the Watertown Dam today. Mostly, he quietly stood on some rocks under some brush on one side of the dam. He did take one leisurely stroll from his post to the other side of the river, attracting the eye of little kids and a couple of photographers, but finding no fish and seemingly getting annoyed by all the attention, retreated to his semi-hidden spot.
Brad Kelly photographed a bucolic gondola scene by the Esplanade the other day.
Copyright Brad Kelly. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.
The new Millennium Tower building where Filene's used to be in Downtown Crossing already seems to be the tallest building downtown - and will get taller still. And, at least until it gets closer to completion, the construction lights make it the brightest building downtown.
The basin in happier times last month.
The Charles River Watershed Association reports the Charles from the Weld boathouse to the dam now has high enough levels of toxic cyanobacteria to post warnings against coming into contact with river water - and that means no swimming, fishing or falling in the river. That goes double for dogs, who could pick up toxic residue in walks on the river banks and then lick it off their fur. Read more.
JB Parrett watched a man blowing bubbles on the Esplanade at sunset yesterday.
The Boston Fire Department reports State Police recovered the body of a man who jumped into the Charles behind the Museum of Science around 3:15 p.m. and then never came up.
A boater spotted a body floating in the Charles around 6:50 a.m. near the Mass. Ave. Bridge, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports:
The body is that of an adult female. Investigators have a tentative identification; procedurally, we will only release that ID if her death is believed to be a result of criminal conduct.
UPDATE: Tentatively identified as a Boston woman in her 30s.
There were ropes and floats marking off the swimming area. Out in the river, a DCR patrol boat kept watch to make sure other craft stayed well away. Lifeguards on the dock and in kayaks stood and sat at the ready. And shortly after 3:30 p.m., the first band of swimmers, from kids to retirees, began jumping into the Charles River from a dock on the river side of the lagoon.
The Charles River Conservancy's first CitySplash let people sign up for time in the Charles River which, as we all know, used to be pretty dirty, but which has gotten cleaner over the years. Read more.
The Zakim gets all the attention, but the old commuter-rail bridge next to it has its own charms, including a spiral staircase to the top. Molly Hester admired its form from North Point Park in Cambridge yesterday.
Mooshrimp reported spotting several muskrats along the Esplanade yesterday, including this fellow by Exeter Street.
617 Images had a good view of the fireworks tonight.
Phil R. also watched the fireworks from across the river: Read more.