Beacon Press posts a note from Michael Patrick MacDonald, author of All Souls: A Family Story from Southie and Easter Rising, on his recent visit to the four Boston high schools that use his books in their curricula:

... At Codman Academy today, students read passages of All Souls to me and talked about their personal connections to each passage, e.g. one young woman related to my outrage at the injustices in my brother Steven's case, telling me -- and the assembly of students and faculty -- that she experienced similar rage at her sisters imprisonment on murder charges. I was so moved by the experience at Codman Academy that I announced that this would become an annual institution, making pro bono appearances in the Boston Public Schools every year on All Souls Day (and the following days), thus bringing the intentions of the All Souls Day vigils we once held in South Boston, into the schools (where they are as relevant as ever). ...

By none other than Goldman, Sachs, at 319 A St., the Boston Business Journal reports, adding the proposed development is "considerably smaller" than an original proposal.

From the BRA page on the project.

Look familiar?

Boston Police report they are looking for a man walks up to women, knocks them down and steals their purses.

In the most recent incident, around 10 p.m. last night, the victim was walking home in the area of K and E. 8th streets when the guy "approached her, knocked her down and grabbed her pocketbook" - and then got into a black car which sped down I Street toward E. Broadway. He used a similar approach in robberies on Oct. 22 at P and E. 4th streets and on Oct. 24 at O and E. 7th streets. In that case, the victim had just gotten out of a cab when he knocked her down and grabbed her purse.

The suspect is described as a white guy, in his 20s, about 5'11".

Know him? Call C-6 detectives at 617-343-4742 or the anonymous tip line at 800-494-TIPS (or text TIP to CRIME).

In one of those wide-ranging interviews reporters love so much, Tom Menino yesterday proposed building "a medical research and residential complex on the South Boston Waterfront" - using some of that political capital that's apparently burning a hole in his pocket.

He explains: "Researchers love to get together. They speak their own language. They like to hang out together."

Isn't that why God gave us the Longwood Medical Area? Where, as the Outraged Liberal notes:

There are at least two research buildings on hold (including one hole in the ground) ... where the majority of researchers ply their trade near the institutions that employ them. It's always possible another life sciences firm will decide to join the overbuilding, but live-work space?

Granted, most researchers don't live in the medical area, but there might be a reason. Even scientists like to take a break from work every once in awhile.

Earlier:
The first dumb idea.

Broke train at Broadway
Means a lot of rider angst
Just another Friday.

The BRA is leading efforts to win federal stimulus money for a proposed $84-million revamp of the antiquated Marine Industrial Park (which includes the Black Falcon Pier), by among other things, adding facilities for handling larger cruise ships and restoring freight rail service back to the waterfront.

William McAdoo reports on, posts photos from Eat, Drink & Be Fair event the Artists for Humanity Center in South Boston:

... We basically had tastings of all kinds of foods made with Fair Trade ingredients. Then, there was a cook-off championship by four local chefs, again all using Fair Trade ingredients. ...

As first reported here, councilors Murphy and Linehan want to look at building a movie production facility in Boston. The Herald reports developer Tim Pappas may already be on the case and scouting land off Summer Street past the South Boston convention center.

Jay Fitzgerald suggests the 500 block of Harrison Avenue:

... There's an abandoned brick warehouse/garage around there that has an old stately look to it – and I've always wondered why it hasn't been converted into a theater or condos or something. ...

I'd propose a third possibility: The old Stop & Shop warehouse off Neponset Valley Parkway in Readville. It's a huge, now mostly dormant facility, with plenty of room for expansion. It's not that far from 128 and it has its own rail spur for Tom or Ben's private train.

Boston Police tweet a girl, about 2, and a boy, about 3, were found wandering Crowley Rogers Way in South Boston this morning.

Boston Police report a woman walking near Dorchester and Ward streets was mugged around noon yesterday by three teens who took her cell phone and then ran toward the McCormack project.