July Fourth
Maria Ciampa learned that lesson in a Revere parking lot on Saturday:
...And now, I would have to teach yoga the next day with a braised finger, and how can I justify being a person who is trying to impart yogic principles of being ethical and non-violent when I light illegal firecrackers and am not even cool enough to not almost blow myself up? Okay, universe, lesson learned! I'll stay away from firecrackers and stick to making collages from my old Real Simple magazines while I listen to my "Pretty in Pink" Pandora station in my room. ...
Yesterday my daughter and I decided to brave the crowds and head to the Esplanade from Newton. Before we left I checked the July 4th web site put up by the city, and specifically looked for information about handicapped parking and seating. On the site they indicated that there would be parking spaces for the handicapped with placards on Storrow Drive as well as a parking lot at Mass Eye and Ear with shuttle buses. Read more
One of the more charming parts of July Fourth in Boston is when a troop of Redcoats fail to collapse in the heat in their woolen uniforms re-take a set of steps on the site of City Hall Plaza. They've been doing it for years, and, amazingly, no Minutemen ever show up to confront them. 16WadeSt watched them advance up the stairs this weekend.
Copyright 16WadeSt. Posted in the Universal Hub Flickr pool.
Matthew I. watched the fireworks over the Esplanade.
Copyright Matthew I. Posted in the Universal Hub Flickr group.
Brian Fluharty posts some cool photos. Pamela Rosenthal did as well. Audubon asks: When do you get to lie on the Mass Ave bridge besides July 4? And BMWKenDoll zoomed right in:
Happy Fourth! Chris Devers took in the fireworks over Scituate Harbor last night.
Copyright Chris Devers. Posted in the Universal Hub Flickr pool.
Ross Levanto attends, runs into a Neil Diamond fan who's seen him seven times. In the past year.
EaBo Clipper recounts how Revolutionary fervor in Nova Scotia was squashed. Our own Evacuation Day played a role in the story.
Joel Brown reports on who will be performing with the Pops at the Hatch Shell this July Fourth.
Amy recounts an incident on the Mass. Ave. bridge during the July Fourth Pops concert that renews your faith in at least part of humanity.
OK, Christopher's of Maynard got the most votes at today's Chowderfest. You want my opinion? The heat got to too many people. I'm sorry, Farmer Brown and his wife, Mrs. Brown, above, had the best chowder today (if you discount Turner Fisheries, which is in the "Hall of Fame" and so ineligible for votes). No, I'd never heard of them before, either and Farmer Brown runs a farm stand in Middleton, not a restaurant, but they know from chowder.
Of course, I can't clam up about the annual event on City Hall Plaza: Read more
Joe Driscoll took photos (such as the above) of last night's Charles River fireworks from the Hancock.
Garreyf photographed the reflections of the fireworks on the Hancock and the river.
Ben Ostrander posts fireworks photos from the Mass. Ave. bridge.
More photos.
Fireworks over Albemarle Field in Newton on the Fourth.
Via BostonMaggie: Sen. John Kennedy reads the Declaration of Independence in 1957:
What? Oh, phew, he's just using it to slice a mutant July Fourth cake, not Michael Flaherty.
Earlier:
The mayor gave me a cupcake.
Sushiesque photographed the Charles River fireworks. So did Teenytinyturkey. And Ebzsalserohym videoed the finale:
Jason Feifer says it's all fun and games until the fireworks set off a car alarm on your street.
Zolok: The pyrotechnics seemed really a lot closer to the Bikini Atoll tests this year.
Garrett LeSage reports on a drunken brawl on the way home on the T:
... Profanity was flying like only a Southie could say it. (Think of "Good Will Hunting".) It probably could have easily turned riot level; lots of people were worked up about the fight. A few brave individuals stepped in, thankfully, and forcefully shoved most of the misbehaving drunk kids off the train. ... police later came and investigated the matter. There was a report of a knife, too ... and I somehow suspected that we weren't the only part of the train (or only train for that matter) that had a fight like this. Some people got messed up pretty bad; they’re going to need stitches.
Riding the MBTA during holidays usually winds up like this… and that's exactly why I chose to leave my real gear and take my pocket camera instead. ...
Karl reports on a Southie celebration that ended suddenly when the Irish immigrant who owned one of the condos in a triple decker locked him and several other people out for discussing the differences between Australian and American politics.
T. ponders the meaning of the Fourth as Filipina-American. The Duck ponders the meaning of the Fourth as an impending Canadian-American:
... This is one of those weird weeks where my 'nationality' gets a little confusing. My parents typically have a party on July 4th- one that includes a giant cake with a red maple leaf in it. ...
Wayne Braverman declares watching the Pops on TV a horrible experience.
Down in Texas, Katie celebrates her last Fourth as a Texan - she's moving to our Fair Hub next month.
I always wondered why the Boston Pops plays the 1812 Overture on July 4th since it's about a Russian victory over France.
In a battle to the death, Jay Fitzgerald would give the nod to Concord's Minuteman:
... The hat does it for me. The Lexington statue makes the Minuteman look like a slimmed down version of Paul Bunyan. Besides, I like Concord center more than Lexington center. ... So there. Someone had to settle this simmering debate. ...
J.L. Bell reprints a report by Henry Greenleaf, whose father, William, was the first person to ever recite the Declaration of Independence at what is now the Old State House, back in 1776:
... As his voice was rather weak, he requested Colonel [Thomas] Crafts to act as his herald; they stood together at the front of the balcony, and my father read a sentence, which was immediately repeated by Crafts, and so continued to the end, when was the huzza. ...
The lion and unicorn [from the Town House] were burnt on the evening of the declaration on a bonfire, in front of the Bunch of Grapes [tavern], as were the king's arms from the Court-House, and all signs bearing emblems of royalty that could be found. ...
Theodore83 captures them practicing at the Hatch Shell yesterday:
Most people will have to reach fairly deep into their memory banks to recall who Richard Ianella is - it's not like he's made the papers much since leaving the city council for the position of Suffolk County registrar of probate. So when he suddenly threatens legal action over the way VIPs get front-row seats at the July Fourth concert, Jon Keller begins to suspect Ianella's getting bored presiding over probate records.
And why is registrar of probate still an elected position, anyway? It's not like there's any real policy decisions anymore.
If this weren't such a family Web site, I might be tempted to give you a taste of Andraste's comments on last night's fireworks show. But there's no way I could do them justice, so go read them now and see what she really thinks of Dr. Phil, Bob Lobel and a capella (at least, a capella as performed last night).
More