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.

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.

• How to photograph fireworks.
• List of fireworks in the area.

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: