July Fourth

CBS, Mugar: Reality is so overrated

adamg — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:46:05 +0000

Next year's display? By Aughtomat, who also gives us this.

The Globe talks to the guy who organizes the Esplanade fireworks, who basically goes, yeah, so we did some fake shots, big deal, David E. Kelley shoots his "Boston" shows in LA.

Prominently quoted is our own Kaz, who first noted the bogus shots.

They didn't shoot off all the fireworks last night

adamg — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:48:34 +0000

The fireworks barge on the Charles caught fire around 5:30 a.m., with 15 live charges on board, sending thick black smoke into the air - and fire departments in both Boston and Cambridge ordering boaters to stay way the hell away, Nichole Davis at New England Roadways reported.

Fireworks over the Esplanade

adamg — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:02:59 +0000

Myron Freeman watched the Esplanade fireworks.

John Tammaro took photos:

July 3rd with the Pops

adamg — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 20:02:04 +0000

Leslee took in the rehersal performance at the Hatch Shell.

Posted under this Creative Commons license and in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

And here to give the opposing viewpoint ...

adamg — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:46:43 +0000

At one point, His Majesty's commander here had his soldiers point their bayonets at the colonists assembled outside the Old State House and take a stop forward to see if the cowards would move back. They did. At another point, he led the assembled throng in a chant of "Penobscot," figuring they really wouldn't know why. It worked.

Salem used to get really fired up over the Fourth

adamg — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:31:02 +0000

Yoni Appelbaum reports on days of yore when Salem would light massive bonfires to herald July Fourth:

For weeks, volunteers assembled materials, stacking them into a towering pyramid reaching high into the air. Fat hogsheads on the bottom supported row upon row of oily casks, topped with layers of smaller kegs. The pyramid claimed eight thousand barrels; some years, it had forty tiers. At midnight, a bundle of burning rags was run up to the top on wire pulleys, igniting the pile and announcing "that the night has turned into the morning of a new year of liberty."

The Fourth came a little early in Somerville

adamg — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:53:27 +0000

Somerville held its July 4th fireworks last night, and what would a celebration of American independence be without fried dough? Chris Devers watched the bombs bursting in air.

Posted under this Creative Commons license. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Mad dogs and Englishmen

adamg — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:18:28 +0000

OK, and some tourists and crazed Bostonians slurping down hot chowder in front of City Hall. On a day like this, when even the people in T-shirts were dying, we can only imagine what it was like to march around downtown Boston reclaiming the territory for His Majesty in heavy woolen uniforms.

In case you didn't get enough fireworks last night

adamg — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:14:27 +0000

At Albemarle Field in Newton last night. Meanwhile, Vasant Marur shot the Esplanade fireworks:

Esplanade photo copyright Vasant Marur. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Man v. Nature: always go with Man

JohnAKeith — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:58:12 +0000

Derrick Jackson at the Boston Globe notices how the Charles River is so nice and clean, these days:

On the Fourth of July, the Charles River retreats to a backdrop for the majestic music of the Pops and the magic of fireworks. On closer look, we have much more to celebrate, as we have granted these once-horribly polluted waters their own independence ...

Not only the river itself but the pathways along the Charles have become much cleaner, the result of efforts by the state and private organizations to reduce the effects of having a large resident geese population.

The bombs bursting in air ...

adamg — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 12:47:11 +0000

Matthew I. watched the Esplanade fireworks.

Copyright Matthew I. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Jcrbuzz2 took photos from Coolidge Corner.

Long may she wave

adamg — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:56:21 +0000

Faegirl attended the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts at the Old State House this morning.

Copyright Faegirl. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Captain's workspace

adamg — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:15:26 +0000

Lorianne DiSabato toured the USS Whidbey Island, one of the Navy ships docked in Boston Harbor this week.

Posted under this Creative Commons license. Tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

Never try to re-light a dud firecracker

adamg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:56:50 +0000

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. ...

Pitiful treatment of disabled at Esplanade fireworks

margalit — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:42:07 +0000

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.