characters

Mr. Butch dead

By adamg - 7/12/07 - 3:38 pm

Mr. Butch on a wall Update: The memorial planned for July 16 has been postponed.

Mr. Butch, the dreadlocked "King of Kenmore Square" and "Mayor of Allston," died this morning an hour after crashing his new Vespa motorbike near the Union Square fire station.

From The Noise:

I am very sorry to report that Mr. Butch is dead. I have a confirmation.

There will be a memorial service Monday, July 16th beginning at 8pm. Meet at Ritual Arts.

He was transferred alive to B&W this morning with a broken neck and passed away about an hour later.

There will be an obit in the paper on Sunday.

Rest in Peace Mr. Butch.

8 comments

The Greenpeace kids could learn something from the bustling bums of Boylston Street

By adamg - 6/27/07 - 10:32 pm

Mike Mennonno explains:

... They seem to do pretty well for themselves. So ditch the clipboard and the duds, and grab an empty Dunkin Donuts cup from the trash, and start rattling.

The Trumpeter of the Fenway returns

By adamg - 6/15/07 - 9:53 am

Evan reports that Joe, the Fenway Trumpeter, has returned to the neighborhood:

... I made my purchase and made my way home down Queensberry Street and I heard it...it's been years. The sound of the blaring trumpet...I looked behind me, and there he was, weaving down the middle of Queensberry Street in the opposite direction, playing notes on his trusty brass instrument, silhouetted against the late afternoon sun. ...

Does Brother Nathanael have a secret?

By adamg - 6/12/07 - 3:22 pm

A couple days before Brother Nathanael had his run-in with police at Trader Joe's, Rhine watched and photographed him at the end of his shift - at 6 p.m., he put away his giant crucifix, folded up his stuff and left that traffic island he screams from when not yelling at little old Jewish ladies at Trader Joe's. And then Rhine noticed that Brother Nathanael had dropped something:

6 comments

The Red Line Backflipper

By adamg - 6/11/07 - 2:52 pm

DJ Nitetrain, move over: Caroline Roberts reports on (and photographs) the T's new amazing/annoying (depending on your point of view) performer - who breaks out a boombox to accompany his back flips on a moving train.

1 comment

Trader Joe's confronts Brother Nathanael

By adamg - 6/11/07 - 9:42 am

Lyss is there with a camera as Brookline Police try to get Coolidge Corner fixture Brother Nathanael to leave Trader Joe's patrons alone:

Seems his signs and loud praising of Jesus was weirding out the customers. They complained to the staff, who in turn called the authorities. ...

Overheard in Boston:

12 comments

The return of Spare Change Guy

By adamg - 6/9/07 - 8:52 pm

Steve reports that Spare Change Guy is out of jail (one guess what he was in jail for) and on the Red Line and fretting about the fact that he's become a local celebrity.

3 comments

Windy city

By adamg - 6/5/07 - 10:14 pm

Chicago? Hah! Here's how windy it was in Copley Square early this evening:

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In the name of Jesus, I command thee: Go!

By adamg - 2/10/07 - 2:19 pm

Talonvaki photographs somebody dressed in religious garb directing traffic with a multi-colored crucifix at Summer Street and Atlantic Avenue yesterday.

4 comments

DJ Nitetrain

By adamg - 11/19/06 - 8:20 pm

Boston's pantheon of characters, which includes such folks as Mr. Butch and Spare Change Guy, must surely include DJ Nitetrain, the guy on the T who "DJs" to music that sometimes only he can hear:

Evan spotted DJ Nitetrain on the Red Line the other night:

... He was so into his work, counting out beats and throwing in a dance move here and there (remember to consider the music that was playing). He even bid everyone a good weekend as they stepped off the train at each stop. Does anyone know what's up with this guy? ...

Somebody recently posted an ode to him on Craigslist:

... you made my night and most others on that train. youre a good dancer and know how to rock the beats. ...

Eric writes:

... I can't help but cheer him on a little bit. He's having a great time, and that's awesome. Also, as a DJ myself, everything that is doing in the air is something that most of us do when cue-ing up a record for a mix. I think if we saw him on real turntables, he'd know what he's doing, and have some good tracks. He does smell like a bag full of assholes though ...

Way back in 2003, DJ Nitetrain did his miming thing as part of a show at the Milky Way in JP.