Washington Street

Before (10/5) and after (today).

When the city released plans for the new Washington-Beech project, the renderings showed builders would keep a huge tree right at the corner of Washington and Beech streets. And, for a while, it looked like that really was the plan - workers even surrounded it with a protective wooden "hula skirt." But for some reason, they tore down the tree today and carted away its remains.

This is what the neighborhood was promised:

Mass. High Tech reports the city's won a $1.3-million federal stimulus grant to build a solar-powered fuel station for emergency vehicles and "solar-powered street lights, traffic lights, video cameras and message boards" along Washington Street (apparently, the one through Roxbury, JP, Roslindale and West Roxbury), because, when the Big One hits, we might not be able to rely on normal power supplies for such things.

More from the city.

Guira y Tambora, 4014 Washington St. (where Yucatan Mexican Grill used to be), goes before the Boston Licensing Board on Sept. 23 to ask permission to serve alcoholic beverages with its meals.

Unlike a couple of other nearby restaurants - the Upper Crust and Christelle's in West Roxbury - which were seeking new licenses, of which the city has none, Guira y Tambora would buy an existing license, from Rudi's at Rowes Wharf, if the board approves.

The hearing starts at 10 a.m. in City Hall, Room 809A.

Police have blocked off Washington St in Brighton Center between Market/Chestnut Hill and Cambridge St. There were fire engines out near the front of Porter Belly's or about that distance down the street.

Anyone know more?

Workers building the frame of the new senior-citizen apartment building that is the first phase of replacing the old Washington-Beech housing project in Roslindale.

They're giving away some cool stuff, free.

Mark reports on days of yore, when Washington Street in Jamaica Plain was a toll road to Dedham - and people's cows sometimes wandered off near the tollgate.

Word reaches us up here in the mountain fastnesses that the Washington Street Rite Aid is closing. This Wednesday.

Mel Gibson continues effort to inconvenience every single person in greater Boston.

Earlier:
Silver Line riders, Mass Pike drivers, who's next?

Tammy posts a photo from an accident on Washington Street by the Dedham Mall that shut half the road tonight.

No, not Forever Closing Jax, but the old gas station across from Adams Park. The Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services is holding a meeting on Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Roslindale Community Center to discuss a proposal to finally do away with the gas station, last used more than a decade ago as a residence by the station owner when he lost his house, at least, until ISD kicked him out (old timers may recall how he originally wanted to build a hotel on the property, after neighbors successfully kept him from building a Wendy's there).

Meanwhile, the BRA will hold its own hearing on Nov. 11, also at 6:30 p.m. at the community center, to let people hear from three developers who want to buy and do something with the old trolley substation that's been moldering in the Square for 50 or so years now.

Via the Roslindale Neighborhood Strategic Plan.

Target Pizza, at Washington and Grove in West Roxbury, used to just use that Hummer H2 on the left to deliver pizzas. Three or four weeks ago, it added a motorized tricycle.

The Missus reports from her office aerie above the Downtown Crossing Borders on some unusual weather conditions during this afternoon's storm:

... Huge sheets of foamy drywall material, six feet long and two feet wide, came floating and then spiraling down on Washington Street in front of us.

At first we worried that these were wooden boards floating in the sky. Turns out they were just foam though. So no one was hurt. But yikes! ...

On Washington Street in Egleston Square, WBZ radio and the Globe report.

NOTE: I originally pointed to a Channel 4 report, which said the man was killed on Washington Street in Roslindale, and I should have known better than to trust Channel 4, because they seem unable to figure out the geography of any neighborhood south of the Fenway.

Ed gives a thumb's up to the takeout at the Square Corner Cafe, the new place on Washington Street (a door down from Robyn's):

... All in all, we had a great first impression and can see ourselves getting something here about every week this summer. ...

On the way back from Forest Hills this evening, I stopped at Blowfish, the new seafood take-out place (which does have a few tables, though), 4025 Washington St (across from the Yucatan and its giant bilingual "BURRITOS TO GO / Tacos y mas" sign).

For the most part, it's your basic fried flaky fish place. I haven't had a fried-clam platter in years (not since DeNo's in West Roxbury expanded into an old seafood place next door, in fact), so it was time. It was great, the strips were crispy and not oily, and it was plenty of food for two. And, yes, they floured the clams right before plopping them in the fryer - no frozen stuff here.

Just as cool: They have gyro - on a spit, with a tomato on top - which I think makes it Roslindale's first gyro joint (which is kind of odd given how many Greeks live in the neighborhood). They also have chicken, broccoli and ziti, which is the kidlet's favoritest dish ever, so I'll be back. For dessert, they have cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.

The Square Corner Cafe, a sub shop on Washington Street next to Robyn's in Roslindale Square, and Blowfish, a take-out seafood place closer to Forest Hills, across from the Yucatan, are both now open.

IScream on Centre Street has taken down its Friday the 13th banner and put up its new sign.

Over in Roslindale, Washington Street is getting a new seafood takeout place - in the same general vicinity as Yucatan Mexican Grill and BBQ Town, but on the other side of the street:

Shabu Village in Brookline is now kaput-u.