Charles River

Big Ferris wheel for the Esplanade?

adamg — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:56:44 +0000

The Globe and the Herald report on a plan for the Esplandade that calls for better access across Storrow Drive, a cafe next to the Hatch Shell, doing more with the Charles River dam and the Muddy River and just generally sprucing up the existing facilities after decades of neglect. Another idea would be a 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel by the Museum of Science. Of course, this would take some money.

Last sunrise of the year on the Charles

adamg — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:55:02 +0000

Edmond Hatfield was up early and by the Charles this morning.

Copyright Edmond Hatfield. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Festive bicyclist takes advantage of new bike lanes on the BU Bridge

adamg — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:51:43 +0000

Mike spent some time today watching bicyclists use the newly minted bike lanes across the Charles, including one woman with a lighted wreath.

Copyright mikesssss. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.

Surely somebody took photos of Santa jet-skiing on the Charles this afternoon

adamg — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 19:46:05 +0000

Down by JFK Street, numerous people report. Anyone?

Turning to traffic, Kenmore Square is at a complete standstill outbound

adamg — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:17:45 +0000

Kenmore Square, 1928.

Complaints about traffic in Boston are nothing new. Even in the 1920s, news photographer Leslie Jones was capturing local traffic jams - and the accidents that often caused them. Here are some from the Boston Public Library's Leslie Jones collection (click on photos to see larger versions).

In 1924, the SS Leviathan moored at a South Boston pier. People flocked to see it; Jones reported "an angry crowd" of jammed motorists:

Row, row, row your scull ...

adamg — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:06:24 +0000

Jeff Tamagini took in the first day of the Head of the Charles Regatta yesterday. Charles Connell watched the Dartmouth Alumni Eight:

Officials make ID on woman in the river

adamg — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:04:16 +0000

She was a 21-year-old Dorchester resident, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports this morning, adding that because the woman's death is not a homicide, her name is not being released.

Several members of the public contacted State Police General Headquarters and members of the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit yesterday after seeing media reports describing the appearance and clothing of the deceased. Based on those tips, State Police detectives assigned to Conley's office made contact with the woman's family. A positive identification was made late yesterday.

Jewelry key to identifying drowned woman?

adamg — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:17:35 +0000

UPDATE: Authorities make ID.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office has released photos of jewelery removed from the body of a woman found in the Charles River yesterday after she jumped off the Harvard Bridge. Officials say she had no identification with her and are hoping somebody recognizes the ring and pendant. If you do, contact Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit at 617-727-8817. She's described as a young black woman, about 5'4" and 110 lbs, with hair shaved on the sides and a longer tuft of hair at the top front.

Authorities hope jewelry, clothing and hair details lead them to identity of woman who jumped off bridge

adamg — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:55:22 +0000

With no identifying documents to go on, authorities have released some information about the woman whose body was pulled out of the Charles River this morning after witnesses watched her jump off the Harvard Bridge, in the hopes somebody recognizes her. According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office:

The woman is described as a black female of indeterminate – but apparently young – age. She stood about 5'4" tall and weighed just under 110 lbs. Her hair was shaved on the sides, with a longer tuft of hair at the top front. Her fingernails and toenails appeared to be well cared for and she did not appear homeless.

She had a tattoo depicting musical notes on her left upper chest. She was wearing a gold ring on her right middle finger inscribed with "1987 AS Newbury" on the outside and the letters "MJ" on the inside. She was also wearing a necklace with a heart-shaped ornament with diamonds or diamond-like decorations. When pulled from the water, she was wearing a black leather jacket, a black T-shirt, black sweatpants or fleece pants, and black tennis shoes.

Mass. Ave. bridge shut after woman jumps into river, dies

bostonzest — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:45:15 +0000

UPDATE: Authorities make ID.

Officials shut the Massachusetts Avenue Bridge this morning after a woman jumped into the river from the Boston side shortly before 6:45 a.m. Emergency workers in a boat recovered her body about an hour later near the bridge.

State Police reported state troopers and the State Police marine unit, along with the Boston Fire Department raced to the bridge after witnesses reported seeing the woman jump. Massport also sent a team and boat.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office identified the woman only as "young" - she was not carrying any identification.

The bridge was re-opened after her body was recovered, but delays from the closure apparently radiated outward to the BU Bridge, which became completely gridlocked by 8 a.m. At 8:20, Laurie tweeted:

On the 47 [bus], in the rotary at the BU bridge. Driver letting people off he bus because, well, we're going to be stuck here a while.

Student in hospital after early morning Charles fall

adamg — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:21:13 +0000

Channel 7 reports she was one of 40 to 50 students just hanging out on the BU dock early Sunday.

Good Lord: Looks like that Charles River skatepark might actually get built after all

adamg — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:49:39 +0000

The state and the Charles River Conservancy hope to have the fabled Charles River Skatepark under a loop ramp to the Zakim Bridge built by December of next year.

Backers, using Big Dig mitigation funds and private donations, have made similar promises in the past, but this time the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is backing that schedule up with a formal request for bids from companies that want to run and maintain the skate park for five years.

Although the initial concept is to open the park for free use, with no staffing, the bid request asks potential operators to look at ways to recoup costs through such possible revenue sources as "user fees, season passes, food and merchandise concessions, promotion events, and advertisement opportunities" and to propose a cost for having staff on hand May 1 through Oct. 15.

The bid request also asks prospective operators to provide a cost estimate for maintaining restrooms that the state has no initial plans to install but for which it is reserving some room, just in case.

Arresting photos of naked guy swimming across the Charles

adamg — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:09:09 +0000

Mark Garfinkel was on scene yesterday for the dramatic take-down of a man who dared display his derriere (among other things) as he swam from Cambridge to Boston. Here's hoping there weren't any stinging nettles where the staties made him lie down.

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.

Woman beaten on Esplanade, thrown into Charles

adamg — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:50:28 +0000

NECN reports on the early morning attack. Unlike in a series of other attacks, however, there was no evidence of sexual assault.