Boston + Cambridge + Somerville

Rally cap... or Comeback Caramel?

Dave — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:25:15 -0400

11th inning, 2 out, Sox down 7-5, and I just ate a couple of scoops of:

While I was typing, Kottaras hit his 1st ever HR, Drew singled, but then Pedroia grounded out to 3rd.

Tour de France excitement comes to the Jeanie Johnston Pub in Jamaica Plain

Ferris Wheels Bike Shop — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:36:24 -0400

The Jeanie Johnston Pub is calling itself the "Tour de France 2009 Headquarters." Jeanie Johnston Pub and Ferris Wheels Bike Shop host two Tour de France Party Nights at exciting stages of the 21-day race -- Team Time Trial (July 7th) and Alps Mountain (July 21st)! Party nights feature:

+ Tour de France trivia contests for seasoned Tour fans
+"Tour de France 101" - how to watch the Tour, the teams, the strategy

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Menino Trashes MassVote , snubs voters – all in one day!

thirstybear39 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:10:26 -0400

In a story that ran in today's Boston Herald, Mayor Menino's campaign trashed a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide voters with the resources they need for civic engagement. The organization, MassVote, works to increase voter education and turnout amongst communities of color, youth, the disabled and in ethnic communities where language is a barrier. Since its creation in 1999, MassVote has helped empower thousands of Massachusetts voters.

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Yoon: I would have taken the Red Sox horse money

adamg — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:03:01 -0400

The Herald reports the Sox offered up to $400,000 to save the Boston Police mounted unit, which often helped keep order around Fenway Park but that "the mayor looked a gift horse in the mouth and said 'neigh.' "

In a statement, Councilor and Would-Be Menino Replacement Yoon said:

Our mounted unit was an important community policing tool and public safety resource for our parks. News of its elimination prompted an outpouring from across the city of people pleading to save the unit. There were dozens of cost-saving reforms the mayor could have implemented to save the unit. But once again, Mayor Menino chose symbolism over substance.

Now we hear reports that the City turned down an offer from the Red Sox to continue funding the mounted unit. At a time when Boston is cutting back on schools, city services, and public safety, it would be shortsighted and foolish to reject an outstretched hand. The administration needs to clarify what happened and be transparent about any offers that were made regarding the mounted unit.

“These are the very public-private partnerships that can make our city great – and can transform education, athletics, and the arts for Boston's children. We need a mayor who can tap into all the generosity and talent that Boston has to offer.

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Volunteering. American Jewish Historical Society.

the zak — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:22:41 -0400

Volunteers are needed at the American Jewish Historical Society on the campus of Hebrew College to do preliminary processing of collections, scanning and digitizing of documents under the direction of the archivist. Duties will include: photograph sleeving, paperclip and staple removal, Xeroxing, refoldering of documents in acid-free folders, creating box lists, and scanning and indexing documents for digital research. No experience necessary; training will be provided. Help preserve local Jewish heritage while learning preservation techniques for your own family papers.

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Menino flack to debate organizers: Stop annoying us, puny little people

adamg — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:06:16 -0400

Maybe Tom Menino figures he can keep delaying negotiations over debates until after the election. The Herald reports His Honor continues to play coy on the whole debate issue, while his mouthpiece tut-tuts a group organizing forums as unworthy of the mayor's attention because he finds it "doubtful" the group can actually organize a debate.

Kevin McCrea, who says he'll debate anyone anytime, fulminates:

... What does that mean? You mean they can't invite a bunch of people and put 4 chairs and a microphone on a stage? I would believe that Menino might not be able to handle that on his own, but MassVOTE?

The arrogance and disregard for the people shown by Menino is truly incredible. What is more incredible is how the mainstream media in this town play along with his invisible suit as well. The TV stations and the Globe and the Herald play along with this ruse because they are afraid of his vindictiveness, and they aren't doing the fourth estate's job which is to expose what is going on. ...

Addicted to Craigie on Main

adamg — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:37:02 -0400

Penny Cherubino details all the reasons she loves Craigie on Main in Cambridge for brunch, including:

... I've yet to meet a Craigie sausage that I haven't loved so I ordered, "Craigie Dimanche Sausages, Buttermilk Biscuit and Gravy with farm fresh egg." It was full of flavor with a great biscuit. Next time I'll ask for even more gravy. ...

Fewer books on display in Harvard Square

Ron Newman — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:40:52 -0400

Without any advance warning, the Harvard University Press Display Room bookstore in Holyoke Center closed on June 18. It had been in business for 61 years. I found out it was gone only when I walked by it this week.

Fifth candidate quietly throws hat in the ring for mayor

adamg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:01:51 -0400

William Feegbeh of Brighton couldn't get enough signatures to get on the ballot, so he's running a write-in campaign - part of which apparently involves sneaking his signs into the windows of unsuspecting merchants - Michael Pahre reports.

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Apparently Michael Flaherty spent so much on his Kitchenaid mixer he couldn't afford a database deduper

adamg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:47:05 -0400

Eeka arrived home today to find four identical Flaherty Good/Better mailings in her mailbox, addressed to the two people who actually live there:

... When I've volunteered for campaigns, they've had me do such exciting tasks as, well, going through their database and taking out obvious duplicate voters, so as not to waste money/trees/energy on mailings, not annoy households with duplicate phonecalls, and most of all, not make prospective voters think that the candidate is wasteful and can't bother to have humans work for him or her. ...