Boston

Wouldn't it be something if he wore it during tonight's game?

Robert Davidson, 46, and Kenneth James, 43, of Quincy, both pleaded guilty yesterday to charges they were part of a "grab and run" ring that pillaged Copley Square stores last fall, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Boston Police report arresting a Hyde Park man on drunk-driving charges - and that his two daughters delivered him to the police station for booking.

Elizabeth Reed, a real-estate broker in Norwood, was indicted this week on 40 federal counts of wire fraud and 15 counts of money laundering for her role in allegedly flipping an apartment building converted to condos at 135 Neponset Ave.

According to a federal "information" announced today, Reed and others used straw buyers and phony financial information to defraud lenders of nearly $5 million after they bought purchased the building in 2005.

Over the past year, federal prosecutors have won a series of convictions against brokers and lenders for their roles in flipping condos in Dorchester and surrounding areas.

Innocent, etc.

Intent matters, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled today.

The state's highest court today overturned part of Joseph Lee's conviction because, it ruled, Suffolk County prosecutors failed to prove that Lee intended to attack guests with his fists and a champagne bottle at a New Year's Eve party in South Boston to which he was not invited - or that he knew a buddy who came with him had a knife.

Sure, the tracks can kink all they want, but at least riders don't have to worry about plunging to the ground (well, except maybe in that stretch under the Big Dig ramps). This photo, from the BPL's Leslie Jones collection, shows the result of a derailment in 1921. The T took down the elevated in 1987.

Maureeen Rogers tackles that report that claims Boston is the safest city in America for pedestrians, recounts an incident in San Francisco in which she and her husband were looking for a particular restaurant:

There was a woman a few yards ahead of us, and we caught up to her to ask for directions. After she provided them, I asked her whether she was from Boston (She did not have a New England accent). She said that she had recently moved from Boston, but asked why we might think she was a former Bostonian.

"You're the only one other than us who's jaywalking," I told her.

Earlier:
The Yogi Berra theory of Boston pedestrian safety.

"Milk: Bathroom," by Elizabeth Alexander. Photo by Greg Cook.

The other night, a bunch of local artists snuck into a pair of restrooms at the MFA and set up an impromptu gallery - in homage to a similar stunt 40 years ago at the museum. Greg Cook reports MFA guards were not amused:

At least three gentlemen from MFA security arrived as Cook spoke to the crowd packed into the hall outside the men's and women's rooms off a stairway down from the MFA's new Shapiro Family Courtyard. They generously let him say his piece, then as artists and audience moved along, MFA staff removed from the bathroom walls all the art by the participating artists.

Onto the next gallery. Part of a set by tbobtubb.

Cook's photo used by permission. Tbobtubb's posted under this Creative Commons license and tagged as universalhub on Flickr.

The Paper of Record acknowledges:

[T]his city has ridden an unprecedented wave of success over the past decade: the Bruins' victory in the Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday night made Boston the first city to win championships in all four major sports within a 10-year span.

However, the paper forgets about the Celtics, when it writes:

For decades, New England fans sported a collective identity as losers — the timeworn phrase had been "long-suffering losers" - while the Red Sox, the Bruins and the Patriots delivered many calamities, but zero championships.

The Herald has a similar article, but limits its observations to the young set, who have grown up watching their teams win. And win. And win. The Globe gets all dour:

Should local fans mourn the loss of a true title drought?

Playing with a new camera and an ancient lens.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority reports it's given its nod to a $16-million facility that will feature a skating rink in the winter and an indoor turf yard the rest of the year.

The Columbus Avenue facility is part of the Jackson Commons project, which also calls for 438 new housing units - 291 designated as "affordable" - and community facilities, along with new retail and office space on 11.2 acres along Columbus Avenue.

Michael Ratty was at Tia's at Long Wharf this afternoon when Bruins showed up with the Cup (Marchand kissing it).

No one should get arrested for this.

Boston police arrested Simon Glik, a young attorney, on charges that sound pretty serious at first: illegal wiretapping, aiding the escape of a prisoner, and disturbing the peace. But all Simon did was hold up his cell phone and openly record Boston police officers making a rough arrest on Boston Common.

Watch our interview with Simon--including video he made of police.

Some 21 years ago, Don Martelli and his brother got their father a battery-operated Bruins clock. But dad vowed he would only actually put a battery in after the next time the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Guess what he did last night?

Bruins Clock: The Movie.

The Boston Licensing Board today gave the Russian Benevolent Society, 14 Linden St., permission to serve dinner and liquor Thursday through Sunday night.

At a hearing yesterday, society lawyer Richard Vetstein said the move will not only help the club financially but give Russian immigrants in Allston and Brighton a chance to mingle and enjoy a taste of home.

Under the society's old club license, it could only open to serve meals and liquors for functions.

The T says it's beefing up service on Saturday for the Bruins victory parade, which kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Garden.

All four subway lines will run at "near rush hour" schedules during the day. The T says it will also have extra orange-vested workers stationed throughout the system to help riders unfamiliar with how to use CharlieCards or get to the parade route.

The T said commuter rail will run on its normal Saturday schedule, but that it hopes to announce some additional service tomorrow.

Because of the expected crush of fans at the Garden, the T is urging people who want to be right there to use other stations, such as Haymarket and Government Center, or even Park Street and Downtown Crossing, and then walk over.

Sorelle Bakery and Cafe wants to open a location at 282 Congress St. near South Station.

Owner Marc Perelman told the Boston Licensing Board yesterday he's planning something very similar to his Charlestown location, with 16 seats inside and 14 seats outdoors, with hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The board voted today to give Perelman a food-serving license. He needs permission from the city Public Improvement Commission to install the outdoor seating on a city sidewalk.

Last week, Boston hosted the American Public Transportation Association's annual rail conference. A highlight of the conference is always the rail rodeo, in which teams from subway systems across the continent compete in both train maintenance and operation.

Turns out some Blue Line riders had to take a shuttle bus instead of trains to let the teams do some competition - and get some training - on real subway tracks. On Friday, the T substituted buses for trains between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. between Orient Heights (where the Blue Line maintenance facilities are) and Wonderland, then repeated the bustitution on Saturday from early in the morning until 3 p.m.

T spokesman Joe Pesturo says the outage also let T maintenance workers "address and rectify some defective lighting systems at Orient Heights and Wonderland Stations."

Railroad.net discussion on the topic.

The MBTA's first-in-the-nation refund program for late trains goes away starting July 1. The move will save the T $1 million a year, which it says it can spend on service enhancements. In a statement, MBTA General Manager Rich Davey said:

While some customers may be disappointed with the program's elimination, it's important that people know that this money will be put to very good use. By reallocating these funds into the development of more customer service enhancements, we expect a greater number of T riders to benefit from this money.

It was already Bunker Hill Day (which is why I wouldn't have felt guilty about taking the kidlet to the Bruins parade if they'd held it then - BPS kids already had the day off) and the feast day for St. Botolph, for whom Boston is named. And now it's also officially Six One Seven, as declared by the City Council in recognition of the contributions made by rappers in the 617.

Thanks to Liam Sullivan for the St. Botolph info.

Eastie ladAll five were arraigned today in Boston Municipal Court, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

The one local was Christopher Prader, 20, of East Boston, who was charged with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after his arrest before the Bruins game had even ended - around 9:30 p.m. at Causeway and Beverly streets.

According to the DA's office, Prader began loudly declaring he wasn't a punk and daring police to arrest him. When they refused, he began cursing them out, took his shirt off and threw his belt at them, prosecutors say:

Harvard University has decided to partner its space in Allston in an attempt to return to redevelopment of the area. The university is still under a heavy debt burden that does not allow it to accomplish its old design for the area.

Going forward, the plan is to not start any part of the project for which they don't have significant outside money raised. At the same time, Harvard will still be building its $1 billion, 589,000-square-foot life science complex with internal funds and donations to anchor the new development. The much-discussed Stone Hearth Pizza is also currently in the works along with a restaurant, called Swissbäkers, in the old Volkswagen dealership. Both should be open by the fall.

Residents are invited to a public meeting at 6 PM tonight in Cumnock Hall at the Harvard Business School where university officials will present the shift in plans.

That's a custom-sewn T Red's wearing at Faneuil Hall Marketplace today.

Photo by Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Sarah explains how a chance encounter with what looked like wild rhubarb in the Arnold Arboretum led her to the realization she needed a smartphone.

Max Gitell, 4, of Roslindale looks pretty cute in that hand-knit Bruins sweater he's rocking this morning.

But mom Dana reports there's a story behind the sweater: Husband Seth's mom, Leanne Gitell, knit the sweater for him when he was 3 years old - back in 1972, the last time the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.

Now my son is wearing it on an 80 degree day.