Jason wishes to remind idiot cyclists that traffic lights apply to them as well and that next time, they might not be so lucky.

Bendo1 gazes upon the remains of Avalon on Lansdowne Street.

The Herald tells us, but basically: Lots.

Brendan downs some newly legalized absinthe at Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square:

... In the end, I didn't see anything. No curious things, no monstrous things, and I didn't cut my ear off. But, to be honest, I wasn't expecting too much in terms of transcendental experience. If you can buy it in a bar, I really doubt its going to turn Commonwealth Avenue into a field of tulips. One thing I did feel was lucid – I definitely walked out of Eastern Standard relaxed, relatively clearheaded, and, paradoxically, pretty wobbly (absinthe can be 58+ proof). While I wasn't about to sit down and write a surrealist novel, the feeling was, on the whole, much more pleasant than anything my usual Guinness and Jack-and-Coke repertoire produces. ...

Rhea Becker tries some vegan ice cream at the soon-to-open Wheeler's on Mass. Ave. near Symphony:

... The flavors were intense, unlike any other ice cream I've ever tried. We tasted: champagne (like a sparkling New Year's party in your mouth), green tea (turning Japanese), pumpkin (sweet but not too sweet), peanut butter and banana (with gigantic, chewy hunks of peanut butter), and chocolate peppermint (just like Girl Scouts Thin Mints but more refreshing). I'm sold on it. ...

Riggs expresses admiration for the way a woman managed to get some college girl to stop hogging a pole on the trolley.

Elisha Boudreau took some photos during yesterday's pantsless T rides.

Caroline Roberts provides a participatory report (she dropped trou):

... One woman had pictures of herself taken with pantsless riders and triumphantly shouted, "I'm putting this on my match.com page!" Another young woman sitting across from pantsless riders who hadn't heard about the event decided that she was going to take her pants off. ...

Thom Dunn reports bringing his bike on the T with no pants on:

... When I was transferring trains at Kenmore, one of the MBTA employees stopped me and wouldn’t let me get on the train-because of my bike. She didn't mention or seem to notice that I wasn't wearing pants. She just kicked me off for my bike. ...

Nick Carlisle reports:

It was fun telling random people that I accidentally left my pants at home. Video shall come soon.

I never thought I'd say this, but props to the MBTA for being so accommodating. The T police were very kind and friendly, and even seemed to be mildly amused at some points. ...

Jack reports:

... It became really awkward on the ride back to Alewife Station on the Red Line when I got separated from my group, and I was the only pantless rider on the train. ...

The Outraged Liberal wonders:

... Why did the MBTA feel the need to place bus shelters on the newly re-opened busway in Kenmore Square? Is it because the $32 million project features a canopy that may (stress may) look nice but is incapable of keeping riders dry when the rain and snow trickles in between the glass plates? ...

Mats Tolander dissects the MBTA's latest explanations for why the Kenmore station reconstruction project is now being delayed even longer.

David Brand, a BU student, recounts an incident early Saturday on Harvard Street that still has him upset - especially since it happened around the same time as Shawn Dow's death above a bloody brawl:

... On Friday night, a group of 3 guys yelled at my friends and I when we passed them on Harvard Street.

"Fags! Hippie fags!"

Big deal. Clearly (though apparently not so clear to me when I was drunk and eager to flex my beer muscles), these kids were looking for a fight. After something, probably a beer can, struck me in the head I turned around and confronted who I thought was the leader.

Bam. Blind-sided by his friend, who unleashed a flurry of punches on my face and skull. After the "fight," we were mercifully pulled away from each other. ...

The next night, a BU student walking in Kenmore Square was robbed at gunpoint by a hoodie-wearing thug on Beacon Street:

The victim said she passed the man as he was pretending to tie his shoelace. She said she then heard him running toward her and turned to face him as he ran up behind her with his gun drawn, demanding she give him her purse.

Via the Tab's Jessica Scarpati.

Tommyvon recalls going to the Rat on its last day, ten years ago:

... I remember showing up for the show and people were buzzing about the closing. I'd heard the rumors for years but never believed it until that day. I was at the last day show, Aus Rotten and the Stratford Mercenaries headlined (with a memorable speech about the Rat on stage by Bill Toxic ...). That night Gang Green played the last night show, which I didn't go to (at the time I heard that was cancelled too) I'll never forget being frisked on the way out, since everyone was clamoring for Rat memorabilia. ...

More Rat reminiscing.