The Harvard Book Store announced today it just couldn't make the numbers work and has called off plans to open a second shop across the river at the Prudential Center: Read more.
Back Bay
At 5:36 p.m. on the first full day of Green Line operations in awhle, the T reported delays of up to 20 minutes on the Green Line due to a trolley whose poor heart gave out at Hynes.
The Boston Fire Department reports a transformer explosion behind the Lenox Hotel at Exeter and Boylston streets around 12:30 p.m. filled the hotel with smoke. Firefighters went through the hotels evacuating all guests and employees as other firefighters installed fans to get the smoke out.
The department ordered a two-alarm response because of the need to evacuate the building.
Adam Castiglioni reports that Dave's Hot Chicken, which specializes in spicy Nashville-style fried chicken, will open a branch in the Transportation Building on Stuart Street on Feb. 2.
A concerned citizen filed a 311 complaint this morning about a rat that is both injured and blind and yet still managing to scare passersby on Commonwealth Avenue near Exeter Street in the Back Bay:
Rat seems to have been in a fight and is blind. Has been wandering in this area all morning scaring people and pets.
Back in the day, people would use 311 to complain about potholes, trash, rats and the like, but of late, it seems to have become a portal for making all sorts of requests to the city - like interview requests from reporters trying to get Mayor Wu to comment on whatever Fox News or Newsmax is blathering about (or about goats).
A concerned citizen files a 311 complaint about the copious amounts of steam now rising from a Vicinity (formerly Veolia) manhole at Huntington Avenue and West Newton Street in the Back Bay: Read more.
Shamus Moynihan spotted Boston's newest water source - or maybe just the result of a burst water main - last night on Exeter Street by the Lenox in the Back Bay.
Matt Frank photographed the statue of George Washington in the Public Garden from several vantage points around sunset today, including through a gate on Arlington Street.
Boston Police report they are looking for a man who tried lifting a couple of bottles from Quality Mart, 21 Massachusetts Ave., got chased out by a clerk and then, before he made his way towards Kenmore Square, flashed what appeared to be a gun at the employee, around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Read more.
It was pretty dark and stormy looking over the Charles as our own Ron Newman made his way over the Longfellow around 1:30 p.m.
Earlier though, roving UHub photographer David Fisher captured a rainbow over Jamaica Plain, then a full up Fort Point Channel (on the South Boston side): Read more.
The Boston Licensing Board today approved a proposal by Food & Life Companies of Osaka to open Sakabayashi Sushi Tavern at 665 Boylston St. in Copley Square, where the b.good used to be.
Read more.
Myron Freeman took in the family fireworks over Boston Common tonight - after first watching some ice skating under the lights at the Frog Pond.
The MBTA alerts us, and more important, Green Line riders:
Following up on the previous announcement from December 21, the MBTA is today reminding riders that Green Line service on the B branch between North Station and Babcock Street, on the E branch between North Station and Heath Street, and on the C and D branches between North Station and Kenmore station will be suspended all day from start to end of service for 10 days from January 3-12 and for 13 days from January 16- 28.
A woman from the Bronx faces armed-robbery charges and her male companion from Lawrence faces gun charges after she robbed a man who'd contacted them via a Web page for some paid sex at the Back Bay Hilton last week, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports. Read more.
Jan drove through some creepy pea soup in Readville's Wolcott Square last night.
Mike shows us the view out his Back Bay window this morning - and reports the barely visible crane in the center pane is just a block away: Read more.
Boston Police report arresting one of the two men they say used a brick to smash their way into Valentino, 47 Newbury St. early Monday and made off with a variety of high-priced Italian women's items. Read more.
The condo association at One Dalton - the Back Bay tower that also includes a Four Seasons Hotel - today sued the owner of a 35th-floor unit they say has disregarded repeated entreaties and even fines to stop screaming, playing loud music and partying at all hours of the night. Read more.
Boston Police report two guys broke into Valentino, 47 Newbury St., and took a number of items that do not seem like they would pair well with their own wardrobes. Read more.
Boston Police report arresting a man on charges he stabbed somebody in the hand at 209 Columbus Ave., in the South End around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. Read more.