Boston Common

Walking up Tremont Street across from the Boston Common, earlier today, we came across an unusual occurrence, even in this economy: a downtown Boston real estate auction. It was taking place in front of The Grandview, a "luxury" (is there any other kind?) condominium building completed in 2004.

There were four or five people with $10,000 certified bank checks in hand, ready to bid (and also one person who brought a personal check, which is no good in these situations).

After reading some disclosure statements and a description of the property, the guy in charge said the auction would be begin, with a price of (if I remember correctly) $1,018,400.

No one made any move indicating they were interested in making a bid at that price, and then it was over. The representative said that the bank would "probably" buy the property (and, presumably, resell it on the open market, after that).

The public record shows that the (ex-) owner, a real estate investor, purchased the property for $1,325,000 back in 2007, with a mortgage loan of $1,060,000. A second mortgage loan was taken out in May of this year, for another $240,000. Second mortgage holders don't usually get paid back until first mortgage holders are paid off. So, very little chance they'll see their $240,000 again.

Joey McIntyre will help usher in the city's official Christmas tree on Dec. 1.

McIntyre will perform during the pre-lighting ceremony on the Common at 7 p.m. before the tree - an annual gift from Nova Scotia - is switched on. Other performers include American Idol finalist Siobhan Magnus, the Radio City Rockettes, Rockapella, the Boston Ballet, the Boston Children's Choir and saxophonist Grace Kelly.

Mayor Menino, Santa Claus, Deputy Nova Scotia Premier Frank Corbett and some Mounties will throw the switch to light up the 45-foot white spruce donated this year by Ken and Donna Spinney of Central Argyle. The province donates a tree to the city in honor of the medical aid Boston sent to Halifax after an explosion in Halifax harbor in 1917 caused by a collision between two ships, one fully loaded with munitions.

Saul being led away.

It was a different era - police hired stenographers to record protesters instead of using video cameras - and on the Common instead of Dewey Square, but the events of Feb. 25, 1931 sound familiar: People protesting unemployment gathered in a public space, were told to disperse because they didn't have a permit and when they stood their ground, were dragged away by police.

Benjamin Saul, 23, of 76 Walnut Park, Roxbury, was captured in a series of photographs by news photographer Leslie Jones as he tried to evade police and address a crowd of several thousand from the top of a tree, after another protester was arrested for "speaking without a permit."

Photo by Boston Parks and Recreation Department.

The city today announced a 15-year lease with Earl of Sandwich that will see the dilapidated old comfort station by the tennis courts turned into a sandwich stand.

The chain, started by descendants of the original Earl of Sandwich, will pay $50,000 annual rent to the city - and pay for renovating the building:

The Earl of Sandwich plans call for the interior of the building to be renovated for use as a kitchen with storage and prep areas. Service will likely be through a walk-up window and the renovation may include the addition of removable outdoor seating.

Renovations could begin this fall; the chain hopes to begin selling sandwiches in the spring.