Downtown

The MBTA might want to inform its police officers that photography is not a crime

adamg — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:42:45 -0500

Adam Weiss reports one of those black-suited special-forces T cops told him to stop taking pictures at the Government Center T stop this afternoon because, apparently, nobody's ever told him about the MBTA's official photography policy - which says picture taking is allowed on T property (just without a flash or tripod). Weiss says:

At least he was nice about it this time. He apologized, saying he didn't know the rules. Let me go on my way. Nothing against the cop, just the T for not informing him.

Provincial New Yorkers think Bostonians don't eat burgers

adamg — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:33:11 -0500

It's true! Look at this headline from today's Times: New York Burger Stand on Boston's Seafood Turf?

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Power problem, trash fire bedevil Red Line

adamg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:25:00 -0500

The MBTA wasn't running outbound trains between Park Street and JFK this afternoon because of "a power problem in the downtown area," according to announcements that played in between the usual announcements imploring riders to pay their fares and to say something if they see something.

I was at South Station when an inbound train pulled in around 2:30 p.m., emblazoned with "Out of Service" displays. But it stopped and then, after a minute or so, the doors opened. Like the well trained sheep we are, everybody got on - and suddenly realized the train smelled like burning garbage.

"It's just a trash fire on the tracks, not the train," an MBTA cop reassured us. "It's a trash fire, not the train."

More cops appeared on the platform. Then the doors closed and we left.

Greenway fight

adamg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:09:32 -0500

NorthEndWaterfront.com collects some links on the flowering dispute between the Mass. Horticultural Society (yes, it lives) and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy Board over the latter's plans to redesign the former's Greenway projects near South Station to cut out all the flowers - which volunteers had spent huge amounts of time planting.

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Woman who nearly killed man she says attacked her could get third trial

adamg — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:35:40 -0500

The Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that Suffolk County prosecutors can re-try Leah Daniels for using a knife to slash a man's neck and almost take off his ear outside a downtown bar in 1999 - although the DA's office says it is still considering whether to try her again.

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He'd like to buy the world a Coke and some ketchup

adamg — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:06:16 -0500

The Food Monkey considers those ads now gracing some stations (such as Government Center and Back Bay) with the chef sneering at the Pepsi drinkers of the world:

... It seems that Chef Colicchio suggests pairing your diet coke with something that appears a burger/seafood paella hybrid, with a pile of polenta covered in ketchup as a side. I am most glad to see this, as up until this time, I had believed myself to be alone in my Diet Coke and paella burger dining practices. ...

Speaking of T ads, what's up with the schizophrenia at South Station, which can't decide if it should promote Macs or Windows?

What the hell kind of town is this when even Sara Underwood can't get a cab?

adamg — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:59:02 -0500

The Channel 25 anchor/reporter learns first hand that 1:30 a.m. is not a good time for getting a cab in the Financial District.

Another Green Line accident: Several hurt at North Station

adamg — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:08:22 -0500

Channel 7 reports a driver in a westbound trolley stopped short tonight, sending passengers flying. Interestingly, the trolley continued to Government Center, where some passengers were removed on stretchers, the station says.

Shake Shack on the Common? What a load of frappe

adamg — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:20:23 -0500

Jay Fitzgerald has no objections to a restaurant on the Common. But he takes issue with one called Shake Shack:

... But you just know the same types who think "SoWa" is such a cool name will go with the "beloved" Shake Shack – and then they'll lecture us about having an inferiority complex while they’re off aping everything Manhattan. They'll never understand that it's not about New York – or Kansas City. It's about losing a little local character every time they plunk an out-of-state chain or name on an historic area. ...

Faneuil fall: Three hurt in scaffolding collapse

adamg — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:31:03 -0500

Channel 5 reports on the incident at Faneuil Hall this morning. The building has been under renovations for awhile now.

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