Downtown Crossing

Court notes Isaiah didn't just prophesize about beating swords into plowshares

adamg — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:03:22 +0000

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit today upheld a five-year sentence for a Bromfield Street hair-salon owner convicted of trying to burn down his shop so he could use the insurance money to move to New York. The decision, written by Judge Jeffrey Howard, begins:

The Book of Isaiah speaks of a time when beauty will replace ashes. Isaiah 61:3. Apparently getting the prophecy backwards, defendant Paul Mare tried to burn down his beauty salon.

Holey moley: Developer that actually builds things downtown to take lead on Filene's project

adamg — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:37:10 +0000

The lights were on but nobody was home the other night, CKP reports.

The Globe reports Millennium Partners has struck a deal with the owner of the Hole to actually build a tower on the negative space on Washington Street.

Millennium Partners built the Ritz and is currently building a new residential tower on the other side of Washington Street. Vornado Realty Trust of New York tore down most of Filene's - it will remain a "passive" partner in the new project.

Details of the plan - such as the exact specs of the tower and whether the city sweetened the deal with promises of Liberty Mutual-style tax breaks - remain unknown. The Globe says Millennium Partners expects to file its proposal within two months.

Imagine the Hole full of college students

adamg — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:33:04 +0000

The Globe reports Suffolk University is looking at possibly becoming even more of a presence in Downtown Crossing - where it already butts up against Emerson College - by selling off four Beacon Hill buildings and doing something interesting with either the abandoned Border's building, the Filene's Hole or both.

The City that Always Sleeps tells owner of downtown Mexican place to take some Lunesta

adamg — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:17:29 +0000

The Metro reports city officials oppose the idea of a Mexican restaurant on Bromfield Street staying open until 4:30 a.m. It would attract drunks, police say. That's almost 24-hour food service, licensing-board head grumps.

City officials allowed as how they might let Tequila Mexican Grill stay open until 2 a.m., but only after the owner meets with nearby residents. Apparently, only the so-called Innovation District will be allowed to have late-night food, if you don't count the 24-hour license the South Street Diner has, but, sheesh, that's just a few blocks away from the Innovation District and right near the new gateway the city and state want to build for our world-class city by South Station. Certainly nowhere near downtown.

Man charged with armed robbery in the heart of Downtown Crossing - right where all the cops hang out

adamg — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:52:58 +0000

1/15/12 - 5:33 pm

Boston Police report arresting a man for holding a woman up at Winter and Washington streets around 5:30 p.m. yesterday.

Police charge that Hector Felipe Castro, 28, rode up in an elevator from the Downtown Crossing T stop with his victim and that when they got out, he pressed a blunt object to her back and demanded everything she had. When she said she had nothing, police say, he reached into her pockets and grabbed her cell phone and money and then ran away - right into the arms of bicycle cops who'd seen the struggle and who captured him after a brief run.

Innocent, etc.

The City that Always Sleeps to grapple with issue of late-night burritos and nachos

adamg — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:25:10 +0000

Tequila Mexican Grill, 55 Bromfield St., goes before the Boston Licensing Board on Jan. 18 for permission to extend its closing time from 7 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.

On the one hand, you would think if any part of the city would not only tolerate but welcome late-night food, it would be Downtown Crossing, home to a growing population of people who actually like living in the middle of a city. On the other hand, well, this is Boston.

Harping on the Orange Line

adamg — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:43:28 +0000

Katia enjoyed a harp player at Downtown Crossing today.

Orange Line commute delayed by guy wandering around tunnel near Downtown Crossing

adamg — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:24:54 +0000

Trains in both directions came to a halt this evening as police ordered power to the third rails shut off while they got the guy off the tracks.

Meanwhile, three hours earlier in Newton, police were dispatched to Metacomet Road on a report of "a naked man doing pushups." Unfortunately, or fortunately as the case may be, he completed his reps and left before police arrived.

Sovereign Bank branch in Downtown Crossing held up

adamg — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:04:43 +0000

12/16/11 - 4:45 pm

At 125 Summer St. shortly before 5 p.m. by a short white guy who ran toward Washington Street.

The branch was last held up in July.

At night, when the bars close down, the ghost of Sgt. Schultz patrols Downtown Crossing

adamg — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:02:51 +0000

10/29/11 - 1:00 am

If it weren't for all the 911 calls and the dazed and bloodied man police found lying in the street, you'd think nothing at all happened outside Mantra early on Oct. 29.

Workers at the Temple Place bar, including the head bouncer, told the Boston Licensing Board this morning they didn't call police because after they closed up around 1 a.m. - and checked the street outside and found it clear - they heard nothing, even though a police report read into evidence said the manager on duty acknowledged a brawl outside.

The smart kids knew to ask the guy claiming to be a cop to see his badge

adamg — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:26:10 +0000

11/12/11 - 2:29 pm

Boston Police report they are looking for a guy who allegedly tried to get three male teens at Macy's downtown into his car by telling them he was a police officer who would give them a ride home - after he'd followed them around "for a few hours."

Police say the man - In his late 20s or early 30s, 5'9" with a slim build, brown hair and blue eyes - approached the teens around 2:30 p.m. yesterday at the Downtown Crossing store:

According to the teens, the suspect stated, "I am a cop and I have a car upstairs. I'll give you a ride home." At this point, the teens asked the suspect to prove that he was a police officer by asking him to show them his badge. When the suspect refused, the teens say they fled the store.

If you know him, contact A-1 detectives at 617-343-4240 or the anonymous tip line by calling 800-494-TIPS or texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).

Louie, Louie

adamg — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:31:16 +0000

Neuroboy files an e-mail report from Downtown Crossing:

Just sitting here at work in Downtown Crossing minding my own business. What is that enchanting sound I hear wafting in from the street below? It’s the siren song of everyone's favorite hollering trike rider, Louie Evans, making his way down the sidewalk on Washington St.

Ride on Louie, ride on.

Tokyo has its pushers and the Orange Line has the angry screaming driver

adamg — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:03:10 +0000

Got on the Orange Line to Forest Hills at Downtown Crossing at rush hour today and Angry Screaming Driver was in fine form, yelling at some woman who apparently didn't like the car she was in and ran to another. Then, at Chinatown, ASD kept it up:

Ma'am, you in the black dress, STOP RUNNING FROM CAR TO CAR! YOU'RE HOLDING UP THE TRAIN!

By the time we got to Tufts Medical Center, the black-dress lady had apparently learned her lesson, but the driver was still so mad she screamed out "TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER!" like an insult.

Earlier:
The disgruntled operator on the Orange Line.

The new iPhone speaks to them

adamg — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:28:38 +0000

CKP took this photo this morning on Boylston Street, where iPhoniacs began lining up last night to be the first to get a new phone. No doubt it would be pointless to attempt a Venn diagram showing the overlap between this group and the group of Verizon workers and Occupy Boston supporters outside the Verizon Store on Washington Street downtown yesterday evening:

Citizen complaint of the day: A large hole

adamg — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:54:53 +0000

A puckish citizen complains about a large hole off Washington Street in Downtown Crossing that has gone unfilled despite numerous past complaints.