Colleen responds in the only sensible way: She buys some shoes.

Katken peers up at the facade of what's left of the Downtown Crossing Filene's.

Lori Magno reports on the 11:30 a.m. incident, posts annotated photos.

You don't think Nordstrom put that telephone-shelter ad in front of the wreck of Filene's on purpose, do you?

OK, no, that thing's been up since before the demolition work began - but still ...

Some photos.

I am a Master's student in Historic Preservation, and I am collecting research on the Filene's Complex/One Franklin Street Redevelopment. What do Bostonians think about this project? Do you the Filene's buildings will be overshadowed by the tower? Will Downtown Crossing be able to keep its historic presence? Are you excited or disappointed about the redevelopment?

John Daley likes the idea of a shiny new highrise atop the old Filene's building, but he cautions that that alone won't solve Downtown Crossing's issues, notably crime and homelessness (ed note: See the intersection just outside the new Ritz).

Mike Mennnonno is delighted the city will be helping to end its shortage of luxury condos, but adds:

... Wouldn't it be better to move to encourage something more reflective of the area's ambiance (if you want to cal it that)--like making a concerted effort to bring more small, local businesses to the pedestrian section of Washington Street? Maybe make it an even more open-market style area, but on the seedier side of chi-chi? I mean, you've got Newbury Street if you want upscale in Back Bay, right? ...

Remember how Cher's "farewell" tour seemed to go on for years? Just when we though Filene's was dead (the Chestnut Hill Filene's is now all boarded up, with a large "Emergency Exit Only" stencilled above the door notched into the plywood), we see Filene's ads on TV, acting all la-di-da and showing bright, cheery people urging you to get down to Filene's right away for something (summer clothes, I think) as if it were still a real department store.

In any case, Rhea Becker said her farewell to the downtown Filene's yesterday, in what she expects will be her last visit to the store at which she'd bought so much over the past 30 years:

... I've filled my clothes closet and dresser drawers with items purchased at Filene's. I have dodged the perfume ladies who douse you as you rush through Cosmetics. I've found amazing bargains in the famous 'Automatic Markdown' basement. I even worked at Filene's for a few short hours as a 'red jacket' security guard in the basement. ...

Note: The Basement was spun off as a separate company years ago, which is why it stays open.

On The Pink Shoe Diaries, Sarah recounts a trip to her local Filene's on Wednesday:

... As we made our way to the down escalator, I heard a faint buzzing which grew louder as we descended. And as the 1st floor came into view I understood why.

It was milling, nay, CRAWLING with crazed shoppers. The makeup counters had all been cleared out to make room for the china and women were huddled around the Kate Spade and Vera Wang patterns, checking every price sticker, carressing platinum banded dinner plates, examining rose patterned tea cups for damage, searcing for the matching gravy boat. I of course threw myself upon this mass, equally as frenzied, as Adam's faint voice reached me "I will be in the men's department" ...

Martin discovers the real problem:

The real problem with the liquidation sale at Filene's isn't the fact that the "sale" prices in some cases have been higher than normal sale prices were before the liquidation started. ...