Bit of unwanted excitement in Copley Square shortly after 5 p.m., when somebody discovered a backpack just sitting there on St. James in front of Trinity Church.
Police taped off the area to await the arrival of the bomb squad, which soon after determined the backpack was, in fact, just a backpack.
Evolving Critic closely examines a Lego model of the central library, on display through April 5 - inside the library itself (hmm, wonder if there could be a smaller model of the model library inside the model library ...)
Boston's Mobile Food Truck Committee (yes, of course the city has a Mobile Food Truck Committee) has approved a pilot project in which food trucks can keep serving food until midnight in designated areas in Copley Square and at Boston University East and Northeastern on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Mayor Walsh says that if the pilot proves successful, he'd want to look at expanding it to other areas.
Brian D'Amico watched protesters call for human rights in Venezuela on the steps of the State House this afternoon, after a march from Copley Square.
Transit Police report they are looking for this guy who "indecently assaulted two female patrons" on an inbound E train between Longwood and Copley around 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 15.
Tips to 617-222-1050; text anonymous tips to 873873.
A grease fire broke out in the kitchen of the Burger King at 553 Boylston St. around 7:30 a.m., spreading to the second floor via a vent. At 7:45, the fire went to two alarms.
The Boston Fire Department estimates damage at $100,000; says there were no injuries.
An aggrieved citizen reports:
Broken Park bench in Copley Square is off its anchor and has been moved in front of the turtle statue - depriving people of a photo opportunity with the statue.
Around 6:15 p.m. right at Boylston and Dartmouth. BFD responded quickly to douse the fetid fire, although not before some of the smoke wafted down to the platforms of the Copley T station, worrying some riders.
Fire officials reassured the T that the smoke posed no threat to train service. Of course, this being the Back Bay, the burning trash was special. One Green Line rider reported: "Smelled like incense burning."
Katie Painter reports a burst pipe at the Santander Bank branch at 575 Boylston St. sent water flooding onto the street and set off the bank's alarms around noontime.
Dan Adams reports a sprinkler burst on the first floor of Spaulding Hospital, closing its kitchen.
Yesterday:
The pipes bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that's it's still cold out there.
Fire response to Trinity Church. Photo by Sarah Pakstis.
Firefighters determined the source of smoke inside Trinity Church in Copley Square around 5:15 p.m. was an overheated motor in the ceiling above a first-floor restroom. Power was shut, ending the problem, although traffic around Copley Square remained clogged.
Amy B. snapped nature's fury, in the form of blown-over barriers around the menorah erected in Copley Square.
Meanwhile, Elyse Ryan posts the rules to the Boston Umbrella Game:
Walk Boston w/ Umbrella, Rules: Don't let umbrella flip inside out. Boss level: Back Bay side streets.
Instant fail: umbrella flips in front of a line of watching taxis or crossing a busy intersection.
Neal Gaffey illustrates just how quickly the temperature fell below freezing overnight.
Photographynatalia watched a street performer outside the BPL in Copley Square the other night.
Copyright Photographynatalia. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr..
The deceased train is at Harvard; platforms at other stations are filling rapidly.
Green Line trolleys, meanwhile, died at Coolidge Corner and near Copley Square.
Maya Jonas-Silver alerts us that with the Library of Congress now shut, the BPL is the largest accessible library system in the U.S. (and Harvard moves up to second).
Also, for what it's worth, many of the sites on the Freedom Trail, including the Old State House, remain open. Old Ironsides and the Bunker Hill Monument, however, are closed for the duration.
Wanted for A&B with a dangerous weapon.
Boston Police report they are looking for this guy for attacking an elderly person in the Burger King at 533 Boylston St. around 10:25 p.m. on Friday.
Suspect repeatedly punched and kicked elderly victim inside Burger King after victim asked group to be quiet.
If he looks familiar, contact D-4 detectives at 617-343-4683.
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