News

by Rick Winterson   There is a certain insanity to “Cyber Monday”, the Monday of November’s final week.  Yes, we live in a cyber-influenced age, but blending this into the Winter Holiday Season is a bit extreme in our opinion.  Even more insane is so-called “Black Friday”, which was originally confined to the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Over the last few years, Black Friday has been stretched from well before midnight on Thanksgiving Thursday into the following weekend.  In this year of 2017, Black Friday was stretched far enough backwards to include November 20 – the Monday before Thanksgiving.  So we should now call it “Black Week”, maybe? Insanity, indeed! Fortunately, between the two volcanoes of insanity known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there was [...]

By Richard Campbell Serving a fresh lobster roll is deceptively simple, and you know this is true because so many times when restaurants try it, they yuck it up with fillers and nonsense. With three generations of lobsterman behind him and dozens of restaurants, Luke Holden’s product is the real thing.  Readers may already be familiar with this signature restaurant, from the downtown and Back bay locations, so the new location opened in the Seaport this past Wednesday, doesn’t offer a lot of surprises. Tantalizingly fresh, big pieces of lobster stuffed in a smallish bun and not real cheap, but consistent pricing at $18.00 bucks- Luke’s is very consistently good. The absolutely to die for lobster mac and cheese puts you into a head spin [...]

By Richard Campbell November 24th kicked off the Boston’s 2nd annual Winter on City Plaza, which is open seven days a week until December 31, (not counting Christmas) providing a touristy winter village of sorts where people can skate, eat, shop, and drink in a family friendly environment. The skating path will be open until February 25th. The holiday shopping mart which combines tchotchke items with handmade arts is created by Millennial Entertainment, and the whole winter festival is sponsored by Berkshire Bank, Boston Development Corporation, and the City of Boston Property Management Department. The ostensible reason for this three-year festival is to help revitalize City Hall Plaza, and make it an enjoyable venue for residents and visitors alike.  I’ve got to say the effort [...]

Raymond L. Flynn is a former mayor of Boston and former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. As we mark the 75th anniversary of the tragic Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire that claimed 492 lives and led to sweeping reforms regarding safety regulations and building codes, it’s important to remember the wide-ranging impact that fateful night had on the history of our city and nation. At a commemorative gathering at the Revere Hotel Boston Common yesterday, fire officials, city leaders, local residents and survivors honored the memories of the hundreds who died inside the bustling Bay Village nightclub on the night of Nov. 28, 1942. In the wake of what was, at the time, the deadliest nightclub fire in history, it was under the outstanding leadership of [...]

by Rick Winterson      This is an early report (today: Tuesday morning) about a fatal shooting that took place on a vacant lot off O’Connor Way in the McCormack/”Old Harbor” Housing Project.  One young person – a teenager – was pronounced dead after being transported to Boston Medical Center; another received serious but non-life threatening injuries from a bullet wound in his side. The incident took place late Monday evening, November 27, between 11:30 p.m. and midnight.  The vacant lot where it occurred is located on the south side of O’Connor Way as it curves into McCormack Housing.  It is currently used for BHA parking, as well as for storage of construction supplies and equipment.  Specifically, the shooting happened in the open portion used [...]

by Rick Winterson      Put this date/time/place onto your calendar:  SATURDAY evening, DECEMBER 02, 7 to 12 Midnight, in the Boston Teachers Union Hall.  THE EVENT:  A FRIENDSHIP PARTY for South Boston’s MARK      CONDE to help him during his rehabilitation from the effects of Neurosarcoidosis.   Neurosarcoidosis?  Yes, neurosarcoidosis - a rare autoimmune disease that affects the nerves in the brain and along the spinal cord.  Its cause is unknown; it is a difficult disease to spot.  But in Mark Conde’s case, it has caused him to lose the use of both legs.  Mark can’t walk any longer, or even stand by himself without extensive support. For ten years before coming down with his illness, Mark had been a chef at the Convention [...]

by Rick Winterson      As of last weekend, Mr. Sid Boston is now open for business, at 49 Northern Avenue in One Seaport on South Boston’s Waterfront.  They held a preview a week ago Tuesday.  Mr. Sid - Boston is an elegant, intimate, eye-catching addition to the increasingly sophisticated scene on our Waterfront and along Seaport Boulevard.  Just walking into Mr. Sid Boston is an experience, so try it yourself sometime.  Become acquainted with their “Made to Measure” concept – for it is truly a desirable concept in menswear. There’s a backstory to last week’s opening of Mr. Sid Boston.  This year of 2017 is Mr. Sid’s 50th Anniversary in business.  The main Mr. Sid store, located at 1211 Centre Street in Newton Centre, [...]

by Rick Winterson      This is about the Laboure Center’s 2017 Christmas House Tours – just over ten days from now. Meanwhile, please enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday with family and friends this Thursday.  Take advantage of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday – especially in and around South Boston.  But also take a few minutes to get your tickets to Laboure Center’s Annual Christmas House Tours. This year, both of these memorable tours take place during the first weekend of Advent.  Choose between the Saturday Tour, December 2, 4 to 6 p.m. (the Twilight Tour), or the Sunday Tour, December 3, 12 noon to 4 p.m. (the Daylight Tour).  Make plans to spend some time in the Laboure Center before and after you complete [...]