Beantown Today

Rays Down Sox in Game Two

2008-10-12T09:12:00.004-04:00

Hey, fellas, it was only Game Two, not the series!

I actually watched the entire game. Well, almost, I did nod out from time to time during the five hour battle. I did watch the entire fifth inning, which was amazing. Over fifty-three minutes, and three solo homers from the Sox. If you watched the game, you know what kind of excitement was generated. Then the long drought ... everlasting for the Sox. What a shame.

Look at the photo above and see what a positive glimmer of hope can do for a team.

Sox Down Rays in Game One

2008-10-11T08:39:00.005-04:00

Last night was the first game in the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Boston Red Sox. If you are a Red Sox fan, I'm sure you already know Dice-K pitched the Red Sox to a 2-0 win over the Rays. I happened to be in the Tampa area yesterday and was able to get this photo of a St Pete Time's distribution box, complete with special inserted signs. I wonder if the Boston Globe is rooting on the home team in a similar fashion? [Photo of Dice-K downloaded from the internet.]

Boston Deli

2008-08-06T21:37:00.003-04:00

I spotted this deli in Port Richey, Florida, today, August 6, 2008.

Evelyn's

2008-06-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Evelyn's New England Seafood is a small, but popular restaurant in St Cloud, Florida. I picked up a menu the other day expecting to find something with "Boston" in the title, you know, like Boston Scrod, or maybe a side of Boston Baked Beans, but there was no mention of Boston at all. How sad. They do offer plenty of New England favorites, though.

Boston Lobster Feast

2008-05-30T00:01:00.002-04:00

Located on Highway 192 in Kissimmee and a favorite of tourists.

Boston Market

2008-05-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

At the corner of Dyer Blvd and Hwy 192 in Kissimmee. I liked this restaurant best when I discovered it in Newton in the late 80's/early 90's, and it was called Boston Chicken!

Boston Garden, Celebration, Florida

2008-05-20T00:01:00.001-04:00

A courtyard designed for outdoor dining at the Celebration Town Tavern.

Boston Beef & Seafood

2008-05-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

I spotted this restaurant, which was closed at the time, when I drove through Cape Canaveral on Sunday, May 18, 2008. The "flag" you see flapping in the wind is a Boston Red Sox banner.

Boston Dance Connection

2008-05-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

I thought it might be interesting to post pictures of "stuff" I find in Florida that is related to Boston in some way, since I can't take pictures of Boston, and I've pretty much run out of postable photos until I find my missing prints, or convert some slides to digital. (Was that a run-on sentence?)

I drove by this place in Hudson, Florida the other day, and stopped to take a few pictures.

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T09:29:00.002-04:00

The Big Three

2008-05-03T08:48:00.004-04:00

Here's a picture I took of the Boston Celtics off of my TV! I'd like to say this is the Championship Game from 1984, but I really have no idea what game it is. (You know how you think you're always gonna remember everything? LOL)

I'm pretty sure, unless my eyes are deceiving me, that's Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale in the picture ... Boston's Big Three at the time.

I'm posting this because of what's going on right now with the Celtics - shocked by Atlanta and headed for a deciding seventh game tomorrow in Boston - the Big Three of today: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce have to produce for their fans!

Go Directly to Bostonscapes by Fénix

2008-04-12T16:40:00.002-04:00

That's a photo of the Boston Skyline I took in the late '80s given the comic book style treatment. I'm posting it just so I can tell you about Bostonscapes by Fénix. She has been publishing a companion blog to her regular blog featuring her Neighborhood Series. If it is possible that you haven't been to her blog lately, or ever, this is a must see series. She has compiled all of the photos from her series in the past year and is presenting them in one post for each neighborhood. The series started last Monday with the Back Bay, and has moved on to Beacon Hill, The Financial District, The North End, Boston Harbor, and the Seaport District. It is an ongoing series, as Boston has many neighborhoods. Please don't miss it!!

Having been born and brought up in Boston, and having lived there until I lost my mind and moved to Florida, some of her posts bring me close to tears because of the memories they evoke. But, I'm a big strong man, so I don't actually break down, lol.

Very Odd

2008-04-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

New Blog

2008-02-29T07:00:00.002-05:00

I've posted on my new blog today. Please take a minute to stop "over there" and check it out.
Thanks!

Kissimmee Comic Book Style

Nude Texting?

2008-02-28T08:20:00.000-05:00

Open Door

2008-02-27T08:33:00.005-05:00

If it's Wednesday, Isadora must be posting a Door ... so, in honor of her, I decided to post this Open Door. [Click To Enlarge]

Picture of a shop in Chinatown, Boston, late 70's or early 80's.

Pooper Scoopers

2008-02-26T07:25:00.002-05:00

New on Stuff I Shoot: Keeping Up With The Joneses

That's Odd!

2008-02-25T07:39:00.000-05:00

Premier II

2008-02-24T00:01:00.004-05:00

The Premier Deli at the corner of Washington St and East Berkeley, in the shadow of Dover Street Station, Boston. This was a really popular deli in its day; the Premier was always busy, had a classic interior, and served great food. The original print wasn't very good, so I enhanced it to bring out more detail. [Click To Enlarge]

No print is safe, now that I've discovered this technique!

Is that considered an 'Art Deco' exterior? I'll answer my own question: yes (just guessing). What do you think?

New On Stuff I Shoot: Garbage Train

Long Wharf Boston

2008-02-23T00:01:00.004-05:00

It was a cold, rainy, dreary June day in Boston in 2006 ... a 'blue' day. But, I was only in town for a couple of days, and this was my last. I would not be deterred; I had to capture the likeness of the beautiful Long Wharf, no matter the weather, no matter the obstacle. I set up my easel and went to work. I was fortunate that the weather was bad, because the wharf was still in the improvement stage, half of it being fenced off and inaccessible, and the workers, unable to function in the rain, had the day off. I worked quickly, completing my task in record time, then sped off to the airport to catch my flight. [Click To Enlarge]

For a truly artistic rendering of Long Wharf take a look at this awesome photo by Fenix at Bostoncapes.

Trio On A Trike

2008-02-22T06:36:00.005-05:00

Taken in 1951 at the intersection of Warren Ave and Clarendon St, in the South End of Boston, Mass. (Facing east) There aren't any cars in the photo! The loading dock doors upper left were for the Cyclorama building, which was the Wholesale Flower Market at the time, and is now the Boston Center For The Performing Arts. The sign on the building, upper right, said something like: S.S. Pennock, Wholesale Florist Supplies. [Click To Enlarge]

(See Google street view of what this intersection looks like today here.)

New on StuffIShoot: Gone Fishing

Dover Street Station

2008-02-21T06:32:00.007-05:00

A couple of views of the old Dover Street Station at the intersection of East Berkeley St and Washington St, Boston, that I took in the late 70's. [Click To Enlarge]

Dover Street was just one of the stops along the Elevated Mainline that ran along Washington Street and ended at the Forest Hills Station.

An excerpt from the Historic American Engineering Record:

Significance: Elevated structure is the last remaining portion of a formerly extensive elevated rapid transit system built at the turn of the century in Boston. / This portion of the Orange Line elevated is historically significant as Boston's first elevated line, built during a period of world-wide interest and experimentation with elevated railways; and as the product of Boston's last privately-owned transit company, the Boston Elevated Railway Company. Architecturally, it is significant for the quality of its original station architecture, which was designed by the prominent local architect, Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow. Later alterations were carried out under consultation with other leading Boston architects, such as Robert Swain Peabody and Edmund Wheelwright. In general, it represented the most advanced transportation planning of its day and is a good case study, on a small scale, of rapid transit at the turn of the century.

Fenix is currently doing a series on Roxbury and the Dudley Square area. I found an interesting photo that shows the proximity of the old Dudley Street Station to one of the buildings featured in her post today. For the entire series of photos of the Boston Elevated Railway, Elevated Mainline, Washington Street, Boston, Suffolk County, MA visit the Historic American Engineering Record site.

New on StuffIShoot: Vultures

Rooftop View

2008-02-20T00:01:00.003-05:00

This is one of the times I was kicking myself for not having color film with me, and for choosing a lousy weather day to visit the Observation Deck at the John Hancock Tower in Boston in 1980. I took a few photos anyway, trying to focus in on the rows of houses in the Back Bay and South End. These are the Back Bay houses. One of the things I found interesting is the in-law apartments added to the rooftops of a few of the houses, without any regard for the architectural integrity of the original structure. I enhanced the first version in an attempt to bring out more of the detail. [Click To Enlarge]

New on my other blog: Jesus Loves U

The Picketer

2008-02-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

I ran into this woman several times picketing in front of The State House on Beacon Hill in Boston. She allowed me to take the photo, as she was engaged with some others talking about her plight. I never really understood what she was talking about, but I thought her appearance was stunning, and my hobby at the time was taking people pictures. She was totally color coordinated. I saw her on another occasion at Quincy Market. [Click To Enlarge]

Harry The Greek's

2008-02-18T00:01:00.004-05:00

Two views of Harry The Greek's at the intersection of East Berkeley St and Washington St in Boston in the late 70's, before Dover Street Station was taken down. This is directly opposite the Premier Deli that I posted earlier. [Click To Enlarge]

Click here for a *google* look at what this intersection is like today.

Boston Harbor

2008-02-17T00:01:00.003-05:00

I took a photo of a couple of boats docked at one of the wharves in Boston Harbor sometime in the late 70's. I was just wandering around the waterfront, when I spotted the two old and rusting boats, and I loved the scene. When I had the film developed, I was terribly disappointed, because the picture was just too dark and didn't look very good. I hated myself. But, then, I decided I might be able to salvage the scene by creating a watercolor of the photo. I can't remember what wharf this is - maybe Fenix can help me out with this. You can see the Logan Airport tower in the background. [Click To Enlarge]

Man In Car

2008-02-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

Fenix asked who the guy with the afro was in yesterday's photo. I guess I was just too focused on the chicken, as I had never even noticed the guy sitting in the car, so her question prompted me to mess around with the photo to see if I could make him more distinguishable. [Click To Enlarge]

How Much Is That Chicken In The Window?

2008-02-15T07:11:00.005-05:00

What can I say about this photo? 1) I was experimenting in framing my shots. 2) I wanted to leave something to the viewer's imagination. 3) I thought the color of the car matched the store perfectly. 4) This is one of my all time favorites.

Undated photo taken in Chinatown probably sometime in the 70's. [Click To Enlarge]

Boston Skyline II

2008-02-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Another 80's view of the Boston Skyline, taken from a moving vehicle at the intersection of the Southeast Expressway and the Mass Turnpike. Initially I thought this was taken in the early 80's, but after seeing this post on Bostonscapes, I realized that the building peeking out behind the little John Hancock building is 500 Boylston St, so this must have been taken in the late 80's, as the building was completed in 1989. My thanks to Fenix for that information. [Click To Enlarge]

Clemens, Celtics, and more ...

2008-02-13T07:59:00.002-05:00

Free Smiles ...

2008-02-12T06:41:00.000-05:00

... everything else, 25 cents! Another photo I took on the Boston Common at a fair in the late 70's. This guy was obviously enjoying the day. I'm pretty sure he was selling roasted peanuts. [Click To Enlarge]

Original

2008-02-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

The original photo from yesterday's post. [Click To Enlarge]

Is This Art?

2008-02-10T13:47:00.000-05:00

I took this picture of a man leaving a shop in the Chinatown section of Boston in the late 70's. After I scanned it, I put it into my "edit bitmap" program and adjusted the level and local equalization. This is the end result. I like it. Do you? [Click To Enlarge]

Skate In The Park

2008-02-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Taken in the Boston Public Garden, Boylston Street side, before in-line skates became popular (or even existed). [Click To Enlarge]

Pretzel Man

2008-02-08T06:27:00.001-05:00

Pretzel vendor on the Boston Common. Undated photo. [Click To Enlarge]

Smoke Break

2008-02-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

When I saw this post on Boston Daily Photo, I said to myself, "I've seen those lions before! But where?" I make myself laugh all the time.

I shot this photo of a guy taking a smoke break in Chinatown sometime in the 70's. There's a lot of trash in that picture.

I found the picture, scanned it, then went back to Boston Daily Photo to tell Cowbark that I was going to post a picture of the lions that I had taken thirty years ago, when I saw this post. A few things have changed, but I was struck by the similarities in the photos - the congestion, the location of the truck, and the Hing Sing Bakery sign.

Here's another view of Chinatown from Fenix at Bostonscapes, and another offered by Clueless In Boston. By looking at Clueless' photo, you can tell where the guy was taking his smoke break.

After seeing these beautiful photos of Boston taken by Fenix and Cowbark and Clueless In Boston and others, I was compelled to post this Cartoon I created all by myself. [Click Any And All To Enlarge]

Blizzard Of 1978 - 30th Anniversary

2008-02-06T07:01:00.000-05:00

Thirty years ago today, February 6, 1978, Boston was buried under 29 inches of snow. See my first post about the Blizzard Of 1978 here. These are just a few of the photos I took. I'm pretty sure the bottom photo was taken on February 7, 1978. The plows took a while to arrive. [Click To Enlarge]

Take a look at my other blogs if you have a minute: Vintage Photo Site, Stuff I Shoot. Thanks.

Premier I

2008-02-05T06:51:00.000-05:00

The Premier - a Luncheonette, Cafeteria, and Delicatessen - at the corner of Washington and East Berkeley in Boston. I heard the El was going to be taken down, so I went by and took a few pictures of Dover Street Station. The photo is undated, but I believe this was taken in the late 70's or early 80's. Some day I may post this same picture under the category Ugly Cars I've Seen In My Lifetime! [Click To Enlarge]

Sad Day In Beantown

2008-02-04T06:28:00.000-05:00

Legs

2008-02-02T19:17:00.001-05:00

Irish Tap Dancers performing on the Boston Common. Undated photo, but at least 30 years old. I wonder if these (young) ladies are still dancing? [Click To Enlarge]

The Squad

2008-02-01T08:08:00.000-05:00

I saw these men walk down Huntington Ave and take a right on this street that has a foot bridge that goes over the train tracks and into the South End. I think this is Cumberland St, but I'm not sure. (Fenix, anybody, help?). I was struck by the appearance of the men, a group of eight, all around the same height, walking in lock-step. (You can barely see the eighth man to the right of the group, sort of like a drill sergeant.) They had the appearance of a military unit. They went over the bridge and disappeared into the South End. I didn't follow! This was the late 70's.

Had I known I would be showing this 30 years later on this blog, I would have taken much better pictures of the foot bridge! [Click To Enlarge]

Boston Common

2008-01-31T09:43:00.000-05:00

A picture I took of some bikers and strollers on the Boston Common in 1973. I notice some tents in the background ... maybe there was some kind of fair going on that day. [Click To Enlarge]

Cone Head

2008-01-30T07:39:00.001-05:00

I always thought this building was amazing. Knowing nothing about architecture, and not having done any research, all I can say is I like it. If you know anything about the building leave a comment about it. The building under construction in the upper left of the picture is the Long Wharf Marriott Hotel, so this has to be mid to late 70's. In the upper right you can see a Boston Harbor tour boat docked at Long Wharf, and the Chart House Restaurant. [Click Photos To Enlarge]

This is actually a picture of a Boston Mounted Police Officer, but it was taken on Long Wharf, and you can see Cone Head above the officer. I'm pretty sure the people in line are waiting for the Harbor Cruise.

Update: While looking at the color photo again, I realized that people are lining the floors in the parking garage on the left and looking out to the Harbor. I probably took this photo during the Tall ships Celebration of America's Independence in 1976.

Update Update: Fenix at Bostonscapes was kind enough to provide a link to her post about this building. This is the way it should be photographed, and the information is great too ... find it here. Thank you, Fenix!

Rainy Day

2008-01-29T08:02:00.001-05:00

Rainy day on Beach Street in Chinatown, Boston. Undated photo - probably '70s. [Click To Enlarge]

Billboard Editorial

2008-01-28T06:40:00.000-05:00

I shot this photo some time after the Hostage Crisis with Iran, probably late 70's or early 80's. The Silhouette Lounge is somewhere in Allston - I can't remember exactly where it was when I took this picture. I did a quick search to help myself remember, but, of course, the bar could have moved in the last thirty years. I found some hilarious reviews of the bar and had a good laugh for myself. [Click To Enlarge]

Bowfront Beauty

2008-01-26T18:13:00.001-05:00

Picture I took of a house on Warren Ave in the South End of Boston in June, 2006.

I Had To Post This

2008-01-24T06:42:00.000-05:00

This has nothing to do with Beantown, but it is such and incredible and unbelievable story, I just had to post it.

Get more news at BeantownNews.com and check out my other blog if you have a minute.

Football Team

2008-01-23T07:29:00.000-05:00

Here's a photo of a Boston high school football team, circa early 1940's. Two of the men have school letters on their sweaters, a big T. I knew one of the men in this photo, but not well enough to know what high school he attended. He was born in 1926. If you see yourself or one of your relatives in the photo, let me know. [Click Image For A Closer Look]

Boston Skyline

2008-01-22T07:07:00.000-05:00

1980's view of the Hancock Buildings, taken from a moving vehicle on the Southeast Expressway near the intersection of E. Berkeley St. The billboard says Boston can cruise to Bermuda for $799. I think it's cheaper now, isn't it? [Click To Enlarge]

Peanut Vendor

2008-01-21T08:56:00.000-05:00

Peanut vendor pushing his cart through Park Square on the way to the Boston Common. Undated photo. [Click To Enlarge]

Chinatown Archway, Boston

2008-01-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

Early 1970's, facing Harrison Ave, Boston, Mass. [Click To Enlarge]

Ultra Patriots Fan!

2008-01-18T20:18:00.000-05:00

Odd News Friday

2008-01-18T08:07:00.000-05:00

Go Pats!

2008-01-17T19:55:00.000-05:00

My youngest daughter gave me this tee shirt for Christmas. Look at how beautiful it is! I can't bring myself to wear it. I think I'll frame it and keep it in mint condition.

Jan. 17, 2008

2008-01-17T07:59:00.000-05:00

Prostitution Flourishes In The Suburbs

2008-01-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

Well, prostitution may or may not flourish in Boston, but it definitely does in the suburbs, thanks to internet classified sites, according to this article: Arresting Activity on Boston.com. "Johns" are easy to spot, ads are easy to find, and if the resources were there police departments like Woburn's could bust prostitutes seven days a week. Prostitutes need only advertise their services, book a hotel room, and wait for the traffic.

The hotels, eager to discourage the activity, help spot prostitutes and provide the police access to nearby rooms for surveillance. Rufo has taught hotel staff to watch for signs of prostitution activity: Women who pay in cash, change rooms daily (to avoid customers who might return unannounced the next day), and request frequent supplies of new towels; men who arrive without luggage, head straight for the elevators, often with cellphone in hand, and leave anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours later.

So, it seems things are a lot better than they used to be in that industry. Johns no longer have to cruise the Red Light District, and prostitutes no longer have to walk the streets. Cops only need a cell phone and a quick stake-out.

But, was it easier to bust them in the old days, or easier to ignore them?

Personal Finance Day #1

2008-01-15T18:41:00.000-05:00

The Blizzard Of 1978

2008-01-14T19:23:00.001-05:00

I was looking around the internet yesterday for some weather information, and I was reminded of The Great Blizzard Of 1978, because this is the thirty year anniversary of that horrendous event. As you may know, Boston was buried in about 29 inches of snow:

February 6-7 - Blizzard of 1978, 27.1 inches of snow and 23.6 inches of snow in 24 hours for Boston. (Highest storm total and 24 hour total ever.) February 7 - Greatest snow depth for Feb. 29 inches, 1978. (Source: annandaleweather.com)

Of course, that prompted me to look around for some old photos of Boston and snowstorms. (I like to collect old, rare, or vintage photos, by the way.) Here's one taken of Route 128 during the 1978 Blizzard. Some 3500 cars were buried, and a number of people died from asphyxiation because the snow prevented the exhaust from escaping.

Here's one, Circa 1951:

This kid is obviously moving a mountain!

That's Warren Ave in the South End behind him, from Clarendon St to Berkeley St, before trees were in fashion.

And I came across this interesting photo of the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 1940:

That's the intersection of Comm Ave and Exeter St in the Back Bay.

Have any interesting old photos of Boston you want to share? Send them to me at beantowntoday@yahoo.com.

NFL Playoffs

2008-01-13T15:49:00.000-05:00

The Patriots won last night.

I'm predicting a couple of upsets in the Playoffs and a match-up of the 1997 Super Bowl teams - Green Bay and the New England Patriots. Only, this time, New England wins.

** Update **

San Diego just upset Indy!

** Update To Update **

OMG! I shocked myself by predicting a second upset today ... the Giants just beat Dallas!