Starting in South End, Parade Celebrates Puerto Rico
The parade on Sunday, July 28, started in South End and marched on to City Hall with a special appearance by boxer Miguel Cotto. South End Patch News
Lekker Home Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
When Lekker Home moved into its space at 1317 Washington St. ten years ago, most of the area was under construction, there were a few spread out businesses, and the sidewalks weren’t even finished. Maybe not a great sign for a couple of first time small business owners. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done,” said Curt Carpenter, who co-owns Lekker Home with his wife, Natalie, about opening up the store back in 2003. “But it was also the most exciting thing of my entire life.” Both of the Carpenters had come from the corporate world, Curt, who worked in financial services in Boston, and Natalie, who worked for Ralph Lauren in New York. Wanting to take their lives in a different direction, and visiting Natalie’s parents in Amsterdam, the two hatched a plan to provide some of the unique European furniture and accessories in Boston that Americans just couldn’t get. “What’s killed a lot of the independent design stores is that they’re selling the same stuff the big boys have available, and it no longer makes them unique,” he said. “We go to trade shows and find the unique brand designs, and that’s what makes us different.” And the store doesn’t just rely on its business in the South End. After importing the products to the U.S., Lekker Home either sells them in-store or online, distributing nationwide. The furniture and accessories for sale in-store and online is what you might expect from a modern European retailer – clean, sharp lines, bright color accents and practical pieces. Carpenter said that going forward, the couple might be looking to expand to a second store in South Boston, but for now, they’re taking care of their two small children, ages 2 and 4 months. “Thank you to those customers who brought us to this point, and we hope you’ll continue on this journey with us,” he said. “It’s not easy for independents, and we’ve got to stick together.” SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: 10Year, Anniversary, Celebrates, Home, Lekker
‘We Have Never Needed Them More’: Boston Celebrates Opening of New Rehabilitation Hospital
At the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art facility where clinicians will help people adapt to amputations and other traumatic injuries, Boston Mayor Tom Menino and others celebrated the strength of the city of Boston and the strength of the human spirit Saturday night. Benefactors, hospital staff and city officials gathered Saturday night at a tent set up outside the new nine-story Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in the Charlestown Navy Yard. Since its founding in 1970, Spaulding has provided in- and out-patient services for people recovering from a range of issues, including spinal cord and brain injuries, strokes, amputations and burns. Some of the hospital’s clinicians were waiting at the finish line when the two bombs went off at the Boston Marathon on Monday, and the staff will be there in their new facility when several of the people injured in the blasts begin the process of healing and adapting to their devastating injuries. With construction of the new, 132-bed hospital, “Spaulding will carry on a proud tradition, which says that strength can be recovered, damage can be repaired and defeat is never an option,” Spaulding President David Storto said. “This new hospital will be a place of hope and of healing, of learning and innovation and of grace and compassion.” He mentioned specifically the role of the hospital in light of recent events. “To those who survived the marathon bombings with catastrophic injuries: Rest assured that Spaulding and our extremely talented and dedicated and compassionate staff will provide the best rehabilitation care available in the world, and rest assured that we will work with them and their families to achieve a quality of life that they likely cannot even imagine at this early juncture of their recovery. As President Obama said at the interfaith service a few days ago, many of them will walk again and will run again.” The mayor, who was himself a patient at Spaulding this past fall, spoke at the gala about the staff’s compassion and endurance with patients. “We’re so lucky to have Spaulding in our city,” he said. Several speakers at the event mentioned the importance of celebrating the new hospital after such a difficult week in Boston. “It’s wonderful to be able to gather together as a community after the tragic events of this week. What better setting than in this place where healing of body and soul are at the heart of our mission and where we can all find our strength together,” said Scott Schoen, chairman of the Spaulding Board of Trustees. “Like all of you here this evening I am saddened and angered by the violence that was brought to […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: boston, Celebrates, Hospital, More, Needed, Never, Opening, Rehabilitation, Them
PHOTOS: Boston Celebrates Bombing Suspect’s Capture
After a long day trapped indoors under a citywide lockdown, Boston residents were eager to hit the streets Friday night to celebrate the apprehension of the two suspects believed responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing and to celebrate the end of what many called a “very long week.” By 11 p.m., Boston Common was filled with hundreds of people, many college-aged, who stood around in clusters wearing and waving American flags, cheering and breaking into song—“God Bless America,” “The Star-Spangled Banner” and that old Boston favorite, “Sweet Caroline.” A huge group of people filled the Common’s bandstand, climbing the poles and one another’s shoulders, hanging over the edge and leading chants of “USA, USA!” and “BPD! BPD!” Another chant: “We got him!” Others lined up to shake the hands of Boston police officers who stood off to the side keeping an eye on the crowd, while others shouted, “Thank you! God bless!” at them. Drivers honked and blared patriotic music as they drove down streets that had mostly been deserted all day, while pedestrians let out whoops and shouts of “USA!” as they walked. New Haven, CT resident Mauris Nnamani drove up Friday night to check on his girlfriend, who lives on Beacon Hill. He was on the road when he heard that police had apprehended the second bombing suspect in Waterford. “It’s great. I think it’s great for us to celebrate. We just apprehended the suspect in this tragic event,” Nnamani said. But he also felt it was too soon for people to become complacent about safety. “I think that we all should take care and we should make sure that everything is safe. We don’t know if they had accomplices that are still around,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for everybody to come in a big crowd yet until we actually get all the information and know what’s going on.” A group of students from Boston Conservatory said they had partied on campus and decided to venture out to see what the rest of the city was up to. They wandered down to the Prudential Center side of Copley Square to watch CNN’s Anderson Cooper and other TV people report from the edge of what is still blocked off as a crime scene. Asked what it was like to go through the lockdown, student Matthew Rodin said, “It was a long, hard day. It was a long, hard week. But this is the perfect way to end a Friday night.” “It’s such a blessing just to know that we can finally sleep and feel totally at ease for the first time this […]
Things to Know in the South End Today, March 20: Lekker Home Celebrates 10 Years
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a sunny day with a high near 41 degrees. 2. Lekker Home Celebrates 10 years: Holding your own as an independent, locally owned business isn’t easy these days, but the South End’s Lekker Home (1317 Washington St.) has made it a full decade! The store is celebrating with a 10-year Anniversary Event and Sale tonight from 6-9 p.m. Join for celebratory toasts, tastes and treats, and a private sale with special deals, door prizes and gifts. See here for more information. 3. City Councilor at South End Library: Stop by the South End Branch Library (685 Tremont St.) today at 4 p.m. for a special story hour for children. City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley will be reading to children in honor of Women’s History Month. See here for more information. 4. Calling all Entrepreneurs: Pack up your business plan and bring it to the Boston Center for Adult Education (122 Arlington St.) to join business consultant Kim L. Clark and a group of hopeful entrepreneurs for round robin discussions You’ll receive a critique of your business model; smart advice on marketing/PR/social media strategies; insights into sales distribution channels that make sense for you and your customers; and advice on financing options in today’s cruel economy. The workshop starts at 5:30 and will cost you $ 120. See here for more information. 5.Art at OWK: United South End Artists, Inc. and OKW Fine Clothing & Gallery are combining to present the 4th annual Small Works Show at OKW Fine Clothing & Gallery in the South End. The exhibit will feature original paintings, photography and sculpture produced by member artists of United South End Artists, Inc., and will run through April 4. See here for more information. Things you can do every day on South End Patch: Share your news with the rest of the community. Click here to add an announcement. Add your events to our events calendar. Click here to sign up for breaking news updates. Want up-to-the-minute news? Click here to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts on your community in a blog. Click here to get started. South End Patch