Is Parking Your Bike a Problem in the South End?
By: Bret Silverberg Many people who choose to ride bicycles instead of drive cars used to feel they were at an advantage when it came to finding parking in Boston. The Boston Globe reports that this may no longer be the case.
Parking Restrictions, Heightened Security for Obama Visit
President Barack Obama will be in the South End on Thursday to lead a special interfaith service dedicated to the victims of the attacks at the marathon on Monday. The service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the South End (1400 Washington St.) Governor Deval Patrick announced the service at a press conference yesterday evening. “The service is an opportunity for the community to come together in the wake of the tragic events at the Boston Marathon this week,” said the governor’s office in a statement. In addition to President Barack Obama, federal, state, local officials will join first responders, civic leaders from communities along the marathon route, medical personnel, victims and their families, as well as volunteers from the Boston Athletic Association have been invited to attend. Doors for the service will open to the public at 8 a.m. Guests can access the entrance at Washington Street and Monsignor Reynolds Way from the north and west. Tickets will be released on a first come, first serve basis to those in line at the Cathedral, according to the governor’s office. Guests should be prepared for “airport-like” security, and are advised to plan accordingly for lines and delays. Guests are asked to bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, sharp objects, liquids or signs will be allowed in the venue. The public is highly encouraged to take public transportation, since both parking and road service in the area will be extremely limited, said the governor’s office. According to South End resident blog BosGuy, there will be no parking allowed on Washington Street, Harrison Avenue and all cross streets between Shawmut and Albany Streets, and traffic will be completely shut down between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Heightened, Obama, Parking, Restrictions, Security, Visit
Week in Review: Parking, No Hotel on Albany Street
The following are the top articles on South End Patch from Feb. 11 to Feb. 15, 2013: Man Charged For Having Marijuana, Knife on Shawmut Ave Police arrested a South End man for possession of drugs and a weapon. Where to Eat in the South End on Valentine’s Day Many of your favorite South End spots are offering special holiday menus for the occasion. Attention Foodies: ‘Taste of the South End’ To Return in March The annual fundraiser for the AIDS Action Committee will feature 43 different South End restaurants, wine, beer, cocktails, prizes and more. Plan to Build Hotel On Albany Street Is Scrapped The project, which was first approved for two hotels, then changed to a hotel and an apartment complex, has been altered again. Should South End Residents Get to ‘Hold’ Their Parking Spots? Parking is already difficult in the South End neighborhood, much less without two feet of snow on the ground. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Things to Know in the South End Today, Feb. 14: Free Parking at all Boston Meters
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a mostly sunny day with a high of 43 degrees. 2. Free Parking: All parking meters in Boston will be free today, thanks to an unexpected move from Mayor Menino. So when you’re taking your sweetie out today, you’ll have several more quarters to spend! See here for more information. 3. Happy Valentine’s Day: Still haven’t decided what to do? Take your partner out for a romantic dinner tonight to these South End restaurants that are offering Valentine’s Day specials. 4. Creative Writing at Library: Love to write? Join Writing in the World: A Creative Writing Workshop for Adults offered at the South End Branch Library (685 Tremont St.) each Thursday. The seminar is aimed at beginning writers who want to experiment with poetry and short fiction. Limited to those over 55. See here for more information. 5. Upcoming Event at Salty Pig: Join General Manager Jillian Rocco and in-house Cheese Guru Anthony Liberti at The Salty Pig (130 Dartmouth St.), as they teach and treat you to a variety of wine and cheese pairings for their new educational and edible series, Board Games. It’s happening this Sunday, Feb. 17th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $ 30 and you can buy them in advance. 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
Free Parking at Boston Meters on Valentine’s Day
After a hard weekend of snow and shoveling, the city of Boston decided to show its residents and businesses a little love this week. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Mayor Menino announced on Wednesday that all parking meters in the city of Boston would be free all day on Valentine’s Day. Menino said the move is an effort to help businesses “make up for lost time” due to this past weekend’s blizzard. “Whether you’re showering yourself, a friend or a special someone with love this Valentine’s Day, we want to make it as easy as possible for residents and visitors to spend some time and money at Boston businesses and restaurants tomorrow,” Mayor Menino said. “Get out there and share the love!” Well, you heard him. When you’re taking you’re sweetie out for a nice lunch at Flour or a walk through Blackstone Square, or even going out at night for a lovely dinner, dedicate that extra moment when you’d usually be hunting around for quarters to your loved one. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Things to Know in the South End Today, Feb. 13: Parking Ban Lifted
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a mostly sunny day with a high of 42 degrees. Keep melting! 2. Boston Parking Ban Lifted: As of Tuesday at 6 p.m. Boston’s Snow Emergency Parking ban was lifted. You can now once again park on Columbus Avenue, Dartmouth Street East Berkeley Street, Harrison Avenue, Herald Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Tremont Street, and Washington Street, among others. 3. School’s Back Today: Boston Public Schools announced yesterday that there would be school on Wednesday for Boston students. 4. V-Day at the Beehive: Starting tonight, the The Beehive Restaurant (541 Tremont St.) is presenting “3 Days of Lovin’” a 3-day long love fest of Valentine’s Day inspired dinners accompanied by romantic live music, drink specials and as menu specials. See here for more information. 5. How to Report Issues to the City: If you’re dealing with unplowed sidewalks, unplowed streets, or huge piles of snow, reach out to the city of Boston and let them know. You can report via Twitter (@notifyboston), you can call the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500 or go online to http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/. 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
Boston’s Parking Ban Will Be Lifted at 6 p.m. Tuesday Night
The city announced on Tuesday afternoon that due to recent strides made in snow removal from city streets, Boston’s snow emergency parking ban would be lifted at 6 p.m. Tuesday night. “Our snow removal teams did great work throughout the night last night,” Mayor Menino said. “Our crews will be out there all day and again tonight as we continue to widen roads, make our schools safe for students, and respond to residents’ concerns about residential areas.” Those who parked their cars in garages during the snow emergency have until 8 p.m. to move them before reduced rates expire. The city also announced certain streets will continue to be specified as “No Parking” while crews continue to remove snow. The mayor also announced on Tuesday that Boston Public Schools would reopen on Wednesday. Snow Removal ProgressThrough the city’s concentrated snow removal efforts on Monday night, the mayor’s office reported that 1,350 truck loads of snow were removed from roadways, and 70 streets were reached for snow removal during the overnight shift. Inspectional Services issued 350 citations between midnight and 7 a.m. for snow-related violations. The city is currently utilizing several snow farms, including at Marine Industrial Park, Reservation Road in Hyde Park and Columbus Avenue, next to 1542 Columbus. If you have snow conditions or violations to report, you can reach the mayor’s office at 617-635-4500. South End Patch
Things to Know in the South End Today, Feb. 12: Parking Ban Still in Effect
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a mostly sunny day with a high of 45 degrees. Melt, baby, melt! 2. Boston Parking Ban Still in Effect: As of Tuesday morning, Boston’s Snow Emergency Parking ban is still in effect. In the South End, this means no parking on parts of Columbus Avenue, Dartmouth Street East Berkeley Street, Harrison Avenue, Herald Street, Massachusetts Avenue, Tremont Street, and Washington Street, among others. We’ll keep you posted when the ban is eventually lifted. 3. No School Today: Boston Public Schools announced last night that there would again be no school on Tuesday for Boston students. The city is still at work clearing bus routes and removing snow from school facilities. 4. Mardi Gras at the Beehive: “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” tonight at the The Beehive Restaurant (541 Tremont St.) 6th Annual Mardi Gras celebration tonight at 5 p.m. You’ll get to hear jazz from the BT New Orleans 2nd Line Brass Band, try Cajun inspired à la carte specials, and finish off your meal with a big Hurricane. See here for more details. 5. How to Report Issues to the City: If you’re dealing with unplowed sidewalks, unplowed streets, or huge piles of snow, reach out to the city of Boston and let them know. You can report via Twitter (@notifyboston), you can call the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500 or go online to http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/. 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
Should South End Residents Get to ‘Hold’ Their Parking Spots?
In the wake of the Blizzard of 2013, parking has become unbelievably difficult between the city’s parking ban, the shrinking of streets to one-lane roads, and the 10-or-more-foot high and five-foot deep piles of snow that line the streets. Bostonians all know of the tradition in the city that when you shovel out a parking spot, you can “hold” that parking spot with a chair, trash barrel or other object for up to 48 hours after the parking ban ends. Proponents say that the ban encourages people to do a good job clearing out their spot, knowing their hard work won’t go to waste as soon as they move their car. Opponents say that you can’t claim a parking spot as “yours” just because you parked there before the blizzard. What’s your personal policy? Is there anywhere to park, between the South End’s parking ban, the huge snow piles in the neighborhood, and the spot savers? Is it your right to a parking spot after you put in the sweat and manpower necessary to clear it out? Should the city do anything to discourage this behavior? Which streets in the South End area have the highest number of “saved” spots? Let us know in the comments below. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Boston Snow Emergency Parking Ban Remains in Effect
Boston’s parking ban on major roads throughout the city will remain in effect, the mayor announced on Saturday afternoon. “We’re halfway there,” Mayor Menino said. “Our crews have been out there, non-stop, and our residents have listened to the early warnings to stay home and stay off the roads. We’re not out of the woods yet. Right now, it’s critical that residents continue to work with us and let the crews have full access to the streets.” You can see the streets that are banned from parking in the South End neighborhood here. The city said public works crews are out in full force, but it will take significant time, even after the snow stops this afternoon, to clear every roadway. The city also said it is vital that residents continue to stay off the roads and let the process run its course. Boston Snow Facts Boston Public Works has nearly 600 pieces of equipment on city streets 1,350 tons of salt had been spread as of 7 a.m. Saturday, with much more salt being dumped as plowing progresses and the snowfall slows Boston Police, Fire, and EMS continue to have additional staff and vehicles on duty As of 7:45 a.m., NStar reported that 9 customers are without power citywide As of 9 a.m., there were no roads blocked due to downed trees If you see any problems in your neighborhood, you can report it to the mayor’s hotline at 617-635-4500. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch