SONG OF THE DAY: "Step" by Vampire Weekend Good morning, Beacon Hill! Here are five things you need to know today, Friday, May 17: 1. RADIO 92.9 EARTHFEST: The annual free outdoor festival Radio 92.9 EarthFest will be held tomorrow at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. Check out our preview here, including changes to security and access points to the event. 2. TSARNAEV LEFT NOTE IN BOAT: According to a CBS News report, suspect marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left a note in the boat where he was discovered in Watertown April 19. Read more here. 3. GET THE PATCH …

SONG OF THE DAY: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk Good morning, Beacon Hill! Here are five things you need to know today, Thursday, May 16: 1. HIDDEN GARDENS TOUR TODAY: The annual Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour is today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout select private gardens in the neighborhood. Tickets will be $40 today. 2. WHO WILL REPLACE WALZ?: One local political observer believes it could come down to who has done the most retail politics in the race between Joshua Dawson and Jay Livingstone to fill Marty Walz's former House seat. 3. GET THE PATCH NEWSLETTER: Have you signed up for the …

SONG OF THE DAY: "Pretty Boy" by Young Galaxy Good morning, Beacon Hill! Here are five things you need to know today, Wednesday, May 15: 1. BIG POWERBALL DRAWING TONIGHT: Find out where you can buy Powerball tickets for tonight's huge drawing. You never know, maybe it'll be your lucky night! 2. EARTHFEST CHANGES: If you are planning on attending this year's Radio 92.9 EarthFest, be sure to check out our preview that includes information about increased security and entrance changes. 3. GET THE PATCH NEWSLETTER: Have you signed up for the Beacon Hill Patch Daily Newsletter yet? Each morning …

SONG OF THE DAY: "Unbelievers" by Vampire Weekend Good morning, Beacon Hill! Here are five things you need to know today, Tuesday, May 14: 1. BAY STATE BIKE WEEK: Did you know this week is Bay State Bike Week? Check out our post on the week, including where you can find events happening in your area. 2. BOSTON BITES BACK: The Fenway neighborhood will play host to a large-scale fundraising event for the One Fund next week, known as Boston Bites Back. It takes place at Fenway Park from 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday. More information available here. 3. GET THE PATCH NEWSLETTER: Have you signed up for …

1. Friends' membership: The Friends of the Public Garden has launched a spring membership drive with an enticing incentive: anyone who joins the Friends by May 1 will be entered into a drawing to win lunch for two at the Four Seasons Hotel’s Bristol Lounge. For more information, visit the Friends' website.  2. Earth week dinners: From April 22 through April 28, the Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro will join more than 100 Chefs Collaborative member restaurants to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of Earth Day dinners. Instead of limiting the celebration to just one day, the Bistro will offer a …

1. Restoration opening: Despite its rocky opening night party and subsequent delayed opening, Restoration Hardware, now known as RH, should open at their 234 Berkeley St. location soon. A spokeswoman for RH told Patch, "We are working diligently with the City of Boston, the Inspection Services Department, the Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety to ensure that our Gallery meets applicable building codes and permitting requirements to open our doors as soon as possible." 2. Downtown Schools for Boston Meeting:The West End Civic Association invites downtown …

1. Tracy out: Nils Tracy, a Democratic candidate for the State House seat formerly held by Marty Walz, announced Tuesday that he's dropping out of the race. “I chose to run for State Representative, because I believe the 8th Suffolk District deserves a strong progressive leader. I now believe Jay Livingstone is that leader" Tracy said. The Democratic primary will be held May 28. Walz served as the representative for the 8th Suffolk district, which includes Beacon Hill, Back Bay, West End, until February.  2. Educator award: The nominations for the annual Boston Educators of the Year awards …

1. Fashion on Charles: Two neighboring Charles Street retailers will host a special spring fashion event this Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Second Time Around, at 82 Charles St., will host three jewelry artists—Boston University student Courtney Schwabe, butterfly wing jewelry artist Crystal Popko, and Newton silversmith Lisa Sachs—all of whom are featured at noa jewelry, fine handcrafts & gifts. noa, whose jewelry and gift items are created exclusively in New England, opened last September at 88 Charles St. 2. Greening your downtown home: Whether you rent a studio apartment or own a single …

1. Public Garden gala: Tickets are available for the Friends of the Public Garden's 2013 Green and White Ball on Friday, May 17, at 6:30 pm at the Taj Boston. The gala will feature a cocktail reception and dinner followed by dancing to the Sultans of Swing. Tables and individual seats can be purchased here. For more information contact Mary Halpin at (857) 239-8937. 2. Restaurant Week: The North End Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual North End Restaurant Week continues April 7-12. Get dinner for $38.13 per person at participating North End restaurants.   3. Running the marathon? Share your …

1. Train to the Cape: Did you catch our post about the new train going from Boston to the Cape this summer? I'd pay $35 not to sit in the bumper-to-bumper traffic heading south on Friday afternoons.  2. Fix a Feral Cat Clinic:  The Animal Rescue League of Boston is kicking off its 2013 “Fix a Feral Clinics” on Sunday, April 7 at its shelter at 10 Chandler St. This is the first of four clinics in 2013, and the League has the capacity to accept 75 cats for spay/neuter surgery per clinic. See here for more information. 3. Free concert: The Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Eric Hewitt, …

1. Free lecture on Beacon Hill: The Museum of African American History is hosting a free talk by  Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot on the African-American historic journey of liberation, and the ways that respect creates equality, empathy and connection in all kinds of relationships. The lecture, "Respect: Witness and Justice” is this Thursday at 6 p.m. at 46 Joy St. 2. Save the date: The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay will hold its 18th Annual Taste of the Back Bay on Thursday, April 11, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Prudential Skywalk. Come and sample some of the finest food and drink Boston …

1. King donation: Novelists Stephen and Tabitha King have contributed $5,000 to help build a statue to commemorate their influential literary forbear Edgar Allan Poe, who was born in Boston in 1809. Organizers hope to unveil the statue, at the corner of Boylston and Charles streets, in May 2014.  2. Autism awareness: Mayor Thomas M. Menino today declared April 2 “Autism Awareness Day” in Boston and is encouraging building owners to light their buildings blue as part of a global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about the disability. 3. Distracted …

1. Park serve: Registration is now open for the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Park Serve Day, on April 20. Last year, the DCR hosted over 4,797 volunteers in 53 park sites across the commonwealth for Park Serve Day. Those volunteers planted 1,742 flowers, 187+ trees and 167 shrubs, and had collected more than over 19.5 tons of trash. To register, click here.  2. Scholarship deadline: Today is the deadline to apply for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board’s scholarship program. GBREB will award more than $100,000 in scholarships to about 60 students from 54 cities and towns …

1. Menino won't run: Mayor Thomas Menino, 70, will not seek a sixth term, according to the Boston Globe. Menino is expecte to make the announcement at a Faneuil Hall event this afternoon.  2. Good Friday: Boston Public Schools are closed Friday in observance of Good Friday. School will resume on Monday. Mark your calendars now for spring break, coming up on April 16-19. 3. Free art: Admission to the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is free to all ages every Thursday from 5-9 p.m. 4. Cost of living: A recent survey says that it takes an income of about $70,000 a year for a family of four …

1. No Drop-In Saturday: The Esplanade Association will not be holding drop-in Saturdays, in which volunteers show up to clean the park, this weekend. It will resume next Saturday, April 6.  2. Egg hunt: Celebrate spring this Saturday at Clarendon Street Playground. There will be an egg hunt, coffee & donuts, and a visit from the Easter Bunny, starting at 10 a.m. Volunteers are needed to hide eggs at 8 a.m. To help please contact the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay at 617-247-3961 or email playground@nabbonline.com 3. Mexican pop-up: Villa Mexico, the popular Mexican restaurant that …

1. Documentary screening: Suffolk University Law School will host a free screening of The Central Park Five, a documentary film about the Central Park Jogger Case, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns, his daughter Sarah Burns, and her husband, David McMahon, at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the law school, 120 Tremont St.  2. Free concert: The Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Eric Hewitt, conductor, presents a free concert, Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m. at Old South Church (645 Boylston St., Copley Square). For more information, call The Boston Conservatory event line at (617) …

1. Street sweeping: After several delays, street sweeping is scheduled to start today on Beacon Hill. It will start in the Back Bay on April 1. 2. Volunteers wanted: The annual Boston Shines community cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. Every year, about 5,000 volunteers come together to help plant flowers, sweep, rake and pick up trash around the city. Register now as a volunteer or register your business or organization to help with the event. 3. Scholarship deadline: April 1 is the deadline to apply for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board’s scholarship program. GBREB will award …

1. Happy World Water Day: Did you know that only 2.5 percent of the Earth's water supply is freshwater, and that of that, only 1 percent is available for human use? This will be among the topics discussed today at theMassachusetts Water Forum at the State House today. 2. Rose Garden party: Tickets are now available for Boston’s Annual Rose Garden Party on June 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kelleher Rose Garden in the Back Bay Fens. All are welcome to support ParkARTS and be part of this gathering of over 250 guests surrounded by 1,000 rose bushes of more than 150 varieties. Tickets are …

1. DCR art contest: The Department of Conservation and Recreation is seeking artists to paint wildlife and landscape scenes on 99 Iron Rangers, the narrow metal contribution containers located in parks across the state. Donations placed in the Iron Rangers directly benefit the state parks. Artists' proposals must be submitted by April 26. Selected artists will be notified by May 1, and the work must be completed by Aug. 30. Submissions should be sent to Sharon Hoey, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Suite 600, 251 Causeway St., Boston, MA 02114. 2. Greenovate deadline extended: Mayor…

1. Gala for Autism: The Teamsters Local 25 will hold the sixth annual “Light Up the Night” Gala for Autism on Saturday, March 30. The event will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight at the InterContinental Hotel, at 510 Atlantic Ave., and will benefit Autism Speaks and local autism charities. Tickets cost $60 each and can be purchased online at http://teamsterslocal25autism.com. 2. Fisher College head of safety: Fisher College this week announced the recent hire of William G. Chase, former chief of the Westwood Police Department, as the Director of Public Safety. The college will hold an open …