Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Can't live without your smart phone? Read this.
Have you ever thought about how much time you spend connected to media of one kind or another? Whether it’s an online paper, Facebook, Pinterest or other social media tools, or television and radio, much of our waking moments are spent hearing and absorbing information that’s not our own. While this can sometimes be for informational purposes, like listening to the news or the weather, much of it is hardly essential information. Having said that, there is both interest and fun to be had in reading onine articles, blogs and Facebook posts by friends and family. But when we are constantly attached to external information it can literally take its toll on our physical and mental health. Our brains are overstimulated, our reference point …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Is Boston losing its young people to other US cities because we're dull and boring? Are we just too uptight? How come it's so hard to have a good time in this town?
Last week, the Boston Globe sponsored a discussion as part of its Building a Better Commonwealth series, Loosen Up, Boston?, where a group of panelists was asked its opinion on how to make Boston a more creative, dare I say “hip”, place to live. "How can we work together to find the right balance between maintaining Boston's character and needs of local residents while enhancing urban vitality and giving new nightlife venues a chance to take root?" It’s nothing new to hear a person here or there talking about Boston not being the most interesting, exciting place to live. But, an audience of ~400 assembling to share their thoughts on it? That is something new. People are looking for change. Here is what I heard people talking about and what…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Take our poll or comment below to let neighbors know how you feel.
Early Tuesday afternoon the city's Board of Appeals voted against a variance that would have allowed Villa Mexico Cafe to relocate from Grampy's gas station to 12 Grove St. See the full story here. What do you think of the decision? Let us know in the poll or comment section below.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
If you're used to walking home with the groceries, there's novelty to visiting New England's largest supermarket.
When it’s just a carton of milk you need, a 35-mile drive is definitely out of the way. But if you’re up for a pilgrimage, the new Wegmans in Northborough is New England’s largest supermarket and the chain’s first store in Massachusetts. There is some psychology behind wanting to see 138,000 square feet of produce and everything else the modern American grocery sells, in a box so big that there are 30 check-out lines and a red phone right by the yogurt case, connecting you to customer service – just in case you get lost, or have a question. But it’s not just me: Wegmans’ reputation for superior customer service, as well as their competitive price-quality-choice mix, drew 25,000 visitors to Northborough last October 16, breaking opening …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino says the drug problem in Boston isn't at a crisis level. But, it is.
Two weeks ago, South Boston resident Barbara Coyne was killed in her own home. Last fall, Barbara Tagen, also from Southie and also in her 60’s, was killed. Police believe both attacks were drug-related. The response to these tragic events has been an outpouring of expression from residents telling tales of a neighborhood reeling from drug addiction and violent crimes committed as a result. Not everyone seems to be taking the problem as seriously, unfortunately. Boston Herald reporter Ted Fitzgerald asked Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino last week if the situation was “worse than usual”. The Mayor responded that he couldn’t speak to “hearsay” and that he hadn’t seen any “actual numbers”. Is it at a crisis level? “No, it’s not at a crisis …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Stressful, unhealthy job? Here are some quick fixes.
Most of us have to work. And, if you don’t work for yourself, like me, you may feel as if you have very little control over what happens to you at work. Responsibilities change, your boss may change or where you’re physically located for work may also change. When things are constantly changing and we feel we have no control, it creates stress. And, the reality is, change is part of life and certainly part of the landscape of many jobs today. So, what can you do to manage this stress? Attacking stress requires a two-part plan: Shift your thinking and move your body. This plan acknowledges two things: First, that while you may not be able to change what’s happening in your job, you CAN change your reaction to the changes. Secondly, how you …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The restaurant will have its last appearance before a city board on May 8.
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Wednesday, April 25
Editor's note: below is a letter from Julie King, the owner of Villa Mexico Cafe. As I told you in my last email, I was going to let you know what happened in the meeting with the abbutter's lawyer, Mrs. Sandra Steele. This was held on Tuesday, April 17th, at City Hall. Well my friends, the meeting was set up by recommendation of our city's mayor. As you may recall an aide from the Office of Neighborhood Services helped us organize it. Due to the fact that the abbutter hired a lawyer, we had to speak with her legal representative and try to get a consensus. That was the purpose of meeting. Our prospective landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, attended along with our lawyer, Richard Lynds, Bessie and I. We were all very happy because we finally …
Thursday, April 19, 2012
New children's stores in the mall draw parents with kids to the Shops at Prudential Center, a place that relieves the dearth of community spaces in the Back Bay.
Stay in your lane, pass on the left and neither exceed nor fall under the speed limit: These are the unspoken traffic rules at Boston’s Prudential Center mall. Crowded with office workers, tourists, and locals, the busy hall off Boylston Street reminds you that you are still in the city. But pass the north-side main drag, and the aisles widen while the lovely skylight ceilings persist. Ahhh, space. It’s here that young families are making the mall their own. A landscaped garden, places indoors to linger, and now a family-oriented trio of businesses are all holding down the age of the average Pru visitor. With most residents in our urban neighborhoods tucked into condos without yards, we covet any living space beyond our own homes. The mall…
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Who doesn't love having dogs running unleashed in our public parks? Only one person, I guess.
I hate it when people act arrogantly. Drivers cutting off other drivers in traffic, guys throwing Frisbees that end up banging parents in the head while sitting having picnics – you get the idea. I encountered my worst pet peeve last week while sitting in Blackstone Square, on Washington Street in the South End. The square is busy most days. Men with bottles hang out there, talking and arguing with one another (and themselves). Mothers with babies mingle about, sunning themselves. And pet owners bring their dogs there to poop on the lawn and run up on unsuspecting people’s laps. Previous comments to the contrary notwithstanding, I do like dogs. I love them. But the scene here was overwhelming. I mean, like, 12-15 dogs off leashes. Swear …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Challenges come in all shapes and sizes and aren't just for marathon runners.
Yesterday was the Boston Marathon and, although I’m a yoga teacher, I love running as well and have finished the BayState Marathon twice, the last time being in October of 2012. Running a marathon is hard work and the training is brutal. But there are different ways you can challenge yourself and some have nothing to do with physical exercise but can have a positive impact on your health. Here are some ideas: More is more: Once you decide on your exercise plan, pick a time frame and do it every day. If it’s yoga, try practicing every day for a week (pick one rest day). If it’s running or gym, do the same thing (avoid increasing your mileage too much too soon). If you’ve been doing the same thing for a while, increasing the frequency can …
Leo Collins
8:38 pm on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
As a person who grew up in South Boston and a victim of family addiction I can attest there is a MAJOR drug problem on the streets of Boston. It on every street corner in every Bar and in every neighborhood. If you don't see it you don't want to see it. Ever since the crack down and I hate to say it the Mob. The streets are like the wild west. I personally remember some of the infomous leg … more ›