Boston.com - Your Town blog - Back Bay

MBTA to make its 15 busiest bus routes faster, more reliable; work includes moving, eliminating stops

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:17:39 GMT

The MBTA says it will make its 15 busiest bus routes faster, more reliable, and more accessible through a series of changes this summer, which include relocating some stops and eliminating others.

Capturing the MBTA, rust and all

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:40:13 GMT

Have you ever tried to describe the MBTA to someone who's never ridden on it? What did you say?

Report details Boston neighborhoods with the lowest commute times

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:41:48 GMT

Residents of Beacon Hill, the Fenway, and downtown are most likely to have commutes of less than half an hour, while residents of Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester are most likely to commute for more than one hour, according to a new report from the citys redevelopment authority.

Parks Department expands beetle trap program against elm disease

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:30:49 GMT

The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is expanding its beetle trap program designed to protect the citys elms from elm bark beetles and Dutch elm disease.

Copley Square group photo will cap Emerson students' Boston Strong campaign

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:54:39 GMT

The Emerson College students who raised more than $890,000 through t-shirt sales for the One Fund are inviting everyone who has purchased one of their "Boston Strong" t-shirts to a group photo shoot Tuesday in Copley Square.

Berklee's summer concerts bring free music to Boston neighborhoods

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:26:37 GMT

Berklee College of Musics Summer in the City concert series will bring more than 200 outdoor shows to the city through September featuring an array of artists and musical styles.

Riders complain about the MBTA, by the numbers

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:03:23 GMT

When people tweet about the MBTA, often they're expressing their opinions about things like its speed, cleanliness, and customer service -- or its lack of all three.

Boston Common Frog Pond wading pool to reopen for summer

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:30:14 GMT

The Boston Common Frog Pond is set to reopen Saturday, June 29 with a festive day of celebration.

What's the best independent coffee shop in Greater Boston?

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:47:33 GMT

We're obsessed with coffee over at Boston.com, so wanted to put together Coffee Week to celebrate all things java! New interactives, maps, and galleries for the caffeine-obsessed will be unveiled each day this week. On Sunday, we wrote and mapped...

City confiscates hundreds of 'Boston Strong' shirts from unlicensed vendors outside benefit concert

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:35:00 GMT

City officials said they confiscated hundreds of Boston Strong T-shirts from about a half-dozen vendors who were selling the apparel without proper permits, and likely with no intention to donate proceeds to charity, outside the star-studded benefit concert for Marathon bombing victims at TD Garden Thursday night.

It is (almost) too hot to even complain about the MBTA

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:15:36 GMT

It's hot out there, and the only part of Boston that gets hotter than the outdoors is the MBTA.

Philip Frattaroli, North End restaurant-empire scion, seeks citywide Council seat

Fri, 31 May 2013 19:25:54 GMT

North End resident and restaurateur Philip Frattaroli had a busy day on Wednesday.

Fenway resident Michael J. Nichols running for City Council seat

Thu, 30 May 2013 18:48:56 GMT

Michael J. Nichols, an attorney and resident of the Fenway, is running for City Councils Eighth District

Heat to cause delays on Framingham-Worcester commuter rail line

Thu, 30 May 2013 18:06:57 GMT

Commuter rail trains on the Framingham-Worcester line have been ordered to slow down a bit because of the hot weather, the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail Company announced.

Lifeguards will be at state-owned pools, beaches for an extra day this weekend due to hot weather

Thu, 30 May 2013 17:31:03 GMT

Lifeguards will be on-hand for an extra day this weekend at state-owned pools and beaches with temperatures expected be hovering near 90 degrees for the next four days through Sunday, officials announced Thursday.

Boston aims to eliminate red tape around urban agriculture; meetings set to discuss proposed rezoning

Wed, 29 May 2013 21:47:43 GMT

Boston officials are preparing to present a draft version of new citywide zoning rules designed to expand opportunities for urban agriculture, which is largely prohibited under existing zoning rules.

Jamaica Plain artist sketches MBTA stops, explores city

Wed, 29 May 2013 14:40:02 GMT

Jamaica Plain resident Laura Meilman launched "Project T-scapes," her plan to visit and draw each of the MBTA's T stations, in January.

Dorcena Forry wins Senate race, Livingstone leads House primary

Wed, 29 May 2013 04:16:51 GMT

Winning a seat historically held by South Boston men, Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry of Dorchester will soon be the newest member of the Senate after her special election win Tuesday.

Boston's high school valedictorians honored at annual luncheon

Tue, 28 May 2013 22:57:09 GMT

Liza Mosley beamed with pride Tuesday as her daughter was honored at the 15th annual Boston Public Schools Valedictorians Luncheon.

Voters cast ballots in Eighth Suffolk House primary race

Tue, 28 May 2013 17:20:21 GMT

Democrats Josh Dawson and Jay Livingstone are running in the special election primary to fill the seat left vacant by former state Rep. Martha Marty Walz.

8th Suffolk special election primary for state representative Tuesday

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:33:36 GMT

Voters in the 8th Suffolk district will cast their vote Tuesday in the primary race for state representative.

Sapling from Anne Frank's tree to be planted in Boston Common

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:51:24 GMT

A sapling from the tree that stood outside the secret annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II will soon be planted in Boston Common.

Celebrate your holiday waiting on the MBTA

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:34:15 GMT

Memorial Day is significant in several ways. It is a time to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country, but it's also the unofficial beginning of summer, and in New England it can be the first long weekend of the year with good weather.

Detours, parking restrictions planned for weekend races

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:42:08 GMT

Drivers can expect detours and parking restrictions across the city this weekend as thousands of runners take to the streets to finish the last mile of the Boston Marathon, and pay tribute to law enforcement officials killed in the line of duty.

Canadian letter-writer pledges support to Boston

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:20:42 GMT

A Canadian with a deep affection for Boston is hoping his words of encouragement can help bring not only solace but also financial support to people and families recovering from the Boston Marathon bombings.