Feb
8
The Kells is closing, re-opening as Tavern in the Square.
According to the Phantom Gourmet, The Kells, a nightspot on Brighton Avenue in the heart of Allston Village that has been featuring dancing, DJs and live music since the early 1990s, is being replaced by Tavern in the Square, a dining spot and bar with three locations in the Boston area that features mostly American fare and pub grub.
-via UH.
Feb
6
Leaves On Ice
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under photos | Leave a Comment
A small part of me is lamenting that we’re not getting any of that blizzard this weekend. It’ll have to suffice that MeredithBaker can make our little remaining ice look pretty.
Feb
2
Over the river & through the bridge
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under bikes, transit | Leave a Comment
From Boston Biker.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Highway Division Invites You to a Public Information Meeting for the River Street Bridge/Western Avenue Bridge Rehabilitation Project
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Honan-Allston Branch Library
300 North Harvard Street, Allston, MAThe purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of the proposed rehabilitation of the historic River Street and Western Avenue Bridges, introduce MassDOT’s design team, answer questions and gather comments.
I can’t go to this but am curious about what they have to say. Also on topic I’m curious about what kind of progress has been made on securing the underside of the Cambridge St overpass.
Feb
2
Literally bouncing?
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under bars | Leave a Comment
It’s a figurative title guys. Yet another chapter in the neverending saga of Kells misbehavior.
A fight in The Kells Night Club, located at 161 Brighton Ave in North Brighton led to charges pressed against one of the bouncers.
George Hewett, 21, of Berkley, N.H. allegedly assaulted a female patron as he attempted to remove her from the bar at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 24. The bouncer told police he was trying to break up a fight between three females when he was pushed to the ground on top of one of them.
Someone should ask Carolyn Conway if Hewett recently came from a hip-hop show at another venue.
Feb
2
New Balance expansion
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under transit | Leave a Comment
Michale Pahre has visuals after yesterday’s extensive post about New Balance’s proposed Brighton Landing development. It may be a little easier to visualize on this google map.
MP makes a point that part of this development could influence final placement of the Allston commuter rail stop, shifting it upstream from the Cambridge Street option to Everett Street.
The New Balance project concept would address its transportation impacts in two major ways: pushing for the state to locate a commuter rail station at Brighton Landing near Everett Street, which could also service diesel multiple unit trains; and building a new flyover on-/off-ramp for the Mass Pike (and/or a cloverleaf located further east by the Leo Birmingham Parkway). The current transportation constraints of the site are such that the Mass Pike ramps are a requirement for the project to move forward, according to those briefed on the plan.
New off-ramps notwithstanding, I still think the Cambridge Street option is better as it would give easier access to those transferring to the 66 to Harvard or Longwood.
Feb
1
Indulge your bad taste in ironic sweatshirts.
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under retail | Leave a Comment
From the Rescue tumblr page.
In 1996 the Red Sox didn’t even reach the post-season. But it was the year Nomar made his major league debut, sowing the seeds for the positivity of our more recent history.
Via Saintly Advice.
Feb
1
Kelly’s, slowly but surely
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under quality of life, restaurants | 1 Comment
Paul Berkeley, of the Allston Civic Association, on his qualms about Kelly’s that led to the earlier closing time.
“But I think there’s a need to balance quality of life with our businesses. The only thing I objected to was the hours of operation they were seeking. Originally, 3 a.m. was suggested, and we said that would be a disaster for us and for you, too.”
I’m a fairly close neighbor to this property. From my perspective, any business serving food and not alcohol is going to be fixing rather than creating the nightly mini-disasters that tend to roam the neighborhood at those hours.
Berkeley said that at times, he has grown weary of the number of late-night businesses that have sprung up along Harvard Avenue, a significant change from the full-service business district he new [sic] as a child.
“At the licensing board hearing, they always ask, ‘is there a public need,’ but if you look at the law, it says there has to be a public need, but it also should be in the common good. I always feel that that doesn’t get equal footing with consumer demand,” said Berkeley.
I don’t think this block of Harvard Ave is in a position to be making nostalgia-based arguments against prospective non-bar tenants, particularly a local chain like Kelly’s who have a fairly solid reputation. And I certainly don’t think empty storefronts can be viewed as a public need or a common good.
Some of the comments on this post of HM’s from back in 2008 imply these attitudes from the ACA aren’t new, or specific to Kelly’s.
Jan
29
Grimlocke, still with us
Posted by nathanael. Filed Under MBTA, bikes | Leave a Comment
But barely. At Cambridge and Harvard…
I was waiting at the light facing the entrance to Harvard Street. Just after the change, the instant the light turned red for Cambridge and an instant before it turned green for Harvard, I was about to kick off; my left side was facing the bus stop, so I couldn’t even SEE the bus as it jammed on it’s gas and roared through the intersection; THROUGH the red light. The only thing that saved me from being underneath it was probably the extra weight in my panniers and on my body (lunch, breakfast, and three extra layers because it’s 13f out there today!)
Jan
28
The Fenway Recordings Sessions bring The Constellations, We Are Wolves and Bodega Girls to Great Scott Feb. 4
Posted by fenwayrecordings. Filed Under music | Leave a Comment
Head on over to Great Scott on Thursday, Feb. 4th to see Atlanta supergroup The Constellations hit the stage with Montreal’s We Are Wolves and our own hometown hedonistic heroes, Bodega Girls. Tix are $8, available online and at Great Scott. Or, you can try your luck at winning a pair of tickets thru Melophobe.com. See you there!
Jan
25
Allston Ska/Punk Outfit seeks Frontman/Horns
Posted by illmobius. Filed Under art, dance, music | Leave a Comment
Owning Bill is as of now a ska/punk trio out of Allston, MA. We recently lost our frontman who did vox and played the trumpet because he was too busy to commit to the group. We’ve played at Great Scott, Midway, All Asia, Church and have contacts in a lot of venues in the city and hope to start gigging again asap. We have 12+songs already written and are going to lay down about 10 of them for our album in February. We hope to recruit somebody who is cool with working with what we have and has a drive to be in an active gigging band.
Some bands we could be compared to: Leftover Crack, Choking Victim, No Cash, Propaghandi, The Code, Flaming Tsunamis
We have a manager, a van, and are looking to start playing in NYC this Spring to push our album.
You can check out a few of our tracks on myspace, but most are old and don’t reflect the current sound. Watch the video for “Pirate”, that’s more along the lines of our sound than any of the demo tracks right now.
Must be able to practice twice a week, and be a serious musician.
Get in touch if you wanna rock with us!
bc4133@gmail.com