Sam Adams Brewery

February 28, 2008

Sam Adams Brewery Tasting, Jamaica Plain, Boston

A few friends and I went to the Sam Adams Brewery for their monthly Open House this evening. Tonight, we were asked to taste 4 new brews (a Pilsner, a Rye Ale, a Coffee Stout, and a Raspberry White ale). We each voted for two favorites, and the winner of these will be chosen at an upcoming convention for release in 2009. Afterwards, we were offered a 12 ounce glass of White Ale (the glass was ours to keep) and one awesome soft pretzel.

We have come to enjoy our monthly visits to the brewery...the open houses are free to the public, but it's hard to get on the list before it reaches capacity and is shut down.

Snow on the Muddy River

February 26, 2008

Muddy River, Back Bay Fens, Boston

Here's a picture taken around 5PM this evening, on my way home from work. Just as rush hour was beginning, a wintry rain/snow mix begin to fall in the Metro area. Thankfully, it was warm enough to keep the snow from sticking to the roads.

Canton Viaduct

February 24, 2008

Canton Viaduct, Canton Junction, MA

This railroad viaduct was opened in 1835 by the Boston and Providence Railroad, and it has been used for rail traffic over the Canton River ever since. I have been on top of the viaduct in the past, during trips on the MBTA Commuter Rail from Boston to Providence, but I have never seen the 70 foot-tall, 615 foot-long structure from river level.

The structure is actually two walls, 5 feet thick, with a five-foot thick space between them. Buttresses divide this space into 21 individual compartments of different sizes depending on their locations along the viaduct. The Canton River flows through 6 small arches on one side of the wall, and two larger arches have since been cut to allow road traffic through and area on the opposite side of the wall.

Two other viaducts of similar design exist elsewhere in the world - Russia, of all places. There are conflicting reports online about this, however. One site says that the designer of the Canton Viaduct was summoned to Russia in 1842 by Tsar Nicholas I to design two similar passes on a railroad being built between St. Petersburg and Moscow. Wikipedia says that Tsar Alexander II sent workers to Canton in the latter half of the 19th Century to draw up plans for two bridges for the Trans-Siberian Railway. Either way, both websites claim that there are only three railroad viaducts of such design in the world today.

Newbury Street

February 23, 2008

Newbury Street, Boston

Here's a view of the upper end of Newbury Street, Boston's premier retail district. I had just had my hair cut at a salon not too far from here, and decided to walk a few blocks down the street to the Boston Public Library on nearby Boylston Street to find a cozy leather chair to read for a couple hours.

Newbury Street is usually very crowded on the weekends...one will often find drivers in their posh convertibles driving along this stretch during warmer months. After a full day of snow, however, it appears that most people decided to stay indoors.

Snow on the E Line

February 22, 2008

Snow on the MBTA E Line, Brigham Circle Station, Boston

This view looks southward on the E Line towards Heath Street...we were waiting for the train to Symphony Station at the time. The snow was falling pretty hard then, which made for a messy commute for those at work looking to find a way home during rush hour. Thankfully, trains run in all weather conditions in Boston.

Landmark Center

February 20, 2007

Landmark Center, Boston

Here is a common sight on my way to work every day. Landmark Center was developed in the early 2000s as a giant, mixed-use complex as part of the effort to jump-start the regentrification of the Fenway and Kenmore Square areas. The building was opened in 1928 and served over 50 years as a Sears, Roebuck & Co warehouse and store. It closed sometime in the 1980s and stood boarded up, neglected and decaying, for a few decades.

This is perhaps one of the most magnificent restorations seen in recent years in the Fenway neighborhood. The building, exhibiting its original Art Deco splendor on the exterior, now houses a Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Staples, REI, Best Buy, Lonestar Steakhouse and Saloon, Quiznos, Boston Sports Club fitness center, a large Regal Theater complex, and a Blick Art Store, among other establishments. Its main lobby is absolutely beautiful, with amazing marble walls and grand staircased/escalators leading to its upper office levels. It has earned its place on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, thereby designating it as "Landmark Center".

Its retail stores aside, this building serves as an excellent welcome to Boston City for those arriving from the western suburbs on the MBTA D Line to see a Red Sox Game a few blocks away.

The color of science...

February 19, 2008

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Research East, Boston

Since I was holed up at work from 8AM until 7PM tonight, I didn't have much time to venture out and take a picture. However, at the end of the day, I pulled out my camera and snapped a few pictures of our science in an HIV vaccine laboratory. Above is an ice bucket with so-called "eppendorf" snap-cap tubes filled with very small quantities of RNA that we have purified from monkey T cells infected with the HIV cousin, SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus).

Rose Kennedy Greenway

February 17, 2008

Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston

I was doing a little shopping this afternoon in the Faneuil Hall area and noticed the progress that has been made on the new Rose Kennedy Greenway. This land, carved through downtown Boston, used to be home of Boston's second "green monster", the I-93 central artery, which was a giant, overhead highway separating downtown from the nearby North End. The "Big Dig" project, which transferred the highway below ground (directly below the greenway here) was completed about 4 years ago, and the overhead highway was demolished soon afterward, reuniting the North End with Downtown. It has taken all this time for the city to redevelop the scar left by the highway, but it's coming along nicely.

In the picture above is an artwork installation of panels that light up at night and change color. In the distance is Rowes Wharf (the large arch) and the Boston Harbor Hotel; the Harbor is just to the other side of the buildings on the left.

Park Street Station

February 16, 2008

Park Street Station, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston

Here is a shot taken at the exit of Park Street Station, the busiest point of the MBTA (or "T"). This happens to be, along with the next stop, Boylston, one of the two oldest subway stations in the United States. Built in 1897, the station served passengers of the former Tremont Street Subway, which ran between Boylston and Park for a number of years before the line was expanded points east and west. The Red Line platform was built 15 years later, then known as the Park Street Under (since the platform is perpendicular and directly beneath the Green Line platforms).

The steeple seen through the glass skylight is that of the Park Street Church, which has been here since 1808.

Modell Center for Immunology

February 15, 2008

Jeffrey Modell Center for Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston

This view, taken through an atrium window, looks towards the Warren Alpert Building (to the left, with the large windows) and the attached Armenise Building, an original 1907 structure on Harvard Medical School's main quadrangle.

The Jeffrey Modell Center opened in November of 2007 as the new headquarters for my graduate school program, the Harvard Immunology Program. Named for a 15-year-old boy who died of primary immunodeficiency years ago, the small building houses an atrium, 4 offices, a conference room, library, and large lecture room with seating for approximately 60-70 people. Having completed my labwork a little early, I decided to grab a cozy chair in the center and read a book while the clouds passed over the skylit atrium.

(Note: if you view the wayfaring map linked to the right and zoom in, you will see the center under construction, as well as a red construction crane in front of the Armenise building. The crane had to lift building materials over Armenise in order to access the inner courtyard that is closed off by the Armenise and Alpert buildings - this is where the Modell Center now resides.)

Queensberry Street, Fenway

February 14, 2008

Queensberry Street, Fenway Neighborhood, Boston

This view, taken during my walk back from work this afternoon, shows how urban redevelopment and gentrification have rapidly changed the skyline and views of the Fenway neighborhood. This district, largely untouched since it was completed in the 1920s (save for a few modern condominium complexes in the area), has experienced a boom in large, mid-rise mixed-use development in the recent years.

In the distance, behind the classic apartment buildings that make up the Fenway district, is Trilogy, a retail/condo/subsidized housing project completed in 2006. It was built from the ground (or underground, for that matter) up during my stay here in Fenway, taking over a plot of land that once served as a ground-level parking lot for Fenway Park. It has obscured my view of Landmark Center and the hills beyond Boston proper, although it has brought a lot of refreshment to the neighborhood, including a bank, two nice restaurants, a few dessert parlors, a FedEx/Kinkos, and a luxury home furnishings store (West Elm).

Although not quite clearly visible, this view looks through the recently developed Ramler Park (the greenery in the center, viewed from the rear), which was once home to a parking garage that was demolished soon after I moved into the neighborhood in September of 2003. With concrete comes greenspace, as well...we can only hope that this trend continues....

Fenway Park

February 12, 2008

Fenway Park along Van Ness Street, Boston

Now that Spring Training season is here, construction workers at Fenway Park are scurrying to finish the off-season improvements to Fenway Park. This view is looking down Van Ness Street towards Gate B (Yawkey Way is just to my back). Truck Day, a celebration which sees off the tractor trailer that carts the Sox' equipment to the Spring Training facility in Florida, was held this past Saturday, with much fanfare.

My good camera is broken for the moment (the shutter button broke)...part is on order, so I apologize if postings, taken with my old camera, are sparse in the coming days.

South Bay Center

February 10, 2008

Snow squall at South Bay Center, Dorchester, Boston

I arrived at South Bay Center this afternoon beneath a beautiful, clear sky. During my quick stop by Target and Home Depot, the sky blackened, and then opened up with fierce wind, snow, and thunder and lightning.

In the distance is Boston's Financial District. Literally 5 seconds after this photo was taken, the skyline was completely obscured by the falling snow. The squall ended just as quickly as it arrived, leaving us once again under a clear sky.

Mardi Gras in the South Shore

February 9, 2008

Mardi Gras party in Weymouth, MA

A friend of mine from work threw a post-Mardi Gras party at her apartment yesterday afternoon and evening (it was the only day she could get off from her weekend job...hence, the late party). Dinner featured chicken and andouille gumbo, red beans and rice, crawfish cakes, meat pies, a king cake (with baby Jesus implanted), and many, many Hurricanes.

'Definitely worth the hour-long ride down to Weymouth via T and bus.

Blue Ribbon BBQ

February 7, 2008

Blue Ribbon Bar-B-Q, Arlington, MA

I took the day off work today. I decided to take advantage of the weekday off (usually I go somewhere where one can enjoy weekdays), so I went to Blue Ribbon Bar-B-Q in the depths of the Boston suburbs for some good, authentic Carolina style pulled pork. It was busy (undoubtedly, not as busy as it would be on weekends), but I managed to find a spot at a standing counter to enjoy my sandwich. I enjoyed it so much that I realized halfway through it that they had accidentally given me a pulled chicken sandwich rather than the pulled pork that I ordered. I was in heaven as it was, and it didn't bother me one bit. Anyone from the South knows that the meat is second to the preparation...smoked, dry-rubbed, and free to add whatever sauce you want (I chose the Carolina Vinegar, which is a great dipping sauce). The baked beans were out of this world (I was standing across from two business people visiting from the New York area, and all they could utter was, "out of this world" in their thick accents). The pickles there are awesome, too...pull them out of a vat with tongs, and if you're lucky, you'll get a nice pickled clove of garlic and a sprig of collards as well.

This place is well worth the ride. It's accessible by public transportation...just take the Green Line to Park, the Red Line to Harvard, and then the 77 bus towards Arlington Heights to 905 Mass Ave. You can't miss it. It'll take you about an hour and 15 minutes, but on a snowy day in Boston, the ride is worth it.

BIDMC Research East

February 6, 2008

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Research East, Boston

This was taken at 8:30PM tonight and should serve as evidence that people in the Harvard Medical Area do not, in fact, work 24/7, as rumors largely dictate. I was trying to catch up on some paperwork that had been all over my desk since late November, and it took me three days until 8:30 tonight to finally get things filed away. I take my notebook keeping very seriously, so I feel very relieved that all is caught up.

Research East is a very old building (from the 1920s) that we are currently leasing from nearby Emmanuel College. We will be moving out of this building in a few months and taking residence in a brand new 18-story research tower behind the building (we'll be on the 10th floor), at which point this building will be turned over to Emmanuel College once again. While the building has served out BL2+ research operations well for the past 15 years (not to mention that it is well disguised during the summer months, as it is largely covered by ivy and has a sign outside designating it as an Alumnae Hall for the college), we are excited with the prospect of moving into more modern facilities.

Super Tuesday

February 5, 2008

Boston Arts Academy/Fenway High School, Boston

The Republican and Democratic primaries took place today in Massachusetts. My polling station was Fenway High School, which is a convenient 2 blocks from my apartment, just across the street from Fenway Park's Van Ness Gate. I arrived around 5PM, waited 5 minutes for my ballot, and everything was done in a matter of 10 minutes.

Many were undecided today...in fact, some people I spoke with witnessed people who decided to flip a coin at the voting desk (we vote by electronic scan sheet here). I'll be happy with Obama or Hillary in the race...in my opinion, unless something changes, the Democrats are screwed in 2008 (unless Romney gets the nomination)...so I chose for the one who I'd like to hear publicly speak for the next 9 months...that would be Obama.

Super Bowl XLII

February 3, 2008

Super Bowl Sunday, St. Botolph District, Boston

This rather grainy image shows the spread we enjoyed as we watched, on HDTV, the Patriots and the Giants face off in the 2008 Super Bowl. We lost, unfortunately, but it was an exciting game. We had home-made chicken wings, chili, veggies, and lots of beer to drown our sorrows at the end of the game.

View from Parker Hill

February 2, 2008

Parker Hill Avenue, looking towards Fort Hill, Roxbury, Boston

This view was taken from one of the best kept secrets of Boston - Parker Hill Playground, at the summit of the Mission Hill district in Boston. The tower to the right, which marks the Fort Hill neighborhood, was built not long after Roxbury was annexed to the City of Boston in 1868. It was originally built as a water tower, disguised as a minaret of sorts. It featured a winding staircase that encased the water tank inside. It fell into disrepair in the 1960s, and was recently restored to its original appearance. Today, it stands as a monument to the Siege of Boston that took place at this location in the 1770s during the American Revolution.

People who climb Mission and Parker Hills will immediately be reminded of San Francisco, with the views of the downtown high rises with colorful triple-deckers and houses in the foreground. The streets in the area meander to cope with the steep topography, much of which features outcroppings of Boston's famed Roxbury Puddingstone. While the Mission Hill neighborhood still maintains a negative reputation (after all, it is also known as "Mission: Kill"), it's slowly being gentrified and is a prime spot for young people looking for a well-priced condo with great views in an area that bears promise for rapid redevelopment. Anyone old-timer walking through Boston's South End, after having seen it 25 years ago, can attest to the power of urban redevelopment in Boston.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute...

February 1, 2008

Laboratory inside Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston

After a 4-hour Friday afternoon happy hour (beer), Etienne of the DFCI slaves at his lab bench to finish off some last-minute work to end the week. In celebration of a week of productivity, he flings his last latex glove at the trash can.

Finale

January 31, 2008

Finale, Harvard Square, MA

My friends Matt and Mel were at a play produced by the American Repertory Theatre last night, and I met them afterwards at Finale on Dunster Street just off of Harvard Square. Finale is a small, local chain of dessert restaurants that offer a menu of...yes, desserts...and fine dessert wines and ports to accompany their selections.

I apologize for the poor quality of the photo...it was pretty dark inside this restaurant. Having a few beers beforehand at the bar across the street, John Harvard's (great microbrews...their IPA is fabulous) didn't help with my not-so-steady hand. At least I was able to watch the Celtics game against Dallas and read my New Yorker while sipping on an ale...very nice (we won, of course).