eye to the lens...

Museum of Fine Arts

2008-12-21T23:44:00.002-05:00

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Museum of Fine Arts, West Wing Entrance, Fenway, Boston, MA

I took this photo this afternoon during our first major winter snow storm for the season. While I do not know the exact snowfall for this storm (which began Friday afternoon and continued pretty much non-stop through this evening), it's safe to assume it was at least 8 inches.

The MFA is currently undergoing an extensive expansion project, including the construction of an entirely new wing (which will serve as the museum's new main entrance). As part of the project, the westward-facing entrance was recently reopened after being shut to visitors and neglected for over 25 years. Would you believe that this is actually the back door to this museum? I am thrilled that this entrance was once again reopened to visitors. I must say that this facade is the most impressive of the museum (I think it's far more grand than even the original domed facade that faces Huntington Avenue). I'm glad that the city and the museum came to their senses to reinvigorate this part of the Fens, as the reopening of this entrance has seemed to spearhead a flurry of activity restoring the parkland in the Fens across the street. Perhaps I'm a bit biased, as this facade faces my apartment building.

2008 Bay Colony Dog Show

2008-12-07T22:35:00.002-05:00

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Bay Colony Dog Show at Bayside Expo Center, Dorchester, MA

Here's Bandit, a male English Bulldog that topped all other English Bulldogs during the weekend and made it to the Non-Sporting Group competition.

The Bay Colony Dog Show is held annually in December over a 4-day period. The entire Bayside Expo Center facility is occupied by this massive show, New England's largest. For twelve dollars, I had unlimited access to the judging rings, the main ring, exercise pens, merchandise booths, and grooming areas. While I wasn't free today to return and see the "Best in Show" competition, I managed to catch two group competitions, the "Non-Sporting" and "Terrier" events. Sadly, neither Bandit nor the Scottish Terrier placed in these groups (why can't the Scottie ever win?).

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-01T23:25:00.002-05:00

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving at my Parents' House, Newport News, VA

I just returned to Boston from my parents' house (the same house where I grew up from infanthood). As can be seen, our meal is very traditional, with turkey, stuffing, and all the traditional sides such as green bean casserole, corn pudding, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes.

I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday and safe travel!

Top of the Hub

2008-11-23T22:29:00.002-05:00

Saturday, November 22, 2008

52nd Floor of the Prudential Tower, Looking Towards Hancock Tower

My friends and I celebrated my upcoming 28th birthday by spending an evening out in frigid Boston (it didn't reach 30 degrees yesterday, to my knowledge) for drinks. We began the night at the bar at Top of the Hub, located 750 feet above the ground in the top floor of the Prudential Tower. We moved elsewhere after a few hours.

Luckily, the night was clear (otherwise it would have been truly miserable), so the view from the tower was fantastic. I managed to capture this view with an old point-and-shoot camera before I was told by a manager to leave the dining area...made me feel a tad lower-class, but I understood that those people had waited in line for those views. Anyways, prominent in the center-right of the photo is the 800-foot Hancock Tower, with the much shorter Westin Hotel in front of it. Boylston Street, running through Back Bay, is apparent by the vibrant blur to the left, and the Mass Pike (I-90) curves off to the right of the towers.

Boston Center for the Arts

2008-11-16T23:11:00.002-05:00

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Boston Center for the Arts (Cyclorama Building), Tremont Street, Boston

The Boston Cyclorama Building, completed and opened in 1884 to house one of 4 circular murals of the Battle of Gettysburg, is now home to the Boston Center for the Arts. While the building no longer serves its original purpose, it continues to serve as a focal point of the South End's artistic culture as an exhibition space.

The 12th Annual Boston International Fine Arts Show was held inside the building this weekend. A number of galleries from around the world displayed their pieces, most of which were from the 19th and 20th centuries but many also being contemporary pieces.

Arnold Arboretum

2008-11-10T23:53:00.003-05:00

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA

Despite the cloudy weather, my walk through the Arboretum on Saturday afternoon was a great experience. Although the peak foliage season has passed, there was still plenty of color on many trees, especially on the maples. Not surprisingly, the fruits of many of these trees lingered on the branches, such as these tiny purple berries.

Boston Public Garden

2008-11-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Boston Public Garden

This view looks towards the old Art Deco-inspired Hancock Tower in the center (home of the famous weather beacon), the newer Hancock Tower to the right, and the steeple of the Civil War-era Arlington Street Church at the corner of Arlington and Boylston Streets.

It was a dreary day, but plenty of people were out due to the somewhat mild temps.

Mission Hill, Boston

2008-10-26T23:07:00.003-04:00

Sunday, October 26, 2008

View of Mission Hill and New England Baptist Hospital, Boston.

What I like about this picture is that it appears to capture a typical New England village setting, complete with colored leaves, quaint housing, and an old, brick institution on the crest of a hill. This turns out to be Mission Hill, which is a neighborhood behind Harvard Medical School that is almost in the center of Boston.

Mission Hill has been gentrified over the past few years (even since I moved into town, 5 years ago) and has become an appealing neighborhood for those who work in the mammoth Harvard/Longwood Medical Area. The New England Baptist Hospital graces the top of the hill...while not one of the main teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard (those being along Longwood Avenue and Francis Street at the base of the hill), it is one of the leading hospitals specializing in orthopedic care in this country. For instance, Jack Nicklaus had a hip replacement performed there a few years ago.

Paraglider...Franconia Notch, NH

2008-10-22T23:47:00.002-04:00

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Cannon Mountain, Franconia Notch, NH

Here I go at trying to reincarnate this blog...this time with a picture about once a week, not necessarily of the same day as the date of post. I found that it was too difficult to lug my camera around every day to keep up with the pic-a-day blog. I never wanted to give it up, though.

Anyway, I was in New Hampshire for a graduate program retreat last weekend, and a few of us decided to drive up to Cannon Mountain (home of the late Old Man of the Mountain formation, which collapsed back in 2003...look for a depiction on the New Hampshire state quarter) for a ride up the 80-person "aerial tram", or gondola. I must acknowledge Matt and Mel for handing us 4 tickets to the tram, since they didn't have the time to make it up there on their leaf-peeping tour a week prior. At least they were able to enjoy the other nearby attraction in Franconia Notch, the Flume.

A note about the paragliding. First of all, we were at an elevation of 4,200 feet. It was cold (24 degrees) and very windy. We watched a paraglider fall from sky sky and plummet towards the forest below using a reserve parachute. We think he was fine...scary, still. As fun as paragliding looked that afternoon, I wouldn't want to do it from this mountaintop, especially on a day as windy as this one.

Queen Mary

2008-06-09T23:53:00.003-04:00

June 2, 2008

Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA

I stayed on this ship overnight on my last leg of my trip to Southern California. The RMS Queen Mary, launched in 1936, served during WWII as a troop ship and afterward as a luxury liner for Cunard, transporting passengers between the UK and the United States. It ended its service in 1967 (when the Queen Elizabeth 2, also recently retired and to become a floating hotel, was launched to replace the Queen Mary's service), at which point it made its permanent home at Long Beach, California, as a museum and hotel. The ship, over 1000 feet long, still remains as one of the largest passenger ships in the world. It once held the Blue Riband for speed crossing the Atlantic (from 1938-1952, both eastbound and westbound, before being outrun by the SS United States).

I stayed in a first class cabin (turned into a hotel room) on portside, M deck (uppermost for cabins) facing the bay. It was quite an experience. Walking around the upper decks at night was a special treat.

Manhattan Beach

2008-06-08T00:51:00.004-04:00

June 1, 2008

Manhattan Beach Pier, California

This was taken from the end of the pier at Manhattan Beach, just south of Los Angeles, CA. This is where the wealth of the LA area is concentrated. The Roundhouse Aquarium houses a decent menagerie of sea animals in small tanks, each sponsored by a company or group. It is run on donations and volunteer help...given their tight budget, it was impressive (especially since it was free to the public).

Santa Monica Beach

2008-06-05T00:08:00.001-04:00

May 31, 2008

Santa Monica Beach, California

The evening sun sets over the Santa Monica Mountains as beachgoers take in the last few minutes of daylight on the Pacific Ocean.

Somewhere over the Southwest

2008-05-31T01:57:00.005-04:00

May 30, 2008

Near landing at LAX, from an American Airlines Boeing 757

Evening sun sets over the horizon as we near Los Angeles International Airport.

QIAGEN=Quality!!!!!

2008-05-28T23:50:00.003-04:00

May 18, 2008

BIDMC Research East, Boston

(This is sort of an inside joke post among fellow biomedical researchers, but the affect of the photo is still kinda cool)...

"If it says QIAGEN on the box, it can wait 'til tomorrow." That was an old adage of a former graduate student in my lab. QIAGEN produces a lot of kits that make DNA and RNA purification for many different applications extremely easy and foolproof...a monkey could use these kits if they were trained to do so.

Forgive me of my geekiness.

Farewell to Becca

2008-05-27T23:15:00.003-04:00

May 23, 2008

Becca's Farewell Party at the Squealing Pig, Mission Hill, Boston

Becca is a good friend of mine who has worked over the past few years in a lab that I rotated through about 4 years ago. She is about to move away to attend a graduate program in Environmental Science at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, my alma mater. While she's sad to be leaving all of her friends up here in Boston, I am sure she will have a great time in CVille.

Poppy

2008-05-26T22:55:00.003-04:00

May 25, 2008

Poppy cat enjoying the weather, St. Botolph District, Boston

While Matt and Mel were hosting a cookout on their rear courtyard yesterday afternoon, I captured Poppy basking in the breeze on a beautiful Sunday afternoon behind her home.

Fenway Park

2008-05-20T22:54:00.002-04:00

May 20, 2008

Pavilion Box at Fenway Park, Boston

I went to the Sox game against Kansas City tonight... a last minute decision. The game was great...we won 2-1. My $5 seat (employee discount thanks to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) was in the front row of a Pavilion Box just above third base, which afforded a really nice view of the game.

Mallard Ducklings

2008-05-19T23:01:00.003-04:00

May 18, 2008

Mallard Ducklings along the Riverway, Boston

'Sorry for the poor quality of this picture. The focus lock on my camera decided to quit to the point that I stopped by Best Buy on the way home looking into a brand new Canon dSLR-like model. However, my camera (my companion) miraculously recovered last night, just in time for me to put the camera buying guides kindly provided by Best Buy (the only customer service you will expect to find at this store) away for the time being.

In keeping with the spirit of resurrecting this blog after a month-long hiatus, I decided to post the photo, anyway. So, here we see some mallard ducklings in the Muddy River along the Riverway, which serves as the border between the cities of Brookline and Boston at this location. Aren't they cute? These little birds can glide very quickly through the water...surprising since they can't be more than a week or two old.

Squirrel, Cat, and Fish

2008-05-19T22:59:00.003-04:00

May 17, 2008

Lily the Siamese Cat

Here is Lily, Amanda's cat, in Matt and Mel's apartment in the St. Botolph District during Amanda's birthday celebration Saturday night. Lily seems quite at ease between a squirrel nutcracker and a fish...needless to say, had these things been moving, the story would have been different.

Massachusetts State Senate

2008-05-16T21:09:00.002-04:00

May 15, 2008

Senate Chamber, Massachusetts State House, Beacon Hill, Boston

This was taken in the Senate Chamber of the State House. This is part of Charles Bulfinch's original building, completed around 1795. The Blue "stonework" is actually wood made to look like the masonry quoining pattern popular in Federal architecture during the years of our country's infancy. The State House's "golden dome" is directly above this room, although the current state house's magnificent interior dome space is in a different part of the building and is part of a later addition.

Boston Holocaust Memorial

2008-05-15T23:18:00.003-04:00

May 14, 2008

New England Holocaust Memorial, Boston

This was taken within one of the 6 glass towers, each representing a different concentration camp, in the memorial. Each number represents a victim of the genocide that took place there. Steam with a pungent, musty odor rises through grates in the ground to add to the experience.

The memorial was dedicated in 1995 and is in the center of the historic district, near the Union Oyster House, Faneuil Hall, and Government Center.

Fort Point Channel

2008-05-15T00:20:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Fort Point Channel, Boston.

I was taking a walk through South Boston ("Southie") this afternoon and captured this image of Fort Point Channel. Most prominent (besides the highrises) is the Northern Avenue Bridge, which has been closed to traffic for some time but is currently open to pedestrians as part of a historical rehabilitation project.

Fenway Studios

2008-05-13T23:15:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Fenway Studios, Ipswich Street, Boston

This building was completed in 1904 following a disastrous fire of a similar art studio complex. Many of the artists at the former studio building relocated here, and, thankfully, the building still serves its primary purpose, to offer a northward-facing building with tall ceilings and large windows for the art community. The building itself is a rare example - in Boston - of the Arts and Crafts architectural movement (the sun was too blinding to take any good photos of the facade of the building, which is a work of art - particularly with regard to the brickwork - in itself).

The Savant Project

2008-05-12T21:25:00.003-04:00

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Dinner and drinks at the Savant Project, Mission Hill area, Boston

Here we are at the Savant Project, a restaurant located near Brigham Circle that has been open for about a year or so. We've been enjoying Wednesday evenings on their back patio, after attending Harvard's weekly Immunology Seminar Series.

Geese and goslings...

2008-05-11T22:57:00.004-04:00

Sunday, May 11, 2008

A pair of Canada Geese and their newborn goslings, Back Bay Fens, Boston

I was walking along Aggasiz Road this afternoon and found this family of geese. Ahh...it's that time of year...warm temps alternating with frigid coastal storms, flooding, the exodus of college students, and the concurrent influx of Canada Geese, across from my apartment building in the Fenway (I can hear them right now, outside of my window).

Fog over Fenway

2008-04-14T21:23:00.002-04:00

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Fenway Park, Boston

I was on my way to a party on Saturday night and caught this image of some spectators at Fenway Park. A few thunderstorms had just rolled through the city, leaving behind a thick fog. The game resumed (after two delays), and we managed to beat the Yankees.

AD20/21

2008-04-06T21:53:00.003-04:00

Sunday, April 6, 2008

AD20/21 Exhibition, Cyclorama Building, South End, Boston

The first ever AD20/21 (Art and Design of the 20th and 21st Centuries) exhibition was held this weekend in the Cyclorama Building on Tremont Street. Exhibits featured works of galleries from around the world...media ranging from paint, sculpture, furniture, glass, etc. This space has hosted a number of art shows in the past, and it isn't difficult to figure out why; it's well-lit, even at night, and is historic in itself (built in the 1880s to house a large, circular painting of the Battle of Gettysburg for the viewing public).

In praise of the sun...

2008-04-06T21:51:00.006-04:00

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Harvard Medical School New Research Building, Boston

I was reading in the NRB yesterday afternoon when I woke up from a short doze to find that the sky had suddenly cleared. The NRB's all-glass curtain wall makes for fantastic photo ops.

Meat

2008-04-06T21:47:00.002-04:00

Friday, April 4, 2008

The Butcher Shop, Tremont Street, South End, Boston

After attending an art exhibition across the street, we grabbed a table (standing room only for a while at first) for some appetizers and a bottle of bubbly at the Butcher Shop. At the rear of the restaurant, one can hand-pick the freshest cuts of meats (and even a whole duck, hanging by its feet).

Goodbye, Moon...

2008-04-05T23:14:00.003-04:00

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada

...and so all good things must come to an end. Here is one of the last pictures I took on my trip up to Alberta, Canada's Banff National Park. On a chilly morning (about 5 degrees Fahrenheit), I shot this around 6:30 AM before we checked out of the hotel and made our way to Calgary Airport.

Taking Flight...

2008-04-05T23:09:00.003-04:00

Monday, March 31, 2008

Pritha about to take flight off a cliff, Crowfoot Glacier, Icefields Parkway, north of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

We took a drive north of Lake Louise in Canada's beautiful Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The Icefields Parkway takes visitors along an isolated stretch of road through many glaciers, mountains, and lakes up into Jasper National Park. This stop was a little of a disappointment since the glacier was covered with snow, making it hard to distinguish, but we were able to see some ice glistening in the sun in areas not covered with snowfall. We were not disappointed by the views, however. These areas contain perhaps the most beautiful winterscapes I have ever seen.

Mushing

2008-04-02T23:44:00.003-04:00

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Mushing on a frozen lake south of Canmore, Alberta, Canada

We took a tour with Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours, based in Canmore, on Sunday afternoon. After a brief instruction on commands, we were given our own sled to drive through the Canadian Rocky wilderness. Halfway during our tour, we stopped on a frozen lake to switch drivers (my friend Piya and I took the sled at this point, with our friend Amy taking the passenger seat in the sled).

Lake Minnewanka

2008-04-02T23:40:00.002-04:00

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada

We took a short hike along the edge of one of Banff National Park's larger lakes, Lake Minnewanka, which is near the town of Banff. There was absolutely noone else there, except for an impromptu wedding between a couple from South America that was being held out on a snow-buried boat ramp. We were asked to sign as witnessed, but someone else beat us to it. The scenery was amazing, especially since there was a snow storm progressing along the lake while we were there. You can see the edge of the snow line creeping in from the right side of the photo...by the end of the hike, we were in whiteout conditions.

View of Bow River Valley

2008-04-02T23:31:00.004-04:00

Friday, March 28, 2008

View from Sanson Peak, Banff, Alberta, Canada

This shot was taken from the summit of Sanson Peak at 7,400 feet. We took a gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, an adjacent mountain peak, and then walked along a ridge for about a kilometer to the adjacent summit of this mountain, which is home to a historic cosmic ray station/weather observatory. This view shows Tunnel Mountain (the smaller mountain in the center) with the town of Banff to the left. A number of 10,000+ foot peaks can be seen in the distance.

Hello, Moon...

2008-04-02T23:28:00.003-04:00

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Somewhere over Lake Erie

I took this while on my way to a conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada. We flew United Airlines from Boston to Chicago-O'Hare, and from there on to Calgary, Alberta. This view was from my seat on the wing of a Boeing 757 somewhere over the Great Lakes.

Banff Pictures Coming...

2008-04-01T23:14:00.002-04:00

I've been out of town since Thursday. I will be posting some fabulous pictures taken in Alberta, Canada over the past few days...please be patient, and you will be rewarded with some shots of some of the most beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery in North America.

Muddy River from Boylston Bridge

2008-03-24T22:43:00.002-04:00

March 24, 2008

Muddy River from Boylston Street Bridge, Fenway District, Boston

Here's a shot I captured on my way home from some shopping at the Prudential Center and Copley Place this evening. The buildings in the distance are part of Northeastern University's campus on Huntington Avenue, across from the Fens in East Fenway.

Lily the Cat in a Bag

2008-03-23T21:51:00.003-04:00

March 23, 2008

Lily the Siamese in a Whole Foods Bag, St. Botolph District, Boston

I was over at Matt and Mel's this afternoon baking hot cross buns (a Kiwi tradition for Easter). Amanda came over with a Whole Foods bag full of things, and as she was emptying it, she felt that it had suddenly become heavier. It turned out that her noisy Siamese cat Lily had sneaked inside.

Pillow Fight at Copley Square

2008-03-23T21:47:00.002-04:00

March 22, 2008

Pillow Fight, Copley Square, Boston

Saturday was International Pillow Fight Day, and the Banditos Misteriosos, a public spontaneity society in Boston, organized one at Copley Square in the center of Boston at 2PM. Over 900 people came out for the event.

'Sorry for the lack of posts lately...I've been pretty busy at work, but I'm going to try my best to keep this blog moving (should be easier once the weather improves for the season).

Heavy Surf at Brant Rock

2008-03-16T21:51:00.003-04:00

March 16, 2008

Brant Rock, Marshfield, MA

I took a drive down to the South Shore this afternoon and walked around on the deserted beach at Brant Rock, one of my favorite small summering villages on the South Shore of Massachusetts. This location, not far from Plymouth and about 20 miles from Cape Cod Canal (as well is 22 miles over the water to Provincetown, the tip of Cape Cod), is named for a large, natural rock outcropping just beyond the surf that is accessible by walking on a man-made rock jetty to the end. From here, one is surrounded by large waves on either side as they rapidly make their way to the shore.

Brant Rock is also the location of two significant points in early 20th century history. Just south of this beach, now in a trailer park, stands the base of a 420-foot radio tower constructed in 1905. From here, Reginald Fessenden achieved two-way trans-Atlantic radio contact by Morse Code with Machrihanish, Scotland, in January 0f 2006. Just before the end of that year, he also
conducted the first audio broadcast over radio...playing "O Holy Night" on a violin and reciting a verse from the Bible to ships crossing the Atlantic. Prior to this, Guglielmo Marconi had achieved the first one-way radio contact from Cape Cod, near Wellfleet. While Marconi's efforts are perhaps more celebrated today (through the establishment of Marconi Beach and historical sites on Cape Cod National Seashore), it was here, from Brant Rock, that true back-and-forth communication across the Atlantic was established. Sadly, the tower was dismantled in 1917, yet many photographic images and postcard views of it remain.

Today, the beach was desolate...I was the only one on the sand at the time. Most of the cottages facing the shore are boarded up for the winter...3 months from now, however, the place will be full of beachgoers. The only sign of life at this time of year is some light traffic and the smell of crabcakes and lobster cooking in some of the area's small restaurants, undoubtedly to keep some lingering locals satisfied through the winter.

Cardinal

2008-03-15T20:20:00.003-04:00

March 15, 2008

Cardinal in the Back Bay Fens, Boston

I was walking through the neighborhood this afternoon and spotted this male cardinal in a tree. Apparently the chilly weather and morning snow hasn't caused this little bird to avoid the elements.

Friday Night on the E Line

2008-03-15T20:16:00.002-04:00

March 14, 2008

MBTA E Line, Longwood Medical Station, Boston

Another week has ended, and tired passengers on the T's E Line make their way home. Pictured above are my friends Matt and Mel (Matt's father wrote the haiku that is the title of this blog)...they had me at their place last night for some wine, late-night omelets, and TV.

Congrats to Matt and Mel on their recent 1st Anniversary (March 9)!

First Sign of Spring...

2008-03-13T23:07:00.003-04:00

March 13, 2008

Park Drive, Fenway Neighborhood, Boston

I was walking back to my apartment from dinner and noticed a subtle yet significant sign that Spring is near...look closely.

Yep...along with some tenacious dead leaves from the previous autumn, those are tree buds!

Real Estate Treasure...

2008-03-11T23:57:00.004-04:00

March 11, 2008

Abandoned Apartment in Fenway, Park Drive, Boston

I was peeping around the basement while waiting for a load of laundry to finish its spin cycle the other day, and I found this abandoned apartment in my building. It has a piece of masking tape on the door identifying it as "Apt B2". Above, you can see my shadow as I snap a picture of the bathroom. At least the unit has bars in the windows to keep out trespassers....

Apparently, this was once a studio with alcove, much like my own apartment on the 4th floor above. Who knows how long it has been vacant...all that remains is a drop ceiling (obviously a later addition after the building's construction, since no other space, except for the superintendent's 1-BR nearby in the basement, has this sort of ceiling). Instant concrete bags and maintenance equipment is now strewn about the space. The toilet looks as if it hasn't been cleaned in decades, yet it appears that it has been used (given the lack of an odor, it hasn't been used in quite a while).

A nearby vintage sprinkler system valve is dated 1916. I have seen ward maps depicting the building's absence in 1912, and its sudden appearance in 1917. So, I have been able to date the building to 1916, which makes it one of the first buildings in the West Fenway neighborhood, before the building boom there in the late teens and early 1920s, to house soldiers and their families upon returning from service in WWI.

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum

2008-03-09T21:16:00.003-04:00

March 9, 2008

John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Dorchester, Boston

This building, designed by I.M. Pei and dedicated by Jimmy Carter and the Kennedy Family in 1979, overlooks Dorchester Bay on the campus of the University of Massachusetts - Boston. This building, when constructed, was way ahead of its time, and many are surprised to hear that it is a product of the 1970s. A giant American flag hangs from the glass ceiling in this atrium. A Profiles in Courage Award, given in 2002, is located in the corner shown above. The museum, which features partial replicas of the Oval Office and hallways of the White House, and library are located in an adjacent section of the building.

Harvard Medical School New Research Building

2008-03-09T21:07:00.003-04:00

March 8, 2008

Harvard Medical School New Research Building (NRB), Boston

I was doing some work in the lab yesterday afternoon and thought I'd go next door to do some reading in a nice comfy chair. It was raining outside at the time, and the place was pretty deserted...ideal conditions for enjoying a good book.

The NRB was opened right after I began graduate school in September of 2003. It houses many laboratories for the Harvard Medical community...many students in my PhD program are currently in labs in the building. While I'm not a big fan of the all-glass exteriors found on new buildings springing up in the area (including one now under construction and soon to be the home of my lab come late July), the interiors offer nice vantages of the surrounding area.

The Mission

2008-03-05T22:34:00.002-05:00

March 5, 2008

The Mission, Brigham Circle, Boston

Here is Angelique and me enjoying a night out at the Mission Bar and Grill, one of our favorite hangouts after Immunology Seminar across the street, held every Wednesday afternoon. Angelique hails from Quebec, and I am hoping to spend some days in her hometown of Montreal sometime this summer.

Peabody Essex Museum

2008-03-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

March 2, 2008

East India Marine Hall, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA

My friends Matt, Melissa, Amanda, and I took the commuter rail up to Salem today to see an exhibit on Maori moko at the Peabody (pronounced "PEEbuddy" in Massachusetts) Essex Museum. We enjoyed the moko exhibition, which features photographs of Maoris (indigenous peoples of New Zealand) and their intricate ceremonial facial and body tattoos. It just happened that we all met up in New Zealand a year ago (Amanda and I arrived March 5th after skipping a full day crossing the International Date Line and spending over 20 hours in the air) to meet Matt and Mel for their wedding there.

The museum claims to be the oldest in the United States. While much of the collection is now housed in a grand, airy new building opened in 2003, some collections are in much older structures. The maritime gallery above was opened in 1825 in this room.

Faux French Soiree in Brookline

2008-03-02T21:40:00.003-05:00

March 1, 2008

Faux French Soiree on Beacon Street, Brookline, MA

I went to a French-themed party last night in a beautiful 4-BR apartment fronting Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner. A friend of mine from school who threw the party, Shannon (pictured above), constructed an Eiffel Tower out of sculpting wire and lit it with Christmas lights...the decor and the food were pretty impressive.

Here I am at the end of the night (after a few glasses of Champagne) trying to climb the Eiffel Tower...luckily Shannon was there to offer some support and stability (ughh hmm).

Sam Adams Brewery

2008-02-28T23:10:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-26T21:51:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-24T20:17:00.005-05:00

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

2008-02-24T01:15:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-22T23:21:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-20T22:54:00.005-05:00

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...

2008-02-19T22:33:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-17T16:33:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-16T19:46:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-16T19:38:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-14T22:46:00.008-05:00

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

2008-02-12T22:50:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-10T20:58:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-10T20:54:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-07T22:55:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-06T21:07:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

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

2008-02-04T21:25:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-03T01:14:00.000-05:00

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...

2008-02-01T21:36:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-01T21:25:00.001-05:00

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).

Back Bay Fens

2008-01-28T21:27:00.001-05:00

January 28, 2008

Duck in the Muddy River, Back Bay Fens, Boston

I was walking through the Fens during sunset this evening, and found a group of ducks floating near a footbridge over the Muddy River.

Downtown Crossing

2008-01-27T21:28:00.001-05:00

January 27, 2008

Washington Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston

We had a few inches of snow today. I was downtown this afternoon and shot this picture of Washington Street. To the left is the Old South Meeting House, built in 1729. It is well-known as the organizing spot for the participants of the Boston Tea Party on December 17, 1773. This building is one of the oldest in this area, mainly due to the valiant efforts of the firefighters that saved the building from destruction during Boston's Great Fire of 1872, which destroyed over 750 buildings and flattened 65 acres of the city.

2008-01-27T21:24:00.001-05:00

Janurary 26, 2008

Harvard Immunology Program Recruitment Dinner, Newton, MA

Here are six members of Harvard's faculty in the Immunology Program. As part of recruitment weekend activities, where candidate PhD students are interviewed and make decisions on whether or not to become a part of the incoming 2008 class, we took a bus to Newton, MA for dinner at another faculty member's house.

Now that recruitment weekend is over, things are a bit less crazy, and I can devote more attention to this blog.

Back Bay Sunset

2008-01-27T21:19:00.001-05:00

January 25, 2008

Sunset over Back Bay, as viewed from Harvard's New Research Building, Boston

Here's an interesting view of Boston as seen from the 8th floor of the New Research Building near Harvard Medical School's Longwood Avenue campus. As you can see, the last few seconds of daylight are making their way across the city...Fenway is the foreground is now in the dark, while the taller buildings of Back Bay in the distance still reflect the evening sunset.

Sunset from Apartment Window

2008-01-23T21:28:00.000-05:00

January 23, 2008

Sunset view from my apartment window

Since I've had a horrendous week, and it's only going to get busier before it all ends late Saturday night, I have been hard-pressed for time to snap pictures. Hence, the lack of a January 22 post.

I did manage to arrive home tonight for our spectacular sunset, which was described on the news as a nice ending to a "pleasant day", pleasant by Boston's standards in mid-January. Anyway, this view looks westward from my bedroom window. The construction of 1330 Boylston Street dominates the view in the distance. While it has destroyed my view of the impressive Art Deco Landmark Center, once a Sears Roebuck store and warehouse and recently redeveloped into a giant retail complex, this new construction between Landmark Center and my window is yet another step towards the remaking and gentrification of Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

Prudential Tower from West Fenway

2008-01-21T20:48:00.001-05:00

January 21, 2008

Prudential Tower, as viewed through the Bacy Bay Fens from Park Drive, Boston

I took this upon arriving home this evening, just after sunset (this is pretty much the view I see when I walk out of my apartment building). The highrises of Back Bay can be seen reflecting the dusk sky, which is to my back. I was especially struck by the size and position of the moon at the time.

Jillians

2008-01-20T23:41:00.000-05:00

January 20, 2008

Hollywood Lanes at Jillians, Boston

I was at a birthday party this afternoon, and we all met at Jillians for a few rounds of bowling, followed by beers and food at the Boston Beer Works. Above is my friend Matt going for a strike. The after-game special for the Patriots' win appears above the lanes.

Many do not know that the building that houses Jillians was originally built as the Park Riding School at the turn of the 20th Century. The field used for equestrian sports is now where Fenway Park lies. The adjacent buildings to Jillians were horse stables for the riding school...the site of the recently closed superclub Avalon was a stable housing delivery team horses for Jordan Marsh, a department store than operated at Downtown Crossing before it was taken over by Macy's within the last 10 years.

Newbury Street

2008-01-19T18:18:00.001-05:00

January 19, 2008

Newbury Street at Berkeley Street, Boston

This view looks southwest from the corner of Newbury and Berkeley Streets in Boston's Back Bay. The brick building in the foreground was built in 1863 as the New England Museum of Natural History; it now houses Louis Boston, the creme-de-la-creme of Boston department stores. The massive block to the right of it is the New England Building. The larger tower with the arched top is 500 Boylston Street (it may look familiar to those who watch the show "Boston Legal". Finally, the glass tower behind it is the 790-foot Hancock Tower, New England's tallest building.

Newbury Street is a favorite spot for shoppers...stores ranging from Burberry and Brooks Brothers to Condomworld and Urban Outfitters offer something for everyone.

Harvard Medical School

2008-01-18T19:46:00.001-05:00

January 18, 2008

Harvard Medical School, Longwood Avenue, Boston

This is a ground-floor passageway that connects all 5 original buildings of Harvard Medical School's quadrangle. These buildings were constructed in 1907 (we celebrated our centennial this past year), and, clearly, these hallways are a reminder of how the buildings once looked. Imagine the famous doctors and surgeons who once used these lockers.

View from Mission Hill

2008-01-17T22:13:00.001-05:00

This picture doesn't do this view justice. I was on Mission Hill this afternoon, directly next to the Basilica (which I blogged about a few weeks ago), and couldn't resist snapping a photo of the Boston Skyline. Most prominent are the Prudential Tower, 111 Huntington Ave, and the Hancock Tower (the rectangular building), which looks shorter in this view but is actually the tallest building in New England...50 feet taller than the nearer Prudential Tower in this view.

We may have snow in the Boston area, but it sure does boast great architecture!

Ramler Park

2008-01-16T21:56:00.001-05:00

January 16, 2008

Ramler Park, West Fenway, Boston

I was walking to work this morning and decided to stop by Ramler Park to snap some pics of our recent snow. While it is still cold outside, the temperatures have reached levels during the afternoons that have allowed the formation of icicles. Click on the above picture for a close-up!

Ramler Park is located in the West Fens, between Kilmarnock Street and Park Drive along Peterborough Street. This is a beautiful patch of land, surrounded by apartment buildings, that is well-maintained during all months of the year. I even saw some people trimming some bushes and small trees yesterday, after Monday's snowfall. This plot of land was recently developed into an urban park, since I moved into the neighborhood 4&1/2 years ago.

Emmanuel College

2008-01-15T21:15:00.000-05:00

January 15, 2008

Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston

This picture shows the main administration building of Emmanuel College, a small, 4-year liberal arts school founded in 1919. Originally a female college, it became coed in 2001 and has experienced major growth over the past 5 years. Perhaps its most famous graduate is Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan.

A discussed a number of aspects of this school's growth in a previous post about the Merck Research Laboratories, which was built on Emmanuel's land as a way of pumping money into the school.

Snow in the Fens

2008-01-14T21:07:00.001-05:00

January 14, 2008

Muddy River and Back Bay Fens, Boston

A total of over 6 inches of snow fell in Boston overnight and today. It was of an unusually sticky type that accumulated easily onto the trees, making for a beautiful sight.

The photo above was taken from a small patch of the Back Bay Fens, part of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace, between Park Drive and the Fenway (the road by that name) near Simmons and Emmanuel Colleges. The body of water is part of the Muddy River, which largely runs through underground culverts in this area, to emerge into the open as a series of ponds, like the one above.

Harvard Stadium

2008-01-13T17:40:00.001-05:00

January 13, 2008

Harvard Stadium, Allston, Boston

Harvard Stadium was constructed in just four months and opened in 1903. Seating a total of about 31,000 spectators, it was the first major reinforced concrete structure in the world. Currently, it is the home of the Harvard Football Team and the Boston Cannons, our Major League Lacrosse team.

The stadium is located in the Allston section of Boston (also home to the Harvard Business School) and approximately 1 mile across the Charles River from Harvard Yard, the central campus of Harvard University.

South Street, Jamaica Plain

2008-01-12T21:11:00.000-05:00

January 12, 2008

Insurance Agency on South Street, Jamaica Plain, Boston

This cat is enjoying a mid-afternoon nap, shielding its eyes from the afternoon sun, in its favorite spot - the street-front window of an insurance company on South Street, in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. A black-and-white framed photograph of this cat, staring eye-to-eye at a dog on the sidewalk outside, hangs next to the cat's sofa.

To me, this picture exudes everything that is JP - quaint, artsy, quirky, unknown to much of Boston's population. South Street runs through the center of the southern part of JP. The Green E Line ran down this narrow yet heavily trafficked street until the mid-1980s. The trolley tracks are still visible...a reminder that this neighborhood is a relic that hasn't succumbed to over-gentrification and modernization, or a sign that the hope of bringing back the Arborway Line is still alive?

The street, and nearby Centre Street, are a favorite area for artists, collectors, and fans of camp - the stores HoneySpot and Gadgets are worth a look for anyone desiring a gallery of reasonably-priced curiosities, from kitschy wrapping paper, vintage tin toys, nifty kitchen items, a T-train magnet, or an anatomical model to grace their coffee table.

Happy Hour at Dana Farber Cancer Institute

2008-01-11T20:30:00.000-05:00

January 11, 2008

Friday Afternoon Happy Hour at Dana 14

I crashed the happy hour of Dana Farber Cancer Institute's 14th floor this evening. It's held every other week, and since I have a number of close friends that work on this floor, I often stop by for a beer (or four) to kick off the weekend.

I took one of my more interesting courses in this conference room a few years ago on the subject of autoimmunity. The research that happens on this floor is incredible, and it's nice to see such a close-knit group talking science and gossip over a few pints and good food every once in a while. The few of us that are left in the above picture are those who usually stick around to finish off the remaining alcohol, all thanks to the good folks of Dana 14.

Clemente Field, Fenway

2008-01-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

January 10, 2008

Clemente Field, West Fenway, Boston

I took this photo on my walk home this evening from the Longwood Medical Area, as a gloomy twilight befell the city. Since a local (and recently mentioned - in this blog) biotech company decided to permanently block my usual back entrance to my lab, this will be a frequent sight for me from now on, since I now have to walk this way home. 'Not a bad view, however...the stands of Clemente Field are seen in the foreground, with the Back Bay skyline appearing in the distance, a little less than a mile away. As usual at this time of sundown, the Prudential Tower is reflecting the sunset.

Clemente Field is used for practice by the Boston Latin School's football team, as well as for leisurely baseball, basketball, and kickball games by the locals. It is actually located in the Fens...the Museum of Fine Arts is directly behind it on the other side of the park, in the East Fenway neighborhood.

Glass Window Pane

2008-01-09T23:20:00.001-05:00

January 9, 2007

Glass pane of rear stairwell door, 31 Park Drive, Boston

I took this picture this evening just outside of my apartment doorway. This glass pane is part of the door to the rear stairwell to my apartment building. I especially like the spider web pattern - clearly something that wouldn't be a first choice for ornamentation in today's current buildings. My apartment building was built over 90 years ago, on the other hand....

Evening Sky from Brookline Ave

2008-01-08T22:52:00.000-05:00

January 8, 2008

Brookline Avenue near Kenmore Square, Boston

I shot this on my way from work to Kenmore Square this evening around 4:30PM. We had an unseasonably warm day that reached about 65 degrees...made for a very pleasant stroll down Brookline Avenue from the Longwood Medical Area to the Square.

'Yet another evening view with my crappier camera...I can't wait for the days to get longer once again.

Merck Research Laboratories

2008-01-07T21:33:00.001-05:00

January 7, 2008

Merck Research Laboratories, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston

The building to the right was completed in 2004 and houses Merck Research Laboratories in Boston's Longwood Medical Area. Work here concentrates on drug development for cancer and neurodegeneration.

This building is credited with saving a nearby institution, Emmanuel College, from financial collapse. In 2000, the cash-strapped school was looking for a developer that would build on its land as a last resort. Merck swept in, and that year, signed a 75-year lease for $50 million, no strings attached. The result: the construction of the building, and the pumping of money into the historic private school. Since 1999, Emmanuel's endowment has soared from $8.6 million to $85 million. Enrollment has increased from under 500 students in 1999 to over 1700 in 2007. The school enrolled its first coed class in 2001. It is presently building a massive science center, adjacent to the Merck building, slated for completion in 2009.

In the distance is Harvard Medical School's New Research Building, which opened in 2003 and houses some of the best modern architecture on the medical campus, a large state-of-the-art cafeteria, and FitCorp gymnasium.

Museum of Fine Arts

2008-01-06T18:10:00.000-05:00

January 6, 2008

Boston Museum of Fine Arts - European Masters Room

The William I. Koch Gallery in the MFA houses European art from 1500-1700, and is one of the MFA's grandest galleries. The original part of the MFA, which includes this room, was opened in 1909 on Huntington Avenue ("Avenue of the Arts"). The central rotunda contains murals created by John Singer Sargent, who also painted the walls of McKim, Mead, & White's Boston Public Library in Copley Square.

The museum has been expanded numerous times over the years, and the building is currently undergoing a massive expansion that will provide much more gallery space for the now-crowded museum collections.

Frog Pond, Boston Common

2008-01-05T19:09:00.001-05:00

January 5, 2008

Boston Common - Frog Pond Ice Skating Rink

The Frog Pond is an artificial structure in the northern part of Boston Common. Originally, it was a natural, low-lying marsh in the middle of the Common. However, as early as 1848, it was artificially constructed and filled with water from Cochituate Lake near present day Natick, MA.

In the summer months, the concrete pond is filled with water to a depth of about 6 inches to a foot for use as a children's splashing pool. In the winter, as shown above, it serves on one of Boston's only outdoor skating rinks.

Mission Church from Park Drive

2008-01-04T20:51:00.001-05:00

January 4, 2008

Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (AKA "The Mission Church"), as seen from Park Drive in West Fenway, Boston

The Basilica shown above is only one of 34 in the United States (there are 11 of them in Rome itself). It is located on Tremont Street, in the Mission Hill section of Roxbury, Boston. Built in 1876 of Roxbury Puddingstone (the twin towers flanking the original cupola, seen in the picture, were added in 1910), the church was elevated to the title of Basilica in 1954 by Pope Pius XII during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

This view through the barren trees was taken from Park Drive in the West Fenway neighborhood, in front of my apartment building. I have lived at this location for over 4 years, yet I have never noticed that the church was visible from my street, no doubt because it is obscured by the trees during the warmer months and that i rarely face this direction from this exact location. The church is located 0.8 miles away SSW from this location, by the way the crow flies. Standing next to the church at the Mission Hill Playground, which sits atop Mission Hill, offers one of the best views of Back Bay and Downtown Boston as far as Southie.

MBTA E Line

2008-01-03T21:30:00.001-05:00

January 3, 2008

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Green "E" Line, Boston

One of 4 streetcar lines (the "Green Line") that converge underground in the "Downtown Subway", the E line runs from Lechmere (see 12-30-07), underground through Downtown Boston, and emerges from the tunnel along Huntington Avenue ("Avenue of the Arts") to an area of Mission Hill near Jamaica Plain. The Green Line operates trolleys that run on overhead power lines. This view was taken from the Longwood Medical stop, just north of Brigham Circle, and looks northeast towards Northeastern University. The main building of MassArt appears to the left of the photo.

This was a particularly cold evening , with heavy wind gusts and a temperature of approximately 10 degrees at the time the photo was taken.

Christian Science Mother Church

2008-01-02T21:22:00.000-05:00

January 2, 2008

Christian Science World Headquarters "Mother Church", Boston

Founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, the Church of Christ, Scientist currently holds a worldwide membership of upwards of 400,000. The building above is the Mother Church, the headquarters of this religious sect. It was built in 1906 as a much larger addition to the original Gothic structure (1894), peeking from behind the massive domed building to the right of the photo.

In the 1970s, I.M. Pei and Associates designed an enormous plaza behind the domed church, including a reflecting pool, a colonnade, a Sunday School building, and a high-rise administration building.

The Prudential Tower (see January 1, 2008 post) appears to the right of the church in the distance.

Prudential Center

2008-01-01T17:06:00.001-05:00

January 1, 2008

Prudential Center, Boston

A view of the 750-foot Prudential Tower from the Huntington Arcade of The Shops at Prudential Center. With its avocado and fair blue paneling, the tower is widely considered to be the ugliest building in Boston (City Hall tops the list).

The center is home to over 75 retailers, the Prudential Tower itself, the Hynes Convention Center, the Sheraton Boston Hotel, and Panda Express.

Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling are experiencing their last days before being taken down for the season.

Northeastern University Ice Sculpture

2007-12-31T13:12:00.000-05:00

December 31, 2007

Northeastern University on Huntington Avenue, Boston - Husky Ice Sculpture

Carved by the Northeastern University Ice Carving Team in preparation for the evening's First Night events.

Lechmere

2007-12-30T22:21:00.000-05:00

December 30, 2007

Lechmere Viaduct in foreground, with new NorthPoint Complex under construction in background. Cambridge, MA.

Taken from Mosignor O'Brien Highway . The Lechmere Viaduct, obviously built in 1910 and opened in 1912, carries the last remaining portion of the elevated MBTA Green Line, linking Boston to East Cambridge (the North Station El was torn down a few years ago and this viaduct was at one time in danger of the same fate).

The Lechmere area is currently a hot spot for luxury high-rise condominium development, as shown by the NorthPoint construction.