BostonZest

July 4th Weekend 2011 in Boston- Our Friday Links

We've put together some links with answers to readers' questions about the July 4th, 2011 weekend. Fireworks displays, MBTA schedules, and how to get to the Esplanade, are among the answers you'll find in the links below. Have a safe and happy holiday!
 

 

Where and when are all the local fireworks displays?
Channel 5 has put together a great list of the local fireworks displays.

 

The Museum of Fine Arts is closed on July 4th but today, July 1, 2011 is Free Fun Friday with no cost admission to the museum and the “Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass” exhibit from 10:00 am to 9:45 pm.
  

What's the official schedule for July 4th on the Esplanade?

Here's the website for Boston 4 Celebrations, the folks who put on the big show. Everyone who loves it should click over and send a thank you! They even have a free, digital party-pack for you.

What else is the Boston Pops doing this summer?

Here's the place to find out at Boston Pops Central. When we went there, the site was overloaded, be patient.

 
Related Posts: BostonZest July 4th Resources
 
What's open on July 4th 2011 and MBTA schedules

How to Get to the Esplanade

 

Update 07.03.11 Noon. Here's the official announcement from the state on road and bridge closures and parking restrictions.

"Sunday, July 3, 2011

12:01 a.m.

• No parking on Mugar Way until 8:00 a.m. on July 5, 2011

4:00 p.m. or at time to be determined by the Incident Commander

• Storrow Drive closed to westbound traffic from the Lee Pool to Berkeley Street, including the entrance from Charles Street Circle. Westbound traffic can re-enter Storrow Drive at Berkeley Street. This section of Storrow Drive will remain closed until 6:00 a.m. July 5^th.
• The Arlington Street exit from the Storrow Tunnel (eastbound/inbound) will close.
• Pedestrian (Fiedler) footbridge from Beacon Street to the Esplanade closed. Bridge will remain closed until 6:00 a.m. on July 5^th.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Roadway and Bridge closures, parking restrictions

12:01 a.m.

• No parking on Memorial Drive (either side) between #450 Memorial Drive and the Longfellow Bridge ;(#1 Memorial Drive); Cambridge Parkway; Museum Road; #1 Land Blvd; North Point Boulevard; Riverside Boat club; Magazine Beach/Pool.
• No boat launching at Magazine Beach Area and Riverside Boat Club.

7:30 a.m.

• Storrow Drive (both directions) between Leverett Circle and Kenmore Square will be closed.
• The Storrow Drive exit ramp in the Liberty Tunnel will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles.
• Closures will include the on-ramps to Storrow Drive from Berkeley Street, Charlesgate East, Bowker Overpass East Bound ramp from Boylston Street, and Charles Street Circle (heading westbound).
• Pedestrian (Community) footbridge to the Esplanade at Charles Street Circle closed.
• Mugar Way at Beacon Street closed to all pedestrian traffic.

4:30 p.m.

• Longfellow Bridge closes to vehicular traffic in both directions. Pedestrian access will be allowed.
• Memorial Drive closed in both directions from Longfellow Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue.
• Main Street, Cambridge from Third Street to the Longfellow Bridge, closed
• Ames Street from Main Street to Memorial Drive, Cambridge, closed
• Wadsworth and Amherst Streets, Cambridge, closed
• Land Boulevard (Cambridge) from Binney Street to Longfellow Bridge closed.
• Hayward, Carlton, Charlotte’s Way and Dock Streets in Cambridge, closed.
• Access allowed to One Memorial Drive only with issued permit.

6:00 p.m.

• Memorial Drive closed between Massachusetts Avenue Bridge and the B.U. Bridge.
• Massachusetts Avenue Bridge closed to vehicles in both directions from Beacon Street in Boston to Vassar Street in Cambridge. Pedestrians will be allowed to cross.
• Vassar Street in Cambridge from Mass. Ave. to Memorial Drive. Access will be allowed for residents.

 11:00 p.m.

• Third Street in Cambridge becomes one way from Main Street to Msgr. O’Brien Highway
• Craigie Draw Bridge (at Leverett Circle) open for vehicular traffic for 2 hours or until traffic starts to subside. Small boats that can pass under bridge will be allowed to pass.

Massachusetts State Police and DCR officials may adjust times of closures in order to ensure public safety."

If we help you, and you'd like to thank us, it's as easy as beginning your Amazon shopping by clicking on any Amazon ad here. It doesn't cost you any more, but it does support BostonZest's work.

Want a taste of the Pops on your phone or MP3 player? Here’s a link: A full list of the Boston Pops recordings with Keith Lockhart and below are a couple of listener favorites. Click over to listen to a sample, and read a full list of the songs on each album.

 

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

It’s Jazz Week in Boston!

Back Bay’s Rich Jazz History
(By Penny Cherubino originally published in the Back Bay Sun)

The Back Bay has played an important role in the history of jazz in Boston. The neighborhood is currently home to two of the area’s important jazz institutions– Berklee College of Music and JazzBoston, the organizing force behind the annual Jazz Week celebration. This year, the music will be in the air April 29th through May 8.

Historic photo of (from left) jazz saxophonist and Berklee faculty member, Charlie Mariano with student Johari Salleh; Berklee founder, Lawrence Berk and his son, Lee Eliot Berk. (Photo courtesy of Berklee College of Music)

Jazz Clubs
The renowned jazz journalist, Nat Hentoff wrote, “The stretch of Mass. Ave. between Huntington and Columbus was, by the late ‘40s, Boston’s answer to 52nd Street in Manhattan — with not only the Roseland, but the Savoy Café, the Hi-Hat, Wally’s, and a handful of smaller clubs.” Soon after, some of that jazz began moving to the Back Bay.

In 1950, George Wein had been building a reputation in clubs around Boston. People were asking him to open a jazz club of his own. “You just didn’t open a club. You had to have money, but I didn’t have any money. I had $5,000 that hadn’t been used for my college education, because the GI Bill paid for my college. So I leased a room from the hotel, and so I was in business for $5,000,” Wein said in an interview with All About Jazz.

That club was Storyville, and it began at the Copley Square Hotel before moving on to other locations. That was the start of Wein’s career as a producer of music. He went on to produce the Newport Jazz Festivals and from there spread the concept of Jazz Festivals worldwide. He has been called, “the most famous jazz impresario” and “the most important non-player… in jazz history.”

The Jazz Workshop
Over on Stuart Street, a quartet of musicians– Charlie Mariano, Varty Haroutunian (Hart), Herb Pomeroy, and Ray Santisi– opened a place where students and professional musicians could meet, hold jam-sessions, classes, and private lessons. That was the beginning of the Jazz Workshop, according to a “Quarter Notes” magazine article by Al Natale and Richard Vacca.
The article explained that while the school didn’t last, the musicians began playing at a club on Huntington called the Stable with the unofficial name of The Jazz Workshop.

733 Boylston Street
When the building housing the Stable was torn down for the Mass Pike, the music moved to 733 Boylston Street. That address was home to two memorable clubs– Paul’s Mall and the Jazz Workshop, under the management of Fred Taylor, Tony Mauriello, and Peter Lane.

Over On Newbury
Lawrence Berk was an MIT graduate and musician. In 1945, he founded Schillinger House at 245 Newbury Street. In a departure from traditional music schools, he not only championed the Schillinger system of harmony and composition, but he also offered training in jazz. His initial enrollment was 50 students, mostly GIs. Under the leadership of Berk and later his son, Lee Eliot Berk, that school grew into the Berklee College of Music. Today Berklee has more than 4,000 students who come to Boston from 80 countries.

Jazz Week Events
This year, Jazz will return to the Back Bay with a series of events at Emmanuel Church, the Berklee Performance Center, the 3rd floor stage at Best Buy on Newbury Street, Top of the Hub, The Copley Square Central Library, the Berklee Recital Hall, and the Old South Church.
Here’s the full schedule of Jazz Week Events!  




Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: courtesy of Berklee College of Music

Jazz Week– with “Eric in Two Evenings”

Music will be in the air between April 29th and May 8th as Boston celebrates our fifth Jazz Week.

This year the jazz community will honor Eric Jackson, who celebrates the 30th anniversary of his WGBH-FM jazz program in May. The festivities will take place over two evening. “For Eric, Evening I” is an all-star jazz jam and “For Eric, Evening II” is a night of rarely seen videos of jazz greats selected by Jackson. Click here for full details.

   Here's Zurca Circus Big Brass Band from last year's Jazz Week

This is just a jam-packed week featuring outstanding artists, that you'll be able to enjoy around town. And, there are many free and low cost events. 

For a complete schedule of Jazz Week events, click here.

And, for the latest on everything to do with jazz, check out JazzBoston.

Details:

Writer: Penny Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

MFA Fiesta! Heats Up March

Just when you were longing for a bit of warmth, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) has created MFA Fiesta!, a month-long celebration of Latin American culture. For adding this perfect option to our March calendar, we're making them our Friday link.

The MFA says, "Inspired by all of the new art now on view in the Art of the Americas Wing by Central and South American artists, there are a host of programs with a Latin flair. Don’t miss special gallery talks, music, films, book readings, and a Shapiro Celebrity lecture by acclaimed author Julia Alvarez."

We say, this sounds like fun!

Download a tour of highlights of the Latin American Art in the new wing to your smartphone.

Enjoy one of the concerts scheduled throughout the month. They are free with admission no separate ticket required. 

Click over here to explore all the possiblities.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screengrabs courtesty of the Museum of Fine Arts.

Shhhh! We Know Where to Find Your Holiday Spirit

If you still haven't found your holiday spirit, we know where it might be hiding, and exactly when you should be there to find it– along with a big dose of quiet smiles, inside and out. 

 

Photo by Lorianne DiSabato taken on Christmas Day 2009. (Used under creative commons license.)

The glove is pointing the way. On Christmas Eve, at 7:30 pm you can join the neighbors who gather in Louisburg Square to enjoy the holiday sounds of the Beacon Hill Bell Ringers. 

This tradition began in the 1920s and continues every Christmas Eve. In this world of over-produced, over-amplified, over-commercialized, over-hyped events, this is a simple, elegant, gentle happening.

Trust us, you'll make a warm holiday memory there. 

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: Lorianne DiSabato – Here's her Flickr photostream & here's her website.

Map to Louisburg Square

Get Jazzed with Free December Concerts!

 

Riffs & Raps: Jazzin' the Generations presents free December concerts around Boston.

The Boston Public Library has partnered with JazzBoston for a series that will tour 8-neighborhood library branches. The musical journey dips into the roots of jazz leading you through the Great American Songbook, with a taste of other music traditions along the way. It’s ageless!

And, it’s a great way to treat yourself this time of year. Because December can be a busy month, we’re talking this up now, so you can plan some mental health breaks during the holiday madness.

Concert Dates for Riffs & Raps: Jazzin' the Generations begin in early December and are scheduled at various times, days, and locations during the month.

So, go for it! You deserve it. Details and links below. 

 

 

Details:

Who’s Playing plus Concert Dates at Riffs & Raps    

The Boston Public Library

JazzBoston

Boston Public Library Calendar of Events

Never Too Late Group

Words: Ed Cherubino
Image: Screen grab from the Boston Public Library

A Skinner Education

Saturday we attended the preview for a Skinner Auction of fine musical instruments. Auctions and auction previews are a great way to educate yourself about things that interest you. Ed loves guitars and hopes to find one or two special ones to add to our family.

 

At Skinner previews he's able to test-play the old Martin guitars that fascinate him. He can get a feel for the action that various models offer. Or, he can take a Fender Strat or big electric jazz guitar into a small cubical where amps are provided to allow you to test the sound.

The one he's holding is a Gibson. Skinner described it as, "American Electric Guitar, Gibson Incorporated, Kalamazoo, 1957, Model Les Paul, serial number 7 3934, the maple top, length of back 17 3/8 in., with original case." It was estimated to sell for between $60,000- $80,000 dollars, and when the gavel came down it sold for $94,800 including the buyers premium.

Naturally, this was not an item on our shopping list, but Ed did take a few moments to give it a very serious examination and try to figure out what made it worth the price.

Ed, What was it like to play and $94,800 guitar?

Answer: " It had great action and was heavier than I expected. It was in remarkably good condition. I felt like I was holding a piece of history. (But, in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about what would have happen if I'd dropped it.) And, as great as it was, I can't imagine paying that much for a guitar, even a Les Paul."

In addition to auctions and previews, you'll find many opportunities to learn from the experts at Skinner. The website has a resource and events page where you can find out about lectures, gallery walks, and appraisal events.

Learning a bit about the items you hope to buy before the auction is a great idea. Here are some highly recommended reference books about guitars. And, remember to always start your Amazon shopping from BostonZest to keep information coming your way.

Details:
Skinner, Inc.
63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116 (map)
Phone: 617-350-5400

www.skinnerinc.com

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010 Penny Cherubino