Becky's photoblog

I’m attending a WordPress conference in Cambridge this weekend, and this is the gorgeous view of Boston from where I’m sitting – at the Microsoft New England Research and Development (NERD) Center.

This weekend was the 30th Annual Jamaica Pond Lantern Parade, and our second time participating in this awesome tradition. Kids of all ages decorate lanterns with tissue paper (ours was the coolest), and walk around Jamaica Pond. From all around the pond, you can see the parade of lights and it’s really lovely. Plus, the kids get to wear their Halloween costumes, and there’s nothing cuter than that. The weather was perfect, and a big orange moon rose over the pond while we walked with our neighbors.

I assisted my dear friend Maureen with a wedding photo shoot in Cambridge, starting with the first look at the Hotel Marlowe, and a gorgeous view of the Charles River from across the street, then the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center … a hidden gem.

The MIT Glass Lab’s annual fall Great Glass Pumpkin Patch – http://glasslab.scripts.mit.edu/pumpkin/

I helped out at a work event at Fenway Park’s State Street Pavilion. Fenway always promises beautiful views of Boston. We also got to see these shiny trophies 🙂

After a very long week of working long hours, we took a long walk along the Jamaicaway, past Jamaica Pond (below), had an incredible meal on Centre Street in JP, then walked home. Fall is in the air!

On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, I had the honor of hearing the entire speech read by aloud by the strong voices of the interfaith staff of Boston University’s Marsh Chapel (the spiritual core of the campus). It was an incredibly busy day during an incredibly busy week, but I was able to dash out of my office at noon after a long meeting, walk two blocks in no time flat, and meet my sweetie at Marsh Plaza to hear those incredibly powerful words. In the midday heat, we stood in the shadow of the gorgeous MLK memorial sculpture. We are incredibly proud to be Dr. King’s fellow alumni.

<p>This one's a bit out of order, but it's my favorite</p> I used a handful of vacation days to make long weekends this summer, and in honor of my last official summer vacation day, we used a groupon and went on a sunset cruise on the Charles River (with the Charles Riverboat Company). It was an absolutely gorgeous way to see the city, and I highly recommend it! Very relaxing and pleasant, very beautiful.

It was a perfect day in Boston. This morning, I met a friend at a bridal shop on Newbury Street and I got to see her wedding gown. Then, we headed over to the courtyard at the Boston Public Library to celebrate saying yes to the dress over some pastries. She had never been inside the BPL so of course I had to bring her up to see the gorgeous Sargent murals and the Abbey murals.

Then we headed over to the Public Gardens to meet Kathy and Randy, and their friends who are in town for their wedding tomorrow. Nothing is more beautiful than Boston’s Public Gardens on a perfectly breezy late-summer afternoon with good friends.

I love wandering around the Back Bay and seeing all of the beautiful architecture, but I usually only get to view my favorite buildings from the street level. This morning, I met a friend at a bridal shop on Newbury Street, and while she was trying on a dress, I glimpsed a view of the First Baptist Church in Boston from the second floor window.

And then I got to see the lovely bride-to-be in her gorgeous gown!

The weather was gorgeous on my day off, so I took a nice long walk to explore Back Bay. I walked up Arlington Street, down Berkeley Street, up Clarendon, down Dartmouth, up Exeter, down Fairfield, up Gloucester and down Hereford. Then I had a big smoothie and went home. If you ask me, every inch of Back Bay is fascinating, and I snapped a few pictures of some interesting buildings along the way. Shameless self-promotion: for more of my pictures of Back Bay, please visit my project ‘Architectural Landmarks of Boston’s Back Bay‘. Thank you.

Wandering the North End in search of  a good meal and a good view. Mission accomplished!!!

Fountain on Mass Ave in the South End. A little bit of peace on a busy street.

An amazing view, an amazing sunset and amazing fireworks from the Charlestown Navy Yard

Setting up for Commencement at Agganis Arena.

BU Admissions Reception Center at 121 Baystate Road

Looking down Boylston Street, which is still blocked off because it is still a crime scene, which is still so surreal …

The firehouse on Boylston Street, with Boston Marathon signs crammed with handwritten messages of praise and support.

Went for a walk and learned that there are pretty places right near my house. Thank you, Mr. Olmsted.

I had a cold last week, which kept us from seeing the MFA’s new Samurai exhibit during the Members’ Preview days. We finally got the chance to see it tonight, and it was spectacular! When it comes to art, ancient Japanese armor is far from my usual favorites, but this is an exquisite collection of truly magnificent craftsmanship. Brian loves this kind of stuff and we were both really excited to see this exhibit.

This is a picture of the facade of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Flags are at half-mast all over the city because of the bombing two days ago. Many of us have barely scratched the surface when it comes to processing what has happened. In one of many gestures that makes me love my city even more, Boston museums offered free admission in recognition that museums offer a place for peaceful reflection.

You got that right.

After we saw the exhibit, we decided to walk up Huntington Ave towards Copley Square, which is still blocked off as a crime scene. We got up to the Christian Science Plaza during that golden hour of dusk when the light is perfect. Museums are great, but the Christian Science Plaza is often where I go when I’m in need of peaceful reflection. It’s absolutely beautiful. I can stand in one place and see four of my favorite buildings all at once, without moving my neck, and their reflections in the pool are simply stunning.

We continued up Huntington Ave until we arrived at the edge of Copley Square. News trucks were absolutely everywhere. Bright lights, cameras, cables, equipment and a lot of people doing nothing. At that point, there was so little to report, and everything that could be said had already been said over and over. I snapped a few pictures and immediately felt bad for acting like a tourist, and yet it’s so important to capture this moment. I’ve taken hundreds of photos of Copley Square. This is my city.

What a great view …

Yet another gorgeous view of Trinity Church and the Hancock Tower in Copley Square. On my way to meet my sweetie for dinner just a few hours after a new pope was elected.

A year after our wedding, we can look back and honestly say that we would not have done anything differently. Our wedding weekend was truly joyful, and we returned to the Hyatt Harborside to celebrate our first anniversary and enjoy those wonderful memories. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and breakfast at the Harborside Grill, and we still can’t get enough of that spectacular view! Brian’s family surprised us with a delicious antipasto platter and a bottle of champagne, which was a really sweet treat.

Brian planned a wonderful surprise of his own. He ordered a mini-version of our wedding cake from the bakery where our wedding cake was from, and we picked it up on our way to my parents’ house. He tried to get the bakery to decorate our cake with the same leafy design as our wedding cake, but it didn’t work out quite as he had planned. Instead, it was even better. They frosted the cake with the leaves of two full trees meeting in the middle. We had lunch with my family, and shared the cake with them.

Click here to see Maureen’s wonderful video slide-show from our wedding.

I had jury duty and it was pretty boring, but at least they gave us long breaks. I took a walk around the neighborhood and snapped this shot at the corner of Beacon Street and Bowdoin Streets, opposite the State House. You can see the golden dome reflected in the window of this gorgeous example of Boston architecture.

The snow is getting pretty gross, but my city is still beautiful.

<p>Old South Church</p> I was need of some peace on earth and good will towards men, so I went to a favorite familiar spot, Old South Church, for some uplifting music. The Old South Ringers were rehearsing for their Christmas handbell concert.

Click here for a sample of this ridiculously beautiful music.

• Links to previous photoblog entries with photos of Old South Church: 6/16/2009, 9/5/2009, 1/31/2010,
• Link to my painting of Old South Church
• Links to previous photoblog entries with photos of the Comm Ave Mall: 6/29/2009
• Link to my painting of the Comm Ave Mall