Becky's photoblog

I took a nice long walk around Boston, starting and ending at Symphony Hall. I walked through the Christian Science Plaza, passed the reflecting pool, passed the Prudential Center, down Huntington Ave, and left on Ring Road at Copley Plaza to Boylston Street. Left on Boylston, right on Fairfield, straight down Fairfied Ave to the foot bridge over Storrow Drive and down to the Charles River Esplanade. At that point, I realized that there was some kind of walk for something going on because there were TONS of people walking along the river in blue t-shirts. I took a closer look, and realized there were tons of little kids walking. Their t-shirts said it all: Boston Children’s Hospital: Raise funds, Save lives, Repeat.

As I crossed the little bridge to my favorite part of the esplanade, the little island that gives you a great view of Back Bay, I was so moved to see so many families walking together on such a gorgeous day and raising money for sick kids. There were even a bunch of what looked like high school cheerleaders cheering everyone on. From where I was, I could see two long streams of families in blue-tshirts, some coming towards me along the island, and some crossing back over to the Storrow Drive side and walking in the same direction as me.

Later, I looked it up and learned that the event was NStar’s Walk for Boston Children’s Hospital, and that there was a 2-mile route and a 7-mile route, both starting and ending at the Hatch Shell. I was right at the turn-around point for the 2-mile route which I why I was seeing walkers in both directions.

I continued along, and crossed back over Storrow Drive near Clarendon Street, then walked down Clarendon towards Back Bay Station. As I passed through Copley Plaza, I was pleasantly surprised to see rainbow flags and an American flag flying from facade of Boston Public Library (it’s usually several American flags). Not sure if there’s some occasion I’m not aware of, but I don’t care – it looked absolutely amazing! I stopped to watch some street performers, then continued on down Clarendon.

Across from Back Bay Station, I took a right into the Southwest Corridor Park, and walked through the gorgeous tree-lined park that runs through the beautiful residential neighborhood of the South End. That brought me back to the Prudential Center, and then again through the Christian Science Plaza and back to Symphony Hall!

Date night with D! We walked along the esplanade to Beacon and Exeter, then along Beacon Street to Charles Street for dinner, then across the Public Gardens and down Newbury Street to take the T home from Copley Square. I love this city

Click here for photos from a similar walk a few years ago

Looking down Newbury Street from the corner of Exeter, after a delicious early dinner with Jen.

After stumbling upon the rehearsal of the Old South Ringers (handbell ringers) last year, I was hooked. We returned a year later for their concert of Christmas carols from around the world. I’ve visited many different churches, and our own Old South Church remains one of my favorites, especially when it is decked out for Christmas.

Please click here for the photos I took of Old South Church at Christmas last year.

After work, I took a chilly brisk walk to the Prudential Center, and enjoyed a few blocks of Newbury Street on my way. Newbury Street looks so festive at this time of the year, and I loved being able to see the street lights, the lights in the trees, and the lights of the Hancock Tower all mixed together.

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!

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.

Old South Church

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

I think this might be the start of a series. How gorgeous is this tree?

The view from the Top of the Hub, looking east towards the Hancock Tower

Top of the Hub is a restaurant on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Tower, and this was my first time partaking of one of Boston’s most precious gems. The food was amazing. The view was amazing. The sunset was breaktaking, and it was wonderful to have my whole family together.

Flying my brother and his girlfriend to Boston was just the beginning of the surprise. The following day, they kept dad out of the house while the rest of us set up for a backyard BBQ. Dad was expecting just few friends, but a few relatives and a few other friends joined the party to surprise dad for a big all-out end-of-summer festive summer bbq.

For pictures from the entire weekend, please click here — the password is dad’s middle name

The view from Top of the Hub

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I took an incredibly beautiful walk along the Charles River Esplanade, from Mass Ave to the Hatch Shell, for a free concert on the lawn — summer in New England, as God intended it. The esplanade is a park that runs along the southern bank of the Charles River, which means that it also runs along the northern edge of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The Back Bay is all landfill, and our forefathers saw fit to make a little island of landfill in the Charles River just so we could have an even more beautiful place to watch the sailboats, or take a refreshing after-work stroll to meet a friend. We joined a few thousand Bostonians at the Hatch Shell for a picnic and some great classical music, courtesy of Boston Landmarks Orchestra.

One of my favorite ways to spend a day off is visiting some of my favorite spots in Boston

Old meets new in Boston’s South End (corner of W. Newton and Columbus)

Wandering around my favorite area of Boston, doing a little Christmas shopping 🙂
Boston Public Library (left) and Old South Church (middle)

The steeple of Old South Church lining up nicely with the Hancock Tower

Corner of Mass Ave and Comm Ave

Gorgeous little shop on Newbury Street with fabulous tin clocks