On hiatus

As you may have noticed, the blog is on hiatus.    These days Facebook as become the quickest way to get short notices out to members and residents.    The blog will remain active - you never know when a topic needs some extra attention.


In the meantime, please visit our Facebook page, or our new and improved Web Site.

July Stoop party (2016)

Eight Streets continues out Summer on the Stoop series with our first stoop night of 2016 and with out next stoop night this Thursday July 14.  Join us between 5:30 and 7:30 on Waltham  Street and meet your neighbors.

Our stoop nights are a way to re-connect with your neighbors.  They harken back to the days before we were overworked and perpetually busy with technology.   Residents spent many events on their stoops enjoying the evening and chatting with neighbors and passer-bys.   (For more on our Stoop night resurgence, see our previous blog post.)

We're bringing back the tradition by holding stop nights in the summers.  We take a few nights each summer and focus on one of our neighborhood streets.

This time we return to Waltham street.   If you live on Waltham, come out and sit on your stoop and say hi to neighbors.   If you're from our other Eight Streets, walk on over to Waltham and make some new friends!

To kick off the night, we have some host stoops who have promised to be on their stoops to meet and greet.   Look for the stoops with balloons.  Use our host stoops as a starting point for your evening, but don't feel confined by our host stoops - walk the street and say hi to everyone!!

Hope to see you there!

Thursday, July 14
5:30-7:30pm
Waltham street

Printable flier here.

June ESNA Meeting

Our June business meeting will be a social event.

For June we will meet at the Boston Eagle (Tremont & Dwight) for an evening of pool and socializing.  We'll throw in a little business to make it official.

This month we'll meet on Wednesday, June 15th.

Join us starting at 6:30 at the Eagle for some light socializing.  

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Netowrking.  Free pizza & Cash bar
7-7:30 - Short ENSA Meeting; Neighborhood updates
7:30 - Wine tasting, courtesy of new business Wine Riot

Please RSVP so we can get an idea of how many might attend.   Send an email to ESNA.JuneSocial@gmail.com

Click here for an event flier to share

We usually take summers off, so this is the last meeting until September.   (But we'll still have a stoop party or two - keep an eye on our Facebook pages)


Hope to see everyone there.


Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

May business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, May 10th, at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


Unfortunately we've had some cancellations since we first announced our agenda earlier in April.  
This month's agenda includes

• Presentation and vote - Giorgiana's store is seeking neighborhood support for outdoor seating.  No wait service - just tables for people to use to eat her store-bought prepared food.  An abutters meeting last week was very supportive. 
• State Rep Aaron Michlewitz should be joining us for some conversation and Q&A
• Planning for summer events.   We have a June event, some stoop parties and maybe more!  Come help us plan for the summer.
• Election of officers for the coming years.
• Neighborhood updates including news form our local parks.

Hope to see everyone there.


Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

April business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, April 12th, at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

• We open with our first guest.   We use their space every month, but what exactly is Project Place and what do they do in our community.   Mr. Andrew Malloy joins us to explain project Place's mission.
• DPW Superstar Frank O'Brien joins us again for a discussion on Streets and Sidewalks.   Maybe we can get some needed repairs to our infrastructure....
• Our business focus will be Foodies Urban market.   See what Foodies has to offer, and give some feedback about your experiences.
• We'll wrap up with neighborhood Updates, including some updates from Watson park - what their plans are and how you can get involved.  Plus a sneak peak on some Summer neighborhood activities!

Hope to see everyone there.


Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

February Business Meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, February 9th, at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

• Our Business focus/guest this month will be Robin Johnson of Hingham bank.  Lean how Hingham has become part of our South End community
• The owners of 6 Ringgold would like to build a rear deck on the property.  They'll present their proposal for discussion followed by a NA vote.  We encourage abutters of this block to attend.  (The city plans an abutters meeting, but we have no word on a date yet)
• We'll then have a presentation from UDR, developer of the Graybar site (Harrison & Traveller).   The standing building was torn down this fall and construction will begin this Spring.  Come and see the new design and ask some questions.
• We'll wrap up with neighborhood Updates, including some updates from Watson park - what their plans are and how you can get involved.

Hope to see everyone there.


Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

January Business Meeting - Neighborhood reflections

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, January 12th at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


The theme of this meeting will be the Our Neighborhood.

First, a proposal for a liquor/wine store on tremont next to Picco.  Based on the two public meetings and feedback gathered since there, there is not enough neighborhood support to support the proposal of another wine store so close to so many others.   The store is an interesting proposal, most feel this isn't the best location for yet another wine store.

While we will discuss the proposal at the meeting, it has exposed some ugly neighborhood discrimination.  Lone time residents saying the opinions of newcomers (< 5 years) "don't count" because they're not really a part of the neighborhood;  while newer residents calling the long-time residents elitists and over-eager to kill any new idea.   Not exactly putting our best foot forward.  

Everyone has an opinion, but seeing neighbor pit against neighbor hasn't been pretty to watch over the last few weeks.   What can ESNA do to help bridge the gap?   How do we get both 'new' people and 'long timers'  more involved in the neighborhood and interacting more with each other?  How do we get new folks (young and old) more involved in Neighborhood doings?

(Hmmm - anyone have lots of 70's photos willing to chat about South End history?


Next - It's a new year and time to begin planning.   We'll find out how our December social went, and make plans for June (We don't have our room) - what should we do instead.    Spring is almost here - what plans do Ringgold and Watson have for the Spring?


Which leads right into - We've also discussed out meeting structure in the past.   There has been a proposal to move to a more board-oriented structure with meetings being more business only with the occasional 'bigger' guest speaker; and more social events.  Less pressure on the board to make every meeting 'exciting', and concentrating more on neighbor engagement than strict meetings.   While we've talked about it, we haven't done much to go in that direction.   What are YOU interested in seeing from the neighborhood?   More meetings?  more social?  How can we get more engagement from neighbors and still keep everyone informed and interested in the NA.

We'll also have our regular neighborhood updates, rumors and such as well as open discussion.  Our posted January guest Hingham Savings will be at our February meeting instead.

Hope to see everyone there.



Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Meeting on a potential new Liquor Store

There will be a public meeting this Wednesday, January 6th concerning a liquor store that wants to open at 505 Tremont.  All are welcome to attend.

Wednesday, Jan 6
6pm
519 Tremont street (the empty storefront between Picco and Santander bank.)
All are welcome to attend.


The operators of Wine Riot are looking to open a liquor store in the Atelier complex.  The location would be 519 Tremont street - between Picco restaurant and Santander bank (previously home to a furniture store).  

A previous public "Abutters" meeting was held in December.  At that time the developer had not notified everyone within the required 300 foot radius, and only notified neighbors 2 days prior to the meeting.   Given the lack of notice, a second abutters meeting was recommended - to both give abutters & Neighbors another opportunity to get information and provide feedback, and to have a single common meeting rather than have separate Eight Streets and Ellis NA meetings.   The meeting date/time was put on the Eight Streets calendar at that time, but the final meeting location wasn't confirmed until just recently.

At the last meeting most of the attendees were Eight Streets residents, joined by an Ellis board member and 2 people form the 505 condo association.   Also in attendance were the owners of other local liquor sales establishments.

The petitioners want to open a 'high end' liquor store catering to the younger customer - those who attend their Wine Riot events.  They assured attendees that in-store tastings will be 'regular' small tastings, and not large events similar to their larger Wine Riot tastings.  While they help saying it would be a 'high end' shop, they said wine prices be between $15 and $25 - which is consistent with what other local stores offer wine for;  attendees were then curious what 'high end' would really be, and how this store would be different from the 8 local liquor/wine retailers in the area offer.

At the December public meeting, there were no members of the public who spoke in favor of the proposal.   Those who did speak wondered if the area needs another wine/liquor store, and what effect a new store would be on current businesses.

All are welcome to attend this Wednesday's meeting and express your opinion.   The City and both adjacent NAs will be in attendance to hear your views.

if you cannot make this meeting, you can attend or send a letter to the City Hall hearing.  
Wednesday, January 13th at 10am, City Hall, 8th Floor, 1 City Hall Sq Room 809, Boston, MA

December Social & Holiday Activities

Happy December everyone!

This month we will forgo our regular business meeting and instead have a social event to celebrate the season.

On our usual meeting night - Tuesday, December 8th - we will be having a Holiday Social instead of our regular meeting.   Stop by The Boston Eagle (tremont & Dwight) between 6pm and 8pm for some free pizza, cocktails, Pool lessons and some raffle prizes!

We invite everyone in Eight Streets to attend; meet your neighbors and make some new friends!
So we can get an accurate headcount, please RSVP to ESNA.DecSocial@gmail.com to secure your spot!

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This Wednesday (December 2) SEBA presents the South End Holiday Stroll.    Take a walk through the neighborhood and visit our local stores.    The walk is  from 4-9pm with many south end businesses participating.  See this link for a flier.

AS A BONUS -  Mayor Walsh will be participating right in our neighborhood.   Starting at 4:30pm, Mayor Walsh will be at Milford and Shawmut to visit local businesses in our Shawmut business district.   If you're home from work early, come out and shop with the Mayor.


More shopping can be had at Chrismaukka - a Free holiday shopping event at the SoWa market location (450 harrison ave).  A heated tent will be in place, hosting 50 local artisans and their wares.  The Food Trucks will also be there for your dining pleasure.   This is Free and open to all Friday night through Sunday (Dec 4-6).  See their Facebook page for more information.

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Christmas activities continue on Saturday with the 20th annual "Mayor's Enchanted Trolley Tour" and Christmas tree lighting at the BCA.  Starting at 3:30pm on Saturday, December 5th there will be kids activities with snacks and cider available.   The Mayor's trolley (with Santa) should arrive around 4:15 for a tree lighting and  a chance to visit the guy in red.

If you're putting a tree in your home, don't forget Christmas Trees and Wreaths are again for sale locally at the corner of Berkeley and Tremont.

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Have a great December, and I hope you can make it to our Holiday Social!!!

(click for a larger image)

ESNA Happenings

Hi everyone,

We have a lot of neighborhood activity the next week.

This Saturday of course brings us Halloween.   If you've never been in the city during halloween before, neighbors hang out on their stoops and greet kids at the sidewalk with goodies.   Join your neighbors and combine stoops and make a fun evening of it.   Remembering, being a Saturday the kids usually hit the sidewalks a little earlier than a week night Halloween.

Ringgold park will also be holding their halloween festivities from 4-6 on Saturday.   Setup begins at 2pm if you'd like to help out.   Contact ringgoldpark@gmail.com to help out, or for more information on joining the Friends of Ringgold.


On Sunday, November 1, Watson park will be hosting a cleanup.  (Corner of Taylor and Milford) Join people in the park at 11am to help rake leaves and plant bulbs for the spring.  Afterward we'll head to Berkeley and help them plant some bulbs... contact watsonpark @ eightstreets.org if you would like to get more involved with the Friends.


Tuesday, November 3 brings us election day.   Polls are open 7am-8pm.  Eight Streets votes at Cathedral High School Gym, corner of Washington and Union Park.   This is a city election, and only City Councilors will be on our ballot.  We will be voting on our District 2 councilor, and 4 Councilors at large.  Please make every effort to vote, as city hall sees low turnout as lack of interest in all things government.


Wednesday November 4 brings us an Alley Safety Walk-through.   We'll walk through ESNA Alleys with BPD officer Richie Litto who will tell us how we can keep our alleys and rear yards safer.   These walk-throughs have been successful and informative in the past, so if you have not yet joined us for one, please come along!  This year we will walk the Shawmut alleys between Shawmut and Ringgold/Bond/Taylor, ending up in Watson park.    Meet at the corner of Ringgold and Waltham by 6:30.  If you are an abutter let us know and we can visit your specific yard...

And of course pencil in Tuesday, November 10 for our monthly ESNA Business meeting.   Agenda to come out next week.   Visit our Calendar at any time for upcoming neighborhood activities

Welcome to Watson Park

Welcome to Watson Park.

We can finally say it.   The parcels that have been informally called Watson or Taylor Park for years, are now an official Boston Park.

The properties (both properties; all 5 parcels) have been transferred from the BRA to the parks department, and are now part of the Boston parks system.  The Parks department voted to accept the land back in August;  and this month the BRA has finally filed the deeds granting the land transfer.

Thanks to everyone involved in this multi-year effort; many who have worked hard behind the to make this happen.   Many, many phone calls; gathering signatures and petitions; attending countless meetings, and enduring the challenge of navigating through many city and BRA processes spanning two Mayoral administrations.

Through everyone's hard work the land is now an official park, ensuring it remains open space parkland in perpetuity.


We are working with the city to have some kind of ribbon cutting / ceremony in the park to officially recognize the establishment of the Parks.  We will post information when such an event is scheduled. In the mean time,  Watson Park will have a bulb planting in the park 11am on November 1st. A full park cleanup will take place during Fall Boston Shines (later in November).


If you are interested in becoming involved in the forming Friends of Watson park, please contact us and we'll pass your name on.


Watson Park is located at the corner of Milford and Taylor streets, and is named after the father of long time Taylor resident Charlie Watson.

Fall Coffee Hours

Our state representative Aaron Michlewitz has announced his Fall coffee hours.   This is a change to meet with Aaron and discuss any state issues that might be on your mind.   Stop by any time during the coffee time and have a chat, or just listen.    The coffee hours are open to all.  

10/24 is right in Eight Streets at Wholy Grain.  10/3 and 11/21 are a short walk outside the neighborhood.    Hope you can make one of the events!!!

Saturday October 3^rd 10am- 12pm @ CuppaCoffee (57 Traveler Street) 

Saturday October 24^th 10am-12pm @ The Wholy Grain (275 Shawmut Ave)

Saturday November 21^st  10am-12pm @ Berkeley Perk Café (69 Berkeley Street)

September Stoop Night

Eight Streets marks the end of summer with a final Stoop Night.   This Sunday, September 20th.  Join us between 5:00 and 6:30 as the residents of Dwight street hold the final stoop night.   Come out and meet your neighbors.

Our stoop nights are a way to re-connect with your neighbors.  They harken back to the days before we were overworked and perpetually busy with technology.   Residents spent many events on their stoops enjoying the evening and chatting with neighbors and passer-bys.   (For more on our Stoop night resurgence, see our previous blog post.)

We're bringing back the tradition by holding stop nights in the summers.  We take a few nights each summer and focus on one of our neighborhood streets.

The residents of Dwight liked their first stoop night so much they wanted to host one again.   If you live on Dwight street, come out and sit on your stoop and say hi to neighbors.   If you're from our other Eight Streets, walk on over to Dwight and make some new friends!

To kick off the night, we have some host stoops who have promised to be on their stoops to meet and greet.   Look for the stoops with balloons.  Use our host stoops as a starting point for your evening, but don't feel confined by our host stoops - walk the street and say hi to everyone!!  If you'd like to be a host stoop, send an email to Bernard.  

Hope to see you there!

Sunday, September 20th
5:00-6:30pm
Dwight street.

Printable flier here.

No September meeting

Hi everyone, and welcome back after a summer break.

We're going to extend our break a little longer.   We had some trouble getting our room, and then our VP Michael is having back issues and can't chair a meeting.  We will therefore bypass a traditional ESNA meeting for September.

We do, however, till want to get together.    We're looking to have a social event in September.  (Ringgold BBQ on the 20th perhaps?)    If you're interested in helping us set up an event, please let us know.   Many hands make light work.

Our next formal meeting will take place Tuesday, October 13 at out usual Project Place location.

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In the meantime, September begins our membership year.   Those who were members last year, we ask that you renew.  And those who have not yet joined, we invite you to join the neighborhood and become part of your community!   Your membership shows you have an interest in your neighborhood and what goes on in your community.   Your dues help support social events and local neighborhood improvements.

Head to our membership page, where you can join/renew on-line with a credit card, or download a PDF membership form you can mail in.

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Finally, we have a little history for you.    The Leventhal Map Center  @ the BPL is putting old city atlases on-line for free.    Fine out what Eightstreets looked like in 1883.   (Dwight people click here)



Join us on Social Media
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Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

June Stoop Party

Eight Streets continues the Summer of the Stoop and with out next stoop night this Saturday, June 27th.  Join us between 5:30 and 7:30 on Milford  Street and meet your neighbors.

Our stoop nights are a way to re-connect with your neighbors.  They harken back to the days before we were overworked and perpetually busy with technology.   Residents spent many events on their stoops enjoying the evening and chatting with neighbors and passer-bys.   (For more on our Stoop night resurgence, see our previous blog post.)

We're bringing back the tradition by holding stop nights in the summers.  We take a few nights each summer and focus on one of our neighborhood streets.

This Saturday we focus on Milford street.   If you live on Milford, come out and sit on your stoop and say hi to neighbors.   If you're from our other Eight Streets, walk on over to Milford and make some new friends!

To kick off the night, we have some host stoops who have promised to be on their stoops to meet and greet.   Look for the stoops with balloons.  Use our host stoops as a starting point for your evening, but don't feel confined by our host stoops - walk the street and say hi to everyone!!

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 27th
5:30-7:30pm
Milford street.

Printable flier here.

June Business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, June 9th, at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


Two local projects are on the agenda this month.   Both 4 Ringgold and 287 Shawmut have projects that affect the rear of their respective buildings.  The projects' rear yards nearly abut each other.  This is also a section where buildings are very close to each other.  Both projects have abutters concerned about light, excavation and water from to-be-installed groundwater recharging.    

We encourage abutters of this block to attend to discuss these two projects.


Bernard will give a presentation on the fundraising efforts of the Dog Run within Peters Park.   They are in the midst of a fundraising campaign to raise money for both a rehab of the surface in the dog park, as well as establishing a reserve for maintenance and future repairs.

While it is in Peters Park, the dog run is privately funded - Parks Department doe snot do maintenance now repair of the dog park - all that is done with volunteers and fundraising.   for more information or if you'd like to contribute to the Dog park funs, please see peterspark.org.  


June also brings us our annual elections for ESNA officers.   The current slate (John, Michael, Ted & Bernard) will be running for office for the 15-16 year.    We will also be discussing changes in ESNA leadership.   We'd like to bring more people onto the board to help spread out responsibilities and increase ESNA neighborhood outreach.


Hope to see everyone there.



Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

May business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, May 12th, at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


A project at 4 Ringgold will also come to the neighborhood looking for project support.  The project seeks to expand on the existing rear "L" such that it wills the entire year.   Abutters to the project are encouraged to attend.


Two local speakers will be joining us.  More than Words - a non-profit empowering youth through business training.   MTW has a location on East Berkeley Street and a presence at the Sunday SoWa Market.

Also joining us is the Huntington Ave YMCA.   The NU Dorm Construction allowed the Y to completely rehab their gym space.   See what the Y can do for you.



Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Parks & Cleanups

Hi everyone,

Boston Shines

Mark your calendars - next Saturday come join your neighbors as Eight Streets takes part in Boston Shines.  This year we'll be cleaning out Watson park, as well as the alleys between Shawmut and Bone, and Shawmut and Taylor.   We'll also give a hand where we can with cleanups going on in Ringgold and Peters parks.   The city will provide bags and tools (ad hopefully some gloves) - we just need the manpower.

Join us and help put a Shine on the southern end of our neighborhood.   After the cleanup, Friends on Ringgold is hosting a pot luck and plant sale in the park from 11:30-2

A Flier for the Boston Shines cleanups can be found here.

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Watson Park

Speaking of Watson Park, the city has arranged for an in-park community meeting.  The BRA ad Parks Dept. will be there, so we hope to get an update  on the status of transferring the park to Parks.  The meeting is this Wednesday at 6pm in the park.   We hope abutters and interested neighbors can attend.

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Facebook

The South End Forum has created a presence on Facebook.  They have a Page for announcement and such, and a Group which is an open community board where anyone can post.   Visit both if you'd like to keep up on South End-wide information

South End FB Page.

South End FB Community Group.

and of course, the Eight Streets FB Page.

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Hope we can see you this week:

• Wednesday, April 29, Watson Park Meeting.  6pm in the park.
• Saturday, May 2, Boston Shines.  8:30-noon.  Meet at Watson Park
• Saturday, May 2, Ringgold Park Pot Luck and Plant Sale, 11:30-2

April business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, Aril 14th at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Social Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


Our guest speaker is Frank O'Brien from the Boston's Department of Public Works.   Bring your questions and concerns for an open discussion.  (Paving, sidewalks, snow, crosswalks....)

Louane of Taylor st will update us on Watson park proposed improvements not that all the construction adjacent to the park is over.

We also have home improvement projects at 1 and 4 Ringgold street.  There will be an on-site abutters meeting at 6pm tomorrow.  Springer architects will then come to the business to talk to the general membership about the project.

We'll also discuss Boston Shines - there are several cleanups planned for the neighborhood this Spring

Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

March Business Meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, March 10th at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


Our guest speaker will be state representative Aaron Michlewitz.   After some words from Aaron, the floor will be open for your questions, so bring any State Government questions with you.

Proposed local business Shawmut Yoga should be joining us to speak about their planned opening on Shawmut ave.   Feedback form abutters is welcome.    Bernard will let us know about some Peters park fundraising coming up.   And Michael will have a discussion and round table about Spring and summer planning, as well as 2015 neighborhood goals.


Remember to visit us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

No February meeting; Clean that snow

With yet another large accumulation on our doorstep, the February ESNA Business meeting has been cancelled.   We'll resume our monthly schedule on Tuesday, March 10th.     However, if anyone is interested maybe we can have an ESNA social night and complain about the snow while having some fun - Foleys has Trivia on Tuesdays, and Cathedral Station has trivia on Wednesdays...  let us know if this sounds interesting.

Speaking of snow, thanks to all ESNA residents who are clearing away all this snow.   Most of the sidewalks are looking pretty good, given the amount of snow we've been getting.   NA leaders are in contact with DPW to try and get some of the larger snow accumulations in the neighborhood removed, but as you might expect, the entire city is asking for the same.   But many City snow piles are blocking crosswalks, which can create a safety issue.

Please remember to help your neighbors whenever you can.  The 3rd storm in as many weeks is taking a toll on all of us, so help out any neighbor who might needs some shoveling assistance.   Don't forget crosswalks, trash cans and mailboxes when shoveling as well.   That can sometimes include re-shoveling crosswalks when the plow comes around again.   With no warm weather on the horizon, any path we shovel now we'll be stuck with for a number of weeks.

Even more important is clearing our Fire hydrants.   As you've seen in the news, Firefighters have had numerous instances of arriving at a fire only to have to waste valuable time digging out hydrants.   While most of our hydrants have had a basic shoveling, remember a firefighter needs to work around the hydrant.  They need a path from the hydrant to the street (we tend to shovel form the sidewalk tot he hydrant, but the firetrucks are in the streets, not on the sidewalks).   They also need to have access to attaches hoses, so at least 3 feet on either side of the hydrant are needed.   The image on the left shows a hydrant that has been cleared well.     The city has a database of Hydrants and Catch basins.   Check out the site here to find where these resources are in our neighborhood.    *Flash required to see the map)


The city snow page are your resource for the latest snow emergencies, trash pickup delays,  and other weather related information.


And, as always, stay safe.

January Business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, January 13th at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley).   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.


Unfortunately, our guests for this week have cancelled.   The mayor's State of the City was scheduled tonight, so our speaker and all backups had to cancel.   Aaron will be attending our February meeting.

This meeting we'll discuss neighborhood updates & committee planning.   Chilly as it is, Spring is around the corner.  What activities, neighborhood events or cleanup/beautification projects would you like to see happen in the neighborhood?



A reminder that NA membership must be renewed every Fall.   If you have not renewed your membership, please Head to the ESNA Membership Page.  There you can join on-line with your credit card, or print out a membership form to mail in with a cheque.  Members joining now will be valid through August 2015.

Remember to like us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Snow & Space Savers

Starting this winter, (2014-2015) the South End is now a "space saver free" zone.

If the city receives significant amounts of snowfall, and you shovel out your car that is parked on the public street, you not be allowed to reserve that space by putting a household item in the spot to hold it until you return.

Some history

Saving the spot you have shoveled out has been a unique habit that used to be confined to South Boston.   A few years ago space savers made the news and caused a hubbub.  At that time the previous administration gave it's OK to space savers, saying they could only stay on the street for 48 hours after the snow storm.  (People were using space savers to save a spot all winter, even long after the snow was gone).  But with this formal announcement the sue of space savers proliferated throughout the city, form the South End to Alston to Hyde park.

Why now?

In general, the streets are public and they should be available to anyone at any time to park their car. But more than just the private taking of a public spot for private use, the space saver system itself is being abused.    People are using space saves without a snow storm.  (yes, we we got he half inch of snow that immediately melted, people has space savers out).  But on top of that is the violence.   People have had their cars vandalized when they parked in a spot that someone else thought they had saved.   Every year brings stories of fist fights, slashed tires and broken windshields.

Last year the South End Forum started a pilot program to discourage space savers.  (Winter had started already and the city didn't want to change policy mid season).    With the 2014 season about to start, and the new mayoral administration, the city agreed to have the South End be a space saver free zone.

Starting this year, South End residents are being discouraged from putting out space savers.   Anyone seeing a space saver can remove it, or call the city and they will remove it.  On trash days the city will automatically remove any space saver.

Hopefully this will not only be fairer for everyone, but prevent some of the violence seen elsewhere (someone has already had their tires slashed this year and we haven't even gotten any significant snowfall).

The new South End policy did make Channel 5 news tonight, as well as an article in the Globe this weekend (paywall).   We've also put some of the posters (as above) in a PDF that you can download and hand out if you wish.

And since we'll have out first measurable (non melting) snow on Tuesday, here is an older blog post covering sidewalk clearing after a snowfall.

December business meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, December 9th at our new meeting space at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley.   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang)  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

Our planned guest for this month has not confirmed yet, so we'll try to have them at a future meeting.  This month we'll continue to focus on planning and neighborhood news.  I'll also have the latest news on the Frontage road shelter.


We'll wrap up the meeting with additional neighborhood news and updates.



A reminder that NA membership must be renewed every Fall.   If you have not renewed your membership, please Head to the ESNA Membership Page.  There you can join on-line with your credit card, or print out a membership form to mail in with a cheque.  Members joining now will be valid through August 2015.

Remember to like us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Alley cleanup this Saturday (11/22)

November Business Meeting

Our next business meeting is Tuesday, November 11 at our new meeting space at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley.   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang)  Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

Our agenda for this month centers around neighborhood planning for the upcoming year, including

Committees - what our committees did last year, and what their plans and goals are for the coming year

Neighborhood investment - what neighborhood activities or projects would you like to see in the coming year

What guest speakers would you like to see in the coming year.

We'll wrap up the meeting with additional neighborhood news and updates.

A reminder that NA membership must be renewed every Fall.   If you have not renewed your membership, please Head to the ESNA Membership Page.  There you can join on-line with your credit card, or print out a membership form to mail in with a cheque.  Members joining now will be valid through August 2015.

Remember to like us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Vote - 2014

Celebrate the end of political commercials by going out to vote next Tuesday on November 4th.

Eight Streets (Ward 3 Precinct 7) votes at Cathedral High School, located at Waltham and Washington streets.   Polls are open from 7am-8pm.

Of course, the Governor is a big contest this election, as well as several important state questions.

Our Representative in Congress (Capuano) and our Representative in the State House (Aaron) are unopposed.   Our state senator (Chang-Diaz) does have an opponent.

Click here for a list of all candidates on the ballot.

Click here for a summary of the Questions to vote on.

October NA meeting

Welcome Back

Our next business meeting is This Tuesday, Oct 14 at our new meeting space at Project Place (Corner of Washington & East Berkeley.   Enter in the door next to Meyers and Chang)

Meeting format:

6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting.
7-8:30 - Business meeting.

On the agenda this month:

• Nectar & Green - new business proposal for Shawmut Ave
• Personal best Fitness - new business proposal at Castle Square
• South End Temperature Study
• Groundwater Update:   17 Bond & 9 Milford

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Eigth Streets.    As mentioned in the email last month, we have had to change location for our monthly meetings, and thus meeting days.  We will continue to meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Project Place.   The building is at the corner of Washington & East Berkeley.   The meeting room is on the 2nd floor - enter via the door next to Meyers and Chang.

Please arrive before 7:30, as the external doors lock at that time.  

We have quite a variety on our agenda this month.    We start with two businesses.   Personal Best Fitness looks to open in Castle Square.   Although just outside ESNA, they are seeking wider NA support for the zoning changes they need.   A vote will be taken.

We also got late notice that Urbanity Dance on Shawmut is leaving, and a  juice bar will like to move in.   Nectar and Green will be coming to the meeting to provide us information only.  We hope to have an on-site meeting this month with abutters to see if there is support for the business and the variances they need.

What do you get when two dozen residents carry around temperature sensors for a week?  Find out as we see the research that was collected for this study.

And development projects at 17 Bond and 9 Milford will present their groundwater plans for those projects (Still waiting confirmation on this agenda item)

We'll wrap up the meeting with additional neighborhood news and updates.


A reminder that NA membership must be renewed every Fall.   Head to the ESNA Membership Page.  There you can join on-line with your credit card, or print out a membership form to mail in with a cheque.  Members joining now will be valid through August 2015.

Remember to like us on Facebook as well - get more local notices and photos from all our events.

Hope to see everyone there!

Join us on Social Media
Our Google Calendar
Our Facebook page
ESNA Twitter feed

Fall Pot Luck: Sunday 9/14

With a cloudy/rainy afternoon forecast, Pot Luck has been moved to Sunday.

The heat has broken, and Fall is in the air.   A perfect time for a Picnic.

Come help us celebrate the start of the ESNA calendar year at a neighborhood Pot Luck & BBQ.  We'll have a grill with some burgers and dogs, but we're counting on you to make it interesting.   Bring your favorite dish to share with your neighbors!  

But most of all, bring a friend or a neighbor.   Meet your fellow Eight Streeters.   Learn more about the association.   Share ideas on how we can improve our neighborhood.

Join us on Sunday, September 14th from 4-6 in Ringgold Park.   

Please RSVP to potluck@eightstreets.org to let us know you're coming, what you can bring, and if you can volunteer additional time for setup, cleanup, and even manning the grill!   

Even if you can't RSVP or aren't a good cook, come on down and meet everyone!   

Complete details can be found on our pot luck web page.

Not sure if you're in Eight Streets?   Check out Neighborhood Map.

August Stoop Night

Eight Streets continues the Summer of the Stoop and holds it's next official stoop night this Thursday, August 28th.

Join us between 6 and 7:30 on Waltham Street and meet your neighbors.   If you live on Waltham, some out and sit on your stoop and say hi to neighbors.   If you're from our other Eight Streets, head over to Waltham and make some new friends!

To kick off the night, we have some host stoops who have promised to be out to meet and greet.   Host Stoops can be identified by balloons, but don't feel confined by our host stoops - walk the street and say hi to everyone!!

For more on our Stoop night resurgence, see our previous blog post.

Thursday, August 28th
6-7:30pm
Waltham street.