A period of time that strikes fear in the most hardened of Bostonians. The infamous date marks that time of year when the single greatest apartment shuffle happens city wide. And it’s all because of the college students. For the past seven and a half years, as both a resident of Brookline and now Boston’s Brighton neighborhood, I’ve plotted and schemed ways to avoid having to partake in the special hell that is moving on September 1st. Until now.

It is unavoidable. The rent has continued to increase in the areas of Allston, Brighton, and Brookline such that for the first time in almost a decade of living in the city, I’m being priced out of the market. It’s a shame. That being said, I’m remaining optimistic I can find a new ‘hood and maintain the quality of apartment I enjoy at a reasonable price point.

Go East Young Man, Go East

One up and coming area of the Boston I think holds great potential is East Boston. With it’s amazing food scene and growing gayborhood, Eastie is the new place to be. Affordable and on-the-move, East Boston has fast become the new place to be. With the influx of new construction and building renovations, there is a lot of apartment to be had for the money. This is where I’ve focused my search.

Apartment hunting in Boston is a bit like the Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.

None of the items covered are particularly new… Redefinition of when pregnancy begins, forced ultrasounds that the patient has to pay for, prepared statements the state compels providers to read aloud to patients. What is new here is that the GOP used the state budget to get these in all hush-hush like. It circumvented any debate or conversation as to why these provisions were needed in a state budget.

grrrrrr.

Yeah. That happened.

*update*
Then it ended. It happens.

Some useful information to keep handy:

• NSTAR Power Outage Map
• City of Boston’s website
• Mayor’s 24-hour hotline 617-635-4500.

Please report power outages to NSTAR at (800) 592-2000; important to call 911 if you see sparks. #bosnow

— City of Boston (@NotifyBoston) February 9, 2013

Snow train on the MBTA Green Line C branch. I’m pretty sure it stops at Tappan St.

Green Line B branch dig out. Right by my apartment.

This is the day I do it… the day I’ve been waiting for for so long. This is when I re-check all my Christmas Music in iTunes! How awesome is that? And to celebrate, I have to start off with a little “Turkey Lurkey Time” from the musical Promises, Promises. Donna McKechnie is fierce. Damn. But I can’t go without specifically calling out Burt Bacharach. He wrote the most infuriatingly catchy tune that drips with the most delicious blend of Late 60’s / early 70’s gay camp. Ever. I hear that song, and it’s almost impossible for me to stay still. Something compels me to move and usually burst out singing. Burt’s just takin’ me to church.

The audio and video quality isn’t the best, but there’s still something magical about this performance from the 1968 Tony Awards…