The people that sit in tollbooths make an average of $70k per year!? Oh, and layoffs are being considered. [Boston Herald] Former Mayor Flynn collapsed at a speaking engagement last night. Did we mention it was in a bar? [Patriot Ledger] Can a week go by without a Boston firefighter getting arrested? [Boston Herald] Over 3,000 people became citizens yesterday at the first naturalization ceremony held in Fenway Park. Unfortunately Red Sox Nation citizenship......

A Saturday and Sunday full of doubleheaders would have made for one really taxing weekend. The Red Sox seemed to realize this and faced down a potentially demoralizing rainstorm on Friday night to deliver the only kind of performance that could shut down the red-hot Blue Jays: dominating offense that provided the run support Tim Wakefield has deserved (and often not received) over the course of the last couple of seasons. A 7-0 victory must......

Bostonist made our way to City Hall Plaza on Sunday to catch the 2008 Peace concert, a free hip hop event sponsored by the city and featuring classic hip hop artists EPMD, Das EFX, and Chubb Rock as headliners. We'd been hoping to get a shot of Our Popular Mayor popping and locking along with the b-boys. Instead, we ended up with drenched trousers and a long ride home on the Orange Line. The show......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. Enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Jeremy Fisher at the Paradise Lounge on Feb. 25th. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other......

--With this winter's especially foul weather, we have entered a new level of pothole hell. [Boston Globe] --Although some local figures might be gearing up to run against Mayor Menino, the mayor might be earning votes by working to help Hendry Street residents floored by the mortgage foreclosure crisis. [Boston Herald] --Despite all that planning, construction on the new Harvard Allston Science Complex has already pissed off Allston residents. Neighbors had been told construction......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. Jeremy Fisher, performing at the Paradise Lounge on Feb. 25th, but you can win a pair of tickets to the show today. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, selling a special shirt to honor the New England Patriots. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Bostonist. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, giving you free shipping when you buy three shirts. If you're interested in advertising on Bostonist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

Human Rights International Film Festival at the MFA The Axe in the Attic: Review follows. Sunday, January 20, 2 pm Friday, January 25, 5:45 pm Saturday, January 26, 12:45 pm Thursday, January 31, 6 pm Hot House: A probing documentary that explores the emergence of a Palestinian national leadership within Israeli prisons. Screens Sunday, January 20, 2008, 10:30 am. White Light/Black Rain: A film exploring the threat of nuclear weapons today while looking at mistakes......

Boston is a college town, and right about now it's chock full of stressed-out students who've just finished finals and are looking forward to a few weeks of rejuvenation at home--whether home's here or somewhere less disgustingly cold. Since student types--or at least those of us not able to borrow Daddy's black AmEx on a whim--tend to be dirt poor, they're relatively easy to please. Still, there's always that relative who gives out homemade doilies......

We could choose to be disappointed. We figured (and we weren't the only ones) that the combination of crappy weather, boisterous fans and motivated personnel would mean the Patriots would kick the Jets' butts up and down the field for three hours. We figured that, even though we're better than New York in every sport right now, yesterday would be a cathartic blowout to soothe any lingering anti-NY feelings around here. Well, not quite. The......

--Another storm is on the way starting tonight and running through Sunday evening. [WBZ] --One person died in a terrifying 8-alarm fire in downtown Gloucester last night. The fire also destroyed an apartment building and a synagogue. [Boston Globe, WCVB] --Regarding fires, b0st0n LiveJournal posted some fire safety tips. A lot of it is common sense (you really don't want to put the space heater by the curtains, ok?), but the reminders are useful. [b0st0n......

We've been big suckers for film photography lately, perhaps its the focus on tradition around the Holiday season. A fellow film-lover Across 110th Street captured this vintage looking shot of some of Boston's most recognizable buildings. We love the yellow tone but our favorite part is the lens flare situation from the sun. Speaking of vintage looking shots, check out this fabulous photo of Charles Street in the rain. Welcome to our new contributor......

Our neighbor, New Hampshire, is indulging in primary one-upmanship by moving its presidential primary up to January 8 to beat Michigan's January 15 date. For Boston, this means an endless parade of presidential candidates on television, a lot sooner than we're used to now that the states are trying to get a slice of the money the primaries will bring. The early primaries force the candidates to put the pedal to the medal and automatically......

8:00 PM - We're coming to you live! Not from Bostonist HQ, which is in the danger zone of potential postgame revelry, but from our outpost in Central MA (Worcesterist?) where we've been each week to watch the Pats game. The Pats, by the way, just beat Washington 845-7. Mike Vrabel caught eleven touchdown passes. FoxSports is showing Bill Buckner one last time, just in case there was one person left in town who didn't......

How can you not love John Williams? He has given us some of the most memorable, mesmerizing film scores in cinematic history. Superman, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark! Films that are forever captured in multiple generations' minds and memories - and Bostonians can proudly puff out our chests and note that, given his longstanding ties to the Boston Pops, he is totally ours. So we wouldn't be surprised to know that there was a......

--Miguel Perez, 22, was shot around 1:00 am while standing in the rain outside the bar Gigi's Palace. Brian Ballou at the Globe writes that the owner of the bar didn't let Perez in because he thought Perez was "trouble" and may have been involved with a shooting that happened inside the bar two weeks ago. The owner, Andy Barros, can't be blamed for not wanting trouble--his cousin died outside Gigi's Palace last year, and......

The sweet strains of Sir Mix-a-Lot immediately popped in our heads upon hearing the word that Kathleen the anaconda might be knocked up. The New England Aquarium performed an ultrasound, but the results were inconclusive, so a vet will keep watching her. You can watch the Aquarium's footage of Kathleen getting her ultrasound over at the Aquarium site. Kathleen and another female anaconda share space with a male anaconda who must be quite the babydaddy......

So Sheriff Beckett stared down the Cleveland gang last night. Once again, when the Red Sox needed Josh to be at his absolute best, he pretty much was. Sure, he gave up one more hit than he did in his Game One dazzler, but he only gave up one run - on a double play ball. Other than that, he struck out 11 Indians and gave 44,588 Clevelanders something to do with their towels beside......

What the Fluff? A Celebration of Union Square Invention Saturday, Sept. 29, 4:00 to 7:00 pm (rain date Sept. 30) Union Square, Somerville More info This year marks the second annual festival for Marshmallow Fluff, along with the 90th anniversary of the treat invented by the culinary genius Archibald Query in Somerville's Union Square. Query whipped up the treat in his own kitchen and ended up selling it to the Durkee-Mower company, which carefully guards......

Seattlest watches as a S.L.U.T. is born and Seattle Flickr users go nuts over a local art installation. A restaurant critic demands a Diner's Bill of Rights over a gnat next to her drink, and, in lieu of a Portlandist, Seattlest debates with itself over the identity of the Northwest's crown jewel. Seattlest also joins the guys from Fantagraphics for an ill-fated gun party in the woods. LAist saw national headlines soar this week with......

We saw the following over at the Boston Magazine Blog a few days ago and thought, now this news story is a winner! Then we got distracted by pipes bursting and raining asbestos all over downtown. In Hyannis, a woman dropped off videos at the local library, only she used the drop box. Apparently she was overzealous in making sure those videos were returned, and somehow the bracelets on her arm got snagged in the......

Hawaiian Nights will run from 7:30 to 11 pm tomorrow, Friday, September 14, with a rain date of September 15 at Union Square Plaza. For more information, visit the Somerville Arts Council ArtsUnion website. We're suckers for all things Tiki, and ArtsUnion's Hawaiian Nights promises to provide the next best thing to being on Waikiki with "Hawaiian Nights." ArtsUnion will provide the appropriate atmosphere, including dance and music. For those of you who mistake a......

Swedish indie act Peter Bjorn and John's song "Young Folks" sure is catchy, light, and charming. Since the song includes Victoria Bergsman, formerly of the equally catchy The Concretes, the tune is sure to stick in one's head. In fact, when a DJ played "Young Folks" at River Gods the other night, the eyes of everyone in the bar lit up. People swayed. People smiled. The song set a perfect tone for the end of......

Oh no, there's another Red Sox pitcher song - and it's only a matter of time before we see Jerry Remy rocking the air guitar to the new tune. Fresh on the heels of Daisuke Matsuzaka's "Gyroball," the Boston Red Sox pitching staff brings you "Okajima, Oki-Doki."Okajima translator Jeff Yamaguchi admitted recently that the song, well, kind of sucks when you first listen to it, but it will needle its place into your heart if......

--Yesterday's rain caused some trouble when the streets began to fill with water. The Herald estimates that the city received 2.16 inches of water in three hours. A part of Orient Avenue in East Boston began to collapse and took a car belonging to Matt Houle with it. Houle tried to drive the car out before it got swallowed up, but Mother Nature won. Eventually, it took a tow truck to rescue the car. If......

Despite the blooms of blue-green algae spotted in the Charles, the Charles River Swimmers were able to hold their one-mile swim Saturday morning. The top overall winner was Sebastian Neumayer, and the top female finisher was Emily Sutliff. The swimmers started at the River Dock, and swam for one mile between Harvard and Longfellow Bridges. The race had been cancelled last year thanks to an abundance of algae. The Globe notes that the organizers......

The Purple Rain sing-a-long will start at Coolidge Corner tonight, July 20, and tomorrow night, July 21, at midnight. Wait. That title sounds kinda dirty. But, then again, so is Prince - or The Artist, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, or whatever he calls himself. The lyrics to "Darling Nikki" could send Tipper Gore into fits, but he's even more scandalous to so-called important people because he gave his latest album away for free.......

Summer had officially come to Fenwarts, but the mood was anything but cheery. Professor Schillbedore was still missing and presumed in rehab. Harry Potter still dreaded his potions class, but now wasn't pleased with Defense Against the Dark Arts, either. The new teacher, Professor Matsuzaka, started the term with much promise, but lately had struggled in class, unable to cast even a simple Chicagous spell to stop a pair of animated white socks. And Voldemort......

Banner week for SFist as the site's new editor introduced himself -- hooray for Brock! While the NY Times weighed in on SF's mayoral race, only SFist had the (insert tongue firmly into cheek) hard-hitting latest on candidate/activist Josh Wolf. Coverage of a protest vs. gentrification spawned a fantastic debate amongst SFist's readers. Finally, from the sublime to the ridiculous: video of a man that confused a Board of Supes meeting with "open mic......