Restaurants

Let’s Eat Cake! Blue Frog Bakery Celebrating 15th Anniversary on Saturday

By |

The Blue Frog Bakery will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with a party this Saturday, and will be offering special pastries and desserts, chocolates, coffee, and cocktails. Owner Brad Brown will kick off the party at 9 am with a special cake-cutting ceremony, and the party will ensue until 1 pm at Blue Frog Bakery (3 Green St.). "Our baking methods have not changed in the last 15 years. Croissants are cut and rolled by hand almost every day," said Brown. "When I started, we weren't making our own bread, but I've learned that it's better when we make everything in house from scratch including fillings and doughs.

4,587 Views
History

The History of 197 Green Street

By |

At first glance, the house at 197 Green Street is unique for its small size and the colorful graffiti that has covered its exterior since 2016 -- the result of collaboration between the owner and real estate developer City Realty Group and artists. City Realty Group is currently awaiting approval from the city to demolish the now-vacant house and build a four-story, mixed-use development. But if we look behind its 1950’s siding, and comb the historical record, we discover that the house is not, as it might first appear, an outdated structure. Rather, the house represents a significant period of time in the development of Jamaica Plain, and of Green Street in particular. 197 Green Street is likely the last remaining building on the east end of Green Street that was built at the start of the neighborhood’s transition from a rural landscape of farms and country estates to both a suburb for commuters and a home for middle-class residents who also worked locally.

7,648 Views
Development

City Realty Proposes Building 4-Story, 23-Unit Building on Green Street

By |

Developer City Realty is proposing combining two lots into one at 197-201 Green St., razing a vacant professionally-graffitied house and constructing a 4-story mixed-use building. City Realty's proposal is two combine two lots into one and construct the building, which would be rental residential units, include one retail space and six off-street parking spaces. The current proposed unit breakdown is for: 4 studios, 4 live/artist work units, 12 1-bed units, and 3 2-bed units. A City Realty rep said the current plan is to make the live/artist work units into affordable Inclusionary Development Policy units, but that will be determined by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). One lot at 197 Green Street has the "Little House on Green Street," which was professionally graffitied by local artists.

4,969 Views
Business

New Restaurant: Evergreen Eatery + Cafe Open for Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch

By |

The Evergreen Eatery + Cafe recently opened by the Green Street T station, adding another good option in Jamaica Plain for breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee and more. "My wife and I, also my brother’s family live on Sigourney Street three minutes away from the Eatery. I always felt the need for an establishment for our neighborhood to assemble and enjoy coffee, pastries and comfort foods," said owner Phil Paik to Jamaica Plain News. Paik is also not new to the Jamaica Plain restaurant scene as he is the longtime owner of the popular JP Seafood Cafe on Centre Street. There are two sections to the restaurant.

5,248 Views
History

JP Historical Society Launches Walking Neighborhood Tour Series

By |

Twenty-three years ago the then president of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society, Rhea Becker, had an idea. Why not conduct a series of walking tours during the summer months as a way to highlight the rich history of JP for people? The JPHS has been conducting historic walking tours of Jamaica Plain tours ever since. From the four tours that debuted on the schedule in 1995, the offerings have now expanded to include seven different tours. Each tour lasts between 60 and 90 minutes.

3,432 Views
Development

Plan JP/Rox: Green Street Needs Commercial-Business Mix on Ground Floors

By |

The once-in-a-generation planning effort that goes by the name "Plan JP/Rox" has started to produce specifics about what our neighborhood will look like. Here's the vision for Green Street. Green Street: This area between Amory and Washington Street is identified as neighborhood commercial center of mixed use buildings and "21st century commercial business" spaces are proposed for the rear of the BMS paper company at 3390 Washington Street  and at Amory Street next to Bartlett Square I where the Interstate Trucking yards are located. "The most important part of this," said John Dalzell, a senior architect for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, "is a need for mixed commercial business on the ground floor. Some business are new and don't have that obnoxious quality about them."

1,405 Views
Real Estate

Some Oppose Restaurant for ‘Barlett Square 2’ Development

By |

After a false start in March, Maple Hurst Builders came back to the community again on Wednesday evening with a fresh proposal for the vacant lot opposite Green Street from their 2012 development, Bartlett Square 1. Called Bartlett Square 2, it would be a four-story building with 15 apartments over ground floor office and commercial spaces, including a restaurant to be called "Havana Pete's." JP developer Chris DeSisto presented his plans at an Article 80 Small Project Review, a requirement for the five zoning variances he requires before construction can begin. DeSisto said that Bartlett Square 2 would be all rental so that Maple Hurst "could have a revenue stream for other projects." Maple Hurst, through its subsidiary 2 Bartlett Square LLC, would own and manage the new building and the businesses.

2,506 Views
Photo of the Day

Random Stilt Walker

By |

Carlos G., recreational stilt walker, Green Street, May 20, 2015. Credit: Chris Helms

You might see former JP resident Carlos G. traversing the old neighborhood on his recreational stilts. He tells Jamaica Plain News he had to move to Dedham but gets back to JP whenever he can. Here's bonus video of Carlos in action along Green Street:

Each weekday we post a “Photo of the Day” from around the neighborhood. If you have a photo that screams (or even whispers) "Jamaica Plain," here are four ways to nominate it:

Email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews

Tag a picture on Twitter with @02130News

Put your photo in the Jamaica Plain News photo pool on Flickr

Tag a picture on Instagram with #02130News

1,803 Views
Photo of the Day

Green Street Monk

By |

Green Street scene, June 3, 2015. Credit: Chris Helms

Oh, the things you see in JP. Here's a monk walking down Green Street. Each weekday we post a “Photo of the Day” from around the neighborhood. If you have a photo that screams (or even whispers) "Jamaica Plain," here are four ways to nominate it:

Email me at chris@jamaicaplainnews

Tag a picture on Twitter with @02130News

Put your photo in the Jamaica Plain News photo pool on Flickr

Tag a picture on Instagram with #02130News

1,270 Views
Rendering of "Bartlett Square 2" as proposed in a June 2015 filing with the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Real Estate

Four-Story ‘Bartlett Square 2’ Proposed for Lot Beside Green Street T

By |

A Jamaica Plain builder who in March failed to get support from a bellwether neighborhood committee for the liquor license he'll need for a casual seafood restaurant next to Green Street T has filed plans for the entire development. Chris DeSisto of Maple Hurst Builders aims to anchor a new multi-use building at the corner of Green and Amory with a restaurant. "Bartlett Square 2" would mirror many aspects of his existing Bartlett Square building across the street. Differences include that instead of condos, the new building would have 15 apartments, office space and retail. The JP Neighborhood Council's Public Service Committee deadlocked in March on whether to back the booze license.

3,879 Views