Business

El Oriental de Cuba and George’s Shoes Honored as City’s Inaugural Legacy Business Award Winners

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Two longtime Jamaica Plain businesses were honored as part of the city's inaugural list of Legacy Business awardees. El Oriental de Cuba and George's Shoes were among the 30 businesses across the city that Mayor Michelle Wu recognized on May 18. "El Oriental de Cuba has been a favorite family owned restaurant for the past 30 years, and it is an honor to be recognized by the City of Boston,” said Yvonne Torres, owner of El Oriental de Cuba. “Receiving the Business Legacy award not only acknowledges the restaurant itself, but the incredible community of Jamaica Plain that has kept this restaurant alive during and after the pandemic. My father Nobel Garcia and late owner, well known and loved by everyone, would have been extremely proud to see his restaurant be recognized as a legacy institution."

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Business

Mayor Walsh Celebrates Main Streets, Honors Bizs & Volunteers of the Year

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Mayor Marty Walsh wrapped up the 22nd Annual Boston Main Street Awards with the annual mayor's trolley tour to a dozen Main Street districts, including stopping off at two Jamaica Plain Main Street districts. Walsh visited the Egleston Square Main Streets district and the Jamaica Plain Centre/South Main Street (JPCSMS) district on July 11th. On South Street Walsh honored Kacy Hughes as the Volunteer of the Year and Fresh Hair Salon as the Business of the Year for JPCSMS.

In Egleston Square Walsh honored Northeastern University AIAS students as the Volunteers of the Year and Sandy Wireless as the Business of the Year. Christine Lau was named the Volunteer of the Year for Hyde/Jackson Square Main Streets, and El Oriental de Cuba Restaurant was named Business of the Year.  

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Business

The 10 Best Restaurants in JP, According to TripAdvisor

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What do you think is the "best" restaurant in Jamaica Plain according to TripAdvisor? Does your favorite restaurant make the Top 10? If you said Doyle's is ranked #1, then you are correct. According to TripAdvisor.com, Doyle's Cafe is the #1 restaurant in Jamaica Plain out of 79 restaurants in JP rated on the site. Out of 402 reviews, Doyle's received 188 "excellent" ratings.

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Police and Fire

El Oriental Firebombing, Forest Hills Dentistry Fires Pinned on Serial Arsonist

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The Fire Department is now pinning the infamous 2005 firebombing of El Oriental de Cuba on a man now behind bars for a string of other arsons. At the Nov. 5 Problem Properties meeting Lt. Thomas Ryan of the Fire department Major Case Unit linked the blaze to Jose Baez, 38, of Dorchester. Baez pleaded guilty in 2012 to four counts of arson, including one in Jamaica Plain. He's serving 15 years in federal prison.

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Logo for The Chefs' Table Series
Morning Memo

The Chef’s Table TV Series is Coming to the Loring-Greenough House

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Rise and shine, neighborhood. Hope you and any small pets didn't wash away last night. Here's your Morning Memo for Wednesday, May 28. The Chefs' Table TV Series Comes to JP: Here's a very cool event that's also raising money for good causes. The Chefs' Table, a TV show seen on 45 local access stations in Massachusetts, will come to JP four times in June.

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Capt. Alfredo Andres, commander of Jamaica Plain's District E-13
Police and Fire

Alfredo Andres: From Forbes Street to First Latino District Commander

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Alfredo Andres, the first Latino to make captain in the Boston Police Department, didn't grow up dreaming of being a cop. But he did grow up right here in Jamaica Plain. Andres and his family came from Cuba in 1971 and settled on Forbes Street in Hyde Square. His family is from Oriente province in Cuba. And yes, that's the same area of the island for which El Oriental de Cuba, Jamaica Plain's famous Cuban restaurant, gets its name.

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