On the Waterfront

[Northern Avenue Bridge, Boston; 6/9/12]

The old Northern Avenue Bridge, built in 1908, spans the Fort Point Channel and connects downtown Boston with the South Boston seaport. It was closed to vehicles in the late 1990's because it's unsafe for the weight, but it continues to serve as a pedestrian bridge to/from the developing seaport district. The beautiful old iron truss structure is a swing bridge, meaning it can be pivoted to allow for higher-masted boats to pass through the channel, and a quick search turned up evidence that the swing mechanism is still operable, although few boats use the short channel.

[Northern Ave Bridge, towards downtown Boston]

On Saturday, we took the T out to the area known variously as the Boston Seaport District and the South Boston Waterfront. The mayor has long been pushing development in this area that's been a mix of wasteland and fishing/industrial docks, and it's beginning to fill in. The old Seaport World Trade Center and the more recent Boston Convention Center have been renovated, hotels have sprung up, and some hot new restaurants have opened. The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA Boston) opened a number of years ago on a lonely windswept spot and now finds itself (finally) surrounded by some life. Restaurants and some shops have opened and condos are rising up. Cruise ships dock at the piers. Parks have been developed and the HarborWalk project now extends past the ICA and out to the World Trade Center and beyond.

[Towards the Fish Pier from the Seaport World Trade Center]

Ostensibly, our plan was to go see a photography exhibit, but we had our locations mixed up and the exhibit was elsewhere. No matter, it was an excuse to explore the area, especially on a lovely summer day. There were lots of people out and about, though I wonder how many will be there in the winter when it gets pretty nasty and cold out on the waterfront.

We spent much of the time taking our own photographs (see my set on Flickr) and found a nice Irish pub overlooking the harbor to have some good local microbrews, fish and chips and chicken curry.

[Whiskey Priest bar reflection]

Meanwhile, I've had a welcome slowdown in work, with my projects on hold during client review, and the prospect of a slower summer. My main client had to cut back project hours due to some company issues, which at first I worried about then realized I'll still have plenty to keep me going this summer with time to spare for enjoying some summer vacation. I turned down a potentially lucrative project because I couldn't fit it in without killing myself. (Yes, I coulda been a contender... instead of a bum.) Hopefully they'll have work for me in the fall. I was able to meet with a former colleague (also laid off) for a long, relaxing coffee on Friday, and yesterday D was in the neighborhood so we had a nice lunch. I resume work for one of my clients tomorrow. It's all good.

Comments

[Dave]

There's a chance I'll be at the Convention Center this winter for the AWP conference, so it's good to know what kind of neighborhood it's in.

Glad that things have slowed down a bit for you. Sounds very positive indeed.

[Jean]

It all sounds very good, Leslee - your efforts over many exhausting months bearing fruit. Wishing you some satisfying work assignments along with some periods of slower and recuperative rhythm over the coming summer.

I love the first photo - the soft, silky skirt and pretty parasol against the steel girders and the strong light and shadows.

[Leslee]

Dave: I was just telling D this weekend that you might be coming here and I expect that a swarm may follow. Eek, winter's not the best time to be out there and it's not the most poetic part of Boston by far! But hope you do come - keep me posted.

Jean: Thanks. I do miss the rhythms of freelancing, while the job seemed to be endless churning. I hope you find your post-job rhythm, too. Glad you liked the photo.

[Lorianne]

Dave, the 2013 AWP conference is at the Hynes Convention Center, which is in downtown Boston: a completely different (and more centrally located) neighborhood than the Boston Convention Center.

[Leslee]

Lorianne: Thanks for correcting that - the Hynes is in a so much better part of the city!

[Relatively Retiring]

I do enjoy your lovely photographs of shadows and reflections.