Results tagged “july4”

Independence Day celebrates our independence from Britain. As we're constantly reminded, many people fought—many of them in the vicinity of Boston—to give us this independence and the associated freedom. Just as this freedom came with (the bill of) rights, so too did it come with responsibilities. While you celebrate the anniversary of our independence this weekend, keep in mind that we should respect the rights of others even as we rejoice in having our own. Four accidents have occurred and eight people have died already today, perhaps due to excessive and irresponsible celebration of this important anniversary. We encourage you to make this Independence Day joyful, not tragic: keep your wits about you as much as you can, don't drink too much, don't drink at all if you're driving, buckle up, and try not to be—or cause—another tragedy today.

Got your foam hats, flag shirts, and star-shaped glasses ready for the festivities tomorrow? No? Neither do we. Bostonist will be staying far, far away from the Esplanade tomorrow. We’ll watch the fireworks, for sure - but we’ll pass on the crowds gathering to watch the Pops. Sorry, Neil Diamond.

After a year of work to fix a "support beam in need of immediate repair," the Department of Conservation and Recreation reopens the upstream sidewalk on the Longfellow Bridge today, fully reopening the bridge to pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the first time in forever. The best news? The Longfellow will be open for the Charles River fireworks show this July 4th. The Commonwealth has spent more than $12.5 million since August, 2007 to fix the bridge. [DCR Press release]

We wondered for a bit whether the Brooklyn born Neil Diamond had a problem with the fact that "Sweet Caroline" now has a permanent place in the Boston scene. But when Diamond performed at Fenway Park last year, playing the song three times over the course of the evening, we figured that he'd finally accepted his honorary Bostonian status.

We've been discussing Independence Day alternatives mostly just for fun, but there are more serious reasons to consider alternative celebrations on this day. Though conditions have improved, our country has long been dominated by white men and their values. To celebrate an independence day that occurred years before slaves were freed and women could vote is to celebrate an independence that was not inclusive.

                     

Our POTD person has the day off for her birthday (Happy birthday Korri!), so we're bringing you a gallery of Boston fireworks from years past in honor of the Fourth. Some of the images are actually from New Year's Eve fireworks, but they were so cool we couldn't exclude them! We hope to see many more fireworks pictures tagged Bostonist after this weekend.