Mmmmmm. Spring. Thanks to new contributor dreamsrey for the mental health break.......

It was the adorable title of this colorful photo that caught our eye - "Spring flowers are popping up all over!" Flickr is definitely a bit inundated with budding flower shots as of late, so this fun graphic take was a breath of fresh air. Thanks to KarenMarleneLarsen for her great work.......

For the past 28 years, people across the country and throughout the world have dubbed the first day of spring as the Great American Meatout, using the day to spread the word about veganism. Spring is a season of renewal and birth, making it a perfect time to learn more about a compassionate diet that celebrates life - both the life of the animals and the preservation of our own health. We encourage you......

Happy 1st Day of Spring from amythyst_lake. The bright blue and simple composition made this shot stand out and helps to keep us hopeful that the spring weather will be here soon.......

It’s been pretty quiet on the fashion front. The shows in Europe are almost over and the Spring/Summer collections are on display in store fronts up and down Newbury Street. So in between listening to Papelbon complain and trying to get tickets to see Shiny Toy Guns on St. Patrick’s Day, why not take a well deserved fashion break. Fashionistas on a budget should check out Jovovich Hawk at Target. Models Mila Jovovich and Carmen......

...only makes you stronger. That has to be the attitude the Bruins take today, after having their winning streak stopped, killed, set on fire, stomped, buried, and the earth salted. The good news is, they will never play a worse game than they did last night. It was 6-0 Capitals in the first period. Alex Ovechkin had a hat trick before half the fans had found their seats. Tim Thomas got pulled, put back in......

It seems that the Bruins' approach to the NHL trade deadline - to hold steady and remain as is - might just pay off. On Tuesday night, against an Ottawa Senators team that the Globe kindly referred to as "thoroughly disinterested" (read: someone's will to play didn't arrive at the TDBN Garden with the rest of the Senators' gear), the Bruins cruised along to a 4-0 win, extending the winning ways that began out on......

Can you put a price on Super Bowl immortality? MasterCard would likely say no (because let's face it, it's priceless), but some people in St. Louis offer a resounding "hell yes." The estimated price of a 2002 Rams Super Bowl win, according to a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, is $100 million. The lawsuit, which names the Patriots organization and Coach Bill Belichick, stems from former Rams player Willie Gary,......

It looks like it's going to be an easy season for Red Sox beat writers. It looks like all they'll have to do is set up a microphone within half a mile of Jonathan Papelbon, and he'll come a-runnin' with enough material to fill a dozen Notes columns. More, if they can be padded out with 40-year-old rock lyrics (hi, Dan!). So it's the time of the season for Spring Training, and Papelbon held court......

It's a day that happens only in Boston, as far as we know. Maybe they do it in Milwaukee and Kansas City, but we doubt it; only Red Sox fans are maniacal enough to go out on a cold morning to watch some boxes be loaded in a truck. That's right, it's Truck Day - the day when the Sox equipment heads south for Fort Myers and Spring Training. It's the day when dozens of......

--Do you drink Whittier, Schultz, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, and/or Maple milk? Do you live in Worcester County and like milk? Throw out what you have in the fridge. After two people died from listeriosis, that illness was traced to Whittier Farms. [Boston Globe] --A showdown is brewing at Tufts. Former professor Susan Lautze, who was fired in 2005, is suing Tufts and Feinstein International Center director Peter Walker, claiming he had her fired......

Come on, it wasn't as if anyone thought that the mighty Toronto Raptors would snap the Celtics' unbeaten home streak. Sure, they could have - insert your "any given team, any given night" coaching adages here - but it wasn't a match up that was highly anticipated. You didn't hear any of the Raptors guaranteeing victory. We're just sayin'. So it was with a pleasant little lack of surprise that the Celtics took an early......

Josh Beckett got to hoist the championship trophy, ride down Boylston on the duck boats, and will get a huge ring in the spring. He earned the Sports Illustrated commemorative issue cover, the champagne and beer showers, and the reputation for serving as the ace among aces in October. He had a rich season, so we're hoping that such a reminder helps as C.C. Sabathia is toasted as the American League's newest Cy Young winner.......

-- 18 protesters were arrested during yesterday's Veterans Day ceremony at City Hall Plaza. They were members of Veterans for Peace, an organization of former soldiers opposed to the Iraq War. The American Legion had placed the group in the rear of the Veterans Day parade and told them that they could not carry signs protesting the war. The Veterans for Peace responded by blocking the official ceremony podium with gags in their mouths and......

The details leaked to the media were changing by what felt like the minute today (or, as on-air talent at WEEI noted, "It's changing from one commercial break to the next!"), but now it's official: Curt Schillling is back for one more season with the Red Sox, a move that will likely end his baseball career here in Boston. "I’ve already heard from Josh and Wake, and am excited to know that my last year......

Paris is in jail, the Red Sox are on their way to California, Mitt is still running for president, but we're bringing it back to the clubs. Well, the clubs and urban outfitters. Some folks that seem like they've been around forever (dinosaur jr.) and those who legitimately have been around forever (Lee "scratch" Perry) come and visit the nontraditional and traditional venues, respectively, as part of this weeks music picks. Tuesday 6/5 The......

This year will be the first ever wine event at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. A Spring Serata (serata is Italian for "evening" but sounds way fancier in Italian than English) will take place on June 7th at the ISGM. They're setting up tasting stations all over the museum for the grassy, floral, and mineral wines – don't ask us what that means, ask them: A Spring Serata also puts a unique, creative twist on......

This week is officially Bike Week. Regular commuters, part time enthusiasts, friends, and allies of bikers will be donning their helmets (please put on your helmet) and taking to the streets to celebrate a great form of human powered transportation. While many events take place from Boston to NoHo we're focusing our attention on those happening close to home. Free biker appreciation breakfasts and group rides have been organized. Check out the full listing at......

Bostonist was a few minutes late arriving in Davis Square on Saturday evening. We briefly worried that we wouldn't be able to find Boston's undead elite lurching their way toward Harvard Square. Fortunately, zombies aren't the neatest of creatures and we were able to follow a twisted sort of crumb trail composed of corn syrup drops, fabric scraps, and distant cries of "BRAINS!" Zombie organizers told Bostonist prior to Saturday's march that last year's event......

Spring is here, which means its time to dust off your pleather, latex underwear, and everything in dark lace. Since early March, when Lauren DeVain started hosting Black Magic at Shine in Kendall Square, the night has moved to Axis ID Club (upstairs) to accommodate the growing number of followers and devotees in attendance. Ever since Manray closed its door in 2005, Boston's dark underground has been trying to find its niche again - the......

This week we'd like to congratulate the -ist network's Mother Hen, Gothamist's Jen Chung, who found herself a recipient of Wired Magazine's Wired Rave Award. If that doesn't sound terribly exciting, keep in mind another recipient was J.K. Rowling. Yep, that's right, the -ist network and Harry Potter now have something in common. Go us. Austinist has a chat with the ever-fashionable Golden Girl Rue McClanahan, and managed to catch some local fashionistas making......

How's this for political gossip? Governor's Councilor Marilyn Devaney is in trouble for allegedly throwing a curling iron at a Waltham beauty-store clerk. The police report said Devaney shouted at the clerk, "Don't you know who I am?" Well, we didn't know who she was, and neither did the clerk. Devaney is an elected official who "approves Treasury payments, pardons, and judicial appointments by the governor….She is also a Watertown town councilor." Apparently that makes......

Spring is when we get busy here in the Ist-A-Verse. Very busy. But, after staying bundled-up indoors all winter, it's nice for us to be out, about, and collecting things to write about for you. Here's a glimpse at what's been keeping your favorite citybloggers busily away from home and out of bed. For LAist, strong winds attacked LA on the same day the Feds raided the Crips. Not to fear, though: the Japanese version......

If you look past the fact that the Sox are back at home for their first few games at Fenway this season you'll be able to hear a greater beat on the street. As is often the case there is more good live music going on in town this week than any one person could possibly listen to. Time to clone yourself so you can scoop up a standing room ticket to watch Dice-K......

We don't know about where you are, but it seems like spring can't decide whether or not to happen. Some days are warm, some days are cold, and sometimes you aren't sure which. Baseball may have started up (and soccer/football winding down) but it still seems cold out there. Unless it's not. Anyways, onto the -ists. Austinist happily anticipated fall's Austin City Limits, even though they're not fully recovered from South By Southwest. In......

B.G Lewandowski's photo titled "Groundhog Man at Night" reminds of us Spring --albeit in a quirky way. DCist Exposed went well last week. The DCist photo editors, impressed with the quality of photos they were getting in their photo of the day pool, organized a competition and selected photos for a show in a local gallery. The show was a resounding success with coverage in the Washignton Post and other local papers. Almost 600......

We caught wind of Manny's grill auction yesterday afternoon. Bidding was up around $4,300 when we first checked. My midnight it was already past the million dollar mark, even higher overnight, an early morning check revealed that $99,999,999 was the current high bid. The early afternoon came a few emails letting us know that the auction would be no longer. eBay had closed the auction down. The Globe splashed the mention on the front page,......

--Looks like someone's parents aren't gonna be happy when they get home. Teenagers in Falmouth got busted last night for a party that was impressive in size and scope. WCVB reports, "Police said they found a keg of beer, empty liquor bottles and a marijuana bong at the house." (Is there any other kind of bong?) The law managed to take in 22 teenagers. --Other teenagers had a surprise of the more gruesome variety. Two......

After the total lunar eclipse spiced up the night sky this past weekend we've got enough of the visuals. This week we're committed not to go see live music but to go hear live music. This week we're welcoming a few new contributors to the list, have a listen, will ya? Monday 3/5 Badly Drawn Boy It's okay to admit to liking British singer-songwriter Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy. He may write lyrics......

Spring appears to have, er, sprung, at least temporarily, in most of the Ist-A-Verse, so naturally, we're all feeling pretty good. (Yes, we know that spring doesn't officially start till later this month. Just let us enjoy our weather!) And that makes us that much more eager to share all of the nifty things we're up to... Over at Sampaist, spring has more than sprung: it's sweltering! But, as everyone knows, museums are an ideal......