I took all of these on the same stretch of Boylston street.  I never go anywhere:

 

They invaded a few nights ago:

Where’s Your Head At, huh??:

I exited the Park Street train this morning and something was very much amiss.  The crazy lady, the one who wears the coat made out of cardboard and yells about liberty from tyranny every morning, was nowhere to be seen.  In her place stood a sign that said “sweated your sequins off yet?”

Something was going on in fair Downtown Crossing.  And I was on a mission to find out.  I got my coffee, took care of general business and then I saw this:

Funny costumes?  Athletic contest??  Could it be??  Yes.  Boston was again in full effect.  Today was the Running of Bridesmaids, where women don ugly bridesmaids outfits and run.  The ultimate in Bostonian tomfoolery.  I love it!!

Oh it wasn’t exactly all women:

It takes a real man to wear a dress.  And of course, these boys did drag Boston style.  With minimal effort to hide the fact that they were in fact male.

But let’s get to the pre-show fashion show:

And the race itself.  It too had its hilarious moments:

 

And at the end of the womanly contest:

I finished by usual Friday outing today and went into, surprise, big rain.  I live in Boston.  That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to me anyway.

I suddenly noticed a sea of umbrellas walking down Boylston street and I stood there for a while, waiting for it to thicken.  People walking with umbrellas to me in so elegant.  Perhaps I spent too much time looking at Caillebotte or walking the Bill Cunningham movie.  Bill said that people in the rain are who they are.  They put on no airs.

And they really don’t care if you take their photo.  The photos will be evidence of this.  I stood on that corner and shot away.  I nearly stuck the camera in people’s faces.  Nobody really cared.

And I got some fine shots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I got on a bus in Downtown Crossing going to Bunker Hill.  I guess I could have gotten off around Bunker Hill and hoofed it over to college, but I went over to Sullivan Square.  Suddenly, I remembered having been in Sullivan Square two years ago and wanting to photograph the old Schrafft’s factory over there.  Schrafft’s is an old style candy maker and ice cream place.  I always imagined it in some glamorous place.  Certainly not old run down Sullivan Square.  But there you have it:

 

I was going to get on the train back on stop, but then I decided to keep walking.  Not before I took these shots though:

 

 

Then I started walking.  I wasn’t really sure where I was going, but I had to walk back to Bunker Hill.  I mean it couldn’t be that far or complicated to get to.  It was one of those blue sky perfect days.  I was right that the walk wasn’t complicated, but I got some amazing shots along the way:

 

I’m trying something new here, by actually lowering the contrast.  A few others:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and I am about the only person who gets excited about a billowing green fence covering:

 

 

 

Loading docks.  I happen to think they are beautiful:

 

Puddles are also wonderful:

 

The single tree shot:

During this weekend’s crazy activities, I witnessed the following hilarious scene:

If you don’t like orange, turn away.  Because there is about to be a lot:

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Sunday.  We’re in Allston, so we have to have a parade.  For what reason, I don’t know, but there you have it.  Everyone In Rows: