In anticipation of its milestone 40th anniversary next year, the Friends of the Public Garden gave members a preview of its plans for a completely rehabilitated Brewer Fountain Plaza on the Boston Common during a gala event at the Hampshire House last week.
The centerpiece of the plaza – a bronze fountain that was imported from France in 1867 by wealthy Boston merchant Gardener Brewer – was reassembled at the gateway to the northeastern corner of the Common last week after undergoing a four-month, $558,000 restoration, made possible in part by a federal grant from the Save America’s Treasures program.
The refurbished fountain is the first step towards the revitalization of the area as proposed by the Brewer Fountain Master Plan, a collaborative effort between the Friends, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and the Solomon Fund - a family foundation dedicated to preserving the city’s parks. The Master Plan also calls for reconfiguring and reconstructing the area around the fountain to create more green space and room for new trees, among other improvements.
Herb Nolan, associate director of the Solomon Fund and a longtime supporter of the Friends group, said the total cost of the project was $3.3 million.
“The design and fountain are already paid for, and we’re 40 percent of the way to completing our fundraising effort [for the remainder of the work],” Nolan added. “It’s a great project to bracket 40 years and look forward to the next 40 years.”
In 2009, the Friends also oversaw the rehabilitation of the statue of Domingo F. Sarmiento on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and did restoration work on the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, located across from the State House on the Common.
To date this year, the Friends have allocated $150,000 of its $250,000 in expenditures for the maintenance of trees on the Common, Commonwealth Mall and the Public Garden. “The trees don’t understand the economy, they need to be cared for every year,” said Henry Lee, president of the Friends group.
The Friends are also continuing work on a digital inventory of the trees in the three parks, which would allow the user to display information about individual trees and provide a new management tool for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, as well.
Meanwhile, Liz Vizza, who joined the organization as executive director in April, said, “The Friends has been the model of stewardship for 40 years and shows that advocacy and partnership are sides of the same coin.”
Established in 1970, the Friends of the Public Garden is a non-profit citizen’s advocacy group that works in association with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to preserve and enhance the Boston Common, the Public Garden and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino joined the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Wednesday to officially welcome Hotel Chocolat to Boston’s Newbury Street as the British company celebrated the launch of its first U.S. location. The company, opening in the same storefront in which the mayor kicked off a retail opportunities tour in July, will further enhance Boston’s economy and provide renewed vitality to Newbury Street. Hotel Chocolat is a multi-million dollar U.K. cocoa grower and chic luxury chocolatier known for its delicious chocolates, high cocoa content, ethical standards, and celebrity following.
“Hotel Chocolat’s decision to launch their first U.S. store in Boston speaks to the city’s international appeal – that we are a global capital of business, innovation and culture,” Mayor Menino said. “It also reflects Boston’s commitment to attracting new businesses to our city to create more economic opportunity.”
In July, Mayor Menino touted Boston as the place for retailers to locate and grow their business as he and the BRA hosted the second annual “Experience Boston,” a retail opportunities tour that showcased Boston’s vibrant retail districts and the available retail space. Approximately 70 retailers, brokers and developers joined the mayor on the tour, which was held as a prelude to the International Conference of Shopping Center’s New England Idea Exchange at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Hotel Chocolat’s U.S. CEO Nicki Doggart was on hand for the tour and met with Mayor Menino at this time.
During the tour, the city pledged two “Wall” outdoor advertising displays free for one month to any business that signed a lease within six months. At last week’s event, Mayor Menino announced that Hotel Chocolat was this winner of the promotion.
“I am pleased to announce that Hotel Chocolat has won this promotion,” Mayor Menino said. “I want to thank Wall Decaux, Inc. for partnering with us and donating the advertising displays. We want to do more than just bring retailers to our city – we want them to succeed. And it is our hope that this free advertising will help Hotel Chocolat as they grow their customer base in Boston and the U.S.”
Hotel Chocolat first started as a mail order catalog offering innovative products with beautiful packaging. It later evolved to an award-winning ecommerce Web site. In 2004, the company launched its first retail store in Watford, England. Today, Hotel Chocolat has 32 stores across the UK and is fast planning its global expansion. Hotel Chocolat has emerged as one of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, according to The Sunday Times 2008 Virgin Atlantic Fast Track. It has won numerous awards including 2007 Retail Week’s Emerging Retailer of the Year, 2007 Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and was confirmed as a 2007 Cool Brand alongside marquee brands, Aston Martin and Apple. For more information, visit www.hotelchocolat.com.

In sharp contrast to the stiff formality of many restaurants and bars in Copley Square, City Table provides the perfect environment for an easygoing dining experience or a low-key night on the town.
“We wanted it to be a casual neighborhood restaurant and bar,” said Rob George, general manager of the three establishments that the Briar Group operates at the Lenox Hotel on Boylston Street – Sólás Irish Pub, City Table and City Bar, which occupies the space that was formerly home to Azure.
The menu includes entrees, such as the Line Caught Chatham Cod and the Blue Cheese Crusted Filet, a wide selection of bistro-style sandwiches and salads and more than 15 appetizer options. “It’s a new twist on classic American fare and food you can eat every day,” George said, adding that the price points are affordable and the portions are large enough to encourage sharing.
Dennis Wilson, the chef of Azure for the last two years, has stayed on at City Bar. “His caliber of cooking is enough to build the new place’s reputation on,” George said. Also on board as manager is Brendan Griffin, who previously served in that role at Sólás.
As for libations, George said City Table will serve the same signature martinis and “world-famous” cocktails found at its sister establishment, City Bar, and offers an extensive wine list that is affordable and features varieties from around the world.
City Bar has also done away with the rigid trappings of Azure to make for a warm, inviting space. A wall adjacent to the Exeter Street entrance has been removed, opening up a space that was once a private dining area, and white curtains and an ornate glass bar have given way to warm brown woods, slate flooring and leather furniture.
“What we really want to drive home is we’re your new neighborhood hangout,” George said.
Meanwhile, early indications suggest that the new formula is a success: On Saturday, Oct. 17 – just four days after City Table quietly opened – 200 patrons passed through its doors.

Boston City Councilor John M. Tobin Jr. called on the city to increase the penalty for defacing historic landmarks in Boston last week.
Tobin, who is chair of the council’s Committee on Arts, Film, Travel and Tourism, filed an order for a hearing at the Council’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
“Graffiti makes our neighborhoods look neglected,” said Tobin, who represents West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. “Boston is home to some of the country’s most beautiful and significant landmarks. I believe toughening the penalties on those who vandalize historic buildings and monuments will further discourage graffiti.”
Tobin said that graffiti can be difficult to remove especially from brick, brownstone, limestone and marble, building materials that were commonly used to construct many of the city’s landmarks and historic buildings. Cleaning graffiti from these properties can require more testing to find the right technique, he said, adding that the process can make the clean-up more expensive. According to the National Park Service, graffiti that is removed too quickly or with abrasive or harsh chemicals can cause permanent damage.
Boston has “more than 7,000 properties located within seven local Historic Districts or designated as individual Boston Landmarks,” according to the city’s Web site.
“More than 12 million people visit Boston each year,” said Councillor Tobin. “They come here to learn more about the city’s role in our nation’s past. I believe we must do everything we can to protect our history so that it will be here for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”
The order was referred to the Committee on Economic Development & Planning. A public hearing will be scheduled.