SONG OF THE DAY: "Baby Get Worse" by Divine Fits Good morning, Back Bay! Here are five things you need to know today, Wednesday, May 22: 1. COMM AVE MALL FORUM: The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay is presenting a neighborhood forum on the history of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and its unique role as the green axis of the Back Bay. This event is free and open to the public. It's being held at French Cultural Center, 53 Marlborough St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. 2. SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT THURSDAY: Massachusetts State Police will be operating a sobriety checkpoint this week at an undisclosed …

SONG OF THE DAY: "You Are A Tourist" by Death Cab For Cutie Good morning, Beacon Hill! Here are five things you need to know today, Tuesday, May 21: 1. COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR TODAY: As part of his 15th annual Boston Parks and Recreation Department Neighborhood Coffee Hour Series, Mayor Thomas Menino will appear at Clarendon Street Play Lot, 260 Clarendon St. in Back Bay today from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 2. BIKE CRASHES SPIKE: Bike-related crashes spiked a small amount given the higher ridership in the Boston area over the course of the last two years. Mayor Thomas Menino’s office released the City…

SONG OF THE DAY: "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk Good morning, Back Bay! Here are five things you need to know today, Thursday, May 16: 1. ONE MONTH LATER: Read our recap of the last month in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings April 15. 2. WHO WILL REPLACE WALZ?: One local political observer believes it could come down to who has done the most retail politics in the race between Joshua Dawson and Jay Livingstone to fill Marty Walz's former House seat. 3. GET THE PATCH NEWSLETTER: Have you signed up for the Back Bay Patch Daily Newsletter yet? Each morning you can get Back Bay Patch news …

1. Public Garden gala: Tickets are available for the Friends of the Public Garden's 2013 Green and White Ball on Friday, May 17, at 6:30 pm at the Taj Boston. The gala will feature a cocktail reception and dinner followed by dancing to the Sultans of Swing. Tables and individual seats can be purchased here. For more information contact Mary Halpin at (857) 239-8937. 2. Restaurant Week: The North End Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual North End Restaurant Week continues April 7-12. Get dinner for $38.13 per person at participating North End restaurants.   3. Running the marathon? Share your …

1. Train to the Cape: Did you catch our post about the new train going from Boston to the Cape this summer? I'd pay $35 not to sit in the bumper-to-bumper traffic heading south on Friday afternoons.  2. Fix a Feral Cat Clinic:  The Animal Rescue League of Boston is kicking off its 2013 “Fix a Feral Clinics” on Sunday, April 7 at its shelter at 10 Chandler St. This is the first of four clinics in 2013, and the League has the capacity to accept 75 cats for spay/neuter surgery per clinic. See here for more information. 3. Free concert: The Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Eric Hewitt, …

1. Park serve: Registration is now open for the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Park Serve Day, on April 20. Last year, the DCR hosted over 4,797 volunteers in 53 park sites across the commonwealth for Park Serve Day. Those volunteers planted 1,742 flowers, 187+ trees and 167 shrubs, and had collected more than over 19.5 tons of trash. To register, click here.  2. Scholarship deadline: Today is the deadline to apply for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board’s scholarship program. GBREB will award more than $100,000 in scholarships to about 60 students from 54 cities and towns …

1. BPL talk: Author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will appear onstage with writer Rebecca Miller during a Wednesday 6 p.m. author talk at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Miller is the author of the century-spanning novel Jacob’s Folly. Goodwin is known for her grand examinations of U.S. presidents. One of Goodwin's books, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, was adapted into the Academy Award-nominated film Lincoln, which stars Miller's husband, actor Daniel Day-Lewis. 2. Phoenix closing: In the bummer department, longstanding Boston weekly newspaper The …

1. Brewer Fountain project: This fall the Friends of the Public Garden will will begin the final phase of the Brewer Fountain Plaza renovation. The $1.2 million project will include "restoring the historic fence along Tremont Street and distinguishing the Common as parkland once again," according to the Friends' website. 2. Icelandic authors: Discover Icelandic history through the literary art exhibit, “Fabulous Iceland: From Sagas to Novels – Portraits of Contemporary Icelandic Artists,” individual short stories and coupled with portraits taken by Kristinn Ingvarsson, in the lobby of the …

1. Boston Calling: Early bird tickets for May's Boston Calling Music Festival, featuring bands Fun and The Shins, at City Hall have already sold out. But don't worry, regular tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. Get them at www.bostoncalling.com or www.ticketmaster.com. 2. Volunteer on the Esplanade: The Esplanade Association will be starting its 2013 season of Drop-in Saturdays tomorrow. Every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m – holidays excepted – volunteers can just show up, no registration needed, and get their hands dirty! For more information, click here. 3. Irish cupcakes: Sweet will …

1. Photo exhibit opening: The Boston Center for Adult Education is hosting a free reception Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the launch of "The Road Show," a new exhibit featuring the work of Cambridge-based photographer Mikki Ansin. Best-known for her behind-the-scenes stills of Hollywood films, Ansin has travelled the world as a photojournalist for over 40 years. "The Road Show" exhibits her travels to China, Russia, Turkey, Morocco, Italy and France. The exihbit will be on display through March.  2. New Athenaeum director: Robert L. West has been appointed Director of Development at…

1. Longfellow discussion: Back Bay's State House representative, Marty Walz, will be at the West End Museum Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss her part in the renovations of Longfellow Bridge. Her talk,"Bringing a 20th Century Bridge into the 21st Century," is free and open to the public. Register here.  2. And speaking of: Marty Walz, this weekend Democrat Nils Tracy of Beacon Hill announced that he will be running for her 8th Suffolk District seat after she leaves to take over Planned Parenthood in Massachusetts this month. Read more about Nils here.  3. Boston During Climate Change…

1. Christian Science sites get developer: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, announced that it has selected Carpenter & Company, Inc. as the master developer for two development sites adjacent to the 14.8-acre Christian Science Plaza in Boston’s Back Bay.  The parcels are part of the master plan designed to revitalize the plaza and enliven its open space. Read more about the announcment here.  2. Spanning the Charles: The West End Museum is hosting a free lecture tonight at 6 p.m., "X-ray Vision: Peering into the History of River Crossings Visible Today." Bill Kuttner, Senior Analyst at …

1. BU plan approved: On Friday The BRA unanimously approved Boston University’s 2013-2023 master plan, the culmination of about 14 months of public review including 11 meetings held by the BU Community Task Force. The 10-year plan calls for six new institutional projects totaling about $750 million.  2. Burrito Bowl III: On Feb. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Poe's Kitchen at the Rattlesnake will host Burrito Bowl III, a culinary competition that brings together some of Boston’s best chefs to determine whose burrito creation reigns supreme. In honor of the following day’s Super Bowl XLVII, each …

1. Happy New Year's Eve! Here is everything you need to know about First Night in Boston, including schedules of performances, what not to miss and more.  2. It bears repeating: The city will collect Christmas trees for composting from January 7-18. Remove all ornaments, decorations, and stands from trees and place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on your recycling day. Do not put trees in plastic bags, and don't forget to recycle your holiday cards, catalogs and wrapping paper as well. 3. Did you miss any news on Back Bay Patch last week? Get caught up with our Week in Review.  4. Or, for a …

1. Christmas tree collection: Public Works will collect Christmas trees for composting from Jan. 7-18. Remove all ornaments, decorations, and stands from trees and place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on your recycling day. Do not put trees in plastic bags, and don't forget to recycle your holiday cards, catalogs and wrapping paper as well. 2. New historical society exhibition: To commemorate 150th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Massachusetts Historical Society will open two exhibitions on Jan. 1 featuring several rarely seen Lincoln artifacts on display, …

1. Bell concert in the Common: The Back Bay Ringers' will perform a free, one-hour hand bell concert today in the Boston Common from 5 to 6 p.m. The concert is one of four they are performing this holiday season, and is sponsored by The Friends of the Public Garden. See more dates here.  2. Make-A-Wish Event at the Pru: Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island are hosting an all-day celebration the Prudential Center today to raise awareness and funds to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions in 2013. The event, from 11 to 7 p.m. in the food court, features art …

1. Student concert at Copley Place: Boston Public Schools Arts Expansion Initiative in concert with Copley Place present a student performance series starting today from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again on Dec. 18  and 20. Students in grades 3 –12 from participating Boston Public Schools will present music and dance performances during the month of December at Copley Place to help promote the i Create campaign. Today's performance is from the Roland Hayes School of Music Wind Ensemble. 2. Lights on the Pru: Notice the blue and yellow lights on top of the Prudential tower Wednesday night? …

1. Newbury stroll this weekend: Don't miss the annual Newbury Street Holiday Stroll, happening this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The stroll features great deals and in-store events at all the unique shops along the street. 2. Beacon Hill stroll tonight: Charles Street will be closed to traffic tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. as shops open their door to strollers, offering warm drinks, treats and sometimes sales, and horse-drawn carriages take revelers up and down the street. Kids can visit Santa at the Hill House, 127 Mt. Vernon St., from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. And don't miss the neighborhood holiday …

1. Toy donations at Towne: Toys for Tots will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in the greater Boston area today, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 at Towne Stove and Spirits, 900 Boylston St., from 6 to 8 p.m. as the restaurant serves cocktails and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. 2. Car share: Mint Cars On-Demand car-sharing vehicles in more than 20 neighborhood locations, they will now be replaced by Enterprise CarShare vehicles. Enterprise is increasing and upgrading its local fleet and adding several new locations including the Prudential Center.  3. Upcoming craft fair: The annual …

1. Runners needed: Mass. Eye and Ear is looking for runners to join its 2013 Boston Marathon team. Team members will have access to an exclusive marathon training program, a heated indoor meeting facility with restrooms near the start line on race day, team events, and more. Since 2006, Team Eye and Ear has raised more than $1.8 million for research and patient care at Mass. Eye and Ear. In 2013, the 50 members of Team eye and Ear aim to raise $400,000. Learn more and apply today at MassEyeAndEar.org/marathon or call 617-573-6364.  2. Free Trojan giveaway: Today Trojan will "declare freedom …