Another photo essay.

In honor of the wonderful spring weather today, I took the opportunity to go on another picture-taking adventure. This time to Piers Park. (The first two pictures were actually taken last weekend.) Piers park is probably the only good thing that Massport has given to the city of East Boston. It's a great place for a picnic on a nice day. There are picnic tables, a playground, and restrooms. It's generally very safe as there is a Massport security officer in the park at all times and it is well lighted. On a summer night you will see whole families hanging out in the park and enjoying the breeze coming off the harbor.

Here is my friend Rachel at the Saigon Hut,
a great Vietnamese Restaurant on Meridian St.

I love this carving of an owl above a doorway on Meridian St.
Eastie has lot's of great architectural features like this that
are really easy to miss if you don't pay attention.

Playground at Piers Park

The Sailing Center

The flags at half mast staff for the Pope.

Game tables for playing chess or checkers.

The Noddle Island pavillion, the first of two in the park.
This pavilion has beautiful carvings representing all of the
ethnic communties that have made up the population
of East Boston. Here is the artist's web site with
some nice closeup views of the carvings.

A reproduction of a painting of the Flying Cloud, a record-breaking
ship built by Donald McKay, who was one of the great
ship builders of the era of the clippership. The McKay shipyard
was located in East Boston. McKay's house is still standing
at the top of Eagle Hill on White St., although it no longer
has the panoramic views it once commanded.

The second pavillion in the park at the end point of the Pier.

This pavillion resembles a light house
and is dedicated to the memory of Donald McKay

A boat heading out of the marina and crossing into Boston Harbor.

More boats in the harbor.

A view of Boston's Seaport District

A view of Jeffries Point from the park. In 1833
when the East Boston Company first began selling land
in East Boston, they hoped that the rich citizens of Boston
would buy land on Jeffries Point in order to build summer
villas. However, the landowners figured out that they
could make a lot more money by building row houses.

A view of the Boston Harbor Shipyard & Marina

Another view of the marina. The tall brick building in
the background is the Harborside Hyatt at Logan Airport.