Boston Flora

Tag: Charles River

  • Saturday, June 17 (Rain Date Sunday, June 18) – City Splash

    The Charles River Conservancy is excited to bring swimmers back to the Charles on June 17th (rain date June 18th) for our community swim, one of only two annual opportunities to swim in the river. The CRC works in partnership with Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to obtain a Special Use Permit for this unique event. Due to important safety considerations, there are limited swimming slots and swimming in the Charles River is only allowed if a permit is obtained from DCR. City Splash is a community event that provides the public the rare opportunity to swim in the Charles River and raise awareness to bring river swimming back to Boston. This annual state-sanctioned swim allows the public to experience the joy of swimming in the Charles River—one of the cleanest urban rivers in the United States. The event is held in a demarcated deep-water area off the Fiedler Dock on the DCR Esplanade in Boston. The CRC has a vision to create a seasonal home for swimming in the Charles, but does not encourage swimming in the Charles outside of permitted events.  City Splash swim slots are currently SOLD OUT, but do come down to the Dock to cheer the swimmers on Thank you for everyone’s interest in making a big splash in the Charles. We’ll be making tickets available if swim slots open up. Follow us on social media and subscribe to our e-news so that you can get the latest details of the event.  For complete information visit https://thecharles.org/city-splash/

  • Sunday, June 11 – 44th Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival

    Come to one of the largest Asian-American cultural festivals in New England where local and out of state teams compete in exciting races. The festival also showcases many cultural performances such as lion dancing and taiko drumming, as well as art activities and demonstrations for all. The event also brings together many food vendors for everyone to try a wide range of cuisine from across Asia. This event is open to the public and welcomes persons of all ages and identities. Location is the John W. Weeks Footbridge, 933 Memorial Drive in Cambridge. For more information visit https://www.bostondragonboat.org/

  • Sunday, April 23, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Newton Lower Falls Walking Tour

    This special tour on Sunday, April 23 with Historic Newton and the Wellesley Historical Society focuses on the rise and fall of industry in Lower Falls. Learn how the Charles River once powered nationally renowned paper mills. Also see the village that early residents built, including St. Mary’s Church and the one-time community hall that is now Lower Falls Wine Company (below). The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and is recommended for adults and teens. Registration, $20 per person, $15 for Historic Newton and Wellesley Historical Society members, is required. Register here.

  • Thursday, March 25, 6:00 pm – Charles River Watershed Association 55th Annual Meeting, Online

    Our friends at the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) are hosting their 55th Annual Meeting virtually via Zoom on Thursday, March 25 at 6:30pm. Discover what the CRWA, their volunteers and their advocates accomplished for the Charles River in 2020. Learn more and register here.

  • Through Sunday, February 14 – Vote for Charles River Esplanade as Best Riverwalk

    ESPLANADE NOMINATED FOR BEST RIVERWALK BY USA TODAY The Esplanade Association is excited to announce that the Charles River Esplanade has been nominated for Best Riverwalk in USA Today’s 2021 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards! If you love spending time along the Esplanade and taking in stunning views of the Charles River, we hope you’ll share your appreciation by voting for the Charles River Esplanade today below. Individuals can vote once per day until Monday, February 15. Vote today by clicking HERE.

  • Muddy River WATERGOAT

    Flowing through the heart of Boston, the Muddy River is one of the top two most polluted tributaries of the Charles River and a critical link in urban Boston’s flood control system. With the approval of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and the active engagement of water quality experts, water scientists, trash boom providers, engineers, and a host of eco-activist volunteers, The Muddy River Water Initiative is embarking on a pilot project to rid the Muddy River of the trash—old bottles, clothing, shoes, balls, scrap plastic and fencing, and other toxic and unsightly debris—that currently pollutes the ecosystem.

    The WATERGOAT Pilot Project will install a safe, heavily tested, and effective raw trash barrier and clean-up device at the critical Charlesgate East and Ipswich Streets juncture of the Muddy and Charles Rivers. This will be the 92nd WATERGOAT system implementation in the US and a model for ongoing river clean-up efforts in Boston and beyond.

    Thanks to New England Grassroots Environmental Fund for its fiscal sponsorship. For more information on the Muddy Water Initiative, an advocacy and educational clearinghouse for Boston’s Muddy River, visit http://muddyriverinitiative.org

    Photo by Mark Maksimowicz

  • Charles River Climate Compact Virtual Event

    The Charles River Watershed Association had made a series of virtual events available on line, and one we think may be of interest is the Charles River Climate Compact talk, which happened June 25.

    Many communities across the Charles River watershed are taking proactive steps to adapt to climate change. Even though many cities and towns are allocating resources to climate adaptation, the reality is there are challenges that individual towns cannot address on their own and are more appropriately addressed at a regional scale. Additionally, communities cannot act in a vacuum as the actions of one community will have impacts on neighboring or downstream communities.
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    In 2019, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) launched the Charles River Climate Compact (CRCC). The mission of the CRCC is to bring together communities in the Charles River watershed to work collaboratively on climate adaptation by sharing information and experiences and taking a watershed view of adaptation strategies. Currently, 22 of 35 communities are participating in this regional collaboration.

    ​Learn about what the group has done over the past six months and what our plans are for the future. Visit https://www.crwa.org/past-virtual-events.html

    Mission: Bring together communities in the Charles River watershed to work on climate adaptation and strategies at a regional scale.

  • Sunday, July 19 – Sunday, July 26 – Esplanade Pollinator BioBlitz

    Discover and identify the pollinators of the Charles River Esplanade by taking part in the Esplanade Pollinator BioBlitz from July 19 to July 26. The Esplanade Pollinator BioBlitz encourages individuals to explore the Esplanade and document different species of pollinators they find through the iNaturalist app or in a journal. Participants who register via eventbrite will also receive a Virtual BioBlitz Activity Packet with worksheets, coloring sheets, and a map of the Esplanade.

  • Thursday, September 27, 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm – Champions of the Charles

    Experience a magical night at the Museum of Science on Thursday, September 27 from 6:30 – 10. Join Charles River Watershed Association for an evening of science, fun, and celebration at the Museum of Science on September 27th. We will honor Robert Zimmerman, our Executive Director, and John Sullivan of Boston and Water Sewer Commission for their tireless dedication to the Charles River.

    Guests will enjoy fabulous food and drinks by Wolfgang Puck Catering while gazing out at the Charles River from the Museum of Science. Visitors will also be able to view the Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River. Free parking available in the MOS parking garage.

    For more information or to purchase tickets ($250) by mail please visit http://www.charlesriver.org/champions

    Image result for Champions of the Charles River

  • Sunday, July 29, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm – Sunset on the Charles: Composition and Low Light Shooting Workshop

    This Museum of Fine Arts Boston workshop on Sunday, July 29 from 6 – 9:30 combines low-light shooting and formal composition techniques while photographing along the banks of the Charles River. Cover a variety of technical strategies for achieving intriguing photographs while shooting during the “golden hour,” twilight, dusk, and at night.

    Students must bring their own DSLR camera with manual settings and supplies. Students are responsible for providing their own supplies. View the supply list by going to https://www.mfa.org/programs/studio-art-classes/adult/supply-list.

    MFA members $50, nonmembers $65. Order online at https://www.mfa.org/programs/studio-art-class/sunset-on-the-charles-composition-and-low-light-shooting-workshop-0 To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975; to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.

    Instructor Georgie Friedman received her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in conjunction with Tufts University (2008) and her BA from UC, Santa Cruz (1996). Recent exhibitions include: Ripple Effect, Peabody Essex Museum, MA (2011-12); Above the Clouds (solo), concurrent exhibit at Carroll and Sons & Anthony Greaney, MA (2011); The 2010 DeCordova Biennial, MA; among others. She teaches a variety of photography and video based classes at several local institutions, including Boston College, SMFA and MassArt. Her current projects include photographic works and experiential video installations that highlight our physical relationship to interior vs. exterior elements and uncontrollable natural forces.