News

Walloped!

by Michele D.  Maniscalco
Wednesday Mar 14, 2018

>SE residents, businesses support each other through the storms

Just as it seemed that a relatively uneventful winter, marked by a brief deep freeze but modest snowfall, was on its way out, March came in with a proverbial roar in the form of three storms in less than two weeks.

The punishing winds, high tides and floodwaters of the Friday, March 2 nor'easter left hundreds of thousands with water, wind and tree damage and massive power outages, and the ensuing storms on Thursday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 13 slowed recovery efforts and brought widespread school, work and road closures.

The South End News informally surveyed neighborhood residents and businesses to learn how they dealt with the wild weather and found that the stereotype of the hardy New Englander, whether native-born or newcomer, is alive and well in these parts.

Quite a few local businesses opened during the storms to provide a haven for weather-weary neighbors. Petit Robert Bistro, Anoush'ella, Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel were among the eateries that welcomed diners during Tuesday's storm, while Foodie's, Casa Cuong, Don Quijote Market and Muscarella's stood ready to supply provisions during the nor'easters.

Foodie's opened until 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 13, while Muscarella's at 570 Tremont Street kept its regular, 7:00 AM-9:30 PM schedule with the full menu of prepared foods available. Employee Angel, whose duties include food preparation and management, said, "Things are great. The weather's horrible, but at the same time it's beautiful. It's a weird mix."

He said business during Tuesday's blizzard was "average, about the same as usual." Angel was sanguine about opening in the inclement weather. "We have the reputation in this area of being renegades of weather; rain storms or whatever, we're here."

At the South End Buttery on Shawmut Avenue, store manager Darrel commented on Tuesday, "We got a lot of great feedback that we were open today. The response from people in the South End was amazing. It's been busy." Darrel said the Buttery has several employees who live locally and didn't mind coming to work in the storms.

"We support [owner Richard Gordon's] decision to be open. I think it was a great decision for the community." Darrel said customers bought "Lots of sweets, lots of hot drinks like cappuccino and lattes and lots of chili." Darrel recalled a couple who came in to eat during the day on Tuesday and were so happy that the Buttery was open that they planned to order dinner there as well. "The Buttery is going to feed us all day!" they said.

Some local restaurants took the opportunity to bolster neighbors' spirits with snow-day specials and amusements, which met with appreciation from hungry, thirsty and stir-crazy customers. Since Bar Mezzana co-owners Colin and Heather live above the restaurant, it was easy for the restaurant to offer hospitality during the storms.

Co-owner Jefferson Macklin explained, "We are in the hospitality business and we feel like people want to get together and beat the cabin fever." Bar Mezzana offered "Burgers and Board Games" on snow days. "We've done this every storm. At the beginning of the season, we bought a whole bunch of board games at Target so people can play and have some fun." While the menu was limited by the delivery cancellations during the storms, Bar Mezzana posted a special menu on Instagram. Diners were undeterred even by Tuesday's blizzard. Shortly after opening at 5:00 PM, Macklin said, "Reservation-wise, we dropped a little, but we are picking up. There are already a few people at the bar. We are trying to be a harbor in the storm."

Boston Chops offered $1 wings during the March 8 storm and again during the Tuesday, March 13 blizzard. Assistant general manager Brian Deschere said, "We find the neighborhood is very supportive in general, and when businesses are closed, we want to provide a place for [people] to go and eat. I'll probably have a good bar crowd and it will be like a neighborhood gathering."
The popularity of the first $1.00 wing special took Deschere by surprise. "[March 8's] nor'easter was the first time we had the chicken wing special. We opened at 5:00 PM and sold out 200 wings by 7:00 PM. We learned a lesson," he mused. At Boston Chops, the menu also was limited by lack of deliveries. Deschere said, "For me, a snow day is an opportunity to be a venue for the neighborhood. It doesn't feel like work, if feels like hosting a dinner party."

Residents endured the storms by working at home, catching up on personal business and clearing snow from their walks and cars. Ink Block-area resident Nancy Wall Farrington, a South Caroline native who prefers all things summer: warm weather, sunshine and the Red Sox, returned from a vacation in Santa Monica only to be greeted by March 2's destructive winds and rain. Prior to this week's storm, Farrington stocked up at Whole Foods, using the snow day to do household organizing and catch up on current events.

During the March 13 storm, resident Lisa Jenks enjoyed having the opportunity to dine at one of Washington Street's perennially packed hotspots. She wrote, "We went to Toro for dinner tonight and the place was packed." Stergios also visited the popular tapas spot, where hopeful diners often crowd the sidewalk waiting to get a table.

"I stopped at Toro on my way back, since the only time we in the neighborhood can squeeze into Toro is when the snow dissuades others from coming, and had a good meal and ran into others from the neighborhood, and outside the neighborhood," Stergios said.

While the storms halted travel all over the state, the city's snow removal efforts seemed to impress South End denizens interviewed for this article. Jenks observed, "The city seems to be keeping up well with the snow clearing."

A dog owner and longtime Shawmut Avenue resident was similarly pleased with the city's snow grooming, commenting, "Blackstone Square was nicely plowed and not over-salted for tiny. tender paws." Worcester Square Area Neighborhood Association president George Stergios said, "I took a long walk around 5:00 PM and the city has done a good job getting out ahead of the storm."

Mass. Ave. resident Andrew Brand reported, "I did shovel a few times, but the snow was light and fluffy, so it was easy to shovel. All in all, it was not nearly as unpleasant as it could have been, or I was fearing. That said, I'm not happy I will not be able to ride my bike..." Jenks witnessed camaraderie during Tuesday's storm. "Our neighbors on Cumston Street have all been out and about checking on each other. The dogs are all a little confused, but the people seem to be managing well."