South End Artist Trades Art For Smiles

A New Jersey doctor walked into his office last week and saw a painting with a cryptic message unexpectedly sitting in his waiting room. And that's exactly the point of South End artist Bren Bataclan's "Smile Project."

A mysterious painting left at a New Jersey doctor’s office had the exact effect on its un-expecting recipient that the artist who painted it wanted – it made the doctor who found it smile. When chiropractor Dr. Mike Evangel walked into the waiting room of his Ramsay, NJ office last Friday morning, he found something that had not been there the night before – a painting of a cute white dog looking up at him. “I didn’t know what it was,” he said. Then, he saw the note that was attached to it, which read ‘this painting is yours if you promise to smile at random people more often.’ “Actually, I thought it was kind of cryptic and weird at first,” Evangel said. “But, I looked up the painting’s artist, and I realized it must have been left there …

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5 Things, Including Good News for Artists

Five things you need to know today, April 27.

1) SoWa Art Walk: The SoWa open market isn’t the only big event on May 6. Take some time to appreciate and support local artists with the SoWa Art Walk. You can meet the artists, purchase their wares and enjoy their pieces in galleries and cafes across the neighborhood.  2) In case you missed it: Howard Chadwick Antiques is closing after 34 years on Beacon Hill. The South Ender-owned business is closing in part because of roadwork in front of the store, which depressed walk-in business. You still have time to support the shop; It’s open every day until Monday. 3) Calling all South End artists: Dana Farber wants your submissions for its 2012 holiday collection. The winning designs will be used on Dana Farber products to help raise money for…

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PHOTOS: Gold Gallery's Opening Night

The South End's newest art gallery officially opened Friday to a capacity crowd.

South End residents packed the Gold Gallery on Friday night to celebrate its opening and to see its inaugural show, “Silke Schöner: Paintings,” which runs through May 1. For more on the Tremont Street gallery, see "5 Things to Know About the South End's Newest Gallery."

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Five Things

Five Things: Scenes from the SoWa Winter Market

Today is Tuesday, March 20. Here are five things you need to know:

1. Temperatures are expected to reach 73 degrees today. 2. If you’re a fan of the South End’s SoWa Winter Market, you’ll love the above YouTube video. Uploaded by schak301 a month ago, the video slideshow gives a great sense of what to expect at the Sowa Winter Market on a Sunday morning in the South End. 3. Boston Police issued 244 citations for drinking in public and arrested eight people during Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in South Boston. See more on the arrests. 4. What’s the best hair salon/barber shop in the South End? On the first day of voting in this week’s Best of Patch Readers’ Choice contest, Shan Hair, Pure Hair Design and Anita Kurl rose above the field. However, voting goes until 9 a.m. Friday, March 23, so it’s still …

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Week in Review: A New Art Gallery Opens, A Pet Care Shop Closes and a Fire in the Back Bay

A look back at South End Patch's top stories from March 12-18.

5 Things To Know About The South End's Newest Gallery: South End resident Adam Gold opened up the Gold Gallery on March 1. The ‘Doggie’ Days Are Over: A local pet care shop has closed its doors. Where Should DoggieDay’s Former Customers Go Now?: Your neighbors are in need of some immediate recommendations. Harrison-Albany Corridor Entering New Era: The long-stagnant area is experiencing an influx of new development proposals, according to the Boston Globe. De Niro Went Undercover in South End: According to the Boston Herald’s “Inside Track” column, Oscar-winner Robert De Niro went undercover at the South End’s Pine Street Inn to prep for his role of Jonathan Flynn in the movie “Being Flynn,” which is currently in theaters. Urban Beekeepers…

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5 Things To Know About The South End's Newest Gallery

South End resident Adam Gold opened up the Gold Gallery on March 1.

(Click on the photo at right to view a slideshow of the gallery and some of the artwork on display there.) 1.) TIME TO MAKE THE DOUGHNUTS: The Gold Gallery is at 655-659 Tremont St., the same location where a controversial plan to put a Dunkin Donuts was opposed by neighbors. Ironically, one of the first paintings hung in the gallery was of doughnuts, by artist Jeanne Vadeboncoeur. 2.) WELL EDUCATED: Gallery owner Adam Gold earned an MBA from Babson College last year. Gallery director Claire Carino earned a master's degree from Christie's Education (part of Christie's Auction House) in London.  3.) CONTEMPORARY ART: The gallery features emerging and mid-career artists from around the world. They have four artists showing now and hope to …

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St. Patrick's Day at The Beehive and More on the Food & Dining Scene

All the latest for South End foodies.

St. Patrick’s Day at The Beehive   Corned Beef & Cabbage at Franklin Café   Guest Chef Mondays at Stella   A Taste of Argentina at South End Buttery   Women’s History Month at Darryl’s

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Boston Restaurant Week to Take Over South End Eateries

At least 16 neighborhood restaurants are taking part in the two-week, prix-fixe event, which starts Sunday, March 18.

It’s the most wonderful time of year for South End foodies, especially those on a budget. Boston Restaurant Week kicks off Sunday, March 18, and runs through Friday, March 30. The website Boston Restaurant Week (http://www.restaurantweekboston.com/) has a list of participating restaurants throughout the city and Greater Boston, including restaurant week menus and links to reservations, which are recommended. The list can be easily broken down by area, meal or cuisine. During restaurant week, a two-course lunch is $15.12, a three-course lunch, $20.12, and a three-course dinner, $33.12. Do you have a recommendation for where to dine during Boston Restaurant Week? If so, tell us in the comments. The list of participating South End restaurants…

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5 Weekend Events in Boston: Oysters, Van Halen and More

One dollar oysters at Myers + Chang Sunday evening.

1) Worlds collide at Symphony Hall Saturday at 3 p.m. when the Arnie Roth, the Video Game Orchestra and Choir Força perform "Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy". Tickets start at $43.50. 2) Would anyone ever pay $31 to see a cover band? They would if it’s The Dan Band, the delightfully foul-mouthed musical and comedy act ready to suck the class out of the Wilbur Theater Saturday at 9:45 p.m. 3) Farmer’s market season is right around the corner, but folks in the know can get delicious, locally grown food and handcrafted wares at the SOWA Winter Market. The market opens Sunday at 6 a.m. 4) If you’re looking for cheap, good eats this weekend, check out Oyster Oblivion at Myers + Chang. Oysters are a buck apiece, and you can wash them …

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