Update: Yelp Recognizes Dot!

Our campaign was a success! We are pleased to report that Dorchester is now recognized by the popular social-networking website Yelp.com as a neighborhood of Boston. Thank you to all of you who e-mailed them demanding Dorchester be included!

At the top of their Dorchester list are such great establishments as Shanti, Mrs. Jones, McKenna's Cafe, Chef Lee's, Common Ground, and the Ice Creamsmith. There is also a separate neighborhood entry for Fields Corner. It should also be noted that now Mattapan, Roslindale, and West Roxbury are also listed.

Go to Yelp Boston's site (Yelp Boston) and click on "Neighborhood" and then on either Dorchester or Fields Corner to check it out.

Check out our original posting on this: Why Does Yelp Not Consider Dorchester A Neighborhood of Boston?

dot aht: Street Art in Dorchester

A guerrilla art movement has come to the streets of Dorchester. According to their website, the promoter of dot aht is "inviting artists to produce small pieces of art to be displayed on the streets and sidewalks of Dorchester." She makes it clear that the art should be "non-destructive" and "meant to build not to destroy."

We are intrigued by this art movement that has become commonplace in NYC and SF, and await with anticipation to see what local artists will add to the Dorchester scene.

www.dotaht.com

Welcome Back Trolley!

For over a year one of the coolest facets of our neighborhood has been missing. Due to improvements on the Ashmont-Mattapan T line, our beloved 1940s-era trolleys have been absent. These trolley's provide not only transportation from Ashmont Station to Mattapan Square, but also give the neighborhood a unique attraction and hipness. Not only do these trolley's provide Lower Dot with transportation (including Dorchester stops at Ashmont, Cedar Grove, and Butler Street, and a stop on the Milton-Lower Mills border), but they have a personal connection for us. An identical trolley graces the Embarcadero in San Francisco, (Boston donated it after the 1988 earthquake) reminding Erin of her native soil. I know we are not the only people in the neighborhood to cheer "Welcome back trolley"!


(Last photo courtesy of Peter Ehrlich)

Calling All Dot Residents... Why Does Yelp Not Consider Dorchester a Neighborhood of Boston?

The neighborhood of Dorchester's hip establishments are rapidly growing, but you wouldn't even know it was part of Boston if you regularly go to the popular user review website Yelp (www.yelp.com/boston) because it is not listed as so. After several attempts to contact Yelp about this, including a response telling us they are "working on it", nothing has been done.

This omission seems almost purposeful. Several neighborhoods of the city that offer far fewer resturants and shops than Dorchester are listed (including Dudley Square, Egleston Square, Mission Hill, South Boston, Hyde Park, etc.). On top of this, many places that are not even in Boston are listed as neighborhoods of the city, including Central and Harvard Squares (in the city of Cambridge), Coolidge Corner (in the town of Brookline), Davis Square (in the city of Somerville), Arlington Center (in the town of Arlington), and Winthrop (which is a separate town in itself), etc.

We are asking our readers to take a moment and send a comment to Yelp that Dorchester needs to be added to their list of Boston neighborhoods. This simple action will encourage more people in the city to visit Dot (because Yelp is such a widely used website by people under 40), having a positive effect on our local businesses.

NOTE: Please see the update on this entry.

Please join the campaign to add Dot to Yelp Fill out a contact form (and be sure to mention you use Yelp when you contact them).
Contact Yelp

Lower Dot for Obama

Although it seems to be close, Lower Dot appears to be voting for Barack Obama on Super Tuesday. There are numerous Obama signs on cars and homes around the neighborhood. We have seen local volunteers from "Dorchester for Obama" going door-to-door on the weekends making sure everyone shows up to the polls. Not to mention, Obama has earned the support of Lower Dot's state rep. Linda Dorcena Forry, city councilors Sam Yoon, Charles Yancy, Michael Flaherty, and congressman Michael Capuano (who represents half of Lower Dot), not to mention the always crucial Dorchester Reporter.

We will be taking our own pilgrimage to Florian Hall to vote for him. As usual don't forget to vote on Tuesday February 5!

www.barackobama.com