Where to find Alexandrite in the Boston area?

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

My four year old really wants to see some Alexandrite. (It's a cool gem, a variant of chrysoberyl that changes color.) We've checked the Museum of Science and the Harvard Museum of Natural History  (though, to be fair, we've been unable to find anyone who works in the applicable departments at HMNH to make sure we haven't missed it in their huge collection). We've also called the reference librarians at Tufts, Somerville, and BPL and been unable to get an answer. 

I was wondering if your collective wisdom could help a tired mom out? I'm not dedicated to a museum -- if there's a weird gemologist who is willing to let a four year old gawk at an incredibly rare and expensive gem without hope of purchase, we'd take that (and be willing to bribe, I mean compensate him or her with cookies....)

Thanks. 
 

Bike Lanes!

[boywonder.livejournal.com]

So, I've noticed a lot of bike lanes popping up on the streets of Somerville lately. While I wholeheartedly applaud the effort, they seem to me to have been done haphazardly. Kinda like they're almost in the middle of the car lane? On Powderhouse Blvd. and Cameron Ave. for example, there seems to be barely enough room, if clearly not enough room, for a car to safely pass a cyclist in the new bike lanes. Has anyone else seen them? It's like, maybe if they had moved them closer to the sidewalk a foot or so, there would be plenty of room for bikes and cars, but it seems the city made an error in it's effort...

scary water bill

[dahdahdahdancer.livejournal.com]

My latest water bill nearly gave me a heart attack. There's no way I could have used as much cubic feet of H2O as the bill claims. I've just now written a letter to the S'ville Water Dept (as the bill says to do if one wishes to dispute it) - but I was wondering if anyone else in the LJ community has dealt with this kind of problem before. How easy was it for you to get justice (and a lower, accurate bill)? Some details - a new meter was installed a month into the 4-month billing period. I'm being waaay overcharged for the first month, under the old meter. New meter readings are fine.

Yard Sale Tomorrow, 4-7 pm, Powderhouse

[eredien]

We're moving 1000 miles away and need to get rid of all our stuff which has accumulated over 4 years.
I'll miss you, Davis Square!

When: 4 pm-7 pm, Sun May 9th
Where: 51 Bay State Ave, Somerville
What: Small kitchen appliances (toaster oven, toaster, sandwich press), small appliances (dustbuster, etc.), vaccum, luggage, household items, books, picture frames, furniture, port/wine decanter, AC units (3-4 AC units, all in working order), electronics, stereo systems, cooking equipment, household repair equipment, skis (downhill and cross-country), etc., furniture (chairs, table), aquarium equipment/supplies, DVD players, VCR, TV, TV stand, lamps, original Playstation (w/controller, adapter, game), video game cartridges, candles, My Little Pony "bait," drafting tables, futon frame, wrapping paper, gardening supplies, several folding metal grocery carts, etc. Basically, lots of stuff. Probably some of it free.

West Medford Open Studios - Sunday 5/9

[ron_newman]

West Medford Open Studios are tomorrow (Sunday) from noon to 5 pm. (They were today also, but I forgot to post this yesterday. Sorry.)

Go see anotherjen and spinrabbit and lots of other local artists. (Some others of whom may have LJ accounts, but I don't know who they are.)

Take bus #94 from Davis Square or Powderhouse, or bus #80 from Lechmere, Winter Hill, Magoun Square, Ball Square, or Powderhouse.

Multi-family yard sale - Sunday 5/9, 10-2 Irving St

[rahulbot.livejournal.com]

Multi-family Yard Sale this Sunday!

Items include:
- clothes
- books
- furniture (chairs, bed-frame, wine rack, shelves, magazine holder)
- various beam robot parts
- old computer stuff
- radar
- other nerdy stuff

No early birds!

Halfway up Irving St.