From everyone at Ford Realty, we’d like to wish all our friends and readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays season.

A friend in Brighton notes: “There’s a lot of construction activity at the old abandoned gas station on Washington Street about three blocks from Brighton Center. A big green sign announces that this will be a new Naked Pizza store. This would be the first in Boston for the chain (they’re building one in Brookline [...]

Looks like it’s that time of year. Flu cases in Boston ERs doubled in recent weeks, but mostly it the outbreak was among children under five. That usually means (a week or two later) that adults start showing up with the flu. Just remember to keep a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you at [...]

Boo. Hiss. Go away. Get ‘em off the stage. No one is going to take away our fireworks. No one! Next thing you know, they’ll try to take away our barbecues. Wait. … Ahhhh! File under: Happy Fourth of July! PS: They tried to take away our hot dogs. But science proved them wrong. Again, [...]

Larry Summers on CNBC: Blame it on the snow. Remind me to use this excuse if March Boston condo numbers are down. File under: Between rock salt and hard place.

As we all watch the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, let us not forget one of our own Back Bay residents, Kevin Ahearn, known for his expertise in the luxury real estate market and president/owner of Otis & Ahearn – and who won the silver medal playing left wing for the ’72 U.S. Olympic Hockey team. [...]

The following excerpts are from UniversalHub.com: A neighbor of Ernie Boch, Jr. yesterday filed a federal lawsuit against him, alleging three years of ongoing renovations and expansion at the Boch estate in Norwood have sent the man into depression and given him asthma. The suit, filed in US District Court in Boston by Glenn Arrigo [...]

Here’s something new and different: a list of the world’s 15 ugliest buildings – and Boston’s City Hall isn’t even included. But Matt says City Hall should have been on the list. Some more comments on the good, bad and ugly over at Universal Hub. PS, City Hall usually makes these types of ugly lists. [...]

Click here to enlarge the picture Does education matter? Click here to view unemployment chart. from Calculated Risk Source: Calculated Risk

A blog reader wants to know if I think the economy is in bad shape. Simple answer YES. The economy is so bad that……. Better Homes & Garden is changing its name to Mobile Homes & Garden. The economy is so bad that……. Tanya Harding is know considered middle class The economy is so bad [...]