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iPad launch: Boston's Boylston Street store
The crystal-clear facade of Boston's Boylston Street Apple Store* beckoned and a slew of customers heeded the call this morning to greet the iPad. By the time I arrived at 8am, a line had formed down the street and around the corner -- a few hundred people at least. A second line for pre-order customers formed later in the morning, and by 9am was just as long as the first line. The store's interior was hidden by a black curtain that ran the length of the building. The mood was jovial, with everyone discussing their plans for the new device. Apple Store employees were moving up and down the line, making chit-chat and offering candy, water and coffee. The weather was fine (unlike the rainy iPhone launch), if not a little cold. %Gallery-89691%
iPad launch: Boston's first in line
We're were on the ground in Boston this morning (and New York, and Colorado, and ... ) waiting for the Apple Store to open. Here at the Boylston Street store the line started very early. At 12:00 am, in fact. Meet Miles. He's a New Yorker currently attending school in nearby Beverly, MA and was Boston's 1st customer. He arrived at just after midnight to grab the coveted spot. He told me that others began arriving after 12:30 and the stream was steady after then. The mood in the line was optimistic and people are chatty, as typically happens at Apple line-ups. Miles told me that he had a conversation with one customer about the benefits of the Blackberry, but it didn't last long. Apple employees are occasionally peering down from behind the store's glass facade and shouting "Miles!" and waving. This isn't the first time he's waited in line. A few years ago he lined up in New York for the first iPhone and waited out Leopard's release as well. As for what he's most anticipating? "The Netflix app for sure. And I hope there's a Hulu app as well" (so do we). Congratulations, Miles! Enjoy your new iPad. We at TUAW admire your resolve.
Grab a piece of Apple history, for charity
The Boylston Street Apple Store opening in Boston was entertainment for all, especially Bostonians. The unveiling was almost as much fun as the facade. Among the souvenirs floating around, at least one is worthy of special note, as the sale of it will benefit more than just the lucky buyer. Rescued from the dumpster and lovingly restored (to the best of the seller's ability, anyway), a chunk of the Apple logo that stood front and center on the "Green Monster" facade is up on eBay. All of the proceeds from the auction will be going to boston2portland, a bike ride to raise money for the cure of Parkinson's disease. You might not need a monolithic, duct-tape-textured, decorative piece of Apple history. But, maybe you'll bid for the benefit of a worthy cause and pass the spoils on to someone with too many bare walls, a love of all things Apple and very fond feelings for Fenway Park. Check out the auction here.
Boston's Tech Superpowers buries a treasure for Apple
This is my favorite story of the week. Major League Baseball fans probably remember the New York construction worker who buried a David Oritz jersey underneath the New York Yankees stadium in an attempt to jinx the team. It seems he unwittingly started a trend.On Thursday, Apple's newest retail store will open in Boston with a small gift from neighboring store Tech Superpowers buried underneath the sidewalk.Back in April, Michael Oh (Tech Superpowers founder and president) crossed the street to the Apple Store's construction site with a shovel and one of his company's T-Shirts. A short time later, the shirt was buried underneath the concrete, where it remains today. Since the story of the Ortiz jersey was breaking at the time, the members of the construction crew thought the idea was funny, and let him do his thing.Oh points out that he isn't trying to jinx the store, but create a connection between the two retailers."We're doing it with a wink ... We are in business because of the great things Apple has done ... This T-shirt in the sidewalk is a symbol that there's a connection between the two sides of the alley." It was Oh who set up the Boston Apple Store Webcam at ifoAppleStore to share the construction process with Apple fans everywhere.We can only imagine what's next Burger King buries a cardboard crown under each new McDonald's Dunkin Donuts leaves a bag of French Vanilla under each new Starbucks So when you visit the store this weekend, tread lightly. You might be standing on a buried treasure.[Via Andy Ihnatko's Twitter stream]
One step closer to Apple Store Boston?
Today, TUAW reader (and Boston resident) Matt sends in this tip that seems to point to the ongoing saga of the future Boston Apple Store. While riding his bike past the Copy Cop on Boylston Street (Apple originally proposed taking over the Copy Cop building for the new store), he noticed a sign stating that Copy Cop would be vacating the premises some time in mid-June. Here's hoping this means the deal with Apple has gone through.Thanks, Matt.PS-Go Sox!
More on the Boston Apple Store
This story has almost as much drama as Apple's recent legal battle. Apple is planning on putting a new flagship store in Boston, Ma. The design initially proposed to Boston's Back Bay Architectural Committee (BBAC) was shot down (the BBAC didn't like its contemporary look). Next, a rumor surfaced that Apple may move into the building on the corner of Mass. Ave. and Newbury street that currently houses the Virgin Mega Store, thereby thwarting the BBAC's complaints by taking over a pre-existing building.Today, the Boston Herald is reporting that Apple has proposed a revamped design for the original Boylston Street location (currently the Copy Cop across the street from the Prudential building). This new design supposedly features a circular staircase, rooftop garden and all-glass facade. Apple has stated that the only option is for them to demolish the existing building and start over, as fixing up the existing structure would add six months and nearly $3 million to their schedule.Can't we all agree and just get this thing built already? I'm dying to check it out![Via ifoAppleStore]
