AP The summer edition of the twice-annual Restaurant Week Boston begins Sunday, August 19 and runs through August 31 (with Saturday, August 25 excluded). More than 200 eateries in the greater Boston area will be offering special multicourse meal deals over the event's 12-day duration. The basic price for a three-course dinner at participating establishments is set at $33.12. A number of locations are also offering a three-course lunch for $20.12. Sponsored by the Greater Boston Convention Visitors Bureau, Restaurant Week Boston is being observed by a full range of Hub eateries, from Continue reading >>>

The Uber car service says it has been told to stop operating in the Boston metropolitan area. The issue stems from a complaint filed in Cambridge, Mass. that holds that there are no standards for the use of GPS devices in this context. Uber customers use their smartphones to summon the car service. According to the Massachusetts Division of Standards, “there are no established measurement standards for [GPS's] current application and use in determining transportation costs similar to that of  approved measurement systems in taximeters and odometers.” The decision came after a “sting” Continue reading >>>

Architecture firms in the Boston area are continuing their recovery from the sharp declines in 2008 and 2009, according to the 2012 Architectural Survey from accounting firm CBIZ Tofias. In 2011, these firms saw a slight improvement from the slowdown, which for most firms began in 2008. There were slight increases in the direct labor utilization rate (the percentage of time worked on billable projects) and the profit per direct hour compared to 2010. Most of the participants’ statistics either improved or stayed flat as compared to last year’s survey. Additionally, the overhead rate continues Continue reading >>>

(Jeremy C. Fox for Boston.com) Mark Boado, a 24-year-old Chelsea resident, enjoyed a sweet snack from Daddy’s Fried Dough at the 2011 Suffolk Downs Food Truck Festival. By Jeremy C. Fox, Town Correspondent Boston’s food truck fever continues, as Suffolk Downs prepares to host its second annual Food Truck Festival in September . In 2011, its inaugural year, the festival drew thousands from across Greater Boston, creating long lines for some of the most popular trucks. This year’s festival promises to be even bigger, with more than 20 trucks participating, as well as live music, children’s Continue reading >>>

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It's yet more evidence that the drop in inventory - which has been a hot topic on this blog - is much more than just a seasonal blip. The big question now is whether the dearth of homes for sale will send the market back into reverse or will self-correct as more sellers get off the sidelines. The shortage of homes to choose from, at least in the short-term, is helping stabilize prices. But at some point, will buyers simply throw up their arms in frustration and put their house hunting on hold? Here's a section of the Globe piece that deals with this issue. Tim Ellis, Redfin's real estate analyst, Continue reading >>>

Among the most novel responses has been so-called micro-housing: tiny, sub-studio-size apartments that have room for little more than a galley kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and chair. The units, some as small as 350 square feet, are mostly being built in the emerging Seaport District and will rent from $1,200 to $1,600 a month.

BOSTON (CBS) – Water and sewer rates are on the rise again for Greater Boston homeowners, but that’s not the only thing going up. The I-Team has discovered the state authority which hiked those rates is also hiking the pay of everyone of its employees. “It’s gold,” says Milton homeowner Paul Yovino, describing the water coming out of the tap in his kitchen sink. And like gold, the price of water is going up, yet again. “They’re saying that the average homeowner in Milton will have a $150 increase in their water bill,” Yovino says. And not just in Milton . The Massachusetts Continue reading >>>

Longtime Winchester resident Ralph Bates donated $100,000 to the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter organization in Boston. The gift will help Pine Street expand to add an additional 150 units of housing. Pine Street currently provides temporary and permanent housing to more than 730 formerly homeless people. Bates, a retired businessman and philanthropist, had a real estate and publishing business that produced the Greater Boston House Buyer’s Guide. He has since retired and moved out of Winchester. “I feel so fortunate for the success I’ve had and above all want to help those in need,” Continue reading >>>

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston is staging My Fair Lady at the Robinson Theatre on Lexington St. in Waltham through Aug. 19. The classic musical stars Rick Hilsabeck as the curmudgeonly professor Henry Higgins, with his real-life co-star Sarah Pfisterer as Eliza Doolittle.  R. Michael Wresinski of Framingham will portray Colonel Pickering. Other Framingham residents include Chris Brindley, quartet/singing ensemble and Sarah Beling with the dance ensemble. Opening night was Friday, Aug. 10. There is a performance today, Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. Other shows are Aug. 16, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. Continue reading >>>