It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Allston Christmas

BOSTON — Bring your patience. Bring your sense of humor. Bring your keen eye for hidden treasure. But — whatever you do during the annual Boston college student mad moving scramble known as "Allston Christmas" — do not bring your box truck onto Storrow Drive.

Streets will be closed throughout the city's campus neighborhoods this weekend as college students arrive in town and relocate to apartments throughout Boston. The heart of the chaos is in the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods where rows of boxes filled with collections of broken lamps, busted fans and other disposed trinkets that can be a bonanza for thrift-seeking enthusiasts as they share the sidewalks with worn-out mattresses.

Harpoon Brewery is even commemorating this year;s event with a limited release of Allston X-MAS IPA in 16-ounce cans.

Season’s greetings.⁣ ⁣ Introducing Allston X-MAS, our newest New England IPA brewed with Citra, Lotus, Centennial, Eureka, and a handful of leftover ingredients (high quality ingredients!) from various other projects. Available for a limited time in Greater Boston. pic.twitter.com/fhgs127Gl1
— Harpoon Brewery (@harpoonbrewery) August 28, 2019

Well, much of the weekend is good, clean fun — OK, maybe a bit of the fun is on the soiled side — one thing that is not amusing is the seemingly annual traditional of moving trucks getting demolished on Storrow Drive as unsuspecting drivers (mostly out-of-towners) ignore myriad height-restriction signs and crash into the low overpasses.

#MATraffic Over-height truck struck the BU bridge eastbound on Storrow Drive in #Boston. Left lane closed down until further notice. No injuries. pic.twitter.com/alBSUYtXu7
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) August 17, 2019

"I am thrilled to welcome new residents and students to the City of Boston, and encourage all residents to take advantage of what the city has to offer," said Mayor Marty Walsh said in a press release this week. "From our vibrant cultural scene, to our walkable neighborhoods, there is truly something for everyone here. Thank you for choosing Boston as your new home. We are excited to have you here."

Residents are encouraged to use Boston 311 to report non-emergency issues. A special "Student Move-In" section has been added to facilitate the reporting of move-in issues. Boston 311 is available through several different platforms, including: Mobile: download the free BOS: 311 app on iOS or Android; Online: Boston.gov/311; Social media: tweet at @BOS311; Phone: Boston 311 can be accessed anywhere within the city from both landlines and cellphones. Dial 3-1-1 (for those with VoIP and for calls from outside Boston, please dial 617-635-4500).

Neighborhood liaisons from the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services will be on-site in various neighborhoods to assist residents with questions or concerns. Here is a list of Boston neighborhood streets that will be closed or have parking restrictions this weekend.