Boston, MA
Boston’s priciest home is a $30M technicolor dreamland owned by a venture capitalist

Boston’s historic Back Bay neighborhood is known for its red-brick townhouses and elegant streetscapes, but nestled behind wrought-iron gates on Commonwealth Avenue stands a striking departure from tradition: the Commonwealth Sisters, a pair of stately limestone mansions.
One of these, owned by venture capital investor Kevin Starr, has hit the market for a whopping $29.9 million, marking Boston’s priciest home at the moment, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Constructed in the late 1800s, this architectural gem has undergone a transformation under Starr’s ownership, reflecting his bold personality and unique aesthetic preferences.
His asking price is more than double what he paid for the property just nine years ago.
Starr, co-founder of Third Rock Ventures — a biotech-focused fund — purchased the mansion in 2015 for $11.6 million and embarked on a multimillion-dollar renovation project with designer Eric Roseff.
The result is a 10,600-square-foot residence spanning five floors, boasting six bedrooms, five fireplaces, an elevator and a rooftop deck.
While the exterior exudes classic elegance, a glimpse through the front window reveals a surprising contrast: a neon sign declaring “Love is the Answer,” hinting at the vibrant and eclectic interior within.
The interior design is a testament to Starr’s penchant for bold colors, lush textures and a recurring motif of skulls, which hold personal significance for him as symbols of the circle of life. From the vivid cobalt and orange carpeting to the skull-shaped mosaic in the primary bathroom, every detail speaks to Starr’s distinctive taste.
“His vibe from the beginning was the feel of a boutique hotel,” Roseff told The Journal. “He likes a little bit of Miami thrown in, a little bit of Vegas thrown in.”
Visitors entering the foyer are greeted by checked quartz floors and dramatic black lacquered wood paneling, setting the tone for the rest of the house. The living room, adorned in shades of blue and illuminated by arched windows, exudes a retro-chic ambiance reminiscent of a 1970s lounge.
“We wanted it to have a real loungy vibe — like a 1970s coke-den vibe,” Roseff added, who described the room as having a “perpetual mood” to it. “It’s intoxicating, it’s inviting, it’s sexy.”
The primary suite, occupying an entire floor, offers luxury amenities including a ceiling-filling soaking tub, a shower with music and lighting systems, and a view into Starr’s extensive sneaker collection.
Throughout the house, original details blend seamlessly with modern upgrades, preserving its historic charm while catering to contemporary tastes.
Despite its opulent features, the mansion also offers practical amenities, such as a 2,200-bottle wine room and six parking spaces — a rare find in the bustling Back Bay neighborhood, where parking spots can command prices upwards of half a million dollars.
While Starr and his family now primarily reside in the suburbs, the mansion continues to serve as a pied-à-terre, reflecting its owner’s enduring connection to the vibrant city of Boston.
William Montero of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.

Boston, MA
Brothers bring boxing back to Fenway after 70 years and hope to revitalize the sport in Boston – The Boston Globe

“Most people’s experience there is solely related to baseball,” said Richard Johnson, Fenway expert and curator at The Sports Museum in Boston. “But the fact is that this year, you can see an event that’ll be very similar to what your grandparents saw.”
Promoters Mark and Matt Nolan want “Fight Night at Fenway,” scheduled for Saturday, to be both a time capsule and time machine, taking spectators back to boxing’s glory days and what the sport can be for the city in the future.
The Nolans got their license to organize fights last year with the goal of bringing boxing back to Boston. After Fenway, “That’s mission accomplished,” Matt Nolan said.
“It’s not just like our dream, it’s everybody’s dream — every boxer on planet Earth,” he said. “Just the idea that some kid can fight his way to Fenway Park. It’s like hitting the lottery. You can’t you can’t beat it. There’s nothing comparable.”
Boston has played a long and impressive role in American boxing history and the development of the sport itself, said Johnson, author of “Field of Our Fathers, An Illustrated History of Fenway Park.”
The city was home to “Boston’s Strong Boy,” John L. Sullivan, born in 1858 to Irish immigrant parents and widely considered America’s first sports superstar. The first heavyweight champion of the world, he was as famous as Muhammad Ali was in his time.
Sam Langford, a Black Canadian-born boxer, moved to Boston as a teenager but was blocked from competing in the world championships by racist policies and is considered one of the greatest non-champions in boxing.
Other boxing stars with Boston connections include Marvin Hagler and Rocky Marciano of nearby Brockton. ”The Boston Bomber” Tony DeMarco, whose statue raises his fists at passersby in Boston’s North End, was the last fighter to win in the ring at Fenway in 1956.
For a time after it was built, Fenway Park was the only outdoor venue with a significant seating capacity in Boston, making it a destination for all kinds of events, including boxing starting in 1920.
After new owners took over in 2002, the park became a venue for a variety of activities, including concerts and sporting events such as hockey, snowboarding, Irish football and curling.
“Back in the day, it was sort of the Swiss Army knife of sports facilities in Boston. And it’s returned to that — a little bit of everything. So, returning boxing to the park is just a nod to the past,” Johnson said.
Other venues can feel “more corporate and sterile,” but Fenway is living history, said Johnson, who calls it the “largest open-air museum in New England.”
Mark Nolan said it’s not for lack of trying that no one has hosted a boxing fight at Fenway in almost 70 years. But many promoters couldn’t make a pitch that landed with ballpark management.
The Nolans, who teach full time and own a boxing gym in Waltham where people can train regardless of their ability to pay, were different. After success hosting events at other venues, Mark Nolan said Fenway Sports Group connected to their “everyman” appeal and decided to give them a shot.
The brothers fell in love with boxing while accompanying their father, a boat captain, to the gym as kids.
When they expanded from coaching amateur boxers to professionals five years ago, they were dismayed by what they found: shows full of uneven fights set up to make the promoters as much money as possible, with established amateurs fighting people who “have no right putting gloves on in any capacity whatsoever” in venues like high school gymnasiums. Fighters weren’t being paid fairly and contracts weren’t transparent.
They came up with a simple business plan: pick good venues, pay fighters well and only host matches in Boston proper. They said a lot of promoters sell fighters, but they’re focused on selling fights fans want to see.
“They’re making sure that every fight is well-matched,” said Thomas “The Kid” O’Toole, a fighter from rural Galway, Ireland, who has lived in Boston for the past two years, “Nobody wants to see someone go in and just knock their opponent out right away and beat them up for four, six, eight rounds. They want to see a competitive fight.”
O’Toole went professional in 2021 and is undefeated with 13 fights. He said his fight against St. Louis-born Vaughn “Da Animal” Alexander at Fenway will be “the biggest test of his career.”
Massachusetts-born Lexi “Lil Savage” Bolduc will compete in her fourth professional fight. She faces Sarah Couillard in a rematch after coming out on the losing end of a majority draw at the Royale.
“Fighting at Fenway, I think adds a little bit of pressure because I’m local, I grew up in Mass and idolized a lot of players as I was growing up. … But at the same time, I’m trying to use it just as a huge opportunity and really soak in the moment,” she said. ”Pressure makes diamonds.
“To be able to kind of stand on that same ground of some of the most accomplished athletes, it’s really remarkable,” she said.
Boston, MA
Large tree falls in South Boston, damaging 2 homes, several cars

A large tree fell in South Boston on Friday morning, damaging two homes and several cars in the neighborhood.
The tree fell around 5 a.m. on K Street. Photos and video from the scene showed a massive tree lying across the road, impacting two multi-story buildings and damaging multiple vehicles in the area.
There was no immediate word on whether anyone was injured.


Boston, MA
Author readings around Boston through June 14 – The Boston Globe

All author appearances are in person and free unless otherwise noted. A complete list can be found at bostonglobe.com/books.
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
- Ken Bresler (“The Witch Trial Trail of Boston”) will discuss his book at 2 p.m. at Newtonville Books.
- Lynda Mullaly Hunt (“Wish in a Tree”) will read at 3 p.m. at An Unlikely Story. RSVP required.
- Brad Bolman (“Lab Dog”) is in conversation with Robin Wolfe Scheffler at 6 p.m. at Brookline Booksmith. RSVP required.
- Michelle Young (“The Art Spy”) will discuss her book at 6 p.m. at East End Books Ptown. Tickets are $5.
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