Newbury Street

Priscilla of Boston, the high-end bridal boutique that got its start on Newbury Street in 1945 and shot to prominence after making Grace Kelly's wedding gown, is closing. Its parent company, David's Bridal, announced yesterday that it will shutter the store's 19 national locations, including its store on Boylston Street, on Dec. 31. A corporate office in Charlestown will also be closed. A David's Bridal spokesman said the stores are being shut so the company can invest more resources into its 307 David's Bridal stores.

BERNADETTE RIDGE 47 / BRAINTREE > "I'm normally a simple black-and-white girl in my work wardrobe," says the senior sales executive for a computer software company. But for parties, Ridge is fine with getting noticed. No one is going to miss the striking brunette in this wild blue-patterned Pucci dress, new this season from Saks. > The dress comes with a belt, but she adds a thicker one here as a neck scarf — a statement necklace would have been too much with such a busy print.

HOW WE ARRIVED AT THESE CHOICES In April we surveyed members of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and other real estate agents. We asked them to identify the top streets in Greater Boston based on a number of criteria, such as curb appeal and proximity to amenities (from parks and playgrounds to schools and restaurants). METRO → BEECH ROAD, Brookline At less than two-10ths of a mile long, Beech Road is one of the shortest streets on our list.

The sights and sounds of the party spilling out the door and onto Newbury Street were like catnip to passersby. Those tending the door explained to potential party crashers that the menswear store Ball and Buck had recently moved from the North End to more prominent Newbury digs, hence the fete. Partygoers who made it inside to celebrate the new Ball and Buck included Boston Bruin Shawn Thornton , suave menswear designer Jeff Lahens , Kickass Cupcake queen Sara Ross , Chanel's Mary Nobile-King , and Skoah spa owner Peter Dziedzic , all while Ball and Buck owner Mark Bollman ...

The sights and sounds of the party spilling out the door and onto Newbury Street were like catnip to passersby. Those tending the door explained to potential party crashers that the menswear store Ball and Buck had recently moved from the North End to more prominent Newbury digs, hence the fete. Partygoers who made it inside to celebrate the new Ball and Buck included Boston Bruin Shawn Thornton , suave menswear designer Jeff Lahens , Kickass Cupcake queen Sara Ross , Chanel's Mary Nobile-King , and Skoah spa owner Peter Dziedzic , all while Ball and Buck owner Mark Bollman ...

> Whistles top, $144 at Dress > Skirt, $178 at Marc by Marc Jacobs > Hairpin, $9.90 at Zara > Kris Nations cuff, $88 at Flock > Jacket, $79.50 at Loft > Top, $295 at Sonia Rykiel > Rag & Bone pants, $475 at Barneys New York > Winifred Grace necklace, $275, and Michelle Chang bangles, $36 each, all at Dress > Top, $59.90, and shoes, $49.90, both at Zara > Jonathan Simkhai...

A sale to the Texas-based Clear Channel Communications is the second-to-least "alternative" thing that could ever happen to the Boston station WFNX. The only thing more striking would be a change to a commercial-country format, as was rumored Wednesday afternoon. But the iconic alternative-radio outlet, which introduced a generation of local teenagers to Joy Division, the Cure, and other delightfully gloomy British acts, while giving local bands like the Pixies and Throwing Muses a way to be heard, is undergoing the same wrenching transformation as other ad-supported media.

(Photo by Johanna Kaiser for boston.com) Georgetown Cupcake is expected to open on Newbury Street in May By Johanna Kaiser, Town Correspondent A new destination for cupcake lovers is about ready to open in the Back Bay. Georgetown Cupcake , the Washington, D.C. cupcake bakery featured on TLC's reality show DC Cupcakes , is set to open its fourth location on Newbury Street this spring. The bakery, which plans to open at 83 Newbury St., is scheduled to go before the city's Zoning Board of Appeal on April 10 to receive its licensing to serve take-out food.

Even a superpower couldn't take a bite out of the apple. Tech Superpowers, a boutique Apple Inc. reseller that made its home on Newbury Street about 15 years ago, has closed its cozy basement shop, unable to compete with the massive flagship store that Apple opened around the corner in 2008. "Apple is just an extremely powerful brand in the consumer space and no matter how hard we try to differentiate ourselves, they are the mothership and they have this big shiny store," said Michael Oh, founder and president of Tech Superpowers.

Nielsen Gallery, a landmark on the Boston gallery scene, will close June 30 after 46 years at 179 Newbury St. It's not the only gallery in flux: OH+T Gallery will shut down in June. And Mercury Gallery left its Newbury Street digs last month; it remains running in its Rockport venue for the summer and may return to Newbury Street in the fall. "The economy plays into it, but not in a big way. Rather, it's where we are in our life right now," says Nina Nielsen, who owns Nielsen Gallery with husband John Baker.

Pats players Devin McCourty and Julian Edelman visited patients at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as part of the Patriots Charitable Foundation's Celebrate Volunteerism campaign. . . . "Travel Mom" Emily Kaufman , who's on a mission to accomplish 49 first-time tasks before she turns 50, crossed one off her list when she shucked oysters at the Union Oyster House this week. . . . Edmonton Oilers defenseman and Scituate native Ryan Whitney had dinner at Haru Tuesday.

A sale to the Texas-based Clear Channel Communications is the second-to-least "alternative" thing that could ever happen to the Boston station WFNX. The only thing more striking would be a change to a commercial-country format, as was rumored Wednesday afternoon. But the iconic alternative-radio outlet, which introduced a generation of local teenagers to Joy Division, the Cure, and other delightfully gloomy British acts, while giving local bands like the Pixies and Throwing Muses a way to be heard, is undergoing the same wrenching transformation as other ad-supported...

On Boylston Street today, it was deja vu all over again. Another power outage, another round of groans, and a general cry of "Not again. " "I was walking down the street to get my haircut and I looked up and thought, ‘That traffic light is out. That traffic light is out. Here we go again,'" said Spencer Gallo, a student at the Wentworth Institute of Technology who was waiting to get into the Apple Store on Boylston Street. The store was still closed at 1:30 p.m., nearly an hour after power was restored.

1 "SAFFIANO" IPHONE 4 AND 4S CASE by Diane von Furstenberg, $48 at Nordstrom, Northshore Mall, Peabody, 978-278-7400, and Burlington Mall, 781-345-7800, nordstrom.com 2 "BOTANICAL" COASTER SET by Rifle Paper Co., $18 at Magpie, 416 Highland Avenue, Somerville, 617-623-3330, magpie-store.com 3 SUNGLASSES, $14 at Urban Outfitters, Legacy Place, Dedham, 781-326-6032, urbanoutfitters.com ...

HOW WE ARRIVED AT THESE CHOICES In April we surveyed members of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and other real estate agents. We asked them to identify the top streets in Greater Boston based on a number of criteria, such as curb appeal and proximity to amenities (from parks and playgrounds to schools and restaurants). METRO → BEECH ROAD, Brookline At less than two-10ths of a mile long, Beech Road is one of the shortest streets on our list.

Doyle New York, founded in 1962 in Manhattan by Newton native William J Doyle, is opening a Boston/New England regional office on June 1 at 30 Newbury Street. "In opening a Boston office Doyle New York is returning to its roots and will focus on its traditional values of integrity, expertise and service," said Kathleen M. Doyle, who became chairman and chief executive of Doyle New York following the death of her husband in 1993. William Doyle's interest in antiques and collecting was sparked, according to the family, when he was 9 and went with his aunt to an auction, where he bought a marquetry...

Nicole Richie, who's transitioning from famous daughter (Lionel Richie is her father) to fashionista, was at the opening Wednesday of the National Jean Co. on Newbury Street. No longer just famous for being famous, Richie is creative director of the fashion lines House of Harlow and Winter Kate, and a judge on "Fashion Star. " Items from her spring collection were showcased during an informal fashion show at the store.

Luxury jeweler Shreve, Crump & Low will move its flagship Boston store to Newbury Street as the first step in a reorganization that will absorb a separate company owned by Shreve's chief executive and expand its facilities in Chestnut Hill. Shreve will move from 440 Boylston St., where it has operated for seven years, to 39 Newbury St. around the end of the year. In addition, Shreve will take over and rename Chestnut Hill jeweler David & Co., also owned by chief executive David Walker, establish its corporate headquarters there, and double the...

Nicole Richie, who's transitioning from famous daughter (Lionel Richie is her father) to fashionista, was at the opening Wednesday of the National Jean Co. on Newbury Street. No longer just famous for being famous, Richie is creative director of the fashion lines House of Harlow and Winter Kate, and a judge on "Fashion Star. " Items from her spring collection were showcased during an informal fashion show at the store.