Pay-What-You-Can Panera Cafe Now Open Near Government Center


Pay-What-You-Want Panera Cafe Now Open Near Government Center. The Panera cafe, which has no cash registers and asks customers to pay what they can afford, is located at 3 Center Plaza. Ron Shaich, founder, chairman, and co-chief executive of Panera Bread, said in a statement:

“This community cafe is a gift to the community that was funded by Panera. All of the build-out costs—nearly $1 million— were covered by the company. … Now that the site is open, it’s up to the community to sustain it. All consumers have to do is cover its direct operating costs. … This is a pay-it-forward model and will only work if the community supports it and one another.”

[Boston.com]

Nearly a Decade Later, Swift Boating Could Make a Comeback. Members of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group that vocally questioned John Kerry’s service record during his presidential run in 2004, have threatened to rear their heads again as Kerry makes his way through the approval process for Secretary of State.  [Herald]

The Winklevii Are Coming to Town to Answer Questions About Their 'Past, Present, and Future.' Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss will answer questions, burning questions like “Can you tell us one more time about Facebook, the one that got away?” The rest of the discussion will focus on how they're now angel investors.  [BostInno]

Globe Now Giving iPads in School Donation Program. When Globe subscribers suspend their subscription while they're out of town, they have the option of donating the proceeds to the company's reader vacation fund, which previously sent extra copies or subscriptions to schools in the area. The company announced this week that they're instead using the funds to buy iPads for Boston Public Schools and Stoneham High School.  [PaidContent.org]

Two People Charged With Stealing Money from Girl Scouts. Nicholas Taverna, 22, of Greenfield, and Cassidy Michalski, 25, of Deerfield, were held on $5,000 bail each on charges of unarmed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and shoplifting after trying (but failing) to steal $400 from a group of Girl Scouts selling cookies.  [AP]

In Which Jon Keller Ties Beyoncé's National Anthem to The Harvard/Neanderthal Mix-Up. [WBZ]