Quiet neighborhood the night before Eid crowds arrive

A quick circuit down Gardner Street, up Malcom X Blvd, to Roxbury Street shows the no stopping event signs to be up. The few remaining cars parked on Roxbury Street between Malcolm X Blvd and Eliot Square leafleted. Ashur Restaurant is hopping at 10:15 pm, so Elmwood Street still has customers parked there.

The mosque is locked, but the lights are burning bright inside. The poster on the front door says the event parking tickets could be had for $10 each.

The best, unregulated parking for those who arrive early enough is probably the dozen or so spaces on King Street.

On such a crisp and quiet night just before bedtime, it's hard to believe there will be 10,000 folk flocking to Crump Field in seven to eight hours' time.