As I mentioned late last week in my entry, Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox and the team’s ballpark, Fenway, symbolically represent the very heart of Boston.
With the 2009 season starting this week it seemed only appropriate to flashback to an earlier era in Red Sox history. The photo of Clemens (pre-steroid) in 1983 contrasts with the Red Sox new ace pitcher, Josh Beckett.
It is hard to believe that Clemens joined the Red Sox some 26 years ago, but it is even harder for me to get my head around the fact that Josh Beckett was only 3 years old then.
The Boston Globe is reporting that in an effort to save money the MA Turnpike Authority will no longer light the Zakim Bridge at night. I recognize that in tough economic times budgets get tightened, but I think this is terribly sad. The bridge is a symbol of the “new” Boston and is beautiful at night. Read the article from the Boston Globe, here.
Picture is courtesy of The Boston Globe and staff photographer, Evan Richman.
Sometimes I wonder if residents of Boston are aware that there are alternatives to brick for building materials. Much of this city is built with brick and while the city is beautiful – a little diversity is also greatly appreciated. That is one reason I think I like this photo so much. You can see the top corner of the Louis Boston building in front, New England Life Insurance Building is the greyish building just to the right, followed by the Houghton Mifflin building (a personal favorite) with the decorative rounded top and the distinctive Hancock skyscraper is the last of the “layers” in the picture. It appears as if the photo was taken from the corner of Newbury and Berkeley Street looking south. The photograph is from Saturated City.
I have followed this blog ever since I was contacted by Alex Miranda. His photograph incorporates one of my favorite buildings in Boston but I’ve never noticed it from this angle on Newbury Street. If you would like to see more of his photosgraphs visit, http://www.saturatedcity.blogspot.com.
Today Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage (and the first to do so with a legislature’s vote). The House recorded a dramatic 100-49 vote, the minimum needed, to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ veto. The vote followed a much easier override vote in the Senate, which rebuffed the Republican governor with a vote of 23-5.
www.utah.travel This morning I saw an advertisement on MSNBC from the Utah Office of Tourism encouraging viewers to come and visit the state of Utah.
However, as the advertisement played all I could think about was how the Mormon Church spent an estimated $25 million in the battle to end gay marriage in California. Now I recognize that there is a separation of Church and State. However, separating the Mormon Church from the fate of Utah is like separating the Catholic Church from Rome, Italy. Both churches are inexplicably tied to their respective homes.
I decided if the Mormon Church thought it was appropriate to spend $25 million dollars to ban same sex marriages in CA, it would be appropriate for me to contact the Utah Office of Tourism to let them know how angry I was with the actions of the Mormon Church. Earlier this morning I sent the office an e-mail to let them know I would not consider spending any of my money in their state. Moreover, I would encourage everyone I know to boycott the state.
If you would like to contact the Utah Office of Tourism the address is below. Please consider sending a quick e-mail and encourage your friends to do the same.
Utah Office of Tourism Council Hall/Capitol Hill 300 N. State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Phone: 1-800-200-1160 E-mail: travel@utah.gov
On Friday, April 3rd the Iowa State Supreme Court unanimously overturned the state’s law banning same sex marriage on the grounds that it violated the equal protection clause of the state’s constitution. This is a new legal argument, which until now had been based on the fact that same sex couples were being denied due process. Regardless, of the reasoning, I was pleased to see a state that in 2004 had voted for George Bush now stepping forward and joining MA and CT in the 21st century.
The Daily Beast has a nice spread briefly explaining what happened in Iowa, the implications and next steps… Link here to read more.
I was really bummed about the news and had not ventured down Tremont near the store, because I was afraid to see it sitting vacant or worse… as another nail salon or real estate office. However, today was so beautiful that I spent much of the afternoon walking around the South End and I happened near Motley only to see that they had a huge sale sign (all jeans are $39 right now). The person working there this afternoon said that the store was purchased from the original owner and would remain open for business.
If you’ve never been to Motley, you should definitely check it out. It is a tiny, tiny store located at 623 Tremont Street. You can also check them out online at ShopMotley.com.
Did I happen to mention that I scored some great jeans and they were only $39?
Today is my mother’s birthday and I wanted to recognize her. She is one of my absolute favorite people and a personal hero of mine; in addition to being a great Mom.
The South End has probably changed more than any other downtown Boston neighborhood. Real estate values remain high even during the current housing crisis. I found this picture of the Boston Elevated Railway Central Power Station which resides on Harrison Avenue. The picture was taken in the mid 1990s and depicts how much of a wasteland “SoWa” South of Washington remained until recently.
Now this section of Harrison Avenue is vibrant. During the day, thousands come here to work in the refurbished mills that GTI Properties purchased in the mid-90s and renovated and at night many come back here to live (like I do) and play.
This particular block of Harrison Avenue hosts the BSC South End as well as Rocca and Gas Light – two respected South End restaurants. I’ve included a quick video of the building which is currently being renovated and will hold an antiques fair every Sunday to coincide with SoWa Open Market.
If Boston were a living organism, it’s brain would be Harvard University (or perhaps M.I.T. depending on who you asked). However, no one would dispute that the heart of the city would be Fenway Park.
Today, Boston.com has a series of photos showing some of the updates and changes that will greet fans when they first enter Fenway Park for the home opener on Monday, April 6th.
The Taste of the South End Last month I wrote about the AIDS Action Committee fundraiser, Taste of the South End. This is one of my favorite fundraisers, and I try to attend it every year.
I was surprised when a friend sent me this video from YouTube. At the end your’s truly makes an appearance. True to form, I’m shoving food down my throat. However the memories of the shrimp ceviche tacos from 28 degrees are happy ones so I don’t mind.
The Men’s Event This Saturday, I will be joined by friends and nearly 1,500 Gay men as we all descend upon the Marriott Copley to attend the Fenway Health Center’s annual black-tie extravaganza, otherwise known as The Men’s Event.
If you don’t have plans as yet – it is a great time and money goes to a very worthwhile organization. You can link to the Fenway homepage and still buy tickets if you like.
About The AIDS Action Committee of MA Founded in 1983, AIDS Action Committee of MA is a community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic by preventing new infections and optimizing the health of those already infected. AAC provides free, confidential services to 2,500 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. If you like, you can make a donation to the AAC here.
About The Fenway The Fenway Institute operates the nation’s first community-based HIV research program, which has been conducting long-term epidemiological research since 1985. Fenway Health is affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. If you like, you can make a donation to the Fenway here.
Once upon a time there was someone I knew who had a heart twice as large as most. This person saw the world and the people in his world as full of possibilities. Around this time in his life he met an intriguing partner who challenged and complimented him in ways that emboldened him and made his heart race faster than he ever dreamt possible.
However, over time he found that his heart was not compatible with his partner’s and because a heart needs love to give love their incompatibility caused both their hearts to shrink and finally harden. So sadly, when the “once upon a time” did not end in “happily ever after”, it became more than his heart could manage and it broke into many, many pieces. And what was once a world filled with possibilities became a world filled with impossibilities.
Over time, this heart has healed itself as hearts have been known to do. However, it is not that young heart that once raced freely. This heart is still on the mend and beats with a more fragile pulse; fearful of trusting itself and others. The world has changed yet again from one of impossibilities to one that is now filled with probabilities. His heart now protectively rations both his ability to give and receive love, baricading itself behind make believe walls that become very real and difficult to scale.
Fortunately a broken heart can heal and in time love again, but to do this a heart also has to be open to love when it shows itself. A heart needs to see the world in terms of possibilities not shades of probabilities. Only time will tell if this heart I am writing about will learn to trust itself and be willing to share itself without reservation. The ball is in his court now… let’s see what happens in the next chapter of this fairy tale. I’m doubling down on “happily ever after”.
Somerville artist, Chris Speakman, is hosting an exhibition of silk-screened baseball imagery from April 4 – May 24, 2009 at 8 Union Park Street. An artist reception is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2009 from 6pm – 8pm. For more information about the reception, link here.
I’m not familiar with Chris, and I have to admit that silk-screening is not my favorite medium. However, his images are engaging and it seems appropriate, considering the home opener for the Red Sox 2009 season is a little more than a week away. If you would like to see more of his work link here.
I spent most of today known as “Juror 30” while I served my civic duty as a potential juror at the Suffolk Superior Courthouse – otherwise known as the John Adams Courthouse. The 19th century neoclassical building is hidden from Cambridge Street, which is a shame because it is so beautiful. If memory serves me correct, I believe this was the building that was also featured at the start of David Kelley’s show, Ally McBeal.
As I mentioned late last week in my entry, Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox and the team’s ballpark, Fenway, symbolically represent the very heart of Boston. 
BosGuy 
