Check out this fantastic story about a Spokane, WA banker named Joel Armstrong. If you’re a parent definitely share this after reading the classic “Make way for the ducklings”. Thanks for sharing John Pompeii.
NPR reported yesterday that a new study from the University of California San Diego has found people who eat chocolate several times a week are actually leaner than people who don’t. This may be the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. I love chocolate (esp dark chocolate with coffee), and I look for any excuse to consume it guilt free.
According to the article some specific polyphenols found in cocoa help inhibit an enzyme called pancreatic lipase that is responsible for digesting dietary fat. I’m not sure what any of that means but the message I’ve taken is that consuming chocolate (in moderation) should be enjoyed minus the pangs of guilt.
Do you love chocolate or are you simply intrigued? You can read or watch the full story on NPR here.
Coppa Enoteca, which opened in early 2010 and is owned by Chef Jamie Bissonnette and partner Ken Oringer, features Italian small plates, pasta, and wood-oven pizzas. This neighborhood favorite is both rustic and relaxing and is a great destination for an evening out with a friend or for a date; especially in warmer months when you can dine outside on their street side patio.
Best known for their small plates, many of the handmade pasta selections can be ordered as a main dish if you are not in the mood to share. Coppa’s menu is primarily comprised of small bar snacks $5-$8; Italian meats cut from their beautiful Berkel slicer (see below) $10; Antipasti $7-$9; wood fired pizzas $14-$16; handmade pastas $13-$16.
On this visit we started our meal with Burrata ($9) and arancini, two fried risotto balls stuffed with cheese ($6). The Burrata was creamy and cool on the palate. The flavoring of the pesto and honey in particular makes this antipasti worth trying again. By contrast the arancini was warm and salty. Upon cutting the arancini, we could see all the delicious, melted fontina cheese.
As if the aromas coming from the kitchen isn’t enough to set your mouth watering our first two “small plates” awakened our appetites and we dived into the Cavatelli di Pollo ($13) and Feta di Popeye pizza ($14) (shown below). The pasta was surprisingly salty and left me wanting more. The pizza, topped with melting feta cheese and spinach, was slightly blackened from the wood-oven. Having both pasta and pizza is carb loading, but it is an undeniably delicious combination and one I suggest especially when sharing like I did.
Coppa is located at 253 Shawmut Ave in the South End; open 7-days a week and serves lunch during weekdays starting at 12pm.
Restaurant Tip: Getting a table is difficult in part because of Coppa’s reputation and in part because it is so tiny so make a reservation or try visiting for lunch or early in the week when it is less crowded.
If you drive into Boston and park next to a parking lot that is completely full, on a block where cars are only parked on one side of the street and you think to yourself, “this is the perfect place to park“.
Sorry suburban Mom or Dad, but if you read the sign just in front of where you parked you would see that street cleaning was scheduled that morning.
Each Monday I blog about profiles of men on Twitter who catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following. As always, suggestions for profiles to feature are welcome. If you’d like to follow me on twitter, you can find me @BosGuy. You can find me talking about these men on Twitter by searching the #MenOfTwitter.
Keeping with a recent trend of featuring couples I’d like to introduce you to a young couple who live together in southern California.
whattaboutjeff – Jeffrey is in his mid 20s and lives in West Hollywood (what a good gay) with his fiance, Justin, whom is also featured in this post. Jeffrey is originally from Manhattan but he moved out west four years ago to work as a surgical nurse. He Tweets often and mostly about his life with his partner, and I’m fairly certain you will find his current shirtless profile picture very distracting.
allaboutjust – A.K.A. Justin is also a 20-something living the good life in sunny southern California. Originally from South Dakota he moved to L.A. last May to work as an ER nurse (God bless!) Justin is quite funny. In his Twitter profile he describes himself as “a good vein whisperer”… So less scary now that you know he’s an ER nurse, right? I was thinking he’d watched one too many episodes of True Blood.
Here is an adorable photo of the happy young couple. When I asked them to tell me something they enjoy doing together they mentioned their love of wine and how they often visit Napa Valley. They are saving money and contemplating a visit to Italy. I say that’s a must for wine enthusiasts and foodies alike. 
Have you seen the Out Traveler article 5 gay travel trends for 2012? This article was first published in January, but I just saw it and thought I’d share the trends. Are you a traveler? What do you think of these trends?
Digital Detox: Apparently more of us are intentionally seeking destinations best described as a “no phone zone”. Although this was not intended when I went on the Atlantis Caribbean Cruise in February, I didn’t miss my phone at all.
Experiential Cruising: The magazine suggests exploring remote destinations by cruising on smaller ships is gaining popularity. The magazine lists some names of particular cruise lines to consider if interested.
Emerging Destinations: Gay travelers are looking beyond some of the more traditionally popular destinations opting for places like Peru or South Africa. I’ve always wanted to see Cape Town so I’m not surprised by this one bit.
Immersion Conversion: More of us are looking to immerse themselves within a local culture to have a truer local experience of what life in that destination is really like. The article lists examples such as taking cheese-making classes in Italy – sounds delicious.
Travel Agent Revival: I’m sort of circumspect of this since the article was written by an American Express travel agent, but some of the trends listed above would be far easier to try with the aide of an experienced travel agent.
Intrigued and want to read the article online? Check out the Out Traveler article, 5 gay travel trends for 2012.
Earlier today, the New York Post wrote about an 83 year old grandmother who is suing Apple for $1 million. The article title, Pane & suffering at the Apple Store, more or less says it all.
Evelyn Paswall claims Apple’s signature glass architecture is a menace after she failed to see the glass door at a the store’s Long Island location and smashed her face, breaking her nose. I’m trying to be sympathetic to what otherwise would make me laugh, but her decision to sue Apple for such an outrageous amount makes it tough for me to muster the sympathy and not view her as an opportunist and gold digger.
You can read the article in it’s entirety here.
Looks like someone needed to take a time out.
I saw this very funny (although not appropriate for work) video on the DanNation blog and knew I wanted to share this. You can check out the lyrics if you like at Celebridyke blog.
Enjoy
One thing that seems to be missing from the conservative movement in the US is a sense of irony. So one shouldn’t assume drag queens creating a video that mocks the Christian-right owned Chick-fil-A, is an endorsement. I figured I’d spell that out for the less sophisticated who may by accident find this corner of the internet.
The winter of 2012 was blissfully mild, and with temperatures earlier this week hitting 80+ degrees more than once there is a lot of hope that spring will make a lasting impression and banish any thoughts winter might have to make one last push.
Mother nature is schizophrenic in the South End. Some trees are in full bloom while others appear to be just awakening from their winter slumber and only have tiny buds shooting forth as this photo from Shawmut Ave / Waltham St intersection shows.
Just a little eye candy for my gay readers to get you through the day.
I love my partner. He’s one of the most interesting individuals I’ve ever met. Thirteen years together and he can still surprise me; mind you not all of those surprises are pleasant, but I love the fact that he can still keep me guessing.
Having said that, last night we had one of those conversations old married couples have; those conversations that never seem to end nor provide an element of satisfaction for either party. Forty-five minutes into talking about our home remodeling for perhaps the zillionth time it occurred to me “You (my partner – just to be clear) are insane” while another part of me was thinking “This must be love“. Who else would I ever argue for years on end about wall coloring, fabric and furnishings? Proving beyond any doubt in my mind, love is most definitely painful and certainly crazy.
Sorry, I’m suddenly getting a bit verklempt. Discuss amooangst yooaselves…
The “dirty” post from earlier this week proved to be far more popular than I would have ever anticipated. Mental note never to underestimate the sex appeal of Henry Cavill.
Anyway, my good friend on Twitter @JustGngr appreciated the “dirty” theme and brought my attention to C-IN2’s “Filthy” line of underwear. While I do not post any advertising on my blog (I like to think of myself as a low-brow, slightly vulgar version of NPR for the LGBT community), I’m not opposed to promoting certain brands.
Feel free to check out C-IN2’s Filthy line.
BosGuy 