One month from today is Opening Day at Fenway Park. At 2:05pm local time the Boston Red Sox will host the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and this city will be abuzz with excitement.
Last week travel website, TripAdvisors.com, named the top hotels in the United States as voted by their 20 million members. The Waldorf Astoria in Chicago (depicted below) was ranked the best hotel in the US. I’ve listed the top five and included a link to the larger list for all you travel fans looking to book your next destination.
1 – Waldorf Astoria ♦ Chicago
2 – The Grand del Mar ♦ San Diego
3 – Four Seasons ♦ Maui at Wailea
4 – Old Edwards Inn & Spa ♦ Highlands, NC
5 – Heathman Hotel ♦ Kirkland, WA
Boston’s Hotel Commonwealth which is just around the corner from Fenway Park was named the 6th best hotel. I can’t say that I’ve ever stayed there so I couldn’t comment on the amenities or service, but the hotel does have two very good restaurants and is conveniently located in the Fenway so it doesn’t surprise me that it was recognized by travelers.
If you’d like to see the full list of Best Hotels or if you would like to see TripAdvisors list of best luxury hotels, Inns, or Spas, you can check out members’ rankings here.
David over at WGB has decided it’s time to take a break from blogging. WickeGayBlog, which started with a definite Boston slant (hence the name), over the years became more focused on gay issues and pop culture. However, David (a resident of Hull, MA) never forgot his roots and remains a great supporter of my blog and other local bloggers.
I have an irrational relationship with a handful of blogs – and David’s is one of them. I go to David’s site at least once a day and have enjoyed the banter back and forth over the past few years that has evolved in our online communications. I do hope that he eventually returns to blogging but if he doesn’t I still wanted to acknowledge his contributions and express how much I admire both David and his commitment to his blog over the past 5+ years.
Stop by and leave a comment on his blog. He’ll be blogging through the end of May.
Hunky Ben Cohen is on the cover of the April / May issue of Metrosource magazine. Ben poses for photographer, Edwin Santiago, in the latest issue and talks about his transition from a British rugby star to an ally of the gay community with his Standup Foundation, dedicated to anti-bullying.
Next to Normal, The SpeakEasy Stage’s latest production, explores a family that is anything but what its name implies. This rock musical centers around a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder, and how she and her family are impacted. This musical which opened on Broadway in 2009 and went on to receive 11 Tony nominations is making its Boston premiere at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in the South End.
SpeakEasy Stage’s production is compelling. Kerry A. Dowling’s performance as Diana – the housewife struggling with bipolar disorder – is reason enough to see the show. However, Dowling is not forced to carry the show on her own, the entire cast comes together. In particular, I found myself extremely sympathetic to the high school daughter, Natalie, played by Sarah Drake who’s struggling to make sense of her life which lacks love and attention from her ill mother and her father too obsessed with “saving” his wife to notice her. More than once I could hear sniffles from the audience so I know I wasn’t the only one touched by this performance.
Next to Normal was extended and now runs through Sunday, April 15th. I dare you to step out of your “normal” routine and make date to check out this new show. Be sure to bring along some friends, because after the curtain drops you’ll want to talk about what you just saw. You can read more about the show and purchase tickets online here.
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 hash mark.
In lieu of featuring two separate profiles, this week I’m featuring one Twitter handle that is managed by a rather interesting couple. Check out their story.
FlashPackAt40 – This week I’m featuring a couple, John & Craig, who met 20+ years ago in London. Over the years they have traveled extensively but at the end of 2011 they decided to sell nearly everything they own and purchased a one-way ticket to Australia to travel and see the world together for the next two years. They refer to their current adventure as “flashpacking” and have created a travel blog to document their experiences which you can check out here, flashpackat40.com.
Three months into their adventure, John depicted on the left has listed New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney and their time in Bali as his favorite memories. Incidentally its John’s birthday today so wish him well.
Craig depicted on the right lists the helicopter ride they took around fox glacier and mount cook as his highlight. If you are a beer lover, you’ll appreciate Craig’s commitment to sample as many types of beers from around the world on his travels.
Next stop: the Philippines followed by Taiwan, S. Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, China, Nepal and India.
I’d feel better if I knew he suffered from halitosis.
Loving Serrano’s Adele vs. Daft Punk remix of Something About the Fire. It may not be everyone’s liking, but I love the mash-up, lounge vibe and think it makes for a relaxing way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon. Pop a bottle of a sparkling wine, sit down with some friends and enjoy. Remix by Carlos Serrano
Sarah Palin was a guest this past Thursday on Fox’s Sean Hannity. According to reports, America’s most infamous Hockey Mom said of President Obama, and I quote from the article in today’s DailyBeast, “Our sitting president was not vetted,” referring to the 2008 election.
Um… my initial thought was too vulgar to write (my Mom and sisters are regular readers of my blog) but after my mental synapses stopped overheating from possible responses (considering the source) I thought, “How could you of all people level that accusation?”
What is she talking about? Was she not following the bruising Democratic Primary that went a heck of a lot longer than the current Republican Presidential Primary has gone? Did she follow the series of debates, which aided in the vetting process? Oh yeah, I forgot, she was busy watching Russia from her house in Alaska and must have missed all that. Oy vey this woman annoys me.
Tonight Boston’s SpeakEasy Stage production of Next to Normal opens at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in the South End. This play won 3 Tony Awards and received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama so I know the story line will be compelling. According to the website the show has a pop rock musical score which should add an element of drama to this story of a suburban family dealing with the direct and indirect effects of mental illness.
The cast of six includes three handsome faces who are making their debut with the SpeakEasy Stage. Native New Yorker – Chris Caron, Northeastern University graduate – Michael Levesque, and Boston Conservatory’s very own – Michael Tacconi.
Look for my review of the show early next week, and in the interim start talking to friends to line up a date to step out and enjoy this show.
Posted in Theater
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Calderwood Pavilion, SpeakEasy Stage, Theater
Feeling sluggish?
Need a little extra something to get going? Maybe what you need is a swig of this drink which claims to be “The Manliest Drink on Earth”.
I might suggest the distributor try sharing samples at Bear Week in Provincetown as a way to increase brand awareness.
Thanks to Mark over at Tales of the Sissy for posting and bringing this to my attention. After my initial reaction of “Ick”… I laughed pretty hard.
Last year’s Arab spring led to toppling several long standing dictatorships. Unfortunately the Arab spring has turned into what looks like a civil war in Syria. Horrible reports are regularly broadcast about how children are being targeted and how the army is bombing hospitals so the wounded cannot be tended to. I’ve had to stop watching the news because it is so upsetting.
For those who follow world events, what I’m writing is not news and for those who may not be aware, I assume its because you have a lack of interest (hopefully not sympathy) in these people’s plight. Watching the lack of any meaningful response from the U.N. and more importantly from neighbors in the region like Turkey, I’m left to surmise if evil does exist it must manifest in situations like this.
BosGuy 