I do love flying Virgin, but I’d be tempted to try the competition
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Yearly Archives: 2012
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$1 Legal’s Chowdah on January 11th
Thanks to Adam who writes the Boston Hospitality and Tourism blog for letting us all know that one of Boston’s best known seafood restaurant chains, Legal Seafood’s, will be offering diners a cup of its famous clam chowder for $1 (with the purchase of an entree) tomorrow on January 11th in celebration of national soup month.
Legal’s Chowdah Day will also be celebrated online where on January 11th one can purchase a quart of chowder for $11. Legal Seafood’s award winning clam chowder has been served at every presidential inauguration since 1981.
No Pants Subway Ride – thank you
On Sunday, January 8th Boston participated in the 5th Annual “No Pants Subway Ride”. This year we decided to dress as superheroes, and I have to admit we were pretty successful at turning more than a few heads (not to mention making several young kids squeal with delight at seeing their favorite superheroes).
I’d like to say thank you to the following media outlets and bloggers for sharing the video I created on YouTube. The following day, Monday, January 9th was the busiest day ever for my blog and these individuals were responsible for making that possible.
Universal Hub “Pantsless Planker” article Thank you Adam
Towleroad Thank you for including the video alongside NYC’s event
BostonTweet Twitter Gawds in Boston w 45k+ followers – Thanks Tom
Metro Boston The free daily in Boston posted my video (Hooray!)
BostonInno blog Also posted this on their blog and tweeted it out
DwightSupremacy Blog Provided pics and videos from various rides
Apologies to anyone I may have missed and thank you to all of you.
Tweet of the day: LOLGOP
In light of today’s NH Primary, I thought I’d feature a new Twitter profile rather than just a single Tweet like I normally do. Recently, I’ve been following @LOLGOP and I think those with Liberal tendencies will enjoy this profile.
LOLGOP’s Twitter profile reads, “When you go from Eisenhower to Nixon to Reagan to W. to Palin to Bachmann to Perry to Cain to Newt to Santorum, it must be difficult to believe in evolution.” Never really thought of it that way but for those familiar with the individuals referenced it does seem like a regression and could just about convince me that evolution may indeed be a theory as several of those mentioned above believe.
Here is an example of one of @LOLGOP recent Tweets:
The Facebook profile is also pretty funny for those of you who may enjoy this sort of thing but are not using Twitter. Recent comments on the LOLGOP wall seem to include both political commentary and humor including these gems.
Santorum – n. a likely result of abstinence education
Mitt Romney attending a very early meeting of the Entitlement Society
Sarah Palin is in the middle of a run on sentence she began when she was 17
Restaurant review: Masa
Masa is a restaurant in Boston’s South End which has stood the test of time (first opening back in 1999). Because of its location near where Tremont Street crosses over the Mass Pike, I often overlook or forget about this restaurant with a southwestern inspired menu. The dining room can get quite loud but oversized booths along the far side of the restaurant can provide a more private (less jostling) dining experience.
Masa’s dinner menu is divided into “First Course” with most options between $8-$14 and “Main Course” with most options between $18-$30. They have a collection of tempting cocktails and some tasty appetizers which can boost one’s bill, but based on our recent dining experience – it was money well spent. We enjoyed a delicious meal courtesy of Chef Philip Aviles and were well attended by our waiter, Shawn, who I have to credit with suggesting I try the hibiscous caipirinha ($12). Props must also go to their bartender Greg Neises for creating this cocktail. It’s been a hit since it was first introduced to their drink menu in the summer of 2010. (PHOTO: Joeal Veak)
Photographed below is the dinner special – pork chop with ranchero tomato salsa, grilled baby corn, large chile onion rings, and garlic whipped potato for $26.95. And a signature dish at Masa, blackened rare ahi tuna steak on yellow mole and accompanied by potatoes and wild mushrooms for $24.95. Both meals were very flavorful and filling. The only knock against the food was the seafood special (not shown) it was so light and the portions so much smaller that the couple who ordered this left Masa still a bit hungry. By contrast the portions shown below were large and heavy enough that we were sated.
Masa is not the place one visits for a serious conversation or a romantic “date night” but it offers a creative menu filled with options that tempt both in liquid and solid form. If you have not tried Masa (or in our case if it has been a few years), I’d encourage you to give the place a try. They also have a boisterous bar filled with several options again in liquid and solid form sure to tempt you.
Masa is located in Boston’s South End at 439 Tremont Street
Reservations are highly recommended. Tel: (617) 338-8884
Posted in Cocktails, Restaurant Review, South End
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Masa Boston, Restaurant Review
Men of Twitter
Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles of men 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. Below are this week’s #MenOfTwitter.
If so inclined, leave them a nice comment and start following on Twitter.
BrodieWest – Brodie lives in Sydney Australia and works for DNA Magazine as their marketing and advertising manager. Don’t be deceived – behind that million dollar smile is a brain and a person who has something to say. Brodie’s good body is due to his focus on fitness, which probably started when he played for the Tassie Tigers in Australia’s National Hockey League. Should you be in Sydney for Mardi Gras, look for this party boy with a heart. #AwesomeAussie
Lukey99 – Luke is originally from Wales but now calls London home. It is a pity Twitter doesn’t allow you to listen to his Welsh accent when reading his Tweets. Luke joins a long line of men from the UK who I’ve featured and I think he’ll do them all quite proud. Aside from his piercing blue eyes and good physique, he has a rather creative bent. He currently works as a project manager for a very cool design agency in London. Luke is very friendly and easy to chat with on Twitter so do yourself a favor and check him out. #BlueEyedBloke
BTW if you like this post, retweet it. If you love this post, follow me, @BosGuy. Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter postings.
2012 Boston No Pants Subway Ride
On Sunday, January 8th hundreds of men and women descended upon Dewey Square to partake in the Boston chapter’s Society of Spontaneity’s annual “No Pants Subway Ride”.
This was the 5th annual event in Boston which is also hosted in cities around the world. The video below is more cheeky than naughty (as we saw from the advertising) it is far less revealing than the billboards and signs you will see if you ride the subway in Boston.
Spontaneous cheers were regularly heard through out the subway from young kids. Parents were horrified to see their children run from them to hug and ask their favorite superheroes why they were in Boston. And security in the Copley Mall had all they could do to stop people from photographing the two superheroes who were walking to the post party at King’s in Back Bay.
You can learn more about the Boston Society of Spontaneity here.
LGBT bookstores
Queerty’s article, The Last Chapter: A Look At LGBT Bookstores Around the World, got me to thinking about this small and quirky group that have defied the odds by remaining open, and I’d like to wish all these owners success in 2012 and beyond. I love LGBT bookstores and consider Boston lucky to still have at least one in operation.
Not too long ago most large cities had a collection of LGBT bookstores that catered to the community, but over the years, most of these have closed. Truth be told, I’m not much of a shopper, but I’ve always enjoyed nosing around a neighborhood bookstore and have visited a few of the places featured in the article. Check out Queerty’s list and consider stopping by one of these shops.
If you live in Boston or plan to visit, certainly check out Calamus Bookstore in the Leather District near South Station and Chinatown. If you’re unfamiliar with Boston, the Leather District may be a bit misleading. The neighborhood derives its name from the city’s leather tanneries located here in the 19th & 20th centuries. However, by sheer coincidence, you can buy all sorts of leather apparel at the Marquis de Sade which is just above Calamus bookstore.
More LGBT bookstores listed by city
Atlanta – Outwrite
Boston – Calamus Books
London – Gay’s the word
Paris – Les Mots a la Bouche
Philadelphia – Giovanni’s Room
Vancouver – Little Sisters
Washington DC – Kramerbooks
Share in the comments section of this post the names of any LGBT bookstores not mentioned – include the bookstore’s name, web address and city. If I get a fair number of stores, I’ll compile a list and republish in the near future.
Bills, Bills, Bills by Glee’s Darren Criss
Have bills from your holiday spending started to arrive?
Maybe this video of the charming Darren Criss and the Glee cast singing a cool mash up of Destiny’s Child – Bills Bills Bills – will put a smile on your face. I hope the damage to your wallet was not too severe and the holidays were good to you.
Boston No Pants Subway Ride this Sunday
Sunday, January 8th is the annual No Pants Subway Ride. The event, which started in NYC, now takes place in many cities (including Boston). You can read more about the 2012 No Pants Subway Ride here.
The weather in Boston will not be as cold as last year and thank goodness there is no snow but it is still projected to be downright chilly so if you plan on participating, dress warmly from the waist up. Below you can check out the video I created from Boston’s 2011 No Pants Subway Ride.
Catholic Church says have COURAGE; BosGuy says F.U.
The Catholic Church is at it once again going out of its way to tick me off. This time my ire can be traced to a diocese here in New England.
Yesterday, the Archdiocese of Hartford announced it would start ministering to people with same-sex attraction through a program called COURAGE, which currently has more than 100 chapters in the US.
People who are struggling with reconciling their faith and sexual identity can expect more of the same harmful teachings the Catholic Church loves to embrace: Love the sinner; Hate the sin.
Strange that the Church loves to only quote the most virulent lines about homosexuality from the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, even though the book essentially damns everyone in modern civilization to Hell. How convenient to leave out that being gay is equally evil as eating pork or masturbating. I think the thing I find most frustrating about this group called COURAGE is that what it is asking of these people seems less courageous and more cowardly. #Shameful
Move over California, Massachusetts is the most energy-efficient state
Earlier this week I wrote a post entitled, Why Massachusetts drives Conservatives crazy, which listed several attributes about my home state that I think should be emulated rather than ridiculed. Following the post, it was brought to my attention that earlier this past fall Massachusetts was ranked the most energy efficient state in the United States by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a private research group.
The article which was reported in USA Today provides some highlights and national trends. Massachusetts success is attributed to a 2008 Cap and Trade bill Governor Patrick signed after his predecessor, Gov. Mitt Romney, vetoed it in 2007. An Inside Climate News article reports the Massachusetts legislation has created 3,800 jobs and nearly $500 million in economic activity in the last four years in my state. You can read more about how Massachusetts has channeled its investments to help make it the most energy efficient state here.
No doubt, attributing MA success to Cap and Trade legislation will prove to be one more reason Conservatives will find fault with and taunt Massachusetts regardless of the results it has apparently yielded.
Friday cannot come fast enough
Technically it has been a short work week for me since my office was closed on Monday, January 2nd, but I can’t wait to sleep in and not think about work for two consecutive days. If this were a tweet, I’d end it with #Living4TheWkd.
BosGuy cooks: Shrimp and pasta
Pasta provides a slow release of energy without spiking your blood sugar levels. However, I like pasta because it tastes so delicious, you can buy it ahead of time and is quick and easy to cook.
Shrimp is low in saturated fat, a very good source of protein, but like all shellfish is high in cholesterol. I only buy shrimp if I’m going to consume it that evening. Despite their differences these two ingredients not only compliment each other nutritionally, but also go great together in a dinner. This recipe serves 4, costs approximately $12-$14 to purchase all the ingredients (less the dry sherry and seasonings) and can be made in under 30 minutes.
I like to prep the garlic, tomato, carrot and leek before I start cooking so I can continue without pause. Start by boiling water for your pasta then add the shrimp in a bowl with the dry sherry. You can use something else if you do not have sherry or prefer other flavoring. The shrimp will absorb the flavor of the liquid you use and it will help prevent it from drying out when it cooks.
As a next step add the leeks, garlic and carrots with 3 tbsp. of butter to a large pan on medium / medium-high heat. Let these ingredients combine and soften. I also add a pinch of salt and Italian seasonings at this point and mix thoroughly. If these cook too quickly – lower the heat and cover or remove from the burner.
Once the pasta has been added to the boiling water, wait a few minutes then add the shrimp and remaining tablespoon of butter to the vegetables. For extra flavoring you can also add a tsp of fresh lemon juice. After the pasta is nearly cooked, I like to take a full ladle of water from the boiling pot and add it to the shrimp and vegetables. This will add more sauce and keep everything from drying out. You can add more liquid if you like but you can’t remove it once its added. Draining excess liquid will result in loss of flavor.
The above left photo shows the pan when the shrimp is first added (turn the heat down slightly). After cooking for 3-5 minutes the shrimp should be mostly cooked. Add the pasta while still al dente (slightly under cooked) and stir all the ingredients together so the sauce and flavors can mingle as shown in above right photo (click on pictures to enlarge).
BosGuy 