Photo of Boston Common from Memorial Day 2015
In memory of all those who gave their lives for ours. Don’t disrespect their sacrifice by not participating in our democracy; volunteer, vote, get involved.
FASCINATION is a monthly gear/ fetish/ kink night at Jacques Cabaret from 9-12 every 2nd Monday and every 4th Friday of the month.
DJ Colby Drasher spins dark electronic, rock, techno, ambient, and deep house, and Michael Flowers shares visual projections highlighting both original footage as well as scenes from vintage kink cinema. Although the event is leather inspired, all are welcome and the event is gender inclusive with a cross section of Boston fetish culture (rubber, sports gear, bondage, S&M, pup play).
Baby Dyke Weekend a.k.a. Women’s Weekend kicks off the 2016 season in Ptown
What to do this week: May 23rd – May 29th
Funny Face is one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn films and it will be showing Monday, May 23 at 7PM at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Brookline
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8pm) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30 AM every Wednesday in Boston
TWC Red Sox Takeover join one of my favorite social groups as they head to Fenway park on Wednesday, May 25 in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public
Fall Out Boy Burlesque show starts at 8PM at Club Cafe; tickets cost $15 if purchased online ahead of the show on Thursday, May 26 in Boston
Women’s Weekend starts on Thursday, May 26 and runs through Memorial Day in Provincetown
Therapy GLOW party 18+ from 11:55PM to 5:00 AM starting on Friday, May 27 in Providence
Dont Ask Dont Tell is a monthly gay party hosted at Great Scott in Allston. This month they pay tribute to Robyn on Saturday, May 28 in Boston
4th Annual White Party celebrates Memorial Day Weekend at Mainestreet Bar on Sunday, May 29 in Ogunquit
Indigo Girls perform during “Women’s Week” at the Town Hall on Sunday, May 29 in Provincetown
South End Open Market and SOWA Open Market return separately in the South End every Sunday from 10am – 4pm in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
One of Boston’s most popular parks is opening for the summer season this weekend, starting Saturday, May 21st.
Tom, a.k.a. @BostonTweet, snapped this photo earlier this week and posted it on Twitter with the caption, “The swings on @LawnonD are all set for opening day on Saturday“.
Source: BostonTweet
More details about the programming they have scheduled for their opening weekend is available on their website or on Facebook here.
New Development: South Bay Town Center, 1,000,000 Sq Ft in Dorchester
Two large real estate developments in neighborhoods near the South End were given the green light last week by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
The first development, South Bay Town Center, aims to give the South Bay Shopping Center a more residential feel. The project reminds me of the Avalon At Assembly Row development in Somerville. South Bay Shopping Center will include five 6-story buildings that will include one million square feet with 475 units of housing (62 reserved for affordable units), a 130-room hotel, 125,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a cinema and two parking garages for approximately 1,100 vehicles. Work on the large project will take place in three phases and is expected to be completed by mid 2018.
New Seaport Residential Development
One of the largest developments to date in the Seaport was also approved last week. The newly approved project in Seaport Square will have 735 condos and apartments over 3.5 acres, plus 125,000 square feet of retail and 300,000 square feet of underground parking. Current plans show one tower with 275 condos, another with 180 condos, and a third with 280 apartments (or condos, depending on the market).
The project proposal also includes a pedestrian mall called Atrium Lane and a central plaza called Harbor Square. I’m curious to see how this project takes shape and if any affordable units will be included in this (my least favorite) downtown neighborhood in Boston.
Cyndi Lauper and Boy George perform at Wang Theatre Saturday, May 21
What to do this week: May 16th – May 22nd
Opus Affair are celebrating their 8th anniversary at their monthly social from 6-9PM at The Hawthorne in Boston
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8pm) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30 AM every Wednesday in Boston
Out to Climb is hosting a LGBT takeover of rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders starting at 6:30PM on Wednesday, May 18 in Somerville
The Fellows monthly social for 30- & 40-somethings is at Highball Lounge near Park St T from 7 – 9:30PM on Wednesday, May 18 in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public.
Boyfriends is a monthly gay party held the third Friday of every month at the Milky Way Lounge in JP takes place this month on Friday, May 20 in Boston
Therapy GLOW party 18+ from 11:55PM to 5:00 AM starting on Friday, May 20 in Providence
Cyndi Lauper & Boy George will be performing at the Wang Theatre starting at 7:30 on Saturday, May 21 in Boston
Lucky 13 Amateur Burlesque 13 contestants perform solo burlesque acts for a cash prize on Saturday, May 21 in Boston
Opening weekend for Lawn On D has plenty planned including a Sunday night showing of Fever Pitch in Boston
South End Open Market and SOWA Open Market return separately in the South End every Sunday from 10am – 4pm in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Boston’s annoying liquor laws seem to irritate just about everyone I know. One law that looks to be changing is the city’s decades-old prohibition of the ‘bring your own booze’ (BYOB) to restaurants. Known for draconian laws with all things related to alcohol, maybe the Boston Licensing Board overturned a ban on BYOB; a trend that started in the 1920s as a way for restaurants to bypass Prohibition-era laws.
Boston Thrillist wrote a nice article on “What You Need To Know” which I’ve distilled for you below if you want to know more.
1 – Nothing has actually changed yet. The changes if implemented will go into effect at the end of this year (not sure the exact date yet).
2 – BYOB won’t be available everywhere. Places with a liquor license will not qualify; mostly this will apply to smaller restaurants with 30 or fewer seats, dine-in service and the appropriate insurance.
3 – Restaurants can charge you a corkage fee.
You can read the full article in Thrillist which was written in January before the Boston Licensing Board overturned the ban online, here.
What to do this week: May 9th – May 15th
Fascination is Boston’s Gear / Kink / Fetish night at Jacques in BayVillage on Monday, May 9 in Boston
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8pm) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30 AM every Wednesday in Boston
Stump Trivia lets you impress your friends with all the trivia you know from 5PM – 10PM every Wednesday at Cathedral Station in Boston
DotOUT’s Midweek Meltdown check out this friendly n’hood social at the Blarney Stone from 6:30 – 9:00 PM in Dorchester
Rugby Lip Sync Competition Ironsides Rugby club invites you to their fundraiser / lip sync competition Wednesday, May 11 at Club Cafe in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public.
FUZZ Boston is a fun and friendly monthly party hosted this weekend in Downtown Crossing at the Alley Bar on Friday, May 13 in Boston
Therapy GLOW party 18+ from 11:55PM to 5:00 AM starting on Friday, May 13 in Providence
South End Open Market and SOWA Open Market return separately in the South End every Sunday from 10am – 4pm in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Boston before the Big Dig
Curbed Boston had an interesting post this week, Boston’s Newer Parks: Now and Then. The image above shows Boston’s elevated expressway; the predecessor to our now submerged expressway (a.k.a. The Big Dig) that modernized the North / South route and reconnected downtown neighborhoods that had been separated by the imposing, noisy and dirty expressway.
The Rose Kennedy Greenway replaced traffic and pollution with parks
The Big Dig may still be the butt of many jokes regarding cost overruns and delays, but everyone I know agrees the city is much better and more beautiful because of the Big Dig. What was once a hulking mass of steel with too many exits and terrible traffic has given way to beautiful parks and space for the public to enjoy. I give the city a lot of credit for reserving this space for the public.
The Curbed Boston article has more images like this that you can view here.
Boston’s Godfrey Hotel says their new restaurant RUKA will open this fall.
Yesterday several local food blogs wrote about what had been one of the worst kept secrets in Boston’s restaurant industry. The restaurant group behind Yvonne’s in Downtown Crossing will open a new restaurant called RUKA this fall at the Godfrey Hotel in Downtown Crossing.
The RUKA press release mentions that Chef Preston Miller will be the Executive Chef, and the menu will combine elements of traditional Peruvian cooking with strong influences of Japanese ‘nikkei’ cuisine. This type of cooking dates back to the late 19th century when approximately 7,000 Japanese workers came to Peru on special two year work contracts. Many remained after their two year contract was up and their fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cooking came to be known as ‘nikkei’ cuisine, which in recent years has become trendy in Europe.
For more information about nikkei cuisine link here.
The Boatslip’s first Tea Dance of 2016 is Friday, May 6th
What to do this week: May 2nd – May 8th
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8pm) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30 AM every Wednesday in Boston
Stump Trivia lets you impress your friends with all the trivia you know from 5PM – 10PM every Wednesday at Cathedral Station in Boston
Karaoke Kween is a lot of fun and if you’re good you may nab the $75 cash prize at the end of the night – hosted every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public.
First Tea at Boatslip It is the first Tea Dance of the 2016 season at the Boatslip starting at 4PM Friday, May 6 in Provincetown.
SoWa First Fridays allows you to peruse galleries and artist studios in the South End from 5 – 9PM on Friday, May 6 in Boston
Guerrilla Queer Bar overtakes a traditionally “straight bar” the first Friday of each month – location is TBA on Friday, May 6 in Boston
Kentucky Derby Party starts at 4PM at Boston Chops in Boston
Southern Maine AIDS Walk at 2PM in Ogunquit
South End Open Market and SOWA Open Market return separately in the South End every Sunday from 10am – 4pm in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
South End Open Market and the SOWA Market are separated by 3 blocks and keep similar hours 10 AM – 4PM. Both markets will also operate every Sunday through the end of October 2016 so come down and check them out.
Below are some details about the two markets that I pulled from their websites and recent emails.
The SOWA Market
• Over 80 talented, carefully selected artisans are located in the parking lot at 450 Harrison Avenue / 365 Albany Street.
• Food Market with over 50 vendors as well as a “Farmers Table”, where vendors will cook their products to order. Located in the parking lot at 500 Harrison Ave.
• Over 15 of Boston’s Food Trucks and a new beer and wine garden will be set up nearby at 540 – 560 Harrison Avenue.
For more information link here.
The South End Open Market
• The Arts Market will feature over 100 local vendors.
• Food Truck Market will have 15 food trucks for you to try.
• Farmers’ Market will include 60 vendor stands every Sunday.
For more information link here.
Dueling markets (South End Open Market & SOWA Market) open Sunday, May 1, 2016
What to do this week: April 25th – May 1st
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8pm) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30-7:30 AM every Wednesday in Boston
Stump Trivia lets you impress your friends with all the trivia you know from 5PM – 10PM every Wednesday at Cathedral Station in Boston
Karaoke Kween is a lot of fun and if you’re good you may nab the $75 cash prize at the end of the night – hosted every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston
The Theater Offensive climACTS! fundraiser takes place at Icon Nightclub on Thursday, April 28, starting at 6PM in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public.
Queer Threads opening reception features works of art from the Leslie-Lohman Museum at the Mills Gallery at the BCA Friday, April 29 in Boston
Sing Out! A Tribute to Rent celebrates this popular musical with all proceeds going to the Harbor to the Bay on Saturday, April 30 at 6pm in Boston
So Hot Saturdae’s: Wig Party starts at 10PM at Peggy O’Neil’s Pub and Grille on Saturday, April 30 in Boston
Drag Brunch join Verna Turbulence for her fabulous brunch at Club Cafe to benefit the Boston Living Center on Sunday, May 1 in Boston
South End Open Market and SOWA Open Market return as two separate markets separated by just blocks on Sunday, May 1 in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Today, Boston is home to the largest proportion of Millennials of any major US city. People age 20 to 34 make up more than a third of Boston’s population, with even higher percentages in Cambridge (44.5%) and Somerville (44%).
Juxtapose that fact with news that realtor.com has now named Boston as the city most empty nestors want to flock to in 2016. This older demographic of retirees 65- 74 are attributed with fueling the demand for the many luxury condominiums going up all over downtown Boston.
According to realtor.com, this demographic no longer want the responsibilities associated with home ownership and many are selling the homes they raised their families and moving into urban centers where they can walk to meet friends for a coffee, go shopping or see a show.
In September 2013 seventy-five pianos were installed in public locations across Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville for anyone to play. The “Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours” public piano installation was to commemorate the 75th season of the Celebrity Series of Boston.
Earlier this week The Celebrity Series of Boston reported that the popular art installment Play, Me, I’m Yours will return to Boston this fall (September 23-October 10, 2016). This time, sixty pianos will be decorated by local artists and spread across every neighborhood in Boston and select Cambridge locations.
However, before the pianos hit the streets of Boston, each piano will become a piece of visual art, created by a local artist. Celebrity Series is asking visual artists of all backgrounds, artistic abilities and mediums to apply to decorate one of the sixty pianos that will be available to the public this fall. Artist applications will be accepted through May 25 at streetpianosboston.org.
BosGuy 
