Saturday, September 15 from 12 – 6PM at Boston Common
Some of the best people watching in Boston will take place this weekend on the Boston Common when tens of thousands come together for Boston’s 23rd Freedom Rally, often referred to as Hempfest.
The afternoon event includes vendors, music, plenty of food and a line up of speakers including Congressman Barney Frank (MA). If you’re new to Boston or never have been, this is a fun, free event that is worth checking out and guaranteed to give you a good chuckle or two.
You may learn more about this event here. The Boston Freedom Rally strives to educate people about marijuana and to build a consensus for a more rational public policy regarding all uses of the cannabis plant.
Earlier this month I wrote about The Welcoming Committee in Boston. This group, which grew out of the popular Guerrilla Queer Bar, organizes friendly take-overs of traditionally straight venues by the Boston LGBT community. Now that “Take Over” mentality, which brings a feeling of safety in numbers for the LGBT community is ready to go viral with The Welcoming Committee’s application on iTunes.
The application, first reported by Huffingtonpost UK yesterday (go figure), works beautifully. On the first day the application was available popular “Take Over” locations included a restaurant in the South End and a bar in Davis Square. While I’d like to see the app allow people to self identify, this first of its kind is pretty cool and very easy to use. You can easily set up a “Take Over” event anywhere if you have the app on your iPhone (sorry it’ll be available for Droid shortly).
My enthusiasm for public art and funding these initiatives is not always shared, but I think commissioning public art installations is essential to any city and community. So I was thrilled to see the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA-Boston) have two famous street artists from Brazil create larger than life murals in the city of Boston.
Os Gemos – identical twin brothers and street artists from Brazil – are currently hosting their first museum show in the United States at the ICA-Boston. While the show is here in Boston this large temporary mural will dominate Dewey Square in Boston’s financial district.
You may read more about the installation and view a slide show of the creation of the mural as well as the show at the ICA-Boston here.
The 4th annual Ice Cream Showdown will be held on the Rose Kennedy Greenway from 2-4PM today.
Some of the city’s most delicious ice cream shops will be on hand sampling their creamy treats to all who support the event. Money raised will go to benefit Community Servings and Lovin’ Spoonfuls; two local nonprofit organizations who help feed Boston’s less fortunate. This year’s one day ice cream celebration will feature newcomers FoMu, along with JP Licks, Giovanna Gelato e Sorbet, Picco, and Toscanini’s.
Guerrilla Queer Bar (GQB) Boston will take over another “straight” bar tonight, making it one of the largest gay bars in Boston for one night. This month’s bar is the trendy OM Lounge in Harvard Sq. With all the students back expect a large crowd. Get there at 9PM to avoid a long line to get in the door.
GQB announces the location of each take-over the day before on their Facebook page and via their parent organization’s (TWC) Twitter account. Learn more about GQB and TWC on their website here.
This morning, while I was driving Sergio from the South End into the Back Bay, we were inching down Dartmouth Street which at certain times of the day (like the morning commute) is very slow moving.
As if the reputation of Boston drivers isn’t bad enough
One reason it is so tough to get down Dartmouth Street is because jerks drivers block intersections. I usually just shake my head and think “dumb ass” so I was agog when this Boston police cruiser paused at the crosswalk then opted to drive another 10′ forward essentially blocking off any cars on Appleton Street (the intersection).
Notice the space behind the cruiser? That’s because we stayed back behind the crosswalk in case the cruiser would decide to back up. The cruiser and I parted ways about a half mile down the road when I turned onto Huntington Avenue. I wonder how many other intersections this car blocked as he/she went on their way?
Boston.com recently posted a quick and easy survey that supposedly identifies the Boston neighborhood which suits your personality best. Are you a Boston resident? Contemplating a move to Boston? Or have you never visited and curious what part of town to book your hotel? Take this survey; it is all in good fun.
Thanks to blogger / friend Julian for telling me about this.
The new scott james store in Boston recently moved to new digs at 173 Newbury Street, and to celebrate the store will distribute Fashion Night Out (FNO) Survival Kits on Thursday to men who visit their store while supplies last.
Each kit includes SWAG from Billy Jealousy, Emerge Salon Men’s Club, Skincando, Cape Crabbers, Dillon’s Restaurant, Taza Chocolate and scott james. Select kits include scott james gift cards valued up to $250 and one lucky guy will win a free night stay at the coveted Revere Hotel.
FNO Boston is later this week on Thursday, September 6th. I’ll be stopping by the new scott james store and plan on attending their party at the Revere Hotel’s Emerald Lounge later that evening.
Plan on stopping by their new store at 173 Newbury Street to find out more about the party, or if you cannot join – follow my Tweets on Thursday evening.
Not familiar with TWC? Its affiliated with Guerrilla Queer Bar (GQB), a group that achieved notoriety for taking over bars the first Friday of each month not typically considered gay or gay-friendly. GQB nights in Boston routinely brings 500+ 20 and 30-somethings. Later this week GQB will be hosting their next take over. Interested? Check out TWC FB page for more information. The success of that group has now expanded to include The Welcoming Committee (TWC).
Recognizing it can be hard to connect with people and gay and lesbian men and women may feel uncomfortable venturing out on their own to certain venues, TWC started planning social events that take a page out of the Guerrilla Queer Bar playbook; planning social events away from the bars and in locations not typically considered “gay”.
This group has hopes their “take over” model will go viral. To encourage the Boston LGBT community to connect and explore other places in the city, they have launched what I believe is the first mobile app of its kind. NOTE: At the time this post was published the App was not available. It is awaiting approval by Apple and is expected very soon.
I previously wrote about how many Bostonians have a September 1 lease in my post, here. I love this photo which was taken just a few blocks from where I live in the South End. Thanks to my friend Brit for sharing.
Due to the large student population in Boston, many rental properties have a 9/1 lease. Since so many move on the same day in Boston, one must be prepared so I’ve included a few tips to share for those packing today.
1. Find a parking spot near your new apartment and get your car/ van / truck there ASAP. By the time this post publishes people will be double-parked along the main streets of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Fenway and Kenmore, Allston, Brighton and through out Cambridge.
2. Call your friends and bribe them heavily to help you move. You’ll need all the help you can get so plan on buying a lot of beer and pizza.
3. If you have not already, call your utility company to schedule hook-ups for services like internet. If you wait until you are already moved in you might be left waiting a lot longer than you expect as half the city calls Comcast and Verizon.
Fashion’s Night Out (FNO – 2012) is coming back to Boston next Thursday, September 6th.
Check out FNO Boston’s facebook page to stay up to date on everything that will be happening. I’ll be blogging more about this fun night out and hope to see you on Thursday September 6th. Til then, enjoy this very cool promo video for FNO NYC.
Hotel rates in Boston often run $300 – $500 a night for a standard room at a chain hotel. However, travelling became a bit cheaper in Boston this summer when the city’s new 480 bed hostel opened in June 2012.
This new property offers those backpacker-friendly group rooms for $29 a night as well as private rooms for $120 – $150. The rooms are spartan as compared to four and five star hotels, but they are comfortable and a good option for the right traveler. Earlier this summer The Boston Globe included a series of photos showcasing the property which you may see here.
Conveniently located in Boston’s Theater District this state of the art building is steps to all the downtown neighborhoods of Boston. While Boston’s hostel may not be for everyone – this beautiful new building provides options to those on a budget.
Want to find out more? Check out their website bostonhostel.org.
In 1770 a wealthy merchant who would become a famous patriot in the American Revolution purchased this home in Boston’s North End neighborhood. Can you name this famous man?
Saturday, September 15 from 12 – 6PM at Boston Common 
BosGuy 