Category Archives: Boston

Boston Summer Arts Weekend July 27-29

Boston Summer Arts WeekendThe Boston Summer Arts Weekend starts this Friday.  The weekend celebration will showcase and blend both the Boston art community as well as nationally recognized musicians, actors and artists.

Most of the three-day festival can be enjoyed in Copley Square, but additional locations will also host artists and events open to the public. Suzanne Vega (show above) will be one of many performing Saturday, July 28th.  For more information about The Boston Summer Arts Weekend, visit the event’s website.

Shakespeare on the Common starts Wed., July 25th

Boston GuyThe Commonwealth Shakespeare Company returns to the Boston Common with their 17th production of Shakespeare on the Common, on Wednesday, July 25th.  Performances will run through Sunday, August 12th.

This year the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company production is Coriolanus. Not familiar with this play written between 1605 – 1608? Neither am I but the play is based on the life of the legendary Roman leader, Caius Marcius Coriolanus.

Typical of Shakespearean plays, Coriolanus includes themes of betrayal and vengeance.  Interestingly, Hollywood has recently produced a modern interpretation of the 400+ year story and the movie includes acting heavyweights Gerard Butler, Ralph Fiennes (who also directs the movie), Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox.

Check out the trailer for the movie to get a feel for the storyline then plan an evening to come down and enjoy this free gift The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company so generously gives to the city. It is an excellent way to spend an evening with friends and support Boston’s local theater scene.  More information can be found here

Thunderstorm rolling into Boston

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Amazing photo of Boston’s waterfront as an afternoon thunderstorm wreacks havoc. The view is from the North End looking out at Boston’s airport and East Boston.

4th of July celebration in Boston

Despite the fact that Boston is a relatively small city, we happen to have one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in the nation and the program will be televised later tonight on CBS.

4th of julyThis year’s headline artist is Jennifer Hudson, and the emcee will be Massachusetts native, Michael Chiklis.

The event starts early in the day for those who want to stake out space along Boston’s beautiful Esplanade Park so they can watch and listen to the concert in person.

You can find out more about the event at www.july4th.org.

Jacques cabaret show tonight at 10:30pm

4th of July celebration

Are you in Boston this week and looking for something out of the ordinary? Check out Jacques special show tonight at 10:30.

Hmm… perhaps some of those sailors in town for Boston Navy Week should check out this show too.

What to do in Boston

Despite being a relatively small city, Boston has one of the largest 4th of July celebrations in the nation and is televised each year on CBS.

4th of julyThis year’s headline artist singing alongside the Boston Pops is Jennifer Hudson, and the host for the evening will be Michael Chiklis.

The entire event starts early in the day for those who want to stake out space along Boston’s beautiful Esplanade Park so they can watch and listen to the concert in person.

You can find out more about the event at www.july4th.org.

Aside from the obvious show on July 4th there are a few other suggestions or tips on ways you may celebrate and enjoy some of the city’s festivities leading up to the 4th of July.

Here are just a few of my suggestions.

Saturday, June 30th: Boston Navy Week Festivities by Day and Epic’s 4th of July Party by night The Tall Ships started arriving in Boston for “Navy Week” today.  A complete listing of all the festivities which are mostly along the Waterfront and in the Charlestown Navy Yard are on the event’s website.

Saturday night at the House of Blues in the Fenway is always gay night and Epic’s 4th of July party tonight should be fun.  Doors open at 10:30 but the party doesn’t really get started until midnight.

Sunday, July 1st:  Beach Day and Underbar by night Boston’s weather forecast shows the city will be in the low 90s for a third day in a row.  Be sure to get a respite from the heat and head to the beach. You can take the Commuter Rail to one of the beaches on the North or South shore or you can hop the “T” to the beach in Southie.

The Underbar in Boston’s theater district will be busy, busy, busy. Get there early to avoid the lines and enjoy Hot Mess Sunday.  The bar will start to fill up by midnight but you can beat the rush by arriving a bit early. Sunday nights at the Underbar can provide some of the best people watching around so check it out if you’ve not been.

Boston GuyMonday, July 2nd: Jacques salutes the Troops with their drag show Loose Lips – Padded Hips One of the best things about living in the US  is you can speak your mind and I have a feeling these ladies will have you rolling in your chairs if you head over to Jacques in Bay Village.

The show starts at 10:30 and there is more information on their website www.jacques-cabaret.com.

Tuesday, July 3rd:  Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell At 6PM the oval in front of the Hatch Shell opens and at 8:20 the Pops will play through their entire performance minus the super stars and fireworks.  If all you want to see is the 1812 Overture, get there before 9:30. The show concludes by 10:00.


Boston Navy Week starts today

BosGuyToday starts Boston Navy Week.  Be on the look out for sailors at the bars and roaming the streets of Boston.  If you’d like to see what official festivities and sites there are to see, you can check out the website at navyweek.org/boston2012.

Boston Navy Week: June 29 – July 6, 2012

Magic Mike

Matt Boomer in Magic Mike

Boston Navy Week (a much smaller version of Fleet Week in NYC) is June 29 – July 6.  The news release says the U.S. Navy will “come home, giving area residents an opportunity to meet Sailors” – sounds like fun.

Will you be in Boston? While many will be escaping to the coast and islands for the 4th the week (like yours truly), staying in Boston suddenly has more appeal.  With DADT repealed, don’t be surprised if you see more men in uniform at the local gay bars.

There is more information on the Boston Navy Week official site.

The Granary Tavern

The Glynn Hospitality Group opens their ninth property in Boston at 170 Milk Street along the Greenway and near Faneuil Hall today.  The two level restaurant includes lots of bar space, beautiful exposed beams, plenty of granite and exposed brick, as well as a large patio overlooking the Greenway.  The full menu will not be available until later next week.

My partner, Sergio Mazon, a Boston-based lighting designer, was tapped to help the Glynn Hospitality Group with the interior and exterior lighting of this 19th century building, which at one point operated as a granary.  I’ve yet to try the menu but here are a few snap shots of the basement level of The Granary Tavern.  You may visit The Granary Tavern at 170 Milk Street or check them out online hereGranary BostonGranary Boston

Boston BBQ Beach Party June 22-24

This weekend is the annual Phantom Gourmet’s BBQ Beach Party, or should I say Beach Paaahty? The event is located at City Hall Plaza (take the Green & Blue line to Gov’t Center T station) and costs $10 at the event but can be purchased in advance for $5. In addition to some of the best BBQ you are likely to taste, there is a mini-beer garden and plenty of other temptations for your taste buds.  The event runs from FRI and SAT 12PM – 9:45PM / SUN 12PM – 6:45PM.

More information about the event and how to purchase tickets can be found on the website.

Summer in the City Entertainment Series

Rowes WharfThe Summer in the City Entertainment Series by the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf begins again this year starting on Monday, June 18th. The popular summer series will run through the summer months concluding on Friday, August 31st.  With the exception of “Music and Movie Fridays”, the free entertainment is from 6:00 – 10:00PM nightly.

Beach Party Monday theme with tropical island bands performing. Soul Tuesday with R&B bands playing soulful music from icons including Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and others. Timeless Tunes Wednesday hosts musicians playing popular music from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Blues Barge Thursdays will have blues bands performing on a floating stage anchored behind the Boston Harbor Hotel

Music & Movie Friday begins a bit earlier and runs from 4:30 – 10:00PM.  This summer all the movies shown will be from 1987 and include: Princess Bride, Moonstruck and Dirty Dancing among others.

Pick a night, go down early with friends (or for a date) and grab a seat at Rowes Wharf Sea Grille and enjoy an evening down on the water. Check out their facebook page, or visit the event’s website here.

2012 Boston Pride Weekend (recap)

Last week at this time the gay community in Boston was ready to enjoy the final weekend of Pride 2012. After a week of rain and cool temperatures, weather was beautiful all weekend long.  Here is a video of some of the events and parties we attended last weekend.  

Wicked Gay Blog

Wicked Gay BlogHanging w/ WGB blogger, David, at Boston Pride

Shown above is Marc, David, and yours truly. David over at Wicked Gay Blog (shown in the middle) has recently returned after a brief hiatus from the blogging world.  I have the utmost respect for David and consider this fellow Bostonian a friend so I wanted to give him a shout out. If you are not familiar with this Boston blogger, check out his slightly naughty, definitely flirtatious blog at www.WickedGayBlog.com

Boston Pride

Beautiful weather all weekend brought people out for Pride weekend in Boston.  As usual the Boston Pride parade was mostly forgettable, but the weekend proved to be a lot of fun.

Festivities started on Friday evening at the Boston Chapter of GLAAD cocktail reception.  On Saturday, after the parade I went to the “unofficial” block party on Chandler Street  dancing and chatting with friends while enjoying the beautiful weather.  The only frustration was the long lines to get drinks.  Hopefully they’ll figure out how to fix that for 2013 Pride (hint hint).

Sunday’s block party in the Back Bay turned out to be the big surprise. DJ Tracy Young kept the crowd of thousands in a frenzy for hours and capped off one of the best Pride Weekends in recent memory.  I’m pulling together a video but wanted to share a few fun pics from the weekend.

Friday, June 8, 2012 – GLAAD Boston cocktail party Emerald LoungeGLAAD Boston

Saturday, June 9, 2012 – Boston Pride Chandler St Block Party 2012 Boston Pride

Sunday, June 10, 2012 – Boston Pride Back Bay Block PartyBoston Pride 2012

Check back for more pictures of Boston’s Pride Weekend

BosGuy and Matt Kurkowski

Hanging with the handsome and flirtatious Matt Kurkowski at Boston Pride’s 2012 Sunday block party.  This former Men of Twitter (from May 2011) is a great guy. If you are on Twitter check out and follow Matt at @MKurkowski.