Category Archives: Christmas

Holiday gift tip: Nothing is more appreciated than time together

holiday gift, presentAre you trying to figure out what to get someone special during the holidays? There is no such thing as the perfect sweater so skip the mall and focus on things you can do with that person; memories last longer and will likely be more appreciated. Below I’ve included a few tips / suggestions and I’d like to encourage you to share more ideas.

Make A Date:  Pick a date in the calendar and plan everything to the last detail including when you will go out, where you will be going and what you will be doing. Tailor it to your friend / significant other’s preferences – not yours.  If you need some suggestions here in Boston – I’m happy to be of help.

Time For Pampering:  Most people I know enjoy some form of pampering. This can include a manicure & pedicure, spa services, and / or some form of grooming.  Better yet, do it together (see the make a date suggestion above) and make it a shared experience. One of my favorite gifts in recent memory was from my parents who gave Sergio and me gift card for a dual massage at a local spa.

Take A Class: Most cities and towns (the Boston area especially) have so many options for taking either a series of classes or a one-day program that include everything from wine tasting to how to make chocolate truffles like I learned at the Boston Chocolate Workshop this past January.

Do you have any ideas to share with my readers?  I’d love to hear from you.

SoWa Holiday Market is December 13-14th

christmas marketThe annual SoWa Holiday Market is Dec 13 &14th. Never mind the fact that it is not in SoWa – perhaps they should rename this the South End Holiday Market?

If you like arts & crafts this is the place to be.  The craft fair opens at 11 a.m. both days closing at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.   Expect to find an array of indie goods, including: handbags, jewelry, pottery, letterpress stationery, silk-screened t-shirts, baby clothes, re-purposed wool accessories and more.

The SoWa Holiday Market is in the Benjamin Franklin Institute, at 41 Berkeley Street.  Admission is $5.   More information about the Holiday Market can be found on their website, www.sowaholidaymarket.net.

2014 Santa Speedo Run in Boston

SSR It most definitely didn’t feel like Christmas yesterday with the temperature in the low 40s and a persistent drizzle, but that all changed when we walked into the Back Bay for the 15th annual Santa Speedo Run, which brings together hundreds of men and women who raise money so they can run through the streets of Boston in a speedo and little else.  This has become quite the tradition and is an event both Sergio and I look forward to each year.  Enjoy our 2014 video and share it with friends who may not have been able to see this firsthand.

Toys for Joys party tonight 8pm – 1am

T4JToys For Joys 2014 takes place in just a few hours. No plans tonight?  Register and pick up a few toys for underprivileged children in Boston. This is a very social and welcoming party filled with free flowing cocktails and guaranteed laughs.  No boring speeches or rubber chicken dinners required; just a lot of fun.

This year’s party is in Bay Village at the Revere Hotel’s Space 57.

Register here or at the door tonight!

Santa Speedo Run in Boston today

SSRSoon Boston will host their 15th Annual Santa Speedo Run in Back Bay. I’ll be there to photograph all the fun and create another video.  If you are attending any parties or running this year, send me your photographs before 2PM ET today and I’ll try to include them in this year’s video.

Email photos to bosguymail@gmail.com

SSR Santa Speedo BostonSSR Santa Speedo BostonSSR Santa Speedo BostonSSR Santa Speedo Boston

Provincetown Holly Folly Dec 5-7

Provincetown, Ptown

Provincetown’s annual holiday celebration, Holly Folly, starts tonight.  Festivities include traditional caroling to the more eye popping Speedo run down Commercial Street.

All the fun starts tonight with parties at both Purgatory and A-House from 9PM – 1AM.  Saturday includes the Speedo run, Holiday drag bingo, and multiple sing alongs.  The party concludes on Sunday at Purgatory with a leather dance party. For the full list of events visit the website at ptown.org/holly-folly.

Holiday humor

Holiday humorClick on image to enlarge.

Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas

Fringe theater, Boston

Photo Credit: Michael von Redlich/MvR Photography

Tomorrow night Ryan Landry and The Gold Dust Orphans open with a new production for their annual holiday theatrical show at the Ramrod Performing Arts Centre in the Fenway.

Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas runs from Thursday, December 4th through Sunday December 21st  (a 3 week limited engagement!)  Tickets are currently on sale with general admission pricing approximately $43 and reserved seating approximately $53.  For more information about this musical based on the 1947 classic, “The Bishop’s Wife” and to purchase tickets follow the link below.

Get Your Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas! Tickets Here

Santa Speedo Run on Saturday

SSR This Saturday the 15th Annual SSRun will take place in Back Bay; the starting line is at the intersection of Boylston and Gloucester Street.

You may get more details about the run this weekend  from their website, www.ssrunners.org.

Don’t worry if you cannot make it to the run as I’ll be creating a video to share with you.  If you’ve never been to this annual tradition which is now replicated in cities through out the US and abroad, check out my video from the 2013 run.

BosGuy’s holiday wish: boycott Salvation Army donation kettles

Salvation ArmyNow that the Thanksgiving holiday is firmly in the past, I wanted to post my annual holiday reminder / request to boycott the Salvation Army by not sharing your spare change with the organization.   Just outside malls and retail stores around the country are Salvation Army volunteers who will ask for your spare change to help with their charity work.

My annual reminder / request to boycott Salvation Army

I like to remind people that The Salvation Army is an Evangelical Christian group with a homophobic history and leadership.  While they do provide meaningful services to the poor there are many organizations who do this as well (without the evangelical bent that preaches Leviticus and how homosexuality is a sin).  These other charities would greatly benefit from your support no matter how small the donation.

If you feel the same as I do, you may even consider speaking to the mall / store manager to ask if they would grant the space to a more accepting charity.

Toys for Joys is Saturday, Dec. 6th

T4J #T4J2014Have you registered for this year’s Toys for Joys party this coming Saturday?

The event’s venue has moved to Bay Village at the Revere Hotel Boston Common – Space 57.  For those of you who may not be familiar with this social party, it helps collect and distribute toys for children in and around Boston who might otherwise not have gifts to open on Christmas day.  Unlike many other fundraisers, T4J is devoid of speeches and rubber chicken dinners and is fun event that gets better each year.

Saturday December 6th – RSVP Today HERE!

Check out last year’s video below and for more information about the event visit their website here.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 6th / 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM 
Location: 200 Stuart Street
Donation: $35.00 charitable event donation upon registration & 3 toys

Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular

Christmas bargains, theater discounts, boston theater discountAttention theater fans and holiday bargain shoppers.  Now in its eleventh year, the Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular is offering half-price tickets to many of the holiday shows coming to the city during the 2014 holiday season; including Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Holiday Pops, and more.

Browse the full list of events where tickets are half price on the Mayor’s Holiday Spectacular website and be sure to note the additional savings available like $10 off on First Night Buttons and dining out deals at, mayorsholiday.com.

Christmas with the Crawfords in NYC opens December 11th

gay theater, new york city, nycOne month from today Richard Winchester, producer and co-founder of Artfull Circle Theatre in San Francisco will return to New York City with an hilarious holiday musical comedy hit, Christmas With the Crawfords.

The show, which opens on December 11th, stars Joey Arias as Joan Crawford and  Chris March as her darling daughter Christina. Connie Champagne returns as Judy Garland — a role in which she has garnered international acclaim. Sherry Vine (Keith Levy) will take on the dual role of Hedda Hopper and Baby Jane Hudson in her first appearance in the show.

The production is based on the actual Christmas Eve live radio broadcast of the Crawford family from their Brentwood mansion in the late 1940s, “Christmas With the Crawfords” is a loving homage to and parody of Hollywood’s Golden Age and is filled with appearances of major Tinsel Town icons, such as Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda, Gloria Swanson and the Andrews Sisters.

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets

Christmass with the Crawfords runs Tuesday – Thursday on December 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, & at 7:30pm.  Friday & Saturday shows on the 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 begin at 8:00pm. Sunday performances on December 14 & 21 begin at 7:00pm.

All performances take place at Abrons Art Center – 477 Grand Street – NYC 10002.  Tickets are $45 for general admission. Get your tickets here.

Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas! Dec. 4 – 21st

Ryan Landry, Gold Dust OrphansRyan Landry and his troupe, The Gold Dust Orphans, are back with a new Christmas special that opens Thursday, December 4th and runs through Sunday December 21st  (a 3 week limited engagement!)  Tickets are currently on sale with general admission pricing approximately $43 and reserved seating approximately $53.

Get Your Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas! Tickets Here

Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas! is based on the 1947 classic, “The Bishop’s Wife”, “Jesus Christ” features all new songs and dances, plenty of fabulous costumes and positively gorgeous sets! As is always the case with The Gold Dust shows, this is not a kid-friendly program and those easily offended should probably go elsewhere, but for everyone else, come down to the Ramrod Performing Arts Center to see this soon to be classic, Jesus Christ, It’s Christmas!

2014 Santa Speedo Run in one month

Santa Speedo RunThe 15th Annual SSRun is one month from today. Registration remains open for anyone contemplating the run.

You may get more details about the SSRun from their website, www.ssrunners.org.

Even if you don’t plan on running, mark the date on your calendar and come down to Back Bay and check out all the fun and cheer on all the runners who raised money for the Play Ball Foundation.

If you’ve never been to this annual tradition which is now replicated in cities through out the US and abroad, check out my video from the 2013 run.