Category Archives: Free Stuff

Head of the Charles Regatta is this weekend

Posted on October 18, 2023 | Leave a comment
HOCR

The Head Of The Charles Regatta (HOCR) is a Boston area tradition that dates back to 1965 and has evolved into a massive, multiple-day, international rowing competition that draws approximately 11,000 athletes and 400,000 spectators, making it the largest rowing event in the world.

HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA OCT. 20-22, 2023

This year’s regatta takes place this Saturday and Sunday and is definitely worth checking out. Head down to the Charles River to cheer on these amazing athletes and enjoy all the activity around the regatta. Both sides of the Charles River will gather large crowds but the Cambridge side nearest Harvard tends to be the most crowded and fun place to both watch and partake in all the activities.

The organizers have created a great website that includes more information about the races, maps, and FAQs. You can learn more by visiting the official HOCR website, www.hocr.org.

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ICA Boston free each Thursday evening

Posted on October 11, 2023 | Leave a comment
Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

This post is a friendly reminder that The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Boston is free each Thursday evening, starting at 5PM. This can make for a great way to end a workday with a friend or to get out on your own for an hour before going home after work.

Due to interest from the public the ICA strongly encourages people to make advance reservations because on-site reservations are not guaranteed. Tickets are valid for any time between 5:00PM and 8:40PM when the museum stops admitting people (20-minutes prior to closing time). For more information about Free Thursday Nights at the ICA visit their website, FREE THURSDAYS webpage.

Curious to see what is on display? Check out their website at, www.icaboston.org/exhibitions.

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Gordon Michaels performs at Napoleon Room

Posted on August 2, 2023 | Leave a comment

This Friday Gordon Michaels will be performing at the Napoleon Room at Club Cafe from 7:00-10:00PM. Make reservations to guarantee a seat and enjoy an evening of cabaret from this soulful singer.

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Posted in Free Stuff, Gay, Music

Donelan: Drawing on the gay experience

Posted on August 1, 2023 | 1 comment

Drawing On The Gay Experience: A Retrospective of a Life in Art

An interesting retrospective art show dedicated to Gerard P. Donelan, a trailblazing LGBT cartoonist, showcasing his iconic creations and a collection of rarely before-seen drawings and paintings, will take place from July 5th – August 31st at Jameson & Thompson Picture Framers storefront located at 18 Bartlett Square in Jamaica Plain.

Donelan is perhaps best known for his cartoon, “It’s a Gay Life,” which ran in The Advocate for 15 years. Donelan lampooned the gay “clone” culture of San Francisco’s Castro district, helped raise awareness about safe sex practices and the threat of AIDS, and in 2015 was selected as a distinguished panelist at the inaugural Queers & Comics conference, where he was celebrated as one of the “Pioneers of Queer Men’s Comics.”

Jameson and Thompson will be hosting an opening reception on Thursday, August 3rd, from 6-8 PM.

DETAILS HERE

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Reminder: 2023 Shakespeare on the Common starts this week

Posted on July 16, 2023 | Leave a comment

One of my favorite summer traditions in Boston is attending one of the free performances by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) on the Boston Common. 

This year’s play, Macbeth, is one of Shakespeare’s better-known tragedies, but if you’re unsure what the story is about visit the CSC website for a brief overview. While I recognize Shakespeare can be difficult to read, watching the CSC production brings the bard’s words to life so even if the language can sound foreign, it is easier to understand what is happening.

Enjoy an evening outside with friends or a date with someone special. We typically pack wine and charcuterie (you can get what you need at the nearby Roche Bros in Downtown Crossing but I like to make and pack it at home). While public drinking is a no-no, as long as you are discreet, nobody will bother you.

While the performances remain free, due to the popularity of these performances, advanced registration is strongly recommended for ease of arrival and priority access to seating. You can bring your own blankets and chairs. You can also rent chairs online in advance or on-site for $10. All shows start at 8PM with the exception of August 5th which starts at 6PM.

For more information about the programming or the CSC, visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. website.

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Boston.com book club: When You Call My Name

Posted on July 9, 2023 | Leave a comment

Boston.com’s Book Club has selected When You Call My Name by Tucker Shaw as this month’s book. The historical fiction novel, which was first published in May 2022 and is now available in paperback, is set in 1990 New York City and focuses on the complicated coming-of-age story many gay men and teenagers experienced at that time (your’s truly included).

As a special treat, the author, Tucker Shaw, will discuss his debut novel with Christina Pascucci Ciampa, the owner of All She Wrote Books. If you’re interested in joining the online discussion, there is still time to take the book out at your library or purchase it from your favorite local bookstore. But first be sure to register to attend the book club meeting on Wednesday, July 26 at 6 p.m.

REGISTER HERE
Free and open to all

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Kiki Beach Boston: Season 8

Posted on June 6, 2023 | 2 comments

A couple weeks ago the Kiki Beach Instagram account announced the start of their eighth season.

For those who are unfamiliar with this weekend tradition, eight years ago members of the LGBTQ+ community started going to one section of M Street Beach in Southie on Saturdays. Depending on the weather and week sometimes there are a handful of LGBTQ+ people and sometimes there can be a hundred or more. Over the years, Kiki Beach went from being a Saturday event to both Saturday and Sunday.

gay boston

To help you know which part of the beach the LGBTQ+ community tends to set up for Kiki Beach, check out the map below but for additional guidance, you’ll find most people between the first and second bus shelters (if you are walking away from the L Street Bath House). But when in doubt look for wherever there is a cluster of men standing, chatting, and wearing speedos.

If you will be in Boston this weekend come and check out Kiki Beach. Most people arrive after 12PM, but Sergio and I are often among the very first, arriving by 11AM.

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2023 Shakespeare on the Common: Macbeth

Posted on May 16, 2023 | Leave a comment
Photo from CSC website

CSC Presents Macbeth on the Boston Common
July 19 – August 6, 2023
All performances are free and open to the public

One of my favorite summer traditions in Boston is attending one of the free performances by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) on the Boston Common. 

I understand that Shakespeare can be difficult to read, but the CSC productions are always fun to watch and a great way to enjoy an evening outdoors with friends or as a date with someone special. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s better-known tragedies, but if you’re unsure what the story is about visit the CSC website for a brief overview.

While the performances remain free, due to the popularity of these performances, advanced registration is strongly recommended for ease of arrival and priority access to seating. You can bring your own blankets and chairs, but you can also rent chairs online in advance or on-site for $10. All shows start at 8PM with the exception of August 5th which starts at 6PM.

For more information about the programming or the CSC, visit the Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. website.

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Wicked Queer invites you to their preview party

Posted on March 21, 2023 | Leave a comment
Wicked Queer Preview Party is Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Worden Hall 6-9PM (RSVP Here)

Wicked Queer is Boston’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival. The annual celebration will begin at the end of this month but later this week they will be hosting a kick off party that is free to attend.

If you’re an independent movie / queer film enthusiast you should really check out this preview party. In years past, Sergio and I have attended and it’s always a friendly crowd. There is typically information about the festival and some of the films being featured.

Wicked Queer Preview Party
Thursday, March 23, 2023 | 6:00 – 9:00 PM
At Worden Hall – Across from Broadway T stop
RSVP for free Here

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Posted in Art & Film, Boston, Free Stuff, Gay

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New monthly Queer Book Club opens

Posted on November 6, 2022 | Leave a comment

The Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner has recently undergone a significant expansion, giving them more space for more inventory and more programming like their new monthly Queer Book Club which begins this month on Monday.

The Brookline Booksmith Queer Book Club is a monthly book discussion group focusing on queer authors and stories. Each month the club will meet to discuss books from a broad spectrum of writing genres, styles, and authorship. One needtn’t identfiy as queer to attend – all are welcome to attend, and no registration is needed.

The newly formed club will meet in person at Brookline Booksmith on the first Monday of every month at 7pm. Their first meeting, will discuss Andrea Lawlor’s Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, is tomorrow, Monday, 11/7 at 7pm.

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Posted in Free Stuff, Gay, gay club or team, What'cha Reading

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2022 Boston Book Festival returns this weekend

Posted on October 25, 2022 | Leave a comment

This weekend the 14th Annual Boston Book Festival will take place on Friday afternoon and all day on Saturday. Centered in Copley Square and the Boston Public Library, the BBF is a wonderful festival worth checking out.

This year’s festival will bring together more than 200 fiction, nonfiction, young adult and kid authors will participate in this year’s festival that includes readings and discussions, book signings, workshops, and other lively literary events. And it’s all FREE and open to the public.

This year’s full schedule can be viewed here: BBF Schedule.

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Head of the Charles Regatta

Posted on October 18, 2022 | Leave a comment
HOCR

The Head Of The Charles Regatta (HOCR) is a Boston area tradition that dates back to 1965 and has evolved into a massive, international rowing competition that draws nearly 11,000 athletes and 400,000 spectators, making it the largest rowing event in the world.

HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA OCT. 21-23, 2022

The 2022 HOCR takes place this Saturday and Sunday. Sadly, I’ll be out of town and will miss this fun, annual event. If you’ve not been to this premiere rowing events, head down to the Charles River to cheer on these amazing athletes and enjoy all the activity around the regatta.

The organizers have created a great website that includes more information about the races, maps and FAQs. You can learn more by visiting the official HOCR website, www.hocr.org.

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Portraits of Pride in Boston

Posted on October 11, 2022 | Leave a comment

Portraits of Pride is an LGBTQ Photography Exhibition currently on display at the Boston Common. The exhibit, which pays tribute to LGBTQ History Month (which is this month), will run through October 29th. The exhibit which is free and open to the public is comprised of 8-foot tall portraits of local LGBTQ leaders taken by world-renowned photographer John Huet. 

This one-of-a-kind exhibit honors the rich history of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community and the many contributions the area’s LGBTQ+ leaders have made to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights in Massachusetts and beyond. An additional installation of the portraits is also exhibited on the Gallery Wall of Seaport Square located at 60 Seaport Blvd. in Boston. 

To learn more about Portraits of Pride and those who are being honored visit, portraitsofprideboston.org.

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G4G Boston volunteering opportunities

Posted on October 8, 2022 | Leave a comment

Over the years, I’ve promoted a variety of volunteering opportunities organized by Gay For Good Boston. G4G is a national organization with chapters in 15+ cities across the United States.

You can learn more about this fabulous organization and meet some of the active members at their Fall Social later this week on Wednesday, October 12th. You must register to attend (more info provided in the link below).

Wednesday, October 12 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Mix and Mingle with free food, drinks and music!
Boston G4G Chapter Fall Social
Symphony Community Garden, Boston, MA

The Boston chapter is particularly active and provides people with an opportunity to meet and socialize while volunteering. It’s a great way to give back and meet some wonderful people. Below are programs for the month of October. These volunteering programs fill quickly so if you see a volunteering opportunity that appeals to you, click through to learn more.

If these opportunities are now full and not accepting volunteers, or if the timing isn’t quite right for you but you’d like to know about future volunteering opportunities, join their mailing list here.

Upcoming Volunteering Events

Thursday, October 13 | 5:30pm – 10pm
Laugh for Literacy at the Braille Gala
The National Braille Press
at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter, Boston, MA

Saturday, October 15 | 9am – 12pm
Plant and Pick at the Farm
Holly Hill Farm in Cohasset

Saturday, October 22 | 8am–12pm
Distribute Food to a Community in Need
St. Luke’s Food Pantry in Chelsea

Thursday, October 27 | 2pm – 6pm OR 6pm – 10pm
Get Gala Ready and help get this Gala Ready!
GLAD Spirit of Justice Gala
at the Park Plaza Hotel, Boston MA

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Boston marijuana and Greek food festivals

Posted on September 13, 2022 | Leave a comment

Doesn’t it seem devious to host a pot and Greek food festival the same weekend?

Each weekend in the fall in Boston is full of festivals, concerts and other public celebrations, and this weekend will be no different.

This weekend Boston will host one of the largest and longest running marijuana festivals in the country, MassCann. With as many as 50,000 people descending upon the Boston Common to celebrate all things marijuana, it seems like a cruel trick to play on all those unsuspecting stoners to have such an amazingly delicious and tantalizing Greek food festival just a mile away at John The Baptist Church in the South End.

While there are plenty of other activities, festivals and events happening this weekend, the combination of these two proved to be quite costly for Sergio and me a few years ago. After attending the Freedom Festival and feeling quite “free” we walked over to the Greek Church basement where rows of homemade Greek food both savory and sweet tempted us. I just hope this year we will show a bit more restraint when we visit John The Baptist Church.

BTW, other cool stuff happening this weekend you can check out include:

Fluff Festival Saturday 17 3PM-7PM (Union Square, Somerville)

Smithsonian Museum Day Saturday 17 (Multiple participating museums)

South End Open Studios Saturday & Sunday from 11AM – 6PM (South End)

and a late addition…

Caribbean Rum & Food Festival Saturday 17 12-8PM (Roxbury Community College)

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