Today is the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, but Sergio and I are in Brazil visiting his family. We will actually celebrate the holiday tomorrow when his family can come together since today is not a holiday in Brazil. His Mom’s thoughtful gesture, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for Sergio and me, strikes me as a lovely example of living the ideals of what the holiday represents.
Happy Thanksgiving
This week’s photo is of Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett who first met in 1974 and became close friends. While they never were lovers, Kenny helped Freddie come to terms with his homosexuality while they enjoyed the London nightlife which is undboubtably where this photo was taken (presumably early 1980s).
I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share for a future post? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
Last month I wrote about the Iranian artist, Mehdi Ghadyanloo, who was asked to paint a mural in Boston’s Dewey Square. The artist has made a name for himself painting large trompe-l’oeils in his homeland and the mural that the public was able to watch him create which spans an impressive 76′ x 70′ is a beautiful addition to the Rose Kennedy Greenway.
Called, Spaces of Hope, the mural does not disappoint and is a welcome addition following what I thought was an uninspiring mural it replaced. You can read more about the artist and his first piece of public art here in the US by visiting the Rose Kennedy Greenway website here.
Below I’ve posted the murals in chronological order that have previously graced this facade in Dewey Square.
I’m proud that this Iranian artist was commissioned and given this space to share his work. Good art like Ghadyanloo can help foster dialog and breakdown stereotypes; something I think our country needs to do more of if we are going to come together as one nation.
Shade (\ˈshād\ noun)
Definition: acting in a casual or disrespectful manner towards someone.
Example: My friends looked me up and down when I talked about what I was going to eat tomorrow for Thanksgiving, and I was like, stop with the shade.
Each Wednesday morning I post a photograph and ask readers to offer a funny caption. Enjoy this week’s Thanksgiving-themed photo. I’ve borrowed a line from Chik-fil-A for my caption. Now share one of your own.
Eat more chicken
The Harrison Albany block will include 650 new residential units
The Harrison / Albany block residential project has been modified according to an article in last week’s The Boston Sun. Developers have indicated they will reduce the number of units from 687 to 650 so they can reduce the height of some of the buildings. They will also slightly decrease the size of the parking garage from 700 to 450 spaces with the ability to increase that number to 650 spaces if stackers are used. The most drastic change is the 575 Albany Street building will now be six stories tall (not ten stories as initially proposed).
The developers have hired traffic engineers to evaluate the impact on the neighborhood. However, if there is a concern about the impact of traffic then I think the answer is to bring more reliable public transportation to the neighborhood; not restricting new developments in a downtown neighborhood where there is already a shortage of housing. These new residential buildings are literally across from I-93 and blocks from I-90, making it ideally situated. It is not the developers or neighborhoods fault the city is failing at providing adequate public transportation to alleviate surface traffic.
You can read more about this large development on the BRA website here and the real estate website Bldup has a lot of information available here.
While all that Black Friday nonsense takes place later this week following Thanksgiving, The Lyric Stage Co. of Boston will open with a funny murder, mystery musical called Murder for Two.
Murder for Two
November 25 – December 24, 2016
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets today
In this show, one actor plays the detective and one actor plays all the suspects and they both play the piano. Described as a witty, winking homage to old-fashioned closed-room murder mysteries the show sounds like a welcome addition to the shows currently playing over the holiday season.
The show also happens to star a local stage actor whom I have a bit of a crush on, Jared Troilo, as well as the equally talented Kirsten Salpini. If my appeals to check out this show on the grounds that this is an interesting and funny production don’t appeal to you then maybe the opportunity to watch Jared for approximately 90-minutes will. Unfortunately, Sergio and I will miss opening weekend since we are in Brazil, but share your thoughts about the production in the comments section below for my readers to see should you go to the show.
Friday February 3rd The Welcoming Committee is heading to Sunday River in Maine for their White Out Weekend (WOW) – one of the biggest LGBTQ weekends in the northeast. The weekend is full of skiing, parties and hot tubs, and includes discounts on hotel rooms, lift tickets and equipment rentals. Early access pricing starts at $299 and includes:
Link here for more information about TWC’s WOW Weekend in Sunday River.
To balance the rather serious nature of this morning’s post about the rally against hate at the State House (I can’t even put into words how disturbing it is that these calls for action are even necessary), here’s a bit of humor.
I’m sure every gay or lesbian couple reading this has at one time been asked which one of them is the fork. By the way, when I’ve been asked that question in the past my response has been, “fork you”, always said with a smile of course.
As a response to a disturbing number of hate crimes that have been reported around the country since the results of the Presidential election, our community is coming together today from 11AM – 12PM to speak out against hate. The event will feature Attorney General Maura Healey, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim
The purpose of the event is to send a message that irrespective of politics or who you supported in the election this kind of behavior is not acceptable and does not represent who we are as a city, state, or country. 
I realize this may be difficult for you to attend, but for more information you can contact Norman Abbott at nabbott@adl.org or (617) 406-6382.
What to do this week: November 21-27th
Massachusetts Speaks Out Against Hate is a rally in response to a rise of hate crimes on Monday, November 21 11AM-12PM at The State House in Boston
Club Cafe Staff Drag Show will raise funds for the Harbor to the Bay charity, starting at 7:30PM on Tuesday, November 22 at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
Billiards Night is every Tuesday at Mainestreet Bar in Ogunquit
Showtune Tuesday hosted by VJ Ryan Grow starts at 9PM every Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester
November Project: Stair workout at Harvard takes place at the Harvard Stadium from 6:30 – 7:30AM 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
Thanksgiving Eve Bash at Icon with Nina Flowers and DJ Begbick on Wednesday, November 23 in Boston
Thanksgiving Eve 80s Dance Party listen to your favorite music from the 1980s at dbar on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 23 in Dorchester
THUMP Thursdaes is every Thursday at Peggy O’Neil’s Pub in Dorchester
QuICK Weekly Climb starts at 6PM at Brooklyn Boulders on Friday, November 25 in Somerville
Casual Fridays Gaga vs. Madonna starts at 10PM at The Alley Bar on Friday, November 25 in Boston
After Midnight Movie Series Presents: Red Sonja this week at The Coolidge starting at 11:59PM on Friday, November 25 in Brookline
Controversy is the weekly gay hip hop dancehall party that starts at 10PM at Machine every Saturday in Boston
Dont Ask Dont Tell: Virgin Nights II hosts their monthly queer dance party and drag show at Great Scott on Saturday, November 26 in Allston
So Hot Saturdaes hosts their last party of the year with DJ James Jay at Peggy O’Neils on Saturday, November 26 in Dorchester
Saga Saturdays is Boston’s newest gay night featuring some of the best DJs and plenty of great dancing at Paradise in Cambridge
Ego Saturdays with DJ Richie LaDue from 10PM – 3AM in Providence
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
Safe in Sound Sundays is a new EDM night from 9PM – 1AM at the Dark Lady in Providence
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Are you familiar with The Fitness Marshall on YouTube? With more than 670,000 subscribers this guy is no joke and his videos which are entertaining to watch are also an incredible dance workout if you have the patience and coordination to learn the steps.
Check out this video from March this year, which has 6.9 million views.
You can watch more videos from The Fitness Marshall here.
Looking for something to do this afternoon? Check out the monthly Bears Tea Dance at Club Cafe with DJ Brian Halligan, which starts at 5PM – No cover ever.
BosGuy 