With a HUGE snowstorm working its way to Boston and the entire northeast coast, Monday blues is certainly likely to extend into your evening commute. Get out of work early, if you can and give yourself some extra time if you are driving.
Oh crap… it looks like everyone just south of Boston will hit the jackpot with more than 2′ of snow (if weather forecasts are accurate).
I’ve enjoyed the nearly snow-less winter here in Boston. I’m going to keep on thinking about my pending trip to the Grand Cayman in early February and ignore this forecast.
46 Wareham Street South End
According to the Boston Courant, a new plan has been filed for 46 Wareham, a building in the South End that the Holland Companies would like to renovate and develop. This past summer the Holland Companies suggested modernizing the under utilized structure to create a 6-story, 42 residential unit building that would include ground floor space for a commercial unit. Opposition from some community activists who did not want to lose the commercial space and pointed to zoning laws that supported their arguments forced the developers to go back to the drawing board.
The Holland Companies hopes their revised proposal addresses the zoning concerns by reducing the number of residential units to 36 and increasing the commercial space by making the first two levels of the building available for commercial use (some 20,000 square feet). The developers feel that the long term viability of this project hinges on it being a mixed use development.
I can’t count how many people have tipped me off about local news, but recently I had a conversation with someone who described themselves as a loyal reader who was under the impression that I have extensive contacts at City Hall. Although, that might be convenient that is not the case. Most often I learn about new openings (and forthcoming closings) in and around Boston because a reader of this blog sees something or knows something.
I’m promising myself right now that I’m going to try this someday. It makes me think of Madonna’s lyrics from Justify My Love.
Drag performer Peaches Christ is hosting a screening of the cult film “But I’m a Cheerleader” on Tuesday, Jan. 27 with the film’s star, actress Natasha Lyonne.
For those millennials who may not be familiar with this 1999 dark comedy / satire about gay conversion therapy, it is worth renting / streaming if you don’t live in San Francisco or cannot make it on Tuesday night.
“But I’m a Cheerleader: The Peaches Christ Experience,” takes place this Tuesday, Jan. 27th at 7:30 p.m., at The Castro Theatre at 429 Castro in San Francisco; tickets are $25. For more information visit, sfsketchfest.com.
Last Saturday I watched Unique Sweets on The Cooking Channel (locally that is Ch-239). This episode was dedicated to all things chocolate and included a local pie shop with stores in Somerville and East Cambridge called Petsi Pies.
Living in the South End, I’ve become spoiled by all the great bakeries in my nearby so I went to check out Petsi Pies to see if it lived up to the hype. In the name of ‘research’, I purchased some of their most popular chocolate goodies.
The Whoopie Pie Cupcake includes a decadent chocolate ganache frosting and whipped cream filling that reminds me more of gourmet hostess cupcake than a whoopie pie, but don’t take that as a complaint. Upon biting into this treat I promptly had to pour myself a large cup of milk. I can see how these could be incredibly addicting. This is a must try for cupcake lovers.
The Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie was too enticing not to try and turned out to be my favorite item purchased. The Bourbon is subtly infused into the soft chocolate filling and not overpowering at all. My favorite thing about this pie is the mixture of the filling and crushed pecans generously sprinkled on the top. I think this probably would go best with a large dollop of fresh whipped cream and should replace traditional pecan pies.
The Mississippi Mud Pie is for the person who believes there is no such thing as too much chocolate. The dark, thin pie crust tastes like a crushed chocolate cookies. And that pie crust is necessary to hold all the gooey, chocolate brownie-like batter that is piled on top of it. However, just to make certain a chocolate-induced food coma will ensue Petsi Pies then tops the filling with chunks of chocolate brownie and drizzles it with chocolate ganache.
All told, I have to say that Pesti Pies did live up to the hype and is worth visiting. If you like this type of ‘reasearch’ let me know, and I’ll continue this important work; ignoring my ever expanding waistline. Is there a bakery or pastry shop you love in the Boston area you think I should check it out? Let me know.
Click on the comic strip to enlarge.
ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about this strip by visiting, adamandandy.com.
Posted in Art & Film, Gay
Tagged Adam & Andy gay comic, Art and Film, BosGuy, Boston Guy, Gay
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will celebrate its 50th event and 4 year anniversary with Saturday night’s party that will include five DJs, an epic drag show and local LGBT artists at Great Scott in Allston, MA.
For more information about this monthly party visit their FB event page.
The Taste of Chocolate Festival starts tomorrow, Friday, January 23rd and runs through Sunday, January 25th in Harvard Square.
Some of Harvard Square’s finest restaurants and cafes participate in this three day chocolate extravaganza so if you love chocolate, you may want to hop the red line and head to Cambridge this weekend.
Restaurants will feature chocolate appetizers, entrees, deserts, cocktails, cordials and nightcaps while participating Harvard Square retailers will have scrumptious chocolate specials and deals. For more details visit here.
On a recent business trip to California, I found myself with a spare evening before flying home so I decided to try an Indian restaurant between Mission and Market Streets called Amber India. Large glass windows allowed me to look into a sleek dining room and comfortable lounge so I opted to check it out; preferring the bar over the larger dining room so I could people watch while eating. The people watching proved to be a bust; nobody that interesting despite the bustling lounge but my seat was very comfortable and the service was excellent.
Amber India Yerba Buena Tandoori Chicken and Onion Chilli Kulcha
Apparently Amber India has five different locations but this is the only one in San Francisco and as near as I can tell it opened back in 2011. It is conveniently located next to the Four Seasons Hotel in a small promenade that is home to several other restaurants as well. There is a separate bar menu comprised of shared appetizers, but you can order from the main menu that ranges between $16-$19 for vegetarian dishes and $23 – $30 for most of their other plates.
Amber India Yerba Buena Tandori Chicken for $21.95
I chose the Tandoori Chicken ($21.95) which comes out hissing and steaming on a black iron skillet. The smell of the meat, seasoning and onions instantly set my mouth watering. The party seated next to me actually paused when the plate was served – such was the noise and heady aroma. I also chose to order their Onion Chilli Kulcha ($7.00); Naan bread stuffed with onions and chilli. This was delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the sauces served with dinner.
I really liked everything about my dining experience at Amber India. The staff was prompt and friendly – answering all my questions about their menu. The food was really delicious – rich with flavor and beautiful in appearance. My only disappointment was after my visit I read a few reviews that made me realize if I’m fortunate enough to return I should try their signature plate, Butter Chicken.
Amber India is located SOMA at 25 Yerba Buena Lane 415-777-0500
Queerty recently wrote a post, Ten Of The Hottest Sex Scenes In Popular Literature.
They wrote, “We have become accustomed to increasingly realistic sex scenes in film but what about the similar pleasures from literature? Examples of literary homoeroticism abound, many times long before cinematic breakthroughs became routine.” Looking at their list of the ten “hottest sex scenes in popular literature”, I realized I had only read one of the books (Maurice) and watched two of the books as movies (Less Than Zero and Broke Back Mountain).
I love reading gay fiction but the ‘sex scenes’ are not the reason I buy a book (or take them out from the library – yes, I do that too). I just like reading stories that have gay themes, because when it is done well – they resonate with me.
Here is a list of gay fiction novels that I loved reading. This isn’t a complete list by any means but is a nice start. Do you like to read gay fiction? What are some of your favorite gay fiction novels?
The entire Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
Hey Day by Michael Viktor Butler
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
How I Paid for College by Marc Acito
BosGuy 