When the Boston Sports Club South End closed at the end of March 2022, the neighborhood lost a large and popular gym. Rather than negotiate with the BSC for another longterm lease, the property owner, GTI Properties, made the bold move to takeover the space and redesign it as a health and wellness center that they would own and manage.
SoWa Health + Wellness eyes a January 1, 2023 opening
This spring, GTI Properties hinted at an October 2022 opening and to increase awareness and interest SoWa Health + Wellness hosted a free pop-up in the SoWa Power Station in June. The popular event included bootcamp, yoga, dance, and kickboxing classes by trainers who will be working at the gym when it opens.
Unfortunately, the remodeling efforts have required more work and time than initially anticipated and GTI Properties is now eyeing a January 1, 2023 opening. If you are looking for more information about classes, ammenities, and membership dues, GTI will likely begin sharing that at the start of the holiday season. Look for more information about the SoWa Health + Wellness center at this year’s SoWa Winter Festival, which is scheduled to open on Black Friday and run through Sunday, December 11th.
Hopefully the caption I’ve shared below inspires you to offer up one or two of your own. Leave a funny caption in the comment section, and I’ll approve it for readers to enjoy.
“So you’re telling me this is a popular sport played by heterosexual men?”
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 festivaljust 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)
This week’s photo is from Scottish photographer, Christopher Bowen. The talented photographer has a number of photos of men in kilts, fitness models and animals – esp dogs. You can follow him on Instagram at @christopherbowenphoto.
Even after all these years, this day continues to be a somber one for me and many people who I know. I still very much feel for the family of my friend who lost their son, Graham Berkeley, who was on United Flight 175, and I feel for the colleagues and friends of Sergio’s who were also on that flight.
At the time, Sergio worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines and was based out of Boston. He almost exclusively flew the nonstop flights from Boston to Los Angeles and San Francisco and may have been scheduled to fly UAL 175 that day (we never went back to check his schedule), but as chance had it he had taken the time off to be with his family, and he was in Brazil on September 11, 2001.
For those families and friends who lost loved ones on the hijacked flights, for those who were injured and traumatized and for all those first responders and citizens who were hurt or died aiding in the recovery following that terrible day, this post is for you.
The annual Mass Bears and Cubs competition to name this year’s Mr. Boston Bear and Cub will take place next month in October and interested contestants should sign up now.
The competition provides contestants with the opportunity to make new friends, meet and interact with the greater community, showcase their talents, express their interests, show their support for the LGBTQ+ and Bear community. Mr. Boston Bear/Cub earns the opportunity to proudly represent Mass Bears and Cubs over the coming year and serves as the “MBC Ambassador” to Boston’s LGBTQ+ community.
This year the winner of Mr. Boston Bear and Mr. Boston Cub will earn $500 in cash prizes with the first runner up also winning $250. For more details about Mass Bears and Cubs competition and to register as a contestant visit the link below.
Each Friday morning I post a riddle to get you to think outside the box and exercise your brain. If you are stumped, share it with a friend or colleague and see if you can figure out the answer together.
Leave your answer in the comment section. I’ll approve responses later in the day to give people a chance to respond without seeing any spoilers.
This week’s brain teaser: You bury me when I’m alive and dig me up when I’m dead. What am I?
Below is a list of LGBTQ+ events and parties happening this weekend. Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a listing of drag brunches. Have an event you want included? Email bosguymail@gmail.com.
Cathedral Station THURSDAY: No games but bar and kitchen open FRIDAY: Red Sox play Orioles @7PM SATURDAY: Red Sox play Orioles @5PM SUNDAY: Brunch starts @11AM | Red Sox play Orioles @1PM | Patriots play Miami @1PM
Trophy Room THURSDAY: No games but bar is open FRIDAY: Red Sox play Orioles @7PM SATURDAY: Red Sox play Orioles @5PM SUNDAY: Brunch starts @12PM | Red Sox play Orioles @1PM | Patriots play Miami @1PM
This week’s vintage gay post comes from the @oldmasc Twitter account. According to the post this photo was taken at the NYC Piers in 1978. This was a very popular place for gay men to meet and connect prior to the AIDS epidemic. I can’t help but wonder what ever may have become of him.
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? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.
With the influx of so many new residents at the start of each academic year, I like to update and share this post. If you are new to the area or looking to meet more people outside of a bar setting, the groups listed below might be a good first step.
If you don’t see relevant or up-to-date information in the links shared below, contact me, and I can help find a contact for that group to learn more.
BAGLY is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs and policies for gay youth (volunteers are always welcome).
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Auditions will be held January 19 and 23, 2022.
Boston Gay Men’s Books Club is monthly book club on MeetUp that focuses on literature by and about gay men. Their next MeetUp is on 9/19 at the BPL to discuss Virology by Joseph Osmundson.
Boston Gaymers is a thriving gaymer community, that holds various in-person and virtual events to bring together members and to have fun.
Boston Lesbigay Urban Foundation creates safe spaces for events to help build lasting relationships by breaking the cycle of disfunction in marginalized communities and helping to make medical and mental health awareness a priority to help lift up the black / brown / latino LGBTQ+ inner city community.
Boston Prime Timersis a social organization of mature gay and bisexual men and their friends who join together for educational, support, and social activities.
Boston Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence an areligious Order of Queer, Clown Nuns who pledge to promulgate joy and to eliminate stigmatic guilt by volunteering, activism, entertaining, and educating people.
Boston Sober Gay Sundays is a private FB group that organizes social events for people who identify as sober in the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more about the group, members, and activities they organize by requesting to join the group.
Dignity Boston is a progressive, inclusive community of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics and their allies.
Fenway Healthhas been serving the local LGBT community for more than 40 years; the Fenway and AAC are always looking for volunteers.
Gay Beer Club is a Boston based organization that produces events and gatherings for members of the gay community.
Gay For Goodmobilizes the LGBT community to interact with the greater community by volunteering their time with different monthly activities.
Gays for Patsy is a country western dancing club that meets weekly on Sundays at the Calvary Church, 300 Mass. Ave. 6:30-8:30 pm. The first hour is for beginners.
History Project is a volunteer-driven organization established in 1980 that focuses on preserving the history of Boston’s LGBT community to make it accessible to future generations.
Keshet works to ensure the full equality of all LGBTQ Jews and their families. The group also create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued and work to advance LGBTQ rights nationwide.
LGBT Elders of Color is a local group that conducts outreach to isolated LGBT older adults of color who build community through events, creative programs.
Mass Asian & Pacific Islanders (MAP)is a group that provide health counseling & support, referral & screening services, as well as general health promotion and advocacy for APIs in the Boston metro area and beyond.
Mass Bears & Cubs is a non-profit corporation, organized to provide and promote an inclusive LGBT+ community through charitable fund raising and other community events.
Men of Melanin Magic is an active social group for those who identify as queer men of color. They host an annual Men of Color Weekend in Provincetown and co-host Bussdown Fridays with Gay Mafia Boston at Legacy each Friday night.
Mountain Tops if you like to get out and hike, check out this gay hiking group in Boston that organizes trips and hikes regularly.
Naked Yoga for Men Naked Yoga For Men has been meeting since January 2000. For most of its history it has met twice per week.
Non-Scene Gay Friends of Greater Boston is a place for the LGBTQ+ community to hang out, make friends, explore Boston, and have fun doing a wide variety of activities typically separate from the gay bar “scene.”
Opus Affairwhile not exclusively a LGBTQ+ organization, it draws many from the community and is probably best known for their monthly cocktail parties to help raise money for local arts organizations.
OUTbreathoffers a safe space for those who identify as queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning to come together to explore the practice of meditation and support each other in community.
Queer Boston Board Gamersis a friendly LGBTQ+ meet up group that connects regularly to play board games.
Yankee Cruising Clubbrings LGBTQ+ boaters together to meet, make friends and most importantly get out on the water. You don’t need to have a boat to join – just a passion for boating.
Apologies if I have overlooked any gay organizations in the area. Add information in the comments section or reach out to me, and I’ll be happy to add your group to this list.
BosGuy 