I’m off to my last regular season Red Sox game tonight. The team is headed for post season play and I believe can be the first major league team in baseball to secure a spot in the play offs if they win tonight.
When I go out in Boston, I often choose to sit at the bar because it is easier to meet and talk with people.
Over time, I’ve developed friendly relationships with a number of Boston’s bartenders and from time to time I like to feature them. Today’s bartender is Alejandro Alvarez who works at one of my favorite places in the neighborhood, Stella.
If you are a fan of Stella, then you too probably know Alejandro, who has been working here since the spring of 2010. You may not know that he helps design their creative cocktail menu, which includes 20 new libations each season. With the fall drink menu rolling out this month, be sure to come back and enjoy new drinks that will include blood oranges, sage, apples and cinnamon (obviously not all in the same drink).
Stella Boston – 1525 Washington Street – Boston’s South End
You can find Alejandro at Stella’s front bar every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Should you find yourself at Stella when Alejandro is working, please tell him BosGuy says hello and tip him generously.
Last week Zagat published findings from their 2014 survey on Boston restaurants, which includes more than 1,200 restaurants and the collective opinions of more than 8,500 diners.
Their survey showed that Boston has a resilient and growing restaurant scene with many newcomers challenging established favorites. Zagat’s Top Food List gives top honors to a new restaurant this year, the North’s End’s Neptune Oyster (up from No. 4) followed by another seafood restaurant, Island Creek Oyster Bar (previously unranked). The remainder of the top five restaurants include Oleana (No. 3), Craigie on Main (No. 4, previously No. 15), and Lumière (No. 5)
Their survey also found Bostonians eat out 3.7 times per week (for lunch and dinner combined), and report spending an average of $44.19 per dinner.
Want to read more? Check out Zagat’s blog here.
Oklahoma has become the fourth state to deny processing benefits for same-sex military couples; the state joins those other bastions of progress and intellect (I jest): Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Military couples in those states can still apply for such rights on federal military bases but that is not necessarily feasible in some of these states that are quite large . This begs the question since when do Governors of certain states get to ignore Federal law? The answer is apparently when you are a bigot and find it convenient to appeal to your homophobic base. I suppose it goes without saying that the Governors of these four states are all Republicans.
I’m not much of a tech-geek, but this video caught my attention and all I could think was, move over Samsung, buh-bye Apple.
Where do I sign up? I want this phone. Watch and share.
Mark your calendars and come to The Boston Common the evening of Saturday, September 21st to enjoy a free performance by the Boston Ballet.
The evening will feature a selection of Boston Ballet’s diverse repertoire, including classical, neo-classical, and contemporary favorites. Supporting the local arts scene could not be made any easier thanks to the generosity of The Boston Ballet and their program sponsors. Even if you don’t think you’d enjoy ballet, challenge your assumptions and come down to the Boston Common for a couple of hours. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy yourself.
Since Boston Chops opened in March, I’ve been a regular at their bar. I first reviewed Boston Chops menu last March, and I offered a review of the restaurant’s brunch menu in June 2013.
On this visit, Boston Chops was offering Chateaubriand. I have never tried this famously tender cut of meat and since this reoccurring house special is ideal to share; served as four thick cuts totaling 20 oz. Sergio and I decided that in the name of ‘research’ for my blog we’d give it a try.
Below is an image of my half of the serving; 10 ounces of what turned out to be incredibly tender and flavorful meat. I rarely order red meat but would suggest this to any meat lover. Our waiter, Chris, followed protocol suggesting a Bearnaise sauce, but the meat really needed nothing to accompany it. However, I will admit the Peppercorn sauce Sergio requested did taste great alongside the crispy french fries that were served.
Ordering the Chateaubriand is a splurge at $85, but when shared, it is similar in cost per serving to the restaurant’s 8 ounce Filet Mignon but even more tender.
Boston Chops – 1375 Washington Street – 617.227.5011
I was really proud to read in today’s Boston Globe that The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has ranked Boston the most energy efficient city in the US. The nonprofit advocacy group based in DC has rated states in the past (see my post from last year: Move Over CA, MA is the Most Energy-Efficient State), but for the first time applied its criteria to America’s largest cities. Rankings were based on policies, government operations, community-wide initiatives, and utility programs; 34 cities were ranked, with Boston beating out Portland OR, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle.
According to The Council, what sets us apart is our community initiatives like Renew Boston – a network of energy efficiency and alternative energy providers who work together to help achieve Boston’s energy goals. Incidentally, those goals include reducing electricity usage by 200 megawatts by 2017, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Last year, the council ranked Massachusetts the most energy efficient state for the second year in a row. California held the top spot previously. The 2013 rankings for states has yet to be released. Curious to read more details about the ranking or to see how your city fared – Link Here.
Are you a fan of the movies? Do you like LGBT themed films? Four will present its Boston premiere on Thursday, September 26th at 7:30PM at the AMC Loews Boston Commonif enough people express interest in the film.
When I was contacted late on Tuesday night 59 more seats needed to be reserved.
To watch the trailer and reserve a seat link here
Photo Credit: Seth Rau
Carl Sciortino is an openly gay progressive candidate who champions social equality and justice causes. So when Carl announced that he would run to fill Ed Markey’s (D-MA) seat in the US House of Representatives, I immediately knew I’d be voting for him.
However, some of you may not know who Carl is and after I saw his campaign video featuring his Dad, I thought this was the perfect opportunity / excuse to give Carl a plug on my blog.
Kim Kardashian & Kanye West
Source: Facebook / Danny Evans
You’ve heard the phrase “make over” before, but perhaps you are less familiar with a “make under”. Thanks to the power of Photoshop and the skill of artist Danny Evans, the public may see what some famous celebrities might look like if they were your neighbors. See more of these hilarious photos here on Huffington Post
photo credit: Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo
Erica Spyres and James Caverly in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of TRIBES, at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End.
The SpeakEasy Stage Co. first play of their 2013-2014 season, TRIBES, opened last week, and I had the opportunity to see a performance this past weekend. I was genuinely surprised by how touched I was and would encourage you to put this on your calendar.
British playwright and director, Nina Raine, who wrote this play is obviously incredibly talented but The SpeakEasy Stage Co. deserves credit for their production. The staging is great and creates an intimate connection with the audience. The cast works well together, and at different moments each of them shine without stealing the other’s spotlight.
The show centers around Billy (played by James Caverly), a deaf son born into a dysfunctional English family that certainly loves but mostly overlooks him. I’ll admit that the story didn’t speak to me when I read about it but I’m so happy that I went to see this show and I’m confident you’ll feel the same way too. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at the Box Office, by phone 617-933-8600 or online, SpeakEasyStage.com.
Pick ad date and order your tickets today.
Dear lord, what must it be like to be this handsome?
This Saturday The Boston Ballet will host a free performance open to the public on the Boston Common to celebrate their 50th season. The evening will include a night of amazing performances, featuring the Boston Ballet dancers and live music from the Boston Ballet orchestra.
Saturday, September 21st at 7 PM
In case of rain Boston Ballet’s Night of Stars on Boston Common will be held on Sunday, September 22 at 7:00 pm.
Who says Mondays are boring? Check out Katya at Jacques in Bay Village to liven up your week and get your dose of politics according to Katya.
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