Men in kilts are damned sexy and everyone knows it. Just as every man looks like he’s a bit taller and has broader shoulders when they slip into a tuxedo, there is something incredibly masculine about a man wearing this traditional Scottish garb and Cirque du Soleil knows it.
Cirque du Soleil recently released this behind the scenes video entitled “Scottish Fantasy” to promote their show Zumanity in Las Vegas. If you’ve not seen the clip, feel free to check it out below.
In the US it is customary for a bride to have a special dance with her father, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this before. It makes me wish I knew the family and had been invited to this wedding.
This week’s temptation is for all those who like ’em big and strong. I prefer more swarthy guys not quite as jacked, but I have to admit his legs are Ahhh-mazing.
Boston Chops had a crew outside today to place their sign out on the restaurant’s awning. Nothing says “ready to open” like hanging a sign out in front of your restaurant… right?
Restaurantaur, Brian Piccini, has an excellent track record with opening successful restaurants so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is a “sign” of an imminent opening. Boston Chops will be the third restaurant in the South End in as many months to open following BoMA, Estelle’s and Cinquecento.
One month ago today was the Sandy Hook tragedy. While I still cannot wrap my head around the senseless killings that took the lives of 27 innocent victims, what I find equally inconceivable is the callous response from the National Rifle Association in the days that followed.
While I’m paraphrasing the NRA’s response, they indicated schools are easy targets so Americans should focus on arming them to prevent future tragedies like Sandy Hook. This line of thought smacks of a deep-seated paranoia that I can’t comprehend. As I understand it, the NRA’s argument is do not limit the manufacturing of weapons – rather arm yourself and everyone. The thought of people being able to purchase a semi automatic assault rifle would have been inconceivable when I was the age of the elementary school children killed, but now the NRA (and apparently America) find this an inalienable right. Following that line of thought, one expects that only providing more deadly weaponry is the answer so perhaps in another decade we’ll be discussing the need to bring grenade launchers (shown above) or having armored tanks at our schools.
I suppose why I’m writing this post is because I want to ask, is this the kind of society we want to live and is this what we truly value?
Bushmaster .223 assault rifle was used in Sandy Hook
33 Variations Dr. Brandt
Last week I saw The Lyric Stage Co. production, 33 Variations. The story opens in present day in New York City with a heated conversation between a mother and daughter, but in the next scene the audience is drawn into a second story involving Ludwig van Beethoven. Sound complicated? Not interested in the music scene from 19th century Austria? These were my thoughts too when I first read about the show, and it is why I wanted to be sure I dispel these reservations – they are unfounded. I promise you will thank me for telling you to go.
The Lyric Stage Co. does an excellent job suspending time and weaving these stories that on the surface are about Beethoven’s piano masterpiece the Diabelli Variations, but actually have a lot more to do with personal relationships, individual passions and the need for closure. Dr. Katherine Brandt played by Paula Plum steals the show perhaps because her story is so compelling – even though at times I found her character so frustrating I wanted to walk down on to the stage and shake some sense into her.
33 Variations Clara Brandt & Mike Clark and Beethoven, Schindler & Diabelli
Dr. Brandt’s friction with her daughter and fixation on her research happen to be incredibly relatable and I suppose that is what I found so engaging about her character and the entire play. I had assumed the storyline would be too cerebral for me to sit back and simply enjoy. The humorous dialog and candid conversations that run through out the show will draw you in and the two hours will pass so quickly you’ll be left wondering if The Lyric Stage Co. ability to suspend time on stage had somehow extended to your seat as well. So pick up tickets and make a night of it. I assure you it is money well spent and an evening you will enjoy.
33 Variations – The Lyric Stage Company in Back Bay January 4 thru February 2, 2013 Purchase tickets here
After a few hiccups trying to load this video from yesterday’s No Pants Subway Ride in Boston, the two minute video has now posted on YouTube.
Miss all the fun or perhaps you participated in this annual event; check out the video. If you didn’t participate in the event this year, perhaps you will join me and the 500+ others next January for the No Pants Subway Ride in 2014.
For the past few years I’ve participated in Boston’s No Pants Subway Ride, hosted by The Boston Society of Spontaneity, a volunteer-run, free to join, social arts & events group that plans a variety of programs in and around Boston.
This year my partner and I opted to give a nod to America’s most iconic, and ambiguously gay couple, Sesame Street’s – Ernie and Bert. While we couldn’t find underwear with these guys faces I think we were able to do the outfit justice. I had hoped to have a video of Sunday’s ride in Boston but my computer just wouldn’t seem to cooperate so I hope to have something to show you later this week. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck because I did get some funny photos that I’d enjoy sharing.
About The No Pants Subway Ride: started in 2008 by the NYC based Improv Everywhere, it has now spread to more than 50 cities around the world.
Guess which Twitter handle I’m now following.
For those of you who committed in the New Year to focus on your personal fitness, I wanted to encourage you to stay strong. Even if you’ve missed days or not been able to maintain the schedule you planned, don’t give up.
I’ll be thinking of you while I’m at the gym today.
Sergio snapped this photograph at dawn on Friday morning before I had awoken. Our apartment looks out at a landscape of renovated mill buildings initially constructed in the late 1800s.
I admit it that I’m shallow, but I’m banking that more than a few of you will also be intrigued to watch this 2 minute clip.
I previously wrote about the November Project™ to let you know about the Boston Ninja Race they are hosting on January 23rd. However, this group of runners do more than hosting one-off crazy races through Boston. They are focused on motivating each other by hosting a combination of cardio workouts and social interactions.
One such example is their Wednesday morning workouts, which start at 6:30am at Harvard’s Stadium to run up the big seats and come down the small steps. This crazy group of Bostonians have put together a video from earlier this year from one such work out. Learn more about this group here.
MARRY ME A LITTLE.
Andrew Brilliant/ Brilliant Pictures
The New Rep’s production of Marry Me A Little, is set in an apartment complex on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. The four neighbors played by Aimee Doherty, Brad Daniel Peloquin, Erica Spyres and Phil Thayer use songs from Stephen Sondheim that were originally intended for unproduced shows and cutouts from known musicals to tell their stories about love, romance, heartbreak and loneliness.
One of my favorite songs was Saturday Night performed early in the show by Aimee and Brad. I loved the end of the song when they sang, “but I’m on my own on a Saturday night with no one to phone on a Saturday night and when you’re alone on a Saturday night you might as well be… dead.”
Not all the songs made sense to me, but that didn’t detract from the overall experience and in some cases actually made me like the show even more. For example, I loved it when Brad and Phil sing Can That Boy Foxtrot, which is filled with not so subtle innuendo about one man’s love lust for another.
Compliments to the two pianists Todd Gordon and David McGrory as well as Erica Spyres who pulled double duty with a lead role and as violinist for several songs. This is worth venturing out to Watertown and with the show concluding by 9pm you can even grab a dinner next door following the performance.
Marry Me A Little – New Rep Theatre in Watertown, MA January 6 – 27, 2013 Purchase tickets here
Earlier this week Boston made national news when our mayor declared a medical emergency after more than 700 cases of the flu had been reported.
Consider this my own personal P.S.A. I’ve been out a lot lately and it appears some need to be reminded that while it is perfectly natural to sneeze and cough, those of us who have yet to contract the flu would appreciate it greatly if you would cover your mouth and wash your hands.
BosGuy 