I don’t know how I missed this video and want to thank my friend Joe for sharing this classic. The video’s title, Single Ladies Gone Wrong, really sums this up best. I promise this will give you a good chuckle.
After Christmas I mentioned Sergio had surprised me with airfare to Puerto Rico so I cashed in points to stay at W Retreat and Spa on Vieques Island. Despite the fact that we’ve been to Puerto Rico several times, we’ve never been to Vieques. I’m curious if any readers have suggestions on things to do, places to eat or go out and of course tips about the W Hotel property. We’ve reserved a “Fabulous Ocean Front Escape” (their room description not mine), and the resort is highly rated on Trip Advisor.
While there are many great shows coming to Boston from theater companies touring the United States, there is a vibrant local theater scene too often overlooked. While I can’t list all that Boston offers, I’ve listed five productions that have caught my attention and hope to see.
Other Desert Cities at Lyric Stage Company, Jan. 4th thru Feb. 2nd Tickets Here
33 Variations is about a mother coming to terms with her daughter and a composer coming to terms with his genius. Separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that transcends the boundaries of time. The play takes place both in present day and in Beethoven’s time, switching back and forth between New York City to Bonn, Germany and Vienna, Austria.
Invisible Man at The Huntington Theatre Jan. 4th thru Feb. 3rd Tickets Here
The Invisible Man is a play based on the 1952 novel by Ralph Ellison. The production addresses many of the social issues facing African-Americans in the first part of the 20th century. The Huntington’s Artistic Director, Peter DuBois, shares more about the production here.
Marry Me A Little at The New Repertory Theatre Jan. 6th thru Jan. 27th Tickets Here
Marry Me A Little from the NewRep is an updated take on Sondheim’s charming musical revue—and on modern-day marriage.Through spoken word and song, lonely New York singles fantasize romantic adventures, join in emotional conflict, and question the commitment of marriage.
Other Desert Cities at The SpeakEasy Stage Jan. 11th thru Feb. 9th Tickets Here
Other Desert Cities tells the story of a family where secrets are currency and everyone is rich. Brooke Wyeth, a once promising young novelist, comes home after a 6-year absence for Christmas in Palm Springs, but festivities are short-lived, when Brooke announces she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a tragic event in the family’s history.
Mildred Fierce by The Gold Dust Orphans Feb. 7th thru Mar. 17 Tickets Here
Mildred Fierce is Ryan Landry’s latest musical, inspired by the Joan Crawford film, Mildred Pierce. This production will star Varla Jean Merman as Mildred and will be performed at the Ramrod Performing Arts Center as Ryan likes to call it but is probably better known as downstairs at Machine Nightclub.
Want to see what other shows are opening in Boston later this month? Check out The Phoenix which has a more complete listing here.
No wonder this part of the country has a reputation for being unfriendly. You try to smile and make small talk while your teeth are chattering and you can barely feel your toes. It’s only January 3rd and I’m already over winter.
For the sake of those living in the northeast my message is very simple – bundle up. It is FREEZING. Think I’m exaggerating? Check out the weather in Boston. 30 F is approximately -1 C and tonight’s forecast 11 F is equal to -11 C. OMFG
The Boston Globe reported today that the local company, Zipcar, which has expanded rapidly over the past decade has been sold for nearly $500 million to Avis. According to terms of the deal, Zipcar will become an Avis subsidiary and and will continue with its planned move to new headquarters in Boston’s Innovation District. Zipcar CEO Scott Griffith as well as Mark Norman, president and chief operating officer, will stay with the company.
Will this successful, hip, young company lose it’s coolness factor now that they’ve been gobbled up by Avis? I’ve asked a friend who works there if he was given an Avis name badge and clipboard when he walked into the office today. It seems that many believe while this might make sense on paper, Avis is sure to destroy what made Zipcar so admired. Check out the Washinton Post’s scathing blog post How Avis will ruin Zipcar.
Hunter College in New York collected data in 2010 from nearly 500 gay and bisexual men and the findings of their report will be published in the February 2013 issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior.
The study asked gay and bisexual men if “the comfort and fit of a condom has an impact on them having safer sex.” The study concluded the larger the man’s penis size, the higher the rate of condom failure, and the more likely he was to forgo condom usage. Most gay clubs / bars in the US already make condoms available for free, but the study suggests taking an additional step of including larger sized condoms to help encourage safer sex.
A new study from Hunter College’s Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training determined there is a correlation between the size of a gay man’s penis and the likelihood he’ll use a condom.
More findings from this self-reported study included:
• Nearly 50% of men reported condom slippage during sex.
• Almost 33% reported condom breakage in the past 3 months.
• 40% reported that they did not have a problem finding condoms that fit properly.
Now that the holiday season is over, it is time to get back to work. I hope that these past few weeks were relaxing, and I want to wish you all the best in 2013.
Maxine Blomberg is an artist living in Boston who I became friendly with a few years ago when she started working at the neighborhood cafe, Green Light.
Each week at the Green Light Cafe Maxine creates new chalk art on a chalk board by the register. I really like her unique style and each week look forward to seeing her illustrations at the cafe. Her employer, The Aquitaine Group, recognized her talent as well and has encouraged her artistic illustrations. They asked her to create a replication of the Trevi Fountain all in chalk for their new restaurant, Cinquecento, a Roman-inspired trattoria. You can check out the chalk art, which is on display at the trendy new South End restaurant, or you may visit Green Light Cafe to see her weekly creations. Under the Cinquecento chalk drawing I have included a video my other half created that includes nearly all of her 2012 chalk board images from The Green Light Cafe. Maxine’s first love is working with sculpture and headdresses which you can see some of on her website, enixvw.wordpress.com.
Cinquecento Mural by Maxinne Blomberg
I’m hopping on the bandwagon featuring Chris Salvatore after blogger Alan Ilagan dubbed him “hunk of the day” last week on his blog. Alan has a few more photos of this guy here.
Past Temptation Tuesday posts
Year in rewind: BosGuy’s favorite posts from 2012
The photo below comes from my post, Praia Mole: Where the gays are. It is my favorite photo of Sergio and me in 2012 and precisely how I’d like to remember this year where so many good things happened.
Wishing you all the very best in 2013.
*****
I thought Meryl Shcenker’s photos of Randell Shepherd, 48 and Larry Duncan, 56 in Washington State getting married was one of the most touching images of 2012.
I suppose our personal bias makes us see what we want, but I can’t think of a more compelling / touching image that explains why I believe the right to marry who you love is a basic civil right.
Equally touching was the photo of the happy couple arriving at the Seattle First Baptist Church to be married in a group ceremony with 24 other couples; photo also by Meryl Schenker
President Obama’s response to Clint Eastwood’s routine at the 2012 Republication National Convention was the coolest dis I’ve seen on social media.
More about it here.
Year in rewind: BosGuy’s favorite posts from 2012
After reading about The Seattle Times editorial team “I do” campaign to show your support for the marriage initiative on Washington State’s ballot, I asked people to be photographed with the “I do #74”. Thanks to my sister in particular who sent photos of many neighbors and friends I collected nearly 90 images through September, October and the first week of November.
*****
Show your support for Referendum 74 in Washington State
Yesterday I wrote about The Seattle Times editorial team’s “I do” Campaign. Washington State has a ballot initiative asking its residents to support same sex marriage. To show their support, The Seattle Times has taken the unprecedented step to create a social media campaign supporting the ballot initiative.
I may not live in Washington State, but I wanted to show my support and hope you will too. If you email me your photos holding this sign I’ll publish your photo.
The sign and directions on submitting your photo to The Seattle Times is also included in this link. Be sure to send me your name(s) and where you live (city / state and if you don’t live in the US include city / country).
Email your photos to BosGuymail@gmail.com.
According to tradition, the color underwear you choose to wear tonight signifies the change you want in 2013. For those who like the status quo, I suggest going commando.
BosGuy 