Now I see the family resemblance
It has been quite some time since I’ve said thank you.
I’m pleasantly surprised by how many of you bookmark my blog, subscribe to receive posts and “like” my posts on facebook. My blog is still a mere baby by comparison to all the “big kid blogs” out there, but it provides me much satisfaction, certainly makes for an engaging hobby and has allowed me to meet a lot of really interesting people.
I wanted to once again say “thank you” to new and long-time readers alike. Hopefully your native language has not been overlooked in the title. I tried to include native languages from the countries where nearly all my readers reside.
Here’s a big virtual hug from me to you.
Last night Boston Spirit magazine hosted their 5th annual LGBT Executive Networking Night at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Guest speaker, Chaz Bono, addressed more than 1,200 LGBT professionals who came together to socialize and network.
Some of Boston’s largest firms were talking to potential job seekers including: Mintz Levin, John Hancock, Eastern Bank, Fidelity Investments, State Street Bank, The TJX companies, Partners Healthcare, and Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare to name a few.
This spring tradition has grown each year and is a great evening. I wanted to say thank you to the staff at Boston Spirit for organizing this event. Click to enlarge photos from last night’s networking event.
Earlier this month work brought me to NYC and due to booking last minute, I found myself staying at the Renaissance New York Hotel Times Square. Normally, I would shun such a hectic location, but it was not possible on this visit.
Despite my initial reservations about staying in Times Square, the hotel won me over by exceeding my expectations in three ways. First, located just blocks from Hell’s Kitchen was a bonus as was it’s proximity to 46th Street which has many dining options between 8th and 10th Avenue. Second, the hotel bar provides one of the best views of Times Square and makes for a great place to grab a nightcap if you’re into that sort of thing. Lastly, the rooms are plush, comfortable and a decent size.
Although I’m still not a fan of staying in Times Square, for tourists this may be the best address in town. Its proximity to great restaurants, the hotel’s bar and the well appointed rooms make this worth considering.
Ten years ago, March 28, 2002, Kylie Minogue’s smash hit Can’t Get You Out of My Head peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
I’ve been looking for an excuse to post another video of Kylie for awhile now and this seemed fitting. I was lucky enough to see her in Boston last April where she kicked off the US leg of her tour. Clearly I’ve Kylie on the brain if I’m still thinking about a show from nearly a year ago.
At the end of the day, 60% of the work week will be over or “ovah” as you’re likely to hear someone on Boston say.
I hope the work week passes quickly for you and that you have a very happy hump day. #HHD for all you on Twittah.
NOM protester from anti-gay marriage rally from 2010
On Monday in Maine the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released confidential documents from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). These documents were shared as evidence in Maine’s ongoing ethics investigation into NOM’s campaign finances.
According to the articles from TruthWinsOut.org and Human Rights Campaign these documents were part of a continuing investigation by the state of Maine. The court-ordered disclosure shows how NOM’s strategy and tactics are racially and ethnically divisive and filled with false political calculations.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, personal opinions may vary on the morality of sexual identity / orientation, but legally everyone must be treated fairly under the law. A law that restricts the freedoms of one group over another will eventually find itself on the wrong side of history, and those opposing same sex marriage will be remembered by history with scorn.
As I get older it becomes increasingly obvious how much pop culture passes me by. I don’t say this with any regret, but more as a matter of fact. I was never one to watch E television or subscribe to People magazine, but I was always plugged in somehow.
When I started hearing about The Hunger Games about a month ago, I was surprised by how much buzz it generated. To give you an idea of how out of touch I am, I Initially thought it was a cruel new dieting fad. Fast forward to this week and its hard not to hear this movie being mentioned.
As time passes, this movie series like those that came before it will become nostalgic topics for this generation to reminisce about over a drink with friends. But for me, it will always give me a chuckle as I think back to wondering if The Hunger Games was a cruel diet fad.
This past weekend I attended a wedding, and the justice of the peace pointed out while the tradition of marriage is not new, the two getting married were among the first generation of gay men in the US to legally wed each other. So I wanted to take a quick moment to recognize the two grooms, Jason and Randy who invited me to bear witness to their ceremony and say, “Thank you.”
Their reasons for marrying had little to do with politics and more to do with a desire to build a life together, but their actions taken in context of a larger trend show that as more men and women come out of the closet and come together the taboo of being “gay” is disappearing. Massachusetts would have never legalized gay marriage in 2004 had it not been for the tens of thousands of gay men and women who stepped out from the closet in the 70s, 80s, 90s and even recently.
For those living in places where being gay is still “bad” or “wrong” I hope you read this post and can see your future in the life Jason and Randy are now starting together. No matter where you live in this country, the laws are changing because the public’s perception of what it means to be gay is changing, and a lot of that is due to men like Jason and Randy who are just living the American Dream with a bit of a gay twist.
Check out this fantastic story about a Spokane, WA banker named Joel Armstrong. If you’re a parent definitely share this after reading the classic “Make way for the ducklings”. Thanks for sharing John Pompeii.
NPR reported yesterday that a new study from the University of California San Diego has found people who eat chocolate several times a week are actually leaner than people who don’t. This may be the best news I’ve heard in a very long time. I love chocolate (esp dark chocolate with coffee), and I look for any excuse to consume it guilt free.
According to the article some specific polyphenols found in cocoa help inhibit an enzyme called pancreatic lipase that is responsible for digesting dietary fat. I’m not sure what any of that means but the message I’ve taken is that consuming chocolate (in moderation) should be enjoyed minus the pangs of guilt.
Do you love chocolate or are you simply intrigued? You can read or watch the full story on NPR here.
Coppa Enoteca, which opened in early 2010 and is owned by Chef Jamie Bissonnette and partner Ken Oringer, features Italian small plates, pasta, and wood-oven pizzas. This neighborhood favorite is both rustic and relaxing and is a great destination for an evening out with a friend or for a date; especially in warmer months when you can dine outside on their street side patio.
Best known for their small plates, many of the handmade pasta selections can be ordered as a main dish if you are not in the mood to share. Coppa’s menu is primarily comprised of small bar snacks $5-$8; Italian meats cut from their beautiful Berkel slicer (see below) $10; Antipasti $7-$9; wood fired pizzas $14-$16; handmade pastas $13-$16.
On this visit we started our meal with Burrata ($9) and arancini, two fried risotto balls stuffed with cheese ($6). The Burrata was creamy and cool on the palate. The flavoring of the pesto and honey in particular makes this antipasti worth trying again. By contrast the arancini was warm and salty. Upon cutting the arancini, we could see all the delicious, melted fontina cheese.
As if the aromas coming from the kitchen isn’t enough to set your mouth watering our first two “small plates” awakened our appetites and we dived into the Cavatelli di Pollo ($13) and Feta di Popeye pizza ($14) (shown below). The pasta was surprisingly salty and left me wanting more. The pizza, topped with melting feta cheese and spinach, was slightly blackened from the wood-oven. Having both pasta and pizza is carb loading, but it is an undeniably delicious combination and one I suggest especially when sharing like I did.
Coppa is located at 253 Shawmut Ave in the South End; open 7-days a week and serves lunch during weekdays starting at 12pm.
Restaurant Tip: Getting a table is difficult in part because of Coppa’s reputation and in part because it is so tiny so make a reservation or try visiting for lunch or early in the week when it is less crowded.
If you drive into Boston and park next to a parking lot that is completely full, on a block where cars are only parked on one side of the street and you think to yourself, “this is the perfect place to park“.
Sorry suburban Mom or Dad, but if you read the sign just in front of where you parked you would see that street cleaning was scheduled that morning.
Each Monday I blog about profiles of men on Twitter who catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following. As always, suggestions for profiles to feature are welcome. If you’d like to follow me on twitter, you can find me @BosGuy. You can find me talking about these men on Twitter by searching the #MenOfTwitter.
Keeping with a recent trend of featuring couples I’d like to introduce you to a young couple who live together in southern California.
whattaboutjeff – Jeffrey is in his mid 20s and lives in West Hollywood (what a good gay) with his fiance, Justin, whom is also featured in this post. Jeffrey is originally from Manhattan but he moved out west four years ago to work as a surgical nurse. He Tweets often and mostly about his life with his partner, and I’m fairly certain you will find his current shirtless profile picture very distracting.
allaboutjust – A.K.A. Justin is also a 20-something living the good life in sunny southern California. Originally from South Dakota he moved to L.A. last May to work as an ER nurse (God bless!) Justin is quite funny. In his Twitter profile he describes himself as “a good vein whisperer”… So less scary now that you know he’s an ER nurse, right? I was thinking he’d watched one too many episodes of True Blood.
Here is an adorable photo of the happy young couple. When I asked them to tell me something they enjoy doing together they mentioned their love of wine and how they often visit Napa Valley. They are saving money and contemplating a visit to Italy. I say that’s a must for wine enthusiasts and foodies alike. 
BosGuy 