Boston Phoenix 100 Unsexiest Men of 2011

The Boston Phoenix would like you to vote in their 100 Unsexiest Men of 2011. If you disagree with someone on the list you may vote “Sexy”.  However, if you agree with the selection you can select “Unsexy”.

I’m not one to normally promote negative opinions of others, but I love how this irreverent publication makes fun of all the magazine “Sexiest” lists.  I don’t recognize everyone on this list, but The Boston Phoenix assembles quite the collection of characters.  Some of the names that caught my eye include: Former US Rep. Anthony Weiner, Dr. Conrad Murray, Gov. Rick Perry, and Hosni Mubarek. Others are more puzzling to me like, Stanley Tucci, Anderson Cooper and Jimmy Fallon.

Looking to kill some time in the office this week or next? Check out The Boston Phoenix 100 Unsexiest Men of 2011.

Naughty or nice

Tis the season when little girls and boys are reminded on a daily basis that Santa Claus is coming to town.  Parents use the pending visit as ammunition to remind their children that Santa (or more recently the Elf on a shelf) is watching to see who’s naughty and who’s nice.

This got me to thinking, as we get older do you think people are motivated to do the right thing (in other words be “nice”) because someone might see them and they will receive accolades or do you think people are genuinely nice.

Coming from the northeast which does not have the friendliest of reputations, you may be surprised to read that I think most people if given the opportunity will do the right thing.  This doesn’t mean that every one of us have not in the past been a jerk at one time or another, but on the whole I think the “nice list” (if Santa were keeping one) is a lot longer than the “naughty list”.  Its just that we remember those irritating moments a lot more than those nice ones.

What do you think?

Men of Twitter

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles of men who catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following. Below are this week’s #MenOfTwitter.  Leave them a nice comment and start following on Twitter.

TheDaveyWavey – This native New Englander has some gypsy blood in him, and I have enjoyed following him on his adventures recently to NYC and Hawaii. However, my favorite post on his blog, Break The Illusion, was when he tried vegemite while visiting Australia.  Dave’s blog is all about affirmation and helping to make the world a better place.  He also markets his own apparel and has a fitness site complete with daily work out routines.  You can keep up with all his activities on Facebook and Twitter. #LoveHim

AaronHoff – Aaron is a 25 year old Michigan native who has a penchant for discretely flashing his derrière in his Twitter profile pics.  This ‘cheeky’ guy moved to San Francisco in the fall from DC.  To help pay the bills he is someone’s “sexretary”. His words not mine (I told you he’s cheeky).  Aaron is one of the funniest guys I follow.  An example of a recent tweet is “The trainer broke whatever my ‘getting into the car’ muscles are.” #CheekyTweeter

BrianJMoylan – You may recognize Brian as one of the staff writers for Gawker.com.  In Brian’s own words, “I grew up in the great state of Connecticut, but now I live in beautiful Midtown Manhattan with the rest of the world’s actors and homosexuals.” Moylan also Tweets under the pseudonym @FleshbotBrian for a naughty site that would likely appeal to a number of my readers. #NaughtyWriter

BTW if you like this post, retweet it. If you love this post, follow me, @BosGuy. Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter postings.

Hey summer…

It is a bone-chilling 28 degrees in Boston today with a steady breeze that makes you want to cry within minutes of stepping outside.  I know the past few months have been unseasonably mild, but I miss the weather already.

Decorations by Martha Stewart

Last night when I was driving through one of Boston’s suburbs we passed this house and I couldn’t resist snapping this photograph.  Clearly someone is excited about Christmas, but with houses separated by only a driveway, I have to wonder if the neighbors share the same enthusiasm or more closely resemble the   character of the giant green Grinch off on the right.

Ab Fab on the Kardashians

Have you seen the Ab Fab video about the Kardashians?

Check out this hilarious 30-second clip. It’s fab, dahling.

Edina: “Look there’s a new disease called Kardashians darling…”   

Thanks for the heads up Julian.

Miracle on 22nd Street

Do you remember this feel good story from last Christmas when hundreds of kids in New York City mistook a gay couple’s apartment as Santa Claus’ home?

Unfortunately I cannot figure out how to embed the NYT video but it is worth the watch if you did not hear about this story from Christmas 2010.  You can watch the very touching video here.

Debunking bad marriage equality arguments

Click on the image to enlarge.  Feel free to share.

 

Fox News needs to go back to school

I’ve never pretended to be a fan of Fox News but when they have made obvious errors in labeling or identifying geographies I’ve refrained from poking fun, acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes.  However these errors seem to be happening with greater frequency on Fox News.  Can you imagine a national news channel covering the Presidential Primary making errors like this?  The errors shown have happened in the last two weeks; I’m not picking out errors over several months sorting through a proverbial haystack to find these.This is the kind of thing I would expect to see on a regional network news affiliate in a minor market or perhaps from the Colbert Report on the Comedy Channel (which strangely often mocks the Fox News channel). Fox News has been criticized for not checking their facts and perverting news to fit a political agenda.   It appears the lack of discipline in their reporting is now spilling over to their preparation for their broadcasts in more tangible ways.

The images above are from Media Matters

On Wednesdays we wear pink

You best be wearing pink.

Restaurant review: Bryant Park Grill

There are many reasons to try a restaurant and while the food and service is paramount, sometimes location trumps all.  My dinner in New York City this week at the Bryant Park Grill is one such restaurant where many go predominantly because of the surroundings.  Outside the restaurant are cute shops, beautiful decorations, a very nice (and popular) ice rink as well as the dramatic backdrop of the New York City library.While the food we ordered and the service we received was good.  It was not particularly memorable and the menu in truth is fairly pedestrian; probably trying to appeal to the masses.  However, that did not detract from the overall dining experience and it is a place I would enjoy visiting again.

The Bryant Park Grill menu is divided into several sections including appetizers which range from $10-$17; main dishes that range from $18-$40; and a list of side dishes all $7.  I did not look at the dessert menu but to see those options or to look more closely at the restaurant menu you can link here.My dinner (depicted in the photo above) comprised of sharing the ‘artisanal cheese sampler’ ($16.75) which included a decent blue cheese, cheddar and Crottin Bijou (a soft creamy cheese) garnished with candied walnuts an apple compote and marmalade.  My main plate was steamed Atlantic salmon filet ($27.95).  The potato herb cake atop the salmon added more than the Pinot Noir butter sauce, which I would have thought more flavorful.

Dinner here will pinch you in the wallet and lunch can be a more affordable option if you would like to try The Bryant Park Grill.  The food and service is adequate but can only command the prices it does because of where the restaurant is situated.

Bryant Park Grill in Bryant Park NYC – Reservations are highly recommended Tel: (212) 840-6500

Bryant Park Grill on Urbanspoon

Travel day

Today there will be little time for banter as I hop from one meeting to the next before making a mad dash to Laguardia Airport to head home to Boston.

To all the people who read my blog and travel regularly, you have my profound respect.   The occasional business trip is more than enough for me.  I’ll leave my travel time to coincide with vacation when I can go where I want when I want.

Santa Speedo Run video makes the rounds

Boston’s Santa Speedo Run, which took place this past Saturday is always one of my favorite posts and this year it proved to be a favorite of gay bloggers  as well.  Thank you to Wicked Gay Blog, DanNation, and Back2Stonewall for quickly reposting the video over the weekend.

Last night I found out that Towleroad which had posted my 2010 video gave me a shout out as well and posted the Santa Speedo Run video, causing my humble blog to see its traffic nearly triple in traffic.

Thank you to WGB, DanNation, Back2Stonewall and Towleroad.  If you happen to see other bloggers posting this video, please let me know in the comments section so I may send them a quick thank you.

Toys for Joys (T4J) Party in Boston

This past Saturday was the annual Toys for Joys (a.k.a. T4J) event in Boston. T4J is a non-profit event/organization dedicated to providing toys and gifts for underprivileged children during the holiday season.  It happens to be one of the best holiday parties I attend and this year’s program didn’t disappoint.

It’s hard to say how many men attend this event which is overwhelmingly (although not exclusively) gay, but I would guess close to a thousand guys attend.  The program is either a perfect place to start your evening or as a second stop on what is always a popular night (the 2nd Saturday of December).

There was no way I could collect enough pictures from the event and many of my photographs unfortunately did not come out as I had hoped (mental note, vodka + BosGuy = crappy pictures). However here is a sampling of some of the gracious attendees who paused to pose for me and my trusty companion Sergio.

I have not seen any reports on how many gifts or attendees visited the event this past weekend, but you can learn more about the program by visiting their site, toysforjoys.org.

Men of Twitter

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles of men 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. Below are this week’s #MenOfTwitter. If so inclined, leave these guys a nice comment and start following on Twitter. BsideBlog – The face behind the blog is Ben Mandelker.  He is an LA-based screenwriter (and blogger) originally from the Empire State (NY) who spends his spare time watching TV, cooking food, and discovering crazy hole-in-the-wall ethnic haunts in the city of angels.  Ben claims his life is boring but he’s not beyond name dropping (check out his Twitter profile).  You can also check Ben out online at his blog bsideblog.com. #WestCoastBloggah

Philhamzik -This nice, young man is what we in Boston refer to as “wicked smart“.  Phil is currently an MIT graduate student, studying organic chemistry (told ya he’s brilliant). He is so completely passionate about his interests, I think you too will be quite taken by the young New Yorker (now Bostonian) if you follow him on Twitter.  In addition to his interests in wine, food and fitness he claims to make an amazing margarita #Arriba

Hari_Mac – Hari was born and raised in the UK, but his handsome profile is the product of an interesting heritage, half Greek Cypriot and half Irish.  You can ask Hari which half of him is which 😉  Hari will soon get a taste of what life in America is like  since he’s moving to D.C. NYC as part of a 3-month internship.  Wish him luck as he concludes his studies and for those who happen to live in the D.C. area NYC – extend Hari a warm welcome.  #PeaceOut

BTW if you like this post, retweet it. If you love this post, follow me, @BosGuy. Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter postings.