Palindrome pride

I love palindromes. Why I don’t know but I think they are pretty cool and this afternoon while I was surfing the web, I stumbled across one of the longest palindromes I’ve ever heard in my life. What is a palindrome you may be asking?  The definition (according to Merriam Webster) is a word, verse, sentence or a number that reads the same backward or forward.  So easy examples would be “bob”, “winnow” or “1881”. However, once you get beyond a few letters I’m hard pressed to think of palindromes, which is why I was so impressed when I read this one, “was it a cat i saw”. 

W-A-S-I-T-A-C-A-T-I-S-A-W

Do you know of any other palindromes that are equally impressive?

The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Tonight I’m off to see The Great American Trailer Park Musical from the SpeakEasy Stage Co. at the Calderwood Pavilion.  According to the website, the show is about agoraphobia, adultery, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, kleptomania, flan and disco. When Pippi, a stripper on the run, comes between Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her toll-collector husband, neighbors Betty, Lin and Pickles team up to save their friend’s marriage.

Sound like something you would enjoy? Grab tickets online here or call the Boston Theatre Scene box office at 617-933-8600, but do it quickly as the show is only here until Sunday, May 30th.

Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend

Boston has vibrant downtown neighborhoods that come to life on each weekend during the warmer months when you can venture outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.  Thus far, the weather in 2010 has been less of a nemesis and more of a friend.  This weekend Friday looks to be rainy, but Saturday and Sunday should be in the low 70s with plenty of sun; making it ideal for people who want to partake in the SoWa Art Walk.
Held each spring, this event draws thousands of people into the neighborhood to come and see the 200+ artists who exhibit their work. Studios will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 6pm.  Need directions on how to get here or want to look at a map to see where the studios are located – link here.

If the art walk is not your thing, pay a visit to Boston’s most famous brewery, Sam Adams. Their summer brew is now on tap everywhere in the city, but you can sample it for free and see how it is made in their brewery in JP.  It is fairly close to the Orange Line Stony Brook T stop, and you can drive and park for free on the weekends.  The tour is free but a small donation is asked at the very beginning; proceeds go to a local charity.  For more information about weekend hours call ahead, (617) 368-5080.

How big is the BP oil spill?

The explosion on April 20th, which left 17 workers injured and 11 missing and presumed dead is spilling from a well 5000 feet below sea level, discharging 200,000 gallons of crude oil a day according to the official estimate (though over 2 million a day, by private estimates).  As of May 6th, the spill covered at least 2,500 square miles of ocean surface. 

Appreciating how massive this spill was difficult to conceptualize until I stumbled upon Paul’s blog, which allows me to compare this to major US cities like Boston, NY and San Francisco.
Don’t live in or near Boston, NYC or SF?  Thanks to Paul Rademacher’s blog you can see how big the spill would be in your home town. Check it out by linking here: http://paulrademacher.com/oilspill/

I’m Gaga about this cover

OMG – this 13 year old kid is amazing.  Check out the audience reactions as they realize this kid can really sing.  Thanks to Brenton over at Aussielicious and Dave over at WGB for bringing this to my attention. My school recitals were nothing like this.

I’m a sucker for romance

Something you may not know about me is that there is hardly a romantic comedy or romance flick / play that I have not watched.  No matter how formulaic, I prefer romantic comedies because I like a good laugh or two thrown in with a “happily ever after”. 

The reason I say this is because for the past 6+ months I’ve been following a blog about a couple that resides in the Albany, NY area.  The blogger, Alan, and his partner recently came to Boston so they could legally marry and now he is sharing pictures and stories.  I’ve enjoyed reading his entries and I thought you might as well.  The blog includes past trips to Boston to stake out locations for everything from where they would stay to where the rehersal dinner and actual wedding would take place. I have to give Alan credit too for his artistic eye – he has some beautiful photographs, which he uses to help tell his story.

Alan’s blog: http://www.alanilagan.com/

What will it take to break our addiction?

As the saying goes, “Those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 

Shame on BP for this latest oil spill.  Shame on our government for not doing more. But mostly shame on America for not learning from our past and insisting that we break our addiction to oil.
Photo found on Just a Jeep Guy Blog.

Birthday celebration

Last night I celebrated my birthday with friends and family.  I’d like to thank everyone who came it meant a lot, and I had a fantastic time. I’ve included a collection of photos from last night.

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Birthday celebration

Commencement season

With 260,000+ students enrolled in 50+ colleges and universities, Boston and Cambridge may have more students than any other city.  This also means that graduation ceremonies will dominate the city for the next several weeks.

Having so many people leave the city over the span of 6-8 weeks has a profound impact. The city develops an empty feeling that is compounded when many residents start heading for Cape Cod, the islands (Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket) as well as places like Newport, RI and the coast of Maine. On the plus side, street parking becomes easier and life slows significantly; if only for about 10 weeks. However, that slower pace of life is still a few weeks away and won’t be felt until “commencement season” concludes. 

Last night, across the street from my home the Mass College of Art and Design had their Senior Fashion Show, which operates as a sort of commencement for these newly minted fashionistas.  The event looked quite beautiful, and I could not help but go over and check it out.  I’ve included a clip of all the graduates promenading down the runway.  Earlier in the evening, each designer had their spotlight showcasing a number of looks – this was the end of the show.

"The Gulls" opening weekend

This is the opening weekend for Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans’ latest show, The Gulls. Although I’ve yet to see the play – you can be sure that they will have an interesting (and thoroughly modern take on) Hitchcock’s “The Birds”.  

If you happen to catch the show at the “Ramrod Performing Arts Center”, I’d love to hear from you.  In recent years’ Ryan and his troupe have become a tour de force in local theater showcasing their creativity and ability to push the envelope.  If you’ve never been to one of the Gold Dust Orphans shows, check it out.

More about the Gold Dust Orphans here.
Tickets are $35 – $45 and can be purchased online here.

The Gallows – new south end restaurant

Move over Coppa there is a new restaurant ready to open in Boston’s trendy South End.  If rumors are to be believed, very soon The Gallows will be opening in the space previously occupied by Sage.  Renovations at The Gallows are nearing completion and none to soon if you ask me, because since Pho Republique’s departure that block has sorely lacked a neighborhood restaurant. 

As was first reported in February by Grub Street, the menu is moderately priced with most entrees less than $20.  The menu is described as “contemporary New England fare” and will include items like stuffed burgers and fish and chips, made with a choice of stout or light beer batter, and served with handmade chips and malt vinegar aioli. Sounds delicious to me.  I can imagine hanging in the front bar which has dramatic views of the Cathedral and can offer interesting people watching.

Free stuff to do in Boston this weekend

The first Friday of each month this group randomly takes over a traditionally straight bar and call it their own. Lines can get long with some nights drawing hundreds of guys. This Friday BGQB will be at Sanctuary in downtown Boston.

First Friday – SoWa Artist Guild
If the bar scene is not your thing, Friday, May 7th is the first Friday of the month which means the South End’s many artist galleries at 450 Harrison Avenue will be open to the public. Parking is plentiful and you can spend a couple of hours looking through some very unique galleries. If you get thirsty after all that walking there are several lounges and restaurants just steps away (sorry those are not free). This is a bit of a precursor to the SoWa Art Walk which will occur on Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16 from 11:00am to 6:00pm, but I’ll write more about that next week.

Fort Point Channel open studios
Continuing with the ‘art’ theme, on Saturday and Sunday, the Fort Point Channel neighborhood which in many ways has become the ‘new’ South End is having their own art walk which will include 50+ artists and artisians. For those coming in from outside the city, there is free parking across from 249 A Street.  Fort Point open studios is from 4-7pm on Saturday and from 12-5pm on Sunday.  Visit, http://www.fortpointarts.org/ for more details.

Dusk in Boston

The weather in Boston has been beautiful.  Days have been sunny with temperatures in the low 80s and high 70s making it feel more summer-like than spring.  Dusk on Tuesday in Boston was absolutely gorgeous.

Unfortunately, I was slow to pick up my camera but I was able snap a few shots including this photograph of a fading rainbow.

Bon appetit

Videos from Paris

My siblings gave me a Flip so I could video my trip to Paris. I used it quite a bit but I’ve determined I’m not cut out to be a movie director.  A steady hand, good eye and baritone voice to narrate is required (none of which I have).  However, here are a few clips.

April 29th @ Logan Airport

May 1st @ Le Louvre Museum

May 2nd @ 4Pat – Restaurant in Marais