This was the first gay-themed movie that I ever saw which was filmed in and written about gay life in Boston. All the Rage is about a pretentious South End gay man obsessed with the pursuit of physical, sexual, and romantic perfection. Sound like someone you might know? The stereotype works even if the movie sometimes let you down.
As is the case with many gay-themed films, the movie is a bit cliché and the writing and acting at times made me wince, but it was an entertaining enough and worth the rental. The entire movie was filmed in Boston during the mid- to late-90s.
The following clip dates back to 1993 just prior to the band’s successful debut album, Aurora Gory Alice, was released. Letters to Cleo was a local Boston band that I first got turned on to by my close friend, Tom. Most people remember their smash hit “Here and Now”, which was featured as the theme song for Melrose Place.
Kay and her husband lived in the Fenway and I often saw her working out at the Gold’s Gym on Lansdowne Street. I was so bummed when I heard they broke up. Listen to this acoustic version of their song, Wasted. Kay has a beautiful voice.
If you would like to know what Kay is up to these days, she maintains a blog which you can read here.
The Boston Globe has posted on Boston.com that Neil Diamond will be accompanying Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pop’s at this year’s free 4th of July concert on the Esplanade.
According to The Boston Globe, the Liberty Mutual press release also said,”The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which draws approximately 500,000 concert goers annually, will be hosted again by Craig Ferguson of CBS’s ‘The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”
I can already hear the crowd singing along to Diamond’s hit, “Sweet Caroline” and everyone laughing to Ferguson’s off-beat and witty remarks.
Although I’m the first to admit that the television is always on, I do not have a DVR and I do not set my schedule around network programs. However, after watching FOX Television’s new show, Glee, that might all have to change. I have not laughed so hard or enjoyed a televsion program this much since Ugly Betty’s maiden season. Glee’s website indicates that this is Ryan Murphy’s latest creation. Murphy is also the creator of “Nip Tuck” – a cult favorite.
Glee centers around Will Schuester, a young optimistic teacher, who wants to revive the school’s glee club. Supporting cast includes some interesting characters including the school’s cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch (you would recognize her from her role in the movie, Best in Show). The students in the glee club are also entertaining – such as the hunky football QB,Finn Hudson, played by Cory Montieth and the much maligned, Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele who has a truly amazing voice.
This show is not going to have broad appeal so I hope it can succeed. For fans of witty one liners and great music there probably is not a better show on TV. My favorite line from tonight’s show came from glee club diva, Mercedes (Amber Riley) when she proclaimed “I ain’t no Kelly Rowland – I’m Beyonce!” Musical scenes included an incredible rendition of Amy Winehouse song, “Ain’t Going to Rehab”, a nod to several musicals including Grease, Les Miserables and Chicago as well as the cheesy 80’s hit from Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin'”. I’m hooked and I’ll be watching this program next Tuesday night. Will you?
You can check out much more on hulu by linking here.
Last year I mentioned my cousin, Matt Albiani, in my entry Urge to Travel, because he had a covershot on November 2008 issue of OutTraveler.
Matt recently published his first book entitled, Life Guard on Duty. The book will be available on Amazon.com in the coming weeks but you can pre-order a copy by linking here.
You can check out his website which includes more photographs of life guards as well as some of his other work by visiting: MattAbliani.com.
The Loaded Gun is reporting that shooting for Ben Affleck’s movie, “The Company of Men” has returned to the South End for more filming that will last through May 15th. The film stars Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones among others.
Back in April much of Union Park was closed off for filming at 5 Union Park. If you are into star gazing it might be fun to spend some time sipping a latte or two from The SouthEnd Buttery on Shawmut Avenue.
Thanks for the tip from Loaded Gun. Fortunately, I no longer have to fight to find street parking so I won’t be cursing at all the trailers taking up valuable street parking real estate.
Thanks to WGB for sharing this video clip. Meryl Streep does a ‘wicked good job’ playing Julia Child.
Although Julia Child was born in CA and lived in Europe for years, she really became quite famous when she started her cooking show here in Boston on PBS affiliate, WGBH. The Smith College grad settled in Cambridge and through her cooking show became a local and international icon for decades. Check out the movie trailer – it is worth the two minutes of your time.
Few have the looks of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt but it does not stop people from making snap judgements on an individual’s ability based on how they present themselves.
Check out Susan Boyle, a contestant from Britain’s Got Talent. Susan’s rather homely presentation belies a voice that belts out Les Miserables “I dreamed a dream” like a pro – amazing. Check out the video by linking here.
Every year the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater comes to Boston for one week of breathtaking performances and each year I purchase my tickets to see one of the performances. This year I am going to see the show on Thursday, April 30th and I can hardly wait. If you’ve never seen the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, do a search on YouTube or Google Videos. I think even on the small screen the music and dance will capture your imagination.
If you’ve never been – consider spending some of your hard earned cash to come down and see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at the Boston Opera House. Tickets can be purchased online here.
About Alvin Ailey: Alvin Ailey was an African-American choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Ailey’s career as one of the nation’s most prominent choreographer’s was cut short when he died from AIDS in 1989. His choreographic masterpiece Revelations is believed to be the best-known and most often seen modern dance performance. You can see this beautiful dance if you link here.
Sometimes I wonder if residents of Boston are aware that there are alternatives to brick for building materials. Much of this city is built with brick and while the city is beautiful – a little diversity is also greatly appreciated. That is one reason I think I like this photo so much. You can see the top corner of the Louis Boston building in front, New England Life Insurance Building is the greyish building just to the right, followed by the Houghton Mifflin building (a personal favorite) with the decorative rounded top and the distinctive Hancock skyscraper is the last of the “layers” in the picture. It appears as if the photo was taken from the corner of Newbury and Berkeley Street looking south. The photograph is from Saturated City.
I have followed this blog ever since I was contacted by Alex Miranda. His photograph incorporates one of my favorite buildings in Boston but I’ve never noticed it from this angle on Newbury Street. If you would like to see more of his photosgraphs visit, http://www.saturatedcity.blogspot.com.
Somerville artist, Chris Speakman, is hosting an exhibition of silk-screened baseball imagery from April 4 – May 24, 2009 at 8 Union Park Street. An artist reception is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2009 from 6pm – 8pm. For more information about the reception, link here.
I’m not familiar with Chris, and I have to admit that silk-screening is not my favorite medium. However, his images are engaging and it seems appropriate, considering the home opener for the Red Sox 2009 season is a little more than a week away. If you would like to see more of his work link here.
Every Tuesday is showtune Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester and everytime I go I have so much fun. Last night was no exception as I found myself eating dinner and watching clips from musicals ranging from Mary Poppins and The Lion King, to Rent and The Color Purple.
I rarely rally to go out on a Tuesday night, but yesterday was a special day as a good friend (who happens to bar tend at dbar) was celebrating his birthday. So in a nod to both dbar which salutes musicals and my friend – I’m including this little ditty from one of my favorite musicals of all time, Hedwig and the angry inch. I absolutely love it when the dancing wig appears around the 4 minute mark… Perhaps you’ll find yourself singing along too.
When I moved back to Boston in 1997 I was so glad to be back, because I could follow all the great local bands the city offered. One of the bands who always had my attention, and I enjoyed seeing was Morphine. The band split after one of the two founders (Mark Sandman) suddenly died of a heart attack on stage; I believe in Italy if memory serves me correct. I’ve never heard another band quite like Morphine. The clip below is from one of their more commercially successful songs, “Early to Bed”.
If you like what you hear – check them out on YouTube where many more videos of the band performing exist.
Did you ever see Next Stop Wonderland? Long before there were tax breaks bringing Hollywood to Boston to shoot, local director Brad Anderson, filmed this romantic comedy that asked the question, “Do you believe in fate?” I saw this movie at the Kendall Movie House in 1998 and met Brad who did a Q&A after the film concluded.
As you could have guessed from the title of the movie – much of this was filmed along the Blue Line, but there is plenty of Boston to see in the movie. The clip below shows, Erin Castleton – played by Hope Davis, in her apartment in Union Park in the South End recovering from just being dumped by her loser of an x-boyfriend, when her meddling mother calls to let her know that she placed a personal ad in the Boston Herald. Clearly this is a flashback to a time before Match.com, eHarmony, etc… I don’t even think that people place personal ads in the paper anymore.
In addition to being a wonderful cult film that shows much of Boston, the movie has a beautiful soundtrack that is Bosa Nova inspired. I have the soundtrack and still play it frequently some ten years later.
This morning I woke up to see snow falling (again). Rather than dwell on the fact that spring was still weeks if not months away, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) to spend a few hours. It has been about a year since my last visit to the MFA and a couple of years since I went to look at the museum’s permanent exhibit. One change I noticed right away is the addition of a small gallery named after Herb Ritts which is dedicated to the art of photography.
The museum is still under construction, but there is plenty to see. However, you don’t have to take my word for it, take a listen to what host, Tom Lowe, has to say (and see) in this 2+ minute video.
This was the first gay-themed movie that I ever saw which was filmed in and written about gay life in Boston. All the Rage is about a pretentious South End gay man obsessed with the pursuit of physical, sexual, and romantic perfection. Sound like someone you might know? The stereotype works even if the movie sometimes let you down.
BosGuy 