Tag Archives: Boston Guy

Boston ranks least friendly city in America for food trucks

According to a recent ranking by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Mayor Walsh and the city of Boston are the worst city for an entrepreneur to open and run a food truck.

The Food Truck Index  – an industry that contributes more than $2b nationally – finds that Boston is prohibitively expensive and is overly bureaucratic. The index, reviewed regulations in twenty of America’s largest cities. They focused on the permitting processes and licensing, complying with restrictions and operating a food truck. The findings were based on on fees, trips to government agencies and the number and level of government procedures from nearly 300 food truck operators in the twenty cities.

While I don’t expect (or want) to live in a city where there is no oversight, it seems like Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston are openly hostile to the food trucks.  For example, in Denver, food truck operators need to make 8 trips to licensing agencies, follow 10 procedures, and pay an average $811 to get their trucks up and running. In Boston, the average cost in fees is $17,066, and to add insult to injury they must make nearly 3X as many trips (22 trips) to government agencies to ensure they are in compliance with more than 30 procedures.

When you compare the out-of-pocket cost for obtaining permits and licenses for a new food truck in Boston it is so incredibly out-of-step to other cities. Even Seattle which ranked 19 out of 20 cities only costs $6,211 (almost 3x less). If you remove both Boston and Seattle from this list, the average cost  in fees for the remaining 18 cities is $1,622; Boston’s fees are roughly 10X that amount.

The astronomical cost associated with permitting and licensing doesn’t stop there either because operating a food truck in Boston is estimated to cost nearly $38,000 in Boston (also ranking us last). Realizing that the cost of operating a food truck in a city like Boston is going to be more expensive than many places in the U.S., the least the city could do is make the licensing and permitting process more affordable and less onerous.

Mayor Walsh – Boston can do better than this.

Temptation Tuesday

handsome, hunk, namaste, sexy black guyI’ve selected this week’s temptation with my friend Paul in mind because today is his birthday. For those of you who know Paul, be sure to wish him a happy bday.

Past Temptation Tuesday Posts

Lyric Stage Company presents Anna Christie

BosArts, Boston TheaterLater this week The Lyric Stage Company in the Back Bay will open their new show, Anna Christie. The Pulitzer Prize winning play by Eugene O’Neill still has tickets available, but the show which opens on Friday, April 6 will close on May 6 so get your tickets while they remain available. Tickets to the show are $55 each.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

Men in kilts

handsome, shirtless man, muscles, abs

Previous Men in Kilts Posts

What to do this week: April 2 – 8

There is a lot happening in Boston this week including Boston Design Week, which starts on Wednesday, PAX East, which starts on Thursday and WQ Film Festival, which opened last Thursday and runs through this week. 

However, if none of those multi-day events appeal why don’t you head over to Sports Night at Peggy’s on Wednesday, Throwback 90s Queeraoke on Thursday at the Milky Way Lounge or Atomic 80s Night on Thursday at Zuzu.

Over the weekend there is plenty to do as well including SoWa First Fridays, Beyonce vs. Rihanna (Tribute // Dance Party) on Saturday and this weekend’s very special Sunday Tea Dance featuring a live performance by Robin S. at Club Cafe.

gay bostonMONDAY – THURSDAY

Pizza & Game Night is every Monday from 5-9PM (check out their ping pong and foosball tables) at Dorchester Brewery in Dorchester

QBBG Field Trip to Aeronaut Brewing Company Queer Boston Board Gamers head to Aeronaut Brewing Co at 6PM on Monday in Somerville

Drag Bingo is every Monday starting at 7PM free to play at Club Cafe in Boston

Trivia Tuesday is every Tuesday at the Dorchester Brewing Company and starts at 7:30PM in Dorchester

Showtune Tuesday hosted by VJ Ryan Grow starts at 9PM every Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester

Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston

Stump Trivia with Jonathan Brett is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8PM) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston

Boston Design Week starts on Wednesday and runs through April 15 – hosting events throughout the city

Sports Night at Peggy’s  is every Wednesday night at Peggy O’Neil’s pub in Dorchester

Atomic Karaoke with DJ Stevie Psyclone & Jonathan Brett is every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston

Houseboi featuring DJs Colby Drasher and Kurt Fowl takes place on Wednesday night starting at 9PM at the Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge

Resilience Among Sexual and Gender Minority Healthcare Providers join guest speaker, Carl G Streed Jr MD, Fellow, Division of General Internal Medicine & Primary Care, Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Thursday from 12:30 – 1:30 at Harvard Medical School

PAX East opens in Boston on Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Boston Convention and Exhibit Center

ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public

Queer Boston Board Gamers is meeting Thursday from 6-9PM at the Panera Bread at Porter Square in Cambridge

Movie Night featuring Burlesque starts at 7PM on Thursday at Mainestreet in Ogunquit

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Star 3 Multiple viewing parties will take place at 8PM on Thursday at Jacques in Bay VillageThe Alley Bar in DTXPeggy O’Neil’s in Dorchester and Trophy Room in South End

Bear Trivia Night is at 8PM every Thursday at The Alley Bar in DTX Boston

gay boston, LGBTQ film

WQ Film Festival: Men’s Shorts 2018 plays at the MFA Boston on Thursday starting at 8:30PM in Boston

Throwback 90s Queeraoke starts at 9PM at the Milky Way Lounge on Thursday in Jamaica Plain

BRASH | Queer Party is hosted every fourth Thursday at Brass Union from 9PM – 1AM in Union Square, Somerville

Atomic 80s Night is back on Thursday at Zuzu in Central Square

Karaoke Thursdays is every Thursday at Machine with your hosts Rob Botelho and Emphysema Menthol 100s in Boston

gay boston

Bayard Rustin Breakfast is April 7th at the JFK Library

THE WEEKEND

SoWa First Fridays runs from 5-9PM at 450 Harrison Avenue in Boston

Queer Inclusive Climbing Klub (QuICK) Pizza night and climbing club at Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville

Anna Christie (Opening Night) is a Pulitzer Prize winning classic play by Eugene O’Neill from the Lyric Stage Co., that runs through May 6 in Boston

Guerrilla Queer Bar (GQB) is this Friday (location to be determined) starting at 9PM in Boston

Casual Fridays is a weekly dance party with no cover featuring DJ Begbick at the Alley Bar in DTX

Beyonce vs. Rihanna (Tribute // Dance Party) is hosted by Controversy and starts at 9PM at the Middle East in Central Square Cambridge

Latin Friday is upstairs at Machine every Friday starting at 10PM in Boston

gay boston

FASCINATION First Friday is a monthly gear/ fetish/ kink night at Jacques the 1st and 4th Friday of the month in Boston

AcousticaElectronica: Immersive Music & Dance Show returns to the Oberon again this month on Friday in Cambridge

29th Annual Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast starts at 9:30 AM at the JFK Presidential Library in Dorchester

DotOUT’s Annual Spring Thang starts at 11:30 – 1PM at the Blarney Stone in Dorchester

Boston Gaymers at Gold Fruit PAX East Meetup is on Saturday and starts at 8PM at Cathedral Station in Boston

Video Night Tracks every Saturday night join VJ Ryan Grow at Cathedral Station starting at 9:30PM

Oberon Theater Donkey Show

Donkey Show is every Saturday at the Oberon

The Donkey Show is the ultimate disco experience is a story inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream each Saturday at Club Oberon in Cambridge.

Grunt is a weekly dance party with no cover for burly men and their admirers, starting at 10PM at the Alley Bar in DTX

EXTRA featuring AJA from RuPaul’s Drag Race  18+ night for this special party at Machine on Saturday

Saga Saturdays Boston’s biggest gay dance party at Paradise in Cambridge

Drag Me To Brunch starts at 2PM and is hosted by Carrie Nation Cocktail Club on Sunday in Boston

Sunday Tea Dance Featuring a live performance by Robin S. will be playing great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 6PM at Club Cafe in Boston

Sunday Seaport Takeover is hosted by Boston Pride on Sunday from 12-4PM at Scorpion Bar in Boston

Karaoke at the Alley is every Sunday starting at 8PM in Boston

Pajama Party is a weekly dance party hosted every Sunday starting at 10PM at Machine in Boston

Hot Mess Sundays w/ Mayhem Miller from RPDR at Candibar in the Theater District on Sunday starting at 10PM in Boston

Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.

Happy Easter from Seth and me

Caption this photoHappy Easter from Seth and me.

Scruffy Sunday

man in a onesie, sexy, handsome, hunk

Previous Scruffy Sunday Posts

Saturday morning coffee

handsome, hunk, underwear, abs for days

Enjoy your morning cup of joe (or whatever you want to call him).

Saturday morning comics

gay cartoon, gay comic, James Asal Jr.ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about this strip by visiting, adamandandy.com.

Click on this week’s comic to enlargeJames Asal Jr., gay cartoon, gay comic

Last week’s Comic Strip

Boston traffic is ranked 7th worst in nation

2015 urban mobility scorecardEarlier this week The Boston Globe shared a story about how traffic in metro Boston has gotten worse.  According to the article, a study by  INRIX Global Traffic cited that the average Boston-area driver will spend 60 hours a year in traffic, that ranks Boston as the 7th worst in the nation. If you don’t live in Boston but are curious to see how your city ranks visit: inrix.com/scorecard

Fortunately, Sergio and I remain largely unaffected by this since we both live and work in the city and on most days both of us are working from home. I found the study surprising because it seems like today there is more flexibility for people to work from home a couple times a week and/or commute during off hours, but clearly I am wrong or it isn’t enough of a trend.

Source: Boston Globe

For those of you who will be packing up soon to face the traffic, which was the impetus for the article in the Globe, you can read the full article here, Boston drivers are spending more time in traffic.

Furry Friday

handsome, hairy, hunk, swimmer, speedo

Adding some extra fur with the hairy legs in this week’s post.

Past Furry Friday Posts 

BosGuy brain teaser

riddle, exercise for your brain

Each Friday morning I post a riddle to get you to think outside the box and exercise your brain. If you are stumped, share it with a friend or colleague and see if you can figure out the answer together.

I’ll confirm answers in the afternoon so don’t worry if you don’t see your comment posted right away. I want to give everyone a chance to guess.

This week’s brain teaser:  
Forever together, In continuous struggle and bout,
We’re never properly introduced, Yet know all our ins and outs.
Our tug of war, Our very own see-saw,
We are two and yet one, but to you? Just one more chore.

Like riddles? Check out past week’s brain teasers.

What to do this weekend

It is opening weekend for the 2018 Wicked Queer Film Festival, which I would encourage you check out.

In addition to the WQ Film Festival, I’d like to give shout outs to the Justin Timberlake Experience at the MoS and Casual Fridays at The Alley (both on Friday), So Hot Saturdaes Megging Madness at Peggy’s in Dorchester on Saturday and the DADT Boi Butter Brunch on Sunday at Trophy Room.

The Justin Timberlake Experience is at 7:30PM on Friday at the MoS Planetarium

Queer Inclusive Climbing Klub (QuICK) Pizza night and climbing club at Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville

Casual Fridays is a weekly dance party with no cover featuring DJ Begbick at the Alley Bar in DTX

Justin Timberlake Experience fuses the sounds of JT’s music with stunning / inventive visuals under the Charles Hayden Planetarium dome in Boston

Versus Madonna We Love You starts at 9PM with DJ Brian Derrick at Thunder Road Music Club in Somerville

Latin Friday is upstairs at Machine every Friday starting at 10PM in Boston

WQ Film Festival: Paternal Rites shows at the MFA on Saturday at 3:30 PM (for the full schedule of movies visit wickedqueer.org in Boston

Video Night Tracks every Saturday night join VJ Ryan Grow at Cathedral Station starting at 9:30PM

Saga with Ranny is on Saturday night at Paradise Nightclub in Cambridge

gay boston

So Hot Saturdaes Megging Madness From kittens to galaxy print, get comfortable and flexible into a pair of cute meggings at Peggy’s on Saturday starting at 10PM in Dorchester

The Donkey Show is the ultimate disco experience is a story inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream each Saturday at Club Oberon in Cambridge.

Grunt is a weekly dance party with no cover for burly men and their admirers, starting at 10PM at the Alley Bar in DTX

DADT Boi Butter Brunch is Sunday April 1 at Trophy Room

Sunday Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 6PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston

Karaoke at the Alley is every Sunday starting at 8PM in Boston

Pajama Party is a weekly dance party hosted every Sunday starting at 10PM at Machine in Boston

Hot Mess Sundays at Candibar in the Theater District is every Sunday starting at 10PM in Boston

Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.

Boston’s Wicked Queer Film Festival opens today

Attention all you movie lovers – Boston’s LGBT Film Festival, a.k.a. “Wicked Queer”, starts today. Wicked Queer runs through April 8 at area venues including the MFA Boston, Emerson’s Paramount Center and Brattle Theatre. This year’s festival has many films that deal with the timely topic of refugees and immigrants, a complex issue that’s even more complicated for LGBT community.

Wicked Queer Film Festival March 29 – April 8, 2018

The Boston Globe provided a nice write up about this film festival, one of the oldest / longest running in the country, which you can read here,  LGBT Film Festival takes on immigration.

For a complete listing and to purchase tickets (which I strongly encourage you to do) visit, wickedqueer.org/events.

Vintage gay

military

Definitely predating the days of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell – actually way before such a thing even existed – these two men in uniform look like they are posing for a prom or semi formal photo. Aren’t they cute holding hands?

I dedicate this weekly post, featuring vintage gay photographs, to the men and women who lived in a more critical time where being true to yourself and loving who you want wasn’t always an option and came at a great price. Do you have a photo you would like to share? Email me at bosguymail@gmail.com.

Previous Vintage Gay Photos