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.
Most people are aware of the stroke of Public Relations brilliance that is Amazon’s search for second headquarters (HQ2). Cities have lined up and prostrated themselves for the chance to bring what is expected to be tens of thousands of well-paying jobs at Amazon’s HQ2. Few cities in America have followed this story more closely than Boston, which continues to be named as a top contender, despite initial claims from some that the city couldn’t compete.
Who can say where Amazon will set up shop and what sort of criteria they will use as a determining factor, but last week a gay-rights advocate group started a campaign called “No Gay? No Way!” to bring attention to states bidding for HQ2 who have antiquated and in some cases anti-LGBTQ laws on their books. They are asking Amazon not to set up their HQ2 in a state that does not protect employees from discrimination for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Although nobody knows for certain the three cities most often referenced as being atop Amazon’s list include Atlanta, Austin and Boston. However, of those three cities, only Boston resides in a state that has fair and equal laws protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
This activist group is planning to demonstrate near Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle tomorrow, Thursday, February 8th, just as the company prepares to issue its Q4 earnings. The group has hired a plane to fly overhead trailing a “No gay? No way!” banner and is placing billboards on trucks driving through Seattle as well as online ads saying “Hey, Alexa? Why would Amazon even consider HQ2 in a state that discriminates against LGBT people?”
If you’d like to read more about the campaign link here: No Gay? No Way!
One of my favorite Instagram accounts is run by Julien Levesque (whom I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting). His account posts beautiful photographs of my neighborhood, Boston’s South End. I think what impresses me the most is that he has been posting photos for quite a while and my neighborhood is really quite small, but it is filled with some beautiful parks and 19th century row houses like shown above from one of his previous Instagram photos.
Follow him on Instagram here, instagram.com/southendboston.
Do you like this weekly post? Check out previously featured IG accounts here.
Hopefully the caption I’ve shared below inspires you to offer up a caption or two of your own. Leave a witty or funny caption as a comment for this post, and I’ll approve it for readers to enjoy.
“Calgon take me away!“
Over the years I’ve promoted a variety of volunteering opportunities from Boston’s Gay For Good chapter. This organization aims to energize and mobilize the LGBT+ community to interact with the greater community by volunteering time to various social welfare and environmental service projects.
Each month, Gay For Good Boston selects a different non-profit to donate their time for a community service project. No money is required on your part but space for volunteering opportunities is generally limited so it is best to be a member to know when the opportunities are posted. If you think you’d like to learn more about this group, like their Facebook page and visit their website, gayforgood.org/chapters/boston.
I want to feature the LGBTQ groups and organizations that help people connect and enrich Boston’s gay life. If you’d like to have your club / team featured, please email me at bosguymail@gmail.com or via FB messenger.
Are you a fan of the Tales of the City series? You’ll want to come out and meet the author, Armistead Maupin, who will sit down with Boston arts journalist Louise Kennedy for an intimate discussion at the New Rep Theatre in Watertown on Monday, February 12th.
Tickets start at just $25 with the NewRep’s discount code made available to BosGuy.com readers. Receive the discount by using the code MAUPIN25 when you order your tickets online.
What: An evening with Armistead Maupin
When: Monday, February 12th at 7PM
Where: NewRep Theatre in Watertown
Info & Tix: newrep.org/events/armisteadmaupin (use the discount code above)
Below is a photo I took of Sergio with Armistead Maupin who was visiting Provincetown a few years ago. He’s a very friendly person who has a lot to share. I’d encourage anyone interested to get tickets before this sells out.
Launched in 1976 as a groundbreaking serial in the San Francisco
Chronicle, Armistead Maupin’s iconic Tales of the City series has
since blazed its own trail through popular culture. Hear Armistead Maupin talk
about creating the series and his new book, a memoir titled Logical
Family (October 2017), which grew out of his critically acclaimed
one-man show of the same name.
The Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program has released a new report, The Millennial Generation: A Demographic Bridge to America’s Diverse Future. In it they examine how this generation (75 million strong) now a quarter of the entire U.S. population is changing. For those who like to complain about this generation, think about this: Millennials are more likely to be multi-racial, more racially diverse and more likely to identify as LGBTQ. Just by virtue of who they are, they can / will accelerate greater acceptance. Below you can see how Millennials are changing the make up of cities from coast to coast.
An interesting side note published by GLAAD in 2017 found 20% of 18-34 year olds identified as LGBTQ. More information about that here.
The Millennial population of Boston accounts for 24.6% of the total population, but places like Provo, UT (30.40%), Austin, TX (27.20%) and San Diego, CA (27%) have even larger percentages of their population identifying as Millennials. Curious to see what the percentage of your city’s population is Millennial? The Brookings Institute has an interactive map will show you, here.
This week I’ve compiled a HUGE list of things you can do so please share this with your friends via your preferred social media.
During the week you can check out events like Pizza & Game Night at Dorchester Brewery, Cards Against Humanity Night at The Alley, Stump Trivia at Club Cafe, DotOUT’s Midweek Meltdown in Dorchester or head over to Cambridge for Queer Boston Board Gamers night – are just a few of your options this week.
If you’re not interested in hitting the clubs there are several interesting movies playing this week, including A Clockwork Orange and The Hunger Games at The Brattle. The Coolidge’s Midnite Movie series this weekend includes Ravenous and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, and for Science Fiction fans check out the 43rd Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival.
Pizza & Game Night is every Monday from 5-9PM (check out their ping pong and foosball tables) at Dorchester Brewery in Dorchester
Drag Bingo is every Monday starting at 7PM free to play at Club Cafe in Boston
Cards Against Humanity Night returns to The Alley Bar in DTX on Monday from 8-10PM 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
Wonderground offers you new House & Techno music at this monthly party held the first Tuesday of the month at the Wonder Bar in Allston
People Before Highways is part of the BPL’s Local & Family History Lecture Series about Boston’s Urban Renewal plans in the 1950s on Wednesday 6-7:30PM in Boston
DotOUT’s Midweek Meltdown is this Wednesday from 6:30-8:30PM at the Harp & Bard in Dorchester
Quincy Bay Area Gay Men’s Meetup are meeting on Wednesday for movies, game night and pizza from 7-10PM (RSVP required) in Quincy
Houseboi w/ DJ Dandylion & Lucy Stoole at Middlesex on Wednesday
Houseboi w/ DJ Dandylion & Lucy Stoole is one part great music and one part great entertainment with your hostess Sham Payne on Wednesday at the Middlesex Lounge in Central Square, Cambridge
Atomic Karaoke with DJ Stevie Psyclone & Jonathan Brett is every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston
White Out Weekend (WOW) hosted by The Welcoming Committee runs through the weekend up at Sunday River Mountain in Maine
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
Bear Trivia Night is at 8PM every Thursday at The Alley Bar in DTX Boston
Boston’s Gay Beer Club Thirsty Thursday at the Cambridge Brewing Co.
Boston Gay Beer Club’s Thirsty Thursday is back so head over to Cambridge Brewing Co. starting at 8PM in Cambridge
Atomic Karaoke with DJ Stevie Psyclone & Jonathan Brett is every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 5PM – 9PM admission is free to the public
Bear Trivia Night is at 8PM every Thursday at The Alley Bar in DTX Boston
Karaoke Thursdays is every Thursday at Machine with your hosts Rob Botelho and Emphysema Menthol 100s in Boston
THE WEEKEND
WoW Weekend: Let’s have a skiki is hosted by Boston’s The Welcoming Committee up at Sunday River Mountain Friday – Sunday in Maine
Queer Inclusive Climbing Klub (QuICK) Pizza night and climbing club at Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville
43rd Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival starts on Friday and continues through the 19th at the Somerville Theater in Davis Square, Somerville
Fuzz is a monthly dance party with no cover featuring DJ Bruce Derfler at the Alley Bar in DTX
Movie: Ravenous plays at 11:59PM on Friday as part of The Coolidge’s “After Midnite” series in Brookline
Clockwork Orange is showing on Saturday at 4:15 and 9:30 at The Brattle Theater
Movie: A Clockwork Orange is showing on Saturday at 4:15 and 9:30 at The Brattle Theater in Harvard Square – Cambridge
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
Saga Saturdays Boston’s biggest gay dance party at Paradise in Cambridge
Movie: Freddy’s Dead The Final Nightmare plays at 11:59PM on Saturday as part of The Coolidge’s “After Midnite” series in Brookline
Movie: The Hunger Games is showing on Sunday at 3:15 and 8:30 at The Brattle Theater in Harvard Square – Cambridge
Bear Brunch is back at The Trophy Room this Sunday, starting at 1PM, featuring music by DJ Brian Halligan in Boston
Dragapalooza Paint Party + Drag Show for Charity hosted by Boston’s Black Pride will be a blast with live performances by Teashaboo, Karisma Geneva Jackson-Tae, Kris Knievil Fan Club,Amanda Playwith, Kerra Daniels, Tee Sparks, and more on Sunday from 4:30-8PM at Jacques in Boston
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
Sip with Severity Stone comes to Jacques on Sunday from 6-10PM with DJ Brian Halligan playing your favorite disco music in Boston
Boston’s Gay Beer Club Sundays at Trophy is this weekend starting at 7PM (all are welcome!) at Trophy Room in Boston
OutBreath: LGBTQ Meditation Group come together (past experience is not required) on Sunday, 7-9PM at Shambhala Meditation Center in Brookline
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.
Michelin Burger is $16.95. Photo provided by Aquitaine Boston
Last weekend Sergio and I went to grab a bite at Aquitaine’s bar. I was eyeing the burger on their menu but at the suggestion of the bartender I tried their new “Michelin Burger” (shown above), which wasn’t officially part of the menu.
I ended up devouring the burger and enjoyed it so much that I asked the bartender to send me a photo if Aquitaine ended up adding it to their menu. Apparently several other patrons liked the burger too, because earlier this week I received a note from the restaurant group thanking me for coming in and letting me know that starting this weekend the burger would be added to their brunch and lunch menu as well as to their bar menu, effective this Monday.
The “Michelin Burger” is made with dry aged ground beef, topped with caramelized onions, Vermont cheddar and truffle mayonaisse and served on a toasted onion roll. I opted to have my burger cooked medium rare but however you like it – I’m sure you’ll walk away both full and satisfied. This is definitely one of the best burgers in town and a must try for anyone who enjoys a hamburger.
Much thanks to the bartender at Aquitaine for going the extra mile, forwarding my comments and contact information so I could get this photo. Now that dry January is over, I’ll come back and try it with a cold beer.
BosGuy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, Awesome.
Aquitaine Boston
529 Tremont Street || (617) 424-8577
aquitaineboston.com
Enjoy your morning cup of joe (or whatever you may want to call him).
ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about this strip and purchase Adam and Andy cartoon collections by visiting their website at adamandandy.com.
Click on the individual comic strips to enlarge
The MFA Boston’s exhibit, M.C. Escher: Infinite Dimensions opens tomorrow, Saturday, February 3rd and will run through May 28, 2018.
This is the first exhibition of original prints by the artist in Boston, bringing together 50 works that highlight Escher’s imagination and ability. Infinite Dimensions investigates some of the themes that defined his work, including tessellations (arrangements of repeated shapes that fit together with no gaps), perspective and perception conundrums, sphere and water reflections, and transformations. Among the highlights is the 13-foot-long Metamorphosis II (1939-40), a monumental exploration of the fluidity of time and space in which a chessboard, hive of bees, rustic village, and other elements merge into a continuous woodcut printed from 20 blocks.
About the artist: Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world’s most famous and prolific graphic artists, making 448 lithographs, woodcuts / wood engravings and 2,000+ drawings and sketches. He was born in the Netherlands and attended the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem.
For more information about the MFA exhibit click here: M.C. Escher: Infinite Dimensions.
BosGuy 
