For the second year in a row Boston Spirit Magazine is teaming up with sports talk radio WEEI and the Boston Red Sox for a very special Red Sox Hot Stove Happy Hour on Sunday, April 10 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Cathedral Station in the South End.
Former Red Sox player, Lou Merloni and Boston sports writers Steve Buckley, Rob Bradford and John Tamase will be on hand for a great discussion about the upcoming season and the Boston Red Sox.
Last week PBS News Hour talked to Charles Murray, a libertarian political scientist at the American Enterprise Institute who says that wealthy, highly educated and snobby Americans increasingly live in so-called super-ZIPs: cloistered together, with little to no exposure to American culture at large.
Take the Do You Live In A Bubble Quiz
Those people, Murray says, live in a social and cultural bubble. His easy to take 25-question quiz, covers everything from beer to politics to Avon to “The Big Bang Theory,” to help you determine if you live in a bubble or more likely how thick is that bubble you live in. The description based on my score was spot on.
Short shorts are made for men like this.
Dear North Carolina LGBT Community,
A lot has been written about the mean-spirited legislation your State Legislature passed and Republican Governor, Pat McCrory recently signed into law. Without going into the details, we all understand the message: The LGBT community is not welcome in North Carolina and those who wish to discriminate against the LGBT community can now do so freely with the blessing of the state.
While North Carolina is a beautiful state, home to many wonderful people, it is hard for me to understand how a state can categorically write-off their LGBT community. The LGBT community has been instrumental in revitalizing neighborhoods like the South End in Charlotte and comprise a growing professional demographic that the state needs if they are to continue to court new employers to relocate to the area.
“If you do not feel welcome in North Carolina anymore many states will welcome you with open arms; Massachusetts included.”
Massachusetts is familiar with bigotry in all its forms but I suppose we are lucky to live in a state where the LGBT community is celebrated and not shunned. Our own governor (a Republican no less) is a staunch supporter of gay rights. I don’t write this to brag – I write this to let you know you deserve to be respected and would be welcomed with open arms in many states; Massachusetts included.
I applaud those who choose to stay in North Carolina and fight to change the law and the hearts of those who supported it, but for those who want to live in a state where the LGBT community is celebrated; not perceived as a social ill, come visit us in Massachusetts. From Northampton to Provincetown — Massachusetts has communities large and small where the LGBT community is viewed as an asset. If you come to the area to visit this spring or summer, let me know and I’ll be the first to buy you a drink and say, “Welcome to Massachusetts“.
With all my love,
BosGuy
Tel Aviv is a modern, progressive city that has a well deserved reputation for being incredibly gay friendly. Last month The Boston Globe had an excellent article worth reading if you are interested in visiting Tel Aviv. In the article, Welcome to Tel Aviv, the gayest city on earth, the Globe journalist, Christopher Muther, paraphrases descriptions of the city that he came across in tour books, writing, “Tel Aviv as gayer than a Neil Patrick Harris pool party.”
For those who may not feel comfortable planning a trip to Israel, friends of mine who recently visited the area had rave reviews about OUTstanding Travel, a company that focuses on gay travelers. While Sergio and I currently do not have plans to visit Tel Aviv, it is on our bucket list and we hope to get there before long. Fortunately, starting last June, Israeli airline, El Al, started flying nonstop from Boston to Tel Aviv with round trip fares starting at $799.
If you are thinking of visiting this summer, keep in mind that Tel Aviv throws an amazing Pride Party in early June. This year Tel Aviv pride parade will take place June 3, 2016. Be sure to check out the official video from Tel Aviv Pride 2015.
Red Sox Hot Stove Panel Discussion at Cathedral Station, Sunday, April 10
What to do this week: April 4th – March 10th
DotOUT Spring Fling annual meeting is from 6:30-9:30PM on Monday, April 4 at Tavolo Ristorante in Boston
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8PM) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Stump Trivia lets you impress your friends with all the trivia you know from 5PM – 10PM every Wednesday at Cathedral Station in Boston
Karaoke Kween is a lot of fun and if you’re good you may nab the $75 cash prize – hosted every Wednesday at Club Cafe in Boston
ICA Boston every Thursday from 4PM – 9PM admission is free in Boston
Fuzz Boston is a fun and friendly monthly party hosted this weekend in Downtown Crossing at the Alley Bar on Friday, April 8 in Boston
Banned in Boston 2016 by Urban Improv returns with their annual tradition (tickets are $150) at the House of Blues Friday, April 8 in Boston
Mainestreet Karaoke party starts at 9PM every Friday in Ogunquit
Comedy Night features hot new comedians and is a guaranteed good laugh; doors open at 7PM (tickets are $20) at Club Cafe on Saturday, April 9 in Boston
Red Sox Hot Stove Discussion is back for its second year at Cathedral Station in the South End from 3-5PM on Sunday, April 10 in Boston
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
In less than a month, the farmer’s, artist’s and food truck markets will reopen on Sunday, May 1, but this year you may think that you are seeing double.
This year the South End Market and GTI are hosting separate markets just blocks from each other. The South End Market is relocating to the Ming’s Supermarket parking lot across the street from the Ink Block and closing Traveler Street between Washington St. and Harrison Ave., lining it with many of the 100+ participating artisans to consolidate and expand their space.
Just two blocks away the newly branded SOWA Open Market will take place in the same space as previous years, stretching from Thayer Street through the parking lots for Cinquecento and Gaslight along Harrison Ave. 
Fortunately the two markets are literally separated by mere blocks so it will be relatively easy to visit both and hopefully alleviate some of the increased traffic the market has created as it has grown in popularity in recent years.
The organizers of the South End Market have not published a list of participating Farmer’s Market vendors but if they do I’ll do my best to share it. The SOWA Farmer’s Market list of participating vendors is available here.
Mom and Dad looking cool at Aquitaine Boston this winter
While I won’t divulge the age, my mother is having another birthday. Unfortunately, she is out in California and I won’t see her for a few weeks because of dueling calendars but she is very much top of mind and I wanted to take a moment to express how much I love her and how wonderful she is and of course to wish her a very happy birthday.
I think I’ve posted this before but I love it. The photo reminds me of the lyrics to Madonna’s song, Justify My Love.
I want to kiss you in Paris – I want to hold your hand in Rome – I want to run naked in a rainstorm – Make love in a train cross-country…
The next couple of months will have some interesting acts visiting Boston’s Wilbur Theatre. Some of the acts that caught my attention are listed below. The links I’ve provided are presale and not widely available to the public for a limited time but these shows will sell out so if you are interested get’em now.
Thursday, June 2 – Sarah Silveman 7:30 p.m. brings this New England comedian back home for one show only.
Friday, August 5 – The Thunder from Down Under 10:30 p.m. is there really any need to elaborate on this one?
Saturday, August 20 – Michael Carbonaro 7:00 p.m. bring the “Carbonaro Effect” to Boston for one show only.
Saturday, August 27 – Bill Maher 7:00 p.m. will entertain you with his skewering remarks about the trainwreck better known as the Presidential campaign.
Massachusetts votes to legalize marijuana at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016
This week the Boston Herald wrote that 62% of Massachusetts businesses polled oppose the legalization of marijuana. The way they wrote it, you would have thought that 62% was a lot of businesses but what surprised me was how low that was. I would’ve anticipated 80 – 90% opposing such legislation.
Full legalization of marijuana will be on the ballot on November 8th and is widely expected to pass. In anticipation of its passage, the MA State Senate is now drafting regulations to license, regulate and tax its production and distribution in a manner similar to alcohol – which I am 100% okay with and look forward to. Maybe we can use the tax revenue to finally fix the MBTA.
You can read the referendum (a.k.a. Massachusetts Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Initiative) that will be voted on at the ballot box on November 8th, here. If you would like to see marijuana legalized, regulated and taxed link here for more information, regulatemassachusetts.org.
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BONUS POSTS
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ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about this strip by visiting, adamandandy.com. To see previous Adam and Andy cartoons link here.
Have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by to check out my blog.
BosGuy 