Tag Archives: Boston

2013 GLBT Fall fundraisers

Posted on September 12, 2013 | Leave a comment

The spring and fall are when the majority of large scale formal fundraisers take place throughout the US and Boston is no exception.  The following are some of the largest and most fun GLBT fundraisers in Boston.  Feel free to share in the comments section below any charitable events I may have missed that you would like to share.

AIDS Action CommitteeLove Art. Fight AIDS

ARTcetera may be my all-time favorite GLBT fundraiser in Boston. This event draws art lovers and enthusiasts as well as many artists who donate their work for auction to raise money for the AIDS Action Committee of MA. The event is hosted every other year but it went dark for a couple of years while AIDS Action rethought the event and in 2011 ARTcetera was relaunched.  More details here:  ARTcetera 2013 – Saturday, October 5th

GLADThis event raises money for GLAD; not to be confused with GLAAD.  The Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders have been fighting for and advancing GLBT civil liberties since it was founded in the late 1970s. This year’s recipient of GLAD’s Spirit of Justice award will be Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall.  The sitting Chief Justice who presided over the landmark Goodridge decision that was the first to rule (10 years ago) same sex marriage was legal and must be recognized.  More details here:  GLAD Spirit of Justice – Friday, October 25th

HRC Dinner BannerOne of the GLBT’s largest fundraisers in Boston each year is the HRC dinner gala, this year hosted on Saturday, November 9th.   At the moment, the website for this event is still a bit bare so if you have questions about the program, I’d encourage you to email dinner@hrcboston.org.   More details here:  HRC New England Dinner – Saturday, November 9th

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Posted in Gay, Philanthropy

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Could Spectacle Island be Boston’s next urban beach

Posted on September 7, 2013 | 5 comments

Boston Harbor On a particularly hot and humid August weekend, I was returning from Provincetown via ferry, when I realized nearly every island in Boston’s harbor seemed to be practically empty.

I started to wonder why these islands were not used more by the public.  It seems like a missed opportunity that could be easily rectified with the proper investment.

Limited investment has already been made in Spectacle Island, and with more development one can envision this transforming into large urban beach complete with all the services associated with other beaches but with a one of a kind skyline view. Such investment would require expanding the beaches on the more protected western and southern portions of the island;  building more and larger docks to encourage boaters, more ferries and water taxis;  better facilities to accommodate more dining options; and of course businesses that rent kayaks, ski jets, etc…

Boston Harbor Islands Certainly there must be some enthusiastic MBA students who are looking for an audacious business plan.  What do you think?

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Posted in Boston

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New metro line to connect Back Bay and Seaport

Posted on September 6, 2013 | 6 comments

Rail 61 BostonToday, the Boston Globe reports that a forgotten and unused train track that was used to carry freight about 100 years ago could potentially connect the Seaport District to the Back Bay.

“The state, with no fanfare, has set aside tens of millions of dollars to launch an innovative train service on a dormant rail line between a pair of the city’s most vital neighborhoods: the Seaport District and the Back Bay.  

The service should be ready to go in just two years, the planning done without any of the drawn-out permitting processes or neighborhood histrionics that impede so much progress in Boston.“

Read more about this in today’s Boston Globe, here.

I would LOVE to see this happen.  What are your thoughts?

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Posted in Back Bay, Boston

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Gilt City: Better than Backstage party this Friday

Posted on September 4, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston CallingThe massively successful two-day music festival, Boston Calling, that was hosted this past May returns to City Hall this weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

To celebrate the return of the music festival, Gilt City is hosting a kick off party called Better Than Backstage the night before on  Friday, September 6th at Royale, located at 279 Tremont Street in Boston.

Friday, Sept 6th at Royale  7:30 – 10:30 PM

The Gilt City party looks to be a lot of fun and will include cocktails and bites, as well as great music that includes a live performance by cult indie-rock favorite Okkervil River, who will also be performing at the festival on Saturday.

Purchase your tickets in advance here.

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Posted in Music

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Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours

Posted on September 3, 2013 | 1 comment

Celebrity Series How cool is this?  Starting on Friday, September 27th 75 pianos will be installed in public locations across Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville and made available for anyone to play.  The “Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours” public piano installation by British artist Luke Jerram will commemorate the 75th season of the Celebrity Series of Boston.  The pianos will be hosted from Friday, Sept. 27 through Monday, Oct. 14, and local artists and community-based organizations will decorate the pianos.

More about the Street Pianos Boston: Play Me I’m Yours public art installation program can be read here.

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Posted in Free Stuff, Music

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Tawkin’ like yer from Bawstin

Posted on September 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

wickedpissaAlthough many of the college students returning to Boston this week are upper class men who are familiar with this town’s idiosyncrasies, thousands of Freshmen and transfer students are walking the streets asking for directions and doing their best to settle into their new home.

Let me be among the first to welcome you and defer you to this wiki on Boston slang.  The list while somewhat old in that it references older pop culture terminology is still spot on and includes helpful definitions of words like the following.

Dawchestahh: Dorchester, Massachusetts NOTE: If you are gay and a student you are either a) likely living here; or b) get familiar with Dorchester (sometimes called Dot) because you’ll be going to a lot of parties here.

Leather District: A downtown neighborhood surrounding South Street in Boston, east of Chinatown. NOTE: The only thing gay about the Leather District is the LGBT bookstore, Calamus, and the porn shop, Marquis de Sade – both happen to be on South Street.

Wicked: very; or occasionally cool. Used indiscriminately, can modify anything (e.g.: especially “Wicked pissa.”). Almost always used as an adverb.

Yiz: Plural form of “you.” As in, “All a yiz bettah be in the cah by the time I count to fou-ah”. 

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Posted in Boston Slanguage

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Welcome back college students

Posted on September 1, 2013 | 3 comments

welcome back college studentsSeptember 1st is known as move-in day here in Boston. With 60+ universities in the metropolitan area, most apartments have a September 1 lease to accommodate the massive student population.

Allston, Brighton, Fenway, Kenmore as well as parts of Back Bay and Beacon Hill are most significantly impacted but really there is no safe neighborhood. Double parked UHaul trucks and discarded furnishings lining the curbside can be seen nearly everywhere.

Although the summer officially does not end until the third week of September, the influx of students moving into their apartments revives Boston and signals that autumn has arrived.

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Boston Comedy Arts Festival

Posted on August 31, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Comedy Arts Festival 2013The fifth Boston Comedy Arts Festival, starts next week and runs from Tuesday, September 3rd thru Sunday, September 8th.  The event will include Kevin McDonald (from Kids in the Hall) as well as Cambridge’s own Jimmy Tingle.

Need a good laugh and want to find out more details about this festival? Check out the Boston Comedy Festival website, www.bostoncomedyarts.com

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Posted in Boston, Humor

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Boston Ballet one day sale today

Posted on August 26, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Ballet One Day SaleUse the code: BBONSALE50 today and save some $$$ when you purchase tickets to one of the Boston Ballet performances for their 50th anniversary.

To read more about the 2013 – 2014 Season and to purchase tickets link to bostonballet.org.

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Posted in Boston, dance

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Red Bull cliff diving in Boston on Sunday

Posted on August 24, 2013 | Leave a comment
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Cliff Diving

© Romina Amato/Red Bull Cliff Diving

Tomorrow, the Red Bull cliff diving competition returns to Boston.  This amazing world competition that takes place in Europe, South America and Asia makes its only stop in North America in Boston on Sunday, August 25th.

Competitors dive from a platform erected atop Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art on Fan Pier in the Seaport district.  If you’ve never seen this spectacle, I’d encourage you to come down and check it out.  The competition commences at 2pm ET and is free to the public.

 I’ve included below a quick video from the first diving contest in Boston from 2011.

 

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Posted in Boston, Sports

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Fireworks over Boston harbor August 31st

Posted on August 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

Fireworks-on-Boston-HarborIf you are not one of the tens of thousands moving out of your apartment on August 31st, you may want to head down to Boston’s waterfront.  Earlier this week Mayor Menino announced the return of summertime public fireworks on the waterfront.

Saturday, August 31st at 9:00 pm

The fireworks will be a highlight of the city-sponsored Boston Arts Festival which runs from Saturday, August 31 to Sunday, September 1 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Christopher Columbus Park.

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Posted in Boston, Free Stuff

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Restaurant Week Boston Summer 2013

Posted on August 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Boston Restaurant WeekBoston’s Summer Restaurant Week, starts on August 18th. Participating restaurants will offer a prix-fixe menu that includes a 3-course lunch for $20.13 and a 3-course dinner for $38.13.  If this is your first time making reservations during Restaurant Week, consider the following tips:

– Make your reservations this week since the most desirable places book quickly. If possible, make reservations for Monday or Tuesday when a restaurant is likely to be less busy.

– Not all participating restaurants are worth visiting.  If most of the restaurant’s main plates are < $25.00 then you’re not saving any money. Look for restaurants that normally charge a higher price point.

– Select a restaurant you have never visited. Use the opportunity to explore new places.  You may be pleasantly surprised and discover a new favorite.

Want to see what restaurants are participating, learn more about the program or make a dinner reservation? Check out the website, restaurantweekboston.com.

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Posted in Boston, Dining

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Matthew Ritchie to follow Os Gemeos in Dewey Square

Posted on August 4, 2013 | 1 comment

boston public artFor nearly 18 months the colorful mural shown above in Boston’s Dewey Square has been one of the most discussed pieces of public art.

The Os Gemos mural was never meant to be permanent.  Rather the Institute of Contemporary Art is using the Big Dig ventilation building in Dewey Square as a canvas of sorts to feature modern artists.  As with the Os Gemeos mural, the next artist who’s work will be featured is expected to last approximately 18-months.

According to the Boston Globe article, British artist, Matthew Ritchie, was selected and will paint a 5,000-square-foot seascape that will be installed the week of Sept. 16.  I loved the mural from Os Gemeos and will miss it but I look forward to Ritchie’s contribution to Boston’s public art.

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Posted in Art & Film, Boston

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Flashback Friday

Posted on August 2, 2013 | 2 comments

Flashback Friday

This is an image of the construction of Boston’s Central Artery which razed and divided parts of downtown neighborhoods. This photo taken from the Custom’s Building looks out at the North End in Boston during the 1950s.

The photo is courtesy of the BPL archives.

Past Flashback Friday Posts

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Posted in Boston, Flashback Friday

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Summertime

Posted on July 28, 2013 | 5 comments

SummertimeAugust starts later this week which means thousands of returning college students and cooler temperatures are now just weeks away. 

Make the most of August and enjoy the final month of summer in the city.  I’ll be making at least one more dash down to Provincetown for Carnival as well as spending a weekend up in Ogunquit, ME as well as Wolfboro, NH. 

Do you have any plans you are looking forward to in August?

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Posted in Boston

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