Tag Archives: Boston

Living for Friday

Since I’m off to Puerto Rico tomorrow, I’m really fine living in the moment, but for all of you in Boston looking to do something on Friday, there is no shortage of fun ways to distract yourself. However, here are three suggestions.

CampusLast month I wrote about rumors that ManRay / Campus might reopen in Cambridge.  Adding credence to the rumor is the ManRay Reunion Party that takes place this Friday at Brighton Music Hall. The reunion will include live dancers, a fashion show, and photography displays among other fun activities.  You can buy tickets online here.

TWCIt also happens to be the first Friday of the month, which means The Welcoming Committee’s Guerrilla Queer Bar will be in effect. Link here to register so you can receive your update on what traditionally straight bar this group will take over this Friday night. This group gathers quite a large, fun crowd so arrive early so you won’t have to wait outside in a line.

SoWa Open MarketThe art studios at 450 Harrison Avenue will be open for First Fridays from 5-9. It is a great date night alternative to the movies or a bar and with so many good restaurants within just a few blocks, if you make a reservation now you can enjoy strolling through studios and participating galleries before grabbing a delicious dinner.

No matter what you do this Friday. I hope you have a great weekend.

Dorchester recognized by 24/7 Wall St.

dbar boston

dbar opened in Dorchester in 2005 to cater to the growing LGBT community

Recently 24/7 Wall Street named Dorchester the 5th “hottest” neighborhood in the United States.  For those unfamiliar with Boston, Dorchester is one of the city’s largest neighborhoods and was a traditional Irish enclave, but in recent years many other ethnic groups have settled here because of its more affordable rents and proximity to downtown.

While my neighborhood, the South End, is often thought of as Boston’s  gay neighborhood, everyone knows that many gay men started leaving the South End more than a decade ago for Dorchester. Is it any wonder that Dorchester is now being recognized as one of America’s hottest neighborhoods? I think not.

Thanks to Brit for the nudge to give Dorchester some kudos on the recognition. Want to see what other neighborhoods were recognized? Link here.

MBTA contemplates extending hours

MBTABostInno is reporting that the MBTA may be looking into extending service until 2:00am.  Late night transit service in Boston is a perennial topic that usually results in more talk than action, although it isn’t without precedent. I recall the “Night Owl” service where buses served specific train routes until 2:30am for a premium fare. However, that program was eventually axed in 2005 due to budget cuts.

Could this be more than just lip service from the Governor and others who seem to be in favor of extending the transit service? I’d like to think so. In addition to the many who find themselves stranded after a night out of drinking, I like to point out that working 9am to 5pm is now a thing of the past and thousands of residents work hours early into the morning when public transportation would be a welcome service. You may read more about this on BostInno’s website here.

Opus Affair

Looking for something fun to do tomorrow night?  Opus Affair is hosting January’s monthly get together at the very cool West Bridge in Kendall Square.

Opus AffairWhen: Tuesday, Jan. 22nd at 6:00 PM
Where: West Bridge, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge
Opus Affair is comprised primarily (but not exclusively) of young professionals and artists from the area who meet up each month to socialize.  Keeping with the group’s interest in supporting the local arts community, there is also a charitable drinking game (a.k.a the Punch Bowl Fund) where you may contribute $5 (cash only). In exchange for your contribution, you receive a drink ticket good for a glass of punch and a ballot to vote for one of the three featured arts groups. The organization with the most votes that night gets the money.

This month the Punch Bowl fund will be featuring:
The Fenway Alliance
Collective Creature (a Yes.Oui.Si. project)
MetroWest Opera

Wine tasting for gay men 35+

TWCThe Welcoming Committee is a large and growing organization that evolved from Guerrilla Queer Bar (GQB) and caters to Boston’s LGBT community.

Each month the organization regularly attracts hundreds of 20-somethings to their First Friday Guerrilla Queer Bar takeover, but the organization’s 2013 calendar has events that will appeal to 30 and 40 somethings too, including speed dating and a Scotch tasting.

Wine Tasting Wednesday – January 30th at 6:3o PM

Want to find out more about this event? Start by registering for the Tasting since space is limited.  More information here.

Boston No Pants Subway Ride

No Pants Subway RideAfter a few hiccups trying to load this video from yesterday’s No Pants Subway Ride in Boston, the two minute video has now posted on YouTube.

Miss all the fun or perhaps you participated in this annual event; check out the video. If you didn’t participate in the event  this year, perhaps you will join me and the 500+ others next January for the No Pants Subway Ride in 2014.

Boston No Pants Subway Ride

Boston No Pants Subway RideFor the past few years I’ve participated in Boston’s No Pants Subway Ride, hosted by The Boston Society of Spontaneity, a volunteer-run, free to join, social arts & events group that plans a variety of programs in and around Boston.

This year my partner and I opted to give a nod to America’s most iconic, and ambiguously gay couple, Sesame Street’s – Ernie and Bert. While we couldn’t find underwear with these guys faces I think we were able to do the outfit justice. I had hoped to have a video of Sunday’s ride in Boston but my computer just wouldn’t seem to cooperate so I hope to have something to show you later this week.  Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck because I did get some funny photos that I’d enjoy sharing.

About The No Pants Subway Ride: started in 2008 by the NYC based Improv Everywhere, it has now spread to more than 50 cities around the world.

Dawn in Boston

Boston South EndSergio snapped this photograph at dawn on Friday morning before I had awoken.  Our apartment looks out at a landscape of renovated mill buildings initially constructed in the late 1800s.

New Rep Theatre: Marry Me A Little

New Rep Theatre

MARRY ME A LITTLE.
Andrew Brilliant/ Brilliant Pictures

The New Rep’s production of Marry Me A Little, is set in an apartment complex on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn.  The four neighbors played by Aimee Doherty,  Brad Daniel Peloquin, Erica Spyres and Phil Thayer use songs from Stephen Sondheim that were originally intended for unproduced shows and cutouts from known musicals to tell their stories about love, romance, heartbreak and loneliness.

One of my favorite songs was Saturday Night performed early in the show by Aimee and Brad.  I loved the end of the song when they sang, “but I’m on my own on a Saturday night with no one to phone on a Saturday night and when you’re alone on a Saturday night you might as well be… dead.” 

Not all the songs made sense to me, but that didn’t detract from the overall experience and in some cases actually made me like the show even more.  For example, I loved it when Brad and Phil sing Can That Boy Foxtrot, which is filled with not so subtle innuendo about one man’s love lust for another.

Compliments to the two pianists Todd Gordon and David McGrory as well as Erica Spyres who pulled double duty with a lead role and as violinist for several songs.  This is worth venturing out to Watertown and with the show concluding by 9pm you can even grab a dinner next door following the performance.

Marry Me A Little – New Rep Theatre in Watertown, MA
January 6 – 27, 2013
Purchase tickets here

Color Commons opening

Rose Kennedy GreenwayNew American Public Art (NAPA) is hosting a free event that involves a temporary art installation specifically designed for interaction with the Light Blades on The Greenway (shown above).

On Thursday, NAPA will unveil a phone number allowing park users to text message the color they want to light up the Light Blades so be sure to bring your cell phone to the opening and participate in a texting battle to see the resulting light show as the Light Blades respond to a crowd of texts.

The event will take place on The Greenway in the Wharf District Parks (between Milk and State Street).

Boston No Pants Subway Ride 2013

No Pants Subway RideA couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Boston’s No Pants Subway Ride was fast approaching.  With more than 50 cities in North America, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia hosting similar rides on Sunday, January 13th you may want to check out the details (or at least hop on your local subway on Sunday afternoon).  You can see if a city near you is participating by visiting the Improv Everywhere Global Page.

Last year Sergio and I had a superhero theme which proved to be popular.   If you see me this year, definitely come up and say hello.  We have traded in our superhero underoos for a different eye-catching theme for 2013.  For those who are not in Boston, I’ll be pulling together photographs from the event and posting them here on my blog following the ride.  You can watch my video from Boston’s 2012 No Pants Subway Ride here.

Southie Rules

Southie RulesThe A&E network will roll-out a new reality show later this month that supposedly shows viewers “real life” in Southie; one of Boston’s working class, Irish enclaves that in recent years has seen an influx of young professionals.

I have no doubt many in the area will beam with pride because a cable network channel will broadcast what I assume will be stereotypical “characters” to scripted dramas manufactured more for ratings than any concern for reality. Funny, I thought shows like Real Housewives and Jersey Shore were waning in popularity – perhaps not.

My lack of interest in this latest un-reality program turned to disdain when I saw The Boston Globe had listed a series of promo ads from A&E. One of the promos meant to be a put-down to NYC “Nobody tells us how big our soda should be” sounds as if it came directly from a NYC advertising agency. Anyone who has lived their life in Southie will tell you Soda, Pop, Coke… is all called one thing in Boston — Tonic. Get your colloquialisms correct or “Póg Mo Thón”.

Boston Ninja Race

Just when I thought I’d heard of everything I stumbled upon a very interesting group called November Project™.  Apparently this social group of runners are the people behind Boston’s Ninja Race… You read that correctly.

NinjaWhat is the Boston Ninja Race?  

This is an 8 mile night run on Wednesday, January 23rd at 9:00PM through Boston’s Charles River path and parks. Runners are required to dress in a ninja theme.  The registration site is hilarious declaring “Dull swords allowed. Snow ninjas allowed. Complaining about it being “cold” is not permitted at any time.

There is no cost to register and after the race, runners will gather at Crossroads Bar in the Back Bay.  Want to find out more and register for the run? Link here.

 

Os Gemos mural in Boston

Year in rewind: BosGuy’s favorite posts from 2012

This year Boston’s museum, Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), invited two Brazilian street artists to Boston to feature their work  in their first showing in the US. They also commissioned this public art installation in downtown near my office. This was originally posted in September 2012.

*****

boston public artMy enthusiasm for public art and funding these initiatives is not always shared, but I think commissioning public art installations is essential to any city and community.  So I was thrilled to see the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA-Boston) have two famous street artists from Brazil create larger than life murals in the city of Boston.

boston public artOs Gemos – identical twin brothers and street artists from Brazil – are currently hosting their first museum show in the United States at the ICA-Boston. While the show is here in Boston this large temporary mural will dominate Dewey Square in Boston’s financial district.

You may read more about the installation and view a slide show of the creation of the mural as well as the show at the ICA-Boston here.

Boston No Pants Subway Ride

2012 No Pants Subway RideThe 2013 No Pants Subway Ride in Boston is in two weeks on Sunday, January 13th.

If you would like to participate, “Like” their facebook event page The No Pants Subway Ride or visit, BostonSoS.org to register.

I started doing this with my other half a few years ago and each year its a great time.  Last year Sergio and I opted for a superhero theme. I’ll write a bit more about this as the event date approaches, but I’d encourage you to register if this sounds like something you’d enjoy.