Thursday, March 31, 2011

Friday fitness update

It has been a few weeks since I last wrote about working out, but I've been good about getting myself to the gym. My trainer, Stu, (pictured here) has been good about pushing me with new routines that have more often than not left me gasping and feeling a bit sore the next day... I never would have thought that I would be paying to have someone torture me; let alone enjoy it so much.

In recent weeks my running has tapered off, but I'm still running 4 miles in about 34-35 minutes so if I can just squeeze in 1-2 more runs a week I'll feel better. I also need to get better about my late night feedings (and no I'm not referring to my penchant for consuming gin soaked olives from martinis) although come to think about it - that probably needs to stop too; crap.

Anyone out there also struggling with their gym or work out routines? Help! In my case, misery truly does appreciate company.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Favorite Tweet of the Day: Quotes


Josh (@MartyMations) is clearly a funny guy. I got a good chuckle out of this quote and so I thought I'd share it.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A tale of two towne's

Towne Stove and Spirits (known locally as towne) has generated a lot of buzz since it opened its doors in the summer of 2010. I've made two recent visits to towne and the experiences could not have been more different. To be blunt, your experience will vary based on where you are seated. A louder more raucous environment dominates the first floor; a slightly more subdued atmosphere exists on the main section of the second floor; and the most intimate experience is in front section of the second floor overlooking Boylston Street.

Comparing service from one dining room to the next is unfair since the experience is totally different. Because of this, when you make your reservation (because it is worth checking out), consider what kind of dining experience you want and request the section that seems most in line with your wishes.

Dinner at towne will run you approximately $50 / person (1 drink, an appetizer and main – not including tip). On my second visit, we shared mesclun greens salad and lobster popovers. Both were beautifully presented and equally delicious. Lydia Shire always seems to work magic with lobster so when you visit I would strongly recommend trying one of the many options with lobster. For dinner I selected the duck which has a mouthwatering sauce comprised of cane syrup, citrus and red currants and mashed potatoes on the side. I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the portion and wondered if I’d finish it. For the record the duck was devoured, and I soldiered on ordering the bittersweet chocolate bouchon, peanut butter sauce and mocha ice cream for dessert.

For food enthusiasts, I would certainly recommend trying towne. The dining experience and service varies depending on where you sit so take that into account and book your reservation accordingly. If you have eaten at towne, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts in my comments section.

The delicious duck

Towne Stove & Spirits on Urbanspoon

Favorite Tweet of the Day: BronxZoosCobra

I could not resist getting in on all the fun with BronxZoosCobra which at latest check had more than 41,000 followers. If you're on Twitter check it out. The person behind this twitter handle is absolutely hilarious.

Learning to speak "Boston"

People not born in or near Boston often get confused by a native's accent and although I've successfully tamed my Boston accent (for the most part) my word choices are a dead give-away for anyone familiar with what I like to refer to as "Boston SLANGuage".

In a previous post I explained why the correct phrase is "bubbler" often pronounced as "bubblah" when referring to a fountain or water fountain... Feel free to revisit this language lesson here.

Normally, I focus on one word per blog entry, because I know how hard it can be to learn to speak proper English, but this image which was from the Boston Globe originally was just too tempting to pass up. I also find it fascinating that it includes what other parts of the country use similar language.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Men of Twitter

I'm a fan of Twitter. I love how quick and easy it is to use and connect with people. Another perk is what I'll refer to as the "Men of Twitter" since there are so many handsome guys using Twitter. Adding to that attraction is the fact that they only talk in 140 characters :-)

As always, suggestions for profiles to feature are welcome and if you'd like to follow me, you can find me at @BosGuy. Below are a few more #MenOfTwitter you may want to follow.
AndyTowle - Okay where does one begin with Andy? Handsome, articulate, the man behind one of my favorite blogs, Towleroad. If #MenOfTwitter was a calendar, I'd seriously contemplate having him for all 12 months.

PacsPad - This Hot-lantan is a self-described 44yo unhairy bear wannabe (who isn't these days - right?) Most of Pac's tweets are conversational in tone or about the places he's visiting as he tweets his location on 4Square. If you like what you read on Twitter you can also check out his blog which he started last year.

KissingKamal - Kamal is both easy on the eyes and easy-going. His tweets are generally brief and range from updates on his day to notifying guys about new posts on his blog, which is about dating in D.C. (among other things). Anyone in Dupont Circle reading this? He's a catch.

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy

Sunday, March 27, 2011

NOH8 Photo Shoot in Boston

The NOH8 Campaign came to Boston today w/ celebrity photographer Adam Bouska snapping photographs. For a brief while the W Boston Hotel had the vibe of a very friendly Tea Dance with hundreds of people mingling and dancing to great music as DJs entertained everyone. I arrived with my Partner, Sergio, just after 4pm. I quickly found out that I was to be #374 photographed and that they would not photograph more than 700 - glad I was not fashionably late!

It was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon and I enjoyed meeting and chatting with people. My phone really does not take great pictures and Sergio's phone died early so I've only included a handful of pictures from the day. I'll proudly post the photograph Adam took when I receive it in approximately 6 weeks. Until then, these will have to do.
NOH8 DJs played an excellent mix that made the time fly


Adam snapping photos of people at W Hotel Boston


Everyone was happy to strike a pose






And the photo pulled when I tweeted: Would this be considered porn w a conscious?
I'd like to entitle this picture which I took from a particularly enthusiastic supporter of the NOH8 Campaign: Haters can kiss my ass


Mind you its NSFW - just barely
(Scroll down)










That's all for now, but I'll share a few more when I get my photo from Adam. To all those that showed up to express your support - thanks. It was really a fantastic day and something I'll remember for quite awhile.

BosGuy on facebook: I have been assimilated

Resistance is Futile

I'm capitulating... I've decided to dip my toe into the facebook pool. But as with all things related to technology, nothing is straight forward or simple and I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing. I have to admit that I view facebook the way I do tumblr; something I'll give a try but I don't really like very much (at least not just yet). I'm struggling to figure out how to set this up correctly, so I thought I would to turn to readers and ask for help.

Request to readers: I have set up a BosGuy Blog page (it is tied to the profile I created on fb initially called "Bos Guy"). Would you search on facebook for "BosGuy Blog" and then like or join or whatever it is that people are suppose to do? I'd like to direct everyone to the community page "BosGuy blog" vs "Bos Guy". Since the blog page is set up as a community, I need a certain number of members for it to be legit in the eyes of facebook.

Request to bloggers: I have two initial questions, first would you join or link to my BosGuy blog community page. I tried to reach out to many of you through my gmail account but facebook keeps giving me an error. My second question is for Blogger users - Can I create a feed that will update my wall with my blogger postings?

A note to all: I may inadvertently block you or commit a variety of other fb faux pas as I get comfortable using it. Frankly setting up this page has put me in touch with the cantankerous old man I'm certain I'll become so if something looks amiss shoot me an email; and preferably to my gmail account or here on blogger.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Cocktails with Alan

Last night I was able to finally meet Alan Ilagan. I first started reading Alan's blog about a year ago when I stumbled upon it quite by accident. At the time he was fixated on planning his wedding to his partner, Andy. I enjoyed reading about his dashes from Albany (where he and Andy live) to his pied-a-terre in Boston to tend to the endless list of details pertaining to the pending nuptials.

It is a strange thing when you meet someone who you know so much about but have never met in person. I've had the opportunity to meet a few bloggers since starting BosGuy and without fail it has always been a great experience. However, when you meet someone for the first time after reading about their life for a year, inevitably you end up referencing or inquiring about events blogged about from the past. While much of the conversation revolved around past posts, more time was spent chatting about the ridiculous ranging from urban myths to funny trips. I look forward to having cocktails with Alan in the near future again since he regularly makes visits to Boston.

Friday, March 25, 2011

2011 Boston Bacon and Beer Festival

Saturday, April 30th from 1 PM to 3:30 PM the Bowery Boston (located in the Theater District) will host Boston's 2nd Bacon & Beer Festival.

The event costs $35.00 w/ proceeds going to benefit the local hunger relief organizations Lovin' Spoonfuls, Community Servings, and Share our Strength. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 1st. More information about the event is available here.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Penis size world map

No comment, but I'd like to hear yours (click on map to enlarge).
Source: GlobalPost Blog

Liberal media? Not in most of the country

Its true that there is a liberal bias that exists in Massachusetts and through much of the northeast but it seems to me with very few exceptions there is conservative media bias that runs through most of the rest of the United States. Can you imagine this same exact advertisement running in the southwest, midwest, bible-belt or south?

Massachusetts is about to celebrate the 7 year anniversary of legalizing same-sex marriage. In a large part Massachusetts was the first to step into the 21st century because of the progressive attitudes which the local media here represent. So the next time there is a cry about the "liberal media" look around and ask yourself if all of the media is so terribly liberal or is the media just representing and articulating the views that are of interest and important to their constituents. Nobody seems to raise a ruckus when the Manchester, NH, Tulsa, OK or the Birmingham, AL paper skewers President Obama so if the NYT or the Boston Globe ticks you off then read whatever it is that Sarah Palin reads... Of course don't be vulgar enough to spring that surprise question on her because she just may accuse you of being a part of the "Liberal Media"... (a la Katie Couric).

I can assure you I don't stay in Massachusetts because of its gorgeous weather. The liberal values, which are embraced here and seem to be such an anathema to the majority of the country, is a distinction that is not lost on me and something I cherish.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Dreaming of summer

The Boatslip is a popular alternative to the beach in Ptown

Despite the recent rash of cold weather in Boston, I firmly maintain it is spring and warmer weather is (eventually) coming. Temperatures in New England regularly climb into the 80s and 90s so I stay firmly planted the months of June, July and August; only going as far as Provincetown, MA and Ogunquit, ME if I can help it.

I've not booked anything for the summer season, but I do hope to get down to Provincetown for 4th of July and Carnival Weeks. I also hope to impose upon friends who have a beautiful home in Ogunquit, ME. All told, I have high hopes for a summer as fun and beautiful as last year.

Tea Dance Carnival Week
I still have to get through spring, which may be the most frustrating of all four seasons. Spring in New England is filled with tempting days of sun and warmth inevitably followed by cold and rain. I suppose I'll have to settle for "summer dreaming" to get me through the next few weeks.

Should travel plans bring you to the Boston area this summer, let me know and if possible we can meet for a cocktail or coffee - whatever your poison.

Favorite Tweet of the Day: Apologies


I thought this tweet from Adam on Twitter, @GayCurious, was so funny I'd retweet and share on my blog. I'll have to circle back later and find out if Adam ever got the chance to socialize.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Men of Twitter

I'm a fan of Twitter. I love how quick and easy it is to use and connect with people. Another perk is what I'll refer to as the "Men of Twitter" since there are so many handsome guys using Twitter. Adding to that attraction is the fact that they only talk in 140 characters :-)

As always, suggestions for profiles to feature in the future are welcome and if you'd like to follow me on Twitter you can find me at @BosGuy. Below are a few more #MenOfTwitter.
FLHotty1 - When he isn’t tweeting about songs he’s listening to or chatting with other guys via Twitter, he’s making me green with envy by talking about the beautiful weather. I think FLHotty1 has the perfect name. He’s got a sexy body, handsome face and a joie de vivre that transcends his tweets. If I was living in Southern Florida, I’d be doing my best to track this guy down.

AussieBrenton - Photographer, blogger and nudist he resides in Sydney Australia. Brenton is the man behind the very popular gay blog, Aussielicious. If you follow B- you'll be driven to distraction by all the man-candy he posts on his Tumblr account (I know I am). But the truth of the matter is this guy is there equal; he's got it all, a brain, a body and a heart of gold.

TheWhitePup - A.K.A. “Chris” lives in San Diego and his Twitter profile describes him as the next up & coming fashion & graphic designer. This pup is all bark and no bite – easy to chat with and very friendly. Little did he know (til now) I think he has the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen in a long time.

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy

Sunday, March 20, 2011

NOH8 campaign comes to Boston

Sunday, March 27, 2011 the NOH8 campaign comes to Boston and will set up a temporary studio at the W Hotel Boston for an open photo shoot.

Supporters of the NOH8 campaign can come RSVP here to be photographed by celebrity photographer and NOH8 co-founder, Adam Bouska.

Photo Shoot Details
Date / Time: Sunday, March 27th from 4PM - 8PM
Location: W Hotel Boston
Solo Portraits: $40.00 / Group Portraits: $25.00 per person
More Information Here

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Books everyone should read (so they say)

I saw this "consensus cloud" on Iced Tea & Sarcasm and figured I would post it (click on image below to make larger). I underlined the books I remember reading. Clearly, based on this list, I have a lot of reading ahead of me. According to Information is Beautiful, the source of the "consensus cloud", the image is based on the most mentioned titles from various book polls and top 100 lists.
I can't help but add my two cents for books I would have liked to have seen included. I've focused on adding books from authors that appear to have been snubbed vs. listing a preferred book from an author who was mentioned. Here's a short list of books I would suggest adding.

Classics: Anything from Shakespeare, Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Great Gatsby, Ivanhoe, Count of Monte Carlo (oops...) Cristo, Robinson Crusoe, Murder on the Orient Express

Modern Classics: Night, In Cold Blood, Cujo, The Godfather, Pillars of the Earth, The Bourne Identity

Gay: Tales of the City, The Men from the Boys, Giovanni's Room, Call Me By Your Name

I'm curious, what books you would have suggested adding to this list?

Friday, March 18, 2011

I'm f*cking Matt Damon


Do you remember this Sarah Silverman / Matt Damon video? I thought this was brilliant. Jimmy Kimmel (Sarah's boyfriend at the time) showed his wit by quickly creating his own video, I'm f*cking Ben Affleck, which was equally funny.

If you've never watched the video - no fears this is the edited version. If you want, you can watch the uncensored version here.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Don't download IE 9.0 if you use blogger

I made such a HUGE mistake when I downloaded IE 9.0 today. Although the look and feel is familiar, there are several drawbacks that have left me pulling out my hair so if you use blogger DO NOT DOWNLOAD IE 9.0.

The two issues I noticed immediately are I can't leave a comment on other people's blogs. ARRGH!, and I can't access the "Stats" page on blogger. Earlier today I fired off repeated tweets to IE and Blogger but to no avail. Adding insult to injury, I can't seem to uninstall IE 9.0 so I'm sort of stuck until this bug is fixed. Until then, I'll be using FireFox... probably not what Microsoft had intended when they launched IE 9.0.

Spring is in the air

Recently there have been hints of spring after an unbelievably snowy January followed by a bitterly cold February. The first weekend of March was the first sustained warming trend. Since then the weather has been best described as two-steps forward, followed by one-step back. March has had its fill of cold, raw days with enough rain to make a Londoner feel right at home. However these days have been interspersed with just enough sun and warmth that buds are now appearing on the trees and the air is filled with the sound of birds chirping.

Walking to get coffee this morning I could smell spring in the air. Perhaps that sounds odd - I'll chalk it up to living in NH for years where the air is cleaner and you can literally smell the change of seasons. Each season has its own distinct smell and its only noticeable to me when one is releasing its grip to give way to the next season. There will be cold days ahead of us (after all this is New England), but a mental switch has now clicked and I'm now firmly in the "Spring state of mind"; no longer wishing for it.

For those spending their first spring in Boston they will notice a distinct change in both the city and its resident's disposition. Surly turns into smiles as people accustomed to bundling up and rushing down a street now start to actually look up, enjoy the sun and open up - much like the flowers that will be poking through the ground in a few short weeks.

The spring holds so much promise here. Its the start of a warming trend and longer days, but its so much more than that. Students (such a key element to the city's personality) are now in their final weeks before finals then graduation ceremonies dominate each weekend in May. In April we welcome back our beloved Red Sox from spring training in Florida and the Boston Marathon takes place. For me its the home opener in Fenway and Boston Marathon run each Patriot's Day that truly signals spring has arrived - and I can't wait.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day

All humor aside, it is going to be a beautiful day here in Boston, which will only add to the festivities. It also gives me an excuse to post an Irish blessing, which I'm sure many have heard before, and I've always liked.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

For those who do regularly visit my blog, thank you for your patience. This week has been busier than I would have anticipated.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Urban limericks

St. Patrick's Day is around the corner and The Boston Globe has listed popular limericks submitted by readers from last year. Limericks are typically witty poems (sometimes naughty) that follow the A-A-B-B-A rhyme pattern.

I'm sure most Americans (certainly anyone from New England) are familiar with the notorious limerick, Man from Nantucket, but I opted to share one of my favorite limerick's submitted to the Globe last year by Christopher Russo of Boston.

From A Red Sox Fan (an optimist)
A summer we'll spend at old Fenway,
Watching our team win both night and day.
What pitching! What defense!
It's only commonsense--
Print the World Series tickets today!


If you feel inspired, include a favorite limerick in the comments section.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Its Monday morning on the East coast, and I'm trying to remain positive about that fact.

--UPDATE--

Its now Tuesday, and I'm still struggling to feel inspired. Here's hoping this young barista can help.

...Found my inspiration.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

How we communicate with each other

Once upon a time, long, long ago there was a decade called the '90s. Back in those dark ages people primarily communicated with friends and family in person (crazy, right?), phone and email. Although many people had cell phones, these earlier phone models were generally used to talk; no texting, apps or games were included -gasp-.

Suprisingly maybe -depending on your age- not everyone had a cell phone (especially at the start of the 90s) in part because they were expensive, reception was even worse than it is now, battery life was amazingly limited, and they were too big / bulky to easily carry with you.


As with cell phones, people interacted via email and on the web quite differently than they do today. Although the internet was available; bandwidth and connections remained significant issues as people routinely shouted at their computer's and bemoaned something called "dial-up".

Sites like AOL and chat rooms were all the rage (there was no such thing as Manhunt or Grindr). There was no Facebook; twitter was something birds would do; and even email was very different in the 90s - inserting images, embedding links, etc... was not always possible.

As communications and technology has progressed, the way I interact with people has changed significantly. For example, the only time I leave my house without my phone is when I'm off to the gym. I'm far more likely to text than I am to call, and I only check my email once or twice a day.

Thinking back 5-10 years, I would have found what I just admitted inconceivable. Although I always had my cell phone with me, the way I used it was so different from today. When texting was initially available, I loathed it (mostly because my phone at the time was crappy), and my preferred method of communicating was email. Oy, I feel old...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Deep thought

Sometimes it can be embarassing to ask for a helping hand.

One more reason to be Gaga

Towleroad blog is reporting Lady Gaga has nixed her deal with Target citing the company's decision in 2010 to support the anti-gay, Republican politician as the reason for its dissolution.

Target has issued the following statement:“We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga’s organization related to her partnership with Target. Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment.”

Gaga has consistently used her celebrity status to ask her fans to support GLBT rights including the elimination of DOMA, Don't Ask Don't Tell and support for same sex marriage. In the past she's issued videos showing her calling her representatives in Congrees and urged her fans to do the same.

By virtue of entering talks with Target and walking away citing Target's past political contributions she has successfully raised the issue again; much to the dismay of Target executives who tried to do damage control when the story first broke. I'd like to see Gaga work with Target (and maybe she will in the near future), but I'm also happy that Target's political contributions from 2010 have not been forgotten.

Gaga using her fame and speaking to fans asking Congress to repeal DADT.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Taste of the South End 2011

Last week I first wrote about the Taste of the South End which benefits the AIDS Action Committee, and the event did not disappoint. Although there were no beads or parades to commemorate Fat Tuesday, nearly all who attended left a bit fatter than when they first arrived. And how could you blame them? With 40+ restaurants, wineries, beers and cocktails all tempting the tastebuds it was a food lover's delight.

Restaurants new to the neighborhood like The Gallows and Noche kept pace with veteran establishments like Mistral and Stella. There were some noticeable absences, which will lead me to ask "Why?" on my next visit to these restaurants. You can see the full list of participants on the Taste website. Support these restaurants and thank them for their participation.

If you were unable to attend the festivities, you can check out this 2-minute video, which shows you some of the tempting treats cooked up for attendees. Again, sincere thanks to all the cooks and volunteers who made this a fantastic event.

The Boston Foodie also has a nice write up with more pictures from the event which you can check out by linking here.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Going to towne

This week was the start of Boston's Restaurant Week and a friend has scored dinner reservations at towne. Located adjacent to the Hynes Convention Center in Boston's BackBay neighborhood, this restaurant has received a lot of attention due in part to its size (its pretty darn big by Boston standards) and the two culinary directors, Lydia Shire and Jasper White are much loved local chefs. Earlier this year, I provided a restaurant review of one of Shire's restaurants, Scampo.

I'm not sure what to expect, but I've been obsessing over the reservation; probably because tonight is theTaste of the South End and it has me thinking about food even more than usual. If you are in Boston or thinking of coming to Boston, restaurant week actually runs from March 6-11 and 13-18. There is more information about the event including participating restaurants, here.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Libya: will Obama lead, follow or remain silent?

Will the United States lead, follow or remain silent? I realize there are consequences no matter what we do, but reading the paper each day, watching the news each night and listening to interviews with Libyans calling into news programs sharing what is happening first hand is heartbreaking. Governments in Europe have recognized the uprising which started in Benghazi and now has a coalition governing body. Why haven't we?

There is a fine line between intervention and instigation, but the fate of many Libyans has been cast, and I want to see the US more engaged. I have no desire to bring our military into another war, but I believe there are alternatives we can pursue. I do have faith that Obama is surrounded by an intelligent team, but I crave action that will help support these people.

I think this cartoon from Sean @JustaJeepGuy blog sums up my concerns perfectly.

Meat flavored water - Yuck!

I've never been a fan of flavored waters. I dislike 'energy drinks' preferring the real thing so when I saw "Meat Water" with flavors like beef stroganoff, cheese burger and peking duck I practically gagged. Apparently these are popular items sold in Walmart's in China. I have one word to describe this, Yuck!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Men of Twitter

I'm a fan of Twitter. I love how quick and easy it is to use and connect with people. Another perk is what I'll refer to as the "Men of Twitter" since there are so many handsome guys on Twitter. Adding to that attraction is the fact that they only talk in 140 characters :-)

As always, suggestions for profiles to feature in the future are welcome and if you'd like to follow me on Twitter you can find me at @BosGuy. Below are a few more Men of Twitter.

@BradJ214 - Brad has his tweets locked so if you'd like to follow him, you'll need to send him a request. This 6'2" hunk from Dallas is a man of few words but his t-shirt gives you some insight into his playful side.
@JLuis_M - Tweets are mostly conversations w/ guys he's following. He's quite flirtatious, which makes it hard for me to stop reading and often curious to see what the other person said in the first place.
LoganRay2011 - was born in the Motor City, but grew up out West and now lives in Wyoming or Colorado; not exactly sure. However, I'd consider a road trip to find this guy if I had the time. Dear lord, check out his stomach.

Twitterama Update (Twitterama is my made-up word for tweets resulting in drama.) Turns out that LoganRay2011 is not the handsome guy he claims to be. I'm sure LoganRay2011 is a nice guy but since the point of this series is to feature guys I find handsome who are on Twitter, I felt like I had to cross him off the list. I just couldn't bring myself to delete the fake hunky profile picture.
BTW - If you like, ReTweet. If you love, follow @BosGuy