Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sam Maden - A GLBT ally who won't be ignored

With summer so close, bullying in schools may not seem as pressing, but that's not how Sam Maden, a 12 year old from Nashua, NH sees it. This young man has started a petition asking the Boston Red Sox to make an "It Gets Better" video. Apparently the idea came after his 43 year old uncle Chris died unexpectedly. Chris had given Sam a necklace from the Trevor Project, and according to Sam's mother, Sam wears it every day in memory of his uncle.

Looking to local sports heroes to speak up for LGBT youth and to end bullying seems like a brilliant idea considering the lingering reputation of homophobia linked to many sports organizations. I don't know about you but I take great heart that such a young man can be so passionate about such a worthwhile cause. Who knows if the Red Sox will heed Sam's petition but I would certainly appreciate it if you would help spread the word and help Sam's wish come true.

How can you help? Sign his petition here (it only takes a minute) and spread the word.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Benny Feilhaber Brazilian soccer player & lip sync ingenue

Benny Feilhaber is a 26 year old soccer player for the New England Revolution. He was born in Brazil and raised mostly in the US and is currently on the cover of the Improper Bostonian. However, if you're not particularly interested in reading the Soroff interview, you can check out this funny music video he created of the Chris Brown / Jordin Sparks song No Air.

Apparently he created the video for a friend as a joke, but it went viral so after initially being embarrassed about the incident (at least according to the interview) he's come to laugh it off and embrace it. Either way it certainly "ups" his cute factor and makes me like this very handsome midfielder even more. I especially like the goofy faces he makes at the start of the video. Watch the video and let me know if you agree.

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. Adding to their attraction is the fact they only talk in 140 characters.

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles that catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following.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.
ZackAcland - This handsome Australian tweets from Melbourne (one of my favorite places in the world). I've included a self-pic Zack took from this week while he was visiting Chicago for IML. Check out this flirtatious Aussie. I hope you enjoy following him as much as I do.

AlphaTango737 - Justin is a model who lives in Long Island. He's incredibly active on Twitter and quite friendly. I've ended up following a few people I've seen him chatting with on Twitter.

Aeeron - This 20 year old from London has unbelievably beautiful eyes. He also happens to be quite funny tweeting things like "Are there many female artists out today that don't need to release amateur porn music videos in order to sell music?"

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy.
Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

NoH8 Boston / New England Video



Thank you to my friend Lenny who alerted me to this video. You can check out his blog here. And thanks to Jay Asuncion who created this fantastic video montage of NOH8 Boston/New England.

French Open

The French Open (one of the four tennis majors) started earlier this week. This year's tournament has proven to have its share of drama and upsets in the first week; notably the Women's number 1 being knocked out in the third round by the number 28 seed.

Even if the sport of tennis alludes you, the producers of The French Open have done a superb job of showing off how beautiful the city of Paris is with stunning video of the city. And many in the men's draw can only be described as distractingly handsome. Here are a few who you may not be familiar with but are both talented tennis players in this year's French Open and ĂȘtes beau (as the French would say).
Fognini (Italian)

Verdasco (Spain)

Tsonga(French)

Friday, May 27, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend

Celebrate the long weekend in the United States. I will be taking advantage of the beautiful weather here in Boston. Feel free to share what you will be doing this weekend.

Travel reviews

I record many of my travel experiences (flights, hotel stays, etc) on my blog as well as a few travel sites, which I use when planning personal trips in the United States and abroad. I've come to rely on these tools, by identifying travelers with similar likes and interests, and I follow their reviews when I'm looking to visit a new destination.

Earlier this month I was in San Francisco. After returning home, I posted a review of my stay at the Fairmont San Francisco, on my blog and a couple of travel sites. I then promoted my review on twitter and facebook to let people know my thoughts. If you travel frequently, you may want to consider doing the same. In part, your active profile will tip off savvy properties that someone with a potentially large audience is coming for a stay and they may go the extra mile as the Fairmont did for me.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

NoH8

Back in March, celebrity photographer, Adam Bouska, came to Boston to help raise awareness of the NoH8 campaign. Sergio and I had so much fun meeting people while we waited for our pictures to be taken. Today I received my photograph and I have to admit I couldn't be happier. If you'd like to read about the photo shoot you can link here.

If you'd like to learn more about the NoH8 Campaign you can link here.

Sergio also had an individual photograph taken and I think he looks great.

Dreaming of summer in Boston

Cape Cod, the islands and much of the New England coastline officially opens for the summer this weekend. It is also traditionally the last weekend most college students hang around in Boston.

The combination of the coastline welcoming summer visitors and college students leaving town is tough not to notice if you live in the city. Bostonians head for the coast in mind boggling numbers creating terrible traffic snarls up and down I-93 and filling ferries leaving from Long Wharf and the Seaport to the brim each Friday and returning late on Sundays or early each Monday morning. As the summer slips into full-tilt the city seems like its in a full slumber. Going out on Fridays I'll be more inclined to bump into someone visiting from out of town who has flown in to head to the Cape for a week long rental (most rentals run from Saturday to Saturday).This is just another side to my hometown - one which I'm very use to and look forward to every year. While it can still be tough to grab a clutch parking space on Newbury Street and reservations at good restaurants are still expected - its noticeably easier to do both, and the affect on Bostonians is palpable. We walk more slowly down the street, we're more inclined (mind you I said more inclined) to say "Hello, how are you?" and genuinely mean it. This only lasts a couple of months each year, but it makes such a difference.

Tomorrow, Friday is the start of Memorial Day and although the summer doesn't officially start until later in June - I'll be dreaming of summer.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Caption this photograph

The funny thing about art is that it can evoke emotion. I wouldn't consider this art, but its definitely something to behold (and tough not to stare at). I'll refrain from sharing my thoughts, but I'd be curious to get yours.

My South End coffee shops

Residents of the South End will be quick to point out that I'm overlooking several beloved coffee shops, but after surviving what can only be described as a brutal winter followed by a cold, rainy spring, I've not ventured far to get my coffee fix. Fortunately, my neighborhood makes it easy to grab a cup of joe.

Within a two block radius, I have four coffee shops; each in their own right attract a strong and loyal following. The four profiled today are: Mohr & McPherson Cafe, The Greenlight Cafe, Wholy Grain, and The South End Buttery.

Mohr & McPherson Cafe
460 Harrison AvenueThis coffee shop is located inside Mohr & McPherson and is easily accessed from the parking lot. Furnished and decorated entirely with the beautiful Asian antiques from the store, this has the funkiest of vibes. The cafe serves good coffee (my favorite local tea MEM) and a variety of sandwiches, salads and treats. Best of all - they provide 50% off same day baked goods starting at 3PM. The free wireless and comfy seats makes this among the neighborhoods best kept secrets.

Greenlight Cafe
560 Harrison AvenueGreenlight's food is from the delicious kitchen of Gaslight Brasserie. As a result, this cafe offers a wide selection of food, snacks and treats. There is ample seating, great natural light and a patio in good weather to enjoy. The coffee is the same you would find at any of the Aquitaine Group restaurants and the staff is friendly and fun (I love Izzy). Greenlight provides 50% off all their baked goods starting at 4pm. Note that this cafe is only open until 5pm and is closed on weekends.

The Wholy Grain
275 Shawmut AvenueThis is the latest coffee shop to open near my house. Located just diagonally across the street from the Franklin Cafe, this tiny coffee house is cutely remodeled with outdoor seating in the front. The space also has a back which provides the owners the option of creating an additional, more private patio. Of all the cafes, this probably has the fewest options, but what they serve is delicious and worth trying. The sweets are all over sized and I'm a sucker for their Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins. Like their rivals, they too offer free wireless.

South End Buttery Cafe
314 Shawmut AvenueThis cafe which has expanded into a full-fledged restaurant was one of the first to open in the section of the south end that I call home. It replaced another coffee shop and thanks to the efforts of the owner it is completely transformed (for the better). The food options, coffees and teas are all delicious (they too serve MEM tea). In addition, they provide outdoor seating, wireless and a constant stream of patrons which make this the best of the bunch for people watching.

Other notable coffee shops
As I mentioned above, since there are so many places to choose from in my neighborhood, I only focussed on the four that are within two blocks of my place. However, other neighborhood favorites include: Berkeley Perk Cafe, Flour and Francesca's. Now that the weather is a bit nicer out I might even venture beyond my two-block radius to be tempted by their flavorful brews and tasty treats.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Boston.com features BosGuy blog

Wow, my weekly post the #MenofTwitter has been featured in the community section on the homepage of Boston.com - The Boston Globe's online site. I have to admit I was definitely taken by surprise and it made me smile. I've been reading boston.com since its inception and have it as my homepage. Thank you Joe for bringing this to my attention.

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. Adding to their attraction is the fact they only talk in 140 characters.

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles that catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following.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.

BigMuscleHawk From a purely superficial stand point, how could I not include Christopher a.k.a. BigMuscleHawk? This handsome southern Californian profile suggest viewer discretion is advised but his tweets are more conversational. Like me, he had a fantastic time tweeting about the recent Kylie show which just happened in Los Angeles.

TheCowlicker or Mike as his friends call him lives in the U.K. and is a very funny guy. To give you a sense of Mike's humor, check out this limited time offer he posted on Twitter.

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy.
Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Pop's Restaurant continues to lack consistency

One of the things I really like about my neighborhood is the variety of restaurants. The Boston Globe's "Top Places to Live" said it best, "It’s not just the number, variety, and quality of restaurants that make Boston’s South End a mecca for food lovers; it’s also the array of specialty purveyors, such as the Five Seventy Market and South End Formaggio."

Unfortunately, not all restaurants in this neighborhood are worth visiting. Such is the frustration I have with Pop's Restaurant. This tiny little restaurant has so much going for it. First the service is consistently friendly, second the place is so cute (esp since they remodeled their bar), and third they have arguably the best patio for people watching in all of the South End.

The problem with Pop's is its inconsistency. One meal can be good and the next a disappointment. Such was the case with breakfast today. After staying away from Pop's for the past couple years, we opted to go in for a Sunday brunch last month. Our food was delicious...So today, when we decided we would like to have breakfast al fresco, we thought we'd give Pop's another try. Both of us ordered the same exact meal we had the month prior but the food bore little resemblance to that previous visit. My order Pop's breakfast: 3 eggs any style, potato hash, toast and side of ham was far more salty this time and plated very differently. The last time the presentation was so visually engaging I actually took a photo and tweeted it. Sergio's order BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich was also significantly saltier and the bread this time was pressed making the sandwich both difficult to eat and not to his liking.

When the food served is to your liking the prices make the restaurant worthwhile with the average breakfast meal $9-$10; lunch items $12-$14 and dinner entrees ranging from $15-$25. The problem is the odds never seem to work in my favor and I'm not much of a betting man. There are simply too many other restaurants that are consistently good in this neighborhood so my suggestion would unfortunately be to keep walking.

Pop's Restaurant is located at 560 Tremont Street in the South End.
Reservations are a good idea for dinner.
POPS on Urbanspoon

Boston Globe Top Places to Live: South End

The Boston Globe published their "Top Spots to Live" listing surrounding neighborhoods and towns for a variety of quality of life standards. I'm proud to say that my neighborhood - the South End - was identified as the best place to live for food lovers. I've lifted the text from the Boston Globe article and posted it below. If you'd like to read the full article, you can link here.

FOR FOOD LOVERS WINNER: South End

Median single-family home price: $1,610,000
Median condo price: $554,888
Population: 25,889
Residential tax rate: $12.79

It’s not just the number, variety, and quality of restaurants that make Boston’s South End a mecca for food lovers; it’s also the array of specialty purveyors, such as the Five Seventy Market and South End Formaggio. Restaurants are plentiful and mostly, but not entirely, pricey. Diners can opt for anything from $44 salmon at Mistral to an $11 traditional Ethiopian beef dish at Addis Red Sea.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Shhh... new Italian restaurant to open in South End

The very successful Boston restaurant company, The Aquitaine Group is poised to open their fourth fifth restaurant in Boston's trendy South End neighborhood in the space formerly occupied by Rocca.

When this new eatery will open in the South End is unclear, but plans to remodel to make it uniquely their own is underway. Lets just hope that they open soon enough that residents like yours truly can enjoy the fantastic private patio for some dinner al fresco.

News of this (although not official yet) makes me very happy. With Rocca, Pho Republique and Ginger Park all closing within the past 18-months SoWa was in need of some good restaurant news. To the Aquitaine Group's latest venture I'd like to say benvenuti and buona fortuna.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

How to say I'll love you forever

Are you a hopeless romantic? Maybe you'll find this quick marriage proposal romantic. The video already has more than 4 million views.

Thursday night means Noche

I'm not sure how it happened... Perhaps it was back when the charming bartender Adam came over to Noche to tend bar? However, the "how" is no longer relevant. What does matter is it is Thursday and for the few gay men who still call the South End "home" - this is the bar to be. Cocktails flow, conversation carries and the people watching simply doesn't get any better. The picture of the empty bar provided below will be chalk full of guys of all ages tonight. A recent influx of Boston's version of Bridge-N-Tunnel crowd has not ruined the atmosphere, but there has been a noticeable increase over the past few months. Good thing that the bartenders are so handsome and quick with the pour. If you happen to find yourself in Boston this Thursday and are wondering where to go, why don't you join me and check it out.

Noche Boston
3 Appleton Street
(617) 482 0117

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Oh crap...let the self loathing begin

A few weeks ago I inquired if people worked out for reasons of health or vanity. Most people (me included) cited a combination as the source / inspiration to get ourselves to the gym. Unfortunately, April and May in Boston have been filled with rain and cloudy skies with too few days of sun and warmth. As a result, I've not been as diligent with my gym routine. Interestingly in the month of March (when it was still freezing here) I was coupling my gym routines with my trainer with interim work outs and runs that made me feel great. Back then it was the promise of spring that motivated me. However, when the warm up never materialized, my drive faltered and my focus got fuzzy.

With the exception of last week and most of this week, I have continued to maintain my gym routine with my trainer, Stu, and starting tomorrow, I plan to get my sorry butt to the gym - boy will that be a day of reckoning. I'm using the combination of serious eye-candy in this post coupled with the horror that June is now two weeks away to motivate me; nothing like using both the carrot and the whip to get me back on track. I hope that you will reach out and leave a comment, email or tweet to let me know how you are doing. As I've said before - misery certainly does appreciate company.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Rick Welts - Phoenix Suns President says "I'm Gay"

In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Rick Welts - Phoenix Suns President - explained why he chose such a public forum to announce his sexual orientation. In the interview he addresses what it was like working in the NBA while losing his life-partner to AIDS in the 80s and why he chose to come out ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift this point. You can read the full interview here.

"The other was if there was a chance to do some good for people, young people, who are struggling with their own issues and wondering whether or not they could pursue their passions and have a chance to have a successful career, whether that was team sports or something else."
- Suns president Rick Welts on reason for publicly revealing he is gay

(Thanks lil' brother for reminding me about this story.)

NYC Boy

Off to NYC for the day tomorrow. Fingers crossed that there are no delays getting there or returning home. In honor of my pending trip, I thought I'd post this video. I'm assuming most of the people who read my blog have many fond memories of this song. I know I do.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Fashion Faux Pas

How does a guy from Boston (a town best known for perpetuating preppy) end up looking like a porn extra? Its easy, just spend an afternoon in the Haight in San Francisco with Sean and David (pictured below)... I look like a cross between Captain Stubing and a Solid Gold Dancer... sorry for the early 80s reference, but its the best I can come up with...

Curious who dressed me? This handsome couple, Sean & David... You may recall I met these guys last summer and participated in their wedding as they eloped to Provincetown to get married because their home (California) is too small minded to be able to conceive of two men living happily ever after. I shouldn't come down too hard on California. If those state residents hadn't been so small minded with their vote on Prop 8, we would have never met and they've been such a wonderful couple to get to know (despite their fashion sense).

My stay at Fairmont San Francisco

I spent much of last week at the Fairmont San Francisco on Nob Hill. Not a bad place to call home if you ask me. I was lucky enough to get a beautiful room with a fantastic view from the 21st story overlooking much of the city and San Francisco Bay. I posted some of the views that greeted me each morning in previous posts.

What I did not show was the box (made completely out of chocolate) and the delicious handmade chocolate truffles that were inside it. The tray with chocolates was accompanied by a lovely bottle of red wine and was delivered to my room shortly after checking in. If the Fairmont was trying to make me feel special - I would have to say that they succeeded in making it one of the most memorable arrivals to a hotel. I was still taking in the beautiful views of my room and wondering how I was going to be productive with such a distraction when I was greeted by this delicious treat. If you're a traveler and would like to read my review of my stay at the Fairmont San Francisco, you can read it on TripAdvisor here.

I'd be remiss if I did not thank Lucas in the Fairmont business office for all his help and going the extra mile to make my stay so relaxing. It was certainly appreciated.

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. Adding to their attraction is the fact they only talk in 140 characters.

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles that catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following.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.

HeyItsUrban This guy may be the most active person I follow on twitter. His interests are varied and he has more conversations than I can follow. Despite the fact that he’s prone to wishing the Boston Bruins ill, his gorgeous blue eyes make me refuse to think ill of him.

Mkurkowski Check out this handsome Bostonian. (Yet another blue-eyed babe.) I’ve met Matt in person and he’s a sweetheart. This photographer always has something to say on Twitter and it’s usually something fairly humorous. Trust me, you’ll enjoy following this handsome guy.

WesPine The fact that this 20-something San Franciscan is taken does not diminish his allure. Half of Wes’ tweets are about places he’s currently visiting, which I rarely recognize since I live in Boston, but it doesn’t stop me from checking out what he’s up to… what can I say, he’s handsome, I can’t help myself.

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy.
Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

SF Transamerica Building and Coit Tower

The conference I'm attending officially kicked off last night with a cocktail reception in the Crown Room on the top floor of the Fairmont San Francisco, some 20+ stories high. The room is filled with huge windows providing spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline and Bay. Unfortunately, my phone died before the gorgeous sunset behind the Golden Gate bridge, but I've included two photos from earlier in the evening (sorry the camera quality in my phone leaves a lot to be desired).

Transamerica Pyramid opened in the early 70s and is as important to the SF skyline as the John Hancock is in Boston. Its unique design and iconic stature is even more amazing to see from the Crown Room at the Fairmont.

Coit Tower is the second photo and its a bit further off in the distance, but this art deco tower is one of my favorite SF landmarks and I couldn't resist snapping another picture of this beautiful tower.

Transamerica Pyramid

Coit Tower

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Fairmont San Francisco

I arrived in San Francisco earlier this afternoon and have checked into the Fairmont which is a beautiful hotel located on Nob Hill. This beautiful property was built in the late 1870s and the hotel exterior and lobby exude all the charm and elegance one would attribute to that age.

I was lucky to get upgraded to the 21st floor. The pictures below provide glimpses of my view of the San Francisco bay. The first image shows Coit Tower and the second is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance.
I'll include a review of the hotel and the service after I return to Boston and will post it on my TripAdvisor account.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Off to San Francisco

Work rarely takes me away from home for more than a day, but tomorrow (Wednesday) I leave for San Francisco. I'm using the opportunity to extend my stay through the weekend to visit with friends.

I was in San Francisco last summer for work, but the trip was a blur. I arrived in the evening and flew out the following day before lunch. This trip will afford me the opportunity to enjoy the city and get caught up with friends. I will be staying at the Fairmont San Francisco for the conference that is bringing me to California. This is a charming property that is fairly central. After the conference I will head over to my friend's Sean and David where they have offered to host me in their Castro Apartment. I'm really looking forward to seeing them and my good friend Jeff.

I don't anticipate having much time to blog, but I will be tweeting on my account, twitter.com/BosGuy.

Quick Update
Just got upgraded by the Fairmont thanks to my tweets about travel. One more reason I love Twitter.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Darren Criss

Darren Criss does it again with another fantastic rendition of a Rock-n-Roll classic.

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. Adding to their attraction is the fact they only talk in 140 characters.

Each Monday I post #MenOfTwitter profiles that catch my eye and whom I think you may enjoy following.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.
ColeStreets twitter profile claims he loves life, french fries and hot boys. Well Cole, I’d have to add you to that list because I love observing your tweets to the many sexy men who follow you on twitter. I never get tired of reading what you are up to (or with whom).

LargeTony living large with Tony, quite possibly the sweetest guy in all of TN. This man is full of surprises. His blog entries more closely resemble poetry, but as many of you know there’s a more playful side to Tony which he shares on Twitter and his Tumblr site.
AlekandSteph bring a sense of style to twitter with their tweets of luxurious destinations and objects of desire which they include in their online magazines, www.Bellomag.com and www.ohlalamag.com. As fashion photographers, they bring a degree of sophistication and fantasy that I love.

BTW - If you like this post, ReTweet. If you love it, follow @BosGuy.
Link here to see past #MenOfTwitter.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

BosGuy cooks (again)

Its no secret that I love food, but I only cook a meal 1-2 times a week. Last month I felt particularly adventurous and posted a write up about cooking artichokes for the first time in my entry, Chef BosGuy.

Earlier this week I marked another culinary first when I made eggplant parmigiana. I love eggplant parmigiana; my grandmother "Nana" perfected this meal and cooked it through out my childhood. More recently my mother has continued the tradition perhaps even surpassing Nana's home recipe. My initial attempt was good but could not compare to either Nana's nor Mom's, but I was proud of the food I plated and it was savory enough that it barely lasted more than 24 hours; despite making a huge tray.

Here is a close up of my dinner plate. The eggplant is accompanied by linguine in a spicy marinara sauce I also made (covered with a healthy pinch of parmesan).
Dinner for one.

Friday @Fenway

I went to see the Red Sox game last night. This was my second game of the season, and while it was the perfect evening for a game at Fenway, the Red Sox were far from perfect. The most excitement came early in the game after Tim Wakefield was called for a balk and Francona was thrown out for arguing. Thus far this season, the Sox have born a closer resemblance to the Bad News Bears than the championship team this fans wanted.

Despite the frustrating play of the home team, the evening was not ruined. Between the cheers and groans, I snapped a few pictures of the park and the handsome fans which seemed to be all around us.