Vote: Boston's Best Folk Venue

(Hint: You should vote for Club Passim.)

Image by Thom C via Flickr

Subway Life Lessons: On the Red Line

Random people tend to talk to me on the subway. I'm not sure what it is - Do I look friendly? Am I perceived to be a good audience for unsolicited commentary? A helpful resource? Do I just stand too close to the loonies while waiting for the T?

Last night was no exception, as an imposing, bald, goatee-sporting gent, thoroughly soused - looked like a biker (his words) - sought my help to attack the insurmountable problem of locating the proper train (the Braintree line, being one of two possible options) and befriended me for the trip home.

After at first fearing for my life, in 20 minutes conversing with this chap I learned:

• Life is a f---ing game
• Confidence is key in any situation - business, interviews, first date, etc.
• Learn to play chess when everyone else is playing checkers (metaphorically speaking)
• The market's a funny thing (both job and asset markets)
• Life's all about making money (corollary: do what you love but if you make money doing it then you don't work a day in your life)
• Get into political campaigning to make a lot of money
• His buddies were all good, good, good, good, good, good, good, good people
• Conversations with drunk people are really annoying when you're sober (my own conclusion)
  

To his credit he was friendly, made the long ride back interesting, and was responsible enough to call for a ride and not drive home drunk when he got to his station.

Best WiFi hotspots in Boston?

I'm looking to expand my roster of WiFi hotspots. What are some of your favorite places in Boston? For me, access to an outlet is a necessity, as my laptop battery doesn't work. I also place high value on availability of hazelnut coffee and top flight bathrooms.

Recently I've been kicking it at the Washington St. Borders but today was a rough one - slow network, panhandlers, one of those guys who announces his every action to nobody in particular but everybody in general, playing of crappy music at max volume out of laptop speakers so the entire mezzanine can hear, singing Christmas carols (all the same guy), and an endless wave of unconscionable, nauseating BO.

I need a strong second option.

MBTA train stops just short of running down woman on tracks; incredible video

This is an amazing video from security cameras on Boston's MBTA Orange Line. A drunk woman fell onto the tracks just as a train was approaching the station. The driver was able to hit the emergency break . . . more

Menino up for fifth term in Boston mayoral election

	Today is an important election in Boston, Massachusetts. Mayor Tom Menino, the 16-year incumbent, is running for re-election to a fifth term. It's billed to be a close race in which his challenger, . . . more

Grit: not just a measure of athletic prowess anymore

I was reading The Boston Globe's endorsements (today is the Boston mayoral election in which Tom Menino, the 16-year incumbent, will stand for an unprecedented fifth* term; there are also several city council and local races) and came across this tidbit I could not resist sharing. With a nostalgic nod to the glory days of FJM:

[The Globe urges] readers in Newton to support Ruth Balser for mayor. Currently a state representative, Balser has shown a commitment to her community and much-needed grit.

Emphasis on grit added.

*I like Menino well enough. Having recently moved out of the Hub I no longer have a horse in this race but the very idea of five terms in office is an insult to the ideals of good government.

I mean it's not like the most powerful federal legislative body can stay in office for life, right? That would be absurd.

Unbelievable

For two years running, James Montgomery's first show at the Blues Barge is canceled due to weather.

Is Boston the new Seattle? Or the new Amazon basin?

A Nautical Discussion

5/14/09

MRhé: "What you guys do out there is amazing."

One of the Ericsson sailors: "It's fucking insanity."

Video Thursday

Here's a short documentary about Louie, the guy who rides his tricycle around Boston making what sounds like a siren noise. Most people who have been around Boston will recognize this guy:


Louie from Brian Moore on Vimeo.


Thanks to Scottobike Pedalsabunch for the link.

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An effective visualization of 'Bama's stated budget cuts. People do have trouble with putting these numbers in the proper perspective:




Via the stridently Republican h0tƒøöt.

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A hilarious mashup of Snatch and Star Wars, with Brick Top as Vader. If you don't know Snatch it won't be as funny (and if you don't know SW then you need to KY, frankly), but still amusing to hear the wacky, bawdy, cockney Brick Top. Dialogue is rather profane, if you're skittish about such things:



Via 'Otfoot.

A Lot Changes in 6 Months: Renewed Wellness Edition

I haven't been running over near Fan Pier since, well, the last time I was running over at Fan Pier, which was last Sept-Oct. This afternoon I noticed that there's a big new building going up there, as well as some new floating docks and a sailboat on stilts perched at the water's edge (not sure what the deal is there). In 5-10 years that area will be booming. The difference even in the last 5 or so is incredible. Place was a veritable wasteland for a long time.

Sidenote: I can certainly understand the appeal of strolling along the water's edge on one of the nicest days we've had while smoking a cigar; however running behind a dude holding one of these toxic smoke-belching cancer tubes wreaks havoc on my tender bronchioles.

Update: My Dad, ever sage about Boston happenings (and loyal Chez MRhé reader, apparently!), directed my attention to the fact that Fan Pier is the only North American stop on the Volvo Ocean Race. Looks like there are a bunch of happenings there over the next couple months. Let's check 'em out.

Sexy Beast

From Boston.com:

RICK MELANSON, Red Sox fan, exhorting the crowd at Fenway Park during Game 5 of the ALCS, Oct. 16, 2008: --

"The place was like a morgue. I think everybody was depressed. When the players play, they feed off the adrenaline of the stadium and there wasn't an ounce of adrenaline there. Me and my buddies were trying to get something going. We tried to start the Wave, tried to get them to exert some energy. A guy yelled, 'Take your shirt off.' So I did. We got them all fired up. Then security came up to me. They said we got a call from someone on the hotline complaining that I had my shirt off and to put it on. So I put it back on for a minute and then they started scoring the first couple of runs. So I took it off again. The security guy was laughing at me and said, 'Dude, it's working.' People came down, shaking hands, thanking me for bringing 'em back, saying, 'You did it, buddy.' Then the woman who complained came down after the game, she apologized and had her picture taken with me."

Geriatrics 'n' Gators (and Danielle), Here We Come!

Feels like we've been here before, doesn't it? Once again, with their backs to the wall in an elimination game, the Boston Red Sox won in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 7-0 deficit in the 7th to win it 8-7 in the 9th. Heroics all around, from Big Papi's 3-run homer in the 4th to Coco's game-tying single in the 8th, to Drew's hook into right to drive Youk across the plate for the win. Drew's really making a name for himself in Boston postseason history, isn't he?

Will the Sox' luck hold out for two more games against baseball's talented, young, looks-like-it-should-be-their-year Rays down at FiberCon stadium? This is why we watch.



This one was amazing. A special thanks to those who keep us fair weather fans in line.

Lovely.

I'll take this gladly in October.

Déjà Vu (Again)

The Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series? Business as usual in the Hub. Fitting that Bay slid across the plate headfirst off Lowrie's walk-off hit to send these boys to Tampa!

Now we take on the Rays? My, how times change.

Congrats to the Sox. Lotta work left to be done.

O Giacomo, mia innamorata!

Yesterday Heather and Ben came into town. As I like to do with all visitors to the Hub, I took them to my favorite restaurant in the North End - Giacomo's. They both loved it (you can't get good Italian food in D.C., evidently). I have a newfound love for Giac's after last night though. I tried a special that they always seem to have (can it really be a special then?): homemade fusilli pasta with bits big, juicy, tender, delectable chunks of lobster meat and shrimp in Giacomo's house sauce. Madonn'! Just unbelievable. The English language, with all its thousands upon thousands of adjectives, fails to do justice to the meal I had last night.

And due to Giac's huge portions, today I have the most delicious lunch of all possible lunches.

Baseball?

I've been an awful Sox fan this season. But congrats, gents:



Here's to another postseason!

Unfortunate

Brady out with torn ACL.

Clemency for Inclement Weather

It's been an odd summer in general - seems like we've had a lot of thunderstorms, especially this past week. Overcast, cooler, and rainy - very annoying. This evening was no exception, but I'll give a tip of the cap to Mother Nature this time. Few things are better than having the heavens open and release gallons of water when you're 3/4 through a run. First time I've run through an absolute downpour in a long time.

Refreshing.

(But I want sunshine for the clamboil tomorrow. You're on a thin rope, Madre.)

The Lovely Ladies of the Blogosphere

(And me.)



From the Boston Bloggers meetup.

Thanks to Susie over at transient travels for the pic!

Boston Bloggers Meeting!

I was able to attend the second installment of the Boston Bloggers meeting this weekend at Deep Ellum in Allston. I hadn't been there before - cool spot with good food and a great beer selection, including a cask-conditioned ale on tap (reminded me of Merrie Olde Englande). They also mix up a downright tasty mint julep.

We had an excellent turnout, including the authors of (not sure about who wants to remain anonymous in the Blogosphere so we'll just go with blog titles):

in development
everyone loves a boston girl.
We are not Martha
The JQ Lounge
Skrinkering Hearts
Cave Cibum (best blog name I've seen in a long time btw - also of Consider the Daffodil)
she's only waiting on the next best thing.
transient travels

It was great fun to meet a bunch of people whom I'd (probably) otherwise never meet. The internets is amazing! We all "met" through the Twenty Something Bloggers Ning Network. Pretty cool. If you're a Boston-area blogger and you're interested in the next meeting, holla at me. Or someone up above. Very cool peeps in the Hub (not a shocker there).

There's a pic floating around somewhere...whose camera was that?