The Beantown Bloggery

I used to eat at Sonic at least twice a week when I was in highschool. Needless to say I was a fat kid. But burgers were cheap back then. It was a horrifying rotation of Wendy's, Sonic, and Arby's - it's a wonder I didn't need an angioplasty by age 19. But then again, the chili cheese tator tots at Sonic are amazing, and now you can get some in Peabody.

Limeades. Cream Slushes. Java Chillers. The drinks sound a bit unfamiliar to a lifelong New Englander like me who grew up in the land of frappes, Fribbles and Awful Awfuls. But they’ll be sure to put a smile on the faces of Sonic aficionados in Massachusetts who have been waiting patiently for the day when the Oklahoma City-based chain finally opens its first shop here.

Well, Sonic fans, it’s almost time to rev up your engines and head to Route 1 in Peabody. Mark your calendars: Local franchisee Gina Monastiero told me today that her long-awaited Sonic drive-in restaurant will open for business at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. After opening day, Monastiero says she plans to keep the restaurant open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week, staffed with at least 120 full- and part-timers.

Has anyone had a chance to make it to Peabody yet and try it out? May as well make a day of it: Sonic for lunch, then an afternoon at the Peabody Essex Museum, and then dinner at Sonic.

Click (here) to read the article.

Farm Aid was a pretty huge concert last year as I recall. They had performers like Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews. Last year it was local, this year it's in Missouri - but there's a contest going on right now to win a free trip out there.

Following a memorable 2008 concert in Mansfield, Mass., the 2009 Farm Aid benefit concert is quickly approaching, and this year will be held in St. Louis, Mo.

As a way to raise money and build its fan base in advance of the 2009 concert, Farm Aid recently launched an online photo contest (www.farmfreshpics.org). Farm Aid president Willie Nelson, Elaine Irwin Mellencamp, singer/songwriter Jason Mraz, rock photographer Paul Natkin and Farm Aid executive director Carolyn Mugar will serve on a panel of judges who will select one of the contest winners.

We're looking for photos of farms, farmers and farm families, farming equipment and barns, farmer's markets and farm animals — anything and everything that shows the vibrancy and beauty of the American family farm. Your readers can win a trip and two front row tickets to Farm Aid 2009 Presented by Horizon Organic by entering a photo into the Farm Fresh Pics contest and getting their friends to vote. Because Farm Aid was held in your area last year, I think that your readers will be interested interested in this fundraiser

My friend Gwen has a farm out in western MA. I haven't been out there, but I've heard it's nice. That and when I drove out to the Berkshires, I saw plenty of farm land out there. Grab your digital SLR's and start crackin!

The contest will run through Sept. 20, 2009 and winners will be selected on Sept. 22, 2009.

Click (here) to enter the contest.

Remember my post about the New England Dessert Showcase next month (here)? Well that event is about to get a lot more awesome, mainly because you stand a pretty good chance of going for free. The very generous folks at Anthem Entertainment have given me 10 (yes that's right TEN) pairs of tickets to give away to Bloggery readers.

We would like to offer you 20 VIP tickets to the New England Dessert Showcase to offer to your web visitors. These VIP tickets include access to the showcase, a gift bag valued over $200, and access to the cocktail reception following the showcase.

Same raffle contest rules as usual. Email me with the subject "Dessert Showcase" and your name in the body of the email. At the end of the contest, I'll put everyone's name in a hat and draw 10 winners. Each winner will get a pair of tickets to the showcase!

Contest starts NOW and ends on Friday, September 4 at 10pm EST. Tell your friends, tell your family. But only if they agree to take you with them as their +1 if they win and you don't. =)

Click (here) to get more info on the event.

I never really listened to KISS. I'm firing up Pandora now just so I can listen to one of their songs and see if I recognize it. If you recall, we all did vote for them to come here (here). Pre-sale tickets go on sale this morning at 10am.

KISS: Alive 35
TD Garden
Boston, MA
Mon, Oct 5, 2009
07:30 PM

I saw a recent video on youtube of Taylor Swift coming out during a duet with Keith Urban in full KISS costume towards the end of their concert. I forget which city it was, but that's neither here nor there.

PRESALE PASSWORD: EVENTFUL

Presale starts at 10am and ends at 10pm.

Click (here) to get tickets.

From the news articles I've been reading, True Blood has been getting spectacular ratings. Do you guys watch? I do. So, I was pretty happy when I read that Lafayette and Tara are coming to Kings to host a party on 9/5.

RCN presents a True Blood “Fangtasia” VIP party like no other. To celebrate the start of the school year and the season finale of the popular HBO series, Kings will transform into the dark and sexy vampire nightspot “Fangtasia” hosted by the show’s colorful characters Lafayette (actor Nelsan Ellis) and Tara (actor Rutina Wesley).

Ellis and Wesley will work the crowd and meet and greet with fans during the sinister party that will draw the undead and college students alike into Boston’s own Fangtasia, complete with coffins, creatures and plenty of delicious “Tru Blood” beverages.

Saturday, September 5 @ 9 p.m.

Kings
50 Dalton St.
Boston, MA

Entry into the event is FREE. To RSVP, log onto www.RCN.com/bitten or call 617.662.2695 for more information. The event is 21+.

Click (here) to RSVP.

PS. I just checked out the site and there's actually several events going on that week. Click (here) to get all the details.

Few words get me as excited as the words "open bar." The ladies of ASPIRE are throwing a party this Friday at Wonderbar and it seems they've used the magic words.


The flyer says it all. It's been quite some time since I've been to Wonderbar. I don't really go into the Allston/Brighton area much anymore except for Bon Chon (here). But perhaps it's time for a visit.

Click (here) to pick up tickets.

I'm not a James Taylor fan, but I am a fan of both Sheryl Crow and Yo Yo Ma. And all three of them are going to be performing this Friday 8/28 and Saturday 8/29 at the Koussevitzky Music Shed in Lenox, MA. That is going to be an awesome show.

James Taylor and his band return to the Shed stage, joined by Sheryl Crow and Yo-Yo Ma for two special concerts.

I've always wanted to see Yo Yo Ma in concert. I played the cello back in highschool and had his cd's. It'd help to hear him play the concertos that I was learning at the time .. that is until I reached the cadenzas and Mr. Ma would go a little nuts and I'd just play whatever was on the page.

Click (here) to get tickets.

Our friends at Puma are launching a new ad campaign featuring some of their employees as well as customers.

Everyone has something to say and PUMA® is giving you your very own platform to say it. This fall, PUMA lets employees take the lead showcasing some of their store associates and their thoughts in their newest retail campaign: PUMA Employees Only. But it doesn’t end there, PUMA will let their fans join in the fun, too, at select PUMA Stores across the US and online, inviting anyone to speak their mind!

PUMA will encourage shoppers and fans to share their thoughts. At the PUMA Stores in Boston (Newbury Street), shoppers will be able to grab their own poster board and marker and write their thoughts, which will be displayed throughout the week at the each PUMA Store. Everyone participating will be photographed, just like the employees in the campaign, which can then be uploaded instantly to their Facebook page. Every week, the PUMA Employee featured in the campaign will choose the best photo and saying in their store and the winner will receive a PUMA Gift.

I'm a big fan of Puma stuff, particularly their track jackets (their shoes are awesome too) . Methinks it's time to head over to the store and try my hand at winning that Puma gift.

Click (here) to visit their FB page.

Click (here) to watch their vids on Youtube

I've been to one Red Sox game so far, it was probably two years ago. My boss had a pair of tickets (really awesome seats) and couldn't go, so she gave them to me. So, at least I'm able to say that I've been to a Sox game. What I haven't had, though, is a field-level tour of Fenway Park. That could be pretty fun.

Throughout the current home stand (beginning Friday, August 21st against the New York Yankees), House of Blues Boston will offer a post-game field level tour of Fenway Park. This tour will depart from the House of Blues Restaurant immediately following the game each night and will take fans onto the field at Fenway Park. The tour will include a behind the scenes look into the historic scoreboard inside the Green Monster. Everyone on the tour will receive a complimentary Red Sox cap and souvenir Fenway field dirt.

Tickets for the post-game tour will only be available in House of Blues retail store to patrons. Tickets will be $40 each and are limited to 20 tickets per night. Tour tickets will only be available on the day of the game; no tour tickets will be sold before the day of the tour.

It sounds like a pretty fun thing to do, especially if you've got friends visiting from out of town. There's two things my friend Ann wants to do whenever she visits Boston. Go on a duck tour, and go to a Red Sox game. I have yet to do either with her. But one of these days, perhaps I will.

.... places in America to grow up - or at least that's what the US News and World Report thinks. The list this year is pretty interesting to me in particular because I've lived in two cities so far in my lifetime: Plano, TX and Boston - both cities made the list this year. Here's what they had to say about Boston.

Boston: With an exciting history and a boatload of activities, Boston is a great option for parents looking to raise children in a big city. Kids will marvel at the African penguins in the New England Aquarium, gawk at the humpback whales on a whale-watching tour, and erupt as the Red Sox take the field at beautiful Fenway Park. At the same time, Boston is one of the safest large cities in the country.

Other cities that made the cut: San Jose, Denver, Cedar Rapids, and a few others.

Click (here) to see read the article.

Apparently, The Fighter wraps later this week on 8/26. I guess after that Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale can move on to their other Boston based movie together - The Prisoners (here).


Click (here) for more pics from the set.

As of yesterday, the First Family is officially in Martha's Vineyard for their vacation. Luckily, they just missed Hurricane Bill.

The first family settled in Sunday for their vacation on Martha's Vineyard not long after Hurricane Bill scampered away, leaving behind big waves and heavy rip currents for the Obamas.

The Obama then flew by helicopter from the Coast Guard station at Otis Air Base to Martha's Vineyard, and took a motorcade from the airport to their vacation home. Along the route, several people held signs, including ones that said, "Aloha Obama Family" and "Hope, Obama."

Welcome to Massachusetts! Hope you guys have a good vacation.

Click (here) to read the Globe article.

All I know about Diane Von Furstenberg is that she makes some pretty nice dresses. I have a couple of friends that like to wear her stuff, and they look pretty damn good in them. That being said, I have no idea what DVF handbags are like, but I'm not one to turn down free food and wine.

Details are on the flyer above. You need to rsvp to events@lunaboston.com to go.

This sounds like too much fun to pass up. I haven't been involved in a water gun fight since for decades. Time to make a quick trip to Target and pick something up. From what I understand, there have been incredible advances in Super Soaker technology since I was a kid.

The summer is heating up, thus, it is with pride, after many requests, that Banditos Misteriosos announces our Second Annual Revolutionary Water Gun Fight.

Last year over 375 warriors rushed into battle, complete with marching armies, drums, fifes and bubble blowing robots. And this year, we plan on holding another battle. But this time, even larger.

Saturday, August 22nd - 1:30PM

Location: TBA in registration email.

Army Assignment:
Participants will be asked to register for event before August 21st, at 6:00PM.

If you happen to be walking around Saturday afternoon and you see a huge mob of folks with water guns. Walk AROUND them.

Click (here) for registration info.

For those of you that are interested in being in the movies, you should really join the Boston Casting email list. I just updated my profile so that I would receive all their casting opportunities (so I could share with you) and a lot of them come in too last minute for me to get them up in time. Here's one that you might be able to make for tonight.

We are looking for our final group of PRE - 1993 cars for The Fighter to work Friday night, 8/21, overnight. Call time will likely be around 630pm and you should expect to work 10-12 hours.

We are looking for any type of car, from clunker to BMW.

Even if you have submitted multiple times thus far, feel free to submit for Friday night. We still need several cars and drivers.

We will contact those selected in the late AM tomorrow with call time and location. Please answer your phones.

As ever, you would be hired as an extra with their car. How you will be used is determined on set: they may use you as a driver or they may park you and use you as a pedestrian.

As you may have surmised, casting the cars for this film has been a very large and hectic job. We would like to thank you all for your patience and enthusiasm for the film. If you have submitted and we have not used your car, please do not take it personally. Not all cars are the right color or look for what we are going for. Also, we have to consider how all cars fit together. We can't send 10 black cars on the same day. But if you are interested in tomorrow night, please resubmit!

Again, you should send us your name, number and a picture of your car to: fightercars@gmail.com. Put "Car - Friday" in the subject line.

How many of you have swung by Match on a Tuesday for their $1 mini-burger special that I told you guys about back in February (here)? Well if you haven't yet, maybe this will entice you. A platter of 10 miniburgers for $10 = awesome!

I'm sure you just read the title of this post and said 'Duh' but now it's been PROVEN. It's officially expensive to date in Boston. Apparently match.com did some sort of study to show this. They could have just asked me, I could have saved them the trouble.

Going out on a date in a recession can be a challenge, and according to Match.com, Boston is among the more expensive U.S. cities for a romantic night out. The online-dating service evaluated the price of a casual dinner and a pair of movie tickets in various U.S. cities. It placed Boston at No. 19 among the 25 cities it evaluated.

Apparently the cheapest place to take a date (amongst the cities they surveyed) is Pittsburgh. Sorry, Pittsburgh. I'd rather pay more and be in Boston.

Click (here) to read the article.

I have a weakness for desserts. In particular, whenever I'm at a restaurant and I see bread pudding on the menu, I have to have it. I've been to plenty of beer fests and wine expos while in Boston, but this will be my first time going to a dessert expo.

Dessert buyers and sweet tooths alike will be in confectionary heaven as 100 local exhibitors sample their designer desserts, chocolates, ice cream and more at the 2009 New England Dessert Showcase. The New England Dessert Showcase is the East Coast’s premier dessert experience, bringing together the gourmet dessert and wine industries. The finest dessert makers will feature their best culinary creations to buyers, and the public. This event is open to the public so take this opportunity to savor the tastes of New England’s best desserts and cocktails. Partial proceeds benefit the Children’s Trust Fund.

Saturday, September 26th, 2009
11am-4pm: Showcase open to public
4pm-6pm: VIP ticket holder cocktail reception

Marriot Long Wharf, 296 State Street, Boston, Ma

Cocktails and dessert? Say no more. I'll see you guys there!

Click (here) to get tickets.

I'm a huge sucker for member's only stuff. And when I say that, I mean exclusive stuff, not the 80's jackets. I remember going thru a phase where I really wanted to become a member of Rise and then another phase where I was considering joining the Harvard Club (because MIT doesn't have one - I tried contacting the alumni association about that to no avail). Here comes another member's only event that is calling my name. Urban Daddy has the hookup:

Last month, Good Life secretly started gutting the main bar and sidedoor lounge to include two new DJ booths, followed by a strong urge to throw a clandestine monthly bash. Gold keys were distributed with a number attached, which, when called, got you into the party. (Oh, and the keys actually open the backdoor.)

But unless the basic tenets of physical law can be bent, we can't hand you one of those keys through this email. Instead, we're giving you the number to RSVP yourself. Mention UD, and you and your friends are in.

Once you arrive, you'll want to skip the front entrance and head straight to the backdoor, where you'll be greeted by females decked out in low-cut Puma gear offering you a frosty treat on the house, and local DJs battling it out for respect against NYC talent.

August 27, 9pm-2am, RSVP at 617-880-9778 and follow the prompt.

Sounds easy enough. I used to party a lot at Umbria back in the day when I knew the folks promoting for them. It makes a big difference when you don't have to stand in line.

Click (here) for a link to the Good Life.

Adam Sandler and crew are still in town filming Grown Ups. From what I heard, they've had to extend their stay here filming because of all the rain we had earlier this summer. It's a movie set in the summer & July 4th so the rain put a damper on filming.

Here's a shot of Adam Sandler chillin with Todd English while in town.



Click (here) for the Herald blurb.

Remember back in April when I was giving away free t-shirts from the folks at No R Lifestyle (here)? Well they just got themselves a huge fan: Jay Leno.

Buddy Hanley, who started the No R Lifestyle clothing line to celebrate the Boston accent, was floored to answer his cell phone the other night and find Jay Leno on the line!

“Leno came walking down the alley toward the group of 100 or so fans and began signing autographs, posing for pictures and conversing with everyone there,” Buddy said. The Andover homey signed for a good 10 minutes and Buddy gave him a shirt and a letter explaining his No R concept.

That's some great marketing if I've ever seen it. Those of you who don't have a shirt yet, you better get one now. If Jay mentions them on his new show like Buddy hopes, who knows how long the waiting list will be.

Click (here) to read the Herald article.

Click (here) to get your t-shirt now!

The September issue of Details magazine has a feature in it entitled "The Best Fast Food in America." They should have consulted my old roommate, Eugene when doing this column. The guy is a fast food connoisseur.

There were a number of national chains that made the list (which we have access to) like Popeye's (Kenmore Sq) and Chick-fil-A (Burlington Mall) as well as the Wendy's and McDonald's (everywhere) but the one that stood out to me was our very own Kelly's Roast Beef at Number 14.

Arby's, take note: Roast beef should not be gray. It should have the pinkish hue of the stuff from Kelly's, a family-run chain with five Boston-area locations. Moist, thick slices are stacked on a grilled sesame-seed bun and topped, if you're game, with nose-tingling horseradish. Locations: 5, in one state.

Eugene and I actually drove all the way to the Burlington Mall once for dinner just so we could get some Chick-fil-A. Their waffle fries and their chicken nuggets are amazing.

Click (here) to see the whole list.

PS. Congrats to the folks at Kelly's!

I had a client that ran ultramarathons. He would regale me with stories of the 100km races he ran through the mountains of Hong Kong. His best time was 17 hours. I struggle just to stay awake for 17 hours, let alone run for that long. That same client was trying to convince me to spend a summer with him training at a Shaolin temple. I passed. I'll just watch them perform at the Orpheum Theater on Oct 16th instead.

For over one thousand years, Shaolin kung fu has been the heart and soul of Chinese martial arts culture. The Shaolin Warriors Troupe consists of more than 20 kung fu masters who have each perfected the art of hand-to-hand and weapons combat. With the precision of Olympic gymnasts, the grace of ballet dancers and the magic of Cirque du Soleil, the Shaolin Warriors demonstrate their sacred and deadly art form in a dazzling kung fu theatrical display.

He may just have been messing with me, but he told me that one thing they do is tie you upside down to a wall, put an empty bucket next to your feet and a bucket of water down by your head, and then give you a spoon. Your job is to transfer all the water from the bottom bucket to the top bucket via sit-ups - one spoonful at a time. After which, they untie you.

I suppose if I didn't die, I would have come back in really amazing shape.

Click (here) to get tickets.

Thanks to Bloggery Reader Brina for the reminder via the cbox on the website. It totally slipped my mind that I promised you guys an update on Wichita last Friday. I just get so many emails and read so many articles that I tend to forget. But keep on reminding me and I'll do my best

That Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are headed to Boston, Worcester and Woburn to film an action comedy previously called “Wichita.” It’s about a secret agent who pops in and out of the life of a single mom. Apparently Boston - or Worcester, or Woburn - will play Wichita. Word is, location scouts have scoped out a few South End restaurants and reportedly will shoot at Gaslight.

That's the latest that I've seen. So for the folks in Worcester, Woburn, and the South End - get ready for some Tom Cruise & Cameron Diaz action.

Unfortunately I have not heard anything about who's doing the extras casting for this movie. But I'll let you guys know as soon as I do.

Click (here) for the Herald blurb.

For all the shoppers out there, there's a new way to keep up with what's going on on Newbury Street - a new website called The Newbury Line.

A joint venture between Taurus Investment Holdings and UrbanMeritage announce
the launching of The Newbury Line brand for their Back Bay holdings.

The Newbury Line website offers consumers the latest news about Newbury Street and the Newbury Line retailers, including a blog and the opportunity to follow The
Newbury Line on Twitter. “Our retailers will be offering special sale opportunities to our Twitter followers and residents of The Newbury Line apartments,” Mike Jammen, Principal of The Newbury Line comments.

I like the blog portion of the site. Just from the few entries they have so far, I've learned that there is now a Madewell and a 7 For All Mankind open on Newbury. It's been a while since I've gone for a stroll in that direction so it would have taken me longer to find that out.

I wish the Residential rentals section was built similar to the commercial rentals side and actually showed units rather than just asking me for my info so they can contact me. But other than that, nice site!

Click (here) to check out The Newbury Line.

It apparently has been weeks since I last synced my iphone with my computer because I totally forgot to blog about the StyleBoston preview that I went to a handful of weeks ago. As you may recall, I blogged back in November of last year about it (here).

A lot has happened since then and I was invited to go see a few clips of the first few segments as well as meet the folks who are putting the show together. I am a huge fan of local tv. Sure there's plenty of written media that keeps us informed on what's going on in Boston, but nothing comes to mind when I think about television programming.


I'm not going to spoil it for you guys, but look forward to segments on fashion, nightlife, and local off-the-beaten-path activities (called 'Detours') - amongst other things. And like I mentioned in my previous post, Tonya Chen Mezrich will be hosting one of the segments of the show.

Don't quote me on this, because my memory is awful, but I believe the first episode airs on September 8th.

PS. To my friend Chris, who is hosting the "Detours" segment of the show. I hope they don't follow thru with this, but during that event someone suggested making you take a pole dancing class. If they do make you do it, let me know so I can dvr it and then upload it to youtube.

Click (here) to visit their site (still under construction)

Thanks to Bloggery Reader Sid for leaving a reminder on the cbox on the site. Another thing that I keep on forgetting to post is the trailer for the upcoming movie "The Box". If you recall, Cameron Diaz and James Marsden were in town back in 2007 filming this movie (here).





For those of you that have been reading, you know that Cameron Diaz is actually on her way back to Boston this Fall along with Tom Cruise to film a movie called "Wichita." I have a few more details on that movie coming up for you guys on Monday.

Click (here) to goto youtube.

No one parties like the folks at Thrillist. Believe me. I went to their launch party and a few of their subsequent parties, and they are awesome. From what I'm told, I'm the first to announce this event (Flavie, you are the best!) so it is my distinct pleasure to tell you guys where all of you will be on the evening of August 26th.

Old School Summer Throwdown
Wednesday August 26th, 2009
7:00PM- 10:00PM
Lucky's Lounge
355 Congress Street
Corner of Congress and A Street

Starring Canadian Club

I've been meaning to make my way over to Lucky's Lounge for a while now. I was at Drink one evening and as I was leaving, I noticed a huge line outside of an unmarked building. Naturally, I was quite curious as to what the place was. Some quick googling when I got home revealed that it was Lucky's. I haven't had a chance to make it over yet, but now I don't have an excuse.

Click (here) to RSVP.

I keep on forgetting to blog about this, mostly because I would never wear clothing like this - I'm not nearly preppy enough. But for those of you that are interested, Harvard has licensed their name to a company which has created the new Harvard Yard clothing line.

The university has inked a ten-year licensing deal with clothing manufacturer Wearwolf Group for a line of contemporary men's apparel. It's unclear if the line is part of the university's attempt to stop bleeding money. Harvard Yard — a lawn we imagine makes a nice resting ground for Harvard students to repair glasses, wipe down their pocket protectors, and memorize an extra few digits of pi — inspired the spring collection. The line includes "short-sleeve plaid shirts, Liberty print wovens, seersucker shorts, regimental stripes, sporty knits, patterned jackets and fancy pants — all in a contemporary, tapered fit,"

The pricing is quite high. And honestly I don't have any idea who would want to wear Harvard branded clothing. If anything, the people who want Harvard clothing will go to the Coop and pick up a hoodie or something.

Two things that came up when I was talking to my friends about this.

#1. Do they not wear socks at Harvard? Take a look at all the pics. Shoes w/o socks.
#2. I could very easily start my own MIT clothing line. It would consist entirely of free t-shirts that we get from career fairs. 100% profit!

Click (here) to read the article.

Did I ever mention that I've never actually been to a Pats game? I really should get down to Gillete at some point to watch a game. Especially since Tom Brady is actually gonna play this season. Well, here's a way for you to have a chance to win FREE tickets to a Pats game in October just by inventing a new tailgate recipe.

We are pleased to announce the first ever Ocean Spray Tailgating Recipe Contest. If you are a New England resident, you are invited to submit your original cranberry tailgate recipe online for a chance to win a prize package that includes two tickets to the New England Patriots’ October 18, 2009 game. Entries will be accepted through September 1st at 4pm EDT.

The contest is open to New England residents (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine). Recipes must be original, use a minimum of 1/2 cup of any Ocean Spray product (beverages 1 1/2 ounces per serving) and reflect the overall theme of tailgating. Recipes will be judged on creativity, use of product, taste, overall appearance and ease of preparation. Three finalists will be selected and invited to cook-off for the title of “Unofficial Official Tailgate Recipe of the New England Patriots” on October 15, 2009 at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

You've got two and a half weeks to come up with something. Better get to the grocery store and start picking up some cranberry juice.

Click (here) for more contest details.

PS. If you win, feel free to take me with you to the game.

When I was doing P90X (I really should start it up again), there's one day where the workout is yoga. It's actually quite difficult. I have horrible flexibility and weigh too much to support my own body weight whilst in odd body poses. That being said, it'd probably do me some serious good to stick with it.

Marc McDonald (former yoga teacher at SCLA & Equinox) has opened up his own studio in the Financial District called Om Warrior. He took over the space that was formerly Yoga Power’s Boston studio at 133 Pearl Street.

And for all of my beloved Bloggery readers, Marc is willing to give us all our first class for free. Here's the fine print:

1. Mention that you heard about the free class from the Beantown Bloggery.
2. Free class is for first time visits only.
3. You have to be a local resident.

There you have it folks, I already got your first class covered. All you need to do is swing by lululemon, get some yoga gear, and get your butt over to Om Warrior. Just kidding about the lululemon, that stuff is EXPENSIVE....

Click (here) to check out the Om Warrior schedule.

There's still a handful of Rock and Blues Cruises left (here) for the summer. But if you're looking for something a little different, permit me to recommend the Boston Ghost Cruises that will continue on each Saturday thru mid September.

As you sail over the deep, dark waters of Boston Harbor, return to the days when Boston ruled the seas and smugglers, pirates, patriots, plunderers, redcoats, wreckers, and wraiths populated the harbor.

See the actual sites and witness true tales of bloody betrayal, disastrous shipwrecks, gruesome executions, and of course, terrifying encounters with Ghosts and Specters!

Hear tales told by our professional troupe of Ghouls – 18th century privateers and sailors, fishwives and doxies. They bring the legends and folklore of Boston and Mass Bay to vivid life-or-death!

When I was at the Wellfleet Oyster Festival (here), we went to a book talk about ghost stories in and around Cape Cod. Might be fun to hear some of the maritime ghost stories.

Click (here) for more info.

In about a week and a half, President Obama and his family will start their vacation in Martha's Vineyard and local businesses are laying the groundwork to cash in on what will most likely be an unusually high number of tourists this year.

From the mandarin orange Obamatinis and Barack-o Tacos on the menu at Sharky’s to the Bobama beefy dog treats from VinYips, the Rock is rockin’ in anticipation of the Obamas’ most excellent Vineyard adventure.

Retailers are whipping up “I Vacationed with the Obamas Vineyard 2009” T-shirts, and the Offshore Ale Company in Oak Bluffs has brewed a special Ale to the Chief .

Espresso Love in Edgartown is already baking a special Obama Muffin that pays homage to the president’s Hawaiian roots with oats, pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut, reports TripAdvisor’s troops.

Oh and if you guys missed the the previous article about where they're staying. The Obamas are supposedly going to stay at the Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark (here).

Click (here) to read the Herald article.

Tom Brady is on the latest cover of Details Magazine accompanying a rather exhaustive interview. Here's my favorite quote from the article:

As to modeling versus football, Brady explains, "When I'm out on the football field, I have so much confidence in what I'm doing. With this," he says, meaning the modeling, "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm at the whim of the photographer and the crew."

Dear Mr. Brady, please stick to football. The season's starting soon. FOCUS!






Click (here) to read the article.

PS. Did you guys catch Tom on Entourage a couple of days ago? What'd you think?

The Perseid's happen once a year and they're a pretty neat event. If you haven't seen them yet, you should check them out. The next few days are the best opportunity to try to catch a glimpse.

The next couple nights—between midnight and 5 A.M.—will be the best opportunities to crane your neck upward and check out the Perseid meteor shower.

The shower, which happens every year when Earth passes through the debris trail left by Comet Swift-Tuttle, started in late July and lasts for a few weeks.

Obviously if you live downtown like I do, you're going to need to get into your car (or befriend someone with a car) and drive out somewhere with less streetlights. It's almost mid-August, get outside while you can. I know the summer's been unusually rainy/cool but you're going to regret not getting out while you can once September/October rolls around.

Click (here) to read the article.

Is golf fun to watch live? I've never been, but I'm starting to wonder after watching Tiger school Padraig Harrington during the Bridgestone Invitational yesterday. For those of you that already know the answer to that question, the 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship is coming to Norton, MA and tix are on sale.

The top names in professional golf including defending champion Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Anthony Kim and Lucas Glover are all scheduled to appear at the 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship, one of four PGA TOUR Playoff events.

The 2009 Deutsche Bank Championship, one of the most highly-anticipated events on the PGA TOUR calendar, returns to Boston during Labor Day weekend. The tournament features four rounds of championship golf preceded by practice rounds and pro-am tournaments. This year’s Championship is part of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, a four-tournament post-season playoff series where the top PGA TOUR golfers will compete for the single-largest payout in sports -- a $10 million first prize.

There are different events going on all week from Sept 1 to Sept 7.

Click (here) to get tickets.

Ok so I'm not sure if this is happening on the 12th or 13th of this week because there appears to be a mistake on the Phoenix site. They claim that the party is happening on "Wednesday August 13th."


So it's either on Wednesday or it's on 8/13, but unless I'm going crazy it can't be both.

Click (here) to RSVP.

Did anyone else go to the Taylor Swift & Keith Urban concert a couple weeks ago? Who knew there were so many other country fans in Boston? In all my years in MA, I'd never seen that many cowboy hats in one place. That being said, Jason Aldean is performing this week, and tickets are still available.

Country star Jason Aldean heats up summer with his Wide Open Tour Wednesday, August 12 at 7p.m. at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, MA. Opening for Aldean will be country singer/songwriters Jimmy Wayne and Dean Brody. Campanelli Stadium is located at 1 Lexington Ave in Brockton, Mass 02301. The Campanelli Stadium show is Aldean’s only New England appearance

My old roommate Eugene loves Brockton. In fact, we drove all the way there one evening just to get some Taco Bell because he knew that one was open late.

Click (here) to get tickets.

I think I've been to the opera twice in my life. One of those times was to see Bizet's Carmen. The other I can't remember. If you're looking for a somewhat more cultural event to attend on humpday this week, I recommend you swing by the Hatch Shell to see a free performance by the Boston Lyric Opera.

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) invites all arts lovers to spend a summer evening listening to opera for free at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. Those eager for an inexpensive evening and itching for live music can come to the Hatch Shell alone or with friends and family in tow on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 7 p.m. The concert will run until 9 p.m.

Together with partner the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, BLO will preview excerpts from its 2009-2010 Season combined with selected works from other timeless operas. BLO artists—Meredith Hansen, soprano; Heather Johnson, mezzo-soprano; Darren Anderson, tenor; and Christopher Burchett, baritone—take the stage with the Orchestra to perform pieces from Bizet’s Carmen (BLO’s Season opener), Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Mozart’s Idomeneo (also from the Season), and Verdi’s La Traviata, among other favorites.

I'm sure you're blankets and chairs are still sitting out from the night you went to see Shakespeare on the Common, so just grab them and head on over on Wednesday.

Thanks to everyone for entering the latest contest for Shecky's Girls Night Out tickets (here). Each winner gets a pair of tickets for the Shecky's even this week! Congrats to the following folks who won the drawing:

Missy C.
Lisa C.
Emily K.

Hope you all have a good time. Enjoy the drinks and shopping - who doesn't need a little bit of retail therapy these days?

Fret not if you didn't win, tickets are still available on the Shecky's site.

Click (here) to visit Shecky's.

First it was Michelle Kwan (here), now it's Ashley Judd. This is awesome. Too bad Emma Watson isn't coming, too. That would have made it even better.

Proving she’s more than just De-Lovely, Ashley Judd has begun to study for a master’s degree in public administration at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government .

The Hollywood hottie and political activist has joined the incoming class of 200 midcareer professionals looking to, according to the degree’s description, boost their careers in public service and gain leadership skills.

Recent grads of the one-year program, which began its month-long summer school primer last week, include Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Mexican Prez Felipe Calderon .

Actually, I guess to be more chronologically accurate, it's Ashley Judd first, and then Michelle Kwan to come soon.

Click (here) to read the Herald article.

So if you guys keep up with those celebrity gossip sites, apparently news of Gisele's pregnancy (with Tom Brady's kiddo) was accidentally leaked by London Fog when they made a comment about how they photoshopped her during her latest photoshoot. Here's what The Superficial had to say:

The campaign was shot a few weeks ago and the images revealed Bündchen's pregnancy, but her visible baby bump has been retouched out of the campaign to "respect her privacy," said chief marketing officer Dari Marder, who works for London Fog parent company Iconix Brand Group




Again these gossip sites aren't always right. God knows they posted about Tom and Gisele getting married for several months before it actually happened. So take it with a grain of salt.

Click (here) to see the rest of her photoshoot pics.