The Beantown Bloggery

Click (here) for the Fudge Theater website.

I'm not much of a gamer anymore.  Not because I don't like games or that I feel I've outgrown them, but rather because I get addicted to them once I start and my personal life goes out the window until I've beaten the game (usually 2 weeks or so).

I saw a video this weekend on youtube talking about the new Assassin's Creed 3 and was intrigued when they said that they've added 2 new cities to the game, one being Boston, from actual old maps.  I took a screenshot from the video, do you think that's Quincy Market?  


I might actually play this just so I can run around old school Boston.

Click (here) for the youtube video.

For those of you interested in the Gorilla Challenge next weekend, I have a discount code for you.  What's the Gorilla Challenge, you ask?

Gorilla Challenge is a race that will test your power with hidden clues around town, put your body to the test with crazy obstacles, and give you a reason to be a Gorilla by supporting local charities.

We’re an Amazing Race/Fear Factor style event, quickly becoming the largest outdoor pursuit experience in the nation sending hundreds of Gorillas around their city looking for clues with excitement for a chance to win awesome prizes and compete in a zany costume contest. Beyond the adventure, Gorillas engage local charity and community organizations through portions of the Challenge, and several of our clues are socially responsible, bringing awareness to local issues such as literacy, poverty, environmental concerns, animal welfare, senior care, and much more. We can have fun AND do something good as well!

The discount registration code is: beantownbloggery.  It will get you guys into the challenge for $20.

Click (here) for more info.

 

Word on the street is that a new movie called Labor Day is filming in the area.  I don't have too much info on it, but here's what I dug up on IMDB.

Depressed single mom Adele and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man a ride. As police search town for the escaped convict, the mother and son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited.

Director: Jason Reitman
Writers: Joyce Maynard (novel), Jason Reitman (screenplay)
Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin

Oh and I heard they were filming in Acton recently.

Click (here) for the IMDB page.

 

The folks over at Indital USA asked me to take a look at their site and their products and let you guys know what I thought of them.  I had two immediate reactions when I pulled up their website.

1.  So that's how you spell "baluster."  I never knew.
2.  This really would have come in handy in college.

Number 1 is self explanatory.  Number 2 takes a little explaining.  So I think I've mentioned to you guys before that I went to MIT.  What I may have failed to mention is that I lived in one of those fraternity houses in Back Bay.  It was a 5 story brownstone and it was awesome, except for the fact that 25 often drunk guys lived in it.  One of the consequences of said drunk guys was that we would end up breaking the baluster's along the central stairwell on pretty much a weekly basis.  And so on a weekly basis, someone would have to go to Home Depot, purchase new wooden balusters and fix our railing.

Enter Indital.  If we had one of their stainless steel railing systems, then I'm pretty sure this would have been a moot point.  You have no idea how many balusters I had to repair while in college.  I'm pretty sure this is still going on.

Here's a little more about Indital:

As an Italian wrought iron products manufacturer, Indital USA proudly offers an interactive site for research and planning with simple sourcing in the United States from any of its qualified distribution partners using our friendly eCommerce shopping experience. Indital USA is a Houston, TX based division of Industria Italiana Arteferro S.p.A. from Malo, Italy


 

Click (here) to get tickets.

This week the Seaport Hotel wrapped its first honey harvest of the season! Beekeepers Edwin Medrano and Victor Bravo harvested approximately 100 frames from Seaports seven on-site hives.  The harvest produced an estimate 400 lbs. of honey! This was the Seaports largest harvest since introducing the hives early last year.

The intricate process of the harvest involves smoking the bees to calm them, removing the frames from the hives, and assessing the amount of potential honey. After this extraction is completed, the Beekeeping Team spins each frame in a honey extractor at Seaport’s Action Kitchen to process the honey. The honey will then be bottled for later use in special recipes and drinks in Aura restaurant, TAMO bar and TAMO Terrace.

I've been to Hawaii once in my life.  It was several years ago when my older brother got married in Honolulu.  I went a few days early to swing by Maui prior to the wedding.  I distinctly remember that my favorite part of that trip (besides the wedding of course) was snorkeling in Molokini.  I've done a lot of snorkeling in the Caribbean and nothing compares - I'm told because a lot of the reefs in the Caribbean have been destroyed over the years by hurricanes.

The folks over at Aqua Resorts have asked me to take a look at their website and let you guys know what I think.  Here's a little bit about Aqua Resorts:

Hawaii’s first boutique hotel chain, Aqua Hotels & Resorts offers a collection of 15 boutique and budget Hawaii hotels and resorts in Waikiki/Honolulu, Oahu and 6 Hawaiian resorts on Maui, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai.

It looks like Aqua Resorts has a range of offerings that are pretty reasonable - from under $100 a night to a little over $200 a night.  I've stayed in a lot of boutique hotels, and often times they work out just fine.  To be honest, when I travel, I don't spend a whole lot of time in the hotel anyway.  I need a clean place to sleep/shower, and that's about it.

If you're going to Hawaii anytime soon, and you're looking for hotels in Waikiki, or Maui, Kauai, or any other other islands - consider checking out their site along with all the other travel sites that you normally use.  You never know where you'll find the best deal.

Just got this in my inbox.   Not too many details just yet, but here's what I got for those that are interested. 


For many single dads, it's a man's world. Single dads are raising boys and having to wear the many different hats of mom, disciplinarian, and breadwinner -- while still living the lifestyle of a healthy single All-American male.

Metal Flowers Media is currently accepting applications from Bostonians and beyond. We are looking for single men who have taken on a father-figure role, have BIG, FUN personalities, and have a story to tell. Applicants must be US citizens with a dynamic personality and an interesting story to tell about being a "father". To apply, contact www.metalflowersmedia.com or email randazza@metalflowersmedia.com.

Bloggery media rep DanDan swung by Jerry Remy's a couple weeks ago for the grand opening of their roof deck.  I know, I'm late in getting the post up.  But like they say, better late than pregnant.  Here's what he had to say.  

I have found my new favorite place to go for drinks on a hot summer day! Boston is seriously lacking when it comes to roof decks, but I just got a chance to check out the opening of the one at the Fenway Jerry Remy's, and it is definitely one of the best. Boasting a view overlooking Fenway Park, Remy's is packed with four alcoholic slushy machines and no less than a half dozen water misting fans making sure that the roof stays perfectly temperate on even the hottest day. Sure to be a great scene every game day, Remy's roof deck will definitely be high on my list for those beautiful days where you just have to grab a post work margarita and relax...


Click (here) for more info on the roofdeck.

Summer is in full swing, and it’s time to embrace all that the season offers: blue skies, blue sea, and blue crabs! To celebrate the ocean’s sweetest meat at the peak of its June to August season, The Blue Room is hosting a Blue Crab + Beer Fest on their Kendall Square patio.

In the spirit of a traditional midsummer clambake, The Blue Room Chef Robert Grant will be cooking up an all-you-can-eat spread of succulent Maryland Blue Crab, New England steamers, fresh corn on the cob and potatoes, served family-style on communal paper-covered tables. Paired with icy local brews from the likes of Narragansett Beer, Pretty Things Brewery and Cambridge Brewing Company, there’s no better way to crack into Maryland’s finest shellfish.


Thursday, July 26 6:30 PM

The Blue Room
One Kendall Square
Cambridge

Click (here) to get tickets.

I just bought a new pair of running shoes, did I mention that I'm running the marathon again this year?  Yes, I'm destroying my body again for the sake of charity.  For those of you that are also in the market for new shoes, checkout the New Balance Tent Sale coming up next week.   

Boston.com Moms is teaming up with the New Balance Outlet to offer local families an exclusive shopping night at the 2012 New Balance Outlet Tent Sales.

DustBusters $59 for a three-hour house cleaning from DustBusters

Click (here) for more info.

Click (here) for the Haute House tumblr site.

Revels (producer of the annual Christmas Revels and Revels RiverSing) takes to the sea July 17 in the first of two Revels Boston Harbor Cruise & Sings this summer led by Revels music director George Emlen and musician and song leader David Coffin who’ll also provide narration about  Boston Harbor and its islands. 

We’ll sing sea chanteys, work songs and more from John Langstaff’s final music collection, The Revels Book of Chanteys and Sea Songs - yours free for the evening - on this two-hour sunset tour of beautiful Boston Harbor - an annual treat for Revelers of all ages.
Some of the songs we’ll be singing include: Pay Me My Money Down, Blow, Ye Winds, In the Morning, The Coasts of High Barberry, Cape Cod Girls, John Kanaka, Rolling Home to Old New England and The Seaman’s Hymn.  At some point on the cruise we’ll even find out the answer to the classic question, What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?  (Don’t worry. It won’t be the ship’s Captain or crew.)   

Landlubbers & first-time Revelers welcome!  Bring a picnic dinner but no alcohol, please. Alcohol will be available for purchase on board.

Dates:  Tuesday, July 17 & Wednesday, August 15
Time: Boarding begins at 6:30pm; Cruise from 7-9pm
Boarding Location: 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA
Tickets: $35 (Reservations required)

Click (here) to get tickets. 

 

The folks over at Reputation.com asked me to take a look at their website and let my readers know what I thought.  My first thought is that it's an interesting concept:  online reputation management along with aspects of identity theft protection.

Part of why I don't post too much about myself personally on this blog and refrain from putting pics of myself on here is that I am trying to remain largely anonymous.  I'm sure if people did enough digging, they could figure out my name.  But thankfully, my name is generic enough that if you google me, you won't find too much.

But enough about me.  I read through some of reputation.com's materials online.  There's a fair number of videos and stuff to read online so you can decide if it's a service that you need.  They also have an offer for a free " reputation snapshot."

Check out one of their videos below:




Check out reputation.com

I'm a huge fan of Bulleit, more so for their rye than their bourbon but their both awesome ... and they're coming to town in a couple of days to host a 4 course dinner at Grafton Street.


Grafton Street welcomes bourbon pros and newbies alike to post up on its Harvard Square patio and sharpen their palates during a four-course dinner with Bulleit Bourbon and Rye. Chef Eric Gregory offers up his twists on summer BBQ staples like Smoked Lamb Chops with Mint, Spiced Freekah and Pickled Cherries and BBQ Shrimp with Bulleit Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Ginger, Cilantro and Local Corn Chowder – all paired expertly with classic cocktails and new interpretations from the Grafton Street bar staff. A Bulleit Bourbon representative will be on hand to provide a crash course in bourbon so diners will leave knowing the difference between scotch, whiskey and bourbon.

Seating is limited. To reserve your spot, call 617-497-0400.

Got this in an email today and was told I could share it, so that's what I'm going to do.  You'll probably want to click on the image so you can print it out full-sized. 

So just as a brief aside before the post.  I actually saw this Matisse painting at the Hermitage while I was in St. Petersburg last week.  Pretty awesome....

Scugnizzi $5 for $10 worth of lunch or delivery, or $15 for $30 worth of dinner at Scugnizzi

I'm a big fan of oysters.  Mostly because they're delicious.  But I have read before that oysters are an important aspect of ocean water filtering and I'm curious to learn a bit more.  Check out the trailer below, then pick a screening to go to ... and then head to Neptune's or B&G.  






The Cotton Park Yacht Club, Winthrop, MA

July 17, 2012
76 Orlando Avenue, Winthrop, MA

The screening is presented by The Massachusetts Oyster Project, and Friends of Belle Isle Marsh.
Q&A with Director Emily Driscoll and Dr. Anamarija Frankic, UMass Boston Faculty and Director of the Green Harbors.

Boston Public Library, North End Branch, MA

July 18th, 2012 at 6:30PM
25 Parmenter Street, Boston, MA 02113

The screening is presented by The Massachusetts Oyster Project.
With oyster tasting and Q&A with Director Emily Driscoll, Dr. Anamarija Frankic, UMass Boston Faculty and Director of the Green Harbors, and Author Erin Byers Murray, who chronicled a year of working at Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury in her book Shucked

Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA

July 24, 2012 at 7:00PM
26 Oxford Street, Haller Hall
Cambridge, MA 02138

Wellfleet, MA

August 19, 2012 at 4:00PM
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, 2357 Route 6, Wellfleet, MA 02667

Q&A with Director Emily Driscoll

Click (here) for the movie website.

Got an email that ImprovBoston is looking to hire a new director.  I'm a fan of those guys over there, I think they do good work.  So, I figured I'd help get the word out.  See below:

This summer, ImprovBoston, is looking for someone to take the helm of the artistic vision of the company. The theatre has begun searching the country for a Full-Time Artistic Director to help lead the 30 year old theatre into its next phase. The theatre currently employs a part-time Artistic Director and is looking to expand the role of this person to help ImprovBoston take a major step forward as a globally recognized comedy hub, a community arts organization, and a home and launching pad for Boston talent. The deadline to apply is July 31, and all interested parties need to submit a cover letter and resume to ADsearch@improvboston.com. 

The Artistic Director is responsible for implementing the artistic vision of ImprovBoston, for the Theater and Comedy School, and for major decisions regarding the ongoing professional development of artistic staff, including technicians, musicians, directors, performers and faculty, and Comedy School students. The new person would develop artistic quality control procedures for weekly shows, oversee direction of weekly shows, auditions, festivals, special events and the IB touring company. In this position, the person hired would maintain the established Comedy School curriculum, but would create standard procedure for curriculum updates that align with the development of the IB artistic vision. 

The new hire would also manage relationships with nationally recognized comedy instructors and schedule Comedy School Master Classes that provide artistic growth opportunities for IB artistic staff and students. The Artistic Director also works with the Managing Director to ensure that the aesthetic of IB brand marketing and the overall Theater experience aligns with the development of the IB artistic vision. The person would also be charged with expanding the awareness of the theatre locally by creating artistic partnerships and outreach opportunities. This person would be expected to oversee IB festival shows, which would expand awareness nationally and internationally. 

Click (here) for more info.
 

The folks over at WhiskedFoodie.com asked me to take a look at their website and write a brief review.  First thing I did was take a look at their mission statement:

Whisked Foodie Helps You Find Easy Recipes, Food and Wine Pairings, and Much More. Through information and inspiration, we’re here to cut through the fat of gourmet culinary jargon and deliver the skinny on how to make real food taste real good—right in your own kitchen. With a small team of culinary and drink professionals, our goal is to bring out the gourmand inside the home cook. It doesn’t take a fancy degree, a high-tech kitchen, or an unlimited budget to bring the flavor and flare of good food to your table.

Sounds like it could be helpful to lots of folks.  I don't actually cook anymore (it's sad/unhealthy but I eat out pretty much every day).  But I do kind of miss cooking and have been thinking about maybe doing a once a week (on the weekend) cooking day.  We'll see how that goes. 

In anticipation of that, I did peruse their list of recipes.  I think the site is relatively new, so they don't have a ton of recipes yet -- but I'm sure they'll get there soon.  I think I may try out their Cilantro Lime Baba Ghanoush.  That sounds like it'd go well with wine.

I have a much greater interest in their "Mixology" tab.  Again, because they're new, it'll take a little while to grow their index of recipes.  But they're off to a strong start with the Negroni and the Moscow Mule.  Might I suggest a Pimm's Cup or an Aviation?  Or my personal go-to:  the Sazerac.

Keep up the good work guys!  I can see WhiskedFoodie becoming a very useful resource.

Click (here) to check out Whisked Foodie.

Click (here) for more info.

Hey folks. I'm back from my 2 week Europe trip. I'm pretty jetlagged and have a couple thousand emails to go through, so it'll be a couple days before things are back to normal. In the meantime, here are a few fun pics from my trip. First off, our beloved Dunkin Donuts in Moscow.

Ah, good 'ol cyrillic, where P's are R's and C's are S's .... it took a while to learn and get used to.