#7 Boston Dispatch - July 23, 2004
Greetings!
Let me start this off by saying that last week I was in a pub called "The Squealing Pig", an Irish bar on Huntington Avenue, a hangout for locals and college kids. The running group went there, and I did not have one single beer, but I thought this place ranks pretty high up there on the list of strange names for pubs and restaurants here in Boston. It is like they are trying to outdo each other. Stay tuned for more.
Thursday I went to "Fajitas and Ritas" - a lively, but very casual Mex
Mex place with tons of Margaritas to chose from. The customers provide the décor by covering the walls with crayon graffiti. The neat thing is that you fill out the order form for the food - that way it's your own darn fault, if you get the wrong stuff... Went to see Fahrenheit 9/11 after that - lots of food for thought.
On Friday, I went rollerblading for the first time along the Charles River, which was just great! After that it was time for "Free Friday Flicks" - WBZ Radio here provides a free movie in summer every Friday eve at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. We saw the movie "Holes" - definitely targeted toward an adolescent audience, but not a bad flick at all. It was fun to just be outside, watch a movie on a big screen and enjoy a nice warm summer night.
On Saturday, I went on my first hike with the Appalachian Mountain Club, the AMC, to the White Mountains in New Hampshire - Mount Osceola was the target for this "beginners" (yeah right) hike. The main peak has an elevation of 4340 feet - we started out at about 2200 feet, eight of us, and Molly, the dog. I was warned by my friends around here that hiking in the Whites is a bit more rugged compared to the wimpy California hiking I was accustomed to - and they were somewhat right. Rocks, boulders, roots, gaping holes - and that's on the hiking path. Try to go off and use the big green outdoors restroom! We made it up in one piece and apparently in pretty good time. The area is stunningly beautiful and the view on top simply spectacular. Check out some pix here - http://hammer.prohosting.com/~theway/hiking/osceola.htm.
The weather in the White Mountains is quite moody, and we had to bring equipment for all seasons, and I actually had to put on a winter jacket up top. Hiking down took us just about the same time, as the boulders, roots and gaping holes were still there. I managed to stumble into a couple of trees, as it seemed difficult to walk straight and not appear inebriated. Afterward we all cooled off in a local swimming hole, and then drove back to Boston (2 1/2 hr- ride).
I came home, and ran off again, as I was meeting friends for dinner and then we headed to Wally's Cafe Jazz Club (thanks Deb for the recommendation) - they have live music every day of the year! It is a smallish place, but as soon as the band shows up and crams onto the tiny little stage, the place turns into a zoo and is packed to the gills. Two beers later, and exhausted from a long day of hiking, I seemed to drift off into a soporific stupor of sorts, and Linda and Roger carted me home.
Sunday was cleaning-out-moving-boxes-and-re-assemble-furniture-day and now my place seems to resemble a decent living environment, as I was hosting my new book club here on Monday evening.
Monday and Tuesday were most insane days - going to the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) to get a driver's license and my caaahh registered - happened amazingly quickly and you actually leave there with your plates in hand. I am officially a Massachusetts resident now! Going to the eye doctor to get contact lenses - hosting the book club - going for State inspection (smog) with the caahh - needs to be done within 7 days of registration - driving out to my boss' house in Newton - getting lost in Newton and and and.... The caaah, formerly known as 4UGD808, is now affectionately known as 75AH16. It suits her well.
To add to the craziness, I decided to go to The Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday night to see Jim Breuer, he of Saturday Night Life Fame. What a trip - this guy is like a force of nature, just amazing. Check out his website and watch the bit where he turns the "Hokey Pokey" into an AC/DC song. Very entertaining.
Last night we had running group again, and even though I am still very slow, I managed to do 4 miles!!!
Everyone here in town is getting ready for the invasion of the Democrats next week, most folks are leaving town or the continent, freeways will be closed, the hospital has been running HazMat drills, everyone is having fun. The Boston Courant's headline last week screamed that the prostitutes have arrived for the occasion, so we're all set.
A little more of conventional wisdom on Boston from the Beacon Hill times, of course, this one on baseball:
"Every spring, the day after Opening Day at Fenway, there is sure to be a newspaper headline that reads "Pennant Fever Grips Hub!" This is because every Bostonian is constitutionally sure that someday the Red Sox will win the World Series. This will never happen because every Red Sox player has been genetically programmed to never with the World Series. However, do not mention this to any Sox fans as they are known to become quite violent when this is pointed out to them."
So - back to work! Tonight is free Jazz at the Back Bay Fens, courtesy of Berklee College of Music, and it looks to be a pretty nice and balmy evening.
Have a good one, write soon, write often or call. My home phone 617.263.1408 is taking calls, even from California.
xoxoxoxoxo,
pet:)
Let me start this off by saying that last week I was in a pub called "The Squealing Pig", an Irish bar on Huntington Avenue, a hangout for locals and college kids. The running group went there, and I did not have one single beer, but I thought this place ranks pretty high up there on the list of strange names for pubs and restaurants here in Boston. It is like they are trying to outdo each other. Stay tuned for more.
Thursday I went to "Fajitas and Ritas" - a lively, but very casual Mex
Mex place with tons of Margaritas to chose from. The customers provide the décor by covering the walls with crayon graffiti. The neat thing is that you fill out the order form for the food - that way it's your own darn fault, if you get the wrong stuff... Went to see Fahrenheit 9/11 after that - lots of food for thought.
On Friday, I went rollerblading for the first time along the Charles River, which was just great! After that it was time for "Free Friday Flicks" - WBZ Radio here provides a free movie in summer every Friday eve at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. We saw the movie "Holes" - definitely targeted toward an adolescent audience, but not a bad flick at all. It was fun to just be outside, watch a movie on a big screen and enjoy a nice warm summer night.
On Saturday, I went on my first hike with the Appalachian Mountain Club, the AMC, to the White Mountains in New Hampshire - Mount Osceola was the target for this "beginners" (yeah right) hike. The main peak has an elevation of 4340 feet - we started out at about 2200 feet, eight of us, and Molly, the dog. I was warned by my friends around here that hiking in the Whites is a bit more rugged compared to the wimpy California hiking I was accustomed to - and they were somewhat right. Rocks, boulders, roots, gaping holes - and that's on the hiking path. Try to go off and use the big green outdoors restroom! We made it up in one piece and apparently in pretty good time. The area is stunningly beautiful and the view on top simply spectacular. Check out some pix here - http://hammer.prohosting.com/~theway/hiking/osceola.htm.
The weather in the White Mountains is quite moody, and we had to bring equipment for all seasons, and I actually had to put on a winter jacket up top. Hiking down took us just about the same time, as the boulders, roots and gaping holes were still there. I managed to stumble into a couple of trees, as it seemed difficult to walk straight and not appear inebriated. Afterward we all cooled off in a local swimming hole, and then drove back to Boston (2 1/2 hr- ride).
I came home, and ran off again, as I was meeting friends for dinner and then we headed to Wally's Cafe Jazz Club (thanks Deb for the recommendation) - they have live music every day of the year! It is a smallish place, but as soon as the band shows up and crams onto the tiny little stage, the place turns into a zoo and is packed to the gills. Two beers later, and exhausted from a long day of hiking, I seemed to drift off into a soporific stupor of sorts, and Linda and Roger carted me home.
Sunday was cleaning-out-moving-boxes-and-re-assemble-furniture-day and now my place seems to resemble a decent living environment, as I was hosting my new book club here on Monday evening.
Monday and Tuesday were most insane days - going to the RMV (Registry of Motor Vehicles) to get a driver's license and my caaahh registered - happened amazingly quickly and you actually leave there with your plates in hand. I am officially a Massachusetts resident now! Going to the eye doctor to get contact lenses - hosting the book club - going for State inspection (smog) with the caahh - needs to be done within 7 days of registration - driving out to my boss' house in Newton - getting lost in Newton and and and.... The caaah, formerly known as 4UGD808, is now affectionately known as 75AH16. It suits her well.
To add to the craziness, I decided to go to The Comedy Connection at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday night to see Jim Breuer, he of Saturday Night Life Fame. What a trip - this guy is like a force of nature, just amazing. Check out his website and watch the bit where he turns the "Hokey Pokey" into an AC/DC song. Very entertaining.
Last night we had running group again, and even though I am still very slow, I managed to do 4 miles!!!
Everyone here in town is getting ready for the invasion of the Democrats next week, most folks are leaving town or the continent, freeways will be closed, the hospital has been running HazMat drills, everyone is having fun. The Boston Courant's headline last week screamed that the prostitutes have arrived for the occasion, so we're all set.
A little more of conventional wisdom on Boston from the Beacon Hill times, of course, this one on baseball:
"Every spring, the day after Opening Day at Fenway, there is sure to be a newspaper headline that reads "Pennant Fever Grips Hub!" This is because every Bostonian is constitutionally sure that someday the Red Sox will win the World Series. This will never happen because every Red Sox player has been genetically programmed to never with the World Series. However, do not mention this to any Sox fans as they are known to become quite violent when this is pointed out to them."
So - back to work! Tonight is free Jazz at the Back Bay Fens, courtesy of Berklee College of Music, and it looks to be a pretty nice and balmy evening.
Have a good one, write soon, write often or call. My home phone 617.263.1408 is taking calls, even from California.
xoxoxoxoxo,
pet:)
posted by My Boston at
2:02 PM
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