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Articles from The Beantown Bloggery

Harbor Garage To Be Redeveloped 2007-11-20 17:42:00 You know that seven-story parking garage near the New England Aquarium? It was on the market a few months ago and now it's been sold. Developer Donald Chiofaro has agreed to buy it and he's going to tear it down.In its place, he is most likely going to build "a large complex of offices, residences, and a hotel." My first reaction was "Just what we need, less parking." But according to the Globe article Interpark (the company that currently manages the garage) will continue to do so and then will manage the new garage once it's built. Underground parking maybe? That would be a plus.In case you're curious, the price tag was $155 million dollars. Read the article yourself (here). Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Holiday Cards for our Troops 2007-11-20 15:17:00 Remember the greeting card scholarship program that I blogged about last week (here)? Well the company behind it: The Gallery Collection, is now working on a project to help support our troops.This holiday season, they have partnered with Soldiers' Angels and donated greeting cards to be sent to each soldier that wishes them Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and also Thanks. They also included a blank card and envelope for troops to write home with. The cards will be included along with “care packages” sent by Soldiers' Angels.Honestly, I'm not even sure what we're doing over there any more, but I'm also not reading the news about it: so I am going to refrain from passing judgment. All I want to say is that our troops (friends and family) are over their risking their lives. And I'd like them all to know that I appreciate their service.Tis the season, I just recently went shopping for holiday cards, ribbon, wrapping paper, etc. If it's getting to cold out to shop, order ...

Thanksgiving Day Charity 5K Road Race 2007-11-20 14:27:00 What will you be doing this Thanksgiving to burn off some of those calories that you'll be ingesting this week? The Sports Club LA is going to be closed on Thursday, so if I'm going to run - perhaps I'll do the upcoming Thanksgiving Day Charity 5K Road Race on 11/22.The race starts at Boston Volvo Village in Brighton (75 North Beacon St). Registration is at 7:30am and the race begins at 9am.For those of you that aren't traveling anywhere and you don't have family in the area, what will you be up to? I'm looking for some suggestions.Click (here) for details on the race. Proceeds will be going to the Best Buddies of Massachusetts.Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Spice Girls Tickets On Sale Now 2007-11-19 15:34:00 Tell me what you want, what you really really want.... If what you want is tickets to the Spice Girls concert then I can help out. The Spice Girls will be performing at the TD Banknorth Garden on January 30, 2008 @ 7:30 p.m.Tickets are on sale right now at Ticketmaster, so get them while the gettin's good (here). I checked and tickets are still available, so it's not sold out yet.Hopefully they won't lip sync their way through the concert like they did at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show last week (here).Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Letters of John and Abigail Adams - Tonight 2007-11-19 10:56:00 Are you a history buff? Or maybe a politics buff? Tonight, there will be a little bit of both at Fanuil Hall. The Massachusetts Historical Society and Harvard University Press is hosting a reading of the letters of John and Abigail Adams by Senator and Mrs. Ted Kennedy, Governor and Mrs. Deval Patrick, and former Governor and Mrs. Michael Dukakis. Celebration of the publication of a new book of the letters of John and Abigail Adams. This is the first collection of their letters that is selected from the entire forty years span of their correspondence (which coincides with the most important period in American history) and includes several letters never before published.The event takes place in Fanuil Hall at 7pm tonight. Bundle up, because it's cold out there today. Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Cameron Diaz, The Box, and Other Celebs 2007-11-18 17:10:00 Ready for more celebrities in Boston? Filming for Cameron Diaz's new movie "The Box" started yesterday (Saturday 11/17) in Boston. Based on the Richard Matheson short story "Button, Button," "The Box" focuses on an unhappily married couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) who are visited by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella). The stranger gives them a mysterious box with a button. If they push the button, they'll get great wealth, albeit with a catch -- when they push the button, somebody they don't know will die. (Here)According to the Globe yesterday, Ms. Diaz had a stylist flown in from LA and had her hair done at Jean-Pierre Hair Salon on Newbury Street. According to the Globe (here), filming will take place at the Boston Public Library and Milton.In other news, it appears that Christopher Walken (starring in The Lonely Maiden which I blogged about here) might be staying at the new Liberty Hotel while he's filming here. The Globe reported (here) that he was spotted in ...

Boston Murder Map 2007-11-18 17:01:00 Stumbled upon this while reading the Saturday Globe. Boston Online has created a Google Map that lists all the murders that have occurred in the Boston area for the past six months.It's quite interesting. Most of downtown Boston is relatively safe in terms of not getting murdered. Dorchester and Roxbury though, are not so safe (we already knew this though right?).Still, it's pretty interesting to be able to scroll through the map and see what's taken place where.Click (here) to see the map on Boston Online.Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Concert Tickets on Sale Now 2007-11-17 11:18:00 There are a few good concerts that went on sale these past couple of days. James Blunt, Toby Keith, and Foo Fighters. Just to be clear, that's three separate concerts. Although seeing them all perform together would be kind of fun. Here's the details:James Blunt: Feb 27 @ The Orpheum. Get tickets (here)Foo Fighters: Feb 18 @ Worcester DCU Center. Get tickets (here)Toby Keith: Feb 16 @ Verizon Arena in Manchester, NH. Get tickets (here)Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

Boston International Antique Book Fair - 11/16 2007-11-16 12:06:00 The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair starts tonight at Hynes Convention Center. For those of you that are into old books, this is the place to be. It's funny that this is coming up because just last week I bought a first edition of I am Legend - the book that has a movie coming out soon with Will Smith. If I had known, I would have waited to see what kind of deal I could get at the fair.The fair is now in its 31st year and also features maps, atlases, autographs, and prints. What I really want is a first edition English version of The Count of Monte Cristo, but the going rate for one of those is $10K.Over 120 rare book dealers from the United States, England, Germany and The Netherlands are expected to exhibit and sell rare, collectible and antiquarian books, modern first editions, manuscripts, autographs, maps, atlases, and a plethora of other literary ephemera. Fine and decorative prints will also be featured.Is anyone out there into collecting books? Do they apprecia ...

Patriots Cheerleaders at Clarke's Tonight 2007-11-16 11:55:00 Does anyone out there read Barstool Sports? You know the one, the free magazine that always has a scantily clad woman on the cover? Well I read it - for the articles of course. But up until this past week, I'd never really found anything useful.This past week though, they did a feature on the Patriots Cheerleaders in their Halloween costumes. I never really paid attention to the cheerleaders, having only watched Patriots games on TV, you don't really see the cheerleaders very much. But, after reading the article, I will admit that some of these girls are quite beautiful.Click (here) for a link to the article so you can see the girls for yourself. And if you're free tonight, the girls will be at Clarke's in Fanuil Hall from 7pm to 9pm for a meet and greet sponsored by Coors. Beer and beautiful women - what a wonderful Friday night.PS. The writer for BSS didn't know who Quinn Kingston was dressed as. I'm pretty sure she's dressed as Gwen Stefani.Know of Any Interesting Bo ...

Greeting Card Scholarship Contest 2007-11-16 11:41:00 This post is for all the college students in the area. If it weren't for scholarships and grants, my loans would be a lot huger than they currently are. In a mere 15 years, I'll be done paying off MIT and will be able to purchase my first born child back.The Gallery Collection is a company that sells personalized Christmas, Holiday, and Birthday cards in the United States and they're currently running a $10,000 Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest and they're looking for entrants.Those of you that are creative/artistic, here's your chance to win some dough for the 'ol college education. Bust out your photoshop skills and enter their greeting card scholarship contest. Go to their site and check out their current selection of Christmas Cards and see if you can design a better one.$10K goes a long way in buying textbooks and cup 'o noodles. Just remember to have an occasional glass of OJ to prevent scurvy. There was an urban legend going around campus when I was a stude ...

Celine Dion Concert Presale Password - 11/16 2007-11-15 15:55:00 Celine Dion is going on tour and she's coming to Boston in August of 2008. Anyone else shocked that they're selling tickets this freaking early? I guess she's a huge star and all but geez. Anyway, Ms. Dion will be at the TD Banknorth Garden August 12, 2008 @ 8:00 PM for her "Taking Chances" World Tour, and presale tickets go on sale tomorrow 11/15 (Friday) at 10am EST.Click (here) to access the pre-sale website on Ticketmaster tomorrow and then use the pre-sale password: Claudette.Know of Any Interesting Boston News or Events That You'd Like to Share?Email me at beantownblog@gmail.com ...

A "Spa" for Men - 379 Club 2007-11-15 13:48:00 Any guys out there get their hair cut at 379 Club in Allston? I read about this place a few weeks ago and the concept was interesting. Basically it's a spa for men. It has pool tables, flat screen tvs, a VIP lounge, and computer stations amongst other things.Services include haircuts, massages, and "foot and hand detail" (if you're going to get a manicure/pedicure, just own up to it). I haven't gotten to the interesting part yet though.Here's the interesting part: the club offers a tiered membership program that ranges from $480 to $2200 a year and includes unlimited haircuts. Hmmmm...unlimited haircuts - this could be interesting. I basically get my hair cut once a month (it costs me $35 each time). Pricey? Yes. But I used to get my hair cut at SuperCuts and I came out pissed off everytime thinking to myself "It's ok, it'll grow back in 2 weeks"So at $35 a pop, monthly haircuts are costing me $420 a year (it pains me to do that math). And at the end of the month, I ...

Rachael Ray Book Signing 11/17 2007-11-15 11:50:00 Many thanks to Missy for letting me know about this upcoming event. Rachael Ray (you guys watch Food Network right?) is coming to the Barnes and Nobles at the Prudential Center this upcoming Saturday 11/17 for a book signing.The superstar chef, beloved TV host, and best selling author serves up all new recipes for everything from Date Night Dinners to Fancy Fake-Outs in this yum-0 cookbook that includes a super-delish selection of fast and fabulous 15 minute meals.According to flyers and ads in the paper, the book signing is at 3pm, but if you swing by the B&N at the Prudential Center, you'll see a sign that says they'll be handing out wristbands at noon on Saturday and only folks that have wristbands will get to participate in this event. So if you want an autographed copy, get there early. I'm not sure if you can get a wristband, leave, and then return later at 3pm. You could try calling the store and asking. Or bring a book with you to read while you stand in line.Know of ...

Haru: A Review 2007-11-14 14:09:00 Has anyone else noticed that the only restaurants opening in Boston lately are either sushi restaurants or steak houses? Not that I'm complaining, I love myself some sushi or a nice medium rare ribeye. But what ever happened to variety?We went to Haru this past weekend to check it out. For those of you that haven't been keeping up, Haru (a Japanese chain out of NYC) has taken over the space that was formerly Dick's Last Resort at the Prudential Center. Click (here) to read more about the restaurant.How was the food? I'd have to say average. I found the menu to be a little short. Maybe I'm too used to Douzo or Fugakyu where the menu goes on for pages and pages. But nothing on the menu really jumped off the page at me. We tried a couple of the specialty rolls and I have to say that the ingredients they chose to go into each roll just didn't mesh well together. Dear Haru: Please redo your specialty rolls menu.Lastly, we had a few pieces of nigiri: Salmon, Yellowtail, Scal ...